NATO vs Russia
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
I however am concerned at what appears to me to be a lack of readiness on the part of the European Forces to do much in the current situation should a kinetic response be required.
I sit here, being of the boomer generation born after the end of WWII and hoping to be the first in centuries not to face being involved in an existential war, facing the imminent risk of another - triggered by chance or happenstance - and with politicians who seem blind or paralysed to the threat and making no effort to prepare against the possibility.
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From: surfing, watching for sharks
If you speak of existential war, then the US is just as threatened as the UK. Russian missiles know the way here as well as there. Matter of fact, imagine the first few lobbed are headed to the US before the UK sees any. Even with a conventional war, it's overly dramatic to talk as if the end is at hand, especially with the moat separating you from the bad guys. Saved you at least once in recent times, would work again.
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From: Montana
You have the luxury, at a distance, of just being concerned.
I sit here, being of the boomer generation born after the end of WWII and hoping to be the first in centuries not to face being involved in an existential war, facing the imminent risk of another - triggered by chance or happenstance - and with politicians who seem blind or paralysed to the threat and making no effort to prepare against the possibility.
I sit here, being of the boomer generation born after the end of WWII and hoping to be the first in centuries not to face being involved in an existential war, facing the imminent risk of another - triggered by chance or happenstance - and with politicians who seem blind or paralysed to the threat and making no effort to prepare against the possibility.
Rather than respond and actually do something several European Leaders and Politicians went out a criticized Trump for meddling in European affairs and creating an imbalance to their carefully constructed status quo.
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From: Scotland
You have the luxury, at a distance, of just being concerned.
I sit here, being of the boomer generation born after the end of WWII and hoping to be the first in centuries not to face being involved in an existential war, facing the imminent risk of another - triggered by chance or happenstance - and with politicians who seem blind or paralysed to the threat and making no effort to prepare against the possibility.
I sit here, being of the boomer generation born after the end of WWII and hoping to be the first in centuries not to face being involved in an existential war, facing the imminent risk of another - triggered by chance or happenstance - and with politicians who seem blind or paralysed to the threat and making no effort to prepare against the possibility.
However growing up in the Cold War I felt that NATO essentially acted as a block against war in Europe
What it did was reposition the wars to the rest of the world in all forms
Korea - Vietnam - Africa in general - Israel the middle east - India Pakistan - South Africa - Afghanistan and terror in general
Revolutions and political change in South America and throughout the world
None of which touched West Europe directly - while 'playing' the defence games
It could yet
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From: Glorious Devon
If you speak of existential war, then the US is just as threatened as the UK. Russian missiles know the way here as well as there. Matter of fact, imagine the first few lobbed are headed to the US before the UK sees any. Even with a conventional war, it's overly dramatic to talk as if the end is at hand, especially with the moat separating you from the bad guys. Saved you at least once in recent times, would work again.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
...............
Continued sabotage against telecoms infrastructure along roads of southeast Sweden.
Yesterday it was revealed that a fiber optic cable undergoing maintenance has been cut on several spots along highway E22.
i.e., the roads, ports, railways necessary for moving troops to Gotland.
Yesterday it was revealed that a fiber optic cable undergoing maintenance has been cut on several spots along highway E22.
i.e., the roads, ports, railways necessary for moving troops to Gotland.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
It makes sense if you look at how they are doing it.
Russia can't get in its own agents in any more and, as widely reported, are recruiting third parties via the internet - crooks, opportunist, idiots to pay to do it on their behalf.
To build networks they need to start off getting them involved doing minor sabotage and committed since the Russians now have proof of their treason. Those that prove competent they can provide with caches of explosives etc and have available for when they are required.
Minor sabotage such as cutting the fibre-optic cable is just a weeding/training assessment exercise on behalf the FSB.
Russia can't get in its own agents in any more and, as widely reported, are recruiting third parties via the internet - crooks, opportunist, idiots to pay to do it on their behalf.
To build networks they need to start off getting them involved doing minor sabotage and committed since the Russians now have proof of their treason. Those that prove competent they can provide with caches of explosives etc and have available for when they are required.
Minor sabotage such as cutting the fibre-optic cable is just a weeding/training assessment exercise on behalf the FSB.
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From: Texas
It makes no sense to do it now. It just gets fixed and it tips your hand.
For one thing, it's consistent with Putin's MO of "let's see how far we can push this" and the other is (I think) as a bit of pay back to various NATO nations for providing weapons that are striking into Russia and harming their infrastructure.
And beyond that, Ninth, Russian cyber attacks on US (and other Western) IT systems are a few decades old. In the Cyberworld, play is continuous.
The folks at NSA deal with that every day.
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From: Texas
Saw this in Newsweek, I wonder if the "four NATO officials" were engaging in a directed leak...
NATO allies are discussing easing rules for pilots to permit them to shoot down Russian aircraft, according to a report by the Financial Times. The news comes as alliance members consider a tougher approach against Moscow following a spate of alleged airspace violations, drone swarms, and sabotage plots in Europe.
The FT, citing four unidentified NATO officials, said NATO allies are discussing a more forceful response to increasingly provocative Russian actions, including easing restrictions on pilots to allow them to open fire on Russian aircraft and deploying armed drones along the border with Russia. The asymmetric cost of scrambling fighter jets to intercept drones is a running concern for the alliance, which is seeking a financially sustainable solution. NATO members on the front line with Russia, backed by France and Britain, initiated the discussions, which have since broadened to a larger group in the 32-strong alliance, the newspaper reported.
Von der Leyen, referring to airspace violations, said on Wednesday:
“These incidents are calculated to linger in the twilight of deniability. This is not random harassment, it is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our union and weaken our support for Ukraine and it is time to call it by its name—this is hybrid warfare.”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a Telegram post this week:
“European cities have been gripped by an epidemic of UFDs, or unidentified flying drones. UAVs are everywhere: near military bases, at airports, over fields and above cities. Whose they are is unclear.”
The four NATO officials told the FT that there is no timeline or obligation to agree on any change in posture, and a shift may not be announced publicly.
The FT, citing four unidentified NATO officials, said NATO allies are discussing a more forceful response to increasingly provocative Russian actions, including easing restrictions on pilots to allow them to open fire on Russian aircraft and deploying armed drones along the border with Russia. The asymmetric cost of scrambling fighter jets to intercept drones is a running concern for the alliance, which is seeking a financially sustainable solution. NATO members on the front line with Russia, backed by France and Britain, initiated the discussions, which have since broadened to a larger group in the 32-strong alliance, the newspaper reported.
Von der Leyen, referring to airspace violations, said on Wednesday:
“These incidents are calculated to linger in the twilight of deniability. This is not random harassment, it is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our union and weaken our support for Ukraine and it is time to call it by its name—this is hybrid warfare.”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a Telegram post this week:
“European cities have been gripped by an epidemic of UFDs, or unidentified flying drones. UAVs are everywhere: near military bases, at airports, over fields and above cities. Whose they are is unclear.”
The four NATO officials told the FT that there is no timeline or obligation to agree on any change in posture, and a shift may not be announced publicly.
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From: Downeast
However growing up in the Cold War I felt that NATO essentially acted as a block against war in Europe
It was a near thing as Truman had plenty of people wanting the Nationalist Chinese engaged in the Korean War by invading Mainland China thus assisting the United States and UN troops deal with the North Koreans and Chinese forces in Korea but Truman felt the Chinese were all but fully committed already and ultimately saw the Russians as the greater communist threat and that China was being contained by the Korean fighting. Sending American troops to Europe was seen as much a deterrent to Russia invading Japanese territory as much as it was beefing up NATO against a Russian attack by requiring Russia to keep major units in the west rather than moving them east where they could threaten Japan.
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From: Scotland
Had Truman decided to send troops to Korea instead of Europe as he did....perhaps history might have turned out a bit differently as NATO sans American Troops might not have been able to deal with Russia while the United States was engaged in a full fledge announced War with China.
It was a near thing as Truman had plenty of people wanting the Nationalist Chinese engaged in the Korean War by invading Mainland China thus assisting the United States and UN troops deal with the North Koreans and Chinese forces in Korea but Truman felt the Chinese were all but fully committed already and ultimately saw the Russians as the greater communist threat and that China was being contained by the Korean fighting. Sending American troops to Europe was seen as much a deterrent to Russia invading Japanese territory as much as it was beefing up NATO against a Russian attack by requiring Russia to keep major units in the west rather than moving them east where they could threaten Japan.
It was a near thing as Truman had plenty of people wanting the Nationalist Chinese engaged in the Korean War by invading Mainland China thus assisting the United States and UN troops deal with the North Koreans and Chinese forces in Korea but Truman felt the Chinese were all but fully committed already and ultimately saw the Russians as the greater communist threat and that China was being contained by the Korean fighting. Sending American troops to Europe was seen as much a deterrent to Russia invading Japanese territory as much as it was beefing up NATO against a Russian attack by requiring Russia to keep major units in the west rather than moving them east where they could threaten Japan.
Politics has been very complicated since 1945 - Britain retreating from the 'Empire' and the US and Russia missing out on filling the vacuum of all the old colonials
It has been in the interest of the US not to actually have a WW III - fighting the Russians through third parties and in countries other than the US
Looking both East and West comes at a price - but that is the role the US has chosen for its self
Long may that continue
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From: The back of beyond
It's the least you could do after your security had been subsidized for over 50 years.
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From: Washington.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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From: Peripatetic
Romania will defend Moldova if Russia attacks
"The Romanian Army helps Moldova and the Moldovan Army to develop proper defensive capabilities. We have many joint training programs and capability development initiatives, providing assistance to help Moldova build its defense capacity.
"Romania continues to be a loyal ally of Moldova, we have a strategic partnership and will fully support Moldova in case of an attack.
"Largely, yes (if Romania intervenes to help Moldova, it would also involve NATO). But remember, we have a law requiring the Romanian state to assist Romanian citizens abroad in case of conflict.
"Romania has the political, military, and other tools to support Moldova, especially Romanian citizens in Moldova."
— General Gheorghiţă Vlad, Chief of the Romanian General Staff
"Romania continues to be a loyal ally of Moldova, we have a strategic partnership and will fully support Moldova in case of an attack.
"Largely, yes (if Romania intervenes to help Moldova, it would also involve NATO). But remember, we have a law requiring the Romanian state to assist Romanian citizens abroad in case of conflict.
"Romania has the political, military, and other tools to support Moldova, especially Romanian citizens in Moldova."
— General Gheorghiţă Vlad, Chief of the Romanian General Staff
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From: surfing, watching for sharks
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
You guys far and away got the better end of the deal throughout the decades.
So many aerodrome closures, 'capability holidays' and the creeping cancer of contractorisation...
