Posted on 11/10/2008 6:19:33 PM PST by bruinbirdman
Britain is to take command of the European Union's first naval mission which will seek to tackle the growing threat from pirates off the coast of Somalia.
In what Herve Morin, the French defence minister, hailed as a "marvellous symbol" of moves towards a Euro-military and defence policy, Operation Atalanta will next month take to the high seas in the Gulf of Aden to protect United Nations aid shipments and commercial vessels which are repeatedly hijacked.
The Eunavor force - made up of at least seven ships, including three frigates, a supply vessel and support from surveillance aircraft - will be commanded by Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Philip Jones of Britain's Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood.
"Our participation in the Somalia project is an important one," said David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary.
Mr Morin revealed that Britain had initially been "a bit hesitant" when he asked the Royal Navy to head the mission last month, describing European naval co-operation as not "a great priority" for Britain.
But he added: "Britain is a great maritime power. It is a nice symbol that this operation be commanded by a British officer and from a British headquarters. It is a good symbol of the evolution in European defence, and I would say, of its coming of age."
Geoffrey Van Orden, Conservative Euro-MP and Tory defence spokesman in Europe, has questioned the motive behind an EU-led naval mission when EU countries are already contributing ships for Nato's anti-piracy operations in the area.
"Nato is best able to mount such an operation on behalf of the UN," he said.
"The EU is desperate to find military operations that it can stick its flag on in order to give credibility to its defence pretensions."
Contributions to the EU naval force will also come from France, Germany, Greece,
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
It’s about time. These are the people who have been having hysterical crapfits because the USA is acting like “the policeman of the world.” Guess what? The world needs policemen, and if it’s about time someone else stepped up besides the Americans.
The EU says they can’t violate their human rights by attacking them ... read it in The Sun ...
“...describing European naval co-operation as not “a great priority” for Britain.”
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probably became a little higher priority with the latest AQ statement mentioning AQ control of southern Somalia as proof that they will be the ones that the next attack will alter economic and political world.
Something is brewing down there that is not good. I’ve posted elsewhere about my concerns about the “Somali pirates” and the possibility of an AQ operation to plant dirty bombs on “hijacked” vessels.
Probably became a little higher priority with the election of a foreign policy pacifist in the U.S.A. Ask the Poles.
yitbos
There is already an organization and corporate knowledge in place with CTF 150. This stupid posing on the part of the EU. I’m surprised the Brits are buying into this.
yitbos
The Euro effort will be toothless at best. The pirates will be picked up, given to authorities (if there are any) onshore an will be back in business in no time. The West as a world power militarily and socially is in decline and BHO will help to accelerate the process. The barbarians will be at our shores before we realize that not fighting a war to win only empowers our weaker enemies to overcome our military strength.
You got that right.
Pirates protected from EU task force by human rights
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