Posted on 08/13/2015 12:34:32 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Russian and NATO drills indicate they are “preparing for a possible confrontation”, in a political climate which risks accidental war, a British think tank warns.
The European Leadership Network (ELN), a London-based NGO, profiled a massive Russian exercise in March and a smaller NATO drill, called Allied Shield, in June. […]
With both Russia and NATO using live fire, and with attempts to monitor what the other side is doing leading to “close military encounters” between Russian jets and NATO naval assets, the ELN warns the activities risk making “war in Europe more likely”.
“We do not suggest that the leadership of either side has made a decision to go to war … but the changed profile of these exercises is a fact and plays a role in sustaining the current climate of fear and tension in Europe”, the NGO’s director, Ian Kearns, said. …
(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...
Uh, that’s what militaries do. Rehearse for war.
Rehearsal doesn’t lead to peace. And one side here already threatened to nuke two countries.
You’re right, rehearsal for war doesn’t lead to peace. Holding hands and singing Kumbaya does.
Pure Bullsh!t. The “No Cajones” rulers in DC will opt for cream puffs at five paces...just the way they did over The Crimea.
Obviously you missed the Cold War. We did a lot of rehearsals back then. So did they.
I was the people we did not do rehearsals on that became a problem.
The article in full mentions Sweden hosting practice amphibious landings and describes them as a NATO ally. Like France and Finland (historically speaking a very touchy point for Russia) it’s not really a member of the alliance. Russia running ops near and within Swedish airspace and waters, and making not so quiet noises about retaking the Baltics, is pushing “neutrals” like Sweden and Finland into a sort of quasi-membership, “mutual assistance” alliance with NATO. Good job, Putin.
Doesn’t serve to put words in people’s mouths. I’m a big believer in Washington’s “at all times ready for war” stance, as well as Sun Tzu’s tenet of “breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting”.
There is one force that is too absent from the NATO side of the equation, especially in this arena. It stays absent, then the Russians are not intimidated and the European side thinks they can throw off all of their restraints.
Yes, we in particular did, but the current NATO structure has us at the sidelines and a European in command, and that means European expansionary interests control the NATO side.
I never said I opposed rehearsals. But we’re not the ones rehearsing, to the degree we ought to.
This is nuts. When is Europe going to take care of itself? Why are we pimping with a nuclear power? Why are we looking at sending more troops anywhere while our own borders are wide open and we’re being invaded by third world hordes and Muslims, who want to force us all to convert? And then there is the fact that the US is broke and the debt keeps getting worse.
Yes, just what we need - spend more money, get involved in another war, put even greater burdens on our military - and all for the Europeans who do nothing but take our support and sneer at us at all times. Brilliant.
If Europe “take(s) care of itself” this time around, they turn themselves into a left-wing empire. It was bad enough during the Cold War with all the double agents there; cutting them loose, with their anti-US and anti-Israel attitudes, means a repeat of 1914 and 1939.
Europe already is a left wing empire. The Muslims will take over before the Russians do.
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