Free Republic

NATO’s new rapid-reaction “spearhead” force, meant as a deterrent to Russian aggression, should be up and running with initial capabilities in less than a year, a top alliance official said Thursday. The creation of a 4,000 to 5,000 troop response force, which will be able to respond to a crisis in eastern Europe within two to three days, was a key decision taken by NATO leaders earlier this month in Wales. The force represents a calculation by NATO that Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t risk going head-to-head with the Western alliance. …

Aug 29 (Reuters) - Seven NATO allies plan to create a new rapid reaction force of at least 10,000 soldiers as part of plans to boost NATO defences in response to Russia's intervention in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

Last week a furore rightly erupted over the insistence of Ministry of Defence officials that soldiers engaged in Iraq must face prosecution for alleged offences against the European Convention on Human Rights. Earlier this month in the House of Lords, six former Chiefs of the Defence Staff joined forces to protest that this posed a major threat to the morale and future efficiency of the British Army. Only gradually emerging, however, from behind veils of official obfuscation, are the details of another, equally serious threat to the army's future, as MoD officials plan to lock it into a fully integrated...

Germany is joining France and Britain in plans for a European rapid-reaction force that could be sent to trouble spots around the world. Britain and France launched the initiative in November, aiming to set up highly mobile brigades that could be dispatched with 15 days' notice - part of Europe's efforts to build up its own military capabilities. German government spokesman Hans-Hermann Langguth said the force would help improve "the ability of the European Union to prevent and cope with world crises," though he gave no details of the German involvement. He said the plan has been presented to other...