tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post5600463557245711232..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: "Of Psychopaths and Presidential Candidates"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-5995039733801105192016-08-31T01:44:46.291+02:002016-08-31T01:44:46.291+02:00A fraction of European land and sea power would su...A fraction of European land and sea power would suffice to protect CONUS against whatever imaginary threat it might face. You're plain wrong with your "ensure".<br /><br />I think you're also wrong with your interpretation of American politicians. They don't complain that Europeans don't plan for the defence of the U.S.. That may be what some Tea Partiers say. <br /><br />The SecDefs know that USN air power and army NG alone would already suffice for ACTUAL defence of the United States.<br /><br />American politicians criticize European military policies because they hope for more auxiliary forces to become available for stupid Neocon-style wars.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-12403190884061878582016-08-30T23:26:02.229+02:002016-08-30T23:26:02.229+02:00The North Atlantic Treaty is a military alliance t...The North Atlantic Treaty is a military alliance that calls not just for the defense of Europe, but also the defense of *North America*. <br /><br />This blog advocates positions that, if followed, would ensure that Europeans lack meaningful capabilities applicable to the defense of *North America*.<br /><br />American Secretaries of Defense are political (and bureaucratic) creatures, but their pointed and public criticisms of European defense policy, correct or not, reflect American concerns that <br />Europeans expect the USA to come to their aid, but have no intention of returning the favor. President Clinton has also said as much.<br /><br />I am happy to concede these points if you can refute them, but a NATO that is unwilling (or unable) to defend North America is a worthless to Canada and the USA. <br /><br />GABAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-49008473826262767472016-08-29T22:51:13.683+02:002016-08-29T22:51:13.683+02:00They ran out of selected PGMs, and that was a prob...They ran out of selected PGMs, and that was a problem because they didn't want to kill civilians nearby or go low into ManPADS range.<br /><br />European air forces have many times more munitions than were expended in Libya, of course. It's not ideal, but then again even the lavishly budgeted USAF had a severe HARM shortage a couple times.<br /><br />The U.S. does pretty much nothing about Putin, and its government is utterly stuck at the highest levels. So there's little Americans can blame Europeans about concerning political cohesion without an unhealthy dosage of hypocrisy.<br /><br />You fell for the most obvious SecDef propaganda. Of course they want more budget, more recognition, more TV time, more personnel for THEIR ministry. That's utterly predictable from the heads of bureaucracies. I covered this many times. <br /><br />Europe has no quantity or budgeting shortfall. It has army sluggishness, air force laziness and navy irrelevance issues as well as varying degrees of procurement system rot.<br /><br />And you clearly didn't read or understand my post on the utility of NATO. The reason why even Europe as a military powerhouse remains in NATO is quite obvious to people with West German background; it's the same motive as behind (West) Germany's grand strategy.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-37719881277524441052016-08-29T21:49:44.463+02:002016-08-29T21:49:44.463+02:00The lynch pin of western militaries is their air f...The lynch pin of western militaries is their air forces, but the ineffectiveness of European airpower was well demonstrated in Libya. Running out of bombs, C2, and tanker support in the middle of operations (that Europeans chose to participate in) is an embarrassment. <br /><br />The lack of collective political will to address Vladimir Putin in any effective way is visible on a daily basis.<br /><br />As to the "extreme powerhouse that is European NATO" - 1) the current and former SECDEFs do not believe it - hence the wrangling about NATO budgets, and 2) if it were true, European countries would politely thank all non-European members of NATO for their support and then ask them to remove their forces. Either the EU "has it" or it does not.<br /><br />GABAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-33072882112973906342016-08-29T20:44:15.737+02:002016-08-29T20:44:15.737+02:00On the one hand: Brexit, Hungary’s plan to double ...On the one hand: Brexit, Hungary’s plan to double the fence with Serbia, Austrian elections, and European ‘racism, islamophobia and anti-refugee stance’ (especially the Visegrad group and the Baltic states) are EU problems. In that respect the Visegrad group and the Baltic States resemble more their Slavic cousins, the Russians, as they do not tolerate to see and smell other skin colours, dressing habits, spices and religions/beliefs. Western and Mediterranean Europe have a more phlegmatic stance toward immigration.<br /><br />On the other hand: Turkey’s crackdown on ‘supposed opponents’ and its intervention in Syria against PKK-affiliates and daesh attacks are internal and cross-border problems. <br />Conspiracy theories have already emerged: the failed coup in Turkey was an enormous orchestrated scenario, etc. inside job like 9/11; I don’t want to get into that.<br /><br />By the way PKK held a pacific demonstration on August 28th 2016 afternoon, at Place de la Bastille in Paris, with music, PKK red flag and red star, Abdullah Öcalan flags and communist (soviet) flags (The hammer and sickle).<br /><br />Turkey has the right to self defence against daesh and any other terrorist organisation in Syria, the same way as other NATO members do: Belgium, France, USA or UK (with bombing and troops on the ground). Syria does not control that territory.<br />What is pitiful is how Turkish and Kurd leaders cannot come to an agreement on anything?<br />PKK multiply terrorist attacks inside Turkey, Turkey crack down on PKK, it’s a vicious circle, and USA in somewhere in there, ally of Turkey and sponsor of Kurds (YPG and SDF). <br /><br />I think there is a bigger concern for NATO to have Russia extend its influence in the Mediterranean (Tartous) with air base and naval base and the deployment of modern EWC, air defence etc. One might know when the Russians come, but one does not know when they will leave. They could be able to repeat the Crimean scenario again and build a 2nd Kaliningrad in Syria. Russian ultimate dream it Istanbul, and that is not a secret since Stalin.<br />Anyways, it’s a move that Tel Aviv does not appreciate and they told that to Washington: they don’t like the Russia – Iran – Hezbollah – Assad – (China) alliance so close to their borders. And since Israel’s words are like God’s Words…<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-67481344453298617162016-08-29T15:19:44.296+02:002016-08-29T15:19:44.296+02:00This wasn't about the utility of NATO, it was ...This wasn't about the utility of NATO, it was about possible unacceptable affiliations (and troubles) in NATO.<br /><br />I wrote about utility and non-utility of NATO earlier.<br />https://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2010/04/military-spending-free-riding.html<br />https://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2009/05/utility-of-nato.html<br />and those two posts are in stark conflict with your claims and assumptions about NATO.<br /><br />You're also apparently in extreme ignorance about the military powerhouse that is European NATO:<br />https://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2015/10/military-im-balance-in-europe.html<br />https://defense-and-freedom.blogspot.de/2015/02/countering-russia-with-military-spending.html<br /><br />Besides, I would call your claim about "everyone knows" unsubstantiated if I would insist on politeness, but it actually is an obvious lie. And I cease to be polite when being polite means to tolerate actual offences against good manners.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-6214311814680073342016-08-29T14:53:49.603+02:002016-08-29T14:53:49.603+02:00Treaties go both ways, and NATO does not do very m...Treaties go both ways, and NATO does not do very much for the protection of North America, particularly Canada and the USA.<br /><br />NATO remains a great boon for Europe, but not so great for those of us on the other side of the Atlantic. <br /><br />A few years ago some Chinese officials made the outrageous claim that the Chinese were entitled to Canadian Artic resources - it was laughable threat at the time and unthinkable; but everyone knows that no European country, with the possible exception of the UK, would ever honor their NATO obligation to support Canada in a fight against the Chinese.<br /><br />NATO was a great idea in its day, but no one with any sense sees western European countries as capable or reliable allies in the 21st century.<br /><br />GABAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com