tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post6871819453235947799..comments2024-03-27T20:37:08.065+01:00Comments on Defence and Freedom: Aftermath of the South Ossetian War('s hottest phase so far)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-58045480374091188452012-12-04T20:13:02.985+01:002012-12-04T20:13:02.985+01:00Poland can have additional depth if they set up mi...Poland can have additional depth if they set up military bases in Germany and Germany forward deploys in Poland with lots of joined training. That will also have economic benefits of European integration due to getting to know each other for the time out of the military (look at the economic growth in these countries!).<br />In the Baltic, we do have already a token small airforce sent by various European nations.<br /><br />The essence is organizing a European defence with troops from all European NATO countries stationed in the border regions and troops from the broders going to the core - for more training in interoperation. I don't think we need Cold War permanent deployment levels, but the credible challenge posed not only by the locals, but all their allies is a pretty good deterrence against would-be agressors and good for integration of militaries and nations into an alliance. This drive should not be limited to the Eastern border against Russia, but on a wider scale (like the German permanent presence on Sardinia) for the benefit of mutuality in defence and really knowing each other in depth (testing and exchanging ideas and concepts) - possible with the current professional volunteer forces in Europe, unlike the prior conscript forces.<br /><br />Why we have to defend, has a lot to do with attitudes, there are Russians living in the Baltic states and they do suffer from Baltic nationalism. From a Russian perspective, this offers a popular casus belli. Deploying German troops with Russian roots can help a lot to make the Baltic Russians perceive more than nationalist oppression. Together with a stronger common defence, we must strengthen our European values that NATO falls short off with their history of military dictatorships in the alliance.<br /><br />Stronger defence for the Baltic states is in my opinion a real reason to pick up the amphibious warfare ideas during the founding times of the German post-WWII navy. Such an amphibious approach certainly differs from the giant US gators and would be rather along the lines of Dutch, Danish and down to Israeli (float with a tank on it) amphibious approaches. Germany could contribute via fast ferries.<br /><br />KurtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-70602586680953755902008-08-19T16:34:00.000+02:002008-08-19T16:34:00.000+02:00Hmm, Turkey is stronger than all its neighbours. T...Hmm, Turkey is stronger than all its neighbours. The area isn't stable or peaceful, but there's no probable scenario for an attack on Turkey in my opinion.<BR/>The Baltic states and even Poland are a very different case, though.<BR/>Their armed forces aren't impressive.<BR/>Poland's forces are roughly half as numerous as Germany's, and they go for an all-volunteer army, will have few reserve personnel by 2015-2020.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-67498415379114413092008-08-19T15:57:00.000+02:002008-08-19T15:57:00.000+02:00It´s really a shame that NATO turned into a more a...It´s really a shame that NATO turned into a more and more political alliance and lost the focus of it´s military power. I really wonder if there is any kind of serious planning for a conventional conflict threatening the exterior borders of NATO. And looking at them one doesn´t get the best of feelings. The southeast border of Turkey and so of NATO (alot seem to forget about that fact) with Syria, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Georgia...not the most stable and friendly countries to have borders with-as was shown now. The Russian minority in the Baltic could again be a cause for troubles in the future. I don´t want to paint this picture too black...however it´s not as light as many politicians might see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-33221474686106984432008-08-18T16:17:00.000+02:002008-08-18T16:17:00.000+02:00Hi,it's nice to see someone from WHQ again!(as lon...Hi,<BR/>it's nice to see someone from WHQ again!<BR/>(as long as it's not Goschi or Praetorian)<BR/><BR/>The Allied Europe Command Mobile Force had never the size to do more than power projection AFAIK.<BR/>Its C2 elements were disbanded in 2002 IIRC and the land forces component is only a brigade-sized puzzle of 14!!! nationalities.<BR/>http://www.nato.int/docu/handbook/2001/hb1207020305.htm<BR/>My guess is that it's not exactly designed to stop a Russian-style offensive (poor cohesion, air-mobile), but to show alliance commitment at a hot spot. <BR/><BR/>I remember reports that the AMF readiness and availability suffered from the expedition demands of the member states.<BR/><BR/>I remember reports about member states losing interest in both NATO and EU multinational units because they wanted to have these for their national participation in expeditions like Afghanistan/Iraq.<BR/><BR/>The Georgia war might be a health wake-up call. It's sad that this required several thousand dead instead of being a self-evident insight based on analysis alone.S Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03359796414832859686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-386077914312449748.post-58539702741856858112008-08-18T11:41:00.000+02:002008-08-18T11:41:00.000+02:00Very interesting post, I had the same thoughts in ...Very interesting post, I had the same thoughts in the past days. Is NATO´s AMF(L) still active? Just like in the Cold War they could be used as a fire brigade to buy time. Another problem with the Baltic states is that their forces are light with no heavy assistance(although I heard rumors that at least one country considers to build up one tank or mixed mechanized battalion for the purpose of knowledge in this area). But I agree that the question of how to defend the borders against a conventional heavy force seems not to be on the agenda of NATO or it´s governments...Afghanistan and the peace-keeping missions on the Balkans certainly clouded many minds. Hopefully that cloud will drift away after what happened with Georgia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com