Economically, politically

What lets Europe down is poor eastern Europe countries, maybe like Buffalo in USA

Europe has some time to go. In military wise.

Imagine Europe with Military like British forces quality.

So, you believe Europe is now one nation...not a union of nations? It speaks with one voice?

one voice.......lol I wish, maybe in the DISTANT future. I disagree with ppl whom say EU will fall or die out. is not the USSR.

The most hated man in my opinion is Chirac, french farmers.............sheesh.

ppl doubt the Euro now ddint they. Yet became stronger than the dollar. Personally join the GBP.

quote:

Originally posted by paulmanserUK:
one voice.......lol I wish, maybe in the DISTANT future.

Isn't it hard to be politically powerful when you don't speak with "one unified voice"?

I mean, its okay to have disagreement and debate...but if you do not have a strong majority speaking as one, then your power is diluted and therefore minimal.

For now yes, but were not talking years

The EU started off as an economic constorium to stregnthen the flagging European economy in the last half of the 20th century. It has expanded it's power considerably however with the establishment of the European Health Consortium, as well as the ability to apply political and economic pressure to member states to bring them inline with the total groups agenda.
Interestingly, it is beginning to parallel the evolution of the United States.
The US is actually a Union of 50 individual nations (United STATES of America) that agree to answer to a centralized authority selected by the populace of each of those nations. Originally all the original states made their own laws, maintained their own militaries, and printed their own money. Eventually, over time those states realized that they would be more effective and stronger if all those things became centralized under the Federal government.

Basically the same thing is beginning to happen in Europe. The individual continental nations are realizing that they will be much stronger in every sense imaginable if they centralize and unite. It is already happening economically, and a military consortium is the natural next step.

If current geopolitics remain constant, by the end of this century Europe will effectively be one nation, with each 'state' retaining a small military force not unlike our national guards, but the greater bulk of troops and equipment will be concentrated in an EU army of considerable power.
Today really the only aspect of military hardware that the US leads the world in is Avionics and Naval warfare. Most of our land equipment is of European origin (M1 based off of Challenger chassis and armored with chobham armor of british design, M1 main gun of german design, Anti-tank weapons of Swedish design, small arms weapons designed and built in Belgium, germany, and Italy).
Europe definatley has the potential to become a major military superpower, and it would not necessarily be a bad thing. Think about signifigant military foils to China, India, and Russia on both sides of their borders. It would certainly make them think twice.

Turkish Military Personnel to Take Over Execution of NATO Air Policing Mission Over the Baltic States

(Source: Lithuanian Ministry of Defence; issued March 29, 2006)

On Friday, 31 March an official ceremony of replacement of contingents involved in the NATO leadership-sanctioned air-policing mission in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is due to take place at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Siauliai, during which the Turkish Air Force will officially take over the mission from the Polish Air Force.

The ceremony will be attended by Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Gediminas Kirkilas, Undersecretary of the Polish Ministry of National Defence Stanislaw Koziej, Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Major General Valdas Tutkus, representative from the Turkish Air Force, Brigadier General Nejdat Bilgin, commanders of the Air Forces of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Turkish military personnel will carry out the air-policing mission by four F-16 fighters, serviced by some 80 Turkish troops.

Turkey is due to start the new rotation of countries involved in the mission which is scheduled to be in force by the end of 2007. From now on the mission will cover four months. Upon completion of the mission, Turkish military personnel will be replaced by a Spanish contingent; thereafter the mission will be attended by Belgium, the military personnel of which were the first to start the air-policing mission over the Baltic States.

The NATO air policing mission in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia commenced on 29 March 2004 upon the countries’ accession to NATO. The mission has already been attended by detachments from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom and the US.

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...[related]...


Baltics Want To Build Defense Capacities to Patrol Own Skies

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Thu, 30 Mar 2006, 00:53
link

The parliamentary defense committees of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania called on their governments to build up the three states’ defense capabilities to allow them to take over patrols of the Baltic skies from other NATO members.

”The aim is to gradually increase the capability of our own countries to take over the patrolling of our skies,” Trivimi Velliste, head of the Estonian parliament’s defense committee, told AFP after a meeting of officials from all three Baltic states in Tallinn.

”First, we need proper military airfields, then planes,” he said.
Defense officials at the meeting passed a resolution urging their governments “to continue working towards establishment of a permanent NATO air policing solution in cooperation with the allies”.

Currently, older NATO member states take turns to patrol the skies of the three Baltic states which emerged from Soviet rule 15 years ago as they do not have the capacity to police the airspace themselves.

While NATO has not set a deadline for them to assume responsibility for their own airspace, “we have been notified we should gradually take the patrols over ourselves”, Velliste said.

The sky patrols are currently carried out by Poland, with Turkey due to take over at the beginning of next month.

The NATO fighters are based in Lithuania and are mustered to fly north, to the other two Baltic states, in the event of a breach of Baltic air space.

The Baltic states, which joined NATO on in 2004, were initially encouraged to focus their military contributions to the alliance on areas such as peacekeeping, rather than acquiring expensive new fighter jets.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:
So, you believe Europe is now one nation...not a union of nations? It speaks with one voice?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA 1 Voice? LOL germany does not even have 1 UNITED VOICE!

quote:

Originally posted by paulmanserUK:
They actually did alot of good. English langauge wide spread for 1.

Bad for america in one way though, raped their women, burned down white hosue and, well kicked *** yahooooooooooo lol.

Oh PaulmanserUK before you can say that they did something good like spreading the English Language, you should learn how to use it.

Your Grammer and Spelling is worse than mine.

The spread of the English language is only good from one perspective: The native speaker of the English language.

The English language is actually one of the most limiting languages linguistically in use today. It lacks the expressive abilities of many other languages and is incredibly hard to master, even for native speakers- much more so than 3/4 of the lanuages in use today.
It's spread is representative of the kind of Cultural and Political Imperialism that goes against everything that America stands for. That is why America has no official language (note the differances between American Standard English and Imperial Queens English). Our continued success depends on our ability to act as a melting pot for all cultures, both linguistically and culturally.

No NATO Nukes in New Member Countries

(Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Defence; issued April 12, 2006)

Issues related to NATO’s nuclear policy and nonproliferation weapons for mass destruction were discussed at the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivailo Kalfin and Guy Roberts, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Weapons of Mass Destruction and in charge of the Alliance’s nuclear policy.

Guy Roberts confirmed the fundamental principles underpinning NATO’s nuclear policy and pointed out that the Alliance has no intention, no plan and no reason to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of the new member countries.

The two discussed also opportunities for Bulgarian civil servants to be employed as trainees at NATO’s nuclear policy department.

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Inauguration of New Nordic Battle Group Headquarters

(Source: Swedish Armed Forces; issued May 29, 2006)

The headquarters of the Nordic Battle Group (NBG) have been officially inaugurated. During a ceremony at the regiment of Uppland, representatives from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia signed a cooperation agreement.

On January 1, 2008, Sweden, together with Norway, Finland and Estonia and possibly Ireland will constitute the fifth European battle group out of eleven planned. The preparations have been going on for some time. Among others the NBG-headquarters in Enköping have been assigned with personnel. The ceremony on last Monday constituted the inauguration of the unit's headquarters and the subordinated units in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Estonia, who will be training the incorporated units in the Nordic Battle Group.

Lieutenant-General Mats Nilsson, Head of the unit supply process, declared during his speech that a lot of the preparations have been terminated, however there is still a lot of work to do before the NBG will be ready for a mission at a maximum distance of 6000 kilometres from Brussels.

The Brigadier Karl Engelbrektsson received a blue and yellow banner marked with a "V", which among others symbolises that the NBG constitutes the fifth European Union battle group that is set up. “It is a great personal honour for me to receive the banner and to be the Commander of the staff,” said Engelbrektsson.

According to Mats Nilsson the inauguration of the NGB is symbolic, since it is a distinct sign of the Swedish Armed Forces conversion: “During the last years the Swedish Armed Forces have diminished to an important extent and several units have been phased out. However, this time a new unit is set up and it constitutes a symbol of the new direction of the Swedish Armed Forces.”

The Nordic Battle Group will preliminary be manned by approximately 2 400 officers and soldiers as per contract. Sweden is the dominating nation with about 2 000 individuals. Sweden is also responsible for the manning of the major part of the staff and affords competencies from almost all units of the Swedish Armed Forces. Finland is planning for a participation with 200 persons, which mainly implies a mortar platoon and personnel for map service as well as CBRN (weapons with Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear agents). Norway will be in charge of a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and they are planning for 150 persons. Estonia will participate with approximately 50 persons and they will be responsible for a security platoon and a close protection platoon.

There is a possibility that Ireland, as a fifth partner, will be included in the Nordic Battle Group. In the affirmative case Ireland would be involved in the sectors for close protection and medical care. There will be a decision taken in this matter shortly.

The reason for the NBG headquarters to be seated in Enköping is quite natural, according to Lieutenant-General Mats Nilsson: “Several alternatives were available, but the most natural of them was Enköping, since there is a logical link to the command and control systems as well as to the development of them.”

The Nordic Battle Group will consist of officers, that are already appointed to various tasks as well as conscripts. The recruitment of conscripts will start among those conscripts, who begin their military service this summer as well as those, who have recently finished their military service.

During next year the first large scale exercises will be effected, and at the turn of the years 2007/2008, the Nordic Battle Group will be ready for mission.

The agreement was signed by Lieutenant-General Mats Nilsson, Sweden, Brigadier Roar Sundseth, Norway, Major-General Markku Koli, Finland and Lieutenant-General Johannes Kert, Estonia.

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Finland to send Border Guards and Aircraft to Canary Islands

(Source: STT Finnish government news; issued June 2, 2006)

Finland is to send Border Guard staff and a Dornier surveillance aircraft to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants in the Canary Islands, the government said Friday.

The cabinet committee on EU affairs also recommends that Finland take part in border control in Malta.

Spain has issued a formal request for assistance to other member states via Frontex, the EU border agency.

Officials say about 10,000 people have this year entered the Canary Islands illegally from Africa.

The Border Guard Dornier Do 228 is to take part in the Canary Islands operation for a fortnight, beginning late June. In addition to the aircraft crew, two to four experts are to be deployed in the Canary Islands and one to two in Malta.

Frontex, which is headed by a Finnish colonel, is expected to cover some of the costs of the Finnish deployment.

-ends-

Final Test for NATO Response Force

(Source: Allied Command Europe; issued June 6, 2006)

SHAPE, Belgium --- Some 7,000 sailors, soldiers and aircrew of NATO’s Response Force, known as the NRF, will hold a major exercise in Cape Verde from 15 to 28 June 2006.

The exercise, called STEADFAST JAGUAR, will test command, control and support functions of the expeditionary force over long supply lines with only very limited host nation support.

Steadfast Jaguar is the largest exercise deployment of the NRF forces to date. It will be a significant test of NATO’s ability to project the NRF at a strategic distance from mainland Europe. The scenario for this exercise is completely fictitious.

Based around the Cape Verde Archipelago, it is sufficiently complex to provide a difficult testing ground for the planning and deployment processes. As the scenario develops, participating units will be kept busy responding to “incidents” on and around Cape Verde. These will include demonstrations of force and a relief operation for a natural disaster.

Steadfast Jaguar is being held with the kind permission and full cooperation of the government of Cape Verde. Close coordination between NATO and Cape Verde officials continues in order to minimize the negative impacts of such a large exercise. Joint Force Command Brunssum Headquarters, located in The Netherlands, is conducting the exercise.

This headquarters, which is currently responsible for leading, directing and coordinating NRF, will be joined on the exercise by other staffs to include Headquarters Eurocorps (Strasbourg, France) as Land Component Command. The Air Component Command (Ramstein, Germany), the Spanish Maritime Force, the United States Special Operations Command Europe, the German Psychological Operations Center, and the Multinational Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defence Battalion.

The NRF was created to provide the Alliance with an effective tool to face the new security threats of the 21st century. It is rapidly deployable, multinational and joint force with modern equipment.

It is able to carry out the full range of Alliance missions whenever and wherever needed, as tasked by the North Atlantic Council.

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NATO Support for FIFA World Cup in Germany

(Source: SHAPE; issued June 7, 2006)

MONS, Belgium --- At the request of German national authorities, aircraft from the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C Force) will provide airspace surveillance support during the FIFA World Cup in Germany from 7 June to 9 July.

NATO has agreed to augment German air surveillance capability by providing additional low-level coverage and radio relay in order to contribute to security during the various ceremonies and football matches that will be held throughout the Championship.

Due to the long duration of the support, both NAEW&C Force Components, the E3-A and the E-3D, will carry out this mission from their main operating bases at Geilenkirchen (Germany) and Waddington (UK), respectively.

Since NATO started to give air surveillance support in 2001 as part of the Alliance ’s contribution to the defence against global terrorism, NAEW&C Force has been assigned this type of mission in more than 30 events, including the Winter Olympic Games in Turin in February 2006 and the Pope’s visit to Poland a few days ago. In all, the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force has flown more than 3,000 hours in these missions.

The E3 aircraft, a modified Boeing 707, is equipped with a radar capable of detecting air traffic over large distances and at low altitudes. One E3-A operating at 30,000 feet generates a clear picture of aircraft movements from high to low altitude to a distance greater than 200 nautical miles (approximately 360 kilometres).

NAEW&C Force is composed of two components: the full NATO-flagged E3-A Component at Geilenkirchen, made up of 17 aircraft and multinational crews, and the E3-D Component at Waddington whose seven aircraft and crews are British.

-ends-

UK Boosts Commitment to NATO Response Force

(Source: NATO; issued June 8, 2006)

The UK has increased its commitment to the NATO Response Force (NRF) with an offer of more aircraft and support capabilities for 'NRF7', UK Defence Secretary Des Browne announced today.

The NRF was established as a trained pool of agile and capable forces to be drawn upon for rapid response to developing situations and recently assisted with the Pakistani earthquake relief effort. The UK already plays a leading role in providing capability to the NRF with the contribution of Component Commands and forces.

The offer of additional support for 'NRF7', the rotational commitment period running from July to December 2006, includes:

-- Six Jaguars;
-- Two Air to Air Refuelling assets;
-- Three Deployed Operating Base enabling elements; and
-- Four Ground Based Air Defence Rapier Fire Units.

Speaking at a meeting of NATO Defence Ministers in Brussels, Des Browne said:

"This additional commitment highlights the UK's strong support for the NATO Response Force and is a further significant contribution towards the attainment of the Alliance objective of achieving a full NRF capability by October this year.

"The NATO Response Force remains the key to our vision for the modern NATO, capable of mounting the full range of military operations but geared towards dealing with the most likely future threats."



BACKGROUND NOTES:

1. Des Browne was attending a NATO Defence Ministers' meeting at NATO HQ, Brussels on Thursday 8 June 2006.

2. The NATO Response Force (NRF) achieved its initial operational capability in October 2004, and is aiming to achieve full operational capability by October 2006.

3. NATO's member nations commit forces to the NRF on a rotational basis so they can go through a process of training and certification, followed by an operational stand-by period of six months. This guarantees the permanent existence of a combat-ready deployable NRF.

4. UK current commitment (to NRF 6 January to July 06) includes HQ 3 (UK) Div as the Land Component Command HQ with HQ 19 Brigade and significant Force Elements including logistics enablers. The Air Component is commanded by the UK Joint Force Air Component (JFAC) HQ and assigned Force Elements include Tornado GR4 and F3, AAR and C130 aircraft as well as command and control and air defence capabilities.

5. The UK is routinely committed to command each of the NRF component HQs. The next Maritime Component command for the UK is between July and December 2007 for NRF 9. The next Land Component Lead is NRF 13 (July - December 09 and will be renamed NRF 09/2) with the JFACHQ commanding the Air Component again for NRF 11 (July - December 08).

6. Jaguar Aircraft from 6 Sqn based at RAF Coningsby will provide NRF with additional ground attack and reconnaissance capabilities to support ground operations. These aircraft can be fitted with a variety of unguided and precision weapons.

7. The Ground Based Air Defence Rapier Fire Units will be manned by the RAF for the first four months and by 16 Regiment Royal Artillery for the latter two months.

8. The tankers, most likely VC10s, from RAF Brize Norton will provide an air-to-air refuelling capability to enhance the range and endurance of NATO aircraft assigned to the NRF.

9. 121 Expeditionary Air Wing, based at RAF Coningsby, will provide support to NRF. This will include general administrative support and the offer of a Fire & Rescue team and a Mobile Catering Unit.

10. Today's offer of addition forces is in addition to those the UK has already committed to NRF7, namely:
-- One Frigate;
-- One Mine Counter Measures vessel;
-- One Hydrographic vessel;
-- Deployed Operating Base enabling elements; and
-- Meteorological support.

The UK also commits Sentry E3D AWACS aircraft to NATO's Standing AWACS force which will support the NRF if required

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NATO to Focus on Small-Scale Operations

(Source: NATO; issued June 8, 2006)

Meeting in Brussels on 8 June, NATO Defence Ministers approved new planning targets for NATO countries, to be able to conduct a greater number of smaller-scale operations than NATO has planned for in the past.

However, the Alliance will also retain its ability to carry out larger operations.

The Ministers of Defence of the 25 NATO countries in the Defence Planning Committee approved what is called ‘Ministerial Guidance’ for the Alliance’s force planning process.

Substantial realignment

While the document itself is classified and will not be published by the Alliance, NATO Spokesman James Appathurai told reporters this means NATO would no longer be planning for “one big war”.

Instead, the Alliance’s planning process will be geared to ensuring that NATO can conduct a greater number of the more likely smaller-scale operations – at brigade or division level (up to 30,000 troops) – with less emphasis on the larger-scale operations – at corps level (up to 60,000 troops).

“NATO has gone through very fundamental changes in term of what it has done and what is doing and this would bring the force planning into line with the realities of the 21 st century, ” Mr. Appathurai said, “It is a substantial realignment of the way in which NATO will plan to structure its forces.”

At present, the Alliance and its partner countries have some 28,000 troops on operations and missions in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Iraq and the Mediterranean, with the bulk in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

By the end of this year, the Alliance will lead up to 25,000 troops in Afghanistan.

James Appathurai said that the Ministerial guidance also set out to ensure that NATO has “effective working arrangements” to work with other actors, such as other international organisations and NGOs.

The document is based on the so-called Comprehensive Political Guidance, which was agreed by NATO countries last year.

Defence planning in the Alliance is a fundamental element of the arrangements which enable its member countries to enjoy the crucial political, military and resource advantages of collective defence and other common military efforts to enhance security and stability.

The process seeks to ensure that the Alliance has the requisite forces, assets, facilities and capabilities to fulfill its tasks. As such, it covers both NATO's own capabilities and those of Allied countries.

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NATO troops in Afghanistan try `people-friendly' approach

By Kim Barker
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published June 13, 2006
link

KABUL, Afghanistan -- The men were on a mission, looking for mullahs, schools and a nightclub called The Pink Flamingo.

The British soldiers walking through downtown Kabul were also a bit of a spectacle, wearing camouflage uniforms and carrying SA80 combat rifles, a scene previously rare in Afghanistan's relatively secure capital.

"Do you know the nearest mosque?" Lt. Jim McMillan asked two Afghans, one holding a tea kettle and the other wearing a Hard Rock Honolulu shirt. "Do you know where the senior man around here is?"

This foot patrol is part of an effort by the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, to get close to Afghans, to find out what community leaders want. Although ISAF troops have gone on foot patrols from other bases, these patrols in the heart of Kabul are the first sent out of ISAF headquarters.

The daily patrols started about six weeks ago, when Lt. Gen. David Richards took over as commander of ISAF. They illustrate the "people-friendly" approach the NATO-led international force will take late next month when it takes over security for six troubled southern provinces from the U.S.-led coalition.

This transition comes at a key point for Afghanistan, still recovering from 23 years of war and the fall of the Taliban almost five years ago. At the same time, Taliban remnants and other insurgents have mounted their most serious challenge to Afghanistan's fledgling democracy since early 2002. Much of the fighting has been in the south, in Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, also home to the bulk of the country's poppy crop, the raw material for heroin. The Taliban now controls some parts of these provinces.

On Thursday, NATO defense ministers reaffirmed their commitment to expand in Afghanistan, despite the increased insurgency. After the transition, ISAF troops will increase to 17,000 from about 9,000 throughout Afghanistan. The level of U.S. troops, now at 23,000, will decrease, but it's not clear by how much.

Troop strength in southern Afghanistan will double, to about 6,000 under ISAF.

As for the most troubled provinces, Canadian forces have already moved into Kandahar province, British forces are almost finished deploying in Helmand, and the Dutch have just started moving into Uruzgan.

In an interview, Richards said he hoped to build on the U.S. military approach in southern Afghanistan. He said the foot patrols in Kabul were an example of how he planned to tackle the south--by talking to Afghans, listening to their needs and helping more with reconstruction, rather than just hunting down insurgents.

Richards said the ISAF troops would fight the Taliban when required, but would not necessarily chase down every report of Taliban insurgents hiding in the hills.

"I may say, `Let them fester,'" Richards said. "Why am I going to go fight in their terrain? I'm going to remain very unpredictable."

U.S. troops have faced criticism for not working enough with Afghans and for performing raids and major operations without enough evidence or government permission.

But some experts and officials question whether NATO's "hearts and minds" approach is the answer in southern Afghanistan, or whether this could just allow the Taliban to gain more strength. Experts also question whether some countries in NATO have the political will to handle the casualties certain to come in the south.

One U.S. official said he was particularly concerned about the British approach in Helmand province, where most of the country's poppies are grown.

"You cannot be, `We just want to win everybody's hearts and minds and be nice to everybody and go along and by the way, we'll never do anything about drugs or this and that because it's not on our horizon, it's not on our screen,'" the U.S. official said. "I'm like, impossible."

Richards and other ISAF officials said they will have enough troops to tackle reconstruction and the Taliban. Troops will move into places where they have never been, where they will likely find more resistance from the Taliban.

Many experts believe the Taliban has stepped up its fight this year to take advantage of the transition in power, new troops on the ground and the unpopularity of the war in some NATO countries.

Mullah Ibrahim, a Taliban ground commander in Helmand province, said in a telephone interview that Taliban forces have captured two districts in Helmand since the British arrived.

"But if they are Americans or Canadians or British forces, it doesn't matter for us," Ibrahim said. "They are thieves who are not from our neighborhood and do not know about our homes. They have come from far away and are not as familiar with our soil as we are. And even if we fight them with stones, they will not be able to win."

Most experts agree that this will be the crunch year for Afghanistan, a time when the Taliban, poppies and corruption will be defeated or the country could slide back into chaos.

The British soldiers who patrol Kabul out of ISAF headquarters said they believed their "people-friendly" approach allows them to connect more with Afghans, even if they worried that Afghans were not being entirely honest. Afghans often tell foreigners not what they think, but what they think foreigners want to hear.

The mission this day was a baby step. Soldiers found the mosque, but at prayer time, so they could not talk to the mullah. Soldiers did not have time to track down The Pink Flamingo, a nightclub that the Afghan government wants to know more about.

"Does everybody go to school, or do only certain people go?" McMillan, the lieutenant, asked a young man wearing a pistol-shaped belt buckle.

"Girls and boys go," replied Ahmad Afredi, 21, a painter.

"What do you think?" McMillan asked.

"I'm hopeful," said Afredi, grinning.