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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 22, 2014 5:31:17 GMT -7
Up in arms: Poland accelerates missile defense plan amid Ukraine crisisPublished time: March 21, 2014 01:08  Amid growing tensions in neighboring Ukraine, Poland's Defense Ministry has announced the country will speed up its efforts for a missile defense system. Poland has announced it will boost the pace of its missile defense tender. The Thursday statement comes amid international tensions in and around Ukraine. "The issues related with Poland's air defense will be accelerated," Reuters quoted spokesman Jacek Sonta as saying. "Poland plans to choose the best offer for its missile defense in the next few weeks." The European NATO member was due to limit the number of existing bidders by June of this year. Yet, despite calls not to exacerbate tensions in the region, Poland decided to quicken the process, citing concerns over Ukraine. Current bidders for the missile defense system include: France's Thales with European group MBDA and the Polish state defense group; the Israeli government; American Raytheon; and the Lockheed Martin’s MEADS consortium. The spokesman clarified that Poland intends to sign the final agreement for the construction of the missile shield this year. The project is projected to be built by the end of 2022. Military experts estimate that the project will cost up to $13.1 billion. The shield is planned to be completed in stages. The first phase involves eight sets of mid-range interceptor rockets. The bill to ensure funding for the missile shield has already been passed, according to the spokesman. The Polish shield is not the same project as the proposed US missile shield to be installed in Poland by 2018. Poland has been very vocal during the Ukrainian crisis, boosting war fears, with senior US officials such as Vice President Joe Biden paying a visit to the country and reassuring it of NATO’s commitments. The country has also recently served as a base for the US military. The Pentagon dispatched 12 warplanes and hundreds of troops to Poland following the Crimean referendum. Before the referendum, NATO also conducted war games in Poland. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski said that "events to the east" provided a reason to protect military spending in an age of austerity, though he did not directly mention Crimea in his statement. Poland is a strategically important member of NATO, as it is a western neighbor of crisis-torn Ukraine. US Congressman Stephen Lynch spoke out in approval of Poland's decision. "I think the action in Crimea makes it abundantly clear that NATO needs to do more to upgrade its defenses, not just missile defenses," he said.
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Post by karl on Mar 22, 2014 6:40:52 GMT -7
It would so appear, withen the confines of most any post crises situation as exampled by Ukriane. Will in self, be a mechanisium of opportunity, as exampled in this situation. For the issue is fear, the answer is missile defense installations, a normal and rational response. For most of us needs be some curtain of protection to protect us from who ever wishes to raid our garden of goodies.
Perhaps as time evolves, Polish contractors will address the various needs of Ukraine once they have their house in order. For there will be a multitude of needs upon rebuilding what the Ukrainian people have destroyed in thier rush of enthusiasium of leadership change out. For one, the construction industry and civil engineering, will have a golden opportunity of clearing out the rubble for rebuild from every thing from buildings to infrastructure. That is,,,if the Ukrianian goverment obtains the hand out monies from which ever sources being the EU/Americans or which ever..
It would appear reasonable though, that due to American financing of the forces responsible for the destruction, they them selves foot the bill of rebuild.
Perhaps those that wish to play in our sand box, will in time show a bit of consideration to others with not kicking sand about so much.
Karl
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 22, 2014 20:13:40 GMT -7
The latest flare-ups came as Poland urged the US to increase its military presence in Poland and other central and eastern European Nato members. “The US must increase its presence in (central and eastern) Europe, also in Poland,” said Tomasz Siemoniak, the Polish defence minister, in a radio interview. He was speaking in the wake of a visit by Joe Biden, the US vice-president, to Poland last Tuesday, where Mr Biden confirmed existing plans to deploy a US missile shield in Poland by 2018. Mr Siemoniak added: “We will be talking about the details and I am happy that representatives of the U.S., the U.S. vice president are open towards these talks.” www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10716235/Defiant-Ukrainian-soldiers-sing-national-anthem-as-Russian-troops-storm-their-base-in-Crimea.html |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 24, 2014 5:34:12 GMT -7
It would so appear, withen the confines of most any post crises situation as exampled by Ukriane. Will in self, be a mechanisium of opportunity, as exampled in this situation. For the issue is fear, the answer is missile defense installations, a normal and rational response. For most of us needs be some curtain of protection to protect us from who ever wishes to raid our garden of goodies. Perhaps as time evolves, Polish contractors will address the various needs of Ukraine once they have their house in order. For there will be a multitude of needs upon rebuilding what the Ukrainian people have destroyed in thier rush of enthusiasium of leadership change out. For one, the construction industry and civil engineering, will have a golden opportunity of clearing out the rubble for rebuild from every thing from buildings to infrastructure. That is,,,if the Ukrianian goverment obtains the hand out monies from which ever sources being the EU/Americans or which ever.. It would appear reasonable though, that due to American financing of the forces responsible for the destruction, they them selves foot the bill of rebuild. Perhaps those that wish to play in our sand box, will in time show a bit of consideration to others with not kicking sand about so much. Ka rl
Hmmmm - - Playing in your sandbox.BBC News UK 24 March 2014 Last updated at 08:06 ET Dannatt: UK needs to retain 3,000 troops in Germany Comments (588) The UK should recruit more soldiers in light of the Ukraine and Syria crises and retain 3,000 troops in Germany, the former head of the Army has said. Lord Dannatt said that amid Nato concerns over Russian forces in Crimea, the West must have "muscle behind our message". But the Ministry of Defence currently plans to reduce the size of the Army. And Prime Minister David Cameron said he didn't think it was "necessary" to change those restructuring plans. Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2008, warned that despite the "war-weariness and war-wariness" felt by the UK, if the country was going to send "diplomatic messages" it was "better to do it from a position of some strength rather than a position of weakness". He said that extra troops would signify that the UK took "defence and security seriously". "What I'm saying is the strategic circumstances in the world have changed. And perhaps we should consider a pause in reducing our armed services and our capability, and make a small increase," he told the BBC's Today programme. "It sends a message that actually we take our defence and security seriously and that he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] should think twice before he considers any further expeditions and expansion." 'Wrong-footed ourselves' There has been a British army presence in Germany for nearly 70 years, and Lord Dannatt called upon the government to "rethink" its plans to end it. Under the 2010 strategic defence review, the government announced it wanted to withdraw all 20,000 troops in Germany, plus their families, by 2020. And current plans for cuts to the Army will see personnel numbers reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018. The number of part-time soldiers will double, from 15,000 to 30,000. Lord Dannatt told the BBC: "It's very hard to predict the future; if our defence capability is weak then at some point in the future, we may find that we have wrong-footed ourselves. "Many people think that 82,000 is too small a regular army for the UK to have, I am certainly one of those." He said that recruiting troops "would send a message to Mr Putin and others that diplomacy and economic sanctions are one thing, but there is muscle behind our message". Nato's military commander in Europe said Russian forces at the Ukrainian border were "very, very sizeable and very, very ready". Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Gen Philip Breedlove expressed specific concerns about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. The build-up has been linked to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements. Lord Dannatt made his comments ahead of a meeting between President Barack Obama and other world leaders in the Netherlands later, where the crisis in Crimea and Ukraine will be discussed. 'Properly equipped' Lord Dannatt suggested the Defence Reform Bill, which is going through the House of Lords, could be the opportunity to alter the balance between regular and reserve soldiers in the Army. Responding to the comments, Mr Cameron said: "I don't think its necessary to change our plans to base British soldiers in Britain. "But what I think is important that we send a very clear message to our Nato partners and allies that we believe in Nato and we believe in their security." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out how the armed forces would be restructured to meet future threats, including managing risks before they materialise in the UK, and maintaining a broad spectrum of defence capabilities. "With the fourth largest defence budget in the world we are reshaping our armed forces to ensure that they are properly equipped and more adaptable to future challenges and to bring the UK into line with our closest allies, who make much more use of reserve forces." |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 24, 2014 6:24:02 GMT -7
Euromaidan PREuromaidan in English – Site of the Official Public Relations Secretariat for the Headquarters of the National Resistance in Kyiv, Ukraine  Russian State Duma to the Polish Foreign Ministry: let’s divide UkrainePosted on March 24, 2014 by chornajuravka  Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received an official letter from the State Duma of the Russian Federation with a proposal to divide Ukraine’s territory. The news comes from the Wiadomości news program on TVP1 (the Polish state broadcasting company). Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma and leader of the LDPR Vladimir Zhirinovsky proposes that Poland insist on holding a referendum in five western Ukrainian Oblasts: Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Rivne, on the matter of accession to Poland. Hungary and Romania received a similar ‘offer’ regarding Zakarpattya and Chernivtsi oblasts. Only the central oblasts of Ukraine were to remain within its boundaries. The letter is ‘bizarre’ The Polish Foreign Ministry has assessed the letter as ‘bizarre’. Vladimir Zhirinovskiy will receive a courteous response without reference to the content of his letter. This Russian politician, known for his controversial statements, has previously called for the partition of Ukraine from the rostrum of the State Duma. “Kyiv will never agree to the federalization of Ukraine, as it is no longer able to govern anything,” he said then. Zhirinovskiy stressed that Ukraine’s attempts to build a state always ended in failure. He remarked that “Lutsk, Lviv, Ternopil are Polish lands.”
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Post by karl on Mar 24, 2014 18:27:46 GMT -7
It would so appear, withen the confines of most any post crises situation as exampled by Ukriane. Will in self, be a mechanisium of opportunity, as exampled in this situation. For the issue is fear, the answer is missile defense installations, a normal and rational response. For most of us needs be some curtain of protection to protect us from who ever wishes to raid our garden of goodies. Perhaps as time evolves, Polish contractors will address the various needs of Ukraine once they have their house in order. For there will be a multitude of needs upon rebuilding what the Ukrainian people have destroyed in thier rush of enthusiasium of leadership change out. For one, the construction industry and civil engineering, will have a golden opportunity of clearing out the rubble for rebuild from every thing from buildings to infrastructure. That is,,,if the Ukrianian goverment obtains the hand out monies from which ever sources being the EU/Americans or which ever.. It would appear reasonable though, that due to American financing of the forces responsible for the destruction, they them selves foot the bill of rebuild. Perhaps those that wish to play in our sand box, will in time show a bit of consideration to others with not kicking sand about so much. Ka rl
Hmmmm - - Playing in your sandbox.BBC News UK 24 March 2014 Last updated at 08:06 ET Dannatt: UK needs to retain 3,000 troops in Germany Comments (588) The UK should recruit more soldiers in light of the Ukraine and Syria crises and retain 3,000 troops in Germany, the former head of the Army has said. Lord Dannatt said that amid Nato concerns over Russian forces in Crimea, the West must have "muscle behind our message". But the Ministry of Defence currently plans to reduce the size of the Army. And Prime Minister David Cameron said he didn't think it was "necessary" to change those restructuring plans. Lord Dannatt, who was chief of the general staff between 2006 and 2008, warned that despite the "war-weariness and war-wariness" felt by the UK, if the country was going to send "diplomatic messages" it was "better to do it from a position of some strength rather than a position of weakness". He said that extra troops would signify that the UK took "defence and security seriously". "What I'm saying is the strategic circumstances in the world have changed. And perhaps we should consider a pause in reducing our armed services and our capability, and make a small increase," he told the BBC's Today programme. "It sends a message that actually we take our defence and security seriously and that he [Russian President Vladimir Putin] should think twice before he considers any further expeditions and expansion." 'Wrong-footed ourselves' There has been a British army presence in Germany for nearly 70 years, and Lord Dannatt called upon the government to "rethink" its plans to end it. Under the 2010 strategic defence review, the government announced it wanted to withdraw all 20,000 troops in Germany, plus their families, by 2020. And current plans for cuts to the Army will see personnel numbers reduced from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2018. The number of part-time soldiers will double, from 15,000 to 30,000. Lord Dannatt told the BBC: "It's very hard to predict the future; if our defence capability is weak then at some point in the future, we may find that we have wrong-footed ourselves. "Many people think that 82,000 is too small a regular army for the UK to have, I am certainly one of those." He said that recruiting troops "would send a message to Mr Putin and others that diplomacy and economic sanctions are one thing, but there is muscle behind our message". Nato's military commander in Europe said Russian forces at the Ukrainian border were "very, very sizeable and very, very ready". Supreme Allied Commander in Europe Gen Philip Breedlove expressed specific concerns about the threat to Moldova's Trans-Dniester region. The build-up has been linked to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following the removal of Ukraine's pro-Moscow president. Russia said its forces east of Ukraine complied with international agreements. Lord Dannatt made his comments ahead of a meeting between President Barack Obama and other world leaders in the Netherlands later, where the crisis in Crimea and Ukraine will be discussed. 'Properly equipped' Lord Dannatt suggested the Defence Reform Bill, which is going through the House of Lords, could be the opportunity to alter the balance between regular and reserve soldiers in the Army. Responding to the comments, Mr Cameron said: "I don't think its necessary to change our plans to base British soldiers in Britain. "But what I think is important that we send a very clear message to our Nato partners and allies that we believe in Nato and we believe in their security." A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review set out how the armed forces would be restructured to meet future threats, including managing risks before they materialise in the UK, and maintaining a broad spectrum of defence capabilities. "With the fourth largest defence budget in the world we are reshaping our armed forces to ensure that they are properly equipped and more adaptable to future challenges and to bring the UK into line with our closest allies, who make much more use of reserve forces." If the Brits wish to make an empression upon Mr. Putin, then perhaps to keep {Brits} off our soil and in this stead place their increase of troops in Poland as closer to the action. Whilst on the subject, it would be nice if the Americans would remove their Nuclear weapons off our land and with the various bases they have, to then as with the Nuks, to transfer all to Poland as added protection to them. We do not own those nuks, nor do we wish to be peacefully occupied, for the war is long past over. {It would so appear my self to be acting more like a viking then a good German fellow,,oh well, perhaps a genitic reversion,,now, why is the sign of Odin on my shield, or is that the ravin? Karl |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 25, 2014 4:47:45 GMT -7
Why are Polish men in London getting military call-up papers?
Poland feels vulnerable to Putin’s aggression: and let’s not forget, we’d be bound to help - as we did in 1939
Column LAST UPDATED AT 11:21 ON Mon 24 Mar 2014
NEXT time you take a tray of tea and custard creams to the nice gang of Polish builders renovating your semi, they may seem a little distracted and anxious. Ask them why, and they will answer that some of them have in the last few weeks received call-up papers as army reservists.
This happened to a friend of mine in London at the end of last week. At least 7,000 reservists have been recalled to the colours for immediate exercises lasting between 10 and 30 days.
They’re told by the Polish authorities that the call-ups are “routine”: but the men say they haven’t been asked before and they’re well aware of the growing alarm in Warsaw at President Putin’s aggression. Three weeks ago, their Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, called a press conference to warn that “the world stands on the brink of conflict, the consequences of which are not foreseen… Not everyone in Europe is aware of this situation.”
My own view is that Putin was initially more concerned with righting a specific historical wrong in Crimea than starting a new Cold War. This is still probably the case despite the dawning truth that the EU/Nato Emperor really has no clothes at all.
But in the worst case scenario of a truly revanchist Russia, Poland certainly has the borders from hell. Starting from the top, it abuts Kaliningrad (the Russian exclave on the Baltic carved at the end of the war from East Prussia), Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine.
None of these borders relies on any natural barriers like rivers or mountain ranges – they are just lines on a map drawn by Stalin in the full flush of victory. No wonder the Poles are feeling vulnerable.
And we should be worried, too. Poland is both a Nato and EU member. We are bound by solemn treaty to defend her in case of attack. Violation of Poland’s territorial integrity was after all why we went to war reluctantly in 1939.
Thanks to the marvellous 2012 film, The King’s Speech, we are well aware of the historical and personal drama behind King George VI’s radio address to his people on 3 September 1939 after the declaration of war against Germany. The King’s speech was couched in general terms – an appeal to international law and the Almighty.
But earlier that day the prime minister, Neville Chamberlain, had broadcast to the nation from Number 10 Downing Street in more specific terms that we should remember today: “This morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final Note stating that, unless we heard from them by 11 o'clock that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us.”
Listen to a recording, if you can. Chamberlain’s pause at this point is heartbreaking. He went on, his voice slightly lower, “I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received, and that consequently this country is at war with Germany.”
That we should defend Poland today seems to me reasonable. I am still a reservist – until my 55th birthday in December. If Russian tank columns attacked Warsaw, I would be prepared to do my bit – preferably manning a desk in the MoD, “flying a mahogany bomber” in the jargon, but if necessary, further forward. (Hopefully, not in the winter, though luckily the silk-lined combat jacket that kept me warm in the Rhine Army and South Armagh a generation ago is somewhere in the attic.)
We are as a country still in a position to help defend Poland, if necessary. The UK has tanks, armoured infantry and artillery based in Germany though they are due to be repatriated over the next few years. General Lord Dannatt has suggested today that not only should we keep our garrisons on the north German Plain for the foreseeable future, but we should reinforce them. I cannot think of a better way to warn off President Putin from any further adventurism. Perhaps David Cameron might consider reversing some of his defence cuts as well.
Poland is one thing but there are other states in Russia’s shadow who are members of both Nato and the EU. Would we fight for the vulnerable Baltic states should President Putin turn the screws on them?
They lie geographically from north to south in alphabetical order: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. All have significant and often restive Russian minorities. The populations of Estonia and Latvia are nearly a quarter ethnic Russian. The proportion in the eastern parts of Estonia is much higher. Latvia’s capital, Riga, is nearly half Russian. Lithuania is only five per cent Russian and as a result more aggressive towards them - a few days ago the government pulled the plug on a pro-Russian TV station.
In the case of Estonia, I feel a regimental, and therefore personal, connection. A company of Estonians fought gallantly with the Welsh Guards in Afghanistan in 2009. Three Estonian soldiers were killed in action, as were a number of Welsh Guardsmen, including Lieutenant-Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior officer to die since Colonel ‘H’ in the Falklands.
Welshmen feel a strong affinity for Estonians – a small and proud nation just like them that has had a difficult history, and with an acute sense of honour. The British system chose not to give Thorneloe a medal even though many other officers whose lives were never at risk picked up gongs. The Estonians, bless them, gave him posthumously their Distinguished Service Decoration.
But I fear they are going to have to work out their future with more Russian influence and pressure on their countries than they had anticipated. Both Nato and the EU have made promises they can’t possibly keep. We have led them up the garden path with our empty guarantees. ·
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Mar 25, 2014 5:15:04 GMT -7
CRIMEA CRISIS: PUTIN ADVISER PROPOSES DIVISION OF UKRAINE ALONG NAZI-SOVIET LINES AND SAYS IT’S ‘NEVER TOO LATE TO CORRECT HISTORICAL ERRORS’March 25, 2014 Prominent mouthpiece for Russian president suggests further referendums to break up Ukraine- PUTINRussian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a government meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on 24 March, 2014 by The Independent A prominent political ally and advisor to Vladimir Putin has proposed splitting up Ukraine along the lines of an historical pact agreed between the Nazis and Soviet Union. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, widely regarded as a mouthpiece for the Russian president, proposed a redrawing of the borders of western Ukraine – which would involve regions being incorporated into the territories of Poland, Romania and Hungary. He appeared to have written the letter in the days after Russia itself annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine last week, and suggested further referendums could be held to see further territory break away from Kiev. Zhirinovsky wrote: “It’s never too late to correct historical errors.” The politician is the deputy speaker of the Duma, and his nationalist Liberal Democratic party largely backs President Vladimir Putin in the Russian parliament. Sergei Sobolev, head of Ukraine’s largest parliamentary faction, the Fatherland party, called him a “provocateur”. “But Zhirinovsky often is the voice of Putin,” he added. Zhirinovsky’s letter, seen by Reuters, suggested Poland, Hungary and Romania, who are now in the European Union, might wish to take back regions which he said were in the past their territories. The regions were incorporated into Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union at the end of World War Two and featured in a secret annex of the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop pact under which the Soviet and Nazi German foreign ministers carved up the area. It was not clear whether the letter was serious or a publicity stunt. But it follows a crisis in relations between Moscow and Kiev since the Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich was ousted as Ukraine’s president last month. Zhirinovsky proposed Ukraine’s Chernivtsi, Zakarpattia, Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Rovensky regions, together with Poland, Romania and Hungary hold referendums on whether the regions should break away from Ukraine. Romania might wish to have Chernivtsi, Hungary the Zakarpattia region, and Poland the rest, he said. The proposal would allow central Ukraine to be free of “unnecessary tensions” and the referendums would “bring prosperity and tranquillity to the Ukrainian native land,” the letter said. Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Marcin Wojciechowski dismissed the letter as a “complete oddity” and regretted some Russians “still think in terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.” Alexandr Efremov, head of the parliamentary faction Party of Regions, Ukraine’s former ruling party, said he did not support Zhirinovsky’s proposal. “Just as we have some intemperate people, Russia has some of them as well,” Efremov said at a briefing. “I do not support this (Zhirinovsky’s) approach.” Ukraine’s government spokeswoman declined to comment.
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