3 New Messages
Digest #4688
Messages
Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:56 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://rt.com/
RT
April 25, 2013
‘NATO has become a global expeditionary military force’
Video at URL above
NATO buys the loyalty of sovereign states and in return demands fighting forces that have been engaged on three continents in the last decade, Rick Rozoff, from STOP NATO has told RT.
RT: The terror threat around the world seems to only be growing. Is this the time countries should be relying on NATO?
Rick Rozoff: I don’t think countries have ever relied on NATO for their own security. I think we have to draw a distinction between armed forces as we have traditionally known them, whose main purpose is for territorial defense of their respected homelands, and what has now been fashioned, at least over the last 14 years since the war against Yugoslavia, where NATO has become a global expeditionary military force.
NATO has now waged war on three continents, in Europe in Yugoslavia, in Asia in Afghanistan and in Libya in Africa. So what we’re talking about its not a local, regional North Atlantic military organization that is meant to defend collectively or individually the homelands of the constituent members of NATO. This is now a US-crafted attempt to build history’s first, first of all largest, military bloc of 28 members, with three nuclear powers - nothing like this has ever existed before. When you add the partnership programs with NATO and countries on almost every continent you have something in the neighborhood of 70 nations that are either NATO members or partners; that is well over a third of nations in the world.
The secretary general of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently made a trip to South Korea. That is the first time ever the head of NATO has visited South Korea and he also went to Japan to consolidate military partnerships with those two countries. Roughly a week ago, Rasmussen’s second-in-command, Deputy Secretary General of NATO Alexander Vershbow openly discussed the possibility of invoking article 5, the mutual military assistance clause, against North Korea in the event of conflict between the two countries, North Korea and the U.S.
RT: Washington is paying some 75 per cent into the Alliance'
RR: If you’re stating that the US can purchase the political loyalties of countries in conditions of economic destitution, particularly those in Eastern Europe particularly after the collapse of the socialist bloc; let's recall all the 12 new members of NATO in the post-Cold War period, all incorporated into NATO within one decade, from 1999-2009, are in Eastern Europe. And these are countries have been forced to send troops not only to Afghanistan, to an active war zone where their sons and daughters have killed and died, but were also forced to send troops to Iraq as an indication of their loyalty to NATO.
The fact the US is paying 75 percent of the expenses of NATO is not so surprising considering what the US gets out of it. Other countries have a very dubious claim to be protected by the US, against whom one may ask, except as we notice the rash of military war games occurring in the Baltic Sea, I don’t think we have to ask against whom. It is clear that the build-up in Eastern Europe is aimed particularly at Russia.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
RT
April 25, 2013
‘NATO has become a global expeditionary military force’
Video at URL above
NATO buys the loyalty of sovereign states and in return demands fighting forces that have been engaged on three continents in the last decade, Rick Rozoff, from STOP NATO has told RT.
RT: The terror threat around the world seems to only be growing. Is this the time countries should be relying on NATO?
Rick Rozoff: I don’t think countries have ever relied on NATO for their own security. I think we have to draw a distinction between armed forces as we have traditionally known them, whose main purpose is for territorial defense of their respected homelands, and what has now been fashioned, at least over the last 14 years since the war against Yugoslavia, where NATO has become a global expeditionary military force.
NATO has now waged war on three continents, in Europe in Yugoslavia, in Asia in Afghanistan and in Libya in Africa. So what we’re talking about its not a local, regional North Atlantic military organization that is meant to defend collectively or individually the homelands of the constituent members of NATO. This is now a US-crafted attempt to build history’s first, first of all largest, military bloc of 28 members, with three nuclear powers - nothing like this has ever existed before. When you add the partnership programs with NATO and countries on almost every continent you have something in the neighborhood of 70 nations that are either NATO members or partners; that is well over a third of nations in the world.
The secretary general of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen recently made a trip to South Korea. That is the first time ever the head of NATO has visited South Korea and he also went to Japan to consolidate military partnerships with those two countries. Roughly a week ago, Rasmussen’s second-in-command, Deputy Secretary General of NATO Alexander Vershbow openly discussed the possibility of invoking article 5, the mutual military assistance clause, against North Korea in the event of conflict between the two countries, North Korea and the U.S.
RT: Washington is paying some 75 per cent into the Alliance'
RR: If you’re stating that the US can purchase the political loyalties of countries in conditions of economic destitution, particularly those in Eastern Europe particularly after the collapse of the socialist bloc; let's recall all the 12 new members of NATO in the post-Cold War period, all incorporated into NATO within one decade, from 1999-2009, are in Eastern Europe. And these are countries have been forced to send troops not only to Afghanistan, to an active war zone where their sons and daughters have killed and died, but were also forced to send troops to Iraq as an indication of their loyalty to NATO.
The fact the US is paying 75 percent of the expenses of NATO is not so surprising considering what the US gets out of it. Other countries have a very dubious claim to be protected by the US, against whom one may ask, except as we notice the rash of military war games occurring in the Baltic Sea, I don’t think we have to ask against whom. It is clear that the build-up in Eastern Europe is aimed particularly at Russia.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:56 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.aco.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
April 25, 2013
NATO Deputy Commander: Allied Land Command’s “wheels are burning”
====
LANDCOM’s main purpose [is] standardizing doctrine and procedures aimed at making all NATO land forces interoperable to transform toward a contingency paradigm by 2015.
When LANDCOM was activated, the SACEUR told Lt. Gen. Hodges to prepare his headquarters for a possible scenario in which LANDCOM would deploy to help lead a major joint operation (MJO), which would require augmentation with integrated capabilities.
By the fall of 2014, LANDCOM is also required to train and certify the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps for Italy and Spain, as well as the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps...
====
IZMIR, Turkey: The Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) visited Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) Headquarters Apr. 19, to receive an update on the command’s progress since it was activated Nov. 30, 2012.
Gen. Sir Richard Shirreff met with the LANDCOM command group and staff, led by Lt. Gen. Frederick "Ben” Hodges, U.S. Army.
Gen. Sherriff said the establishment of LANDCOM was the "most exciting development in NATO in the last 20 years.” He said he was impressed by how LANDCOM had progressed so quickly since its inception that its "wheels are burning.”
Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Col. Gordon Falconer of the British Army, explained LANDCOM’s vision and the command’s campaign plan comprised of three lines of operation (LOO): achieving operational readiness as a component headquarters, ensuring NATO land force operational capability, and advocating on behalf of land power to the public.
"As you can see, our main effort is outward-focused,” said Falconer, referring to LANDCOM’s main purpose for standardizing doctrine and procedures aimed at making all NATO land forces interoperable to transform toward a contingency paradigm by 2015.
As Gen. Shirreff was briefed about LANDCOM’s timeline to reach full operational capability (FOC) by Dec. 2014, Lt. Gen. Hodges told him that the command was actively working with the Supreme Headquarters for Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) to define the conditions for initial operational capability (IOC) and FOC.
Hodges replied, "We need to get 70% of the personnel the nations have committed to providing us by IOC, and I’m thrilled by the quality of the people we are receiving. It is not just about getting a body, but the right person for the job to perform the tasks and functions of the position.”
This, he explained, illustrates the importance of land advocacy, and why he visits the military staff colleges, like the NATO Defence College in Naples, Italy and Combined General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, where future LANDCOM headquarters staff officers are educated.
...
When LANDCOM was activated, the SACEUR told Lt. Gen. Hodges to prepare his headquarters for a possible scenario in which LANDCOM would deploy to help lead a major joint operation (MJO), which would require augmentation with integrated capabilities. So the staff quickly devised a concept and introduced the proposal during the Land Component Commanders’ Conference here last March in order to understand the requirements and reach consensus on how to form a land-centric JTF.
"This is exactly what this alliance needs,” stated Gen. Shirreff, who then advised LANDCOM’s leadership to continue to steer the debate toward "a pragmatic and practical solution.” He complimented them on presenting a "brilliant piece of work."
By the fall of 2014, LANDCOM is also required to train and certify the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps for Italy and Spain, as well as the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. But LANDCOM’s road to FOC has many speed bumps along the way.
...
By the briefing’s conclusion, Lt. Gen. Hodges told him that all nine corps commands in the NFS have said that they are glad there is a LANDCOM will provide standards and advocacy for NATO’s land forces and ensure they retain effectiveness and interoperability post-ISAF.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
April 25, 2013
NATO Deputy Commander: Allied Land Command’s “wheels are burning”
====
LANDCOM’s main purpose [is] standardizing doctrine and procedures aimed at making all NATO land forces interoperable to transform toward a contingency paradigm by 2015.
When LANDCOM was activated, the SACEUR told Lt. Gen. Hodges to prepare his headquarters for a possible scenario in which LANDCOM would deploy to help lead a major joint operation (MJO), which would require augmentation with integrated capabilities.
By the fall of 2014, LANDCOM is also required to train and certify the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps for Italy and Spain, as well as the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps...
====
IZMIR, Turkey: The Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) visited Allied Land Command (LANDCOM) Headquarters Apr. 19, to receive an update on the command’s progress since it was activated Nov. 30, 2012.
Gen. Sir Richard Shirreff met with the LANDCOM command group and staff, led by Lt. Gen. Frederick "Ben” Hodges, U.S. Army.
Gen. Sherriff said the establishment of LANDCOM was the "most exciting development in NATO in the last 20 years.” He said he was impressed by how LANDCOM had progressed so quickly since its inception that its "wheels are burning.”
Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, Col. Gordon Falconer of the British Army, explained LANDCOM’s vision and the command’s campaign plan comprised of three lines of operation (LOO): achieving operational readiness as a component headquarters, ensuring NATO land force operational capability, and advocating on behalf of land power to the public.
"As you can see, our main effort is outward-focused,” said Falconer, referring to LANDCOM’s main purpose for standardizing doctrine and procedures aimed at making all NATO land forces interoperable to transform toward a contingency paradigm by 2015.
As Gen. Shirreff was briefed about LANDCOM’s timeline to reach full operational capability (FOC) by Dec. 2014, Lt. Gen. Hodges told him that the command was actively working with the Supreme Headquarters for Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) to define the conditions for initial operational capability (IOC) and FOC.
Hodges replied, "We need to get 70% of the personnel the nations have committed to providing us by IOC, and I’m thrilled by the quality of the people we are receiving. It is not just about getting a body, but the right person for the job to perform the tasks and functions of the position.”
This, he explained, illustrates the importance of land advocacy, and why he visits the military staff colleges, like the NATO Defence College in Naples, Italy and Combined General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, where future LANDCOM headquarters staff officers are educated.
...
When LANDCOM was activated, the SACEUR told Lt. Gen. Hodges to prepare his headquarters for a possible scenario in which LANDCOM would deploy to help lead a major joint operation (MJO), which would require augmentation with integrated capabilities. So the staff quickly devised a concept and introduced the proposal during the Land Component Commanders’ Conference here last March in order to understand the requirements and reach consensus on how to form a land-centric JTF.
"This is exactly what this alliance needs,” stated Gen. Shirreff, who then advised LANDCOM’s leadership to continue to steer the debate toward "a pragmatic and practical solution.” He complimented them on presenting a "brilliant piece of work."
By the fall of 2014, LANDCOM is also required to train and certify the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps for Italy and Spain, as well as the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. But LANDCOM’s road to FOC has many speed bumps along the way.
...
By the briefing’s conclusion, Lt. Gen. Hodges told him that all nine corps commands in the NFS have said that they are glad there is a LANDCOM will provide standards and advocacy for NATO’s land forces and ensure they retain effectiveness and interoperability post-ISAF.
============
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.
To subscribe for individual e-mails or the daily digest, unsubscribe, and otherwise change subscription status:
stopnato-subscribe@
============
Thu Apr 25, 2013 3:37 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.stripes.
Stars and Stripes
April 25, 2013
550 Marines head to Spain in support of AFRICOM
By John Vandiver
====
“Right now, they’re temporarily going to Morón, Spain, as a placeholder. I think they are going to move sometime. It wouldn’t surprise me to find them moving around the African continent.”
For several years, the Marine Corps has been developing plans for a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to bolster the capabilities of AFRICOM.
“If something happens you now have an asset you can move very quickly, along with the C-130s, tankers and MV-22s, you can move very quickly to the African continent...
====
STUTTGART, Germany: An Africa-focused Marine rapid reaction force is bound for Morón, Spain, which will serve as a temporary base for the 550-strong unit, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos told Congress on Wednesday.
Amos said the unit, which will serve the needs of U.S. Africa Command boss Gen. David Rodriguez, also could eventually be repositioned on the African continent if U.S. diplomatic officials make such an arrangement.
“Right now, they’re temporarily going to Morón, Spain, as a placeholder,” Amos said during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I think they are going to move sometime. It wouldn’t surprise me to find them moving around the African continent.”
For several years, the Marine Corps has been developing plans for a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to bolster the capabilities of AFRICOM.
Last year, Marines based a MAGTF in Sigonella, Italy, that conducts a range of training missions in Africa, including the training of friendly forces for counter-terrorism missions in places such as Somalia. The new Spain-based MAGTF also will have the ability to conduct training, though its primary purpose will be to serve as a crisis reaction force, Amos said.
The need for such a force was underscored in September when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, came under attack leaving four Americans dead, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The attack exposed AFRICOM’s lack of crisis-response capability.
Since then, AFRICOM has steadily been bolstering its capacities. In October, for example, AFRICOM finally received its so-called Commander’s in-Extremis Force comprised of Green Berets who function as crisis responders.
The new Marine MAGTF, which comes equipped with significant airlift capability, provides additional firepower for AFRICOM.
On Monday, six MV-22 Ospreys began their journey to Spain, Amos said.
“If something happens you now have an asset you can move very quickly, along with the C-130s, tankers and MV-22s, you can move very quickly to the African continent in response to a crisis.”
Stars and Stripes
April 25, 2013
550 Marines head to Spain in support of AFRICOM
By John Vandiver
====
“Right now, they’re temporarily going to Morón, Spain, as a placeholder. I think they are going to move sometime. It wouldn’t surprise me to find them moving around the African continent.”
For several years, the Marine Corps has been developing plans for a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to bolster the capabilities of AFRICOM.
“If something happens you now have an asset you can move very quickly, along with the C-130s, tankers and MV-22s, you can move very quickly to the African continent...
====
STUTTGART, Germany: An Africa-focused Marine rapid reaction force is bound for Morón, Spain, which will serve as a temporary base for the 550-strong unit, Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos told Congress on Wednesday.
Amos said the unit, which will serve the needs of U.S. Africa Command boss Gen. David Rodriguez, also could eventually be repositioned on the African continent if U.S. diplomatic officials make such an arrangement.
“Right now, they’re temporarily going to Morón, Spain, as a placeholder,” Amos said during testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I think they are going to move sometime. It wouldn’t surprise me to find them moving around the African continent.”
For several years, the Marine Corps has been developing plans for a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force to bolster the capabilities of AFRICOM.
Last year, Marines based a MAGTF in Sigonella, Italy, that conducts a range of training missions in Africa, including the training of friendly forces for counter-terrorism missions in places such as Somalia. The new Spain-based MAGTF also will have the ability to conduct training, though its primary purpose will be to serve as a crisis reaction force, Amos said.
The need for such a force was underscored in September when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, came under attack leaving four Americans dead, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens. The attack exposed AFRICOM’s lack of crisis-response capability.
Since then, AFRICOM has steadily been bolstering its capacities. In October, for example, AFRICOM finally received its so-called Commander’s in-Extremis Force comprised of Green Berets who function as crisis responders.
The new Marine MAGTF, which comes equipped with significant airlift capability, provides additional firepower for AFRICOM.
On Monday, six MV-22 Ospreys began their journey to Spain, Amos said.
“If something happens you now have an asset you can move very quickly, along with the C-130s, tankers and MV-22s, you can move very quickly to the African continent in response to a crisis.”
