NATO approves new East Europe-based spearhead force

At least 4,000 troops: NATO approves new E. Europe-based spearhead force
Published time: September 05, 2014 14:24
Edited time: September 05, 2014 14:59 Get short URL

A new rapid reaction force, likely numbering at least 4,000 and ready to be deployed within 48 hours, will be created in Eastern Europe, after a decision by the 28 NATO member states following a conference in Wales.

“This is a demonstration of our solidarity and resolve,” said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen as the summit, largely dedicated to Ukraine, and attended by the country’s President Petro Poroshenko, wrapped up.

"Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance.”

NATO said the reason for the new unit is “a security environment which is more unpredictable than ever, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, violent extremism in the Middle East and instability in North Africa.”

“This spearhead will include several thousand land troops ready to deploy within a few days with air, sea and Special Forces support,” said Fogh Rasmussen.

The Baltic States and Romania have already offered to host the force, whose exact numbers have not been agreed, with Downing Street saying it will likely number 4,000 and Warsaw 5,000. Poland, the largest NATO state in Eastern Europe, is expected to house the headquarters.

The Baltic States have been among the most vocal advocates of NATO strengthening in the region, but the organization is bound by a 1997 agreement with Russia, which bars it from placing permanent bases in Lithuania, Latvia or Estonia. This can be circumvented by staging constant rotations of “exercises” that can in practice amount to the same thing.

The new force will be the vanguard of the existing NATO Response Force (NRF) that began operations a decade ago. The 25,000-strong NRF can take up to a month to deploy, by which time any military incursion can become a fait accompli.

“We must be able to act more swiftly,” said UK Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country said that it will provide up to a quarter of the new force’s troops.

Georgia coming in, Ukraine told to wait Fogh Rasmussen rebuffed Moscow’s warning that if Kiev made steps to join NATO, it would undermine the chances of reaching a lasting compromise in Ukraine.

"No third country has a veto over NATO enlargement. NATO's door remains open. Each country will be judged on its merits," said the former Danish Prime Minister.

Nonetheless, Ukraine, which has made intermittent moves towards joining the alliance in the last decade – and whose Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk called for membership earlier this week – is not currently being considered, despite being granted a symbolic aid package from the alliance on Thursday.

"The alliance must stick to previously made statements that such an opportunity may appear possible only in the long-term future," said Norway’s Conservative prime minister, Erna Solberg.

"Ukraine is still a neutral state, bounded by its regulations and the security situation in the region. The whole of Ukraine must undergo essential changes before it joins NATO," she added.

On the other hand, Georgia, which fought a war with Russia in 2008, has made progress: it was included on the shortlist of countries looking for 'enhanced co-operation' with NATO, alongside Australia, Finland, Jordan and Sweden.

“We agreed on a substantive package of measures for Georgia… that will help Georgia advance in its preparations towards membership of NATO,” said Fogh Rasmussen.

The Polish capital Warsaw has been chosen as the venue for the next NATO summit in 2016, after Fogh Rasmussen said that the choice of location would “send a strong signal of Polish involvement in the alliance and a very visible presence by NATO in the eastern regions of the alliance.”

Nato Creating New Rapid Response Force to Deter 'Potential Aggressors'

Nato Summit 2014: 

Nato Creating New Rapid Response Force to Deter 'Potential Aggressors'
By Finbarr Bermingham
IBTSeptember 5, 2014 14:44 BST

The exact detail will be decided upon after the Nato Summit has ended but the force will include several thousand land troops, who are ready to deploy within a few days with sea, air and special forces support.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has already pledged 3,500 troops to the new Readiness Action Plan (RAP) forces, as well as signing up to an additional Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) with Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which could see an extra 10,000 military personnel mobilised at short notice, from the seven nations.

Nato will also establish a more visible, permanent base in Eastern Europe, including a command and control base in an unspecified allied country. IBTimes UK understands Poland, which has just emerged as the host of the next summit in two years, is likely to host such a headquarters.

The bloc is to reposition equipment, set up intelligence sharing, cooperate defence plans and organise more short-notice exercises in Eastern Europe in an effort to improve its readiness.

"This sends a clear message: Nato protects all allies at all times. It sends a clear message to any potential aggressor. Should you even think of attacking one ally, you will be facing the whole alliance," Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters.

"Our RAP is meant to defend Nato countries. It is fully in line with our international commitments and it will ensure that Nato remains strong, ready, robust and responsive to meet present and future challenges from wherever they come."

Other Agreements

The 28 members of Nato also announced  they had reached a consensus on cyber defence, which means anyone who launches a cyber-attack on a Nato member state risks violating Article 5 of its charter, which would, in effect, see the other members react against it.

It will launch training programmes with "allied states", namely Jordan, Georgia and Moldova, with a view to strengthening their military capacity.

This is in addition to the announcement on 4 September that it would provide financial and technical assistance to Ukraine's army, with individual member states committing to providing high-precision arms to the government in Kiev.

Rasmussen said that while no such request has been made with regard Iraq, Nato would "seriously consider" any invitation to provide defence capability training to the Iraqi army.

But he refused to be drawn on the possibility of launching Nato-led military strikes, saying such action has not been discussed (nor invited) and that Nato fully supports the unilateral action of individual member states.

Member states have, however, agreed to increase the exchange of intelligence on fighters returning from abroad.

In a message that will no doubt resonate in political circles in Moscow, the organisation has reaffirmed its expansionary policy.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told journalists he will next week introduce a bill in Ukraine's parliament in an effort to remove its neutrality – or non-bloc – clause, which means it cannot accede to Nato.

"The open door policy has been a historic success for Nato, it's allowed us to move towards a Nato whole, free and at peace. Nato's door remains open. Each country will continue to be judged on its merit and no third country has a veto over a Nato alliance. Each aspirant has work to do in different areas and we will give them the support they need," Ramussen said.

Already, moves have been made to fast-track the membership of Georgia and Montenegro, with the former likely to prove much more controversial, given its chequered history with Russia. It's thought a decision will be made on Montenegrin membership by the end of 2015.

UK: Anti-NATO protesters flood the streets of Newport

UK: Anti-NATO protesters flood the streets of Newport

போர்வெறிப்புன்னகை: நேற்றோ 2014 மாநாடு வேல்ஸ்

Red Block PROTEST AT THE NATO SUMMIT - NEWPORT, WALES

PROTEST AT THE NATO SUMMIT - NEWPORT, WALES from Red block

Red Block says come to the

PROTEST AT THE NATO SUMMIT - NEWPORT, WALES

Wednesday, 3rd. September to Saturday, 6th. September

The leaders of NATO, including Barack Obama and Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are meeting to plan further NATO imperialist aggression in Ukraine and other places.

Although this gang of imperialist terrorists has been defeated in Afghanistan their appetite for further aggression is undiminished.

Red Block is an alliance of communist organisations and we call upon communists and other militants to converge on Newport to protest when the imperialist leaders are meeting.

We shall be engaging in demonstrations and other campaigning activities.

A camp is being organised for the above period.  Contact revolutionarypraxis@talktalk.net as soon as possible if you wish to participate.  State how many are attending and when you plan to arrive. Tents will be provided but if you can bring one this will be helpful.  Also, bring a sleeping bag.  Food will be available and participants will be charged a £20 fee to help meet the costs of holding the camp.

Spread the word to other comrades and urge them to attend.

DOWN WITH NATO TERRORISM!

PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, UNITE AND DEFEAT

   NATO IMPERIALISM AND  ALL ITS LACKEYS!!

AJ Inside Story: Al-Qaeda vs Islamic State?

India on high alert after al-Qaeda threats Several provinces put on high alert day after al-Qaeda chief announced formation of Indian branch of global armed group. Last updated: 04 Sep 2014 19:2

There has been no proof of the armed group's presence in India, home to 175 million Muslims [EPA]

India has declared heightened alert in several provinces a day after al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced the formation of an Indian branch of the global armed group. In the video posted online, the al-Qaeda chief promised to spread Islamic rule and "raise the flag of jihad" across the Indian subcontinent. The message has been labelled as authentic and warnings have been sent out to local governments. "We are taking the matter very seriously. Such threats can't be ignored, we have asked the states to be on alert (especially) Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," an Indian intelligence source told AFP news agency after Wednesday's video announcement. The timing and content of the video suggests rivalry between al-Qaeda and its more vigorous rival in Syria and Iraq, the Islamic State group, which anecdotal evidence suggests is gathering support in South and Southeast Asia. Zawahri's announcement made two references to Gujarat, the home state of India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist who has been a hate figure for armed groups because of religious riots on his watch in 2002. Over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, died during the violence. There has been no proof of the group's presence in India, while media reports claimed that Islamic State pamphlets have been distributed in Pakistan recently. Zawahri went on to describe the formation of "al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent" as glad tidings for Muslims "in Myanmar, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Kashmir" and said the new wing would rescue Muslims there from injustice and oppression. A senior police official said that Gujarat has been high on the list of armed groups, including al-Qaeda, since the 2002 riots. Muslims make up 15 percent of the Indian population, numbering an estimated 175 million, but theirs is the third-largest Muslim population in the world. Some protesters in India-admistered Kashmir were seen raising Islamic State flags in July. Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan, has long attracted foreign fighters as well as home-grown rebel fighters against Indian rule.

இந்து பெளத்த ஈழ தேசிய தகர்ப்பு கூட்டணி

இங்கிலாந்தே அயர்லாந்தை விட்டு வெளியேறு!

Resistance Is Not Terrorism

New mural in Ireland celebrating Palestinian resistance

Aug302014

Members of éirígí, an Irish republican socialist party, created this mural in Ireland, saluting the Palestinian people and their resistance. Carrying the slogan, “Resistance is Not Terrorism,” the mural features a historic image of Palestinian resistance icon – and present-day PFLP Political Bureau member – Leila Khaled, the Palestinian flag, and the logos of éirígí and the PFLP.

Salutes to éirígí and the people of Ireland, strugglers against colonialism, who have stood beside the people of Palestine in the liberation struggle.

Obama warns of long campaign as Iraq strikes continue against Isis

Obama warns of long campaign as Iraq strikes continue against Isis

US president admits there is no quick fix as minorities flee Islamist onslaught and British planes join relief effort

Martin Chulov in Irbil, Mark Townsend in London, Jon Swaine in New York and agencies
The Observer, Sunday 10 August 2014


Link to video: Britain sends fresh water and tents to stranded Iraqis in Sinjar
Barack Obama has committed the US to long-term involvement in Iraq, warning that the rapidly evolving crisis in the north would not be solved quickly.

US aircraft have targeted armoured vehicles and militant positions in a second day of strikes against Islamic State forces. A mix of US fighters and drones attacked and destroyed armoured personnel carriers after Yazidi civilians near Sinjar came under attack from the vehicles, US central command said.

US forces "successfully [conducted] four air strikes to defend Yazidi civilians being indiscriminately attacked" near Sinjar, said a statement from the United States Central Command (Centcom), which covers the Middle East.

In the first strike "a mix of US fighters and remotely piloted aircraft struck one of two Isil armoured personnel carriers firing on Yazidi civilians near Sinjar", the statement said. After following the remaining vehicle a second pair of strikes, around 20 minutes later, hit two more armoured personnel carriers and an armed truck.

A fourth struck another armoured personnel carrier, also in the Sinjar area.

Alongside this, the US-led air campaign to deliver relief to civilians fleeing Isis continued with a third drop of supplies taking place on Saturday night. The US military said the latest air drop involved planes from multiple air bases and included one C-17 and two C-130 cargo planes supported by fighter planes. The aircraft delivered 72 bundles of supplies, including more than 3,800 gallons of water and more than 16,000 packaged meals.

Conceding that the advance of the Islamic State (formerly Isis) forces had been swifter than anticipated – details emerged on Saturday of the jihadists opening another front as they crossed into Lebanon from Syria – the US president accepted there was no quick fix.

The archbishop of Irbil's Chaldean Catholics told the Observer fewer than 40 Christians remained in north-western Iraq after a jihadist rampage that has forced thousands to flee from Mosul and the Nineveh plains into Irbil in the Kurdish north.

Archbishop Bashar Warda said: "We did not expect that one day Mosul would be without Christians and that the Nineveh plains would be emptied of minorities," referring to the stretch of land surrounding Mosul that had been hailed throughout the ages as a cradle of civilisation. "Trust is broken between the communities. Especially with the Arabs. For 2,000 years, all these minorities had lived together."

After taking in up to 1.2 million refugees since mid-June, the Kurds of northern Iraq are urging Obama not to let up in air strikes against Isis, which on Friday was only 50km from Irbil and advancing east towards the Kurdish capital.

At least four US air strikes appear to have slowed the momentum of the jihadists, Kurdish peshmerga forces said on Saturday. Officials in Irbil, including Iraq's former foreign minister Hoshyer Zebari, a Kurd who quit his national post in June, urged Obama to continue the strikes. He described the attacks as "a critical decision for Kurdistan, Iraq, and the entire region ... intended to degrade the terrorists' capabilities and achieve strategic gains that have been very effective".

Obama admitted that rebuilding the Iraqi military, fostering trust among Sunnis and negating the threat from jihadists would be a long-term project. He added: "I don't think we're going to solve this problem in weeks. This is going to take some time."

On Friday he sanctioned air strikes against Isis fighters that destroyed arms and equipment. The military action came less than three years after the last contingent of US troops exited the country.

Meanwhile, British military aircraft joined the US in dropping food, water and tents to thousands of displaced Iraqis hiding in mountains as Obama revealed that plans were under way to create a "safe corridor" for up to 40,000 civilians – mostly Kurds of the Yazidi faith – who are besieged on Mount Sinjar on the western edge of Kurdistan's border with the rest of Iraq. However, he said rescuing the Yazidis might prove fraught. "Moving them is not simple in this security environment," Obama said.

Speaking shortly before leaving for his summer holiday, he said humanitarian assistance including a repeat of airdrops of food and water would continue.

In London the government's Cobra committee met again to assess the latest developments in Iraq, discussions that ratified the decision for British aircraft to begin aid drops immediately.

The foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, said air sorties from the UK to northern Iraq would run for the "foreseeable future" with France also agreeing humanitarian assistance. Earlier, two British cargo planes left Oxfordshire to airdrop bottled water, tents and tarpaulins to displaced Iraqis encircled by militants.

The C-130 transport aircraft flew from RAF Brize Norton to deliver aid, with government sources suggesting a repeat of the airdrops could follow on Sunday. It followed a second US airdrop of food and water to Iraqis stranded on Mount Sinjar.

Meanwhile, the former foreign secretary, David Miliband, speaking in the Observer, acknowledged that the 2003 invasion of Iraq had contributed to the country's current disintegration and mounting crisis at the hands of Islamist militants.

Miliband, expressing fresh regret over Britain's involvement in the war, admitted that the outcome of the war in Iraq "induces a high degree of humility".

"It's clearly the case that the invasion of Iraq, or more importantly what happened afterwards, is a significant factor in understanding the current situation in the country," said Miliband, during a wide-ranging interview in New York.

The remarks on the crisis by Miliband, now the president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian charity, contrast with those offered by Tony Blair, his political mentor, who has strongly rejected claims that the 2003 US-UK invasion is to blame for the terrorism gripping Iraq.

Asked whether the chaos that it had unleashed made him regret supporting the war as a minister in Blair's government, Miliband said: "I regret it because I made a decision on the basis of upholding the norms in respect to weapons of mass destruction, and there were none."

The phenomenon of Isis and its speed of advance shows little sign of abating as Lebanese security sources indicated that Islamist militants had crossed into the country from Syria, triggering a battle with Lebanese villagers who forced them back across the border. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties in the incident, near the Lebanese town of Rashaya, some 60 miles south of the town of Arsal.

Britain has so far pledged £8m in aid to those caught up in the advance of Isis in northern Iraq. This includes £2m of emergency humanitarian supplies for 75,000 people, including aid that can be airdropped to help those trapped on Sinjar as quickly as possible.

Supplies will include reusable filtration containers filled with clean water, tents, and solar lights that can also recharge mobile phones.

NATO வில் அமெரிக்க ஏகபோகம்!