The recent crisis in Georgia has revealed the impotence of ‘Old Europe’ and NATO. Is it time for something new to meet the needs of New Europe?
Deja vu all over again?
While Russian tanks were crossing through the tunnels and passes (memo to Georgia: everyone knows you blow up the tunnels and bridges first), the leaders of Western Europe were basically caught with nothing to do. ”They haven’t shot at me” was basically the point that was on the mind of every Western European leader, followed quickly by “I don’t want to go nuclear over Georgia”. These two factors (not, in any way, who was right or who was wrong) were what kept most European leaders sitting on their hands as they watched Georgia get chewed to pieces.
When we used to study Soviet Military Power and Doctorine it was always assumed that the first time a Soviet tank went on the offensive it would be shooting at a NATO tank, and thus the decision to start fighting back would be off the table. Some 18-year-old kid in the turret of a tank somewhere in Germany was going to decide NATO’s response to a Soviet conventional attack. But in this new world, that ease of red force/blue force decision making is gone, and we’re stuck in the grey area.
You can find some contrast in the response of Europe if you take a look at the leaders of ‘New Europe. Composed of former Soviet states they were not afraid in the least to mess with the Bear, for they knew what awaited them should their countries fall back into the ’sphere of influence’. Ukraine has told the Black Sea fleet they can expect problems when they return, and leaders of many former Soviet republics flew into Georgia in the middle of the fight to provide counsel and assistance. Some in the Eastern European media are even asking if Old Europe really understands what is going on:
“Old Europe,” once again, failed to listen to the warnings of those with first-hand knowledge of Russian treachery. “Old Europe isn’t listening to Poles, Lithuanians and Ukrainians. Old Europe doesn’t want to anger Russia, and doesn’t see the integrity of Georgia’s borders as something worth risking its relationship with Moscow over,” the left-leaning daily Gazeta Wyborcza wrote. “Once again, we can only try to tell them that we’re not letting our feelings be guided by Russophobia but merely speaking from long years of personal experience.”
Unfortunately New Europe is pretty weak and the US is pretty busy elsewhere in the world. So it has me wondering if now is the time for a new, mini-version of NATO. Composed of the Eastern European states (and armed and supported by Old Europe). A NATO that does not have nukes and is not a nuclear threat to Russia, but one that is well equipped, trained, and ready to take on the Bear should it come poking around it’s old stomping grounds. A force like this might be the one needed to stop an aggressive and growing threat.
One by one, the old Soviet empire could be rebuilt by a resurgent Russia and a placid NATO. Georgia, Ukraine, Lativa, Estonia, etc. They could fall without most Americans even noticing to be quite honest. But if they fought together, they might actually have a chance. Perhaps it is time for New Europe to look for a new alliance to help them in the new reality they now face.
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so is there a sultion to this does? america need a draft?
okay let me try to display a few thoughts when a democracy was in trouble during Americas history (note: Americas Recent history WW1 WW2 So on) america stood up and a beast was awaken.
if America had to fight a WW2 Type fight And we were not in Iraq I still don’t believe we would be able because what in heavens name is so hard about winning a war in two insignificant countries.
in addition America missed its ship in securing world peace when it focused exclusively in mid-east we need to look at everything on the global scale… Iraq in the scheme of things was a nuisance nothing more. Russia invading Georgia is nothing less than Imperialistic and in my Mind something more than worth fighting for. in the end Europe NATO America and the free world needs to look past statistics (did the United States say hmm maybe we will win in WW2 or in any conflict prior to that NO!)
now i would suggest a slow but yes a withdrawal of forces in iraq. now as for Afghanistan by what do we do i might work with Oman, Yemen, Jordin Saudi, and Kuwait to send some of there forces to help but in the end i think the best way to go is masive expansion of Afgan forces in the range of 50-100 thousand and training them to protect there own country
the United States sadly will have to follow suit and a massive non-selective draft all 18 year olds here you go (I do realize drafted army is less experienced and less productive in war but what can we do?)
i would also give NATO a wake up call and try something new a year ago in asia Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, and US of A had military excerise in hopes of creating a new Asian NATO Alliance and that needs to be a top priority of the Bush Addmin. also seeking New Zealand, Fiji, Philippines, Vietnam, (which has sought to create better ties with Washington due to 100,000 chinese troops on there border) Malaysia, and Thailand.
as well as maybe middle-eastern alliance with Jordan, Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgzstan (all of these are partner’s in the war on terror so already they show interest in helping American partners.
this is just my plan on stopping any conflict in almost any region i have thought about an America’s alliance with Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama. (Note. The United States would be in each alliance)
so is there a sultion to this does? america need a draft?
okay let me try to display a few thoughts when a democracy was in trouble during Americas history (note: Americas Recent history WW1 WW2 So on) america stood up and a beast was awaken.
if America had to fight a WW2 Type fight And we were not in Iraq I still don’t believe we would be able because what in heavens name is so hard about winning a war in two insignificant countries.
in addition America missed its ship in securing world peace when it focused exclusively in mid-east we need to look at everything on the global scale… Iraq in the scheme of things was a nuisance nothing more. Russia invading Georgia is nothing less than Imperialistic and in my Mind something more than worth fighting for. in the end Europe NATO America and the free world needs to look past statistics (did the United States say hmm maybe we will win in WW2 or in any conflict prior to that NO!)
now i would suggest a slow but yes a withdrawal of forces in iraq. now as for Afghanistan by what do we do i might work with Oman, Yemen, Jordin Saudi, and Kuwait to send some of there forces to help but in the end i think the best way to go is masive expansion of Afgan forces in the range of 50-100 thousand and training them to protect there own country
the United States sadly will have to follow suit and a massive non-selective draft all 18 year olds here you go (I do realize drafted army is less experienced and less productive in war but what can we do?)
i would also give NATO a wake up call and try something new a year ago in asia Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, and US of A had military excerise in hopes of creating a new Asian NATO Alliance and that needs to be a top priority of the Bush Addmin. also seeking New Zealand, Fiji, Philippines, Vietnam, (which has sought to create better ties with Washington due to 100,000 chinese troops on there border) Malaysia, and Thailand.
as well as maybe middle-eastern alliance with Jordan, Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgzstan (all of these are partner’s in the war on terror so already they show interest in helping American partners.
this is just my plan on stopping any conflict in almost any region i have thought about an America’s alliance with Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama. (Note. The United States would be in each alliance)
so is there a sultion to this does? america need a draft?
okay let me try to display a few thoughts when a democracy was in trouble during Americas history (note: Americas Recent history WW1 WW2 So on) america stood up and a beast was awaken.
if America had to fight a WW2 Type fight And we were not in Iraq I still don’t believe we would be able because what in heavens name is so hard about winning a war in two insignificant countries.
in addition America missed its ship in securing world peace when it focused exclusively in mid-east we need to look at everything on the global scale… Iraq in the scheme of things was a nuisance nothing more. Russia invading Georgia is nothing less than Imperialistic and in my Mind something more than worth fighting for. in the end Europe NATO America and the free world needs to look past statistics (did the United States say hmm maybe we will win in WW2 or in any conflict prior to that NO!)
now i would suggest a slow but yes a withdrawal of forces in iraq. now as for Afghanistan by what do we do i might work with Oman, Yemen, Jordin Saudi, and Kuwait to send some of there forces to help but in the end i think the best way to go is masive expansion of Afgan forces in the range of 50-100 thousand and training them to protect there own country
the United States sadly will have to follow suit and a massive non-selective draft all 18 year olds here you go (I do realize drafted army is less experienced and less productive in war but what can we do?)
i would also give NATO a wake up call and try something new a year ago in asia Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, and US of A had military excerise in hopes of creating a new Asian NATO Alliance and that needs to be a top priority of the Bush Addmin. also seeking New Zealand, Fiji, Philippines, Vietnam, (which has sought to create better ties with Washington due to 100,000 chinese troops on there border) Malaysia, and Thailand.
as well as maybe middle-eastern alliance with Jordan, Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgzstan (all of these are partner’s in the war on terror so already they show interest in helping American partners.
this is just my plan on stopping any conflict in almost any region i have thought about an America’s alliance with Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama. (Note. The United States would be in each alliance)
so is there a sultion to this does? america need a draft?
okay let me try to display a few thoughts when a democracy was in trouble during Americas history (note: Americas Recent history WW1 WW2 So on) america stood up and a beast was awaken.
if America had to fight a WW2 Type fight And we were not in Iraq I still don’t believe we would be able because what in heavens name is so hard about winning a war in two insignificant countries.
in addition America missed its ship in securing world peace when it focused exclusively in mid-east we need to look at everything on the global scale… Iraq in the scheme of things was a nuisance nothing more. Russia invading Georgia is nothing less than Imperialistic and in my Mind something more than worth fighting for. in the end Europe NATO America and the free world needs to look past statistics (did the United States say hmm maybe we will win in WW2 or in any conflict prior to that NO!)
now i would suggest a slow but yes a withdrawal of forces in iraq. now as for Afghanistan by what do we do i might work with Oman, Yemen, Jordin Saudi, and Kuwait to send some of there forces to help but in the end i think the best way to go is masive expansion of Afgan forces in the range of 50-100 thousand and training them to protect there own country
the United States sadly will have to follow suit and a massive non-selective draft all 18 year olds here you go (I do realize drafted army is less experienced and less productive in war but what can we do?)
i would also give NATO a wake up call and try something new a year ago in asia Japan, India, Singapore, Australia, and US of A had military excerise in hopes of creating a new Asian NATO Alliance and that needs to be a top priority of the Bush Addmin. also seeking New Zealand, Fiji, Philippines, Vietnam, (which has sought to create better ties with Washington due to 100,000 chinese troops on there border) Malaysia, and Thailand.
as well as maybe middle-eastern alliance with Jordan, Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgzstan (all of these are partner’s in the war on terror so already they show interest in helping American partners.
this is just my plan on stopping any conflict in almost any region i have thought about an America’s alliance with Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama. (Note. The United States would be in each alliance)