The Polish government is really using the Russian annexation of the Crimea as a chance to lay out a laundry list of demands for massive increases in NATO military aid today, hitting out at the “slow pace” of the build-up so far.
It seems slow because Poland’s ambitions for a NATO force are so grand, with Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski pushing for a “permanent” deployment that includes a minimum of 10,000 ground troops.
Sikorski complained Poland has been a NATO member for 15 years and all they’ve gotten was a single conference center out of the deal, insisting he wants a “prominent, major presence.”
Prime Minister Donald Tusk added that NATO membership came with a promise of military protection, and expressed annoyance at the lack of ground troops pouring into his country over the “threat” perceived by his government, but which no one seriously thinks is going to end with Russia invading Poland.
Between dicking around in Africa, "rebuilding Afghanistan", picking their noses in the Balkans, throwing temper tantrums around Somalia, getting suntans in France's illegitimate colonial "possessions" in the south Pacific, and ensuring rites of passage for human organ trafficking in Tel Aviv and Kosovo, where exactly is NATO going to conjure up 10,000 troops???
They could easily come up with 10,000 drunken generals and PR people, but that's another matter…
Terrible mistake. That's thousands of subsidized alkies thousands of miles from anywhere I can gouge them for whiskey. –Er— I mean… How could you nincompoops send so many so far from where they'll be effective against the Canadian Menace? While Baird's insatiable covetous lust and greedy claws still hover, undaunted and unchallenged, over Michigan?
Last time I was in Detroit was like 1987…even then it felt like Road Warrior on crack. Half the city chained down by 5pm and the other half high-tailing it to the 'burbs' trying to stay clear of the auto wreckage and tow trucks on those Taliban style 'freeways'.
Thought I remembered (could be wrong) that Jason's in Michegan. It's one of those weird pockets I've probably never had reason to cross –I look at a map and it just screams either 'u-turn' or 'drowning.' (yes, maps do scream).
The official unemployment rate in Poland has hovered near 10% and for under 25 near 27% for a while and there is no indication that these numbers will go down soon. Hence translate the request for more NATO troops to ward of an aggressive Russia as: diversion. It is an old trick known as scapegoating.
I wonder what kind of reaction there would be if NATO decided to honor the Polish request for 10,000 troops…and they sent 10,000 Germans (they are part of NATO after all) and their tanks and such to protect them from the Bear. Unless they have a problem with German soldiers encamped on Polish soil…can't imagine the selling of that to the Polish people would be too easy. Maybe Poland should increase the size of their own Army to protect Poland – you know, the Polish people should have a vested interest in supposedly protecting themselves. That would be akin to Gov. Brewer (Arizona) contracting to the Mexican government to provide police and border security for Arizonans.
What is it with the Poles ! Haven't they learned their lessons over the years ! Maybe they're just masochistic. Here's an idea ; how about troops from a NATO member country who can afford it like Germany. Thats' right Rad and Donald. How about 50.000 german troops in Poland for a start with all the military hardware they need to make the Poles feel safe from those pesky Russians. Would you guys and your countrymen , whom by the way should get rid of both of you as soon as possible, cotton to such a buildup ?
Not masochistic. Stupid. There is some truth to the old dumb Pole jokes.
An invasion of Poland is not such an odd idea in the context of a NATO-Putin war, although I grant that the first thing the Russian soldiers would probably do once they were safely in Poland is ask where they can apply for EU work permits! Poland is more useful though as a jumping off point for military operations against western Ukraine if Putin grabs it, which he has really little choice but to do unless he is prepared to sacriface Belarus (look at the map!). It also serves as a jumping off point for operations against the Kaliningrad enclave or even Belarus, if Lukashenko is fool ennough to join Putin in a kamikaze war against NATO, which I thing he is. So it's not such a silly idea after all to send US troops there in number.
What color is the sky in your world Michael? Just curious.
NATO is a stupid and useless Cold War relic. Some of those places they go, could they be any further from the North Atlantic?
Another useful tool for Empire.