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Posts Tagged ‘NATO’

NATO and Russia Begin to Dance, Again.

by coldwarrior ( 149 Comments › )
Filed under Cold War, Elections 2010, Elections 2012, Georgia, Russia, Uncategorized at November 29th, 2010 - 11:30 am

Some very interesting changes are occurring:

This was clear at the Lisbon summit, where Russian President Dmitri Medvedev was treated as the guest of honor, and NATO went further than ever to placate Russia’s concerns over the alliance. It invited Russia to help build a missile-defense umbrella over Europe, a system that Russia has always seen as a threat to its arsenals. And in the new “strategic concept” that NATO adopted on Nov. 20 — its first in 10 years — the alliance declared for the first time that “NATO is not a threat to Russia.”

‘NATO is not a threat to Russia’…that certainly is the end of an era. The end of one and the beginning of another. Without getting into a flurry of links and articles, I think that this statement is directly related to the move by Russia to forge closer economic ties to the EU, Free Trade Zone sized ties. However, to deal with NATO is to obviously deal with the United States. I would think that Russia has finished most of its unpleasant business in her outlying areas like Georgia and Chechnya and has settled on this current incarnation of Russia and this current sphere of influence. Remember,  NATO cut ties to Russia when Russia invaded Georgia, oh, you don’t remember that…well, its forgotten now in Brussels so don’t feel bad.  NATO needs Russia to be part of missile defense as a front line for the rest of Europe.  In exchange, Russia can help NATO in operations in Afghanistan, leverage in Iran, and transit through Russia into the current theater of Afghanistan and beyond, and maybe in the future other areas of operation.
What has come of the meting in Lisbon:
The fact that we are talking to Russia about common threats and the chance to cooperate with Russia on missile defense is an extremely important step,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at the summit. “That could be proof that the Cold War has finally come to an end.”
The Chancellor is not speaking in hyperbole here. These are very real and very positive steps. There is no reason at all that Russia and NATO should not be working in concert. I wonder though, what are the ‘common threats’ that the Chancellor was speaking of? Some of the security pages I read speak of the side meetings that Russia has had with Germany, France, and others. Not in this meeting were the US and the UK. The continental press are claiming that Russia wants an Anglo-free trade zone.  Now really, does that make any sense? The US and UK represent a staggering percentage of the globe’s market. I dont for a minute think that the Russians are that foolish to cut out that much capital.
After the ‘cease and desist’ order that the American electorate gave to the Obama administration and the Democrats, countries everywhere were also sent a clear message, America is moving to the right. This move will signal more aggressive foreign policy in the future.
To further twist the negotiations and future plans, Putin runs for the Presidency again in 2012. It’s Medvedev versus Putin. Putin is more a nationalist, Medvedev seeks closer ties with the West. Or so they are portrayed that way. Medvedev is willing to discuss allowing NATO missile defense equipment/personnel in Russia to protect Western Europe (a large step for a Russian) and to protect western Russia. Putin, well, who knows what he will do when he wins the Presidency again. I am sure he will publicly distrust this agreement, what he does privately/diplomatically will be seen.
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As an aside, I did find this rather interesting while researching in the writing of this post:
Turkey, which had seemed to present a potential sticking point, dropped its objections to a common missile defense system when it was satisfied that no country, particularly Iran, would be named as a principal threat. Turkey also wanted money to buy anti-missile components.

Lozansky-Jatras letter to Sen. Jon Kyl in support of START

by 1389AD ( 91 Comments › )
Filed under Democratic Party, George W. Bush, Georgia, Nuclear Weapons, Republican Party, Russia, Taliban at November 24th, 2010 - 8:30 am

http://www.washingtontimes.com/advertising/open-letter/
(Washington Times, 11/23/10, p. A3)

OPEN LETTER TO SENATOR JON KYL

November 23, 2010
Hon. Senator Jon Kyl
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Jon,

We regret to make this letter public, but time is of the essence, and we were afraid that otherwise it wouldn’t be brought to your attention before the quickly approaching end of the “lame duck” Congress.

In a curious departure from regular Senate procedure (one Senator, one voice) your voice can count for more than one and in fact decide the outcome of an issue crucial to U.S. security and U.S. – Russia relations. Several Republican senators have indicated that they will be guided by you in voting on START ratification, thus putting all burden of responsibility for making a historical decision on you.

While this is within your procedural prerogatives as a Senator — and a measure of your colleagues’ respect for your judgment — we respectfully suggest you reconsider using your considerable influence in this matter.

If you recall, it was the late Paul Weyrich and us who helped organize your trip to Moscow about twenty years ago, as the Soviet Union collapsed. We also helped bring other prominent Republicans to Moscow, like Vice-President Dan Quayle, Senator Phil Graham, Congressman Henry Hyde, and many others. At that time we all had great expectations for Russia, liberated from communism, to evolve into one of America’s strongest and most reliable allies. So the purpose of those trips was to see the situation on the ground and generate some ideas for the success of that vision.

Well, twenty years on our goals are far from being realized, much to our regret. If you believe many of our fellow Republicans the main fault for this spectacular failure lies with the Clinton administration, as was clear by about the year 2000.

At that time, the Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert formed the Advisory Group on Russia chaired by Christopher Cox, Chairman of the House Policy Committee. The membership of that committee read like a Who’s Who of the Republican Party in Congress, including heads of the most important committees.

The report of that group, titled “Russia’s Road to Corruption,” was a devastating analysis of the work of Clinton and his top advisors on Russia policy – Al Gore, Strobe Talbott, and Laurence Summers, the men who had squandered away a historic opportunity to bring Russia on our side.

The 100+-page-long report is fascinating reading; it is readily available on the Internet at http://www.fas.org/news/russia/2000/russia/index.html though for some reason it mysteriously disappeared from the original site, http://policy.house.gov/russia

We wish we could indeed put all the blame on the Democrats, but have eight years of George Bush brought us closer to our original vision? Unfortunately, in those years US – Russia relations reached their lowest point since the end of communism. Now, after 9/11 there was a real chance to repair the damage done in the nineties. At that time Putin did everything Bush was asking for in his attempt to defeat the Taliban. Naturally, Moscow expected some kind of positive gesture from Washington in return. Instead, it got NATO Eastern expansion, the US unilateral withdrawal from the ABM treaty, “color revolutions” in countries along Russia’s borders clearly instigated from the outside, a democracy promotion crusade, a pipeline policy intended to sap Russia’s energy revenues, arming Georgia to the teeth, and worst of all, a push for former Soviet republics of Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO.

As we all know, Bush policies did not bring too many dividends to America. We have an astronomical national debt, close to ten percent unemployment, two endless and pretty hopeless wars, the rise of militant Islam, and many other problems including, quite unnecessarily, ever worsening U.S. – Russian relations.

We should admit that Obama’s administration “Reset” policy with Russia started to turn things around, and the ratification of START treaty would be a logical step in this direction. It will also help reduce the two countries’ nuclear stockpiles thus enhancing U.S. national security, as stated by practically all current and living former U.S. Defense and State secretaries, Pentagon and NATO top brass, and the expert community. Over and above this, it may offer yet another chance for U.S. to engage Russia, still a nuclear superpower despite all the setbacks it has suffered, and clearly the biggest, most populous and arguably most powerful country in Europe.

Twenty years ago the Russian government’s stated objective was a formal alliance with the United States and NATO. Russia pursued a strongly pro-American foreign policy, while the United States enjoyed unprecedented affection and admiration among masses of ordinary Russians. Today, U.S. – Russia relations have been practically shattered but, as the recent NATO summit in Lisbon shows, there is a thrust to move towards achieving the same goal that many of us dreamed of after the collapse of communism.

It just happens that the fate of this treaty is in your hands. Knowing you we are sure you will look at this matter not from a narrow partisan view but as a statesman with a great vision for the welfare and security of the United States and mankind. Do what’s right for America: Ratify the treaty.

Warm regards and Happy Thanksgiving,

Edward Lozansky
President
American University in Moscow

James George Jatras
Former Foreign Policy Analyist, U.S. Senate Republican Policy Comittee
Former U.S. Foreign Service Officer

• The reality is, despite what anybody says, I as secretary of defense and the entire uniformed leadership of the American military believe that this treaty is in our national security interest.
Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense

• So, I believe, and the rest of the military leadership in this country believes, that this treaty is essential to our future security. I believe it enhances and ensures that security. And I hope the Senate will ratify it quickly.
Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff

• Today marks a fresh start in NATO-Russia relations. For the first time in history, NATO countries and Russia will be cooperating to defend themselves. Our security is indivisible. We share important interests and face the same threats to our common security.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary-General at the November 2010 NATO Summit in Lisbon

• The fact that we are talking to Russia about common threats and the chance to cooperate with Russia on missile defense is an extremely important step. That could be proof that the Cold War has finally come to an end.
Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany


Originally published on 1389 Blog.


Iran to join NATO Afghan talks

by Phantom Ace ( 71 Comments › )
Filed under Afghanistan, Ahmadinejad, Al Qaeda, Iran, Islamic Invasion, Islamic Supremacism, Jihad, Taliban at October 20th, 2010 - 8:30 am

The Ayatollah regime of Iran has committed aggression against American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US doesn’t respond hence encouraging these attacks. NATO had a meeting on the Afghan War and it appears they have invited a belligerent party. Iran sent delegates to conference, clearly being awarded for their aggression.

ROME –  Iran took part in a high-level meeting on Afghanistan on Monday after the United States said it has no problem with its participation.

The international “contact group” met in Rome amid a renewed push to end the nine-year-old war in Afghanistan, including bringing Taliban into peace talks. The group gathers the Afghan government, NATO, the EU, U.N. and other key players — including Iran this time — to assess progress in Afghanistan.

Read the rest: Iran Joins High-Level Afghan Talks

The Obama regime’s  appeasing of Iran is gaining nothing and just encouraging their actions.

Hillary’s Balkans Baggage.

by 1389AD ( 155 Comments › )
Filed under Balkans, Bosnia, Democratic Party, Dhimmitude, Hezballah, Islamic Terrorism, Islamists, Kosovo, Leftist-Islamic Alliance, Media, Military, Serbia at October 18th, 2010 - 11:30 am

A response to:
Clinton Heads to Belgrade for Talks on Kosovo, Serbia’s EU Bid

By: Stella Jatras

Good afternoon, Mr. Gomez. Since you were kind enough to give your email address (which few editors do!) in your commentary, Clinton Heads to Belgrade for Talks on Kosovo, Serbia’s EU Bid, I consider it an invitation to present my comments regarding Hillary and William Jefferson Clinton, or as the old program said, “You Asked For It,” and for that I thank you.

Let me begin with the following: In violation of International Law, the NATO Charter and WITHOUT the approval of the US Congress, NATO, at the urging of President Clinton (and Hillary,) bombed tiny Yugoslavia that did NOT have weapons of mass destruction, NEVER attacked us nor any other NATO country, and was NEVER a threat to us nor to any other NATO country. It was all based on the images we saw on TV. I invite you to read my A War Of Images, that was published in Jewish World Review. At the time we bombed Serbian civilians, NATO consisted of approximately 900 million members – and bombing tiny Yugoslavia with approximately 10 million in population and we thumped our chests like an 800-lb gorilla!

I strongly suggest you read Kosovo & Yugoslavia: Law In Crisis, at: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hayden.htm.

In 1995, NATO, bombed the Bosnian Serbs at the Markale Market Place – we all saw the images with the dead bloated bodies every hour on the hour by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour (whose father is Iranian and did have a dog in this fight) – an atrocity blamed on the Serbs. However, Yossef Bodansky, the author of “Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America,” wrote in his book “Offensive in the Balkans,” the following:

Phase Three started with the self-inflicted major terrorist provocation. On Friday 5, 1994, a major explosion rocked the Markale — Sarajevo’s main market place — causing heavy casualties. What was immediately described as the ubiquitous “Serb mortar shell” was actually a special charge designed and built with help from HizbAllah experts and then most likely dropped from a nearby rooftop onto the crowd of shoppers Video cameras at the ready recorded this expertly-staged spectacle of gore, while dozens of corps of Bosnian Muslim troops killed in action (exchanged the day before in a ‘body swap’ with the Serbs) were paraded in front of cameras to raise the casualty counts.

“This callous self-killing was designed to shock the West especially sentimental and gullible Washington, in order to raise the level of Western sympathy to the Bosnian Muslims and further demonize the Serbs so that Western governments would be more supportive of Sarajevo’s forthcoming aggressive moves, and perhaps even finally intervene military.”

Maj. General Lewis MacKenzie (First UNPROFOR commander to Bosnia) also confirmed that “cameras were on the ready,” to take pictures of the Markale Market Place massacre allegedly to have been committed by Serbian forces when in reality, Bosnian Muslims were the ones who killed their own people.

Re: Hillary’s little sojourn to Bosnia – apologizing saying that she ‘Misspoke’ About Bosnia Trip. Gee! I thought she was the smartest woman in the world, or so she told us!

Furthermore, I spoke with William Nash, who was the commander of U.S. troops in Bosnia and was at the Tuzla airport with Hillary Clinton. He said there was no threat of sniper fire at the airport during her visit. He said that Mrs. Clinton was gracious during her visit and took pictures with the soldiers, but “she never had her head down. There was no sniper threat that I know of.

Hillary’s fake story reminds me of when Mr. Kinzer (NYT magazine, 1994) wrote of Christiane Amanpour: “Advocate or not, Amanpour has developed a style of her own. She has a strong ego, and is satisfied only when she can dominate a story, as she has in Bosnia.” I guess that includes a little stage management when appropriate. According to another journalist who was with Ms. Amanpour during a visit to Kosovo, some of the journalists were taken on a orientation flight along the border between Kosovo and Albania by helicopter and were advised to wear flak jackets for the flight because of possible ground fire from Albanian positions. When the flight returned, Ms. Amanpour, wearing a flak jacket, taped her report for the CNN audience with scenes photographed from the helicopter in the background… really dramatic stuff. The only problem is, she had not accompanied her cameraman on the flight. The flak jacket and the taped film of the flight were all for effect. And to think that Cokie Roberts was criticized for wearing a coat and having a picture of the Capitol Building in the background when, in fact, she was being filmed in a studio.

The article is from my pen, entitled Odd Alliance at State and CNN? which you can read at http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=16082 Also: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2206485/posts, where I posted my comments regarding Christiane Amanpour.

I strongly advise you to get a copy of John Schindler’s book, Unholy Terror: Bosnia, Al-Qa’ida, and the Rise of Global Jihad, where he makes the following points:

* how the Bosnian conflict has been misrepresented by the mainstream media, covering up the large role played by radical Islam and al-Qa’ida;

* how Osama bin Laden used Bosnia as a base for terrorist operations worldwide—including attacks on the United States from the Millennium Plot to 9/11;

* how veterans of the Bosnian jihad have murdered thousands of Americans and conducted terrorist attacks around the world;

* how the Clinton administration, in collaboration with Iran, secretly supplied Bosnia’s mujahidin, including al-Qa’ida, with millions of dollars of weapons and supplies;

* how America’s Bosnian allies have been in covert alliances with radical anti-American regimes in several countries;

* why Bosnia and its secret jihad matter to America and our War on Terrorism today.

And what have we accomplished in the Balkans? Bosnia and Kosovo are corridors into Europe and into the United States (i.e., Ft. Dix.) with their jihad – and Oh! by the way, it was Hillary who welcomed Kosovo Albanians to the United States at Ft. Dix in 1999.

And may I ask a question of you, Mr. Bloomberg. Are you or were you aware that the Bosnian Muslims and the Kosovo Liberation Army were killing their own people in order to get us to fight their battle, which we willing did thanks to our President Clinton? It certainly took America’s mind off of Monica. Did you see the pictures of al-Qaida terrorists holding the heads of Serbs? Or the report of KLA drowning grandmothers in bathtubs in Kosovo? I often wonder, what did the Serbian people ever do to us other than be our ally in World War II where they rescued over 500 downed American pilots (known as Halyard Mission), and what was their reward for their sacrifices? We bombed their mothers, their fathers, sisters and brothers. See: “Halyard Mission” and Mihailovich Honored at World’s Largest Private Air Show – AirVenture July 2009 and The Serbs Chose War, by Ruth Mitchell.

Although I have merely touched the tip of the iceberg, I have already taken up enough of your time and I thank you for lending me your ear.

Best regards,

Stella (Jatras)

P.S. If you go to www.yahoo.com or www.google.com, and type in my name, Stella Jatras, you will understand why I received a death threat from the UCK, the Albanian arm of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

FYI: I am not a Serb, nor did I know anything about Serbians until our intervention into the Balkans in the 1990s…….