Military Downsizing and EU Army

[Savoia]

The Madness of Closing Military Bases

I am dismayed by the ongoing (almost arbitrary) closure of military bases and of the constant downsizing of the military, not least of all because Europe finds itself entering an era of increased volatility in which I believe strong capable national forces are essential (indeed a prerequisite) in guaranteeing certain basic levels of security and stability.

My scepticism towards those in the political sphere causes me to be concerned that among EU nations this unrelenting agenda of military downsizing is (among other things) a strategy designed to position EU members states so that they have need of a European Army - something denied for years by the Eurocrats but which since Brexit seems to have come out in the open. Needless to say, the moment you consign your national defence force into the hands of an unelected bureaucracy with a known socialist agenda which includes the active disintegration of nation states, you not only wave goodbye to your ability to enforce political will, but you drastically hamper, if not irreversibly remove, the possibility of ever regaining this.

Beside the political implications there are numerous additional advantages of maintaining a strong military and which includes the valuable nature of military training and its positive downstream impact on civilian enterprise. The military also provides a unique and vital hand-up for thousands to gain experience across a breadth of disciplines enabling them to enhance their longterm employment prospects. Moreover, the intrinsic culture of the military which tends to promote organisation, cooperation and professionalism are attributes from which society benefits, all the more so when one's forces are maintained in strength.

I shall try and post some additional articles on this thread for those who may be interested.

Sav


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[Savoia]

UK and USA are Weak: Angela Merkel calls for German-Led EU Army to Defend Europe

Angela Merkel has renewed her call for the European Union to have its own army, warning the bloc will not be able to rely on others to guarantee its security with Donald Trump in the White House and Britain set to leave.

The Berlin chief said Brussels will have to take on “more responsibility in the world” as she predicted a cooling in trans-Atlantic ties under the eurosceptic President-elect.

And describing Brexit as “emotional” for her she urged the remaining 27 member states to use Britain’s decision to leave to railroad through ever closer military cooperation.

They come as eurocrats continue to press forward with plans for much closer European cooperation on military matters - a so-called ‘Defence Union’ - which is seen by most observers as the back-door creation of an EU army.

EU chiefs were recently forced to drop controversial plans for a joint military headquarters in Brussels after Britain pledged to veto them, but Mrs Merkel hinted they will be back on the table immediately after Brexit.

Concerns have been raised that an EU army will fatally undermine NATO - the western military alliance which has kept peace on the continent for 50 years - by creating a competing command structure.

But Mrs Merkel insisted such a force will need to come into being in part because of the indifference of Mr Trump, who takes office on January 21, towards the entire euro project.

She said: “Let’s not fool ourselves. From the point of view of some of our traditional partners - and I am thinking here as well about the transatlantic relations - there is no eternal guarantee for a close cooperation with us Europeans. “I’m convinced that Europe and the EU will have to learn to take on more responsibility in the world.”

The German leader insisted that only Brussels, and not individual member states, can successfully solve global problems, citing defence issues including Russian aggression in Ukraine.

She said: "Europe is facing the biggest challenges for decades. It would be naive to always rely on others to solve the problems in our neighbourhood."

In a speech to delegates in the Belgian capital she also addressed the issue of Brexit, which she said was an “emotional moment” but also presented Europe with the opportunity to press forwards with its military plans.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/...y-Trump-Brexit

[Savoia]

Brussels Marches Ahead with EU Army

Brussels is moving ever-closer to an EU Army with 22 states set to sign off on a key military agreement today – a move a high-ranking eurocrat hailed as a “historic day.”

Germany and France are leading the charge for a new defence union, which aims to cement EU unity after Brexit.

The campaign for a European defence union stretches back to the 1950s, although the movement has stuttered in the decades since, but EU officials are now celebrating as progress accelerates with the support of Brussels chiefs Jean-Claude Juncker, Guy Verhofstadt and Michel Barnier.

https://www.infowars.com/official-da...ay-without-uk/

[Savoia]

EU Army by Stealth

Britons were left outraged last night after secret tapes came to light indicating the UK was planning to pay for an EU army after Brexit.

Senior Whitehall officials have reportedly been holding secret meetings with their European counterparts to discuss how to continue co-operating after the UK leaves the Brussels trade bloc.

The revelations in the tapes have been described as an attempt to "hoodwink” voters.

Cabinet Office security adviser Alastair Brockbank said the UK would continue to make “significant contributions” to EU defence and foreign policy projects after Brexit claiming they are plans “we are all interested in”.

He also went further by indicating the country may help to fund Jean-Claude Juncker's plans for an EU army, known as the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/93...k-fund-eu-army