Russian expansionism may pose existential threat, says Nato general

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Russian expansionism may pose existential threat, says Nato general

Peter Walker
Friday 20 February 2015 19.05 GMT

Russian expansionist ambitions could quickly become “an obvious existential threat to our whole being”, the most senior British military officer in Nato has said in a strongly worded speech.

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw, appointed last year as Nato’s deputy commander of forces in Europe, said the alliance needed to develop both fast-reacting conventional forces and capacities to counter Russian efforts at coercion and propaganda, as seen in Ukraine.

Talking of “an era of constant competition with Russia”, Bradshaw told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute that Nato had to maintain a cohesive system of deterrence on its eastern borders, something that would require help from the EU.

He said Nato was pushing ahead with plans for a very high readiness joint taskforce, “in order to convince Russia, or any other state adversary, that any attack on one Nato member will inevitably lead them into a conflict with the whole alliance”.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/20/russia-existential-threat-british-nato-general

[Man from Pickens]

1. Why does NATO still exist?

Cold war ended 23 years ago. What exactly was the point of expanding an alliance that was created to defend against an enemy that had already capitulated and collapsed?

[jeff47]

3. Alliances don't require enemies.

Keeping NATO going for us is keeping close relations with the other member countries.

Keeping NATO going for them is saving an enormous amount of money on defense spending.

[bemildred]

2. Horseshit.

If we cannot conquer Iraq, or Afghanistan, Russia sure as hell cannot conquer Europe. What a dumb ass.

What kind of military persons says things like: "“an obvious existential threat to our whole being”.

[AverageJoe90]

4. Can't disagree with that.

Russia's leadership may be dangerous, but Russia has no real projection power at this point, perhaps beyond it's initial sphere of influence.

[uhnope]

5. True, Putin is a very puny character in the long view

But having authoritarian anti-democracies spreading in Europe (Russia, Hungary, Belarus, now occupied Ukraine) is definitely a threat to basic human rights. And right now, Putin's Russia is the main player in spreading that kind of fascism in Europe. He's partnering up with fascists like Le Pen in France.

[bemildred]

6. Would you go annoy someone else please?

Thank you.