Nato states 'waste billions' (SO MUCH FOR EU ARMY ALERT)

The Daily Telegraph ^ | November 9, 2002 | Michael Smith

[MadIvan]

Lord Robertson, the Nato secretary-general, launched a scathing attack on its European members yesterday, dismissing the £95 billion they spend each year on defence as "a waste of money" because of their inability to deploy swiftly during a crisis.

Their failure to co-ordinate their military capabilities meant that the bulk of the money was "squandered" on troops and equipment unable to deploy in time, leaving America to pick up the pieces, Lord Robertson said.

The Nato chief was speaking in Brussels before this month's Nato summit in Prague at which America is expected to insist on the alliance setting up a multi-national rapid reaction force and on what Lord Robertson described as a "dramatic overhaul" of the transatlantic relationship.

Continental Europe's conscript armies have been too slow to adapt to a changed world where the main threat is from terrorists and rogue states.

Lord Robertson said: "We need modernised forces able to go wherever they are needed, whenever they are needed and to stay for as long as required."

The problem is so bad that when Britain withdrew its units from Nato's ACE mobile force this year to deal with the war on terrorism, the alliance was forced to disband the force because there were no replacements available.

Lord Robertson said: "There are two million troops in uniform in Europe, half a million more than the Americans, but only a fraction are deployable. That is a waste of money.

"There are 2,800 attack aircraft compared to half in the US armed forces. Each of the US planes can fly day and night but only 10 of the huge European fleet can perform in that way. This is waste of money as well.

"The US has 250 wide-bodied extra-large planes, which can take troops to where a crisis is. In the whole of Europe we have 11 planes that can do the same."

His comments on the lack of transport aircraft appeared to be directed particularly at Germany, which has singularly failed to keep promises on joint defence projects.

[MadIvan]

Meanwhile the fools in Brussels talk wistfully of an EU defence force. Yes, the terrorists will be really impressed by two Boy Scouts armed with a slingshot.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Drango]

leaving America to pick up the pieces

We'll defend Britian, but France and Germany are gonna hafta rely on Kumbaya.

[Saturnalia]

I resent your remark! My scout troop built minature siege weapons AND raccoon traps.
In short, they only get the slingshot.

[Billthedrill]

Hmm...not sure I like where this is going. I mean, if the UK has the only troops in Europe who can deploy and the EU decides it needs to deploy troops...I'd be checking those sovereignty opt-out clauses pretty carefully if I were in London right now...

[MadIvan]

I am not paying to defend the bloody French and Germans. They can pay for their own damn defence.

Regards, Ivan

[Dark Seraph]

Two Boy Scouts armed with a slingshot?

I see a "Canadian Army" joke in the making. ;)

[pgobrien]

Laugh my ass off! You beat me to it!

[MadIvan]

Well it's too late, the terrorists have their own:

Now German defence planners should be screaming about how they've closed the slingshot gap...

Regards, Ivan

[Cicero]

The Euros have 2,800 planes, of which "only 10" can fly day and night?

What are the other 2,790 planes used for?

[TopQuark]

What will come first: a disintegration of NATO, an implosion of the European Union, or the year 2012?

That's a big question.

[Lessismore]

For Homeland Defense, the Germans should reconsititute the Geheime Staatspolizei.

[Bonaparte]

Without American protection, all of Europe would have collapsed a long, long time ago. And the same is true today. Without us, every last one of them would now be speaking Russian -- not that they'd mind. The majority of them are Soviet in spirit anyway.

Present company excepted, of course. =:O

[Bonaparte]

"What are the other 2,790 planes used for?"

Transport of welfare checks.

[Bonaparte]

"What are the other 2,790 planes used for?"

Transport of welfare checks.

[American in Israel]

I cannot speak for most of NATO but the one part I have had the misfortune to deal with Italy is a sad joke. But then their military always was. The danger is that Islam will take over and suddenly have the weapons of modern warfare at their disposal. Europe has the way, Islam has the will.