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| Europe |
| European Rapid Reaction Force |
| 2003-05-30 |
| EFL May 30, 2003: While the European Union recently declared its 60,000-strong Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) operational, it currently has a laundry list of shortcomings: air-to-air refueling; combat search and rescue; nuclear, biological, and chemical protection; special operations forces; theater missile defense; unmanned aerial vehicles; space-based assets; and (more seriously) strategic airlift. It can't get there, and if it got there, it couldn't protect itself, let alone fight. Without it's own strategic lift capability, the RRF would be dependent of NATO to move anywhere. The first step was taken when seven European countries sealed a long-awaited $23.8 billion order for 180 Airbus military transport planes, although they aren't expected to enter service by 2010. 2010 = never. I hear that there's plenty of excess capacity on the C-17 line... The RRF was declared operational on May 19, more than three years after it was first announced and six months after the deadline expired,... Neither rapid nor ready, it seems. The RRF could soon be asked to face a much more serious test than its current ongoing observer mission in Macedonia. In mid-May, Kofi Annan has approached the EU about troops for a peacekeeping force in the eastern part of the Congo. However, the major stumbling block to RRF deployments may be finding a consensus, not suitable transport planes. The EU could send a small force for a short period of time, but added that the decision would take them "months, not days." I guess that Ukrainian Mediterranean Air is all booked up. |
| Posted by:11A5S |
| #10 "Which means, as usual, the EUridiots will be dependent on UK and US assets to do anything. " UK is part of the EU, you idiot. But why should I expect you to know that. And why should I expect you to show any gratitude to your Spanish or Polish "allies", also part of the EU (or soon to be). No, you'll call them all idiots. The RRF may not currently have the power to "rapidly" support South Korea on a different hemisphere. What it may have is the power to rapidly move to support places closer at home, such EU's member states and its neighbours. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-05-31 07:59:35 |
| #9 One more thing(if memory serves me right)the lion's share of blame lays with"Good King Leopold"(you know our"good friends"the Belgians) who considered the Congo his own,personel fiefdom. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-05-31 07:17:32 |
| #8 But TGA,wouldn't that make the U.S.a bunch of Unilaterial,Hegmonic,Imperialist bastards. It's all about diamonds(opps oil)don't ya know. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-05-31 06:48:13 |
| #7 "And I guess NATO would have done quite a good job (although maybe Europe might have gone up in nuclear smoke). European military still has to adapt to a new role (it hasn't really found yet)." Problems with that statement: Have you noticed the rather heavy contingient of US forces that were and are still in Europe to support NATO (The # has gone down with the Soviet collapse but we're still here.) We are the backbone of NATO. Great Britian aside, the European military has had no real role since the cold war. and even then it was basically "look tough, try to survive, and give'em hell." but at the same time they spent, and continue to spend, squat on their military. The entire European continent doesn't spend as much as the US in defense and related areas. Until they realize that the speed factor for their RRF will be directly propotional to the money they put into it, they will be doomed! If RRF is the role they want, fine, but they can't be half hearted about it. As for the Congo... 1) Spank you colonial Europe for creating this mess to begin with. 2) Yeah, I'll probably come into work on Monday and the boss will tell me that that's the next NATO meals on wheels project and I get to help... |
| Posted by: Tremor 2003-05-31 00:32:03 |
| #6 I'd say you are too hard on European forces. Never forget our armies were trained to withstand a continental onslaught and fight back Soviet invaders. And I guess NATO would have done quite a good job (although maybe Europe might have gone up in nuclear smoke). European military still has to adapt to a new role (it hasn't really found yet). I'd say you find some damn good pilots in the German Luftwaffe (their Texan friends will agree with me) and other parts of the (German) military do a fine job as well. (The Germany Navy divers are some of the toughest guys you will find (including the Navy Seals) For example German military did a good job patrolling the Horn of Africa, bringing relief to flood stricken Mozambique, leading ISAF in Afghanistan. It's easy to laugh at the current state of European military. The U.S. always assumed a global role, hence its superiority. Europe does not want this global role (which could only lead to conflict with the U.S.). And before you laugh too hard at all this: Can't you spare a few troops for Congo? After all, the U.S. is pretty much involved with liberating countries, so stopping a genocide with a few of the best troops in the world might do wonders in international opinion. After all, Iraq wasn't about oil, right? (No sarcasm intended). |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2003-05-30 23:46:18 |
| #5 I hear that there's plenty of excess capacity on the C-17 line... Let them wait for their Airbus military transport. After all, they're probably subsidizing that too.... |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-05-30 21:50:33 |
#4 Without it's own strategic lift capability, the RRF would be dependent of NATO to move anywhere. Which means, as usual, the EUridiots will be dependent on UK and US assets to do anything. I'm certain we will help the ungrateful bastards. I just can't figure out why. I feel horrible, but I just despise the letters E and U, and I gag everytime I hear the word "France" or "Europe". I'd never known what if felt like to hate someone or something, but now I do.
See how useless they are? How much would you bet that they could reach a consensus on how much they hate Americans and Jews? God, I really do despise these asshats. |
| Posted by: Celissa 2003-05-30 18:30:23 |
| #3 I see a real livewire joint venture getting ramped up: Kofi and the UN supported by the EU "RRFs" and their strategic lifters. If you depend up them in a crisis, better give yourself last rites and save everyone time. Geeze! What a bunch of clowns. They don't even have any hanger queens to do anything with. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-30 16:38:42 |
| #2 Oh, yeah. They're ready. Kinda. Maybe. Well, maybe if the Poles act up. Nah, not really. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-05-30 14:24:34 |
| #1 "Months, not days" For the EUnuchs, I guess that counts as rapid. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2003-05-30 14:15:22 |