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http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2002/09/3-CEE/cee-200902.asp [Post-old War era NATO, 'NATO from the Baltic to the Black Seas' in the words of George Bush, having militarily subjugated Southeastern Europe and encircled Russia from Latvia to Georgia, has refashioned itself as an international strike force. That is the meaning of the fiftieth anniversary NATO summit held in Washington, DC in the Spring of 1999, while NATO's war against Yugoslavia was waging, and the meaning of the so-called Blair Doctrine announced during the same period. New NATO inductees and candidates, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania, are expected, in addition to dumping all non-Western armaments and purchasing billions of dollars of new ones from the likes of Lockheed Martin to insure so-called NATO interoperabiity, to provide legionaries and air bases for military campaigns by the major NATO powers, collectively or individually. Bulgarian and Romanian military personnel are in Afghanistan and Central Asia, Czech forces are in Kuwait, tomorrow Polish and Yugoslav troops may be deployed to Iraq or the Horn of Africa. That this has nothing to do with alleged European joint security arrangements, much less a self-defense pact, goes wthout saying. NATO is a global military strike and occupation force ruled by the Quad nations the US, Britain, Germany and France, one which - again beginning in 1999 - has effectively supplanted the United Nations and set itself up as the military enforcer for major Western interests. The world cannot pretend it doesn't exist; it needs to be addressed. And dismantled.] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty September 20, 2002 U.S. AMBASSADOR CRITICIZES HUNGARY'S LUKEWARM FOREIGN POLICY Nancy Goodman Brinker criticized Hungary on 19 September for not taking part in either the international stabilization force in Afghanistan or Operation Enduring Freedom, "Nepszabadsag" reported. Speaking at a meeting of parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, the U.S. ambassador urged a four-party debate to decide whether Hungary is capable of contributing to those missions in some way. Brinker said the United States will closely consult its friends and allies in the coming days and weeks as it considers moves related to Iraq. MSZ --------------------------------------------------------------- NORWAY TO DONATE AIR-DEFENSE SYSTEM TO LITHUANIA Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold told his Lithuanian counterpart Linas Linkevicius in Oslo on 19 September that Norway will give Lithuania a RBS 70 anti-aircraft defense system to strengthen its ability to protect strategic facilities, ELTA reported. Norway also agreed to prepare training courses for Lithuanian personnel and send a consignment of spare parts for the defense system. Devold also made a commitment to expand the capabilities of the BALTNET air-surveillance network and consult Baltic countries on incorporating this system into the NATO air-defense system. The two countries signed a defense-cooperation agreement in 1995 under which Norway last year gave the Lithuanian Navy two patrol boats and actively supported joint Baltic projects, such as BALTBAT (peacekeeping battalion), BALTNET (air surveillance system), BALTRON (naval squadron), and BALTDEFCOL (defense college). SG --------------------------------------------------------------- U.S. PRESIDENT OFFERS CREDIT TO POLAND FOR F-16 FIGHTERS The U.S. government is prepared to loan $3.6 billion to Poland for the purchase of 48 F-16 fighters to upgrade the Polish Air Force to NATO standards, PAP reported on 19 September. The assignation of such a sum is envisioned in the 2003 draft budget submitted by President George W. Bush to Congress. The loan would be paid back over 15 years with an eight-year grace period. Bush's move seems to significantly strengthen the chances of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., which produces the F-16, to win the contract to supply Poland with NATO-compatible fighter jets. JM --------------------------------------------------------------- CZECH PRESIDENT REITERATES POSITION ON IRAQ "NATO will be an important pillar within this coalition, including the Czech Republic." In an interview with AP on 19 September, President Vaclav Havel, who is currently visiting the United States, reiterated that military action against Iraq should only be taken if Baghdad fails again to meet UN Security Council demands. Havel added that "it would not be desirable" if the United States were to act alone. He said an international coalition "should be formed and will be formed" in the event that Iraq fails to meet the UN conditions, and that "NATO will be an important pillar within this coalition, including the Czech Republic." At an event sponsored by the American Friends of the Czech Republic association on 19 September, Havel thanked the group for the support it has extended to his county following the August floods. CTK reported the same day that famous Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa is supporting Havel's proposal that the Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya Sardinias. Havel will visit Miami on 22-23 September and will meet with representatives of Cuban organizations in exile. MS --------------------------------------------------------------- CZECH DEFENSE MINISTER SAYS U.S. JETS WILL HELP PROTECT AIRSPACE DURING SUMMIT Defense Minister Jaroslav Tvrdik told CTK on 19 September that the Czech Air Force will be reinforced by two U.S. F-16 fighters from German air bases during the November NATO summit in Prague. Tvrdik said that two fighters will be in the air at all times during the summit, either alternating with other fighters or being refueled in flight. Czech airspace will be monitored by ground radar and by an AWACS communications and surveillance jet, Tvrdik said. Tvrdik also said that for the long-term, joining the U.S. missile-defense shield project is a cheaper alternative than purchasing supersonic jet fighters. Tvrdik said that consultations on this option have already begun during his current visit to Washington and that a Czech expert team will be set up to continue talks with U.S. representatives. MS --------------------------------------------------------------- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
