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| Europe |
| Largest-ever exercise under way in Bohemia |
| 2006-10-21 |
| A NATO military head is one of a host of international guests expected to observe the largest training exercise in the history of the Czech military, currently under way in south and west Bohemia. Operation "Strong Campaigner," a 12-day training exercise involving both air and ground troops, is designed to prepare a 3,000-person 4th Brigade peacekeeping unit that would be ready for potential deployment by the end of the year, military spokesman Major Zdeněk Kroutil said. Canadian General Raymond Henault, head of NATO's Military Committee, is scheduled to evaluate the campaign, said Blanka Majkusová, a press official with the Defense Ministry. This arm of NATO is responsible for advising the organization on its defense policies and recommending any military action. Prague-based diplomats from NATO members are also expected to attend "Strong Campaigner," making for a total of about 60 observers, she said. Since Oct. 9, more than 4,300 Czech soldiers have been engaged in simulated peacekeeping initiatives in a fictional state dubbed During the two-week exercise, ground, gun, search, anti-missile and anti-mine units will patrol Orangeland, searching for weapons and insurgent groups, said Kroutil. The Czech peacekeeping unit is not yet scheduled for specific involvement in any NATO-led missions, but needs to be at the ready should the necessity arise, Kroutil said. "The Army must be able to provide for its political and military ambitions." "We want to show our guests that the 4th Brigade has fulfilled the reform of military forces," Majkusová said. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #5 This may be a posturing gesture for Putty-Put. Putty is casting a big shadow over the region these days. |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-10-21 19:25 |
| #4 Pardon my musings here... I think cooption may be the only way to save Eurabia. Perhaps we can 'rent' divisions from various euro countries for advanced training in 'hot' zones. Euros get combat trained units and we get additional manpower. Another alternative might be to create an American version of the foreign legion wherein any euro citizen can apply and after 4, 6, or 8 years of service will be awarded US citizenship... There have to be a fair number of euros of military age and perhaps with military training who believe as we do and would be willing to fight to preserve civilization. |
| Posted by: DanNY 2006-10-21 14:34 |
| #3 Concur, lotp. |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2006-10-21 12:30 |
| #2 Co-opting the Euroforce away from the Franco-Germanic miasma. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-10-21 11:45 |
| #1 A "peacekeeping unit"? The fiction: "A European security council has agreed to take military action, and Czech troops are part of the coalition."? Um, will they have like guns 'n stuff, or just Blue Helmets and White Flags? Lawzy, the Czechs aren't a buncha wimps. Wasting them on a Euro-Peacekeeping thingy, even if a fictional exercise. Sheesh. I'll bet they could field a good fighting force. Oh, okay, I'll quit carping. Sorry. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-10-21 11:43 |