Armies that are not: Coronavirus showed true combat readiness of NATO countries

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The COVID-19 pandemic turned out to be a tough test of not only the medical system of the vast majority of countries, not only their social institutions and economics. Not least, the blow of the coronavirus became an exam for the armed forces of those states, which he attacked with particular fury.

Of course, the final results are still far from being finalized, but already at the moment it is possible to draw very concrete intermediate conclusions. And on their basis, it is to question very vigorous and optimistic statements by the leadership of the main military-political bloc of the West - NATO about its "combat readiness" and its ability to solve certain problems. The real state of affairs testifies to a completely different ...



"The Alliance's capabilities are limited ..."


In truth, some of the statements made the day before in Brussels by the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, in their hilarity entirely correspond to the day when they were uttered - April 1. In general, this is the usual rhetoric of a phlegmatic, like a herring, Norwegian in the style: “We would give them! If only they had caught up with us ... "However, against the background of the sheer horror that is happening in Europe, Stoltenberg's rants about" containing hostile actions "by Russia, brazenly conducting, despite the coronavirus," exercises near NATO borders "and" increasing its military presence in the North Sea. " already sound like blasphemy. Are we touching you ?! Yes, we are transferring help to one of the countries of your pathetic "military bloc", which at a critical moment turned out to be absolutely incapable of anything! Nevertheless, the secretary general continues to chat about "fake the news from Moscow, which NATO must counter with facts. " What are the facts ?! About the fact that starting literally from the second week of March, the virus mows the top command staff of the Alliance right and left? As of March 25, only 33 cases of infection were confirmed in the units of the NATO Supreme Command Europe (SHAPE), a widow more of the "fathers-commanders" and senior military officials were quarantined with suspected COVID-19. Now these figures, of course, are much higher, but something is in no hurry to share new data in Brussels. In Italy alone, more than ten army generals fell ill with the coronavirus. What's going on in the barracks is scary to even think. To utter declarations like: "Despite the pandemic, our operational readiness is maintained, not undermined" Stoltenberg can really afford only on International April Fool's Day. At the same time, however, some countries, naively counting on the help of the Alliance in difficult times, are now not at all funny.

Some time ago, the NATO Disaster Response Coordination Center (EADRCC) received a desperate request for help from the Spanish Armed Forces, which must be given their due, courageously and decisively, trying to minimize the terrifying effects of the pandemic raging in their country. The Spanish army requested, in general, not so much: half a million test kits for quick testing for coronavirus, at least five hundred installations for artificial ventilation of the lungs, one and a half million medical masks and 450 thousand respirators. “We are partners in North Atlantic unity!” We are dying! Save us! ” - in the face of a terrible threat, the Spaniards, forgetting about pride, begged their own "allies" to do at least something. As far as is known, there was no intelligible response to the request. However, it is quite possible to consider such a statement made during the same April Fools' speech by Stoltenberg that he admitted that “the Alliance itself does not have the necessary protective equipment to fight the virus, they are available to the member countries of the organization”! But, according to him, “the Alliance can take on a coordinating function, for example, in the field of logistics in organizing transport flights” ... I wonder where exactly the General Secretary will be sent to Madrid with such “help” ?! The beautiful Spanish language, as far as I know, is very rich in expressions very close to our obscene ... In fact, spreading his arms and tweeting something about "the limited role of NATO in supporting its members in the fight against the pandemic," Stoltenberg signs im structure final death sentence. In the end, it all came down to the fact that in the midst of the ordeals of every army in Europe, it remains to rely solely on their own forces. But here, too, everything is far from "thank God"!

Armies that are not


For decades hoping for “invincible unity” of NATO, the EU states for the most part, saving on defense spending, have turned their own armed forces into some kind, forgive me, misunderstandings. This is best seen in the example of one of the most powerful countries in the European Union - Germany. In this state, the problem lies, first of all, in the fact that the Germans themselves forbade their own military to "intervene" in any "civilian" processes! The government, in fact, is absolutely deprived of the right to use the army for anything other than direct defense against external aggression. The reason is more than understandable - the society that survived the horrors of the Third Reich decided to protect itself from the likelihood that power will again be in the hands of people in uniform to the maximum and even above it. It seems that a little overdone ... However, the German Constitution in its 35th article still provides for the possibility of using the armed forces within the country "in case of especially serious accidents and natural disasters." The coronavirus invasion "pulls", perhaps, at both points at once. Nevertheless, speaking on March 18 at a special press conference on the potential use of the Bundeswehr in the current emergency, the country's defense minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, first of all asked the Germans "not to place undue hopes on their defenders." “We would be glad, but ...” The leitmotif of her speech was approximately like that. Army medicine? Excuse me, but all 5 hospitals that the military department has (really equipped and equipped “first class”) have long been “integrated” with civilian health care, and the military are, in fact, only in their name. Real military personnel among their patients - no more than 20-25%.

The rest is the so-called “field” army medicine, in fact, mobile medical units capable of promptly providing the first, most urgent help on the battlefield (or at the disaster site), and transporting the injured ... That's right, to those very “military-civilian »The hospital, which was discussed above. Not quite what is needed in this case - that is, to combat the epidemic. The number of doctors in army medicine for the entire Bundeswehr is “already” 3 thousand people. The prospect of deployment with such forces of large field hospitals looks rather doubtful. There are simply not enough people. 300 thousand units of protective equipment (masks, overalls, etc.), which the military department has already ordered, according to its head, from its suppliers and after receiving it will be handed over to civilian doctors - this is even more significant. According to Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, at the time of the press conference she had about fifty requests for assistance from various departments. About one and a half dozen of them will be satisfied - basically, these are again the moments regarding the supply of one or another medical equipment or personal protective equipment. And the valiant Bundeswehr warriors in Saxony help drivers stuck in colossal border traffic jams, along with local emergency services and volunteers providing them with food and drinks. This harsh German law allows you to do it.

But the possibility that the army will protect any civilian objects, even those related to critical infrastructure (power plants or a water supply system) in its leadership is more than skeptical. For this turn of events, the virus must first mow down all departmental security guards, then representatives of private security services, and in addition police officers. Then - maybe. And then, in German it will be somehow not very legal. What will not be certain in Germany (with any, perhaps, development of events) is the military, patrolling the streets and ensuring compliance with quarantine. One of the Bundeswehr generals bluntly stated: there will never be a deployment of troops in cities, no one will ever authorize parties to disperse parties and send soldiers hovering around anywhere. As the Minister of Defense said: “We do not want and cannot do this ...”

A blind joke with the Europeans was played, as I have written more than once, by blind faith in the "great and invincible" allies from across the ocean. The Americans will come at the first call - and they will save, defend, cure ... Yeah, they will also wipe away the tears! Less stupid Hollywood blockbusters had to watch. Today, it is not as invincible as the legendary (in the sense that its strength and power exist exclusively in legends and myths) the US army and in its thoughts does not have anyone to help there - especially outside the United States. It, however, is not surprising - among all NATO countries, the number of infected in the US armed forces is unequivocally the highest. The scale of the disaster has reached such proportions that the Pentagon a few days ago tightly classified statistics on this issue. This is Russia to them, if anyone has forgotten, sends military boards with the help, and not they to someone. The US Army Air Force is increasingly “illuminated” by exporting coronavirus test kits from Italy (they will cost!), Or intercepting batches of protective masks intended for France right at the Chinese airport! Well, just lovely, what kind of allies! With such enemies it is not necessary at all.

With all this, the US representative to NATO, Ambassador Kay Bailey Gutchison continues to foolishly with enthusiasm, as if nothing had happened. Literally today, a teleconference should be held with the participation of foreign ministers of NATO member countries to discuss the "destabilizing actions of Russia." Mrs. Gutchison belligerently declares that the Alliance cannot have normal relations with our country until it “leaves the sovereign territories it is occupying and stops aggressive behavior” ... No, well, Macron, well clever - about the "brain death"! Verily, the Lord, desiring to punish, first deprives the mind. And then, if necessary, the coronavirus adds ...
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47 comments
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  1. 0
    April 2 2020 09: 37
    Everything is lost! Everything is lost! But now it’s fashionable in USA ...
  2. 0
    April 2 2020 09: 44
    All these complaints and cries can be translated into Russian - give me money.
  3. -4
    April 2 2020 09: 52
    Armies that are not: Coronavirus showed true combat readiness of NATO countries

    Strange title. Compare sour to green.
    1. +1
      April 2 2020 13: 10
      Strange for those who can read headlines only)
  4. -2
    April 2 2020 11: 35
    The case when, after reading the title, the article itself does not need to be read - the author is still known ...
  5. +1
    April 2 2020 12: 45
    Why do they need the army and NATO, if they are protected by the most powerful army on the continent?
  6. -1
    April 2 2020 13: 08
    AUTHOR ARTICLES. Bravo, Alexander! I applaud you while standing!
    Your articles are simply brilliant. First of all, they are very appropriate in time, competent in content and written with an inimitable sense of humor!
    For the sake of people like you, you should go to topcor.
    1. +4
      April 2 2020 14: 44
      Thanks for your kind words!
      I will try not to disappoint in the future.
      For the sake of people like you, it's worth writing.
    2. The comment was deleted.
      1. +2
        April 2 2020 14: 59
        Is it possible in more detail? Or so, the "cry of the soul" maydaun?
        1. -6
          April 2 2020 14: 59
          Not a scream, but a cry. It’s just that neither you, nor the author, nor the majority of jingoists from this and not only sites, can understand in any way that at least from what is written in this article (we will conditionally take that there are no more than 50% of fakes, which is very unlikely) it becomes clear that no one is fighting there, and even more so, they are not going to attack anyone first.
          1. +2
            April 2 2020 15: 02
            Yes, you’re right, the “cry of the soul” of Maydaun. Thank you for correcting))
          2. +2
            April 2 2020 17: 43
            Why take conditionally? This is demagoguery. We are discussing an article. Are you talking about 50% of fakes? What is one example of a fake from this article? Well, unless, of course, you have something to say.
            1. -5
              April 2 2020 17: 53
              Are you out of your mind asking me to read this article? !!!! I used to read them "obliquely", now only headings. Mental health is dearer to me, and so the body is no longer to hell, sleep is interrupted, hemoglobin is low, my left eye twitches. The author and title are enough for me. However, one thing is possible. The percentage of fakes is already clear to me with the necessary accuracy.
              1. +2
                April 2 2020 19: 13
                Ahh .. I understand .. and you on the forum, then. "Just shit" they went .. did not even doubt your idle talk).
                1. +2
                  April 2 2020 21: 14
                  Quote: Dear sofa expert.
                  And you, meanwhile, simply went to the forum. You didn’t even doubt your idle talk).

                  He has such a job.
      2. +1
        April 2 2020 15: 06
        Envy does not color.

        Dill

        And if you are called by analogy with argali, you know who argali is, will you consider this also a manifestation of wit?
        1. -4
          April 2 2020 15: 09
          Arkhar, it’s kind of like a ram, well, at least it’s not a goat, so I’m quite happy. And Dill, it seems to me, is much prettier. Moreover, a man allegedly from Ukraine.
          1. The comment was deleted.
          2. The comment was deleted.
            1. 0
              April 3 2020 17: 39
              Without a doubt. In our country this is not an insult, but the prevailing type of behavior.
  7. 0
    April 2 2020 15: 28
    Too straightforward to stupidity. 2 times more people live in Europe than in Russia, and the United States helps them. This is a huge mobilization potential. The only question is how much they want to fight with Russia - but that's another song.
    1. -5
      April 2 2020 16: 58
      For one real reason, why do they need it? It is unclear why to part with your well-fed life?
      1. +4
        April 2 2020 17: 40
        Why did they need this in 1941, 1917 and further into the depths of history?
        1. -5
          April 2 2020 17: 42
          Do you also suggest Batu to remember? What century are you willing to live in?
          1. +2
            April 2 2020 19: 16
            Well, you recall the Sumerians)
            1. -1
              April 3 2020 07: 24
              What kind of Sumerians, where?
              1. +1
                April 3 2020 07: 53
                Which the seas are digging.
                1. -2
                  April 3 2020 08: 02
                  What other seas? It seems that only the Turks will soon dig up the canal and swim, no matter who gets and where without, and in any quantity. And I didn’t hear about anything else, sorry.
      2. -1
        April 2 2020 19: 15
        Envy the well-fed life of others?
        1. -2
          April 3 2020 07: 25
          Yes, I envy you, as I think.
          1. 0
            April 3 2020 07: 54
            I'm not, I'm fine.
            1. -3
              April 3 2020 08: 01
              Everyone says so, it's just embarrassing to admit.
              1. -1
                April 3 2020 08: 30
                You are a strange person. If I say that everything is fine with me, then apparently it is. I have a family, home, car, good work, friends. I don’t understand what is wrong with this and what should I be ashamed of?)
                1. 0
                  April 3 2020 10: 48
                  And there are no secret desires to be ashamed of? This does not happen.
                  1. 0
                    April 3 2020 13: 35
                    Secret desires?)) 20 years to return. But this has nothing to do with envy of others. This is accepted as an axiom.
    2. +2
      April 2 2020 19: 50
      740 million live there. The density of the “Mobilization Potential” is sufficient to make it difficult to miss. A good hundred / other nuclear power plants located a maximum of 100 km from each other. Yes, it’s like death for them to fight Russia, but will anyone ask the Europeans themselves about this? The Americans will need a war, they will at least force someone.
      1. -1
        April 3 2020 06: 17
        The population of Western Europe is 293,6 million people. The gardens of Istanbul are entering Turkey at the edge of Europe, oddly enough - a European country too, but I would not consider it Europe. Russia and KAZAKHSTAN - ALSO enter Europe, as does Belarus. So it gets 770 million according to Wikipedia.
        1. -2
          April 3 2020 07: 55
          Maybe we look at different Wikipedia?)
          1. 0
            April 3 2020 07: 59
            Yes, no, darling ... Just someas my son said in childhood rare peopleconfuse the population of Europe with the population of Western Europe ... Countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus are part of Europe, but not part of Western Europe ...
            1. 0
              April 3 2020 08: 12
              The population of the EU countries alone today is 513 million. There are a couple of countries on the European Peninsula that are not members of it.
            2. -1
              April 3 2020 08: 36
              By the way, you have reason to think. Maybe your son has already surpassed you?
              1. -2
                April 3 2020 08: 38
                Let the horse think ... His head saw what !?
                1. -2
                  April 3 2020 08: 57
                  I imagined you with just such a head. Only from a toy horse.
                  1. -2
                    April 3 2020 09: 00
                    With such an imagination - you write pictures and fiction. So I must tell you about your stupidity necessarily !? Why did you represent me, if I am already in the photo !? You are hiding stupidity under a gray avatar, but I have nothing to be ashamed of ...
                    1. -1
                      April 3 2020 13: 38
                      I have a gray Avatar because I am writing from the phone, and it was not possible to download the photo from it. Today I’ll go from a computer, put something, and at the same time the “screenshots” promised to you. As you asked.
                    2. The comment was deleted.
      2. -3
        April 3 2020 07: 27
        Nobody needs war. In addition to rogue countries, as a rule with leftist or fundamentalist regimes that are irremovable and seized by power. Something in the 90s America, instead of attacking, provided serious assistance.
        1. The comment was deleted.
        2. +1
          April 3 2020 08: 06
          Oh, somehow it’s not very appropriate you have dragged America here), especially in combination with the mention of the Wars). In my opinion, is this just the main generator of wars on earth, or am I mistaken?
          Serious help in the 90s? Yes, I remember, of course. How Wahhabis helped in the North Caucasus. How they planted their joint ventures everywhere and then for decades extradited its resources from Russia, how they naplozed NGOs, and through them they carried on their liberal propaganda of all garbage.
        3. 0
          April 3 2020 09: 00
          The authorities in Germany have also not changed for 16 years. Give it your peer review.
  8. +2
    April 2 2020 16: 36
    The aircraft carrier is all infected, everyone knows this for a long time. 105 US Air Force pilots also became infected. So this article has a right to exist. Moreover, you can also read articles with such headings here:

    American doctors fired for stories about the real situation in hospitals.