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Items tagged with: Defense


The #Kremlin has revised its #nuclear #policy. Does that make the use of atomic #weapons more likely?


Source: apnews.com/article/russia-nucl…

It adds that nuclear weapons could be used in these scenarios: If reliable information is received about the takeoff or launch of strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic or other flying vehicles and their crossing the Russian border.


So a #military drone across the border is enough? Nearly the same bullshit is standing in the US version. This means they can use nuclear weapons in every war at any time.

#fail #news #warfare #war #Problem #conflict #defense #earth #future #politics #diplomacy



Career #CivilServants at the #Pentagon could be subjected to #loyalty tests, current & fmr ofcls say. #Trump allies have publicly embraced using executive orders & rule changes to replace thousands of civil servants with *#conservative* allies.

A senior US #defense ofcl, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters there was increasing concern within the Pentagon that Trump would purge career civilian employees from the department.

#NationalSecurity


Such proposals alarm #military experts, who say deploying the #military on American streets could not only violate #laws but turn much of the American population against the still widely respected #US armed forces.

In a message to the forces after #Trump's election win, outgoing #Defense Secretary #LloydAustin acknowledged the results of the election & stressed the military would obey "all lawful orders" from its civilian leaders.

#NationalSecurity


"He will destroy the Department of #Defense, frankly. He will go in & he will dismiss generals who stand up for the #Constitution," said Jack Reed, the #Democrat who leads the #Senate #ArmedServices Cmte.

Culture war issues could be one trigger for firings. #Trump was asked by FoxNews in June whether he would fire generals described as "woke," a term for those focused on #RacialJustice & #SocialJustice but which is used by *#conservatives* to disparage #progressive policies.

#NationalSecurity


#Trump's former #US generals & #defense secretaries are among his fiercest critics, some branding him a #fascist & declaring him #unfit for office. Angered, Trump has suggested that his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, #MarkMilley, could be executed for treason.

Current & former U.S. officials say Trump will prioritize #loyalty in his second term & root out #military officers & career #civil servants he perceives to be disloyal.

#NationalSecurity


During his first admin, some of #Trump's controversial suggestions to advisers, such as potentially firing #missiles into #Mexico to destroy drug labs, never became policy in part because of pushback from ofcls at the #Pentagon.

"This will be 2016 on steroids & the fear is that he will hollow out the ranks & expertise in a way that will do irreparable damage to the Pentagon," the official said.

#NationalSecurity #US #military #defense


#Defense #Poland #NATO

#Poland is one of the few countries whose current government has seen the light regarding the #Kremlin Regime's expansionary 🪖 military intentions:

mastodon.social/@HistoPol/1134…

mastodon.social/@HistoPol/1134…


#Polish #Defense spending

(2/n)

...spending has been ever more insane in comparison to other expenditures, in particular climate change* and healthcare, for instance, 👉#Poland still spends even more than the US on defense (now.)

So, clearly, they are, apart from the #Baltic states that have been warning ⚠️ of the #Kremlin threat for years, *the* country in Europe, that has started to prepare against an...



🇵🇱 Poland to invest 3 billion zlotys ($750 million) to ramp up ammunition production, preparing for potential threats from Russia. Poland leads NATO in defense spending, allocating 4.7% of GDP in 2025. #Defense #Poland #NATO

reuters.com/business/aerospace…


Netanyahu fires Israeli #Defense Minister #YoavGallant

#Israel PM Benjamin #Netanyahu announced the dismissal of his defense minister late Tues, saying trust between the two men “has eroded” in recent months. Yoav Gallant had emerged as one of Netanyahu’s fiercest & most public critics over the war in #Gaza & the failure to reach a hostage deal with #Hamas.

#geopolitics #MiddleEast #war #NationalSecurity #GlobalSecurity
washingtonpost.com/world/2024/…


#Polish #Defense spending

(3/3)

...eventual #Russian invasion the most, apart from, obviously, #Ukraine.

//

*#Biden was the first POTUS to seriously tackle the #ClimateCrises. #TFG even withdrew from the Paris accords and Obama chiefly made pledges.

//


#Polish #Defense spending

(2/n)

...spending has been ever more insane in comparison to other expenditures, in particular climate change* and healthcare, for instance, 👉#Poland still spends even more than the US on defense (now.)

So, clearly, they are, apart from the #Baltic states that have been warning ⚠️ of the #Kremlin threat for years, *the* country in Europe, that has started to prepare against an...


#Polish #Defense spending

(1/n)

While the latter is true, you might look at the source:

This is the way #NATO military 🪖 economists compare defense spending. 😉

Besides, your assumption is incorrect:

This is not spending for #Ukraine, but *total* military spending, as a share of GDP.

This is the customary (and methodically) correct way for economists to compare national expenditures for FDI, education, you name it, across borders.

The bottom line is:

Even though US military..


#Polish #Defense spending

(2/n)

...2025 2) (apparently revised downwards from 5% of #Polish GDP as of July, 2024.

You might reply that a budget dies not equal actual spending, however in a democracy, such huge building projects take time.

IMO, the delay is chiefly to to the fact that the "Moscow friendly" #Polish version of the #GOP, the "Law and Jusice Party", was in power until the brave #Poles voted them out of office in December,...

3)
reuters.com/business/aerospace…


#Polish #Defense spending

(1/n)

Ah, now I understand.

I think you're not doing the #Poles justice, Kevin.

They have seen the signs in contrast to most European and GQP party members as well:

Among #NATO member states, #Poland is now outspending all others, even the #US, measured fairly, as a share of GDP. 1) (see screenshot)

What is more, they're the only member state to have adjusted that target to 4.7% of GDP in...

1)
nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/as…

2)
reuters.com/world/europe/polan…