Nasz Dziennik: Estonia has already arrived the first troops of the 5th infantry battalion of Rifles. It is unlikely to greatly pleased Vladimir Putin.
Roman Polko (Roman Polko): the deployment of NATO troops that arrived in Estonia, shows that the decision of the Alliance summit in Warsaw brought to life. This includes our success. Despite the fact that many foretold the failure of these initiatives, a strong American unit appeared in Poland, the troops arrived in the Baltics and Eastern flank took the NATO owed him. The fact that Putin is not going to appeal, was expected. He understands only the language of force and action. He doesn’t pay attention to notes of protest, disaffection, and other diplomatic steps. So it’s time to move on to the specifics: the emergence of the allied forces on the Eastern flank.
– Whether tactical units that are transferred directly to the Russian border, the military value?
— In terms of combat forces, tactical units have a rather symbolic value. Fortunately, it is not so small as it was before when there were individual platoons. It is operative enterprises, which are able to conduct more large-scale operation. First and foremost, it is about to demonstrate the solidarity of the Alliance, and that the decisions of the Warsaw summit are being implemented. The presence of these tactical units shows that NATO, as required by the Third article of the Washington Treaty, strengthening its capacity, its combat capability. If it is able quickly and successfully to transfer from USA armored brigade and prepare it for action here if the military are familiar with the potential theatre of war in case of danger, the Alliance can deploy a much larger force. But no such need arose.
– There are opinions that Russia keeps track of where near its border there are NATO battalions, and will be able to destroy them with one blow tactical missiles…
To tell you can all. First, the battalions of troops NATO is an agile, and not stationary, that is, risking to get hit units. Second, they are equipped with necessary protection system. Before these troops arrived in Poland, I have noticed that it is not just brigade: Americans bring with them equipment for surveillance, intelligence and protection from aerial attacks. In turn, Russia is deploying its warning system.
As for the opinions that you mentioned, I think they are, rather, the propaganda element of the information war waged by Russian trolls to downplay the significance of what is happening. This operation is designed to weaken or even destroy the Pro-NATO approach, thinking in categories of their own security. In short, they want to create the impression that any of our actions will not help us in collision with the Russian power, and, therefore, can be waived. This logic is flawed.
In Estonia will deploy troops from the UK, in Poland — Americans, in Lithuania — Germans in Latvia — Canadians.
— While the forces of the “framework” of the NATO States is the distribution of responsibilities and the assignment of partners for cooperation with them. This shows that the Russian potential, matter how great he was, not so scary against the background of the solidarity of the Alliance. If we take into account at least the fact that Russia will have to defend a much larger territory than the one the Eastern flank, NATO’s actions can be considered effective. To Flex its muscles, scaring the Alliance, Putin in the current situation is not profitable, in any case, he will not be able to achieve what he wanted.
– What troops will be used in the event of a potential conflict: land or maybe a missile?
— Scenarios of possible conflict can be very different. I would bet that the first will be used by the special unit. I think the most likely scenario is the actions of the subversive plan, accompanied by information war and aims to displease the local population and to create on the territory of the enemy chaos. Let me remind you that such a scenario was successfully used in the Crimea and in the Donbass. In case of threat and outbreak of hostilities we will, I believe, to observe not brilliant Putin’s strategy, and the actions of this kind. Of course, in the next phases of this operation can be, as in the Donbass, the larger. Then I hope NATO take actions that will further strengthen the Eastern flank.
– You agree with the opinion that Russia won’t attack Europe, but rather tries to squeeze the United States from the Old world, which Moscow considers its sphere of influence?
— Russia’s policy aimed at the destruction of not only transatlantic relations, but first and foremost relations within Europe. If European countries will not act in solidarity and to act as a single unit, they can become the object of manipulations of Moscow, which only this and waits. Unfortunately, after the NATO summit there was a coup in Turkey, and from such incidents, only Russia wins. In the light of such events as history in Ankara or Pexit, all conflicts and contradictions within the European Union dangerous and destructive. On security we should speak with one voice.
– So, sleep can’t we?
The ancient Latin aphorism says: if you want peace, prepare for war. So we went to steps aimed at strengthening another support Polish defense, taking up not only the Navy, the air force and land forces and territorial defense. This is the right course of action in the twenty-first century. The troops of the territorial defence will be the element that will strengthen the morale of the Polish society, and at the same time will allow you to respond to sabotage operations, with which we can face in so-called grey area before we begin an open military conflict.
– Command of the armed forces is a very complex area. As our security is influenced by changes in the top command?
— Change the high command, especially since it is so fast, affects our security adversely. I say this openly, because the army takes a lot of commanders. We lost a lot of senior military officers in 2008 in the crash of CASA plane, and even more in 2010 in Smolensk. The head of the General staff General Franciszek Gongor (Franciszek Gągor), commander of the special forces, General Wlodzimierz Potasinski (Włodzimierz Potasiński), head of the operational command of the armed forces, General Bronislaw Kwiatkowski (Kwiatkowski Bronisław) — people that formed in the new reality and was able to occupy key positions in NATO.
Now we, unfortunately, are witnessing a wave of resignations. If the permutations at certain positions can be understood, the fact that these people fall into the “black hole” and not be, for example, candidates for seats in the headquarters of NATO, is alarming. I would call it a waste of human capital. Generals mieczysław River (Mieczysław Gocuł) or Tomaszycki Marek (Marek Tomaszycki) had a large network of contacts in the North Atlantic Alliance, they could bring Poland much good.
Besides them absolutely nothing accused that they started their service in the Polish people’s army. What? I also started there, we were lieutenants and 24 hours a day, seven days a week, saw the trenches, bunkers and maneuvers. It was only training martial arts, not indoctrination. Now these people who spent 10 years in Polish and foreign academic institutions, gained experience in the “real” army in Iraq and Afghanistan, abruptly resigned. In their place come the military who also have experience and will be able to bring the army’s favor, but at the time. The armed forces are exhausted, they are deprived of a whole generation, and it is against the backdrop of events across our Eastern border looks anxious. You can still remember about Bartholomew Misevich (Bartłomiej Misiewicz) (the head of the political Cabinet of the Minister of defence of Poland — approx. lane): this person has only secondary education, but they say that he is smarter than the military, who for many years studied and gained experience during missions in Iraq or Afghanistan. The image of the Polish army can not not be affected.
– Thank you for the interview.
