Stop NATO news: December 22, 2011

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Russia Blasts Ban Ki-moon’s Defense Of NATO’s Libya War

Iran: Another War For The U.S.?

Repulsing Attack: Syrian Navy, Air Force Hold Live-Fire Maneuvers

Contra Russia, China: Japan F-35 Deal To Shift Asia-Pacific Balance?

NATO Missile System Can Cause “Ice Age” In U.S.-Russia Relations

U.S.-NATO Missile Plans Can Kill START II

U.S. Rearming Of Georgia To Spark New Aggression: South Ossetia

After NATO Chief, Council Visit: More Georgian Troops To Afghanistan

Georgia Becomes Biggest Non-NATO Contributor To Afghan War

White House: Assad Government “Does Not Deserve To Rule Syria”

U.S. Amphibious Assault Ship, Marines Arrive In Singapore

Philippines Seeks Second-Hand F-16s From U.S.

Kenyan Air Strike Kills At Least 10 Somali Civilians

Finland: Opposition To NATO Membership Rises To 68 Percent

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Russia Blasts Ban Ki-moon’s Defense Of NATO’s Libya War

http://en.rian.ru/world/20111222/170430037.html

Russian Information Agency Novosti
December 22, 2011

Moscow blasts Ban Ki-moon’s defense of Libya action

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West Plots To Supplant United Nations With Global NATO

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/154/

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MOSCOW: Moscow criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for defending the NATO operation in Libya and ignoring data on civilian casualties collected by a number of UN member states, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

Last week Ban came to the defense of NATO in response to charges the alliance had overstepped its mandate to impose a no-fly zone to protect civilians and instead openly sided with the rebels, enabling them to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

“Security Council resolution 1973, I believe, was strictly enforced within the limit, within the mandate,” Ban told reporters in New York. “This military operation done by the NATO forces was strictly within (resolution) 1973.”

“UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s statements that the alliance’s actions in Libya were conducted in strict accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 1973, directly contradict the facts and are at odds with the estimates of many members of the Security Council and other UN members,” Lukashevich said.

Ban Ki-moon must “take into account the positions of all the UN members, especially when the issue concerns sensitive events on the global agenda.”
Ban’s attempt to present “the operation in Libya as a model for future crisis resolution is cynical to say the least,” Lukshevich added.

On Monday, Russia urged NATO to investigate civilian deaths in Libya from its bombing campaign, saying the alliance’s claim that there were no civilian casualties is untrue.

Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said he has asked NATO to give “a definitive report” to the UN Security Council summing up its activities in Libya. But he said “unfortunately” the alliance only provided “piecemeal, rather perfunctory reports…(that) were not very informative.”

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http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/12/22/62707805.html

Itar-Tass
December 22, 2011

Libya not model for resolving crises – Russian Foreign MInistry

       
Moscow believes that attempts to portray the events in Libya as a model for resolving future crises can only be described as cynical, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

“We have noticed numerous violations of the US Security Council resolutions which were committed or endorsed by NATO in Libya”, Lukashevich said, referring to NATO’s decision to supply arms to rebels, the presence of foreign soldiers on Libyan soil and the violation of a no-fly zone over this North African country.

He lamented the fact that all these facts did not get due coverage in the Western media.

Lukashevich also said that contrary to the statements made by UN chief Ban Ki-moon, the facts of civilian casualties and of the destruction of infrastructure in Libya were confirmed by many eyewitnesses.

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Iran: Another War For The U.S.?

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/12/22/62692550.html

Voice of Russia
December 22, 2011

Another war for US?
Boris Volkhonsky

-Almost 4.5 thousand U.S. soldiers lost their lives. The number of Iraqi civilians killed as a result of the U.S. invasion cannot be calculated – according to most cautious estimates it exceeds 100,000. Four million Iraqis have become refugees. The total cost of the war has reached $3 trillion.
Despite all these losses and expenditures, the only aim of the war that has been achieved is the removal and consequent hanging of Saddam Hussein.
Likewise in Afghanistan, the only purpose really achieved by the U.S. is the elimination of Osama bin Laden. One need not be a fortune-teller to say that after the U.S. withdrawal the country will be plunged into total chaos with the ultimate triumph of the forces the U.S. is fighting against now.

       
As has been reported by the Israeli “Haaretz” daily, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, said that a U.S. military operation against Iran would be “executable if necessary”.

He also reiterated the long-standing U.S. position, stating that the Obama administration is “examining a range of options” on the possibility of a nuclear Iran.

This statement came only one day after U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Iran will have a nuclear weapon within one year, if not less.

General Dempsey also added that there are no guarantees that Israel would give the U.S. a warning should it decide to attack Iran. However, he claimed that America recognizes Israel’s concerns and is collaborating with it in order to “establish some confidence on the part of the Israelis.”

The two statements by the Pentagon chief and the topmost U.S. military commander come at a point when the Obama administration is trying to determine its future strategic line in the “Greater Middle East”.

The recent total withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Iraq has resulted in immediate clashes among top Iraqi authorities and is doomed to lead to sectarian and communal violence at least between Sunnis and Shiites with a possible involvement of Iraqi Kurds.

These developments have already prompted some Republicans including Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham to call on President Obama in order to return at least part of the U.S. troops to Iraq. One of the main fears of the U.S. establishment is that the vacuum left after the U.S. pullout is sure to be filled by Iran which would instigate its Shiite agents in Iraq. The option of nuclear Iran widening its influence in the “renovated” Iraq is probably the scariest option for both the U.S. and its ally Israel.

At the same time, the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, General John R. Allen, suggested on Tuesday that American troops should stay in that country after the announced deadline of their pullout, that is after 2014. While insisting that there is “no daylight” between him and President Obama about the policy for continued troop withdrawals from Afghanistan, General Allen nevertheless called for prolonging the stay of troops beyond 2014.

It should be remembered that putting an end to the two wars launched by the previous administration was by far the topmost foreign policy task set forward in Obama’s election campaign in 2008. Now that the troops have been withdrawn from Iraq, it may be one of the few things Obama can boast of in his 2012 campaign. In this context, staying true to his promise to end the Afghan war (at least in words must be one of the cornerstones of his foreign policy program at least until November next year.

The Iraqi campaign has caused enormous losses both among Americans and Iraqis. Almost 4.5 thousand U.S. soldiers lost their lives. The number of Iraqi civilians killed as a result of the U.S. invasion cannot be calculated – according to most cautious estimates it exceeds 100,000. Four million Iraqis have become refugees. The total cost of the war has reached $3 trillion.

Despite all these losses and expenditures, the only aim of the war that has been achieved is the removal and consequent hanging of Saddam Hussein.

Likewise in Afghanistan, the only purpose really achieved by the U.S. is the elimination of Osama bin Laden. One need not be a fortune-teller to say that after the U.S. withdrawal the country will be plunged into total chaos with the ultimate triumph of the forces the U.S. is fighting against now.

Still, having the two puzzles unresolved, the U.S. is ready to create a new problem for itself and for the region. It should be noted that Iran’s potential (including military and possibly nuclear) by far exceeds that of Iraq (to say nothing of Afghanistan). The consequences are virtually unpredictable.

This was pointed out about a week ago even by such a “hawk” of American foreign policy as former United States National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzeziński who warned that the consequences of a possible war with Iran would be disastrous for the U.S.

Some time ago Leon Panetta himself also spoke of “unintended consequences” of an action against Iran, and warned that such a strike could only serve in delaying Tehran’s nuclear efforts only by about three years “not really deterring Iran from what they want to do.”

Still, the issue is raised again and again. It hardly signals that the U.S. is really ready to wage a new war. But this is definitely targeted at supporting the militant spirit in the U.S. society at least until election day. That is, the militant lingo is mostly meant for local consumption.

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Repulsing Attack: Syrian Navy, Air Force Hold Live-Fire Maneuvers

http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2011/12/21/389661.htm

Syrian Arab News Agency
December 21, 2011

Navy and Air Force Conduct Live Fire Maneuvers

DAMASCUS: According to the operational training plan for 2011, the Air Force and Air Defense on Tuesday conducted a live-fire demonstration with the participation of formations of Air Force fighters, fighter bombers, fire support helicopters and the Air Defense formations.

The demonstration was aimed at testing the combat capability and readiness of the Air Force and Air Defense to confront any possible aggression that might target Syria’s land and airspace.

The participant formations showed a high level of coordination and cooperation under conditions similar to a real battle. The personnel demonstrated a qualitative expertness and capability in handling advanced weapons in detecting, tracking and destroying hostile targets, firing real missiles.

The Air Force members displayed excellent maneuvering capability and skillfulness in using weaponry and striking and hitting targets with a high degree of accuracy.

The fire demonstration included a successful airdrop operation by the Special Forces, which showed a qualitative level of training and ability to carry out tasks under various conditions.

Deputy General Commander of the Army and the Armed Forces, Defense Minister Gen. Dawood Rajiha, applauded the performance of the members of the Air Force and Air Defense who participated in the demonstration, stressing the Armed Forces’ permanent readiness to defend the homeland by land, air and sea.

In parallel, the Navy conducted an operational tactical maneuver with live fire, as part of the combat training plan of the Navy for 2011.

Marine and coastal missiles participated in the maneuver under conditions similar to a real battle, hitting assumed hostile targets with an accuracy that reflected the high level of combat training the marine personnel had and their efficiency in using modern maritime weapons.

The maneuver demonstrated the naval forces’ ability to repulse any possible aggression under various conditions.

Chief of General Staff Gen. Fahd Jassem al-Freij hailed the performance of the naval forces personnel and the good preparedness that made the maneuver a success.

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Contra Russia, China: Japan F-35 Deal To Shift Asia-Pacific Balance?

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/indepth/2011-12/22/c_131321787.htm

Xinhua News Agency
December 22, 2011

Could F-35 act as game changer in Asia-Pacific region?
By Li Hongmei

-Unfortunately, the purchasing spree would not only give a boost to Lockheed Martin’s fighter business, but also give rise to a scenario with “swords drawn and bows bent” — perhaps, a region of turbulence and intranquility is just what the U.S. needs to retain its position as a “Pacific power,” ready all the time to reach out the meddling hand.

Japan announced Tuesday it has picked Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters to replace aging jets in its air force. The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said the contract could bring 10,000 jobs to the United States which has been grappling with high unemployment and a slack market. It sounds like a win-win deal.

Japan, in particular, bet on the 42 stealth aircraft, valued by analysts at more than 7 billion dollars, to bring multiple benefits. For one thing, Japan believes that F-35 jet as its next mainstay fighter could match the capabilities of the stealth fighters being developed by China and Russia. Also, Tokyo tries to stress, through the deal, that its security alliance with the U.S. is anything but adrift.

Perhaps, yet another diplomatic advantage of the F-35 is that it sustains and reaffirms the U.S.-Japan relationship at a time when Japan seeks more leverage over the region and its ally has repeatedly pledged to come back to Asia.

“It reflects Japan’s recognition on a variety of levels that at a time of greater insecurity, it needs to be more deeply engaged with the United States on security issues,” said Brad Glosserman, executive director at Honolulu’s Pacific Forum CSIS.

Meanwhile, Japan’s selection of the F-35 comes as a shot in the arm for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program and, it is expected that South Korea would follow suit when its simmering concern about the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea mounts after the death of its top leader Kim Jong-il. Seoul, analysts said, is likely to follow Japan’s lead in this regard.

The unpredictable prospect of Northeast Asia might prompt Pentagon and Lockheed Martin to offer the cutting edge stealth or information networking technologies to its allies, and especially Japan, which serves as a platform for military interoperability with both the U.S. and Australia in the Asia-Pacific region.

Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon have hailed Japan’s choice of the F-35, saying it would help establish a strategic, conventional deterrent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Since Yoshihiko Noda took office as Japan’s Prime Minister last September, Tokyo has obviously geared back to its traditional security stance, once again viewing U.S. to be the best security partner.

U.S.-Japan relations frayed after the Democratic Party of Japan took power in 2009 for the first time in half a century, vowing to recalibrate the alliance on a more equal basis and attempting, though in vain, to keep a pledge to move a U.S. military base off the Okinawa island.

In this case, the F-35 purchase seems to signal Japan’s desire at the moment to lean more tightly toward Washington to gain its sorely needed sense of security amid regional uncertainties. Therefore, building up its prowess in air force with the help of the U.S. could be taken as a decision that stands a chance.

But it is far from mature to say that Japan’s security environment would be changed as expected with the introduction of a fleet of F-35 stealth jets, nor would Japan get plenty of room to handle the changing situation and wrest more influence in its neighborhood by merely opting for the U.S. fighters.

While the Pentagon wished to take advantage of the reset rapprochement between allies to work as a stepping stone to gaining a predominating presence in the Asia-Pacific region, the jets deal, however, will not necessarily work to that effect.

“The F-35 Program Office looks forward to strengthening partnerships with Japan, and contributing to enhanced security throughout the Asia Pacific region,” as it said in a statement after Japan announced its decision.

Unfortunately, the purchasing spree would not only give a boost to Lockheed Martin’s fighter business, but also give rise to a scenario with “swords drawn and bows bent” — perhaps, a region of turbulence and intranquility is just what the U.S. needs to retain its position as a “Pacific power,” ready all the time to reach out the meddling hand.

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NATO Missile System Can Cause “Ice Age” In U.S.-Russia Relations

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2011-12/22/c_122463253.htm

Xinhua News Agency
December 22, 2011

Russia warns anti-missile issue may cause “ice-age” in relations with U.S.

MOSCOW: The U.S.-led anti-missile defense shield in Europe may seriously damage relations between Russia and the United States if the two sides can not reach agreements on the issue, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

“We hope problems in the anti-missile defense shield will not escalate and cause our relations move backward to the ice age. We hope to avoid this,” Ryabkov told the Voice of Russia radio in an interview.

Ryabkov said that Moscow did not rule out the possibility of withdrawing from the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) it signed with the U.S. in 2010, if no solution would be reached on the issue.

According to Ryabkov, these problems could be solved on the ground proposed by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in November, when the president asked again legally-binding guarantees from the U.S. and NATO that the missile defense shield is not targeting Russia.

Medvedev also warned in November that Russia might station missile defense systems, including the Iskander, in western and southern sections of the country if there were any additional U.S. missile deployments in Europe.

Moscow has long opposed the deployment of U.S.-led NATO missile defense facilities near its borders and intends to seek legally-binding guarantees from the U.S. and NATO.

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U.S.-NATO Missile Plans Can Kill START II

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/12/21/62642007.html

Voice of Russia
December 21, 2011

ABM differences may kill START deal – Russian diplomat

Russia’s response to America’s unilateralism in developing European-based missile defence systems has already included a new radar in Kaliningrad and may also include the deployment of Iskander medium-range ballistic missiles and even the renunciation of the latest Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty with the United States.

At the same time, Russia hopes that the ABM disagreements will not result in another Cold War spell or trigger yet another spiral of the costly arms race. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov spoke about this for the Voice of Russia on Wednesday.

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U.S. Rearming Of Georgia To Spark New Aggression: South Ossetia

http://rt.com/politics/ossetia-georgia-weapon-us-351/

RT
December 21, 2011

American re-arming of Georgia will spark new aggression – S. Ossetia

The South Ossetian Foreign Ministry has stated that a US Senate draft resolution on the resumption of arms supplies to Georgia can be seen as pushing Tbilisi to aggression against its former republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The ministry voiced its regret over the fact that American senators drew no conclusions from “the tragic events of August 2008 and have once again settled down to a course of encouraging [Georgian President] Saakashvili to a new aggression to please their political ambitions,”cites Interfax.

Human Rights Watch described the South Ossetia conflict as a disaster for civilians and said the Georgian military had used “disproportionate force.”

For three years, the US has refrained from supplying weapons to Georgia.

That, according to Tskhinval, is indirect evidence that it was Georgia who started the war against South Ossetia and that it used Western weaponry during the invasion.

The Foreign Ministry also noted that with obvious backing from Washington, Tbilisi has refrained from signing a legally-binding document on the non-use of force with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

“At the same time, imposing an international embargo on supplies of arms – primarily offensive weapons and military hardware – would significantly reduce the threat of a recurrence of Georgian aggression,” the Foreign Ministry’s comment reads.

Earlier this month, the US Senate approved a US $662 billion defense bill for 2012, which contains a separate section entitled “Defense cooperation with the Republic of Georgia.” The document envisages the resumption of arms supplies to the Caucasian state for the protection of its government and sovereign territories.

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After NATO Chief, Council Visit: More Georgian Troops To Afghanistan

http://rustavi2.com/news/news_text.php?id_news=44142&pg=1&im=main&ct=0&wth=

Rustavi 2
December 21, 2011

Georgia to send one more infantry battalion to Afghanistan

Georgia will send one more infantry battalion to Afghanistan under a decision taken by the parliament at a special session on Tuesday.

Georgian soldiers will join the International Security Assistance Force-ISAF mission, which is under the control of the United States` contingent in the country. The decision was taken by 103 votes of the lawmakers.

`The past few months have proved that this mission is very successful from all points of view, including [the] political. We saw this during the visit of the Euro-Atlantic Council session in Georgia and the visit of the NATO Secretary General in Tbilisi, as well as in various statements of the leaders of our friend countries. They all emphasize that Georgia`s commitment to this mission should be appreciated properly,` says Givi Targamadze, chairperson of the defense and security committee of the parliament.

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Georgia Becomes Biggest Non-NATO Contributor To Afghan War

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/2510_december_21_2011/2510_isaf.html

The Messenger
December 21, 2011

Georgia to Become Biggest Non-NATO Contributor to ISAF
By Ernest Petrosyan

The Georgian parliament is about to approve President Mikheil Saakashvili’s request on Tuesday to increase Georgian military involvement in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan by an additional battalion on top of the 936 Georgian soldiers who already serve as part of the NATO-led ISAF.

After sending an additional battalion [749 soldiers] Georgia will become the largest non-NATO contributor state to the ISAF mission with a total of 1,685 troops. Australia is currently the largest non-NATO contributor with 1,550 soldiers on the ground.

The Georgian contingent in Afghanistan has lost a total of ten soldiers as yet – all in Helmand province.

Georgia’s first contribution to this operation came in 2004 when 50 soldiers were briefly deployed in the country under German command as part of ensuring security during the presidential elections.

In November, 2009 Georgia increased its contingent by 173 soldiers in Kabul under French command and in the following year Georgia increased its presence in Afghanistan by sending an infantry battalion to Helmand province serving alongside US marines.

Georgia also sent 11 military instructors to Kandahar under French command earlier this year.

Praising Georgia for its essential contribution to the ISAF mission, NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said while visiting Tbilisi in November that the participation in the Afghan operation and NATO membership are not directly linked [sic].

“The Georgian contribution to our operation in Afghanistan also helps to improve interoperability between Georgian armed forces and NATO armed forces…,” Rasmussen said on November 9.

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White House: Assad Government “Does Not Deserve To Rule Syria”

http://en.trend.az/regions/met/arabicr/1972214.html

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
December 22, 2011

White House warns of more steps on Syria, calls Assad regime to resign

The White House Wednesday called again for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and his regime to step down, citing Damascus’ defiance of the Arab League peace initiative, dpa reported.

In a statement, the press secretary also warned that the international community would take “additional steps” to put pressure on the Assad regime if the Arab League peace initiative is not fully implemented.

“The words of the Assad regime have no credibility when they continue to be followed by outrageous and deplorable actions,” the White House press secretary said in a statement.

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“They have already flagrantly violated their commitment to end violence and withdraw security forces from residential areas,” the White House said…

The White House conceded that Syrian security forces have also taken casualties, but said most of the violence has come from the Assad regime.

“Time and again, the Assad regime has demonstrated that it does not deserve to rule Syria,” the White House said.

Russia and China continue to block a strong sanctions resolution in the United Nations Security Council…

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U.S. Amphibious Assault Ship, Marines Arrive In Singapore

http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=64517

U.S. Navy
December 21, 2011

USS Makin Island Arrives in Singapore for Port Visit
From USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Public Affairs

SINGAPORE: The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), along with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Singapore Dec. 21 for a port visit.

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This is the second time Makin Island has visited Singapore during the current deployment. The ship stopped briefly at Changi Naval Base Dec. 13 to offload Marines from the 11th MEU to take part in theater security cooperation exercises.

Makin Island and the 11th MEU departed San Diego Nov. 14 and are currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), supporting the nation’s maritime strategy.

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The 7th Fleet AOR includes more than 52 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian oceans, stretching from the international date line to the east coast of Africa, and from the Kuril Islands in the north to the Antarctic in the south.

More than half of the world’s population lives within the 7th Fleet AOR. In addition, more than 80 percent of that population lives within 500 miles of the oceans, which means this is an inherently maritime region.

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Philippines Seeks Second-Hand F-16s From U.S.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\12\22\story_22-12-2011_pg4_3

Reuters
December 21, 2011

Philippines seeks second-hand F-16s from United States

MANILA: The Philippines has asked the United States, its closest security partner, to give it at least a squadron of second-hand F-16 fighters to help upgrade its territorial defences, the foreign secretary said on Wednesday.

The Philippines has no air power to speak of, with its 40-year-old F-5A/Bs fighter jets retired from service several years ago. It has no bombers or surveillance aircraft and still flies Vietnam War-era UH-1H helicopters. “We are just trying to restore our capability as it was before,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario told reporters.

He said he hoped the fighters would be acquired through excess defence articles, a US military aid programme. “I think we are actually behind the curve we have been far more advanced many years ago in terms of military capability,” he said. Del Rosario said acquisition of the F-16 fighters would be among issues to be discussed in strategic talks in Washington in the first quarter of 2012, when Del Rosario and Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin meet their US counterparts.

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Kenyan Air Strike Kills At Least 10 Somali Civilians

http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=162273

Azeri Press Agency
December 22, 2011

Kenyan jets ’kill 10’ in south Somalia air raid

Baku: Kenyan fighter jets pounded rebel-held southern Somalia in a strike that Nairobi said on Wednesday had killed Al Qaeda linked fighters but witnesses claimed caused several civilian deaths, APA reports quoting AFP.

Military jets targeted several locations late Tuesday in Hosingow in the Lower Juba region, close to the Kenyan border, local elders said.

“There were at least three military planes that dropped bombs on Hosingow, and one hit a house killing civilians”, said Abdi Isak, a witness.

“There were 11 people, most of them civilians, killed in the raid.”

“One of the bombs struck near a street where people were running their businesses – they dropped bombs and went away without knowing who they have killed,” Ahmed Yusuf, another witness told AFP.

“More than ten have died and 13 others are injured, some of them seriously,” he added.

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Wednesday claimed responsibility for the raid, saying it believed it had killed a senior Shebab commander it did not name.

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Kenyan military officials vowed last week to carry out further air strikes deeper into rebel-held territory, claiming to have already killed several Shebab fighters in earlier raids.

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Finland: Opposition To NATO Membership Rises To 68 Percent

http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/politics/17592-finnish-anti-nato-membership-sentiment-on-the-rise-hstns-poll-.html

Finnish News Agency
December 21, 2011

Finnish anti-Nato membership sentiment on the rise – HS/TNS poll       

Finnish opposition to full membership in Nato has risen to about 68 per cent, a high not seen since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, national daily Helsingin Sanomat quoted a poll as indicating on Wednesday.

The paper added that some 16 per cent of respondents wanted Finland to join the military alliance as a full-fledged member.

Commissioned by the paper, market research company Taylor Nelson Sofres interviewed about 1,000 people this month. The margin of error was stated as three percentage points.

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