European Center of Excellence Think Tank

[Mr Quatro]

I wonder if we can help?

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/04/finland-opens-new-center-fight-hybrid-threats-russia/730498001/

HELSINKI — In a sign of just how seriously countries are taking Moscow’s attempts to destabilize them, 11 European governments plus the United States have now joined forces to build a special think tank about new kinds of war.

Based in Finland’s capital Helsinki, the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats launched on Monday to research “hybrid war” — the strategic use of diplomacy, politics, media, cyberspace and military to destabilize and undermine an opponent’s government.

Moscow has denied meddling in other countries' internal affairs and claimed its military posturing is a justified reaction to NATO encroaching on its borders.

[Skybird]

Interestingly all this can also be used for controlling own population and public opion streamlining.

However, thanks for the laugh. I find the idea of wanting to stop a Russian tank brigade by media control, quite entertaining. Its much cheaper to stop a Russian tank brigade this way than having to invest into more weapons, soldiers, and own brigades.

[Jimbuna]

Perhaps NATO members should first try investing the funds into their military they have already agreed to.

And no Sky, I am not having a pop at your country but in all fairness they are one of the biggest offenders, especially when you take into account the sheer size of the country and their material worth.

[Skybird]

No offence taken, why did you even assume I would take it as a jab? Haven't I complained myself very often about the German dodging of higher defence budgets, and that the idea of a EU army as a parallel structure to NATO makes no sense when it needs funding - funding that many members and especially Germany deny already to invest into their NATO commitments, and didn't I also say that the Geram attempt to construct a Germany-equipped and -led international army with rotating units from neighbourign countries is just anyother attempt to not raise own spendings while profiteering from other countries sending their troops into what de facto would be a German legion etranger?

I am amongst the first to attack Germany for its hilarious defence budget policy. Its a mess. To trick ourselves out of these accusations, some politicians even want spendings on dealing with mass migration being counted as spendings for defence, and development aid should be counted as defence spendings as well. Its hilarious, and the intention is all

We are not only unable to defend ourselves - we are also unwilling, and we think we solve the probem when just ignoring that there is conflict and agression in the world. Our answer to war, and the threat of it? Sessions with endless group talking therapy. Spouses and children welcome. Maybe we succeed by boring the enemy to death.

If I compare that to for example the Finnish approach on things...

Part of the problem is that Germany traditionally and since the days of the Russian revolution are extremely russophile. Wide audience in the political establishment in all parties are very sympathetic to Russia, still. The strong anti-Americanism in German society also is a result of this.

[ikalugin]

"Hybrid warfare" is the cancer buzzword (buzzphrase?) which is killing the academic research.

And I think solving core issues (ie migration) would work by far better than any authoritarian media censorship, intended to counter perceived Russian interest.