What the Greeks say

AFP reports from Athens that:

    The Greek air force’s central command said Friday it had taken part in “joint training exercises” with Israel off the southern Mediterranean island of Crete.
    The maneuvers, code-named ’Glorious Spartan 08,’ took place on May 28 and June 12, and consisted of aerial maneuvers and knowledge exchange.
    According to Greece’s Athens News Agency, the operation involved simulated aerial combat, attacks on terrestrial targets, aerial refueling and search and rescue missions.

I still believe, as I wrote here yesterday, that given Greece’s role in NATO the US military must have known all about the exercise. It also quite possibly provided material help to it, as well as helping ensure the operational safety of the airspace used.

8 thoughts on “What the Greeks say”

  1. If I remember correctly, Greece was among the EU countries who opposed Bush’s decision to invade Iraq, along with France, Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg. I find it both worrying and sad EU countries, who earlier were opposed to the imperialist politic of the US, are now more willing to follow suit in that kind of illegal wars and military adventures. What prompted Greece to change its attitude ?
    1) Did a political change in the majority at power in Greece bring more Americanophile leaders ?
    2) The US at the time of the Iraq invasion bullied the opponents in an indecent way : does that reflect a desire to mend fences on the part of the Greeks ?
    3) If you say that neither the NATO nor the US could have ignored about these exercises, it follows that the EU couldn’t have ignored it either.
    4) I think that at the time when Solanas managed the relations of EU to NATO, the EU countries showed more restraint toward US imperialist views. His follower is more of a lackey of the US (his name escapes me right now, he could be from Danemark or Netherlands, or something like that.
    5) Since Chirac and Shroeder are gone and have been replaced by Merkel and Sarkozy, who are more pro-Americans, did that move the EU foreign politic nearer to that of the EU ?
    6) Did the US reassure the Greeks and the EU leaders that this exercise was only a bluff, a way to pressure Iran further, but that no aggressive action would be taken ?
    Personnally, I find it very dangerous. Also, at the time of the Iraq invasion, the EU media, particularly those of France and Germany were very dubious of the US propaganda against Iraq. Now with Iran, it strikes me that the discourse is very anti-Iran, a copy cat of the US mainstream media..
    I find all this very worrying.

  2. Oh, and in the realm of fiction, I’m reminded of that bizarre neocon dream movie, “300” — the one that had the “Spartans” so bravely taking on the “persian” hordes. The disease is spreading

  4. 7) Someone in Athens took out a map and a pair of dividers and calculated the range of missiles under development in Iran.

  6. Given the historically less-than-warm relations between Greece and Israel over the years, I suggest that you ask them, not me, why they are paranoid.

  7. Greece has poor relations with Israel. I wonder what political power Israel has over Turkey and Greece. Greeks I know don’t openly say it, but they don’t like Israel’s International policies. I’m guessing Israel has much more political incluence over NATO that we think. I wouldn’t be surpirsed considering their political clout over washington DC.
    Something must have been promised to them, or they were threatened by the US through NATO to step up or get out. It’s a fact the US is bullying the eastern and western european countries. As seen by their totaly 180 degree reversal over Iraq.
    I forsee the middle east uniting in the next 15 years. Every country has been threatened or bombed by Israel and the US. Iran is really the last straw.

  8. Well “gobsux”, perhaps it’s the Greek version of
    “The Lobby”?
    Why is it so difficult for people to understand that states sometimes act together in what is their preceived mutual interest? Why must there always be some conspiracy and pressure from an “outside” player? And why must your perception be the correct or only one possible?
    Why must it be a matter of “the US… bullying the eastern and western european countries. As seen by their totaly 180 degree reversal over Iraq?” Actually, this is not quite true. The Eastern European countries were in from the start. The only “180 degree reversals” that I know of were in Italy, following the election of Prodi, and in Spain (who, as I recall, were bullied by al-Qaeda and the jihadis).
    It seems that the EU is genuinely concerned about Iran, and not for the sake of Israel. There is a mutual concern here that includes Greece, Turkey and Israel.
    Israel also has excellent relations with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Guess Why? (Hint: Look at a map.)

Comments are closed.