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Hudson on Iceland's dilemma:
Greece replaces its Top Brass:
Opposition parties have has reacted with outrage to the sacking of the country's military chiefs, calling it a bid to stack the armed forces with party loyalists before a possible government collapse over the country's debt crisis.
In a surprise move, on Tuesday evening the defense minister replaced the country’s top brass.
An extraordinary meeting of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence (Kysea), which comprises the prime minister and other key cabinet members, accepted Defense Minister Panos Beglitis' proposal that the following changes be made to army, navy and air force and the general staff:
While the personnel changes took many members of the government and of the armed forces by surprise, officials described the changes as a long-planned move largely unrelated to political turmoil.
Governments have exerted tight control over the armed forces since the collapse of the junta in 1974. Army chiefs are often selected on the basis of party loyalty as part of a deeply-entrenched system of political patronage. The outgoing military leadership was appointed in August 2009 by the previous New Democracy government, just before the October general election were called.
The move to replace the military chiefs may have also been hastened by a Greek protest at austerity measures that halted a major national parade last week.
The annual military parade in the northern city of Thessaloniki is one of the most symbolic events in Greece's political calendar and it was the first time it had been cancelled.
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/8/49916
Italy concerned over loss of sovereignty:
``Are such changes to be decided by Italy's elected parliament by proper process, or be pushed through by foreign dictate when the country is on its knees? "Political ownership" is of critical importance. The EU is crossing lines everywhere, forgetting that it remains no more than a treaty organization of sovereign states. Democratic accountability is breaking down.'' -- It is the crisis-supranational government push. Classic.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance...rigade-terror/
Greece replaces its Top Brass:
Opposition parties have has reacted with outrage to the sacking of the country's military chiefs, calling it a bid to stack the armed forces with party loyalists before a possible government collapse over the country's debt crisis.
In a surprise move, on Tuesday evening the defense minister replaced the country’s top brass.
An extraordinary meeting of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defence (Kysea), which comprises the prime minister and other key cabinet members, accepted Defense Minister Panos Beglitis' proposal that the following changes be made to army, navy and air force and the general staff:
- General Ioannis Giagkos, chief of the Greek National Defence General Staff, to be replaced by Lieutenant General Michalis Kostarakos
- Lieutenant General Fragkos Fragkoulis, chief of the Greek Army General Staff, to be replaced by lieutenant general Konstantinos Zazias
- Lieutenant General Vasilios Klokozas, chief of the Greek Air Force, to be replaced by air marshal Antonis Tsantirakis
- Vice-Admiral Dimitrios Elefsiniotis, chief of the Greek Navy General Staff, to be replaced by Rear-Admiral Kosmas Christidis
While the personnel changes took many members of the government and of the armed forces by surprise, officials described the changes as a long-planned move largely unrelated to political turmoil.
Governments have exerted tight control over the armed forces since the collapse of the junta in 1974. Army chiefs are often selected on the basis of party loyalty as part of a deeply-entrenched system of political patronage. The outgoing military leadership was appointed in August 2009 by the previous New Democracy government, just before the October general election were called.
The move to replace the military chiefs may have also been hastened by a Greek protest at austerity measures that halted a major national parade last week.
The annual military parade in the northern city of Thessaloniki is one of the most symbolic events in Greece's political calendar and it was the first time it had been cancelled.
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/8/49916
Italy concerned over loss of sovereignty:
``Are such changes to be decided by Italy's elected parliament by proper process, or be pushed through by foreign dictate when the country is on its knees? "Political ownership" is of critical importance. The EU is crossing lines everywhere, forgetting that it remains no more than a treaty organization of sovereign states. Democratic accountability is breaking down.'' -- It is the crisis-supranational government push. Classic.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance...rigade-terror/