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16 November, 2018





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Friday
16. November 
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- 22 Tuhat Tulukest: Tallinna jõulukuusk
(Pealinn)
"Ainuüksi LED-tuledega valguskette tuleb kuusele kokku ligi kilomeeter. Lisaks teine kilomeeter juhtmeid, mis ühendavad punaseid tulukestega südameid – neid on sada tükki, igaühes 120 tulukest. Kokku süttib meie jõulukuusel 22 000 tulukest. Peale nende ehivad kuuske umbes sada kreemikat jõulukuuli, millele lisanduvad valgustusega punased ja kuldsed kuulid."



- Kuperjanovlased vandusid Eestile truudust
(Lõuna Eestlane)
"Kuperjanovi jalaväepataljonis andis täna truudusetõotuse Eesti Vabariigile üle 300 sõduri, kes lõpetasid sellega oma väljaõppe esimese osa."



- The Lasva Water Tower
(Atlas Obscura)
"The old water tower that once stood empty and rusting in the small village of Lasva, Estonia, has been transformed into a wonderfully creative gallery space. The rectangular brick building is painted all white except for a striking red and blue traditional pattern across the center of the tower. … The most interesting thing about the new space is the musical spiral staircase that’s modeled after a piano. The steps run circularly over the middle atrium and include all the notes of the scale, so if you plan your steps accordingly you can play a melody."



- Rootsi valitsus ja rahvas on teinud Baltimaadele kingituse
(Postimees)
"Kingitus kujutab endast hiljuti loodud fondi, mille eesmärk on tugevdada ja süvendada eestlaste ja rootslaste vahelist ühistegevust, seda eelkõige nooremate põlvkondade seas. Rootsi valitsus kavatseb eraldada 10 miljonit Rootsi krooni (umbes 973 000 eurot – toim) fondi algkapitaliks."



✔︎ Migrant arrivals in EU set to reach 5-year low
(Deutsche Welle)
"Despite this, an EU dispute over the arrivals continues to feed anti-migrant sentiment. … The number of people arriving in Italy is down 87 percent compared to last year."



- Eestis saab kasvatada kvaliteetseid laua- ja veiniviinamarju
(ERR)
"Eestit peetakse karmi kliimaga põhjamaiseks piirkonnaks, mis üldiselt ei sobi soojalembeste kultuurtaimede kasvatuseks. Kuid tänu sordiaretusele saab tekitada ka selliseid soojalembeste kultuurtaimede sorte, mis kasvavad isegi karmi kliimaga piirkondades."



- European lawmakers ask Amazon to stop selling Soviet-themed merchandise
(The Guardian)
[T-shirts and other goods offend victims of Soviet regime.]



- EU: 10 Things About the Brexit Deal
(Politico-Europe)
"The 585-page draft agreement between Brussels and London will become the legal basis for Britain’s departure from the European Union — if it is agreed by EU27 leaders, then ratified by the U.K. parliament and the European Parliament.”



- Trump pakkus Eesti suursaadiku kohta Mira Ricardelile
(ERR)
"USA president Donald Trump tegi oma endisele riikliku julgeolekunõuniku asetäitjale Mira Ricardelile ettepaneku asuda suursaadikuks Eestis, kuid ta keeldus, teatas reedel Bloomberg.”

"Trump Offered to Nominate Mira Ricardel as Ambassador to Estonia. … Deputy national security adviser said to have turned down Baltic post."



✔︎ Estonian politicians are reportedly fueling a false panic regarding UN migration pact
(Baltic Times)

- Otseblogi ja videod: Ratas otsib jätkuvalt lepitust, koalitsioonierakondade juhid kohtuvad pühapäeval
(Postimees)

- UN's global migration compact stirs up Estonia's calm politics
(BNN)
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Thursday
15. November 
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- German chancellor: The future of Europe
(Politico-Europe)
"Angela Merkel delivered what may well be her last speech at the European Parliament on Wednesday to address a question that never seems to go out of fashion — the future of Europe. … With the chancellor’s own political future in question, it’s not clear what role she’ll play in the Continent’s future, if any. Nonetheless, Merkel’s authority on the European stage remains unmatched, which explains why even those who oppose her were listening closely to her remarks."

- Revisiting the Map of Europe, 100 Years Later 
by Edward Lucas
(CEPA)
"Pride and nostalgia abound in November 2018 as countries mark the end of the First World War and the birth (or rebirth) of independent nations that followed the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian, German, and Russian empires. …"

- Is Europe Falling Apart?
(Foreign Policy)
"Brussels is standing tough, but moderates like Theresa May are gradually being pushed out of power in Europe."

- America’s Allies Must Step Up as America Steps Down
(Foreign Affairs)
"The order that has structured international politics since the end of World War II is fracturing. Many of the culprits are obvious. … Meanwhile, international institutions, such as the UN, struggle to address problems that multiply faster than they can be resolved. The newest culprit, however, is a surprise: the United States, the very country that championed the order’s creation."



- How states can get real about Russian cyber attacks: Estonia, the UK, and Poland explain
(Euromaidan Press)



- In Sweden, conscription and a leaflet on how to prepare for war – just in case
(Christian Science Monitor)
"Since its intervention in Crimea and Ukraine, Russia has been a growing concern for neighbors in the Baltics and Scandinavia. But is it moving Sweden to truly step away from a longtime pacifist, neutral stance?"



- Raport: USA võib Baltikumi kaitstes sõjas Venemaaga valusalt lüüa saada
(Postimees)
"«Kui USA peaks võitlema Venemaaga mõnes Balti riigis või Hiinaga Taiwani iseseisvuse üle, seisaksid ameeriklased silmitsi sõjalise kaotusega,» seisab Ühendriikide kongressi Riikliku Julgeolekustrateegia Komitee raportis."



- From war port to artistic hub: The transformation of Latvia’s Karosta
(Euronews)
"Karosta, or “war port” in Latvian, was founded as a naval base under the Tsarist empire in the late 19th century. It retained this use during Nazi occupation in World War II."
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"When the Red Army invaded the country, the Soviets modernised the area and turned it into a closed city, where hard-to-obtain permits were required to get in and out. During this period, up to 20,000 people lived and worked in the “outdoor prison”.




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Wednesday
14. November 
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- NATO: Russian forces blamed for jamming GPS during Norway military exercise
(Multiple Sources)
"The NATO exercise, which took place in Norway between Oct. 16 and Nov. 7, was the alliance's largest exercise since the Cold War, according to the network. It was dubbed Trident Juncture and involved around 50,000 troops from 31 countries, including Finland and Sweden.”
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"Russia is certainly capable of jamming GPS signals.”
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- Estonia's independence a foreign policy success story
(ERR)
"Minister of Foreign Affairs Sven Mikser (SDE) visited Tartu on Tuesday to present a new volume of speeches, titled "Estonian Ministers of Foreign Affairs: The World and Us,” … "Foreign policy is fast-paced in nature," he said. "Sometimes distance is necessary to fathom how rapidly Estonia has progressed in the past 27 years. The small country steadfast in pursuing memberships of NATO and the EU has become a reliable partner to many countries, and leads the way in fields such as cybersecurity."



- Estonian MEP Tunne Kelam to be awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom
(Estonian World)
"The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will award the Medal of Freedom, alongside with Kelam, also to the former president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, and the Latvian MEP and author, Sandra Kalniete."



- Can't afford Copenhagen? Try Tallinn instead
(Virgin Media)
“… there are two types of Tallinn; the one that appeals to lads on tour looking for a dirt cheap weekend, and the one that’s quietly asserting itself as one of Europe’s most exciting gastronomical cities – thanks to a new generation of fusion restaurants, and Scandi-inspired brunch spots that are popping up at a rapid rate."



- Book Review: The Vory - Russia’s Super Mafia by Mark Galeotti
(War on the Rocks)
"The vory, the professional elite of Russian organized crime, have roots that go far back into the days of the tsars. While many historians trace the origins of organized crime to the emergence of the mafia in Sicily in the mid-19th century, a new book by Mark Galeotti suggests that professional criminals were an important component of Russian society as much as a century before that. Like the Sicilian mafia, they developed customs and rituals, codes of conduct, and even their own language and song. …"





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Tuesday
13. November 
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- NATO looks to startups, disruptive tech to conquer emerging threats
(Reuters)
"General Andre Lanata, who took over as head of the NATO transformation command in September, told a conference in Berlin that his command demonstrated over 21 “disruptive” projects during military exercises in Norway this month."



- Opinion: Macron’s Call for European Boots
(Carnegie Europe)
"A European army is not the answer to the EU’s miserable foreign and security ambitions or the rift with the United States."



- Trump confused Baltics with Balkans at a meeting with Baltic presidents in April
(Baltic Times)





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Monday
12. November
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- Putin: Venemaa suhtub NATO õppustesse oma piiride lähedal rahulikult
(ERR | Postimees)
"Mis puudutab õppusi, siis ka meie korradame neid, kuigi me püüame mitte teha täiemahulisi õppusi NATO piiride lähedal," sõnas Putin propagandakanaliks peetava Vene uudistetalituse RT prantsuskeelsele harule RT France."
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- Putin: mõte luua Euroopa sõjavägi on igati loomulik
(Delfi)



- Hundreds of thousands march to celebrate Polish independence
(Politico-Europe)
"Independence day ceremonies underline the country’s deep political divisions."



- Germany's political middle falls apart. Will Europe's center hold?
(Christian Science Monitor)
"Voters' flight from the political middle “is a lasting trend that makes Germany similar to its neighbors in Europe,” says Gero Neugebauer, who teaches politics at the Free University of Berlin. “It’s a trend to normalization and we have to get used to it.”
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“In some countries, we see a completely redrawn political landscape,” agrees Morgan Guérin, head of the Europe program at the Montaigne Institute, a Paris-based think tank. “Where big blocs on the left and right used to dominate … now four or five parties can win around 20 percent.”
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“There is definitely a crisis of confidence in liberal democracy.”




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Esimese maailmasõja lõpu 
11. kuu | 11. päeval | kell 11 
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- Macron kutsus ilmasõja mälestusüritusel ehitama lootust, mitte hirmu
(ERR)
"Pariisis tähistati suurejooneliselt Esimese maailmasõja lõpu 100. aastapäeva, kohal viibis umbes 70 riigipead kogu maailmast. Prantsusmaa president Emmanuel Macron kutsus kokkutulnuid üles ehitama lootust, mitte hirmu."



- Juhtkiri: mäletage ajalugu!
(Postimees)
"11. kuu 11. päeval kell 11 möödus täpselt sada aastat suure sõja lõpust. Maailm poleks ilma Esimese maailmasõjata selline, nagu me seda praegu tunneme. Saab öelda, et me elame veel tänini selle sõja varjus. Poleks olnud Esimest maailmasõda, ei tähistaks me tänavu Eesti Vabariigi 100. sünnipäeva. Samas poleks olnud Hitlerit ega Stalinit, Gulagi ega holokausti. Selleks, et selgeks õppida Esimese maailmasõja õppetunnid, kulus ära veel Teine maailmasõda, milleks valmistumine algas ju ka õigupoolest sellel samal 1918. aastal. Sest kui poleks olnud võitjariikide kättemaksuhimust lähtunud 1919. aasta Versailles’ rahu, poleks olnud ka Teist maailmasõda. Nagu Prantsuse relvajõudude juhataja marssal Ferdinand Foch asja kommenteeris: «See pole rahu, vaid 20-aastane vaherahu.» Nii läkski. …”



- Nationalism Rebuked at World War I Commemoration
(The Guardian | New York Times)
"The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has warned of the dangers of rising nationalism as he addressed Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and other world leaders at a ceremony in Paris to mark the 100th anniversary of the first world war armistice. As more than 60 heads of state and dignitaries gathered in the rain near Paris’s tomb of the unknown soldier to mark a century since guns fell silent on the western front, Macron delivered a pointedly political speech, warning that “old demons” were resurfacing and threatened the fragile peace."
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"Later Macron commented that it was great to have world leaders at the Arc de Triomphe for the first world war memorial but asked how the photos would be seen in the future: “A symbol of lasting peace? Or the last moment of unity before the world falls into disorder? That depends on us.”
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“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism,” Mr. Macron said in a speech on a dreary, rain-soaked day. “Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism by saying, ‘our interest first, who cares about the others?’ ”
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- From nationalism to 'fake news,' legacies of World War I still relevant
(Christian Science Monitor)

- Key Features of Today’s World Rooted in World War I
(Window on Eurasia)



- Strategy Without Politics is No Strategy: A Lesson of World War I
(Lawfare)
"On this 100th anniversary of the war’s armistice, as we grieve the loss of 19 million lives and the shattering of fin de ciecle European societies, another consequential lesson for our current wars rings out from the battlefields of the Somme and Bealleau Wood: politics must be integral for military planning to rise to the level of strategy."

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Posted by at

09 November, 2018



✔︎ Estonian citizenship explained
- ERR (see Friday)


✔︎ NATO: "Despite what politicians say, the alliance is in good shape on the ground. … nato is back in the business of defending its home territory.”


✔︎ Special Listing: What is Russia's GRU?
- Multiple sources


✔︎ President Kaljulaid ran in the New York City Marathon accompanied by two U.S. Secret Service agents who ran with her. She and both agents placed well inside the top third of overall finishers.

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- On-line version:


-  Aleksander Kaasik Foto:


- 2014-2018 Archive:




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Friday
9. November 
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✔︎ Estonian citizenship explained
by Dario Cavegn
(ERR)
"Estonia applies the 'jus sanguinis' in its definition of citizenship by basic right. This means that to hold Estonian citizenship and for this to be a basic right, you have to be Estonian by blood, ie at least one of your parents needs to be Estonian. … Typical examples are Estonian Americans, Estonian Canadians, and so on. There are tens of thousands of them. Hundreds of them work for the Estonian state, too. This isn't some semi-legal thing: Estonian dual citizens do exist. ..."


- B1 Estonian exam, Part 1: Citizenship condition and practical experience
by Andrew Whyte
"Estonian is hard, no doubt about it. The Work in Estonia site advises us to "think of Estonian as a flowy [sic] Elvish language with a good, almost Japanese-style beat to it" — and maybe therein lies the problem. Nonetheless, the Elfin comparison is not so far off the mark — the language of Tolkien's high elves, the Noldor, was based on Finnish, Estonian's closest relative."


- Politics: "The recently established Estonia 200 said it supports allowing dual citizenship for all Estonians and also considers it necessary to stop issuing so-called 'grey passports' to children born in Estonia.”


- Eksperdid: kodakondsuse seadust võiks muuta
(ERR)
"Kodakondsus pole sotsiaalõigus ja see on eeldus, et inimene on valmis seda riiki kaitsma," ütles justiitsminister Urmas Reinsalu. Ta lisas, et Eesti ei saa jõuda olukorrani, kus Ida-Virumaal on 80 protsenti ja Tallinnas pooled. "Eesti on ennekõike rahvusriik. See pole mugavuskeskkond."



- The case for a universal basic income in Estonia
(Estonian World)
"If we automate more and more things and thus squeeze a growing number of people out of employment, how do we maintain social cohesion and the peace of the nation?”



✔︎ NATO held biggest exercises since the cold war
(The Economist)
"Despite what politicians say, the alliance is in good shape on the ground.”
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“… nato is back in the business of defending its home territory."



✔︎ Fake news: 'NATO plans to attack Belarus' planted on news website
(Delfi-Lithuania)


✔︎ Finland promises probe into suspected GPS jamming by Russia
(Yle)
"Finnish officials have not commented on the source of the GPS blocking, but authorities in Norway have speculated Russia has been behind similar disturbances in Norway. Meanwhile Norwegian authorities had issued a similar bulletin about GPS disruptions at the time of the Nato exercises."


✔︎ Venemaa segas GPS-signaali NATO õppuse ajal ka Lapimaal
(ERR)
"Venemaa segas Norras toimunud NATO sõjaõppuse Trident Juncture ajal GPS-signaali, mistõttu väljastas Soome lennuohutusamet Lapimaal teisipäevast kolmapäeva ööse keskpaigani kehtinud hoiatuse."



✔︎ Norwegian submarine-hunting frigate rammed by Maltese oil tanker
(Deutsche Welle | BBC | Norway Today)
"The navy vessel was returning to port after participating in NATO exercises when it was hit by a tanker transporting crude oil to Britain. The frigate was later pushed aground to keep it from sinking."

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- Ukraine deputy foreign minister worried about Nord Stream 2
(Deutsche Welle)
"The deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, Olena Zerkal, has voiced her anger about the German-Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. She told DW the project would undermine Ukrainian energy security interests.”



- Europe’s WWI commemoration: Putin’s victory parade in Paris
(Politico-Europe)
"French President Emmanuel Macron wanted to turn this weekend’s ceremonies marking the centenary of the end of World War I into a stark warning against the return of nationalism — a phenomenon he describes as a threat to global peace in the 21st century."
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"Instead, the Armistice commemoration looks disturbingly like a victory parade for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who will bask center-stage among the 60 heads of state and government invited to Paris, looking stronger than his Western rivals despite the annexation of Crimea, destabilization of eastern Ukraine, partition of Georgia, intervention in Syria, cyber warfare and the clumsy skullduggery of his secret agents abroad.”


- The Forgotten Lessons of World War I
(Bloomberg)
"Will the European Union, like the continent’s old empires, also be swept away?"


- A timeline of World War I
(AP)
"From the first shot, to the silence of peace."


- Nationalism looms over Europe’s WWI commemoration
(Washington Post)
"Trump’s “America First” agenda also harks back to that historic withdrawal, when skepticism about foreign entanglements and fear of immigrants defined national policy at home and abroad. This circling of the wagons had significant geopolitical consequences. … In 1919 and 1920, the U.S. Senate rejected signing the Treaty of Versailles and joining the League of Nations, the new international organization intended to stave off future bloody catastrophes. The American absence possibly doomed the project at its birth."






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Russia’s GRU
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- What is the GRU?
(Meduza | Reuters)
"Both at home and abroad, the Russian abbreviation of the year has been “GRU” — the erstwhile but still commonly used initialism for the country’s Military Intelligence Directorate. … Meduza special correspondent Daniil Turovsky reviews the past and present of Russia’s intelligence community."
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- The Rise of Russia's GRU Military Intelligence Service
(Spiegel)
"Russia's GRU military intelligence service has become a political instrument for President Putin -- in the poison attack in Salisbury, hacking against the West and even in dealing with his country's doping scandal. Lately, though, the secret service can't seem to stay out of the headlines."


- Putin Voices Solid Support for GRU Military Intelligence
(Warsaw Instutute)
"Vladimir Putin’s presence in a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of Russia’s military intelligence services – as well as his speech – clearly indicate that the GRU should not be afraid of any purges, even in the face of a series of mishaps that have occurred over the past few months. The state’s military intelligence services obediently follow the Kremlin’s instructions, thus gaining Putin’s trust. Moreover, the President’s announcement to restore the GRU to its original name constitutes a symbolic part of the Kremlin’s aggressive policy."


- Celebrating Centenary of GRU, Putin Praises Its 'Unique Abilities’
(The Moscow Times)
"Putin, in comments likely to be seen as provocative in the West, saluted its operatives for carrying out daring special operations and said they provided a model for a future generation."


- Putin Wants to Restore GRU Name to Military Intelligence
(Bloomberg)
"President Vladimir Putin called for restoring the traditional GRU name to Russia’s military-intelligence agency, which Western governments blame for election meddling, hacking and poison attacks."


- Could United Russia Soon Become the CPSU?
(Window on Eurasia)
"On November 2, Putin proposed restoring the Soviet-era name of Russia’s military intelligence arm and call it once again the GRU given what he described as its glorious history. As always, other Russians were listening and waiting to take their cue from the Kremlin leader’s remarks."
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"The very next day, the National Committee +60 called on Putin to restore the name KGB to what is now called the FSB. That is especially timely, it said, now that the GRU is back and that Russia is pushing to expand the union state with Belarus where the authorities still use the Soviet nomenclature …"




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Thursday
8. November 
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"This year's Christmas tree arrived at Tallinn's Town Hall Square."



- Is Belarus in the Kremlin's Firing Line?
(Riddle)
"Could a Russian attack on Belarus be on the horizon? According to experts, including Vladislav Inozemtsev, Maxim Trudolyubov and Vitaly Shklyarov, such a scenario is not negligible. These concerns are based on several premises. Among them, President Vladimir Putin’s falling popularity. The Kremlin, the thinking goes, might try and solve internal problems with another external “victory”, as with Ukraine in 2014."

- Claim: Lukashenka Says No Need For Russian Military Base In Belarus
(RFERL)
"Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said that the U.S. "military and political role" in Europe is crucial to regional security and emphasized that he does not want a Russian military base in his country."







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Wednesday
7. November 
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- Military Workshop: The European Intervention Initiatve (E2I)
(Berlin Policy Journal)
"Contrary to initial speculation, E2I does not aim at being a flagship project for European integration, but an operational get-together for partner militaries. Its results will only be seen when the next crisis arises and its participants decide to move into action together.”
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"With nine signatory countries—Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and Finland expected to soon become the tenth—E2I has already gained traction beyond France. Although the rationale behind the signature may differ from one country to another, all participating countries now share a common understanding of its structure and purpose, even if they are not always good at explaining them."



- Western Security Planners Need to Start Preparing for What’s on the Horizon
by Edward Lucas
(CEPA)
“… on one big front we are still failing to get to grips with Russian tactics. That is the use of money. Russia is not a rich country, but it has enough cash to buy political influence through overt and covert means. These include the use of economic bridgeheads, creating businesses whose livelihood depends on good relations with Russia. It also involves darker arts, such as insider trading, money-laundering, and weaponized corruption."



- New bill aims to bring 300 cargo ships under Estonian flag
(ERR)
"There is currently not a single large freighter sailing under the Estonian flag, the last one having been unregistered after tax exemptions were rescinded in 2014."



- Germany, Europe see little hope for Trump policy change after US midterm election
(Deutsche Welle)
"It would be a mistake to expect a course correction from Donald Trump now," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas wrote on Twitter. "We will have to recalibrate and adjust our relationship with the USA."


- Opinion: What a Democratic House means for Europe
(Politico-Europe)
"Expect more oversight and outreach across the Atlantic.”


- European leaders see Democratic House gains as a blow to Trump’s ‘rudeness’ and ‘racism’
(Washington Post)
"European officials wasted no time in casting the results of the U.S. midterm elections as a rebuttal to the “rudeness” and “racism” of President Trump. … Elsewhere in Europe, the reaction was more restrained, albeit still critical of Trump."



- Reidi tee ehitamisel tuli maa seest välja suur kogus laskemoona
(ERR)

- Reidi Road work yields more WW2 ordnance finds
(ERR)



- New Poll Indicates U.K. Would Now Vote to Remain in EU
(Bloomberg)
"If another referendum were held now, voters would vote to remain in the European Union by 54 percent to 46 percent, according to Survation, a polling company. The survey questioned 20,000 people online across every constituency in the U.K. In the 2016 plebiscite, Britons voted to leave by 52 percent to 48 percent. The findings are likely to be seized on by those campaigning for a second referendum as evidence that a re-run is justified."







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Tuesday
6. November 
_____________


- How Estonia Secures Its Electronic Elections From Kremlin Attacks
(Defense One)
"The Estonians haven’t had any major problems with e-voting, thanks to pioneering approaches to securing elections and keeping digital records that have made its government a best-practices showcase. … everybody in Estonia has a unique national identification number, similar to a (U.S.) social security number. … That state-issued number works alongside a personal identification number chosen by each citizen. The two, together, form a lock and key relationship, authenticating one another.”
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"But what about that other type of election meddling that the Kremlin perpetrates: a constant flood of propaganda to sow discord, break civil unity, and misinform the public? … volunteers in Estonia’s Defense League watch the news and online discussions of it to determine what role Kremlin influence peddlers might be playing.”
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"It’s the sort of thing that works in a close-knit country like Estonia, where the threat of Russian aggression is a uniting factor, but would likely be met with skepticism in the United States, in part because Kremlin propaganda has already had succeeded in driving wedges between so many (U.S.) citizens and their government and, in many cases, between citizens and reality."



- Commentary: Bring the tanks back: it is time to put a U.S. armored brigade in Germany
(War on the rocks)
"In 1989, there were 5,000 U.S. Army tanks in Germany. Over the next 25 years, there was a gradual drawdown of American forces in Europe. By 2013, the last American armored brigade based in Germany had deactivated, leaving zero U.S. Army tanks in Europe. … Poland’s Defense Ministry recently requested an American armored division be permanently stationed on Polish soil. This controversial request has sparked intense debate in defense circles.”
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"Beyond cost savings and improved readiness, a German-based brigade would be better positioned to support rotations in the Baltics and NATO training exercises throughout Europe. This armored brigade would quickly master the complexities of European mobility operations and retain invaluable contacts with the vast transportation network needed to move armored units throughout Europe. … These NATO battlegroups would continue to provide the “trip-wire” deterrence designed to raise the stakes of a Russian incursion into the Baltics."



- Danske Bank: Dirty Money, Damaged Reputations, and Kremlin Gain
(CEPA)
"Democracy and the rule of law seem solid until greed gets in the way. That is the story of Danske Bank, a reputable Danish bank, whose Estonian branch handled €200bn (about $227bn) in suspicious transactions from 10,000 non-resident customers between 2007 and 2015.”



- Europeans Are Obsessed With the U.S. Midterms
(The Atlantic)
“Many outside the U.S. see the midterms as a referendum on President Trump and his policies,” said Marianne Schneider-Petsinger, a transatlantic specialist at the London-based think tank Chatham House. “They view the outcome of the election as a critical indicator of the direction of the U.S.”





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Monday
5. November
_____________


- Kaljulaid lõpetas New Yorgi maratoni
(ERR)
"Pühapäeval peetud pika ajalooga New Yorgi maratonil osales ka president Kersti Kaljulaid, kes lõpetas katsumuse ajaga 4:02.40."



- U.S. Secret Service Protected Estonia's President As She Ran the N.Y.C. Marathon
(Runners World | others)
"So when president of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid planned on running the New York City Marathon during her visit, she needed an escort. That’s where assistant special agent in charge Mason Brayman and lieutenant Bill Uher came in.”


Kaljulaid had done some serious training in preparation: She ran four half marathons this year to get ready to race New York City, according to a press release from the United States Secret Service. She finished with a time of 4:02:40.”
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"Brayman and Uher, on the other hand, didn’t even know for sure if they were definitely running until just four days before the race. However, they had both been running regularly, and have each completed dozens of marathons previously - 56 for Brayman and 28 for Uher. They just weren’t quite as familiar with running armed and while carrying small equipment for the protection of Estonia’s president.
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“Not only was I carrying gels and water, I also had protective and communication equipment to take with me."

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- Propagandarünnak Litsmetsast
(Propastop)
"Eelmine nädal tõi kaasa propagandajuhtumi, kus politsei teade mälestusmärgi sodimisest Võrumaal kasvas Kremli meediamasina süüdistusteks Eesti suunal."

"Last week had a propaganda case, where a police message about the defacement of a monument in Võrumaa County grew via the Kremlin media machine into accusations at Estonia."



- Admiraliteedi silla rajamine on takerdunud kohtuvaidlusesse
(ERR)
"Tallinna sadamaalal peaks juba käima Admiraliteedi basseini ületava jalakäijate silla ehitustööde ettevalmistus, ent naabruskonnas tegutsev ettevõte vaidlustas silla rajamise kohtus."



- German Air Force chief and Estonian prime minister visit Ämari Air Base
(ERR)
"Inspector of the German Air Force Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz visited Ämari Air Base, where he also met with German Air Force personnel currently serving on the Baltic Air Policing mission. … The German Air Force unit that took over Baltic Air Policing duties out of Ämari Air Base in August is based at Neuburg Air Base in the German state of Bavaria. The nearly 160-strong German contingent currently deployed to Estonia with five Eurofigher jets is the fourth German contingent to serve on the mission."

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