The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Monday, August 23, 2010

Afghanistan : Taliban momentum reversed ..[ 1694 ]

Taliban momentum reversed in Afghanistan, Gen Petraeus says

The momentum of the Taliban in key areas has been reversed, the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has said.

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in
Afghanistan: Taliban momentum reversed in Afghanistan, Gen Petraeus
says

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan Photo: AP

BBC., Published: 9:49AM BST 23 Aug 2010

Gen David Petraeus said the Taliban had been pressed back in southern Afghanistan and in Kabul following a surge in coalition troops.

But he said there should not be a sudden exodus of troops from Afghanistan when the process of withdrawing forces begins next year.

As the toll of foreign troops killed in Afghanistan rose once again on Monday with the death of two more Nato troops, Gen Petraeus said the road ahead could be bloody but insisted the nine-year campaign was making progress.

"The momentum that the Taliban have established over the course of recent years has been reversed in many of the areas of the country and will be reversed in the other areas as well," he said in an interview with the BBC.

Gen Petraeus, the top US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, said he would offer frank advice to President Barack Obama on the withdrawal of troops.

Next July would mark the start of a drawdown, but not the moment when the US military looks "for the exit and a light to turn out", he said in the interview, which was broadcast on Monday.

Both Mr Obama and David Cameron, the Prime Minister, have promised that a significant drawdown of coalition troops would begin in 11 months.

But in his first major interview since assuming command of more than 140,000 coalition forces in Afghanistan last month, Gen Petraeus cast doubt on the July 2011 deadline.

But one day after Gen Petraeus indicated that the deadline was in doubt, Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, put himself at odds with the country's top commander in Afghanistan by ruling out any delay.

Mr Gates said that American troops would start to pull out on schedule in July 2011 as he confirmed that he would leave office next year, once the drawdown was on track.

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