Potential Enemies Research Articles

Flying Means of Attack of Ships, Possible to Be Used by a Potential Enemy—Analysis of the Threats for Ships the Polish Navy

Abstract The article presents the analysis of the threats to Polish Navy ships resulting from the development by the Baltic Sea countries of missile systems or turbojet missiles. The most popular varieties and types of missiles that could be used against Polish Navy vessels were described and classified taking into account mainly the potential of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation (BF FR), as well as an analysis of the latest global trends in the area of counteracting these missiles. The article presents the conclusions drawn from exemplary simulations of the attack of modern anti-ship missiles. The article also contains references to the ways of determining the probability of avoiding a rocket attack and the measure of the effectiveness of self-defence of attacked ships. The work contains conclusions regarding desirable traits from the systems of self-defence of ships on the modern battlefield with particular emphasis on the character of the Polish Navy. The article presents an analysis of the threats to ships of the Polish Navy, resulting from the development in the Baltic Sea countries, missile/turbojet anti-ship systems. Were described and classified most popular varieties and types of missiles applicable to fight Polish Navy ships and described latest global trends counteracted against these missiles. The article presents the conclusions drawn from exemplary simulations of the attack of modern anti-ship missiles. The article also contains references to the ways of determining the probability of avoiding a rocket attack and the measure of the effectiveness of self-defence of attacked ships. The work contains conclusions regarding desirable traits from the systems of self-defence of ships on the modern battlefield, with particular emphasis on the nature of the Polish Navy.

Between Ferality and Resilience: Global (South) Urbanization as a Counterinsurgency Research Object

Today, urbanization is described as one of the major global challenges. The rapid demographic transformations taking place in certain regions of the Global South — especially in countries of Africa and Southeast Asia — bring a sense of urgency to the discussion on cities. Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization in Global South, combined with social inequalities, poverty and environmental degradation, renders many urban populations vulnerable and precarious. With an emphasis on the urban expansion of the Global South, an international agenda is formed nowadays, focusing on the structural functions of the cities and their shielding against the negative effects of the current global crisis; a crisis taking today the form of an economic, environmental, and migration crisis. Thus, sustainability and resilience of the cities, and especially of those in the Global South, are turned into the key questions of urban planning and urban governance policies. Yet, they are also gradually turned into an object of military problematizations, as Western armed forces are strongly interested today in the urban phenomena and the functions of the cities, perceiving urban environment not only as a potential field of military operations but as a source of irregular threats; describing, in other words, the cities of the Global South not only as sites that host potential enemies but as enemies per se. More specifically, from the end of the 20th century U.S. military focuses on urban informality and its security implications, imposing a new understanding of the urban world. This is today more evident, as rapid demographic changes render urban systems and informal urban settlements in particular more vulnerable, and this vulnerability is directly problematized in public security terms. Through the relevant anti-urban theoretical frameworks, the cities of the Global South are conceived as feral systems that have to be tamed; and this taming calls for direct intervention. Military imposes, in this way, its presence in the field of urban problematizations, and building on the deception of contemporary neoliberal narratives calls today for urban resilience. As the world urbanizes rapidly and the notions of crisis and emergency are shaping the dominant social imaginary and the modern governmental agenda, urban sustainability, adaptability, and resilience are turned into an overall public security issue and eventually into an object of military interest. Hence, when the military theorists wonder how to make contemporary “fragile” urban systems more “resilient”, they actually wonder how to build forcibly resilient subjectivities and impose, after all, resilience and patience against an inescapable oppression.

Utilization of the territorial defense force in rescue operations (part 2)

This is a second part of the article in which the authors attempt to present the courses of action of the Territorial Defence Forces’ subunits in the conditions requiring the support of state and territorial administrations when life of residents is jeopardized as a result of catastrophes and natural disasters. This is one of the key tasks faced by the newly established Territorial Defence Forces (WOT) that is the protection of people and property within the activities unrelated to the kinetic impact of potential enemies.

Territorial Defence Facing the Challenge of Hybrid Warfare

The course of present armed conflicts indicates the use of different instruments of power, whose major purpose is to gain control over the society and then exploit its resources. The nomenclature mentions hybrid warfare more and more frequently while seeking effective countermeasures against it. This topic is related to the creation of a new structure in the Polish Army – the Territorial Defence Force. The article presents the determinants conditioning the creation of the discussed formation and its assigned tasks. It analyses the expected objectives of the Territorial Defence Force as regards the adopted organisational structure, capability to perform its tasks and the established recruitment and training system. The article focuses in particular on countering tools of attack used in hybrid actions. The author refers to the course of events during modern asymmetric armed conflicts, for example in eastern Ukraine. Methods used by a potential enemy and the possible countermeasures exercised by the Territorial Defence Force are taken into consideration. The conclusions include an assessment of the importance of the new formation for Polish national security and defence.

ANALYSIS OF DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDONESIA AND SINGAPORE IN 2007–2017 THROUGH DEFENSE DIPLOMACY GOAL VARIABLE

<pre>Defense cooperation agreement between Indonesia and Singapore has been signed on April 27th 2007 in Tampak Siring, Bali by both country’s defense Minister, signifying a further comprehensive agreement based on the content of the DCA (Defense Cooperation Agreement). This defense agreement, in addition of being a continuation of other previous defense cooperation such as Military Training Area in 1995 until 2003, is also a further initiative of Singapore in order to build a mutually beneficial cooperation. In fact, this agreement has also been packaged with extradition agreement which was the initiative of Indonesia. Although the agreement has been signed and agreed by both countries, this agreement was not ratified by Indonesian House of Representatives. Thus, this research will explain about factors or variables that causes the failure of Singapore defense diplomacy. This research uses liberalism perspective, defense diplomacy and bilateral diplomacy concept. The employed research method is analytical descriptive method. Data is collected through interview with 7 informants including academicians, practioners, and other related expert. The data is also obtained from various literatures. Based on 4 defense diplomacy goals variables such as Diplomacy, National Interest, Defense Instrument Usage, Peacetime and Potential Enemy, this research finds that Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2007-2017 has not been succsesful yet because there was a difference between Indonesia’s and Singapore’s national interest. The difference came from the division in Indonesia between its government and parliament where the Government prioritized beneficial cooperation while the Parliament prioritized sovereignty principle.</pre>

Stones on the ground in olive groves promote the presence of spiders (Araneae)

Spiders are generalist predators that contribute to the control of pests in agroecosystems. Land use management determines habitats including refuges for hibernation and aestivation. The availability of shelters on the ground can be crucial for maintaining populations of spider within crops. We studied the effect of the number of stones on the surface of the soil on the spider community in selected olive groves in Tras-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal). The number of stones significantly influenced the overall diversity of spiders, abundance of immature individuals and abundance of ground hunters. Agricultural management practices aimed at the conservation of soil microhabitats such as hedgerows, stonewalls and stones on the ground should be promoted in order to maintain or increase the number of shelters for potential natural enemies of pests.

No evidence for trade-offs in plant responses to consumer food web manipulations.

Plants face a range of trade-offs as they attempt to maximize their fitness within a complex web composed of competitors, mutualists, and herbivores. In addition to growth-defense and competition-defense trade-offs, plants must balance their response to a wide range of potential enemies including pathogens and vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores. We tested for trade-offs in plant species' responses to different types of consumers using a foodweb manipulation experiment in which we selectively excluded large vertebrate herbivores and removed foliar fungi, soil fungi, and insects from natural and experimentally planted grassland communities. We found no evidence for trade-offs in the ability of plants to defend themselves against different sets of consumers, although plants varied widely in their responses to removal of different consumer groups. In addition, the species-level responses to consumer removal in monoculture were uncorrelated with each species' response in more diverse communities, highlighting the important role of local context (e.g., competition and apparent competition) in determining the effects of consumers. Plants must balance their allocation of energy among a wide variety of tasks including growing, competing for limited resources, and defending themselves against an array of potential enemies. We found that while plant species differed greatly in their response to the removal of consumers, species that were susceptible to the effects of one consumer group (e.g., insect herbivores) also were susceptible to other consumer groups (e.g., fungal pathogens). This suggests that plants differ in their overall allocation to defense, but defense investment can proffer protection against a wide array of natural enemies. We also found that plant responses to consumers depended on the diversity of the surrounding plant community, suggesting that among-plant interactions can alter their susceptibility to the impacts of consumers.

(Un)justified expectations on nuclear deterrence of non-nuclear NATO members: the case of Estonia and Latvia?

ABSTRACTNuclear assets are one of the cornerstones of credible collective deterrence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Paradoxically, the most endangered member states are the ones without nuclear capabilities, left with the hope and expectation that the owners of nuclear assets will defend them and that their potential enemies are deterred by these capabilities. However, the expectations from one side, practical commitment of allies from other side may not go in harmony and synchronisation. Is there a capability gap which needs to be fulfilled? If yes then, is the gap in the side of nuclear powers or is it on the side of those endangered states who need to understand what can or cannot realistically be expected? The current article focuses on the question of how the political and military elite of the Baltic states describes their expectations in terms of using Alliance's nuclear capabilities to deter Russia's regional ambitions.

The Challenge of Western Neutralism during the Cold War: Britain and the Buildup of a Nigerian Air Force

In the wake of decolonization, Britain wanted to maintain its strategic interests in Nigeria and to keep the newly independent African country in the Western orbit. Having abrogated a defense agreement in reaction to Nigerian domestic opposition, the British government counted on military assistance to secure its postcolonial security role. The British thus hoped to gain responsibility for the buildup of a Nigerian air force, which the authorities in Lagos wished to establish for national prestige and protection against potential enemies such as Ghana. The Nigerians, however, first tried to secure the requisite assistance from Commonwealth countries other than Britain before opting for a West German air force mission. The Nigerian government aimed to reduce its dependence on Britain and thereby burnish its neutralist credentials. Yet London was challenged by a Western version of neutralism, similar to Western neutrality, because the Nigerians never attempted to approach the Soviet bloc about military assistance.

Polish - Romanian Military Cooperation

Abstract Reborn after WWI, Poland needed to secure its borders properly against a potential enemy. As a result of the undertaken negotiations, the state strengthened the protection of its eastern border with a Polish-Romanian alliance. Before WWII, Romania was an important ally of Poland in the region and the only neighbour with whom Poland had a good relationship. Currently, both states are members of the EU and NATO, and their interests in security converge, especially in the face of deteriorating security in Eastern Europe. Closer military cooperation is also favoured by extensive political contacts and increasing expenditure on defence in both those states. In fact, Romania may well become the main ally of our country in the region within the next few years

AMBER EMBALMS ESSENTIAL OILS: A RARE PRESERVATION OF MONOTERPENOIDS IN FOSSIL RESINS FROM EASTERN HIMALAYA

Terpenoids are hydrocarbons, comprising isoprene as their fundamental building blocks, many of which serve defensive functions in plants and protect them from potential enemies in the environment. Preservation of volatile terpenoids in amber is unusual and rarely detected in fossilized remains. In the present study, a remarkable preservation of monoterpenoid constituents are detected in Pliocene–Pleistocene ambers collected from the Siwalik strata of eastern Himalaya. Amongst the monoterpenoids, eucalyptol, borneol, α-pinene and p-cymene are detected in significant abundance. The sesquiterpenoid fraction comprises both biomolecules and geomolecules. Biological compounds include copaene, selinene, OH-bearing compounds such as spathulenol, globulol and α-cadinol as well as isomers of elemene and muurolene. Calamenene and dihydro-ar-curcumene are the diagenetically altered sesquiterpenoids recorded in the samples. High abundances of biotriterpenoids like β-amyrin and α-amyrin as well as moderate concentrations of altered products such as double-bonded ketones and alcohols generated from the parent triterpenoids are detected in the ambers. The results demonstrate that the monoterpenoids, which are particularly susceptible to degradation, could survive exhaustive diagenesis and alteration over a long span of time on rare occasions. The biosynthetic pathways of the secondary metabolite terpenoids, particularly the monoterpenoids, evolved in plants long back in time and are present in the angiosperm clades that evolved much later in Earth history. This indicates the unique efficiency of these volatile terpenoid compounds as defense tools in more evolved and complex biota.

A role for CA3 in social recognition memory

Social recognition memory is crucial for survival across species, underlying the need to correctly identify conspecifics, mates and potential enemies. In humans the hippocampus is engaged in social and episodic memory, however the circuit mechanisms of social memory in rodent models has only recently come under scrutiny. Work in mice has established that the dorsal CA2 and ventral CA1 regions play critical roles, however a more comprehensive comparative analyses of the circuits and mechanisms required has not been reported. Here we employ conditional genetics to examine the differential contributions of the hippocampal subfields to social memory. We find that the deletion of NMDA receptor subunit 1 gene (NR1), which abolishes NMDA receptor synaptic plasticity, in CA3 pyramidal cells led to deficits in social memory; however, mice lacking the same gene in DG granule cells performed indistinguishable from controls. Further, we use conditional pharmacogenetic inhibition to demonstrate that activity in ventral, but not dorsal, CA3 is necessary for the encoding of a social memory. These findings demonstrated CA3 pyramidal cell plasticity and transmission contribute to the encoding of social stimuli and help further identify the distinct circuits underlying the role of the hippocampus in social memory.

Robotechnical System for Analyzing Cyber-Security of Information Communication Systems and Networks

The paper deals with the various aspects of cybernetic confrontation. The authors substantiate the urgency of creating a proactive protection management system and propose hardware and software solutions based on the development of a mobile robotic system. The paper describes the system designed to audit the stability of the network infrastructure to existing and prospective cyber threats, to its architecture and functionality. Cyber warfare marks a new level of armed confrontation. An urgent requirement of the time, taking into account the robotization of weapons and military equipment, is the revision of the principles of building automated control systems, information systems and communication networks from the viewpoint of ensuring cybersecurity. The co-evolution of the cybersecurity system should provide: the detection of new, previously unknown cyber threats (cyber attacks) during the monitoring (exploration) of cyberspace; the automatic selection of the parameters of the functioning of information systems and communication networks under the conditions of destructive effects without deterioration of their main characteristics (cognitive platforms for building information and telecommunication networks). Intelligence in cyberspace requires digital penetration into the network and control systems of a potential enemy and involves the use of completely new sources, forms and methods of data and information collection, development of new intelligence tools and technologies, tactical and technical techniques. Thus, the system of cyber security should be provided for the possibility of pre-emptive hardware and software effects (pre-emptive attacks) and active attacks on information systems and resources of the opposing side, as well as the ability to misinformation by the opposing side of the true properties and parameters of information systems and communication networks.

UTILIZATION OF THE TERRITORIAL DEFENCE FORCES IN RESCUE OPERATIONS PART 1

The authors attempt to present in the article the courses of action of the Territorial Defence Forces’ subunits in the conditions requiring the support of state and territorial administrations when life of residents is jeopardized as a result of catastrophes and natural disasters. This is one of the key tasks faced by the newly established Territorial Defence Forces (WOT) that is the protection of people and property within the activities unrelated to the kinetic impact of potential enemies.

Infrared Signature Suppression Systems in Modern Military Helicopters

Abstract Helicopters play an important role in air-to-ground fire covering and the short-distance air-to-air fights, as well as the anti-tank missions and battlefield force transferring. The detection and survivability of helicopters on a battlefield significantly depends on their infrared emissions level, as well as the methods, equipment and systems used by potential enemy. The automatic detection systems, recognition and identification of flying objects use among other the thermo-detection methods, which rely on detecting the infrared radiation emitted by the tracked object. Furthermore, due to low-altitude and relatively low flight speed, today’s combat assets like missile weapons equipped with infrared guidance systems are one of the most important threats to the helicopters performing combat missions. Especially meaningful in a helicopter aviation is infrared emission by exhaust gases, egressed to the surroundings. Due to high temperature, exhaust gases are a major factor in detectability of a helicopter performing air combat operations. In order to increase the combat effectiveness and survivability of military helicopters, several different types of the infrared suppressor (IRS) have been developed. This paper reviews contemporary developments in this discipline, with particular examples of the infrared signature suppression systems.

Commentary on Lewis

If Lewis prefers the political Plato to the apolitical Socrates, I take my stand with Socrates. I also regard Plato as having been more profoundly invested in establishing a philosophical religion than in establishing a philosophical politics. Cultivating trust in the Good is ultimately of more importance than arming a state against potential enemies. Courage is a virtue greater than prudence. Plato’s Laws, on my reading, is less concerned with maintaining the order of the state than with civilizing its inhabitants. In light of this contention, I understand Plato as being more Socratic—more open to question and thus more flexible—than Lewis’s reading seems to allow. This is why I think Plato provides more attention to his extended preambles to the laws than to the laws themselves. As seriously as Plato took the quest for true law, he realized that any positive code of law (or any constitution) has to be subject to constant revision.

Between Russia and the West: Belarus as a Challenge for European Stability and Security

This paper aims to explain that the stable situation of Belarus is important for Western Europe and why any fluctuations may present a challenge for European integrity and stability. Belarus, since the beginning of its independence in 1991 seems to show a great willingness to cooperate closely with Russia, claiming Western Europe and NATO as a potential enemy. In reality, the Belarusian position is much more complicated and ambiguous. Despite it’s close military cooperation with Russia, different tensions between Minsk and Moscow regularly happen and Belarusian authorities are still looking for new foreign partners and new energy suppliers (what was clearly visible in the last months of 2016 and the first period of 2017). Russia, old Belarusian partner, may actually even pose a threat for Belarus, so the country’s authorities have a hard challenge to maintain its stability. Western countries may be open for a new chapter of cooperation with Minsk but any rapid changes in Belarusian foreign preferences may result in unpredictable results and Moscow reaction that – in turn – would be very challenging for the whole European stability and security.

Assessment of Habitat Modification and Varied Planting Dates to Enhance Potential Natural Enemies of Anasa tristis (Hemiptera: Coreidae) in Squash.

The squash bug, Anasa tristis (DeGeer) (Hemiptera: Coreidae), is an indigenous pest of squash and other cucurbits. Pesticides can control squash bug populations although many small-scale growers in the Southeast seek alternative methods of management. Cultural control methods, including varying the planting date and farmscaping, are not well understood under southeastern conditions. The goal of farmscaping is to increase natural ecosystem functions to aid in the control of pest populations. In the summers of 2014 and 2015, field plots of squash, separated by a minimum of 150 m were organized in a split-split plot design, with floral resources at the whole-plot level and varied planting date at the subplot level. Data were collected on squash bug abundance and fruit yield (kg), and abundance of potential natural enemies of A. tristis. Plots with added floral resources had fewer squash bug adults than plots without added floral resources in four of eight possible year × site × planting date combinations. Furthermore, the site in 2014 which had a reduction in squash bug adult abundance also had an increase in the abundance of potential enemies, including spiders, ground beetles, and predaceous Hemiptera. There were additional instances when potential natural enemy abundance was greater in resource-enhanced plots, but they were not associated with sites that had a reduction in yield loss or squash bug abundance. The use of floral resources to attract natural enemies and beneficial insects merits further investigation.

English

Under natural conditions, the plants are, usually, surrounded by a series of potential enemies. They had created strategies of defense against pathogens and herbivores' attacks, allowing its perpetuation throughout evolution. These defense mechanisms are closely associated with the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are also worldwide used in several areas of industry. This bibliographic review was conducted aiming to better understand how plants synthesize these substances in response to biotic or abiotic stimuli. The results discussed here revealed that synthesis of plant secondary metabolites is dependent on changes in several metabolic pathways, being often directly associated with the primary metabolism. Injury by herbivores or pathogens, temperature, CO2 levels, solar radiation and drought, are the factors related to the environment that express the most significant signs of inhibition or synthesis of plant secondary metabolites. Global climatic changes recently observed can affect the metabolic pathways network and, consequently, secondary metabolites synthesis. Nowadays, genomic tools have been useful alternatives that are leading to a new revolution of plant breeding, allowing the overexpression or inhibition of these substances. Some limitations and challenges to be achieved upon the dynamics of secondary metabolite synthesis in plants are presented. Key words: Jasmonic acid, transcription factors, inhibition, synthesis.

THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD. AN IMPACT OF HISTORY

The author touches the problem of the lessons of history upon the example of the impact of the Second World War on the contemporary world. One of these is that to stop an aggressor is possible only by collective efforts of freedom-loving powers. It was not done before the Second World War and Nazi Germany made use of it. One more lesson of history, which had hard consequences for mankind, - the policy of appeasement. It turned out to be connivance to aggressors and thus favored escalation of aggression. Its initiator – Great Britain – was striving to maintain the balance of power in Europe and make a peaceful settlement of contradictions with the revisionist states – Germany and Italy using “concessions for concessions” principle. In such a way the appeasers hoped to secure wider agreements with Hitler and Mussolini and establish long-expected peace in Europe. But these calculations turned to be based on sand. Actually, the concept of the appeasement was faulty, which supposed a reasonable dialogue with the leaders of Germany and Italy. But it was impossible to come to an agreement with the dictators on a reasonable basis, since they always staked strength higher than law. Hitler, as it is known, considered force (and, consequently, war) as quite a legitimate means of reaching aims planned. The Western powers, in their turn, more than once demonstrated passiveness in 1930s and by this making worse their strategic position and strengthening their potential enemies. As a result of all this – breaking the balance of power in Europe in favor of the Fascist states and demolition of peace. These lessons are highly important in the present conditions, when a threat of international terrorism became global. One more lesson of history – anti-Hitler coalition in the Second World War. It was formed in spite of deep contradictions among its participants – the USSR, Great Britain and the USA. But these contradictions were pushed aside, because Nazi Germany was the main threat for all. In conditions of global chaos, which is dominating in the contemporary world, the impact of history is highly relevant.