Ukraine Update: WARNING BY FORMER NATO COMMANDER

Ukraine Update: WARNING BY FORMER NATO COMMANDER

PHIL LITTLE REPORTS   

UKRAINE UPDATE APRIL 9, 2022

I was interested to find that a former deputy commander for NATO feels the same way I do on more active NATO involvement in Ukraine war. His warning should be taken seriously.

Sir Richard Shirreff, who served as NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander for Europe from 2011 to 2014, told Times Radio on Friday that the Atlantic alliance ”must be ready” for war with Russia as their invasion of Ukraine reaches a tipping point.

Shirreff suggested that the West quickly send ”heavy equipment” to Ukraine, including ”long-range artillery, precision fire missiles, anti-missile defense, and tanks and other vehicles.”

The former top NATO official said he does not believe that Russia distinguishes between the supplying of offensive and defensive weapons and that he doesn’t either.

”Weaponry is weaponry. The best form of defense is attack,” Sherriff said.

”NATO must be ready for escalation. NATO has to be ready for a Russian response,” he proclaimed.

Shirreff criticized how NATO has handled the conflict thus far, saying that the organization ”must be ready for the worst case” but has not shown that it is.

”The worst case is war, and that means a fundamental mind shift in NATO. Ready to be ready for the worst-case escalation,” the former supreme commander said, emphasizing how the war is an ”existential” battle for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his grip over Russia.

”If he doesn’t win, he’s toast,” Shirreff said of Putin. ”Therefore, the risk of escalation is very high.”

NATO needs ”to be ready for the worst case. Gearing itself up for war, mobilizing, rearming, and putting in place an impenetrable defense deterrent capability from the Baltic to the Black Sea,” he added.

The former NATO commander said cuts in defense spending across Europe were a concern, but most of the chess match depends on preparedness and strategy.

”It’s not too late to start putting what we got out there. And now, I see no sign   that happening,” Shirreff said. ”And then on top of that, of course, we need to be ramping up defense spending … for as long as Putin lasts.”

”There will not be peace in Europe for as long as Putin is in the Kremlin,” he emphasized.

There was a time when you would have not only heard this talk from the U.S. but leading the buildup to make it noticeably clear to Putin, don’t even think about taking on NATO.

Note Sir Richard’s statement about Putin I highlighted in his comments. IF HE DOESN’T WIN, HE IS TOAST!!!   The issue with the decision makers in the West is they can’t put them selves in the shoes of people like Putin or Terrorist. They think a reasonable person wouldn’t think about taking on NATO with the result of the Ukraine invasion, but Putin isn’t Reasonable. So as Sir Richard says PREPARE FOR THE WORST.

My experience with worst case scenario prevention preparation is in 99% of the time you don’t have to use.

I encourage all Americans and freedom loving people do your research and get informed and then act when necessary.

Until next time be safe.

Phil Little

 

 

 

 

BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

TODAY’S LIVE BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND

The briefing this morning was to bring the latest information to stake holders in the region along with NGO Intelligence and Security personnel. The briefing covered the Political, Military and Humanitarian issues facing Ukraine and those who have assets within the country.

As was noted by the briefers, everyone was surprised and impressed by how well the Ukraine military has performed by holding the line and in many cases pushing back the Russian forces. One important example is being able to hold Kiev and see the city now coming back to life with business, cafes and other infostructure being rebuilt.

It was noted that Ukraine military is mainly operating with professional solders along. with the backup of reginal security teams set up before the war. Along with the high level of volunteers it is not seen that Ukraine will have a draft or conscription for the military.

One example noted by the briefers was the Ukraine rail system which has for the most part been running with very little interference. The rail system has allowed food, medical supplies, and troops to be moved to the places they are needed.

Politically:

The commitment of President Zelenskyy and his performance has been a big part in the success of Ukraine politically on the International Stage and the military success. He has surprised everyone including Putin, and he is continually calling for the free world to step up with more support particular with weapons.

An overview of the damage to lives and business was presented. Over 7 million citizens within Ukraine have been misplace and 4 ½ million have left the country. Most of the citizens getting out of the country have done so on their own getting to friendly boarders anyway they can. DART teams working out of Poland are on the ground in Ukraine working on opening transportation lines that are more secure. At this point there are 3.5 million unemployed and 25% of the companies are no longer working.

There are 1000 aid workers on the ground in Ukraine working on logistics and getting supplies where they are needed. The ongoing problem even in some of the more secure areas is the unpredicted missiles or bombs Russia can still send into these areas.

What has this war cost Ukraine and what are some of the top concerns now. There has been a high cost to the economy with the first quarter GDP down 16% with an anticipated 40% drop over the year ahead. One of big concerns now is Food Security and transportation for it. As the Russian army has been pushed back from Kiev, they have mined a lot of the roads which makes moving supplies and people a high risk. Work is being done to start mine removal, but it will be a major task to complete, particular with the war still going on.

The question was raised with the use of Smart Weapons, what is the possibility that Putin could attack his neighbors on the NATO side. The briefers felt this was very low with Putin not wanting a fight with NATO. The risk would be that a missile went off course and landed in another country, but the feeling is the Russian military will be wary of that and working to avoid it.

The possibility of Belarus entering the war with troops was discussed and discounted due to the small military, about 40,000 soldiers in Belarus army. The president of Belarus is under the thumb of Putin but seems to be settled on letting Russia use the country for troops and entry to Ukraine but not risking direct involvement that might have repercussions from Ukraine.

There are reports that both Belarus and Chechnya solders are in Ukraine fighting the Russians.

Of big concern is the health care system with at least 25% of the hospitals, clinics, etc. being damaged or destroyed. The current issue is the medical supplies and medicine that is needed and the difficulty of the coordination of movement with the war going on.

Private security groups, with their own vehicles and security, out of Poland and other countries have been going in and helping people get out of the country to a safe place. At this point the embassy in Kiev is not open and there no consular services in Ukraine. Contact can be made in Poland where the staff is based at this time.

They alerted any Americans in the country to make sure they make copies of their passports in the event they lose them in most cases they can get out of the country with the copy or on an expired passport. It is unknown at this point when Embassy services might resume in country.

There was much discussion about what Putin will do next. May 9 is a big day in Russia, and it is thought that Putin will be looking for a win of some sort before then. The fact that he is amassing troops along the eastern front could be an indication he will attempt to gain a firmer control over this region to claim a win and look to save face. The assessment of what elements the troop being moved are coming from is not complete at this point. Are they coming from the regular army from other areas, new recruits, or mixture of both? The performance or non-performance, in Ukraine, of both troops and equipment would normally give a leader pause but with Putin who knows

All were in agreement with Putin you never know, and no one has the Chrystal ball that will reveal Putin’s mind. One might surmise that Putin himself does not know what he will do until it happens.

There was a lot more discussion but will end this with the discussion about Putin and his Military officers being charged with war crimes. There was a strong Yes to this question and they said there were multiple groups in government and NGO’S building the necessary files and evidence to support those charges when the war has ended. The briefers said the United States as well as European countries are together in this matter.

There is something we all can do for the people of Ukraine and that is pray for them and for their country and for this war to end.

Until next time be safe. May God Bless the United States of America

Phil Little

 

 

 

APRIL 7, 2022 BRIEFING ON UKRAINE BY EMBASSY

APRIL 7, 2022 BRIEFING ON UKRAINE BY EMBASSY

NO CLASSIFIED MATERIAL IN THIS BLOG 

TODAY’S LIVE BRIEFING BY AMERICAN EMBASSY IN UKRAINE AND FROM POLAND    

The briefing this morning was to bring the latest information to stake holders in the region along with NGO Intelligence and Security personnel. The briefing covered the Political, Military and Humanitarian issues facing Ukraine and those who have assets within the country.

As was noted by the briefers, everyone was surprised and impressed by how well the Ukraine military has performed by holding the line and in many cases pushing back the Russian forces. One important example is being able to hold Kiev and see the city now coming back to life with business, cafes and other infostructure being rebuilt.

It was noted that Ukraine military is mainly operating with professional solders along. with the backup of reginal security teams set up before the war. Along with the high level of volunteers it is not seen that Ukraine will have a draft or conscription for the military.

One example noted by the briefers was the Ukraine rail system which has for the most part been running with very little interference. The rail system has allowed food, medical supplies, and troops to be moved to the places they are needed.

Politically:

The commitment of President Zelenskyy and his performance has been a big part in the success of Ukraine politically on the International Stage and the military success. He has surprised everyone including Putin, and he is continually calling for the free world to step up with more support particular with weapons.

An overview of the damage to lives and business was presented. Over 7 million citizens within Ukraine have been misplace and 4 ½ million have left the country. Most of the citizens getting out of the country have done so on their own getting to friendly boarders anyway they can. DART teams working out of Poland are on the ground in Ukraine working on opening transportation lines that are more secure. At this point there are 3.5 million unemployed and 25% of the companies are no longer working.

There are 1000 aid workers on the ground in Ukraine working on logistics and getting supplies where they are needed. The ongoing problem even in some of the more secure areas is the unpredicted missiles or bombs Russia can still send into these areas.

What has this war cost Ukraine and what are some of the top concerns now. There has been a high cost to the economy with the first quarter GDP down 16% with an anticipated 40% drop over the year ahead. One of big concerns now is Food Security and transportation for it. As the Russian army has been pushed back from Kiev, they have mined a lot of the roads which makes moving supplies and people a high risk. Work is being done to start mine removal, but it will be a major task to complete, particular with the war still going on.

The question was raised with the use of Smart Weapons, what is the possibility that Putin could attack his neighbors on the NATO side. The briefers felt this was very low with Putin not wanting a fight with NATO. The risk would be that a missile went off course and landed in another country, but the feeling is the Russian military will be wary of that and working to avoid it.

The possibility of Belarus entering the war with troops was discussed and discounted due to the small military, about 40,000 soldiers in Belarus army. The president of Belarus is under the thumb of Putin but seems to be settled on letting Russia use the country for troops and entry to Ukraine but not risking direct involvement that might have repercussions from Ukraine.

There are reports that both Belarus and Chechnya solders are in Ukraine fighting the Russians.

Of big concern is the health care system with at least 25% of the hospitals, clinics, etc. being damaged or destroyed. The current issue is the medical supplies and medicine that is needed and the difficulty of the coordination of movement with the war going on.

Private security groups, with their own vehicles and security, out of Poland and other countries have been going in and helping people get out of the country to a safe place. At this point the embassy in Kiev is not open and there no consular services in Ukraine. Contact can be made in Poland where the staff is based at this time.

They alerted any Americans in the country to make sure they make copies of their passports in the event they lose them in most cases they can get out of the country with the copy or on an expired passport. It is unknown at this point when Embassy services might resume in country.

There was much discussion about what Putin will do next. May 9 is a big day in Russia, and it is thought that Putin will be looking for a win of some sort before then. The fact that he is amassing troops along the eastern front could be an indication he will attempt to gain a firmer control over this region to claim a win and look to save face. The assessment of what elements the troop being moved are coming from is not complete at this point. Are they coming from the regular army from other areas, new recruits, or mixture of both? The performance or non-performance, in Ukraine, of both troops and equipment would normally give a leader pause but with Putin who knows

All were in agreement with Putin you never know, and no one has the Chrystal ball that will reveal Putin’s mind. One might surmise that Putin himself does not know what he will do until it happens.

There was a lot more discussion but will end this with the discussion about Putin and his Military officers being charged with war crimes. There was a strong Yes to this question and they said there were multiple groups in government and NGO’S building the necessary files and evidence to support those charges when the war has ended. The briefers said the United States as well as European countries are together in this matter.

There is something we all can do for the people of Ukraine and that is pray for them and for their country and for this war to end.

Until next time be safe. May God Bless the United States of America

Phil Little

 

 

 

WEST COAST DETECTIVES INTERNATIONAL 100 YEARS OLD

WEST COAST DETECTIVES INTERNATIONAL 100 YEARS OLD

 

 

 

April 2022:

 We are officially in our 100th year from our start in South Los Angeles in 1922. Over the last months I have reflected on our past as we approached this milestone, thinking about the successes of the past as well as the challenges.

In our 100 years we have had two leaders before me and it was what the world would call a chance meeting, or I call a God planned meeting, that led me to taking over West Coast Detectives and Special Police Patrol.

I was at a Full Gospel Businessmen’s breakfast in Anaheim, California, in 1976, that Stanley Comstock the owner of West Coast set down beside me. That started a friendship that led to me taking over the agency in February 1977.

When I reflect on my 45 years at West Coast Detectives as the leader, several things come to mind. The first is all the great people who have helped me succeed with the growth of WCDI. It was a special privilege to have the first woman as a Vice President of a Detective agency in 1978 and to have many women on our corporate management team.  

The reality is that most of the great ideas that came forth for direction and case solving, most came from those around me and many from the woman on our team.

The next thing I think of is all the great friends I made who were my peers, outside consultants and vendors who contributed to our success. The next thing that comes to mind was all the clients, some 200,000, who put their trust in WCDI and many became close friends. Our client base came from the person with a small case, small and large companies, fortune Five Hundred companies, Governments, and the Hollywood “A” list. We treated the person with the $500 case with the same respect and diligence as the Fortune Five Hundred company with a million-dollar case.

Probably the comments by clients that gave me the most pride was the comment, With West Coast Detectives on our team and watching over our company gives me peace of mind. I can go home at night and not worry about our company’s security.

Well, what is ahead? The world is under attack from the manufactured Pandemic, out of control Inflation, a pending global recession, war against the free nation of Ukraine which could spread like a powder keg into surrounding countries and a violent small leftist group trying to overthrow the democracies of the world.

So do we lose hope and fold under the onslaught of evil or do we take the men and women of Ukraine as an example and stand up and fight for freedom.

The preparation for the battle first is knowing who our enemies are and everything about them and where they are at and hiding. I am reminded that at the birth of Israel in 1948 that the leaders said the only way they could survive was to first have superior Intelligence, and that is still true today.

In my leadership at WCDI, and before in my Law Enforcement work, I focused on gathering intelligence. After taking over WCDI I started building an Intelligence operation around the world in the late 70,s & 80,s  staffed with local Intelligence and Police officials in their countries.

My Intelligence network was extremely valuable after the 9-11 attacks, as we worked with the public sector over the next few years to stop the terrorist before they could get to the

  1. S.

As we enter this next century, we are committed to using the same diligence and commitment to solve our global clients’ cases as we have in our first century.

We just posted our new web site please review and feel free to contact us with any questions or to confidentially discuss your needs. (www.westcoastdetectives.us)

I will be posting more over the next weeks as the world situation changes.

May God bless you and May God Bless America.

Until next time

Phil Little                                           watching over our clients

 

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

At West Coast Detectives International we are approaching our 100 year Birthday and by the end of 2020 I was wondering what it would look like. 2020 brought many changes in how we had to approach business, but no matter what happens in the world there is still a need for Crime Prevention, Corporate Security, Intelligence Gathering, Counter Terrorism, Advance Travel Planning and all levels of due diligence to name a few of our services.

Why has WCDI survived for 100 years? The commitment by our original founder to provide exceptional Investigative and Security Services with integrity, has been carried forward as our business model through the years. We still don’t consider any case to small for us to apply the same importance to as a Multi-National company case.

From my U.S. Air Force experience in Jet Fighters, I learned the importance of Prevention, Prevention and yes Prevention. That has been our defining principal at WCDI, consider all the possible events and attempt to prevent the negatives ones.

As I think about my years in the Military, Law Enforcement, Intelligence and Private Security area the thing that brings me the most joy and fulfillment is when a client says I can’t believe the job your team did, they pulled it off. Many will say, finally I have  peace of mind knowing what the facts really are.

I am looking forward to more of these comments as we continue to serve our clients worldwide.

Be safe and Blessed.

Until Next time. Phil Little