Wikileaks has to my mind made a thing of creating expectation prior to the release of the mundane. In its recent batch of releases we learn that Nato has "drawn up classified plans to defend Poland and the Baltic states from Russian attack" and this has led President Dmitry Medvedev to be a bit perturbed in his recent visit to Warsaw.
Yet forgive me for being a bit slow, but is this really news and are the Russians really shocked or just spinning the story for political advantage? Since the Baltic states inclusion in NATO in 2004 a contingency plan has been lacking, for fear of upsetting the Russians. However, this is like the fire brigade not perceiving of the possibility of there being a fire. The fact that a contingency plan is written does not automatically return everyone to their Cold War positions and were they not to write such a plan then they would be failing in their duty as a defence alliance (as in deed they have done since 2004; it could be argued).
The inclusion of the Baltic States in 'Eastern Guardian' is normal pragmatic military planning.
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