While the transition facing each of these countries is unique and while the resources of West Germany provide an opportunity for rapid change not available elsewhere, there will nonetheless likely be salutary effects and lessons to be learned throughout the region from the East German experience.

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That puts an onus on training, military exercises, and making sure the NATO Response Force, which is meant to provide rapid-reaction forces for deployment at short notice, is up to the job.

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Supercapacitors have a big internal surface-area that allows a large amount of energy to be delivered rapidly and are used in some electric cars to provide a short burst of power for rapid acceleration and in hybrids to recover energy during braking.

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This year, I recommend a five-year commitment in this new system so that we can provide that training for all Americans who lose their jobs, and rapid response teams to help towns where factories have closed.

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For all those in this category, the new policy will provide rapid relief: insurers will pay up as soon as the scale of the disaster has been determined (by a recognised international meteorological office), whatever view the aid agencies take.

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They provide the least developed countries with the tools for enhancing the quality of scientific research in keeping with rapid scientific advances.

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