EU Military Expenditure

[catswiththum]

We should just pull out and let them deal with their own back yard.

That would be a bummer for U.S. servicemen, though - I had a lot of free trips to Germany and England

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by catswiththum

We should just pull out and let them deal with their own back yard.

That would be a bummer for U.S. servicemen, though - I had a lot of free trips to Germany and England

No shit.

It's good duty.

Beats the Hell out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

And we've pulled a Hell of a lot out already.

Back in the 1960's we had almost as many military in Germany as we have in the whole US Army today.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by catswiththum

We should just pull out and let them deal with their own back yard.

Because that worked out so well after the 'War to End All Wars'...

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

Because that worked out so well after the 'War to End All Wars'...

Meaning?

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Meaning?

After WWI the US turned isolationist and the Marshall Plan after WWII was success, imo.

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

After WWI the US turned isolationist and the Marshall Plan after WWII was success, imo.

Cats is dealing with European capability.

Trump is saying the same.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Cats is dealing with European capability.

Trump is saying the same.

None of the NATO member states could stand on their own if Putin decided to flex his muscles. I was reading an article recently that stated a large percentage of Swedes favor joining NATO due to concerns that Russia is being their old dickish selves in the Baltic.

Trump? Who cares?

[Dondilion]

Originally Posted by bobabode

None of the NATO member states could stand on their own if Putin decided to flex his muscles. I was reading an article recently that stated a large percentage of Swedes favor joining NATO due to concerns that Russia is being their old dickish selves in the Baltic.

Trump? Who cares?

That is not the crux of the matter.
They want US shield without cost to themselves.

The OP is saying it is time for them to step up...to take their hands out of their pockets...to stop going to the bathroom when the tab is on the table.

BTW Uncle Sam is broke. Uncle is heavily in debt.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

Not is not the crux of the matter.
They want US shield without cost to themselves.

The OP is saying it is time for them to step up...to take their hands out of their pocket...to stop going to the bathroom when the tab is on the table.

BTW Uncle Sam is broke. Uncle is heavily in debt.

I may 'ave to break out de Myers dark rum and some lambsbreath for this conversation, old friend.

My pops had a good friendship with those people in old Luxembourg and those Belgians in Bastogne back in WWII.

[catswiththum]

My point is simply the nations of Western Europe, whether separate entities as NATO members or collectively as the EU, need to bear a proportionate amount of the responsibility and cost for the defense of their borders.

The U.S. will no doubt maintain a European presence and uphold our treaty agreements and alliances, Europe simply needs to be weaned and step out of the nest.

Russia is sabre rattling in the Baltics and pushing the envelope all over to see what it can get away with, but that can be dealt with without the #s we have in Europe and with more commitment from European NATO members.

I don't foresee Russian tank divisions rolling through the Fulda gap any time soon - these days they are more likely to create a civil war and come to the "aid" of the side they are backing - creates more political fog.

Or they just cut off the gas tap.