We don’t share values with them and they support NATO when it benefits them.
Go ahead and dissolve the whole thing
We didn't exactly want to assist in Ukraine either. That's not how alliances work and is exactly Trumps point.Guy who spends two terms shitting on the US’ historical allies gets upset and doesn’t understand why those same allies don’t want to assist the US in an unnecessary war.
especially after we drug them into Iraq and Afghanistan under false pretenses.
We didn't exactly want to assist in Ukraine either. That's not how alliances work and is exactly Trumps point.
Exit NATO.
Reading the first post of this thread and the most recent post from @fatpiggy is so good.
It’s also how WW1 started, and it’s why nations don’t blindly rush into war when a member gets attacked (which we weren’t since we did the attacking.)We didn't exactly want to assist in Ukraine either. That's not how alliances work and is exactly Trumps point.
Exit NATO.
So you think Trump blindly rushed into war? I don't think you know much more than anyone else, and I don't think we know the full reasons on why we went to war. I suspect the intelligence won't be released for some time. But we do know that Iran threatened us multiple times and that they were developing weapons that would allow them to deliver on those threats.It’s also how WW1 started, and it’s why nations don’t blindly rush into war when a member gets attacked (which we weren’t since we did the attacking.)
Lotta feelings in here and not much facts.So you think Trump blindly rushed into war? I don't think you know much more than anyone else, and I don't think we know the full reasons on why we went to war. I suspect the intelligence won't be released for some time. But we do know that Iran threatened us multiple times and that they were developing weapons that would allow them to deliver on those threats.
I don't care for the war, but the holier than thou stance that they did not pose a threat does not pass the smell test. Iran said it loud and clear they wanted to wipe us off the map. The bully got punched in the nose. If NATO doesn't want to support us when we punch the bully, we will remember that when the bully comes for them. That's right, the bully did come for them and who did they call? The United States.
If they don't pay their bills, and they don't assist in our time of need, and their basic morals are drifting further away from ours, why be in an alliance?
Because Fatpiggy is trying to come up with a narrative in real time to support decisions he has posted for years that he doesn't agree with.Lotta feelings in here and not much facts.
Because Fatpiggy is trying to come up with a narrative in real time to support decisions he has posted for years that he doesn't agree with.
So in real time, we are watching how little integrity Ole Fastball has.
Marco gets it.
Marco gets it.
Entirely different.2 entirely different situations. NM
You should understand this unless you are drunk
to be honest, I have thought for a long time that given the state of the world today, we should be on a path to reduce our active duty footprint throughout Europe. European nations should now be in the position of defending themselves. Russia is no longer the great "Bear" - just look at what Ukraine has been able to accomplish - although with equipment/weapons from US...that they should be able to buy.There is a limit to what the executive branch can do unilaterally, as certain minimum personnel levels in europe are mandated by the NDAA, but, both the executive branch and congress should re-examine what we are doing as far as NATO is concerned.
The last time we did that materially was in 1991, when the post WWII occupation of Germany was finally ended on paper and the US withdrew about 75% of the forces that it had on the continent.
If we cant use the bases when we need them or have overflight denied when we need it in support of OUR national interests, then we need to re-look at what we are doing. Just like Canada can help european NATO members from where they are at with no forward basing of their vast military, so can we.
Maybe it's time to shrink our footprint in europe and shift resources to shoring up our own Pacific backyard and prioritizing defending our other treaty partners in that region over NATO. European NATO members have enough population and GDP to take primacy for defending themselves and then they can ask us if they need something ...and at that time we can help as much as we see fit.
Don't forget that it's "Little Marco."Marco gets "it," if "it" is "dem checks" from selling his soul. Again, this isn't complicated ... it's a basic false analogy. If Iran had attacked the US mainland, and was continuing their assault in an effort to annex a portion of it ... then ... yeah ... samesies. But this is us attacking Iran. Over something that allegedly had already been settled. And without any notice, let alone buy-in, from anyone we're now begging for help.
It isn't hard to understand that Ukraine and Iran aren't comparable circumstances. No one who has at least basic reasoning skills, and isn't trying to pull a fast one on mentally infirm people would suggest otherwise. No one is buying it.
Marco is willing to sell his integrity to maintain power. He's the swamp. I supported him for POTUS a decade ago. I made a mistake.
A few thoughts:There is a limit to what the executive branch can do unilaterally, as certain minimum personnel levels in europe are mandated by the NDAA, but, both the executive branch and congress should re-examine what we are doing as far as NATO is concerned.
The last time we did that materially was in 1991, when the post WWII occupation of Germany was finally ended on paper and the US withdrew about 75% of the forces that it had on the continent.
If we cant use the bases when we need them or have overflight denied when we need it in support of OUR national interests, then we need to re-look at what we are doing. Just like Canada can help european NATO members from where they are at with no forward basing of their vast military, so can we.
Maybe it's time to shrink our footprint in europe and shift resources to shoring up our own Pacific backyard and prioritizing defending our other treaty partners in that region over NATO. European NATO members have enough population and GDP to take primacy for defending themselves and then they can ask us if they need something ...and at that time we can help as much as we see fit.
We may see each other in bread lines in the future, but it won't be because we leave NATO.I will speak plainly to you @fatpiggy
You don't understand enough about geopolitics or history to claim we should leave NATO. Neither does Donald Trump. He's a rascal who's barely read anything, which has been proven many times. He's really great at telling people what they want to hear and disinfranchising those who criticize him. That's it, those are his skills. He's not a good business man. He's not a good leader, unless you fall for the strong man cult stuff.
NATO was the formed to bring stability after WWII. We invested a ton of money and time into doing so and it gifted us with so much power and money in the long term. It cemented the USA as THE global power. Leaving it, will tail spin us right into the ground and force our economy and way of life into a permanent easing.
The dollar will be devastated. Our purchasing power will plummet. Our government will go bankrupt and we will be seeing each other in the bread lines. Im not being hyperbolic. The debt the GDP ratio would be catastrophic.
You would have to be an absolute MORON to throw away a profitable investment like NATO an absolute moron.
… maybe thats the play though?Trump will receive the Order of Lenin for breaking the back of the western economic and military order- something that no other comrade has been able to accomplish. The parade in Red Square will be HUUUGGGEEE. May even get an award from China. Two awards no one else has done before. Something no one saw coming. Imagine statues and golden urinals worldwide all housed in gaudy oversized casino looking monuments to TRUMP.