The NATO Summit is all about Optics

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

Let them revel in their socialism.

Coming soon to a government near you.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

You're right.

Its amateurism.

Listen to the way you are talking the "cesspool that is Europe."

Seriously what in the **** is Europe doing to you? They shooting at your soldiers? Poisoning your spies? Annexing territory?

Fill me in.

This is the global power structure that we have built and rigged to make us the sole hyperpower in the history of the world... but sure let's chuck it because cesspool and real estate guy says so.

They haven't done anything to me. Never said they did.

But I see how things are going over there. It hasn't been too pretty the last 10 years or so, wouldn't you agree?

This is of their own making. It wasn't the USA that got them into the various messes they now find themselves in. But it's the USA that constantly has to bail them out, fund their defense, etc. etc. etc.

It's about time they get told exactly how things are, in blunt and honest terms. Sometimes tough love is called for to wake people up.

Sorry you don't agree. You want to see things stay the same. I get it. Same thing with trade. You're for the status quo on a lot of things I see. That's not how you move forward.

[elysiantraveller]

Originally Posted by tucker6

Do you really believe that many of us look sideways at Europe, NATO, China, trade, etc because Trump said so? You really believe that we're all duped by The Donald? So it never occurred to you that we may actually share in Trump's distrust of the motives of our friends and foes alike, and elected him in part for that very reason? Have you ever thought that the dog may actually be wagging the tail rather than the other way around?

Good grief.

At this point... yes.

Nothing sways you folks.

Not Russians attacking US troops (you all are steering well clear of that.)

Not the fact sanctions were withheld on Russia until after the election.

Not the fact a country we don't currently do business with we lament they aren't in the G7.

But Europe is a cesspool.

But I know... I know... I just don't see the big 4d chess picture you guys and Trump do...

Was the breakdown of talks with North Korea part of the plan as Trumps been surprisingly quiet after declaring mission accomplished a week ago...

[Ocala Mike]

https://search.aol.com/aol/image?p=n...g&action=click

As a young boy, I was an avid stamp collector. This was one of the first US commemorative stamps I remember. It was common sense in 1952, just as it's common sense now, and it's not about $.

Sometimes, keeping things the way they are is progress. Taking a wrecking ball to the past 70 years is not.

[Show Me the Wire]

a LAUGHING STOCK Germany’s soldiers forced to use BROOMSTICK for a gun . Years of lack of military funding by Germany has reduced its so-called active response unit to use broomsticks painted black as mock weapons.

Germany's under funding of its military is no laughing matter, as of today it is reported all of its submarines are out of service. The President is correct, Germany is too reliant on Soviet natural gas and it is neglecting its defense duties, as Germany relies on the U.S. for its protection.

Anyone who believes NATO, without U.S. participation, is a formidable opponent to Russia really needs to re-think their position.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/674356...ence-spending/

Also, if anybody has been paying attention, Russia has been sending its ships to the English channel. Once again it is due to Britain's under-funding of its military. Putin has been chiding Britain, known for its navy, for having its fleet in total disrepair, with the vast majority of its navy vessels rendered inoperative.

Our so called allies have turned themselves into our dependents and they need a wake-up call and to raise their defense military spending to appropriate levels to repair, modernize, and equip their troops with actual weapons/working weapons.

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

Nothing sways you folks.

Maybe because he's doing EXACTLY as he said he would, and why he was voted into office? Maybe??

Why would anyone who voted for Trump be dissuaded by his actions to date? He told us exactly how he felt on a number of subjects, his style has been a known quantity for 40 years, and yet you think we're knuckleheads. Newsflash for you. The number of knuckleheads is growing.

NATO is a worn out organization in desperate need of freshening, both in mission and sizing and organization. Anyone who believes otherwise is out of touch with reality. The world that existed when NATO was created is vastly (I mean VASTLY) different than it is today, yet NATO has stayed essentially the same for 70 years. That's insane thinking.

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by tucker6

Maybe because he's doing EXACTLY as he said he would, and why he was voted into office? Maybe??

Why would anyone who voted for Trump be dissuaded by his actions to date? He told us exactly how he felt on a number of subjects, his style has been a known quantity for 40 years, and yet you think we're knuckleheads. Newsflash for you. The number of knuckleheads is growing.

NATO is a worn out organization in desperate need of freshening, both in mission and sizing and organization. Anyone who believes otherwise is out of touch with reality. The world that existed when NATO was created is vastly (I mean VASTLY) different than it is today, yet NATO has stayed essentially the same for 70 years. That's insane thinking.

But...but...but....he hasn't built the wall!

And...and...and....and....and....and....

[tucker6]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

But...but...but....he hasn't built the wall!

And...and...and....and....and....and....

It will get built. Hopefully over Chuck and Nancy's dead bodies, but asking for bonus is greedy.

[Show Me the Wire]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

But...but...but....he hasn't built the wall!

And...and...and....and....and....and....

Well he could by executive order, but I am sure he prefers to have Congress due its job. Also, some activist district judge with an agenda will find the e.o. unconstitutional, which means a long-term judicial process.

Edit: BTW the title for post #20 should be NATO's optics.

[FantasticDan]

Originally Posted by tucker6

It will get built. Hopefully over Chuck and Nancy's dead bodies, but asking for bonus is greedy.

Deplorable comment.

[OntheRail]

Originally Posted by tucker6

Good luck with that.

Trump is hitting home runs and the Chicken Littles are out in force telling us that Germany laying in bed with Putin while we protect them from Putin is 'nothing to see here'.

For our never Trumpers, why again did Germany close its nuclear power plants in favor of Russian oil and gas?

Wait they.... the backers of Global Climate Change prefers green house fossil fuels to fresh air for the chilllldern...

Could be they have sold their Fusible materiel to Iran and North Korea.

But yeah Trump made a valid point... on the energy from Russia. I'll take the brash truth over a silky tongue double speak...

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by Show Me the Wire

a LAUGHING STOCK Germany’s soldiers forced to use BROOMSTICK for a gun . Years of lack of military funding by Germany has reduced its so-called active response unit to use broomsticks painted black as mock weapons.

Germany's under funding of its military is no laughing matter, as of today it is reported all of its submarines are out of service. The President is correct, Germany is too reliant on Soviet natural gas and it is neglecting its defense duties, as Germany relies on the U.S. for its protection.

Anyone who believes NATO, without U.S. participation, is a formidable opponent to Russia really needs to re-think their position.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/674356...ence-spending/

Also, if anybody has been paying attention, Russia has been sending its ships to the English channel. Once again it is due to Britain's under-funding of its military. Putin has been chiding Britain, known for its navy, for having its fleet in total disrepair, with the vast majority of its navy vessels rendered inoperative.

Our so called allies have turned themselves into our dependents and they need a wake-up call and to raise their defense military spending to appropriate levels to repair, modernize, and equip their troops with actual weapons/working weapons.

Excellent post! The socialists over in that cesspool, that we call Europe, are pouring so much money into their counties' social programs they cannot afford to pull their own weight militarily. In shirking that responsibility, they expect the U.S. to pick up their slack. But why should we? Let those countries over there, hit the "redo" button to adjust their priorities and budgets accordingly. Why should the U.S. enable their socialism?

Of course, the Cornell Wests of this world would be very quick to blame the U.S. for undermining all "democratic socialists" countries (with such tactics as these) wherein socialism has failed miserably.

What Trump should do is put NATO on firm notice: If you don't pay your way, the U.S. will no longer pick up your slack. The U.S. doesn't need a bunch of European welfare bunnies to drag us down into their cesspool.

[reckless]

Originally Posted by elysiantraveller

Oh bull...

Sanctions were passed unanimously by both parties... Trump waits until after Putins election?

There's a special place in hell for Trudeau but we should invite Russia back to the G7?

How many Canadians, French, Germans, or Brits recently attacked our troops?

They may never have attacked our troops in the way you suggest, but they have been attacking the US taxpayer for decades, for sure.

Additionally, they have not acted as our allies while acting more like allies of Russia, Iran and Red China.

So let them sell their products to all these dictatorships and buy from them as well. The USA worker and consumer will survive quite well without them; I know it can't be said about those countries who must survive without the very same USA that they all love to knock.

Oh yeah, they could all defend themselves militarily as well, finally. We are tired for being played for a sucker and we now have a leader who will do the right thing for America and its taxpayers.

[reckless]

Originally Posted by FantasticDan

https://twitter.com/jonathanchait/st...73256865558534

Long before Trump became President -- long before -- people who paid attention knew that NATO was a scam and that we were being played for stooges.

The last 4 US presidents all publicly said the very same thing that Trump has been saying -- that the NATO countries should pay their fair share of the military obligation. All NATO members said they would -- but they never did, except a small few.

Only Donald John Trump has put these NATO countries on notice that he means business.

Today he exposed the phoniness of Angela Merkel when he publicly called her out about the private deal she made with Putin for Russian oil and natural gas. The deal stated that the oil and gas directly go to Germany on a lone, separate pipeline bypassing the countries who are a part of the NATO 'family'.

The EU... all of them Eurotrash, young and old, it doesn't matter. They all deserve each other.

[wisconsin]

Originally Posted by reckless

Only Donald John Trump has put these NATO countries on notice that he means business.

Today he exposed the phoniness of Angela Merkel when he publicly called her out about the private deal she made with Putin for Russian oil and natural gas. The deal stated that the oil and gas go to Germany on a lone, separate pipeline bypassing the countries who are a part of the NATO 'family'.

The EU... all of them Eurotrash, young and old, it doesn't matter. They all deserve each other.

It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it. Thank God for Trump's XXL balls.