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This is an inherently silly article. It's premised heavily on Trump. He's around for a maximum of one more four year term. The only guarantee is that whatever P
by adventured 7y ago
This is an inherently silly article. It's premised heavily on Trump. He's around for a maximum of one more four year term. The only guarantee is that whatever President comes after Trump, will be a supporter of NATO and the former political approach to allies that has defined the post WW2 era. Trump is a one-off. There is no next Trump, the entire US political landscape top to bottom is overwhelmingly dominated by the anti-Trump types, there isn't a single other major political candidate (one that could actually win the Presidency) anywhere in the US that is like him. Most of Trump's biggest supporters in Congress are anti-Trump types when it comes to entities like NATO (Lindsey Graham for example is a McCain-like globalist hawk that loves the old systems, including NATO).
> A world where an American president declares NATO, the cornerstone of American defense policy since World War II, obsolete.
Trump has zero interest in eliminating NATO or reducing it. It's just another case of Trumpian bluster. Nine times out of ten it's empty bluster, as everyone has noticed at this point. The article is taking the obvious - Trump's belligerent angling & needling approach to negotiation - and pretending it means something (Trump wants to do away with NATO) other than what it obviously does. The article author realizes that's incorrect and uses it anyway out of convenience to support the silly premise they're floating.
Back in reality Europe can't afford its current military expenditures (and neither can the US of course), and there is no scenario where an EU army of any consequential scale comes into existence. What it's going to almost solely consistent of, is coordinated industry (arms manufacture, research and compatibility), not an actual EU army.
- cwingrav 7y agoI'd like to believe that. I'd like to believe this is a blip. But you're forgetting that the American people, about half, voted for him, and about half still want him, even after all he is doing. > Trump has zero interest in eliminating NATO or reducing it. It's just another case of Trumpian bluster. It could be, but he has said it. And his people repeat it. It's a part of the mindset of a large percentage of Americans.
- 9HZZRfNlpR 7y agoNot entirely true, Trump woke up Europeans regarding military and life in general and gave the last push. There's no coming back when the boss of NATO shits on article five. Interesting times ahead.
- Fjolsvith 7y ago> Trump has zero interest in eliminating NATO or reducing it. It's just another case of Trumpian bluster. And ... Trump has delivered on more promises than any American president in history. [1] I don't think he's bluffing on this either. 1. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trumps-list-289-accomplishments-in-just-20-months-relentless-promise-keeping https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/trumps...
- Zenbit_UX 7y agoYour premise of "the article is silly don't listen to it!" doesn't sway me nearly as much as the ludicrous situation the US has placed itself into. This article written 5 years ago? I'd be with you 100%. In 2020 it's not even a bold prediction... The damage Trump has done to the US is immeasurable on the world stage and even Obama 2.0 being re-elected couldn't fix it. The world has woken up with a bucket of cold truth dumped in our faces: The US is politically unstable and cannot be relied on as a military superpower or even as a rational ally. The world is in a very dark place when news of Germany building an army makes sense.