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The funny thing is that EU already spends 3 times as much as Russia in defence. Rearm EU is clearly a huge gift to weapon manufacturers and not much else. If we

The funny thing is that EU already spends 3 times as much as Russia in defence. Rearm EU is clearly a huge gift to weapon manufacturers and not much else. If we really cared about our defence we'd focus first on making what we have more efficient. If we need to spend more than a trillion € to keep up with Russia's measly $145 billions, then we've already lost.

apelapan 2y ago
We need to spend a lot more and do defence very differently than Russia, because Europe values human life a lot higher than Russia. Russia can attack with ten million men armed with knifes and clubs. They will March on, kill and destroy, until they starve to death or someone stops them. We won't defend by sending twenty million similarity armed persons into the meat grinder. We will want to arm and armour our troops so that there is minimal loss of life and limb. Russian may attack with chemical weapons, we are not interested in hitting back the same way. Russia will target hydro dams and other civilian infrastructure with potential for mass destruction. We care about protecting those things to avoid harm to our citizens, Russia does not care. The conflict is assymetrical on many levels.
- ossobuco 2y ago
  > Russia can attack with ten million men armed with knifes and clubs. This is just baseless propaganda and you know it. What a shame would it be for the west and Ukraine if an army of men armed with clubs was able to stand its ground against them. > Russia will target hydro dams and other civilian infrastructure with potential for mass destruction. We care about protecting those things to avoid harm to our citizens, Russia does not care. Of course, just like we did with Iraq's infrastructure[0] for example? I suggest you use the effort you put in writing such uninformed rethoric in informing yourself, it will pay out at some point. - [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damage_to_Baghdad_during_the_Iraq_War#Electricity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damage_to_Baghdad_during_the_I...
  - relaxing 2y ago
    > stand its ground Now there’s propaganda. Whataboutism is of course another clear sign. Ironically your example would imply Iraq should have built up its military to defend from such an attack.
    - apelapan 2y ago
      Things would have looked quite different in Iraq, if Saddam had focused his military spending on defense of civilians and civilian infrastructure! Not making excuses for all the wrongs done by US and allies before, during and after the invasion. It was a terrible idea, badly executed. But it didn't come out of nowhere, Saddam had a history of attacking his neighbours, he and his party had it coming.

apelapan 2y ago

We need to spend a lot more and do defence very differently than Russia, because Europe values human life a lot higher than Russia. Russia can attack with ten million men armed with knifes and clubs. They will March on, kill and destroy, until they starve to death or someone stops them. We won't defend by sending twenty million similarity armed persons into the meat grinder. We will want to arm and armour our troops so that there is minimal loss of life and limb. Russian may attack with chemical weapons, we are not interested in hitting back the same way. Russia will target hydro dams and other civilian infrastructure with potential for mass destruction. We care about protecting those things to avoid harm to our citizens, Russia does not care. The conflict is assymetrical on many levels.

ossobuco 2y ago
> Russia can attack with ten million men armed with knifes and clubs. This is just baseless propaganda and you know it. What a shame would it be for the west and Ukraine if an army of men armed with clubs was able to stand its ground against them. > Russia will target hydro dams and other civilian infrastructure with potential for mass destruction. We care about protecting those things to avoid harm to our citizens, Russia does not care. Of course, just like we did with Iraq's infrastructure[0] for example? I suggest you use the effort you put in writing such uninformed rethoric in informing yourself, it will pay out at some point. - [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damage_to_Baghdad_during_the_Iraq_War#Electricity https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damage_to_Baghdad_during_the_I...
- relaxing 2y ago
  > stand its ground Now there’s propaganda. Whataboutism is of course another clear sign. Ironically your example would imply Iraq should have built up its military to defend from such an attack.
  - apelapan 2y ago
    Things would have looked quite different in Iraq, if Saddam had focused his military spending on defense of civilians and civilian infrastructure! Not making excuses for all the wrongs done by US and allies before, during and after the invasion. It was a terrible idea, badly executed. But it didn't come out of nowhere, Saddam had a history of attacking his neighbours, he and his party had it coming.