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For too long Europe has funded its social welfare state with subsidy of the American taxpayer.
Germany, go for it. Have fun. The US can still ally with Europe without maintaining such a huge presence on the continent.
We don't need Europe as an ally anyway. For what?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Troyfan
It's bad for Germany to have the largest army in Europe. Even if they don't use it, in the eyes of other Europeans it can't be but a threat and source of instability.
I don't see how NATO can function without America being by far the loudest voice and largest partner.
NATO can EASILY function without American membership in the club. All we have to do is pullout, and they'll do exactly what needs to be done on their own. We're babysitting them because we want to, not because they couldn't function without us.
NATO can EASILY function without American membership in the club. All we have to do is pullout, and they'll do exactly what needs to be done on their own. We're babysitting them because we want to, not because they couldn't function without us.
That's the way we look at it, which might not be the way they do. Germany is already the economic hegemon of Europe. Should it the military one also? I don't think so!
A Hillary voter told me that we couldn't do that as it would hurt the local German economy where those bases are located - so we better stay there for another 72 years and borrow money to fund it!
Wouldn't want to be culturally insensitive as promote bigotry to all things Russian.
That's the way we look at it, which might not be the way they do. Germany is already the economic hegemon of Europe. Should it the military one also? I don't think so!
For too long Europe has funded its social welfare state with subsidy of the American taxpayer.
Germany, go for it. Have fun. The US can still ally with Europe without maintaining such a huge presence on the continent.
Yes, but you forget *why* Germany (first West, now unified East) has had a relative small military in recent memory. In short WWI and WWII, both started by Germany and thus no one in Europe nor the United States viewed that country has having a large military and or spending vast sums on same as something good.
Already noted post war Germany long has dominated Europe economically, give them a large military and that *still* makes many uncomfortable.
Germany could and should have dealt with Russia/Putin when he annexed Ukraine; but given the complicated relationship between those to countries the former choose largely to keep out of things.
A Hillary voter told me that we couldn't do that as it would hurt the local German economy where those bases are located - so we better stay there for another 72 years and borrow money to fund it!
Wouldn't want to be culturally insensitive as promote bigotry to all things Russian.
When the troops come home they'll spend their money here. We can always get the Fed to bail out failed foreign businesses like we did last time.
A Hillary voter told me that we couldn't do that as it would hurt the local German economy where those bases are located - so we better stay there for another 72 years and borrow money to fund it!
Wouldn't want to be culturally insensitive as promote bigotry to all things Russian.
Why would they be worrying about the German economy?
Bottom line is that we need to leave Europe yesterday. No American should ever die again for the defense of Europe.
The US bases in Europe are primarily staging areas for US operations in the Middle East. They're not there to keep Europe safe from massed armor attacks through the Fulda Gap and haven't been for decades.
The US bases in Europe are primarily staging areas for US operations in the Middle East. They're not there to keep Europe safe from massed armor attacks through the Fulda Gap and haven't been for decades.
Yep. That's an even better reason why we should leave. And that's also a good reason for the Germans to kick us out.
Our destabilization of the Middle East has caused huge refugee problems for Europe. Our European bases only adds to the problem.
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