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Cute story-too bad it's not true. From the 60s to the fall of the SU in 1989, liberals were tight with the USSR. The USSR funded and organized many of the violent left-wing protests of the 60s.
Why are Americans desperate for Europe's gratitude? The United States does not participate in military activity just to be charitable.
Because Americans are a nation of suckers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brave New World
It's not a case of needing other nations it'a case of working together for the common good, whether it is defence, terrorism or numerous other issues that the planet we share faces.
If we all took your attitude there would be no trade, no travel and no cooperation between nations.
We can easily trade with you, travel to your country, and cooperate with Europe without belonging to a military defense pact. We did it all the time BEFORE there was ever a NATO.
Lets say that Trump wanted to build a wall on the US southern border to protect the US from Mexico, and lets say Trump got together a coalition of EU countries to help pay for the wall. So far, so good, now lets say, the US decided to not pay as much for the wall as say France, and Austria..And then the leaders of the EU countries wonders why America is only paying a fraction of the cost for the wall, while they are footing a huge amount? This is essentially whats going on with NATO
What's the point? This is stupid. If NATO member nations see no point in paying more, then why should they pay more?
The United States just keeps trying to shoehorn itself into the affairs of other regions. If the European nations don't value NATO as much as we do, then we're the idiots, not them! Why do Americans care more about Europe's security than the Europeans do? Again, these are our economic competitors, and spending billions of US taxpayer money on their defense while they take six week annual vacations and enjoy universal health coverage is insulting and SHOULD be insulting to the average American.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by desertdetroiter
Because Americans are a nation of suckers.
We can easily trade with you, travel to your country, and cooperate with Europe without belonging to a military defense pact. We did it all the time BEFORE there was ever a NATO.
I thought you said we didn't matter to you.
In terms of NATO the US gets a lot out of it, for a relatively small amount of money, indeed US Forces in Europe account for only a few percent of US Defence spending, and many of the units here are not combat units but intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, signals, logistics, medical etc and support US Forces outside of Europe.
Whilst you are entitled to your views, the reality is that even under Trump, the US will continue it's presence in Europe and is even planning to base more troops in Germany.
A lot of the forces in the UK are intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance orientated, whilst even the F-35's based at Lakenheath will work alongside British based RAF F-35's based at nearby Marham.
There will also be a vast expansion of the US Base at Croughton in Northamptonshire which will amalgamate intelligence currently carried out at Molesworth and Alconbury which will close as well as taking on new intelligence and security work.
Whilst USAF Mildenhall is set to close, it was announced in May of this year that the US Base at Fairford in Gloucestershire will reopen on a full time basis, operating RC-135 Rivet Joint Intelligence Aircraft of the USAF and RAF. The US Secretary of the Air Force has approved the relocation of the 95th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 488th Intelligence Squadron to RAF Fairford and the base will receive a significant upgrade and new spending.
Other US Bases include the NSA Base at Menwith Hill whilst the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station at Fylingdales and GCHQ base at Bude are also of strategic imprtance.
I was hoping they would not close RAF Mildenhall. The RC-135s have been there a long time. Used to have the EC-135s there too.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jet757f
I was hoping they would not close RAF Mildenhall. The RC-135s have been there a long time. Used to have the EC-135s there too.
On a positive note, Fairford is in a good location, has a superb runway and the USAF and RAF will be working together, whilst Lakenheath which is close to Fairford will remain open and be home to the F-35, and this will allow for close cooperation and training with the RAF's F-35's which will e based at nearby RAF Marham.
In terms of Mildenhall it's had all sorts of planes based there over the years including the SR-71 Blackbird and U2.
On a positive note, Fairford is in a good location, has a superb runway and the USAF and RAF will be working together, whilst Lakenheath which is close to Fairford will remain open and be home to the F-35, and this will allow for close cooperation and training with the RAF's F-35's which will e based at nearby RAF Marham.
In terms of Mildenhall it's had all sorts of planes based there over the years including the SR-71 Blackbird and U2.
I miss it. I was there in the 70s. I hope the Bird in Hand will be alright.
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