Your satire may not be far from reality. Since Trump has appointed a bunch of kiss-asses.
The most courageous, and least egotistical, person in this story is Zelenskyy. Kudos to his tenacity and leadership, and being the front line of defense to a ruler who wants a bigger piece of Europe. How can the rest of the European leaders support his country and his courage given the vacuum left by Trump?
And btw, there are US congressional elections in less than 2 years. Things could change in the U.S. rather rapidly after that, D.V.
From a European perspective, the reelection of Donald Trump and the policies of his administration have severely damaged the transatlantic alliance. Europe will have to spend the next three years expanding its defense-industrial base to attempt to close the gap of U.S. withdrawl from Europe. This means increasing military production to offset the absence of U.S. support and an a multi-year effort to purchase of American defense articles to fulfill European and Ukrainian needs.”
While I am a fervent supporter of Ukraine, the above should have been happening without Trump or any other American President pressuring Europe and Europe’s refusal to do so has damaged the trans Atlantic alliance.
No, the point of NATO has always been the opposite: STOP the global arms race. The US always had an appetite for massive military budgets. The rest of NATO accepted that (even though it could potentially become a threat to them) if it means, in return, that the overall increase in weapons in "The West" stops.
That's because the more countries have big militaries, the higher the chance that one day, someone with very bad intentions grabs those weapons in a way that no government can control. We need to vitally avoid that from happening, globally. How to avoid it? Through leading by the example: the West itself accepts to stop the arms race. NATO, backed up by the biggest military in the world (the US), would guarantee a joint striking force, thereby de facto installing peace (or considerably more peace than what happened during the first half of the 20th century, knowing that by now, many countries have nuclear weapons).
So no, Europe arming itself to the teeth will NOT make ANYONE safer. That's precisely one of the main reasons why NATO was created.
The biggest problem today is, imho... simply that so many Americans don't study history anymore.
Sorry, but the American Taxpayer, the people that have been financing ‘your solution’ have now said we are not subsidizing ‘your solution’ any more.
Moreover, for the last 20 years, American Presidents of both parties have been requesting that Europe take more responsibility and Europe ignored those requests. While I did not vote for him, Trump is bluntly imposing it.
As for stopping the global arms race, Europe can unilaterally disarm, but rank and file Americans, appear set to continue to shrug their shoulders, even if the American intelligentsia concurs with you.
And the Russians will continue to race no matter what. Therein is the variable that neither the US nor Europe can control, so the idea the arms race has ever truly been controlled is dubious.
The real lesson of WW II for Western Europe has been to integrate, collaborate, and cooperate. Through the EU and other institutions, the above has occurred.
Now it must occur militarily.
Look at it this way: how much time does the average American take for vacation per year? How much time does the average Western European take for vacation?
While the American intelligentsia understands many of the points you have made or would make, the American working class(and a significant number of the American intelligentsia), rightly or wrongly, believe we have two expansive oceans PLUS a massive, but nimble and lethal military to protect them.
They no longer care to subsidize Western Europe whether Western likes it or not. Hence, to my chagrin, they elected a Trump Presidency.
I know it because I live and work amongst them lol!
And none of them, or me, owe you protection from Putin ( and don’t kid yourself, you need it) or a living.
Quit your intellectualized whining and build a society in Western Europe that protects itself.!
Or learn to live under Russian Imperialism. Frankly, we have more in common with the brave soldiers fighting to save Ukrainian sovereignty than spoiled brats as you come off.
Uh... "I know it because I live and work amongst them"... how exactly is personal experience a serious argument, in a discussion about the history of NATO?
And the fact that you already feel the urge to jump to "ad hominem" arguments shows that you may feel very strongly about all of this, but apparently don't have any solid arguments to back up your personal beliefs...
Thank you for this and thank you for your service to our country. I appreciate your wisdom and integrity, especially on matters of Ukraine. Your satire is beautiful and insightful, and so spot on!
Rubio: Sir, Putin has never negotiated in good faith. Its like he pretends to agree with peace terms but he always has broken any deal- over the last 30 years.
Donald the Great: He will listen to me tho. I can make a deal with him in easy, in one day. We are really close friends, you know, because we are both powerful & handsome.
EUWDTB has point. Too many Americans do not read enough history. As an American I see this unfolding as some want to rewrite our US history. Not to mention being too ignorant about the history of Russia and Ukraine.
Your satire may not be far from reality. Since Trump has appointed a bunch of kiss-asses.
The most courageous, and least egotistical, person in this story is Zelenskyy. Kudos to his tenacity and leadership, and being the front line of defense to a ruler who wants a bigger piece of Europe. How can the rest of the European leaders support his country and his courage given the vacuum left by Trump?
And btw, there are US congressional elections in less than 2 years. Things could change in the U.S. rather rapidly after that, D.V.
I love this guy more every day - donald isn’t fit to clean Zelenskyy ‘s shoes.
Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦
From a European perspective, the reelection of Donald Trump and the policies of his administration have severely damaged the transatlantic alliance. Europe will have to spend the next three years expanding its defense-industrial base to attempt to close the gap of U.S. withdrawl from Europe. This means increasing military production to offset the absence of U.S. support and an a multi-year effort to purchase of American defense articles to fulfill European and Ukrainian needs.”
While I am a fervent supporter of Ukraine, the above should have been happening without Trump or any other American President pressuring Europe and Europe’s refusal to do so has damaged the trans Atlantic alliance.
No, the point of NATO has always been the opposite: STOP the global arms race. The US always had an appetite for massive military budgets. The rest of NATO accepted that (even though it could potentially become a threat to them) if it means, in return, that the overall increase in weapons in "The West" stops.
That's because the more countries have big militaries, the higher the chance that one day, someone with very bad intentions grabs those weapons in a way that no government can control. We need to vitally avoid that from happening, globally. How to avoid it? Through leading by the example: the West itself accepts to stop the arms race. NATO, backed up by the biggest military in the world (the US), would guarantee a joint striking force, thereby de facto installing peace (or considerably more peace than what happened during the first half of the 20th century, knowing that by now, many countries have nuclear weapons).
So no, Europe arming itself to the teeth will NOT make ANYONE safer. That's precisely one of the main reasons why NATO was created.
The biggest problem today is, imho... simply that so many Americans don't study history anymore.
Sorry, but the American Taxpayer, the people that have been financing ‘your solution’ have now said we are not subsidizing ‘your solution’ any more.
Moreover, for the last 20 years, American Presidents of both parties have been requesting that Europe take more responsibility and Europe ignored those requests. While I did not vote for him, Trump is bluntly imposing it.
As for stopping the global arms race, Europe can unilaterally disarm, but rank and file Americans, appear set to continue to shrug their shoulders, even if the American intelligentsia concurs with you.
And the Russians will continue to race no matter what. Therein is the variable that neither the US nor Europe can control, so the idea the arms race has ever truly been controlled is dubious.
The real lesson of WW II for Western Europe has been to integrate, collaborate, and cooperate. Through the EU and other institutions, the above has occurred.
Now it must occur militarily.
Look at it this way: how much time does the average American take for vacation per year? How much time does the average Western European take for vacation?
While the American intelligentsia understands many of the points you have made or would make, the American working class(and a significant number of the American intelligentsia), rightly or wrongly, believe we have two expansive oceans PLUS a massive, but nimble and lethal military to protect them.
They no longer care to subsidize Western Europe whether Western likes it or not. Hence, to my chagrin, they elected a Trump Presidency.
Ignorant gratuitous capitalization for ignorant magoid talking points.
You don't speak for anyone. Whine to your Orangefuhrer about your tax money, putinista.
You cannot handle the fact you may have to be responsible for yourself.
I'm coastal elite. I don't even wipe my own ass. You can't handle that the your great orange hope can't deliver for your russo-nazi team.
Personal experience is relevant to the election of Trump. Trump is relevant to the future of NATO.
And your response projects your lack of solid argument. And Ad Hominem attacks.
The issue is the FUTURE of NATO, not the history.
Keep your arrogant attitude and see how far Western Europe gets.
How do you know that they "said that"? The neofascist GOP won based on horrible lies only.
Also, how exactly does making your own military-industrial complex wealthy somehow "subsidize" something abroad? Any idea, concretely?
And again, your selfish concept of a US that could isolate itself globally blatantly ignores two centuries of world history...
What an arrogant response.
I know it because I live and work amongst them lol!
And none of them, or me, owe you protection from Putin ( and don’t kid yourself, you need it) or a living.
Quit your intellectualized whining and build a society in Western Europe that protects itself.!
Or learn to live under Russian Imperialism. Frankly, we have more in common with the brave soldiers fighting to save Ukrainian sovereignty than spoiled brats as you come off.
Uh... "I know it because I live and work amongst them"... how exactly is personal experience a serious argument, in a discussion about the history of NATO?
And the fact that you already feel the urge to jump to "ad hominem" arguments shows that you may feel very strongly about all of this, but apparently don't have any solid arguments to back up your personal beliefs...
Zelensky cant trust he’d be save especially in Turkey.
I mean safe
A real man a real leader. Speaks 3 languages fluently Donnie 2 dolls doesn’t even speak 1.
Thank you for speaking truth to power again and again.
Trump longs for a Nobel Prize (Obama got one: why not him? 🤪)
Trump longs to join autocrats he admires so much.
Thank you for this and thank you for your service to our country. I appreciate your wisdom and integrity, especially on matters of Ukraine. Your satire is beautiful and insightful, and so spot on!
Rubio: Sir, Putin has never negotiated in good faith. Its like he pretends to agree with peace terms but he always has broken any deal- over the last 30 years.
Donald the Great: He will listen to me tho. I can make a deal with him in easy, in one day. We are really close friends, you know, because we are both powerful & handsome.
EUWDTB has point. Too many Americans do not read enough history. As an American I see this unfolding as some want to rewrite our US history. Not to mention being too ignorant about the history of Russia and Ukraine.
Pukey Putin Prevaricates.
There can be no good faith when it’s known there is an unfair,
hidden agenda.
THE LORD BLESS UKRAINE and the Honorable President Zelenskyy.
They fight the BEAST. We MUST UNITE TO DEFEAT THIS PERVERSE ABOMINATION.
Putin would not have come anyway he has an. International arrest warrant against him from The Hague.
Nothing will make Trump back away from Putin.