Yep, so Europe needs a big bloody stick, ASAP!
(And then hope it doesn’t have to be used).
But no stick, and it feels like Russia will keep coming for more and more.
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This is good! Calling out zionist positions should be encouraged and, in the long run, making them and their politics unacceptable is the right way forward.
As @Magnus said, the US will most likely rely on Article 5. Which from my basic understanding means they do not need to leave NATO.
I will be honest, I believe there are some genuine underlying truths/wake up calls to come from Trumps administration, rightly or wrongly.
The ‘Big Stick’ you refer to was the US, and it was something NATO possibly took for granted. In 2006 an commitment was made in Riga for the members (now at 32) to invest 2% of its Countries GDP towards Defence, this was made formal in 2014, yet up until the Ukraine/Russia war (21/22), no more than 10 Countries had ever met this target in the same year.
I personally believe the Europe/US ties won’t be damaged long term. But it is clear that NATO/Europe has been over reliant on the US and we should learn from this.
Apparently, things went badly and Trump left early … He’s going to be rage posting tonight ,
This summarizes the whole day …
Chief Justice Roberts probes Solicitor General Sauer on salience of “birth tourism” in birthright citizenship case: “You do agree that has no impact on the legal analysis before us?” Sauer: “We’re in a new world now.” Roberts: “It’s a new world, it’s the same Constitution.”
============
New Conspiracy Theory -
Communist chinese billionaires are paying chinese mothers to go to the US to give birth … so the kids get US birthright citizenship and can vote in US elections … against trump …
… it’s Obama’s fault …
(l69norm)
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https://x.com/Archer83Able/status/2039515633537171833
https://x.com/ianbremmer/status/2039516453850763737
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Baffled is probably more accurate than deeply concerned. He commandeered the airwaves of America to say…nothing. Same things he has been repeating with a garnish of war crimes.
That said, ‘deeply concerned’ has become the permanent state. Tonight’s speech didn’t really move the needle.
Minor amendment - he stated that the US was very close to ending Iran as a threat to the world. That was probably a slip. It is impossible to reconcile that statement with Iran being left with de facto control of navigation through the Straits.
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I agree. I expected much worse. But he just compared himself to Jesus Christ really. Which is a choice, but he has done worse.
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To our American posters, what is the general feeling of ‘normal’ Americans to all that is transpiring and Trump’s rants and lies?
p.s not that I am saying any of you are normal, but you may know some that could be!
that medicare,medicaid and daycare stuff up above.
jesus wept.
its beyond bothering pointing it out…
EDIT
actually i braved clicking on the link and fair dues to him on this…surely it is up to the state.
again, another reason to fuck off twitter or whatever it is.
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That bit about daycare etc and fighting wars,sure all americans are delighted to hear that their taxes,I assume they pay some which just might accrue to the Feds,but that is for fighting wars,the American people can suck it up?.. coming from the peace president!
He is way off his head,but WTF,only bit under 3 years to go,if he hasn’t effectively cancelled voting by then.
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I thought at the start of the new term it would be a case of toughing it out for 4 years, there will be change back to a more normal, sensible president (Democrat or Republican). I think what Trump has done, and the level of what he has got away with, is continually astounding. The damage will last well beyond his current term, and Trump himself. So yes, uncoupling from the US, and forging stronger alliances with other countries - Europe and beyond - is the sensible course of action. We can see it happening already, and that means more has happened behind the scenes that we are not aware of too.
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I’ll guess the US economy implodes at some point. What the actual drivers will be I’m not certain but it could be the decoupling from the US and in particular the dollar, the US debt, and a very wayward captain.
And I can’t shake the feeling this is Russia doing their thing all along. And China have just sat there and watched, holding their cards very tight, building quietly in the background.
It’s how to move away from the dollar is what worries me most. How to do that and shield yourself from the fall out.
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It’s some masterclass manipulation on a global stage, or nudges and influence that has exceeded expectations. Either way Russia has benefited massively from how this has all played out.
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It’s a good reminder to point out that NATO countries should be paying more for defence, and that 2% of GDP had previously been agreed.
Digging into that a little more, it doesn’t follow that America is doing more for the world as a benevolent actor, because it spends more of its GDP on defence. America reaps the benefit of the extra spending, as all that money goes into its own economy and research and development. To say nothing of the unlawful military action it keeps waging, making the world a much worse place…
Ideally we would see European nations spending more money overall, and crucially, the money should be spent on European manufactured armaments. And if the ‘right’ gear isn’t yet available in the European defence industry, it should be developed ASAP, as countries wean themselves off American products.
America wants European countries to spend more of their GDP on American gear, as a customer. Bollocks to that!
An independent deterrent is the only way, and while we are not there yet, everything that is happening should be a huge catalyst to getting there asap.
Europe is clever, rich and resourceful. As one example, just look at how much Ukraine has advanced drone warfare, out of necessity it must be said. Fold them into the EU. Share solutions. I’m sure an effective deterrent, independent of America, could be established quickly if the will is there. Get Poland some nukes. Etc.
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The Euro had a wish for this of course without the UK joining it’s possible success was reduced.
Still the major problem imo is that the thinking and mechanisms of it would be the same as for the dollar. The western economic thinking.
There’s a possible alternative already growing with BRICS. Joining their efforts could bear fruits. I see Russia as the big problem here as they are ‘fixed’ on the American way economically, as are Europe. However China would love a break from this system imo. It’s mentality and perceived economics that are the big blocking points. Needs massive revision.
First we need to ‘want’ to understand how the Chinese do business or develop a ‘new’ thinking. Otherwise just go back to gold.
Personally I think our style of Capitalism is a major problem (not that I understand it it just seems crazy to me that so few can have so much influence and power over the worlds trade and money).
The big worry for me though is Trump’s ‘anti-trade’ measures cause such economic tension that wars breakout everywhere.
Trade has always been a pacifying influence and enabled growth when encouraged. Isolation is a major no no for trade.
History shows us the problems caused by lack of trade. The massive one is the difference between the bronze age and ito age. Free movement and exchange based around Tin and Copper essentially created a relatively peaceful and mutually beneficial time. This collapsed when Iron became the go-to economic driver, you either had it or you didn’t those that didn’t went nuts!
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Agree with everything except the last bit: Get Poland some nukes. Not so long ago, they had a government which wasn’t too far away from the likes of Orban. Imagine Hungary with Nukes. Poland could be similar, they already have a pro-Russian president, a fan of Trump btw.
As for establishing an effective deterrent, we aren’t there yet by any means. Five to ten years minimum is probably what we’re looking at IF every European country makes a big effort in that regard. I’d rather bet on a full generation’s time to make the switch. Until then, the EU will stay tied to the US I’m afraid.
But yeah, Europe progressively stopping to buy US armament and building up their own military industry could be a devastating blow to the US’ military-industrial complex, looking at the long term.
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