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dutch777

(4,938 posts)
5. Have to believe that EU/NATO is studying how they will defend themselves minus the US and maybe Turkey
Tue Jan 20, 2026, 09:27 AM
Yesterday

The writing is on the wall whether over a political issue like Greenland or just that Trump walks us away unilaterally, the fact that they cannot count on us being there when they need us vs. Russia is clear. Not a question of if, just when. Their hard internal issues are that many of their economies are not in great shape, hard tradeoffs between social programs and military spending will have to be made (or taxes increased) and their populations are really not interested in being part of bigger and truly capable militaries which means very unpopular mandatory drafts. Having served in Germany in my army days in the late 70s, while they had a much bigger military force (2500 tanks vs. now 350; 450,000 troops vs. now maybe 200,000), the majority were very poorly motivated draftees just doing their two years and then gone. Certainly actually defending their homeland against immediate aggression would stiffen their resolve but if your training has been nonchalant and you have no serious warfighting experience in the ranks and officer corps, its a big lift to be a capable force overnight. Their other major problem is that the US has the only comprehensive intelligence network-- the satellites, eavesdropping and large scale analysis capability that has the experience in depth as well. Must be a lot of hard conversations and hand wringing going on behind closed doors in the EU.

Recommendations

10 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Putin probably still calls Trump, Krasnov, like I do. gab13by13 Yesterday #1
gab... I wouldn't be suprised to find out that slightlv Yesterday #15
I had that same thought. yellow dahlia Yesterday #42
And once tsf is no longer useful to Putin? chicoescuela Yesterday #2
I'm pretty sure they all feel unassailable until about five floors from the sidewalk. Harker Yesterday #7
It does seem that way. chicoescuela Yesterday #8
Maybe. Harker Yesterday #11
Hopefully the same end as the others. And I hate feeling that way Callie1979 Yesterday #43
Can no one intercept Trump's calls with Putin and expose what's going on? Chasstev365 Yesterday #3
If only Hilary had felt free to elaborate on her puppet accusation Easterncedar Yesterday #4
Puppet?! Puppet!! YOU'RE the puppet! Kid Berwyn Yesterday #6
It's not " weaponizing" if it's a legitimate case questionseverything Yesterday #36
Have to believe that EU/NATO is studying how they will defend themselves minus the US and maybe Turkey dutch777 Yesterday #5
NATO is strong even without the USA. OGBuzz Yesterday #14
Well thought out statement, dutch... at least, IMO. slightlv Yesterday #16
Dutch777, if you have a link on Turkey unwilling to defend NATO duckworth969 Yesterday #31
I don't. It's more an inkling that Turkey, really Erdogan, could go its own way. There have been disagreements.... dutch777 23 hrs ago #46
Fox News pushing the Putin agenda too. Doodley Yesterday #9
treason... they are an evil force on this country LymphocyteLover Yesterday #19
Add to this the US has been caught feeding Ukrainian intelligence to Russia MadameButterfly Yesterday #10
just evil LymphocyteLover Yesterday #20
I've Said This Since 2016. 😊 But One Nitpick: Putin Might .. ..... ColoringFool Yesterday #12
Putin is a sick man and an evil kleptocrat.... Russia is a cruel shithole largely because of Putin's rule LymphocyteLover Yesterday #22
Well stated PJMcK Yesterday #13
Been saying it since 2015 Grins Yesterday #17
Dumbo magats Clouds Passing Yesterday #18
True words. spanone Yesterday #21
He wants Rebl2 Yesterday #23
Brace for impact orangecrush Yesterday #24
The real Manchurian candidate Picaro Yesterday #25
try 1987... nt. SonOfNebanaube 19 hrs ago #53
Actually, he laid his remaining marbles on the table. Now he's lost them all. Martin68 Yesterday #26
Hillary tried to warn us. Some of us listened. llmart Yesterday #27
Exactly, and... BurnDoubt 21 hrs ago #50
We made a HUGE mistake, not voting Hillary into the White House. A calimary 18 hrs ago #54
For anyone paying attention, you would know he was a Russian asset/stooge well before he was President. flashman13 Yesterday #28
Awesome! nt Exp Yesterday #29
This message was self-deleted by its author duckworth969 Yesterday #30
9 repug Senators as of this morning won't stand with his Greenland take over. 634-5789 Yesterday #32
fetterman? rampartd Yesterday #44
Not all. He's still got a run of Aces to play to end the midterms. ancianita Yesterday #33
100% correct, Kentuck!! ElementaryPenguin Yesterday #34
He's also creating a distraction for NATO countries so Putin could invade the Baltic nations Wicked Blue Yesterday #35
opening a western front for nato rampartd Yesterday #45
Will He Be Stopped Mr.Bee Yesterday #37
Yup, Sooner or later all the unseemly details Joinfortmill Yesterday #38
Trump says that Mblaze Yesterday #39
If I was a member at MaraLago, I would stay away Captain Zero 20 hrs ago #51
They would have to surgically separate their lips Mblaze 6 hrs ago #57
France has "independent" nukes (home made, about 495 heads) Justice matters. 18 hrs ago #55
He's not playing chess. He no doubt, is helping Putin, he's also a selfish ahole who cares about nobody else. Nobody. themaguffin Yesterday #40
Vladamir Putin is the Chairman of the Republican Party OMGWTF Yesterday #41
I have felt that way for years LittleGirl 23 hrs ago #47
Absolutely 💯 debsy 22 hrs ago #48
Fulfilling Kruschev's Prophesy... BurnDoubt 21 hrs ago #49
Canada and esp Greenland would be a twofer popsdenver 20 hrs ago #52
Our pee resident IS bobalew 18 hrs ago #56
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