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From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe

Lafayette

Lafayette

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From the Guardian (29May2017): As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe - excerpt:
There were strong echoes of this when officials and analysts from Europe and the US met in Bratislava this weekend for a conference on transatlantic issues. One comment doing the rounds was that European leaders might want to wear “I survived 25 May 2017” T-shirts, in reference to Trump’s acrimonious comments about Nato budget contributions.

Set against expectations that Nato’s article 5 (on collective security) would be expressly reiterated, Trump’s silence was a shock, but in Bratislava a common sentiment was, “well, what can one expect from him?” The notion that Europe might allow its fate to be entirely tied to a US president like Trump is fast dissipating.

What comes next, however, is much less clear. Europe hardly has a big stick to carry around, and its security will, for the foreseeable future, largely rest on US engagement on the continent. Merkel hinted at this in her choice of words: “The times in which we could completely depend on others are, to a certain extent, over.”
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Yes, what can one expect from Donald Dork, this misfit of a politician who wanted to be PotUS just to prove he could "do it". And now hasn't the foggiest notion of what to "do with it".

It is sorrowful to note that DD did not want to uphold the single-most rule of America's longstanding alliance with Europe that is personified by the phrase "we stand together in case any one of us is attacked".

Which must have tickled-pink Putin, already having attacked the Ukraine and annexed Crimea ...
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Americans have long been mis-mannered boors to them, there is nothing new with that, and sure as America fails as a super-power at record speed they should get on with what's next. .
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Hawkeye10 said:
Americans have long been mis-mannered boors to them, there is nothing new with that, and sure as America fails as a super-power at record speed they should get on with what's next. .
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American NATO assets should possibly moved to members land that both want them and have upheld their spending to the fair and/or accepted level. There is no reason a poor country like Bulgaria, Latvia or even Poland should pay as high a relative share as a country like Germany, Canada or the USA.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
From the Guardian (29May2017): As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe - excerpt:


Yes, what can one expect from Donald Dork, this misfit of a politician who wanted to be PotUS just to prove he could "do it". And now hasn't the foggiest notion of what to "do with it".

It is sorrowful to note that DD did not want to uphold the single-most rule of America's longstanding alliance with Europe that is personified by the phrase "we stand together in case any one of us is attacked".

Which must have tickled-pink Putin, already having attacked the Ukraine and annexed Crimea ...
Click to expand...

shrug...

If a European wants to whine at me, I'll just show them this:

nato-4.jpg
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
From the Guardian (29May2017): As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe - excerpt:


Yes, what can one expect from Donald Dork, this misfit of a politician who wanted to be PotUS just to prove he could "do it". And now hasn't the foggiest notion of what to "do with it".

It is sorrowful to note that DD did not want to uphold the single-most rule of America's longstanding alliance with Europe that is personified by the phrase "we stand together in case any one of us is attacked".

Which must have tickled-pink Putin, already having attacked the Ukraine and annexed Crimea ...
Click to expand...

Should the"Donald" take back Crimea for you?

I could give him a call for ya.

He might ask me what the unified European Union was was doing while this was going on, so what should I tell him if it comes up?
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Have you got anything else in your brain than money for weapons, soldiers and wars? The US does not spend all this money for the security of Europe but for all her little and bigger wars to keep the weapons industry satisfied and the picture of the great warrior for freedom USA alive.

If you want that, be that but don´t try to force other countries to do the same or pay for it. All this money could be used for good things for humanity or the countries poors. I am not afraid of the Russians - what could they gain here?

The 2 percent thingy is not mine, but that there was an unfullfilled agreement is not true. How often has it to be told to you that this agreement was made for the year 2024 till you get it?

Spend 50% of your money for weapons and than take selfies at the mirror, but leave us alone with your "peace trough military" stuff - that has been a lie for more than 2000 years when the romans named "invading a country" "in pacem ducere"
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

german hick said:
Have you got anything else in your brain than money for weapons, soldiers and wars? The US does not spend all this Money for the security of Europe but for all her little and bigger wars to keep the weapons industry satisfied and the Picture of the great warrior for freedom USA alive.

If you want that, be that but don´t try to force other countries to do the same. All this Money can be used for good Thing for humanity or the countries poors. I am not afraid of the russians - what could they gain here?

The 2 percent thingy is not mine, but that there was an unfullfilled agreement is not true. How often has it to be told to you that this agreement was made for the year 2024 till you get it?

Spend 50% of your Money for weapons and than take selfies at the mirror, but leave us alone with your "peace trough military" stuff - that has been a lie for more than 2000 years when the romans named "invading a country" "in pacem ducere"
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Hitler left a note for ya, I think it reads .......... you left your back door open............... or something to that effect.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

RetiredUSN said:
Hitler left a note for ya, I think it reads .......... you left your back door open............... or something to that effect.
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no problem - my backdoor is always open, as my car is. Germany is a quite safe place. ;) :p
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

joG said:
American NATO assets should possibly moved to members land that both want them and have upheld their spending to the fair and/or accepted level. There is no reason a poor country like Bulgaria, Latvia or even Poland should pay as high a relative share as a country like Germany, Canada or the USA.
Click to expand...
You are not I take it one of the people who say that the EU must make the nations like states, either that or give up on the project.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

gunner said:
What would you say to your fellow North Americans?
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I would ask them if this was worth it.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

german hick said:
Have you got anything else in your brain than money for weapons, soldiers and wars? The US does not spend all this money for the security of Europe but for all her little and bigger wars to keep the weapons industry satisfied and the picture of the great warrior for freedom USA alive.

If you want that, be that but don´t try to force other countries to do the same or pay for it. All this money could be used for good things for humanity or the countries poors. I am not afraid of the Russians - what could they gain here?

The 2 percent thingy is not mine, but that there was an unfullfilled agreement is not true. How often has it to be told to you that this agreement was made for the year 2024 till you get it?

Spend 50% of your money for weapons and than take selfies at the mirror, but leave us alone with your "peace trough military" stuff - that has been a lie for more than 2000 years when the romans named "invading a country" "in pacem ducere"
Click to expand...

Ummm...you DO know the purpose of NATO, right?

If you don't, then you should know that it's purpose has nothing to do with "good things for humanity" or "the countries poor". Nato isn't a slush fund for social engineering.

Now...Since you are not afraid of the Russians and the threat from the Soviet Union is ended, would you contend that perhaps NATO doesn't HAVE a purpose any longer?
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

For me Nato fullfilled her task when the Sovietunion fell apart. To make war in Afganistan or Irak with hundreds of thousands of death and a situation now much worse than before makes no sense.

I did my duty in the Army and I would do again - but only to defend this country if attacked and not to defend it at the Hindukusch.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Mycroft said:
shrug...

If a European wants to whine at me, I'll just show them this:

View attachment 67218215
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For once we agree!

The US is spending far too much money defending the world.

I suggest Donald Dork offers Putin American citizenship and no-taxation if he takes his estimated Net Worth of $400M to the US ... !
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
For once we agree!

The US is spending far too much money defending the world.

I suggest Donald Dork offers Putin American citizenship and no-taxation if he takes his estimated Net Worth of $400M to the US ... !
Click to expand...

400M is just Putin's walking around money!
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

german hick said:
For me Nato fullfilled her task when the Sovietunion fell apart. To make war in Afganistan or Irak with hundreds of thousands of death and a situation now much worse than before makes no sense.

I did my duty in the Army and I would do again - but only to defend this country if attacked and not to defend it at the Hindukusch.
Click to expand...

Kind thoughts.

Let's hope you never have to fight.

Europe has had enough strife - it's time to get on with life (peacefully*). In fact, it is really quite a nice place to live. The diversity of cultures is remarkable - and for once in Europe's long, long history, everybody is at peace with one another ...

*Somebody tell Putin that!
 
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Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Hawkeye10 said:
You are not I take it one of the people who say that the EU must make the nations like states, either that or give up on the project.
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Nope. There are a number of perfectly viable alternative structures open to the EU. The ones with State like regional entities are illegal at this time in a number of countries, where the populations would have to give up sovereignty in referendums. At least this was the legal finding in a number of high court rulings. In all countries the old constitution would have to be alter significant meaning a super-majority in most cases. For this reason the project of legal deepening was put on ice. Merkel's position until a few months ago was a definite "Njet!" to even changing the Lisbon Treaty or even the Maastricht one.

The lesser levels of republican structures are much more viable to legal political instruments. But they do not shape a United States of Europe that the bureaucratic elite of the continent desires. I think that this is the real background to Merkel's activities since she allowed the refugees in the way she did.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Rexedgar said:
400M is just Putin's walking around money!
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I honestly don't know how much he is worth. The figure I gave was just one of many estimates I've seen reading the Internet. Nobody really knows.

What I do know is that his daughter is holding his money. He claims to be living off his government salary.

His daughter is married to a the son of a "good friend" who is, lo and behold, the head of a large investment bank in Moscow. Wow! How convenient!

The Russian "Mafia" in Moscow is richer than the Sicilian one in New York ... !

PS: By some estimates Putin is likely richer than Donald Dork, which probably grates on the Dork no end. And, who thinks that whilst the Dork was playing parlour games in a Moscow hotel, that Putin did not take the opportunity to have the event filmed ... !

PPS: So, who's got who by the you-know-whats?
 
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Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
From the Guardian (29May2017): As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe - excerpt:


Yes, what can one expect from Donald Dork, this misfit of a politician who wanted to be PotUS just to prove he could "do it". And now hasn't the foggiest notion of what to "do with it".

It is sorrowful to note that DD did not want to uphold the single-most rule of America's longstanding alliance with Europe that is personified by the phrase "we stand together in case any one of us is attacked".

Which must have tickled-pink Putin, already having attacked the Ukraine and annexed Crimea ...
Click to expand...

Merkel is, in many ways, the opposite of President Trump: she's intelligent, knowledgable, and patient. She'll play this buffoon like a fiddle.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

german hick said:
Have you got anything else in your brain than money for weapons, soldiers and wars? The US does not spend all this money for the security of Europe but for all her little and bigger wars to keep the weapons industry satisfied and the picture of the great warrior for freedom USA alive.

If you want that, be that but don´t try to force other countries to do the same or pay for it. All this money could be used for good things for humanity or the countries poors. I am not afraid of the Russians - what could they gain here?

The 2 percent thingy is not mine, but that there was an unfullfilled agreement is not true. How often has it to be told to you that this agreement was made for the year 2024 till you get it?

Spend 50% of your money for weapons and than take selfies at the mirror, but leave us alone with your "peace trough military" stuff - that has been a lie for more than 2000 years when the romans named "invading a country" "in pacem ducere"
Click to expand...

USA military spending is 36 % of the worlds military spending and if you combine it with EU's military spending it almost 50 % of the world's military spending. On top of that you have the spending of all countries allied to EU and USA. While China's military spending is 13 % of the world's military spending and Russia 7 %. So as you wrote it just about keeping the weapons industry satisfied.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallm...expenditure-in-2016-infographic/#6b723b3643f3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_the_European_Union

That if Donald Trump really cared about American taxpayers and their safety he could use his cozy relationship with Putin for mutual disarment of nukes. That it's not only crazy but also very costly to have thousands of nukes. That with for example 400 nukes each Russia and USA could save a lot of money that at the same time tens of millions less people would die in a nuclear war. Also 400 nukes would be enough deterrent. Instead Donald Trump seems to want to increase the number of nukes.

The same goes with Donald Trump's talk about how bad globalization is and how unfair other countries are then it comes to trade. That the reality is that globalization have been good to USA and the problem is instead that the rich have gotten the most of the benefits from globalizations. Something Donald Trump can make his supporters forget by making them angry at Germany, China or Mexico instead. So Trump can give the economic elite even more massive tax cuts.

That if he wanted to make globalization more fair for the people he should instead for example focusing getting rid of tax havens and global tax evasions. Also if you instead got a "fingerpointing contest" we in Europe can point back. For example that USA have a huge benefit from the petro dollar. Also I just watch this clip that mentioned all the products made in American prisons to extremly low costs and also Google it afterwards to find more sources. That maybee the economical size of the prison productions is small it atleast show the many ways to "point fingers". Still I don't think it's the most constructive thing to do instead we should try to make globalization benefit the people instead of the economic elite. Also that instead means more cooperation like for example the fight against tax havens.



https://www.thrillist.com/gear/products-made-by-prisoners-clothing-furniture-electronics

11 products you might not realize were made by prisoners
 
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Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
From the Guardian (29May2017): As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Europe - excerpt:


Yes, what can one expect from Donald Dork, this misfit of a politician who wanted to be PotUS just to prove he could "do it". And now hasn't the foggiest notion of what to "do with it".

It is sorrowful to note that DD did not want to uphold the single-most rule of America's longstanding alliance with Europe that is personified by the phrase "we stand together in case any one of us is attacked".

Which must have tickled-pink Putin, already having attacked the Ukraine and annexed Crimea ...
Click to expand...

It's a beautiful thing to see the European Union finally uniting regardless of the Orange Buffoon, especially after they stood back watched Putin take Crimea from the Ukraine.

Is the EU growing a pair finally.....I dunno. I think Putin could be having beers in Belgium before the rest of the union reacts to Merkel.
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

RetiredUSN said:
It's a beautiful thing to see the European Union finally uniting regardless of the Orange Buffoon, especially after they stood back watched Putin take Crimea from the Ukraine.

Is the EU growing a pair finally.....I dunno. I think Putin could be having beers in Belgium before the rest of the union reacts to Merkel.
Click to expand...

Crimea was not worth another war.

You like war? Send you son/daughter to fight one ... !

PS: Putin is at the end of his rope. Remaking the Russian Army cost an arm and a leg. Meanwhile the Russian people go hungry!
 
Re: From the Guardian: As Merkel knows, Trump’s rudeness and arrogance can unite Euro

Lafayette said:
Crimea was not worth another war.

You like war? Send you son/daughter to fight one ... !

PS: Putin is at the end of his rope. Remaking the Russian Army cost an arm and a leg. Meanwhile the Russian people go hungry!
Click to expand...

You just made my point. Lip service is golden in the EU.
 
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