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[DemocratSinceBirth]

Germany Is Quietly Building a European Army Under Its Command


Every few years, the idea of an EU army finds its way back into the news, causing a kerfuffle. The concept is both fantasy and bogeyman: For every federalist in Brussels who thinks a common defense force is what Europe needs to boost its standing in the world, there are those in London and elsewhere who recoil at the notion of a potential NATO rival.

But this year, far from the headlines, Germany and two of its European allies, the Czech Republic and Romania, quietly took a radical step down a path toward something that looks like an EU army while avoiding the messy politics associated with it: They announced the integration of their armed forces.

...


But under the bland label of the Framework Nations Concept, Germany has been at work on something far more ambitious — the creation of what is essentially a Bundeswehr-led network of European miniarmies. “The initiative came out of the weakness of the Bundeswehr,” said Justyna Gotkowska, a Northern Europe security analyst at Poland’s Centre for Eastern Studies think tank. “The Germans realized that the Bundeswehr needed to fill gaps in its land forces … in order to gain political and military influence within NATO.” An assist from junior partners may be Germany’s best shot at bulking out its military quickly — and German-led miniarmies may be Europe’s most realistic option if it’s to get serious about joint security. “It’s an attempt to prevent joint European security from completely failing,” Masala said.


https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/22/germany-is-quietly-building-a-european-army-under-its-command/

[TEB]

1. A pan European army

I can't remember what German unit we trained with when I was kid in 80s west Germany. They were mech infantry unit like us but the troopers were sharp. Sadly they have no choice but to do this because of trump , this has to scare trumps bromance putin. No way a soviet military could challenge a united army , sov's do not have strength for this. Very interesting article I text it to several former troopers I know take care perhaps we will have sanity morality restored to this country leadership very soon.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. What do you think of this?

cash23 2 hours ago
@aRealMan @cash23 Army brat here who.grew up on bases in Germany. All my brothers did stints as second lieutenants in Germany. On NATO maneuvers, the hippy looking Germans routinely wrecked timetables because they captured objectives so much faster than every other military and then just kept going. Put a German male in uniform and he automatically goes on the offensive. That's why NATO matters. As much to channel German military adventurism as to box out the Soviets. Nobody, not the US, the Russians nor the rest of Europe, wants the Germans to build an army that's bigger and more powerful than it already is.

Trump and the US right are so shortsighted. As long as the US pays the world order's bills and does the heavy lifting, we get to call the shots. We make certain the outcome is always in our favor. If we retreat from international organizations and multilateral arrangements, other countries will be forced to take up the slack. Other countries are not as committed to US wellbeing as we are. Life is going to get tougher for the US. If the Euro becomes a reserve currency, we're screwed. Seriously screwed. No more exporting our fiscal mismanagemen

[TEB]

3. Was it Eisenhower who warned us of European commitments after ww2

It will be a new legion pan European army, as for Europe yes I think they see the writing on the wall. We're gone it's a different world with trump so open in his attitude towards Kremlin , so Europe has no choice but to build a united army. keep it simple one language will be spoken all comms all training will be the same. one caliber round for infantry rifles crew served weapons and armor and arty. NATO has kept the peace in Europe there was such a short time span from the Germans fighting ww 1 say tannenberg in 1914. To the start of Barbarossa in 41 , as for Germans being fine troopers I feel those I met were excellent troops. And they had more motivation because of Warsaw Pact threat of coming west. Trump is destroying all relationships I just do not understand this. My neighbor thinks NATO is obsolete but I brought up Yugoslavia when we showed up in force on the ground they got the hint ,And NATO stopped the holocaust in Yugoslavia just my opinion this response.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. We might see a Franco-German alliance with the USA and the UK isolated.

Folks will miss the pre-Trump order if there is one.

[Hoyt]

5. Exactly. Not sure it is good that we call the shots, but we do get deference.

I'm sure Trump wants all the respect and deference, without paying for it or cooperating.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Chump had unwitting help in propagating the myth the whole world is using us.

Being a hegemon has its benefits.

[TEB]

7. That is so true

I mention to trump chumps how NATO has followed us into the war on terror. Or the agreement of the five eyes , I told trump supporters while back in a bar one morning after third shift that NATO fought with us in Korea they looked at me huh. Or in Vietnam the Australians and New Zealand and Thailand seato and South Korea committed troops to Vietnam. If they hear it on Fox News it must be true ,they listen to trump and think wow this guy pushed past the Montenegro prime minister. what a bad ass trump he is showing the world we are not putting up with there crap cuz we're mericans. Well you know what I tell them we're heading into one huge shit lake and this idiot is leading you all like sheeple and using you.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Would any American trade place with the countries that are "using us" ?

Remember in the 80s when Japan was supposedly eating our lunch. Look at them now. They have slow growth and a declining population.