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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
Tuesday

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 Tuesday #1
gab... I wouldn't be suprised to find out that slightlv Tuesday #15
I had that same thought. yellow dahlia Tuesday #42
And once tsf is no longer useful to Putin? chicoescuela Tuesday #2
I'm pretty sure they all feel unassailable until about five floors from the sidewalk. Harker Tuesday #7
It does seem that way. chicoescuela Tuesday #8
Maybe. Harker Tuesday #11
Hopefully the same end as the others. And I hate feeling that way Callie1979 Tuesday #43
Can no one intercept Trump's calls with Putin and expose what's going on? Chasstev365 Tuesday #3
If only Hilary had felt free to elaborate on her puppet accusation Easterncedar Tuesday #4
Puppet?! Puppet!! YOU'RE the puppet! Kid Berwyn Tuesday #6
It's not " weaponizing" if it's a legitimate case questionseverything Tuesday #36
Have to believe that EU/NATO is studying how they will defend themselves minus the US and maybe Turkey dutch777 Tuesday #5
NATO is strong even without the USA. OGBuzz Tuesday #14
Well thought out statement, dutch... at least, IMO. slightlv Tuesday #16
Dutch777, if you have a link on Turkey unwilling to defend NATO duckworth969 Tuesday #31
I don't. It's more an inkling that Turkey, really Erdogan, could go its own way. There have been disagreements.... dutch777 Tuesday #46
Fox News pushing the Putin agenda too. Doodley Tuesday #9
treason... they are an evil force on this country LymphocyteLover Tuesday #19
Add to this the US has been caught feeding Ukrainian intelligence to Russia MadameButterfly Tuesday #10
just evil LymphocyteLover Tuesday #20
I've Said This Since 2016. 😊 But One Nitpick: Putin Might .. ..... ColoringFool Tuesday #12
Putin is a sick man and an evil kleptocrat.... Russia is a cruel shithole largely because of Putin's rule LymphocyteLover Tuesday #22
Well stated PJMcK Tuesday #13
Been saying it since 2015 Grins Tuesday #17
Dumbo magats Clouds Passing Tuesday #18
True words. spanone Tuesday #21
He wants Rebl2 Tuesday #23
Brace for impact orangecrush Tuesday #24
The real Manchurian candidate Picaro Tuesday #25
try 1987... nt. SonOfNebanaube Tuesday #53
Actually, he laid his remaining marbles on the table. Now he's lost them all. Martin68 Tuesday #26
Hillary tried to warn us. Some of us listened. llmart Tuesday #27
Exactly, and... BurnDoubt Tuesday #50
We made a HUGE mistake, not voting Hillary into the White House. A calimary Tuesday #54
For anyone paying attention, you would know he was a Russian asset/stooge well before he was President. flashman13 Tuesday #28
Awesome! nt Exp Tuesday #29
This message was self-deleted by its author duckworth969 Tuesday #30
9 repug Senators as of this morning won't stand with his Greenland take over. 634-5789 Tuesday #32
fetterman? rampartd Tuesday #44
Not all. He's still got a run of Aces to play to end the midterms. ancianita Tuesday #33
100% correct, Kentuck!! ElementaryPenguin Tuesday #34
He's also creating a distraction for NATO countries so Putin could invade the Baltic nations Wicked Blue Tuesday #35
opening a western front for nato rampartd Tuesday #45
Will He Be Stopped Mr.Bee Tuesday #37
Yup, Sooner or later all the unseemly details Joinfortmill Tuesday #38
Trump says that Mblaze Tuesday #39
If I was a member at MaraLago, I would stay away Captain Zero Tuesday #51
They would have to surgically separate their lips Mblaze 18 hrs ago #57
France has "independent" nukes (home made, about 495 heads) Justice matters. Tuesday #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 Tuesday #40
Vladamir Putin is the Chairman of the Republican Party OMGWTF Tuesday #41
I have felt that way for years LittleGirl Tuesday #47
Absolutely 💯 debsy Tuesday #48
Fulfilling Kruschev's Prophesy... BurnDoubt Tuesday #49
Canada and esp Greenland would be a twofer popsdenver Tuesday #52
Our pee resident IS bobalew Tuesday #56
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