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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
12. from the article:
Tue Mar 17, 2015, 01:36 PM
Mar 2015

"This meant those countries that were owed debt had to buy West German exports in order to be paid."
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/feb/27/greece-spain-helped-germany-recover


"Greece's deputy prime minister, Theodore Pangalos, said during an Athens visit in May by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he felt "forced to buy weapons we do not need," and that the deals made him feel "national shame."

Other European officials have charged France and Germany with making their military dealings with Greece a condition of their participation in the country's huge financial rescue. French and German officials deny the accusations."
http://www.lepointinternational.com/it/politica/europa/550-the-submarine-deals-that-helped-sink-greece-.html

"Speculation is rife that international aid was dependent on Greece following through on agreements to buy military hardware from Germany and France."
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/19/greece-military-spending-debt-crisis

"The conditions of the next €130bn rescue package will be severe, yet there is an elephant in the room: the extent to which the German but also the French military industries rely on Greece.

The small, crisis-hit nation, whose prime minister, George Papandreou, narrowly survived a vote of confidence on Friday, buys more German weapons than any other country. Some Greeks want to know why it is that France and Germany are demanding cuts in pensions, salaries and public services, but the buying of arms is allowed to continue unabated.

Yanis Varoufakis, professor of economics at Athens University, says: "When Greek hospitals are running out of bandages, the only bit of the budget not being attacked by the EU and IMF is military expenditure." "
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/less-healthcare-but-greece-is-still-buying-guns-6257753.html



Recommendations

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

K&R! Sherman A1 Mar 2015 #1
T & Y riqster Mar 2015 #4
The right wing neo-liberal dogma is a plague on human civilization n/t AZ Progressive Mar 2015 #2
Lafferist Voodoo Economics needs to be repudiated everywhere it has reared its loathesome head. riqster Mar 2015 #3
But there are differences uhnope Mar 2015 #5
Germany Forcing itcfish Mar 2015 #6
link? uhnope Mar 2015 #7
from the article: magical thyme Mar 2015 #12
thank you for your answer uhnope Mar 2015 #19
link? riqster Mar 2015 #9
The point of the article was long-term economic and social stability. riqster Mar 2015 #8
but why no hoopla for Greece to get its people to pay taxes, or to fight corruption? uhnope Mar 2015 #10
actually, the Syriza government is trying to do just that. magical thyme Mar 2015 #11
that's good to hear. Well see how many of Syriza's plans they can achieve uhnope Mar 2015 #15
Pragmatic moderate centrists think compromise is a good thiing Fumesucker Mar 2015 #22
they've also said they can't do it all at once magical thyme Mar 2015 #24
Not quite the same analogy Blue_Tires Mar 2015 #13
Well, if it's blame you are looking to assign... riqster Mar 2015 #14
Well, if you want to go back 20 years earlier DFW Mar 2015 #16
Which confirms the point I made in my OP. riqster Mar 2015 #20
Technically it was the autocrats and plutocrats who were responsible, much as it is today. bluesbassman Mar 2015 #17
And they will be idiots, to be shocked. riqster Mar 2015 #21
Excuse me. Are you implying that somehow, Germany's wounds were not self-inflicted? Drahthaardogs Mar 2015 #27
Putting Greece's problems on big bad Germany's shoulders is convenient, but BS DFW Mar 2015 #18
Not saying it's Germany's fault. riqster Mar 2015 #23
you're right. The Greeks should NEVER have joined the Euro. magical thyme Mar 2015 #26
On the subject, Bill K Black, back in January: And by the way, Jefferson23 Mar 2015 #25
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Remember when Greece and ...»Reply #12