Posted on 12/30/2016 10:38:31 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
LONDON (AP) -- Europe's leaders are not expecting a smooth ride in 2017 following a year marked by political upheaval, extremist attacks, unchecked immigration, and a rising military threat from Russia.
Britain is suing for divorce, the far-right is on the march, some former Soviet satellites seem disillusioned with the West even as Russia seeks to regain its influence, and America will soon inaugurate an untested, seemingly Russia-friendly president who has voiced doubts about the usefulness of the NATO alliance. The uncertainty is thick enough to breathe.
It all looks so different from the triumphant panorama presented more than two decades ago when the European Union was expanding. Formerly captive nations freed from Soviet control seemed eager to embrace liberal democracy, capitalism - and substantial subsidies - from their wealthier neighbors.
There was rosy talk of an ever-closer union, the development of a single currency, and a cooperative relationship with Russia. It hasn't turned out that way - the EU, with its touted ideals of shared democratic values and free movement of people, has never seem so frayed and vulnerable.
"The risks for 2017 remain very high," said Adam Thomson, director of the London-based European Leadership Network research group. "We Europeans need to recognize that we face a level of risk in the West-Russian confrontation that we have not seen since the 1960s. It is partly because a lot of the security rules of the road have been torn up or suspended, so there are fewer rules and less predictability."
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I am worried about the Russian threat against the Baltics, Poland and other former soviet satellites. These central European countries are some of America's strongest allies now, far better than Germany and other western Europeans.
Another “far right equals anyone who is not a Pinko” article.
I think Le Pen is going to win it and that will be the end of the EU.
Also, Mr. Megan is retired from 25 years in the USMC and I thank you for your service!
Europe does not have a “far right” , their “right wingers” are classic liberals who simply are not hard left Marxists.
I am proud to call myself a fascist, in the mold of Mussolini.
Do you really think there are no hardline nationalist fascist factions in Europe? They cannot speak. It is not permitted. But of course it is there.
You've bought into the propaganda. Putin is no angel, but I'm more worried about Obama, Soros and their fellow multi-culti, progressive globalists starting a war with Russia, who they view as a stumbling block to total control of Europe. They've already tried in Ukraine and Syria.
“Far right” means that you’re tired of being raped, mugged, harassed, taxed-to-death and killed by migrants.
Poland will kick Russia’s ass if they tried. EVERY Pole will fight.
It would make no sense for Russia to attack the Baltic states.
Europe is in big trouble right now. He should just let it die on its own. No sense provoking everyone by invading the Baltics. He’ll get it without firing a shot when the EU finally keels over in a couple of years.
I would love to see Le Pen win. And then Frauke Petry in Germany. (While we’re dreaming might as well go big!)
It’s happening a few years too late, but reality is finally hitting the euros upside the head and getting their attention.
The thought is that if he invaded the Baltics NATO would be treaty bound to defend them as they are in NATO. If NATO responded as tepidly as they did in Ukraine which was the first test, then NATO would crumble and all of the former satellite states would go back into the arms of Russia. A big gamble, but considering the state of the west’s military preps, is it that big of a gamble. Most wars have started because of perceived weakness by one side and western Europe is extremely weak militarily. With the current sequestration, I wouldn’t suggest we are strong either.
Breedlove was a moron. While everyone freaks out pretending its 1982 and invasion is imminent, even a casual look at the map shows a relentless NATO march east, right up to the border of Russia where they finally began to get some rumbling.
Meanwhile, we have countless wars, interventions, covert wars, and destabilizing operations going on all Africa and the middle east.
Then we run around screaming about Russian aggression. It’s actually kinda comical.
The main reason the Baltics have their panties in a wad is that they have no tax base and they're falling apart. They're crying wolf over Russia in hopes of fat US and NATO bases making up for their tax shortfall so they're not running broke and decaying little countries. It's no fun being a big politico in a country that can't afford to keep the lights on in the offices.
Bureaucrats who have no money to spend or who are afraid their budget will be cut can usually come up with some sort of "dire emergency" that they claim requires their little fiefdom remain intact and that's exactly what all the hoopla about Russia invading them is, bureaucratic desperation.
Ukraine wasn’t NATO.
All of this Breedlove and war drums in NATO is designed to do one thing. Its a raindance for the defense industry, designed to bring back the defense spending of the cold war. Nothing more.
Fine, call Breedlove a moron. Why not call Gen Dunford a moron, call Gen Milley a moron also. They’ve all gone on record with statements regarding Russia aggression. Newsflash, Putin is not our friend.
We are in this position because of a weak and feckless leader to be sure, but President Trump has to put a stop to this when he gets into office by getting rid of sequestration and making our military strong again. He also has to encourage our European partners in NATO to start antying up and living up to their military commitments to NATO. Some are starting to. If you think this is a joke and all of these military men who see far more intelligence than we do are morons, well then you can stay a part of the Neville Chamberlain wing of the Republican party and yes Chamberlain was a tory or English conservative.
I guess they are not upset with all of the Russian forces that have been staged closer to them. That has nothing to do with it.
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