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EU countries to boost defense budgets in light of Ukraine
EU Observer ^ | 16.04.14 @ 09:29 | Andrew Rettman

Posted on 04/16/2014 1:21:03 AM PDT by Olog-hai

Military chiefs have said the Ukraine crisis is a “wake-up call” for EU countries’ defense spending, as the US backed Ukraine’s use of force in eastern regions.

Speaking to press after a regular meeting of EU defense ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday (15 April), the deputy chief of the EU’s external action service, Maciej Popowski, said: “We’ve had 70 years of peace now [in Europe], but we see that power politics is back with a vengeance, so it’s a wake-up call and now we need to get serious about defense.”

He noted that “this was the feeling around the table” at the Luxembourg event. …

(Excerpt) Read more at euobserver.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: defense; eumilitary; eussr; ukraine

1 posted on 04/16/2014 1:21:04 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

It’s about time.
But it is also a sign of the rapid decline of America.


2 posted on 04/16/2014 1:24:11 AM PDT by tcrlaf (Well, it is what the Sheeple voted for....)
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To: tcrlaf

They will not defend us as we have been defending them.


3 posted on 04/16/2014 1:27:28 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: tcrlaf

US’ lack of will and the rest of the world arming to fill the vacuum will lead to many millions dead.


4 posted on 04/16/2014 1:32:23 AM PDT by Paul R. (Leftists desire to control everything; In the end they invariably control nothing worth a damn.)
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To: Olog-hai
Putin reignites the Cold War. Military Industrial Complexes all over the world benefit.
5 posted on 04/16/2014 1:49:34 AM PDT by elhombrelibre (Against Obama. Against Putin. Pro-freedom. Pro-US Constitution.)
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To: Olog-hai

Maybe we should thank the Russians for waking up the Europeans. Too many years of socialistic spending on BS issues has weakened the continent.

Looks like we’re getting back to “Guns vs. Buddah” issues.


6 posted on 04/16/2014 2:03:35 AM PDT by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: Olog-hai

This defense spending increase being discussed by EU defense ministers will do real good for any crises occurring after 2020.

Ask any professional, semi-professional, or college sports team when they start preparing for their championship tournaments; it isn’t the week before the playoffs begin!

Even if there was enough US-based hardware available, and there isn’t, it takes months to years to become proficient with their use. The more complex the equipment the longer the training time. Also the costs, monetary, human, and dislocations for 4D training goes up. Proof of this statement - the Balkans; Dutch vs. American peacekeepers in the mid 1990s.

Unfortunately the EU has gone through this before - a little under 80 years ago. In the mid to late 1930’s the threat was Nazi Germany; today it is reborn Russia.


7 posted on 04/16/2014 7:03:31 AM PDT by Nip (BOHEICA and TANSTAAFL - both seem very appropriate today.)
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