“If europe does not want to defend itself, why the hell should WE do it for them?”
~~~
I agree completely with this sentiment.
I said the same thing about Ukraine. If the EU isn’t going to help, we sure as s*** shouldn’t.
I feel similarly but with nuance about NATO. If all of the European nations stepped up to defend a NATO member, and we didn’t, I’d have an obvious problem with that. But if they can’t pick up the ball, why should we. Russia is their neighborhood threat (ignoring full escalation).
Trump was right on so many other things, but he seems almost prophetic in his problem with NATO members not meeting their obligations. I bet there are some now, particularly in the east, who are wishing even more had been done.
Europe has been at war with itself since before the birth of Christ.
To paraphrase one of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson:
Europe is a continent that is constantly at war with itself.
Better for us to stay out of it.