Posted on 12/20/2024 9:21:50 AM PST by marcusmaximus
Donald Trump’s team has told European officials that the incoming US president will demand Nato member states increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, but plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine.
During his White House campaign, Trump vowed to cut off aid to Ukraine, force Kyiv into immediate peace talks, and leave Nato allies undefended if they failed to spend enough on defence — spooking European capitals.
But in a boost for allies deeply concerned over their ability to support and protect Ukraine without Washington’s backing, Trump now intends to maintain US military supplies to Kyiv after his inauguration, according to three other people briefed on the discussions with western officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
You tell me
It is your book, you are the one telling us what you read, didn’t it answer it at about page 132?
Regarding your US spending question. We have been spending around 5% of our military budget to destroy and degrade about 50% of Russia’s. Much of the military supplies we have been sending are older items that we would have had to decommission and dispose of which are now being used for their original purpose—opposing Russian aggression in Europe. Russia is now using up much older items of their large stocks. For example their 50 year old tanks, and even older.
Meanwhile we are now employing more of our people in produce new and better items which we should have been doing all along. Unfortunately, the Peace Dividend which so many of us in many countries had hoped for has proven to be an illusion. Alas, human nature has not changed, and there will always be someone somewhere who has visions of being the ruler of the world, or at least of large chunks of it. Putin has been inspired by a political theorist named Alexander Dugin who has been called “Putin’s Brain” to take over all of Europe, destroy the Atlantic Alliance (US and Europe), and influence or control the rest of the world. Google Dugin and look for his book published in 1997, which if you go back in time you will find is about when Putin began increasing his dictatorial behavior and subsequent plans to attack Ukraine in 2014.
A number of European countries have already responded to Trump’s words about spending 3% of their economy on military defense. Poland is certainly one, and the Baltic states, the most recent recipients of Russian “democracy” as well. Our own expenditures in military needs are also at around the 3% level. Does Trump plan to increase our production to the 5% level? He might be planning that, or he might be planning to sell more to our European allies. He might even be planning to invest a lot in Ukraine, which has shown amazing, Silicon Valley level, creativity in new less expensive ways of discouraging enemies. There are even reports that at recent military trade shows, the Russian products have not received the level of interest they once enjoyed. Trump’s main experience has been “The Art of the Deal” in real estate, perhaps he plans to expand on this expertise.
What is your problem?
I shared something I found interesting.
It isn’t a problem, post 51 was just looking for clarification of what you posted, I found page 130 and 131 in a sample of the book but was curious about what you were saying in your post.
Never in history has anyone cared about the lives of Russian serfs and slaves. Least of all their Kremlin masters and the regime’s fellow travelers.
Is Poland at 5%?
I just don’t understand your need to try and prove I didn’t read it.
To me it’s just starting arguments.
How about if I posted an image of the book say next to any item you choose found in a kitchen. Would that be enough?
Besides how does you asking me what was on page 132 prove anything? Couldn’t I just go back and look it up?
You are being argumentative for reasons I can’t fathom.
Unlike Europe, we have 2 coasts facing potential enemies, and commitments to assist 2 groups of allies, and still our current military commitment is around 3%. Is President Trump planning to increase that percentage? Is that why he wants an open ended longer term clause added to the current emergency spending bill planned to be reworked in a few months?
I don’t understand what you are talking about, I had an interest in what you posted is all, don’t start putting things on me that don’t pertain at all.
I posted to you that I could read page 130 and 131 but it looked like the answer to my question would have been on page 132, I quoted you in post 51 and wanted to know which argument won out, Lemay or the tactical nukes.
Today’s Russia and Nork? casualty figure is around 2200 soldiers. Some really big meat waves attempted apparently. Russia’s recent recruitment goal has been 30,000 people per month. You do the math. Other recent casualty figures have been around 1500 a day. Ukraine’s very effective use of low cost battlefield drones, has been a lifesaver for their troops, and deadly for Russian men and equipment. Russia has drastically reduced use of tanks, and has even pioneered use of bicycles, scooters and golf carts to transport their “meat.”
“We should have shut down NATO in 1992. If Europe wants it, they’re rich and can pay for their own defense.
Israel is also rich and can pay for its own defense.
So can Taiwan.”
Exactly ! NATO runs around the world enforcing everyone’s borders except their own.
The NATO Cold War target was 3%. Five percent is ludicrous even as a bargaining position. And only makes sense if they are planning for global war.
Trump campaigned as the peace candidate. But that’s not what we are seeing. Either from his appointments, or this.
“Because Russia is no longer a threat; it would never invade another country and continue the war for nearly three years, right?”
Too bad !
Europe has a greater pop and GDP than North America and can do it themselves.
No-one in North America should die for these fools a third time.
Very good post, so many who talk about “cost” fail to understand that much of the equipment is surplus and other systems are being retired and will become surplus.
The cost to dispose of these items is quite high
I am saying that we as a country have not spent billions, we have, but the numbers being thrown around are not an accurate picture of the actual monetary expense
LOL. I voted for Trump, who said he’s and the war on Inauguration Day.
Well, that’s bad news….. for all the Ukrainian men who will consequently be killed and maimed.
It’s quite apparent that many posting here haven’t the faintest clue about the topics at hand. That’s ok. That’s the wonderful think about being born American. We can sit in our armchairs and comment without worry of other countries denying our national existence, invading, stealing our children, destroying our cities and killing us. Ukrainians throughout their history aren’t so lucky. Demeaning the sacrifices of those who defend their borders, language and culture from genocidal invasion is beneath American conservatives. That’s always been the province of Marxists. No more apparently.
the Peace Dividend which so many of us in many countries had hoped for has proven to be an illusion.
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Peace Dividend? So Bush I, 45 year old concept that did not work then and clinging to it now is ... well ...
We’re at less than 3% so I guess he’s planning on almost doubling the Pentagon budget.
“… Demeaning the sacrifices of those who defend their borders, language and culture from genocidal invasion is beneath American conservatives…”
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I’m guessing you don’t recognize that MANY of the Ukrainians dying or being maimed or psychologically damaged have not been defending their borders VOLUNTARILY. But you should certainly feel free to refinance your house and cash in your dwindling 401(k) and send it to Ukraine. Just don’t expect me to do the same… all my contributions (via taxes my family pays) have been and continue to be INVOLUNTARY.
Both sides draft, WWII was fought by draftees, it is how large wars are fought.
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