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A Test of Maturity: Germany Must Abandon Its Military Reluctance and Lead
Der Spiegel ^ | August 23, 2017 12:55 PM | Anne Applebaum

Posted on 08/26/2017 10:39:49 AM PDT by Olog-hai

… If anything, Germany’s claim to be an integrated member of the Western alliance has never been stronger. Some even speak of Germany as the West’s new leader. As Donald Trump’s America turns inward, possibly abandoning its free trade agenda and its longstanding commitment to democracy, Germany seems like a possible replacement. A poll taken in 2013 showed Germany to be the most admired country in the world; Chancellor Merkel is one of the most trusted public figures in Europe. Germany’s public commitment to environmentalism, multilateralism and human rights give Germany moral standing; Germany’s industrial strength and export clout have given Germany economic power as well.

But in a world where American power is weakening and authoritarian powers are rising, how long can this last? From 1945 to 1989, the American army gave West Germany the safety and security to develop its unique political culture. But now there are many, many countries, including some right on Europe’s borders, that don’t share reunified Germany’s national commitment to pacifism and non-violence. And there are many, many reasons to doubt that America will confront them. Trump may be an aberration, but he does reflect a very real American exhaustion, and real American doubt about the worth of the trans-Atlantic alliance. Germans should have a plan to deal with threats in America’s absence. Right now, you don’t. […]

… If Germany does not want a powerful army, it should still, as a matter of urgency, work with the institutions it has built, most notably the European Union, and especially with France and even Britain (this might be a way to give Britain a future European role) to create a multinational European force that can be deployed in defense of Europe’s borders, and in Europe’s name, at any time. …

(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Germany
KEYWORDS: euarmy; eurabia; eussr; rop; trumpnato
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Another “because Trump” editorial. The EU’s leaders have wanted an army “in Europe’s name” for imperialistic goals only.
1 posted on 08/26/2017 10:39:49 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

But who is Germany or the EU going to invade?

These poor dumb bastards can’t deploy anything beyond a couple of Foxes to sniff for NBC weapons.

You going to tell me that all of a sudden Leopard II’s and Eurofighters are going to be swarming east? That doesn’t work LOL.


2 posted on 08/26/2017 10:42:43 AM PDT by PittsburghAfterDark (The American media: We do what the Soviet media did without the guns to our head.)
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To: Olog-hai

With marshmallow Merkel in the lead?

Nope, not in this universe.


3 posted on 08/26/2017 10:56:06 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: PittsburghAfterDark

Nothing happens all of a sudden over there; they had been planning their single currency for decades, but it only materialized in the 2000s. But it’s happening in a sneaky manner; Germany has been absorbing the militaries of its neighbors slowly but steadily. Given their industrial capability, they could accelerate that on a whim. The central command is already in place too.


4 posted on 08/26/2017 10:57:14 AM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: Da Coyote

Certainly not her. But things are still happening on her watch.

The “but Trump” attitude that they have over there is what is quite troubling. They reflect all of the same lies we hear over here; but then again, their press and ours are unified and they’ve altogether become a EU propaganda mouthpiece.


5 posted on 08/26/2017 10:59:00 AM PDT by Olog-hai ("No Republican, no matter how liberal, is going to woo a Democratic vote." -- Ronald Reagan, 1960)
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To: PittsburghAfterDark

> But who is Germany or the EU going to invade? <

Hopefully a revitalized German army would stage a coup and depose Merkel before it’s too late. I donno. Maybe they could replace her with the current Hohenzollern pretender to the throne, Georg Friedrich.


6 posted on 08/26/2017 11:02:33 AM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: Olog-hai
how, with it's eight hour a day forty hour a week army?
7 posted on 08/26/2017 11:02:51 AM PDT by Chode (You have all of the resources you are going to have. Abandon your illusions and plan accordingly.)
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To: Olog-hai

Germans never change.....they need to be exterminated once and for all.


8 posted on 08/26/2017 11:05:16 AM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.6l)
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To: Olog-hai

Germans never change.....they need to be exterminated once and for all.


9 posted on 08/26/2017 11:05:17 AM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.6l)
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To: Olog-hai

Germans never change.....they need to be exterminated once and for all.


10 posted on 08/26/2017 11:05:19 AM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket.6l)
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To: rrrod
Kind of extreme -- aside from WW2, which is admittedly a rather large aside, Germans haven't caused much more trouble than any other group.

That said, they're well on their way to exterminating themselves through taxes so high that people can't afford to have children, and suicidal immigration policies. They used to be tough enough to put up a good fight against most of the rest of the world, now they can't even find the will to protect their own borders.

11 posted on 08/26/2017 11:13:33 AM PDT by Wyrd bið ful aræd (Flag burners can go screw -- I'm mighty PROUD of that ragged old flag)
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To: Olog-hai

https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/sprechen-sie-deutsch-merkel-wants-more-german-spoken-in-eu


12 posted on 08/26/2017 11:28:11 AM PDT by ameribbean expat ("I lasted 49 Scaramucchis". - Steve Bannon)
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To: Olog-hai

Germany needs a three century time-out on “leading”.


13 posted on 08/26/2017 11:37:30 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: PittsburghAfterDark
But who is Germany or the EU going to invade?

England, should Britannia ever awaken from her slumber and cast the Muslim invaders from her shores.

14 posted on 08/26/2017 11:42:42 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Olog-hai
A poll taken in 2013 showed Germany to be the most admired country in the world?

Who was polled? Members of the German parliament?

15 posted on 08/26/2017 11:57:31 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Olog-hai

Lets ask the Czechs, the Poles, and yes, the Macroni French into which bases they want to invite the Germans

Another parade down the Champs- Elysees perhaps


16 posted on 08/26/2017 11:59:11 AM PDT by silverleaf (We voted for change, not leftover change)
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To: Olog-hai
Shhhh ... Don't say it too loud.

The Germans might hear you and take you up on it, and then where will we be?

17 posted on 08/26/2017 12:04:55 PM PDT by x
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To: Olog-hai
Germany has been absorbing the militaries of its neighbors slowly but steadily. Given their industrial capability, they could accelerate that on a whim. The central command is already in place too.

German's have a history ... they're NOT to be trusted.

18 posted on 08/26/2017 12:08:02 PM PDT by GOPJ (Statues today - books tomorrow - the unmasking of totalitarian elites is starting...)
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To: Olog-hai

That always works out well


19 posted on 08/26/2017 12:14:56 PM PDT by arkfreepdom
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To: Olog-hai

How is America abandoning its “longlasting commitment to democracy “?


20 posted on 08/26/2017 12:38:42 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
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