For all Putin’s bravado, his country is still Upper Volta with missiles. Shame, they could have been on the Alpha list. Must be something in the vodka.
The European Union has a combined GDP of 17 trillion dollars. This is 12 times greater than the Soviet Union. Hell, even Italy has a higher GDP than Russia. The EEC has a very sophisticated military industrial complex including nuclear weapons. It is time for the EEC to take care of itself.
They have the economic power to crush Russia if they desire. They have a military industrial complex that can outproduce Russia with ease. They can protect themselves easily. We should not withdraw from Europe but sure as hell need to make the EEC pick up a share of defense that is commensurate with their economic might. An EEC fleet the size of our Pacific and Atlantic fleets would get the attention of bad guys in the world. An Air Force the size of ours would be good also. Three million men in arms in Europe would frighten the hell out of potential aggressors.
It is time for the EEC to step up and be ready to fight! Bullies attack the weak, not the strong!