[9YearLurker]

But it is the American lives that the Europeans elite take for granted. Euros themselves don’t want to serve in the military and they get nervous whenever they sense our supply of warfighters who will die in their defense might be running short.

I’m not talking money here, I am talking American lives sacrificed in their stead.

[nathanbedford]

But it is the American lives that the Europeans elite take for granted.

I agree with you entirely that's why I said:

Trumps (sic) demands on Europe were long overdue.

If Trump can even be implausibly accused of undermining NATO, he finds himself assailed on all sides. If you think we should withdraw entirely from Europe, that is an entirely different argument and one which I will aggressively engage. I think Trump is trying to find a middle ground which commits the Europeans to risk their own troops by first assuring that they have their own troops.