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To: Star Traveler

Libertarians do not understand geopolitics, and even are fine with amnesty. No sale.


18 posted on 03/08/2015 9:04:30 PM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Europe needs to provide for its own defense
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-ackerman-nato-20140909-story.html

The United States is overcommitted, confronting ongoing crises in the Middle East and Afghanistan. At the same time, it is undertaking a “pivot toward Asia,” which will include a massive shift of military resources to the Pacific. While such a buildup is not a sufficient response to China’s rise, it is a necessary part of a larger strategy that will provide space for the region’s democracies to prosper.

Within this global context, it makes sense to require Europe to take on the principal burden of its own defense. When NATO was established in 1949, it was beyond the capacity of a devastated Western Europe to defend itself against the looming Soviet threat. But the continent has come a long way since then. Creating a credible European deterrent is an entirely realistic option, especially since Russia’s military capacities are limited by its demographic decline and its failure to develop a dynamic market economy.

Nevertheless, the European Union won’t happily accept this burden, since present arrangements allow it to free-ride on American military expenditure. The United States currently contributes between a quarter and a fifth of NATO’s budget, but that figure doesn’t include the costs of deploying U.S. personnel on NATO missions. Total U.S. defense spending is 73% of the total spent by all NATO members on defense. As a consequence, Europe’s leaders have no incentive to consider fundamental changes.


21 posted on 03/08/2015 9:07:11 PM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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