Posted on 03/21/2016 2:36:29 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Trump Complains America Leads Too Much, Wants Diminished Role in NATO
Calls America a 'poor country'
Republican front-runner Donald Trump expressed his distaste for how often America takes a leadership role in international affairs on Monday.
Trump was specifically upset with the role the United States plays in NATO.
“Ukraine is a country that affects us far less than it affects other countries in NATO, and yet we’re doing all of the lifting,” Trump told The Washington Post.
“They’re not doing anything. And I say, ‘Why is it that Germany’s not dealing with NATO on Ukraine? Why is it that other countries that are in the vicinity of Ukraine, why aren’t they dealing? Why are we always the one that’s leading, potentially the third world war with Russia.’”
Trump told the paper’s editorial board that the United States could not afford to play the same leadership role in world affairs it has played for decades.
“I do think it’s a different world today, and I don’t think we should be nation-building anymore,” he said. “I think it’s proven not to work, and we have a different country than we did then. We have $19 trillion in debt. We’re sitting, probably, on a bubble. And it’s a bubble that if it breaks, it’s going to be very nasty.
“I just think we have to rebuild our country.”
Trump then said that the United States is not rich anymore and, therefor, can’t afford to maintain its leadership role in the international military partnership.
“We certainly can’t afford to do this anymore,” he told the paper. “NATO is costing us a fortune, and yes, we’re protecting Europe with NATO, but we’re spending a lot of money. South Korea is very rich, great industrial country, and yet we’re not reimbursed fairly for what we do. We’re constantly sending our ships, sending our planes, doing our war games—we’re reimbursed a fraction of what this is all costing.”
Instead, Trump labeled America a poor country.
“I think we were a very powerful, very wealthy country, and we are a poor country now,” he said. “We’re a debtor nation.”
And yet he wants to send 20,000 to 25,000 troops to Syria to beat ISIS and establish a safe zone. Go figure.
Cruz is a con artist playing all sides.
“You do know that Poland has been kicked in the nuts by the Obama administration and is left pretty much defenseless without NATO and left to the mercy of both Germany and Russia, like when they were pawns before communism fell.”
So in your world, Poland should be defended by the USA, against fellow NATO member Germany? And also from the Russian forces that are not massing on Poland’s border? bright.
“But then what is the opinion of a man with over 20 million listeners to yours?”
Rush? He’s that old oxycontin dope addict, and viagra smuggler, who hired gay activist Elton John for his wedding? Right? Yeah, we should all just do what Rush says. He always knows best.... Moron.
Poland has been our good friend. Why should we forget them?
Spoken like a true liberal...Trump gots lotsa dem.
"Reagan Conservative" is nothing more than a term that is being thrown out by elitists of our own ranks who simply claim the high road in an attempt to degrade anyone else who doesn't fall lock step with whatever the hell platform they support........
I don’t thinkso.
Due to an evolving world. It’s purpose and need have changed and eroded to possibly no real purpose and need, as you perceive.
I think else wise. It needs to be re-purposed.
If you look at the make up it is basically crusader forces...lol...
And yes. there is a growing global threat in islam.
My - oh - my, how the glove fits
TED CRUZ on FOX a little while ago: “If I am president, America will not be neutral. We will stand unapologetically with… Israel.”
I bet our enemies wish they could vote for Trump.
The cold war is very much alive and cooking.
Trump doesn’t support Israel, our best friends in the Middle East, either. Maybe Trump thinks: “..America Leads Too Much”.
We don’t need another Obama in the White House.
“Trump doesn’t support Israel...”
And you derived that form where?
I would want Trump to just get out of the way and let them defend themselves the way they want.
Hope this includes leaving the anti-American UN also
Trump has little or no understanding of foreign policy.
NATO is how we reduce our burdens.
It is the European burden sharing.
Cruz’s grasp of foreign policy is vastly superior and Cruz voted against the NATO strike against Libya.
Cruz was correct.
Trump’s plan beats the hell out of what Bush and now Obama are doing. Hell, we have a Marine 105 arty unit in Iraq and they say they are by themselves with locals. That makes little sense. Where is the Marine Infantry? Obama is an idiot.
So tell me how sending troops into Syria to beat ISIS and/or establish a safe zone for Syrian refugees differs from the nation building that Bush and Obama attempted?
Killing Isis is not nation building. Killing bastards who want to kill you is not setting up a government. You kill them and come home. You do not build their military, political parties, etc. You simply kill them.
Building a safe zone in Syria for all the refugees to return to is. That'll take tens of thousands of troops for God knows how long, and who knows how much in the way of money and lives.
It doesn't matter what her personal preference may or may not be; she is literally running for her own self preservation. Trump has staked out traditional US policy on the right; Bernie has covered the left.
The deep state must figure out a way to keep the 60% of voters who agree in principle on foreign affairs to remain divided on domestic policy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.