Posted on 03/22/2016 8:08:26 AM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
is slamming Republican presidential rival Donald Trump's call to rethink U.S. involvement in NATO in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in Brussels.
"It is striking that the day after Donald Trump called for America weakening NATO, withdrawing from NATO, we see Brussels, where NATO is headquartered, the subject of a radical Islamic terrorist attack," Cruz told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.
"Donald Trump is wrong that America should withdraw from the world and abandon our allies," Cruz added. He claimed Trump's proposals to draw back from Europe would hand both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria "a major victory." Trump, in an interview Monday with The Washington Post editorial board, questioned the need for NATO, which has been a central component of Western security efforts since the Cold War.
"We certainly can’t afford to do this anymore," Trump said.
"NATO is costing us a fortune, and yes, we’re protecting Europe with NATO, but we’re spending a lot of money," later added.
Trump doubled down on his proposal to rethink support for NATO during an interview on CNN with Wolf Blitzer.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
And if they don't? Then what?
The concept of an "alliance" is foreign to Trump. To him it's all dollars and cents. It's a deal that he has to be the winner of. If Estonia can't pay for U.S. troops to come help them then screw 'em. If Japan won't pay more for our assistance then we won't be there if they need us. We love Israel but unless they start paying more for us to defend them then...
If Donald Trump had been president in 1940 the British would have gone down to defeat because he would never have agreed to Lend/Lease and we would never have liberated France in 1944 unless De Gaulle came up with the cash first.
I see Cruz supporters every day contorting, attacking, claiming the mantle of Constitutional Conservatism. I ask them please help me get it on Constitutional conservatism...they attack me again.
Trump is right.
NATO should be realigned, the expense shared more realistically, AND the mission shared more diligently.
What’s not to like about what Trump said?
I dont feel a need to make a counter point to refute a work of fiction.
I cant defend UN, sure get rid of the UN.
Where did Trump say to get rid of NATO? He wants them to pay their fair share. Would NATO continue to exist if the US got out? The UK and France have nuclear weapons. The EU is equal to the US economy in terms of total GDP. These are wealthy nations.
Do yourself a favor and read Trump’s interview with WA Post Editorial Board. Saw some first on twitter thought it was satire. He spoke 773 words talking about his hands.
I know his supporters think he is all that but he has absolutely no knowledge. His supporters seem to really be low-info voters - believing everything he says and not listening to anyone with a different opinion.
Cruz once again is right.
Make them pay, at the very least, or threaten and be prepared to walk out of NATO.
Exactly! If people want to continue the status quo then by all means vote for Cruz. But don’t assault my intelligence claiming he is different then all the previous politicians that have come before him who say one thing and then vote the opposite.
Dont argue with me. Most Trump supporters on this thread seem to think it means getting rid of NATO.
Yeah , we take Russia,China,IRAN and all of Islam on our own. We encourage the EU to be conquered by Islam.
When speaking truth = “smearing” you sound just like a progressive.
Is it possible that one of the people Trump is taking foreign policy advice from is Barack Obama?
I had both accompanied and unaccompanied tours in regions of US interest throughout my time in the military.
One thing that always struck me was how SMALL the armed forces of those allies were, and how much WE did just about everything, paid for everything, and even paid THEM to participate in their own defense.
I think every Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine knows that even BEFORE the wall fell that NATO was the US + a paper tiger.
No. I feel foolish for ever doing so.
Trump has a monopoly on Truth?
Trump often contradicts himself.
Cruz is a crackpot.
“Hitler would be so proud.”
Godwin’s law fail. You have effectively destroyed all credibility you might have had prior to that post. Good luck to ya.
“Poland is not a parasite.”
Every single one of our military welfare clients is a parasite.
Not poland. Poland begging the Bush admin to deploy missile defense .
It’s time Europe starts paying its fair share. Many of these leeches don’t even spend the paltry 2% pledge on their own defense.
Not only that but 1.3% of GDP on NATO spending Germany has been dictating policy since the kenyan is not interested in Europe at all.
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.