[dp0622]

Like I just said in another post, surely the Mighty EU military machine can swat Russia or China like a fly.

What is there, 28 countries in NATO? How could one backwards, cowboy filled, gun living, insane enough to vote for Trump country matter either way?

[goldstategop]

We need to take care of European free-loaders, why exactly?

So they can take care of their own people while we foot the bill for them?

The free ride’s over. Trump means he when he says America First.

[Bogie]

http://www.unz.com/article/an-obituary-of-the-new-york-times/

[FlingWingFlyer]

All of a sudden, the Clintoonie WarHawks are in love with the military.

[odds]

>>>” it was the Russian president who meddled with the American election,”<<<

Most if not all Americans should find that quote offensive. When did the USA become a ‘banana republic’ incapable of ensuring legit elections within the USA?

[pissant]

Ah yes, the NY Times. The same outfit that spent decades giving blow jobs to every Bolshevik it could find, while trashing the USA.

[Fhios]

Trump’s not too far off on the Nato call. Nato was perfect during the cold war, usefull immediately after, and a burden starting in the Clinton administration, the Yugoslavia involvement was wrong.

We do need to pare back, particularly the Europe nations undergoing Islamification. We can’t save them and every time we would try we would be betrayed by other countries Islamic sympathiser.

The world is being remade and Trump is favoring the Russians over the Chinese. I would imagine that if some dig deep enough they might find a bit of interference from the Chinese — which would be acceptable from the Democrats.

[ealgeone]

When has the nyt ever cared about NATO?

[Mariner]

Gee, the Times neglected to mention that the US also gains.

How did they forget that part?

[Gene Eric]

NYT’s assessments stem from its hatred of sovereignty and liberty.

The MSM is the Country’s greatest threat.

[PGR88]

The “no blood for oil” leftists were 100% against war in Iraq, but didn’t mind at all mind Obama/Clinton’s utter destruction of Libya and Syria. Now they want a war with Russia.

[DoughtyOne]

I have NEVER seen the NY Times or the Washington Post champion NATO before.

This is hilarious.

[nathanbedford]

The first thing to do is to clear away the implication of the New York Times that what Donald Trump said is not just unfortunate but factually wrong.

It is factually correct to state that many nations in NATO are not paying their fair share (2% of GNP for defense); Europe has in many respects fallen short in the war against terrorism; the European Union is "basically a (trade) vehicle for Germany"; it is likely that other nations will follow Britain's exit from the EU; Angela Merkel is a strong leader; she is facing a tough reelection; her decision to open Germany's borders to migrants and refugees was not a "brave decision" but instead a "very catastrophic mistake".

The second thing to do is to assign weight to various aspects of our relationship to Europe.

The North Atlantic Treaty Alliance has been characterized as the most successful alliance in history and that characterization is probably justified because it in fact perfectly served its originating purpose, the protection of Western Europe against the overwhelming conventional might of the Soviet Union after World War II. On the downside, America as been footing the bill for that protection into an era when much of Europe is wealthier than much of America. Worse, article 5 of the alliance puts America in the reactive position of being drawn into a war at a time and place of Russia's choosing along a huge border, an arc from Turkey well into the Arctic. In other words we have surrendered the power to declare war to more than a score of European countries.

Strategically, NATO is in danger of becoming weak because it is trying to be strong everywhere at America's expense. We are particularly vulnerable in the Baltic and the possibility of stopping a Russian incursion, at least initially, is nil. Formerly, we have deterred the Soviets by leaving them in doubt about whether we would go first strike tactical nuclear. This was the only rational and economic strategy but it played into the hands of Europe's left.

NATO has to be reformed, Trump is absolutely right, and his remarks are more likely the typical Trump opening negotiating positions than the product of ignorance as the New York Times likes to opine.

Both NATO and the European Union have to be preserved but we have to understand why. The greatest strategic threat to the United States comes from a potential alliance of Russia with China which draws some or all of the European nations, especially Germany, into that orbit. If that occurs America will be very isolated and very threatened.

To forestall such a calamity, it is necessary to bring Russia within the economic sphere of the West but that must be preconditioned on understanding by Putin that Europe, combined with America, is too tough a military and economic nut to crack. He must have more carrots but he must also know the sticks are there. At all costs, Russia and China must be kept separate. I think that is WHY REX TILLERSON WAS CHOSEN TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE, as the man with the relationships in Russia who can restructure the strategic picture so vital to the world balance of power.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Ping

[elhombrelibre]

I don't get it. We have problems with Europe; they're more liberal than the USA. They're less forthcoming with spending for their defense and ours than they should be. However, our combined strength is massive. In alignment together, each nation can avoid duplication of efforts.

Europe, like the USA, has elections and peaceful transitions of power. Nations in Europe and in the USA swing back and forth as the outcome of the elections happen. For nearly twenty years now and probably for the rest of his life, one man has controlled Russia. He's both taken advantage of Europe's lack of military preparedness while claiming at the same time to be taking these measures because Europe and NATO are a grave threat. He's a huge threat to Belarus, the Baltic nations, and Poland. He continues to wage a vicious but undeclared war on the neighboring Christian nation of Ukraine while his propaganda organs proclaim that nation a NAZI nation. He's taken through force alone a large part of that country and caused over 1.7 million of its people to become displaced.

Putin must not fool us, like previous Communist leaders and he has done so far. FDR thought he could charm Uncle Joe. George W. Bush looked in Putin's eyes and didn't see an ex-KGB Colonel, loyal servant of the evil empire, and thug. Bush saw a man we could do business with. Obama and Hillary thought he could reset with Russia, and they removed every US tank from Europe. Trump thinks Russia is someone he can do business with, too. He admires him for his leadership skills and his alleged love of country. But Putin unwaveringly pursues Putin's interests. His interests are as follows. 1) Stay in power. 2) Avoid prosecution. 3) Exacerbate tensions with the West to rally the nationalist card but short of war. 4) Return Russia to its former status as a Super Power at the expense of the USA and Europe. 5) Pursue domestic policies that lead to a chauvinistic nationalism. 6) Fund radical fringe parties and propaganda without regard to ideology to undermine democratic institutions, democratic values, and trust in government. 7) Use the government-established, state-funded Russian Orthodox Church to provide cover for his attacks on Christians in Russia and in neighboring nations. 8) Support like minded bloody dictators like Assad to enhance Russia's geo-political power base and to provide the appearance of a Christian paladin.

It is very difficult to see what about Putin's agenda would be agreeable to an American president.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

The NYT and the rest of the commie media used to LOVE Russia and the USSR before that. They ignored Ob@sTARD’s message to “Vlad” about having more flexibility (to screw over the US) after being elected. They applauded the ill concieved and incompetently executed “Reset button”. Now that they need an excuse for being beaten by Trump, Russia is the enemy and Trump is in their pocket.