Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 13, 2018 Report Share Posted July 13, 2018 Crayons are no good, they'd only eat them.....Probably wouldn't even peel them first, Philistines! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 So will the French be in charge? https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/14/sky-high-gallic-pride-takes-knock-french-air-force-bastille/ Alzoc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord_James Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 35 minutes ago, Sgt.Squarehead said: So will the French be in charge? It would have to be a white flag, then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Hey.....At least they're good at football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 More European efficiency: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44871788 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alzoc Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 16 minutes ago, Sgt.Squarehead said: More European efficiency: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44871788 That was one was too funny^^ They stole the design of DNCS's Scorpène but failed to calculate the mass properly so the Sub couldn't surface (it could sink very well though). So they had to increase it's size to increase the buoyancy and they only discover now that it can't fit into the dock anymore xD Stealing intellectual property is all nice and dandy until you realize that you are incapable of actually building what you got your hands on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collimatrix Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Alzoc said: That was one was too funny^^ They stole the design of DNCS's Scorpène but failed to calculate the mass properly so the Sub couldn't surface (it could sink very well though). So they had to increase it's size to increase the buoyancy and they only discover now that it can't fit into the dock anymore xD Stealing intellectual property is all nice and dandy until you realize that you are incapable of actually building what you got your hands on. Spanish ships having trouble floating? Sounds like they're keeping with the finest traditions of the Armada. Lord_James, Alzoc and Bronezhilet 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xlucine Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 €1bn isn't too far off proper SSN money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord_James Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 On 7/12/2018 at 6:47 AM, Collimatrix said: The more I look at this, the angrier I get. Personally: I would rip out ~60% of US funding (leaving about $250 tril) and let NATO figure out how to pay their own bills. If they can’t, no skin off my back, and maybe that money could be used to pay for stuff over here. And, let’s be honest, it’s not like there’s anything threatening Europe that NATO couldn’t (theoretically) handle themselves: the Russians sure as hell cant afford a real fight with NATO, and Turkey isn’t a threat either. Hell, the biggest threat to the EU is themselves and their retarded immigration policies, but that’s nothing a little coup can’t change Jeeps_Guns_Tanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramlaen Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Lord_James said: The more I look at this, the angrier I get. Personally: I would rip out ~60% of US funding (leaving about $250 tril) and let NATO figure out how to pay their own bills. If they can’t, no skin off my back, and maybe that money could be used to pay for stuff over here. And, let’s be honest, it’s not like there’s anything threatening Europe that NATO couldn’t (theoretically) handle themselves: the Russians sure as hell cant afford a real fight with NATO, and Turkey isn’t a threat either. Hell, the biggest threat to the EU is themselves and their retarded immigration policies, but that’s nothing a little coup can’t change I don't think gutting the US military would benefit us that much. Even if all of NATO raised their defense spending to the same % as the US we would probably still outspend them combined due to the sheer size of the US economy. BTW Ukraine is spending something like 6% on defense. Edited July 19, 2018 by Ramlaen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alzoc Posted July 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 The chart is about percent of GDP spent in the military, not the NATO budget. The US pay about 22,1% of the budget followed by Germany (14,6%) France (10,6) and the UK (9,8) So while the US still ends up paying more, it is not as unbalanced as gross spending and GDP spending. Besides NATO budget itself is ridiculously small. The 2% target by 2024 is another matter as it aim to make sure that each member have a credible military (and that is even discutable given how the 2% are calculated) compared to their wealth. And here it is true that most European country don't pay much compared to how much they could spend (even per capita it is true). So reducing the 3,6% of GDP that the US spend on it's defence would only mean shrinking the US military, which would most likely impair it's ability to project force all over the world (which is why NATO is a credible alliance: because the US can send sizeable contingent to help anywhere they want). So it is true that NATO remain relevant almost solely thanks to the US ability to send massive amount of forces abroad, and while reducing US spending would force the other allies to take matters on their hands and spend more, it would also mean that the US influence over the world would be drastically reduced. Alternatively the US could leave NATO, which would also force the allies to spend more but wouldn't save a penny to the US. It would most likely be a net loss for the US since they would lose some "soft" power they had through NATO, wouldn't be able to set the STANAG in line with US tech any more and some countries (especially in eastern Europe) would stop buying American weapons as a political token altogether To sum up the US pulling out of NATO would be detrimental to everybody (US included) and would be an illogical move (though the trade war was also illogical and detrimental to everybody as well). A better outcome for everybody would be for the allies (especially for EU countries) to step up in order to stand as equals in military worth, we would reach an equilibrium which would mean more stability (on a slight note it would mean a proportionally lower US influence over the world since it is a zero sum game to some extent). Alternatively the US could reduce it's spending down to 2% of it's GDP which would mean a better balance as well, but given the current trend I think it is both unlikely and probably not a good idea. Bronezhilet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord_James Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Ramlaen said: I don't think gutting the US military would benefit us that much. Even if all of NATO raised their defense spending to the same % as the US we would probably still outspend them combined due to the sheer size of the US economy. BTW Ukraine is spending something like 6% on defense. Oh shit, I misread. I though this was a “who’s finding NATO”, not “general expenditures of countries in NATO”. Please disregard. Bronezhilet 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donward Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 Trump rips Macron for proposing new EU army to defend against US https://nypost.com/2018/11/09/trump-rips-macron-for-proposing-new-eu-army-to-defend-against-us/ “We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” Macron said on French radio. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46108633 "Who is the main victim? Europe and its security. I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country - but we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 9 hours ago, Donward said: Trump rips Macron for proposing new EU army to defend against US https://nypost.com/2018/11/09/trump-rips-macron-for-proposing-new-eu-army-to-defend-against-us/ “We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” Macron said on French radio. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46108633 "Who is the main victim? Europe and its security. I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country - but we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States." "Stop trying to wriggle out from under our thumb!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oedipus Wreckx-n-Effect Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 Boy, the EU can be an ungrateful dickhead. But I appreciate it. Go ahead, fuck off with NATO and make your own little pact with Russia. Can't wait to see what sort of military you build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoooSeR Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 20 minutes ago, Oedipus Wreckx-n-Effect said: Boy, the EU can be an ungrateful dickhead. But I appreciate it. Go ahead, fuck off with NATO and make your own little pact with Russia. Can't wait to see what sort of military you build. With few changes this is exactly what opinion was here about WarPact countries in early 1990s, AFAIK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oedipus Wreckx-n-Effect Posted November 10, 2018 Report Share Posted November 10, 2018 4 minutes ago, LoooSeR said: With few changes this is exactly what opinion was here about WarPact countries in early 1990s, AFAIK. I don't know anything about the changes in the warsaw pact countries in the early 1990s. If you have time, can you elaborate and/or educate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donward Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 I believe Loooser is talking about the Soviets pulling out of the Warsaw Pact countries a couple years before the whole Soviet Union broke up, implying that the US would break apart as a Federal republic after it leaves NATO. @Oedipus Wreckx-n-Effect I’m not disparaging the notion of the country breaking apart. It was a fear of our Founding Fathers and almost happened a couple times in our history. But I doubt the political or economic downfall of the US will be brought about by asking that our NATO allies actually fulfill their treaty obligations by contributing to the alliance militarily or financially, a task they’ve shirked now for almost three decades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramlaen Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 16 hours ago, Toxn said: "Stop trying to wriggle out from under our thumb!" Why would we be pestering NATO members to spend more on their own self defense when that has the opposite effect of keeping them 'under our thumb'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 For being the side of the political spectrum that screeches endlessly about nuance, the Left really can't seem to get any, here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 2 hours ago, Ramlaen said: Why would we be pestering NATO members to spend more on their own self defense when that has the opposite effect of keeping them 'under our thumb'? Is joke, comrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 2 hours ago, Sturgeon said: For being the side of the political spectrum that screeches endlessly about nuance, the Left really can't seem to get any, here. Like, they don't get any from the other side or they don't have the capacity for nuance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturgeon Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 3 minutes ago, Toxn said: Like, they don't get any from the other side or they don't have the capacity for nuance? Trump wanting the EU to spend more on defense does not imply the US will be attacking them. Macron is playing kindergarten games here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Just now, Sturgeon said: Trump wanting the EU to spend more on defense does not imply the US will be attacking them. Macron is playing kindergarten games here. Ah, gotcha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toxn Posted November 11, 2018 Report Share Posted November 11, 2018 Actually engaging with this thing for a bit, my take is that this is one of the situations where analogising nations as (utterly selfish) individuals works fine for understanding the dynamics at play. What the US 'wants' is an opponent (Russia) contained, an ally (the EU) pliant and not to bear any burden for either. So the US is pushed towards the logical but mutually contradictory position of wanting NATO to up funding without giving up any control. What France 'wants', by contrast, is a dangerous opponent (Russia) contained, political freedom of action and someone else (the US) paying for it all. Which is again mutually contradictory. Both have a mutual goal (contain Russia) but both are pushed by their wants to act in mutually contradictory and opposed ways. So the spat spins out in a fairly game theory-esque manner as they haggle towards the impossible. So I don't see either side as being illogical or acting stupidly here. They're being leaders in the intended sense of expressing their nation's desires and acting in it's self-interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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