Why are European countries increasing defense spending?

@Thrust I actually do agree with you. Canada should have paid its 2% for sure. But the US would spend that much on their military regardless, its and industry there.

I've always been an advocate of spending more on our military. I'm not a pacifist.

@JimboSaturn Starmer will be putting another 17 Billion into defense, I guess that is a start.

@DogMan Yes he said that he will go above the 2% which is good, Europe and Canada must start spending to defend itself.

@newjaninev2 Did you miss the news three years ago, too??? When Russia invaded Ukraine??? Or are you just as bad as your buddy here???

@HootyTheNightOwl [/quote]

I was referring to that... I have no idea what you're trying to say.

USSR? USSA?

Please be clearer

@HootyTheNightOwl That will NEVER happen!!

@DogMan Well he did side with Russia, after a couple of days with Putin, he said that Zenlynskky started the war and that he is a dictator. Vance then insulted NATO saying they are like the soviets, and Trump has encouraged Russia to invade countries who do pay up like NATO is a protection racket.

It's in the US and Europe's interest not to let Putin do as he pleases in the world, it's a good investment in the long run. The reason the war has gone on this long is that Ukraine is not a NATO country and we can't escalate the way we would like.

I do agree with you that the world has relied on the US for far to long. The world is learning that the US is not longer an ally and friend necessarily.

@JimboSaturn I'm not sure I believe this part that you wrote. "Trump has encouraged Russia to invade countries who do pay up like NATO is a protection racket"

The end result, no matter what, will be Ukraine losing some land. Should we do it now? or keep
running down the coffers while Ukraine is reduced to rubble? Will it be better in 5 years if
we keep pouring money into it? China and Russia would love that wouldn't they?

@DogMan He literally said that and it is recorded. It was one of his stories "hey sir, what if we don't pay, and then I said, hey if you don't pay, I will encourage people to take over your country"

North Korea and China will be emboldened if Putin gets his way not to mention Putin himself. Just make if costly and the America First people will give in!

Now Trump has sucessfully exhorted Ukraine, need help? give me 50% of your minerals. So they are left with 20% less land and half their minerals gone from a war they didn't start.

@DogMan Munich 30 September 1938.

History repeating itself. You appease the bully dictator he'll simply cause greater hell elsewhere later. Then it was Poland the next year. I wouldn't be surprised if history completely repeats itself.

@OldBrit It won't, don't worry. But you need to get rid of Starmer before it does, that's for sure.

He will be another Chamberlin.

@DogMan
I’ve just checked with my wife who is head of faculty at our local Uni and that’s not a thing. And she confirmed it’s neither on any national syllabus or curriculum.

We can discount that.

@WintaTheAngle People around the world talk about it all the time, and study it.

Correct, it hasn't happened yet. But people are working on it. Tell your wife to
leave the faculty lounge and look into it. You can find thousands of articles
on people that are fighting for it. Like George Soros.

@DogMan Well they can do as they wish. The U.K. however just left the EU over concerns it wasn’t being listened to on various issues and to restore full policy making to parliament.

It’s therefore very unlikely that very same electorate would consider a World government.

We aren’t joiners. There’s our interests and then there’s everyone else’s. If others want to surrender regional power that’s their problem. The U.K., our overseas dependencies and so on will not.

@IM5688 Yeah, sure he will. 🤣 You sound like you are looking forward to it.

Are you a war monger?

@DogMan Not at all. Just answering your question simply and to the point.