Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Your Virginia Tech Politics and Religion source
Forum rules
Be Civil. Go Hokies.
Post Reply
User avatar
USN_Hokie
Posts: 30831
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:58 pm
Party: Draintheswamp

Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by USN_Hokie »

More great stuff.
...

"No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values," Mattis told the alliance's 27 other defense ministers, according to a text of his remarks. "Americans cannot care more for your children's future security than you do."

....

Citing danger from Russia, Mattis told the closed meeting of ministers they must adopt a plan this year that sets dates for governments to meet a military funding goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product. He called the funding increase a "fair demand" based on the "political reality" in Washington, an apparent reference to Trump's past criticism of NATO as "obsolete" and his much-touted "'America First" mantra.

Noting the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, Mattis said: "Some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what is happening."

...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-chi ... itics.html
User avatar
awesome guy
Posts: 54187
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 7:10 pm
Party: After 10
Location: Plastic Flotilla:Location Classified

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by awesome guy »

Great stuff
Unvaccinated,. mask free, and still alive.
cwtcr hokie
Posts: 13399
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:25 pm

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by cwtcr hokie »

USN_Hokie wrote:More great stuff.
...

"No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values," Mattis told the alliance's 27 other defense ministers, according to a text of his remarks. "Americans cannot care more for your children's future security than you do."

....

Citing danger from Russia, Mattis told the closed meeting of ministers they must adopt a plan this year that sets dates for governments to meet a military funding goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product. He called the funding increase a "fair demand" based on the "political reality" in Washington, an apparent reference to Trump's past criticism of NATO as "obsolete" and his much-touted "'America First" mantra.

Noting the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, Mattis said: "Some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what is happening."

...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-chi ... itics.html
the euro block is a disaster financially, no idea how they can spend more on defense with the euro in as bad a shape as it is, never mind Japan that has still not recovered from the 90's
HokieJoe
Posts: 13122
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:12 pm
Alma Mater: Virginia Tech
Party: Eclectic

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by HokieJoe »

Great news! We've helped subsidize NATO members welfare states for decades. It is well nigh time they carry a bit more of the load for their own national defense.
"I predict future happiness for Americans, if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Thomas Jefferson
TheH2
Posts: 3168
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 1:06 pm

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by TheH2 »

USN_Hokie wrote:More great stuff.
...

"No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values," Mattis told the alliance's 27 other defense ministers, according to a text of his remarks. "Americans cannot care more for your children's future security than you do."

....

Citing danger from Russia, Mattis told the closed meeting of ministers they must adopt a plan this year that sets dates for governments to meet a military funding goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product. He called the funding increase a "fair demand" based on the "political reality" in Washington, an apparent reference to Trump's past criticism of NATO as "obsolete" and his much-touted "'America First" mantra.

Noting the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, Mattis said: "Some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what is happening."

...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-chi ... itics.html
Concur. I read some of the transcript last night. Was getting ready to post about it.
People who know, know.
HokieFanDC
Posts: 18547
Joined: Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:57 pm

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by HokieFanDC »

USN_Hokie wrote:More great stuff.
...

"No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of Western values," Mattis told the alliance's 27 other defense ministers, according to a text of his remarks. "Americans cannot care more for your children's future security than you do."

....

Citing danger from Russia, Mattis told the closed meeting of ministers they must adopt a plan this year that sets dates for governments to meet a military funding goal of 2 percent of gross domestic product. He called the funding increase a "fair demand" based on the "political reality" in Washington, an apparent reference to Trump's past criticism of NATO as "obsolete" and his much-touted "'America First" mantra.

Noting the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, Mattis said: "Some in this alliance have looked away in denial of what is happening."

...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/pentagon-chi ... itics.html
Yep, footing the bill for them is bad business.
User avatar
HooFighter
Posts: 4290
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:16 pm
Party: all the time

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by HooFighter »

I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Image

Donald Trump is a stupid man's idea of a smart man, a poor man's idea of a rich man, and a weak man's idea of a strong man.
User avatar
USN_Hokie
Posts: 30831
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:58 pm
Party: Draintheswamp

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by USN_Hokie »

HooFighter wrote:I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Do you think we should pay for the peacetime defense of foreign, 1st world countries?
User avatar
HooFighter
Posts: 4290
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:16 pm
Party: all the time

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by HooFighter »

1. To an extent, yes. European security is important to the US, but it is a two way street. That wasn't really the point though.
2. I'd find a better way of communicating it than handing an "invoice" to the leader of Germany.
Image

Donald Trump is a stupid man's idea of a smart man, a poor man's idea of a rich man, and a weak man's idea of a strong man.
fatman
Posts: 2439
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:18 am

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by fatman »

Trump's actions speak louder than his words, none of this blister is credible. If he were credible, he'd have cut us did spending and pulled back on us bases in Europe.


Trump's actions indicate that he is not serious about any of this. See all the expansion in us dod spending. What trump really said was "keep your checkbook in your pants, the us will pay for all this. "
User avatar
ip_law-hokie
Posts: 19133
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:20 pm
Alma Mater: Manchester
Location: New York, NY

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by ip_law-hokie »

HooFighter wrote:I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Bush league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
With their Cap’n and Chief Intelligence Officer having deserted them, River, Ham and Joe valiantly continue their whataboutismistic last stand of the DJT apology tour.
Mcl3 Hokie
Posts: 1477
Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2013 2:50 pm

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by Mcl3 Hokie »

Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:
HooFighter wrote:I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Bush league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
133743Hokie
Posts: 11220
Joined: Thu Aug 22, 2013 12:29 am

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by 133743Hokie »

Mcl3 Hokie wrote:Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:
HooFighter wrote:I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Bush league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I call BS on this. The invoice wouldn't be in pounds, it would be in euros.
User avatar
HooFighter
Posts: 4290
Joined: Fri Aug 23, 2013 1:16 pm
Party: all the time

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by HooFighter »

133743Hokie wrote:
Mcl3 Hokie wrote:Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:
HooFighter wrote:I'm trying to picture how exactly this went down in their meeting. Do you think he actually handed the "invoice" to her, or did he make Steve Bannon do it?

Image
Bush league.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I call BS on this. The invoice wouldn't be in pounds, it would be in euros.
In a British newspaper they would likely convert it to pounds.
Image

Donald Trump is a stupid man's idea of a smart man, a poor man's idea of a rich man, and a weak man's idea of a strong man.
User avatar
USN_Hokie
Posts: 30831
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:58 pm
Party: Draintheswamp

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by USN_Hokie »

HooFighter wrote:1. To an extent, yes. European security is important to the US, but it is a two way street. That wasn't really the point though.
2. I'd find a better way of communicating it than handing an "invoice" to the leader of Germany.
Sure it was the point.

I think it's hilarious that the party who thought "we gonna fix errrrerything" with a speech and unicorn farts for 8 years is suddenly taken aback at Trump making a symbolic gesture.
User avatar
USN_Hokie
Posts: 30831
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:58 pm
Party: Draintheswamp

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by USN_Hokie »

fatman wrote: Trump's actions indicate that he is not serious about any of this.
Tillerson Delivers NATO Allies a Familiar Message: Pay Up
By GARDINER HARRISMARCH 31, 2017

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/31/worl ... -nato.html
User avatar
USN_Hokie
Posts: 30831
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:58 pm
Party: Draintheswamp

Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.

Post by USN_Hokie »

fatman wrote:Trump's actions speak louder than his words, none of this blister is credible. If he were credible, he'd have cut us did spending and pulled back on us bases in Europe.


Trump's actions indicate that he is not serious about any of this. See all the expansion in us dod spending. What trump really said was "keep your checkbook in your pants, the us will pay for all this. "
Image

"Juncker FINALLY urges EU members to boost defence spending after pressure from Trump"

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/815 ... ump-brexit
Post Reply