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"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."
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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
Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
More great stuff.
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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'sUSN_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
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Concur. I read some of the transcript last night. Was getting ready to post about it.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
People who know, know.
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Yep, footing the bill for them is bad business.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
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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?
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.
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Do you think we should pay for the peacetime defense of foreign, 1st world countries?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?
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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.
2. I'd find a better way of communicating it than handing an "invoice" to the leader of Germany.
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.
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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. "
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. "
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Bush league.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?
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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.
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:Bush league.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?
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
I call BS on this. The invoice wouldn't be in pounds, it would be in euros.Mcl3 Hokie wrote:Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:Bush league.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?
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Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
In a British newspaper they would likely convert it to pounds.133743Hokie wrote:I call BS on this. The invoice wouldn't be in pounds, it would be in euros.Mcl3 Hokie wrote:Like a "reset" button that actually had the Russian word overcharged on it?
ip_law-hokie wrote:Bush league.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?
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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.
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
Sure it was the point.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.
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.
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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
Re: Mattis tells NATO free ride is over.
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. "
"Juncker FINALLY urges EU members to boost defence spending after pressure from Trump"
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/815 ... ump-brexit