European Politics

[Royal Gooner]

What? I know Europeans have different mentalities than us. I said if Europe wanted to be a superpower, not that they would want to.

That difference in mentality is why we have military bases all over Europe and spend so much on NATO.

Only EU fanatics like Verhofstadt want that. The rest of the EU were happy with a trading block and occasional political meddling.

[LMAO]

What? I know Europeans have different mentalities than us. I said if Europe wanted to be a superpower, not that they would want to.

That difference in mentality is why we have military bases all over Europe and spend so much on NATO.

Who is Europe?

Europe is a continent made up of countries.

If you're on about the EU then that is France and Germany, the rest of the EU won't fancy going from 2nd rate members to nothing but an after thought.

Also that's not why you have military bases all over the world, its because your one of the biggest countries and so have a bigger budget for defence / war than European nations do.

From context, Europe is the EU.

We have a GDP of $22.7T. The EU has a GDP of $17.1T. I don't want to hear this crap about the second largest economy and the third largest population in the world not having the money or the size for defense, especially when multiple EU countries have called for a unified military. They need to shit or get off the pot.

[EliteKiller]

From context, Europe is the EU.

We have a GDP of $22.7T. The EU has a GDP of $17.1T. I don't want to hear this crap about the second-largest economy and the third-largest population in the world not having the money or the size for defense, especially when multiple EU countries have called for a unified military. They need to shit or get off the pot.

Cold war thinking - just pissing billions away on equipment and manpower that can't even beat a bunch of Vietnamese/Afghan locals - it's a complete waste of time. If there is another war it will be fought with remote technology, from secure basements, by computer nerds.

However, if there is another war we will all be dead in a few hours - US / EU / Russia / China wherever ... to believe different is just archaic.

Better spend the money on making life better not planing to wipe it out.

[DiamondGooner]

What? I know Europeans have different mentalities than us. I said if Europe wanted to be a superpower, not that they would want to.

That difference in mentality is why we have military bases all over Europe and spend so much on NATO.

Who is Europe?

Europe is a continent made up of countries.

If you're on about the EU then that is France and Germany, the rest of the EU won't fancy going from 2nd rate members to nothing but an after thought.

Also that's not why you have military bases all over the world, its because your one of the biggest countries and so have a bigger budget for defence / war than European nations do.

From context, Europe is the EU.

We have a GDP of $22.7T. The EU has a GDP of $17.1T. I don't want to hear this crap about the second largest economy and the third largest population in the world not having the money or the size for defense, especially when multiple EU countries have called for a unified military. They need to shit or get off the pot.

.......... again, the EU is not a country, its a trading bloc made up of countries.

The EU doesn't have $17.T, the countries (not states) combined do if that's what you're stating.

Your over estimating what the EU actually is, yes France and Germany bleat on about it becoming an actual federation but for 90% of its members the EU is and is supposed to be, just a trading bloc and mutual interest.

Like I said, I just don't think you get it from the perspective of independent countries, not states.

This EU Superstate has imo around 10% chance of ever becoming a reality, its basically France and Germany trying to revive the Holy Roman Empire of West Francia and East Francia, countries like Spain, Poland, Italy, Austria, Hungary etc will never give up their soverienty.

[LMAO]

From context, Europe is the EU.

We have a GDP of $22.7T. The EU has a GDP of $17.1T. I don't want to hear this crap about the second-largest economy and the third-largest population in the world not having the money or the size for defense, especially when multiple EU countries have called for a unified military. They need to shit or get off the pot.

Cold war thinking - just pissing billions away on equipment and manpower that can't even beat a bunch of Vietnamese/Afghan locals - it's a complete waste of time. If there is another war it will be fought with remote technology, from secure basements, by computer nerds.

However, if there is another war we will all be dead in a few hours - US / EU / Russia / China wherever ... to believe different is just archaic.

Better spend the money on making life better not planing to wipe it out.

Vietnam wasn't an offensive war for us; America was there to defend the South, and we did. South Vietnam fell after we left.

The US military ran the Taliban out of power in a couple months and stomped Saddam's fourth largest army in the world in three weeks. Conquest is much easier than occupation.

Defense still works and is needed. There's a reason Russia hasn't attacked any NATO countries whereas Putin doesn't mind f***ing with Ukraine (and Georgia).

[LMAO]

.......... again, the EU is not a country, its a trading bloc made up of countries.

The EU doesn't have $17.T, the countries (not states) combined do if that's what you're stating.

Your over estimating what the EU actually is, yes France and Germany bleat on about it becoming an actual federation but for 90% of its members the EU is and is supposed to be, just a trading bloc and mutual interest.

Like I said, I just don't think you get it from the perspective of independent countries, not states.

This EU Superstate has imo around 10% chance of ever becoming a reality, its basically France and Germany trying to revive the Holy Roman Empire of West Francia and East Francia, countries like Spain, Poland, Italy, Austria, Hungary etc will never give up their soverienty.

Yes, but my point is that some of the EU wants to go further than that, and that's where the money and population comes in. It's not just Germany and France. Italy and Hungary have voiced support for a European military (I think Greece may have too?).

I also know it won't work unless there's a separate agreement from specific countries. The Baltic states and Poland love America (NATO) and would much prefer to cozy up with us because of the Cold War days and they don't trust Western Europe for protection as much as America.

[Phil71]

Meeting of Biden, Boris and a number of European leaders tonight fearing Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

[22-0]

Meeting of Biden, Boris and a number of European leaders tonight fearing Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

thats not what biden fears its prob what the russians uncover in ukraine.

[22-0]

Meeting of Biden, Boris and a number of European leaders tonight fearing Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

thats not what biden fears its prob what the russians uncover in ukraine.

[Phil71]

Meeting of Biden, Boris and a number of European leaders tonight fearing Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

thats not what biden fears its prob what the russians uncover in ukraine.

Like what?

[22-0]

ukraine has been the hotspot for US politicians for everything under the sun.

[Jedi]

Meeting of Biden, Boris and a number of European leaders tonight fearing Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

thats not what biden fears its prob what the russians uncover in ukraine.

What brand of crack are you smoking?

[Phil71]

ukraine has been the hotspot for US politicians for everything under the sun.

Like what?

[LMAO]

Germany has a new chancellor for the first time in 16 years. Maybe their new government with Baerbock as foreign minister will be tougher on China and Russia.

[Phil71]

Germany has a new chancellor for the first time in 16 years. Maybe their new government with Baerbock as foreign minister will be tougher on China and Russia.

They've already said that they will.