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The New Coffee Room

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  2. General Discussion
  3. So, Klaus.

So, Klaus.

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  • Catseye3C Offline
    Catseye3C Offline
    Catseye3
    wrote on last edited by Catseye3
    #1

    What do you think of the decision to withdraw nearly 12,000 American troops from Germany?

    And:

    Of the troops leaving Germany some 5,400 will be "staying in Europe" but the official would not identify the exact locations that they will be moving to.

    Trump, who directed the move, said he did so because of Berlin's failure to meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense, spending only about 1.38%.

    Trump: "One of the only countries that hasn't agreed to pay what they're supposed to pay (on NATO) is Germany. So, I said until they pay, we're removing our soldiers, a number of our soldiers, by about half. Then when we get down to about 25,000, we'll see where we're going," Trump said last month.

    A defense official confirmed that the repositioning will take "months to plan and years to execute," will potentially cost billions of dollars, and could be reversed should Trump lose the election in November.

    (The above was cobbled from the CNN article at https://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_a2393f032654c6934d99a16c6910ded6)

    Power in the hands of an infant.

    I wonder if this move will even successfully get off the ground.

    Every day brings something new to worry about with this fool.

    Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

    1 Reply Last reply
    • KlausK Offline
      KlausK Offline
      Klaus
      wrote on last edited by Klaus
      #2

      Well, I think the complaint that Germany doesn't spend enough on its military is justified. Our military is pathetic.

      Whether it's a strategically clever move to move US soldiers is another question. If that move came from a US president who thinks before he talks, it might change a few minds, but as it is now it is too easy to dismiss it as yet another crazy move from the lunatic in the White House.

      That said, I assume his main motivation isn't to change Germany's NATO spending but to win votes at home. Whether that move works towards that end I cannot say.

      Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
      • jon-nycJ Offline
        jon-nycJ Offline
        jon-nyc
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        For a guy who’s not a Russian agent he sure does Putin’s bidding a lot.

        Only non-witches get due process.

        • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
        L 1 Reply Last reply
        • KlausK Klaus

          Well, I think the complaint that Germany doesn't spend enough on its military is justified. Our military is pathetic.

          Whether it's a strategically clever move to move US soldiers is another question. If that move came from a US president who thinks before he talks, it might change a few minds, but as it is now it is too easy to dismiss it as yet another crazy move from the lunatic in the White House.

          That said, I assume his main motivation isn't to change Germany's NATO spending but to win votes at home. Whether that move works towards that end I cannot say.

          Catseye3C Offline
          Catseye3C Offline
          Catseye3
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          @Klaus said in So, Klaus.:

          I assume his main motivation isn't to change Germany's NATO spending but to win votes at home.

          Yes, he's getting ever more frantic -- and more unhinged -- to win re-election. Witness his unconscionable tweet on his administrative rule change on housing: "All of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood . . . Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down."

          Way to stoke the flames, Donald. More unrest, toward which you get to send in more illegal troops! We'll have to procure you a lyre so you can fiddle like the Emperor Nero while the cities burn.

          I think we can safely assume that everything he does from now on will be in support of his re-election. He is obsessed with that.

          Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

          1 Reply Last reply
          • KlausK Offline
            KlausK Offline
            Klaus
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            I saw that tweet about "suburban housing" somewhere but I'm missing the context to judge it. What is it about?

            Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
            • KlausK Klaus

              I saw that tweet about "suburban housing" somewhere but I'm missing the context to judge it. What is it about?

              Catseye3C Offline
              Catseye3C Offline
              Catseye3
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              @Klaus said in So, Klaus.:

              I saw that tweet about "suburban housing" somewhere but I'm missing the context to judge it. What is it about?

              The story is here: https://lite.cnn.com/en/article/h_12ea1ab7a2ec5ef1f461ec38310438e8

              Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

              1 Reply Last reply
              • 89th8 Offline
                89th8 Offline
                89th
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                This move might earn him 5 votes and lose him 10. He could’ve easily won in November had he taken COVID more seriously. That was the main meal. Now he’s fighting for percentage scraps.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                  For a guy who’s not a Russian agent he sure does Putin’s bidding a lot.

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Loki
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  @jon-nyc said in So, Klaus.:

                  For a guy who’s not a Russian agent he sure does Putin’s bidding a lot.

                  Yeah Putin guided him really well toward another four years. LOL

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • LarryL Offline
                    LarryL Offline
                    Larry
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I wonder if it has ever occurred to the Trump bashers that decisions like this involve complex discussions and planning with our top military officials...

                    Nah.

                    KlausK jon-nycJ 2 Replies Last reply
                    • LarryL Larry

                      I wonder if it has ever occurred to the Trump bashers that decisions like this involve complex discussions and planning with our top military officials...

                      Nah.

                      KlausK Offline
                      KlausK Offline
                      Klaus
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      @Larry said in So, Klaus.:

                      I wonder if it has ever occurred to the Trump bashers that decisions like this involve complex discussions and planning with our top military officials...

                      Well, yes, it should. But we both know that Trump doesn't do that. He watches something on Fox and based on his impulses of the day he tweets his next policy decision.

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • LarryL Offline
                        LarryL Offline
                        Larry
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        That's your opinion. Fortunately, your opinion is incorrect.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • HoraceH Offline
                          HoraceH Offline
                          Horace
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          It is my impression that Trump cedes decisions like this largely to his military commanders. Especially when it's not clear that the electorate would care one way or another.

                          Education is extremely important.

                          bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
                          • LarryL Larry

                            I wonder if it has ever occurred to the Trump bashers that decisions like this involve complex discussions and planning with our top military officials...

                            Nah.

                            jon-nycJ Offline
                            jon-nycJ Offline
                            jon-nyc
                            wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                            #13

                            @Larry said in So, Klaus.:

                            I wonder if it has ever occurred to Trump bashers that decisions like this should involve complex discussions and planning with our top military officials...

                            Nah.

                            FIFY

                            Only non-witches get due process.

                            • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • HoraceH Horace

                              It is my impression that Trump cedes decisions like this largely to his military commanders. Especially when it's not clear that the electorate would care one way or another.

                              bachophileB Offline
                              bachophileB Offline
                              bachophile
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              @Horace said in So, Klaus.:

                              It is my impression that Trump cedes decisions like this largely to his military commanders. Especially when it's not clear that the electorate would care one way or another.

                              Read Bolton’s book. Trump doesn’t cede decisions. Certainly not to military people. He only likes generals until they start working for him. Then he mistrusts them completely. And yes, he likes making Putin happy because he deeply is jealous of successful autocrats.

                              LarryL 1 Reply Last reply
                              • JollyJ Offline
                                JollyJ Offline
                                Jolly
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Somebody explain to me why we are keeping troops in Germany in 2020? Are we so afraid of the Germans, that we think there will be an immediate return to militarism as soon as we leave? Do we think the Germans cannot defend the Fulda Gap from the Bear?

                                “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                RenaudaR 1 Reply Last reply
                                • bachophileB bachophile

                                  @Horace said in So, Klaus.:

                                  It is my impression that Trump cedes decisions like this largely to his military commanders. Especially when it's not clear that the electorate would care one way or another.

                                  Read Bolton’s book. Trump doesn’t cede decisions. Certainly not to military people. He only likes generals until they start working for him. Then he mistrusts them completely. And yes, he likes making Putin happy because he deeply is jealous of successful autocrats.

                                  LarryL Offline
                                  LarryL Offline
                                  Larry
                                  wrote on last edited by Larry
                                  #16

                                  @bachophile said in So, Klaus.:

                                  @Horace said in So, Klaus.:

                                  It is my impression that Trump cedes decisions like this largely to his military commanders. Especially when it's not clear that the electorate would care one way or another.

                                  Read Bolton’s book. Trump doesn’t cede decisions. Certainly not to military people. He only likes generals until they start working for him. Then he mistrusts them completely. And yes, he likes making Putin happy because he deeply is jealous of successful autocrats.

                                  Why are you taking Bolton's word for it? It's already been proven that it's just a bunch of opinionated crap out of a guy who's pissed off that he got canned. What you described is precisely what Obama did.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • JollyJ Jolly

                                    Somebody explain to me why we are keeping troops in Germany in 2020? Are we so afraid of the Germans, that we think there will be an immediate return to militarism as soon as we leave? Do we think the Germans cannot defend the Fulda Gap from the Bear?

                                    RenaudaR Offline
                                    RenaudaR Offline
                                    Renauda
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    @Jolly said in So, Klaus.:

                                    Somebody explain to me why we are keeping troops in Germany in 2020? Are we so afraid of the Germans, that we think there will be an immediate return to militarism as soon as we leave? Do we think the Germans cannot defend the Fulda Gap from the Bear?

                                    No, but it really seems to irritate the US that the Germans will invest into and buy Russian gas over US LNG.

                                    Elbows up!

                                    JollyJ 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • RenaudaR Renauda

                                      @Jolly said in So, Klaus.:

                                      Somebody explain to me why we are keeping troops in Germany in 2020? Are we so afraid of the Germans, that we think there will be an immediate return to militarism as soon as we leave? Do we think the Germans cannot defend the Fulda Gap from the Bear?

                                      No, but it really seems to irritate the US that the Germans will invest into and buy Russian gas over US LNG.

                                      JollyJ Offline
                                      JollyJ Offline
                                      Jolly
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      @Renauda said in So, Klaus.:

                                      @Jolly said in So, Klaus.:

                                      Somebody explain to me why we are keeping troops in Germany in 2020? Are we so afraid of the Germans, that we think there will be an immediate return to militarism as soon as we leave? Do we think the Germans cannot defend the Fulda Gap from the Bear?

                                      No, but it really seems to irritate the US that the Germans will invest into and buy Russian gas over US LNG.

                                      Certainly. It's an economic competition, waged in a political theater.

                                      “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                                      Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • RenaudaR Offline
                                        RenaudaR Offline
                                        Renauda
                                        wrote on last edited by Renauda
                                        #19

                                        At least you admit it. Still, the Monroe Doctrine really has no play in Europe and US policy towards Russia has been dismal for last twenty odd years. Trump and company haven't improved it in the least.

                                        I tend to agree though, American troops should go home.

                                        Elbows up!

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