NATO was a cold war alliance, so it’s been on shaky ground since 1993. And the fact that it dances to US interests, and the US is plain that their interests might override European ones, is just becoming more obvious because Trump is too stupid to lie well.

People forget now, but original support for Ukraine against Russia started under Obama (Euromaiden had lots of US support), and the wide open support under Biden.

Trump I, while more hesitant, also supported Ukraine, and has often been foolish enough to remove restrictions the Democrats had on them. Remember his first impeachment was due to putting conditions on the military aid he was sending to Ukraine (pre-invasion).

was gonna ask, what aisle is electrical tape in?

Yeah, while the EU as a whole is awful about migration, Spain is one of the least awful.

It’s also why Spain is growing - it takes in immigrants from Africa and Latin America.

Yeah, I’m a Titoist, not a tankie. Chickenhawks like you apparently can’t conceive of any other reason to not support a war, though - that is, as long as you’re not fighting, right?

Russia isn’t attacking Europe. Europe IS pouring money into Ukraine, with the open purpose of bleeding Russia.

If you want to make sure Russia doesn’t attack Europe, it’s already there - nuclear weapons, which France has, and drone factories. You don’t need to create a massive military industrial complex. The only scenario that doesn’t support is Europe attacking Russia - which, from your nonsense about “crushing” Russia, seems to be what you want.

The keys were for a bunch of expensive bullshit though.

Yes, the idiot deciding to use them is a problem - but so is the fact that they don’t work. America was bragging that other nations would find out why they don’t have healthcare . . . .except there’s not even the capability they thought they had.

Judging by the situation in Ukraine if Russia faced a united Europe even without the US it would be crushed

I think that’s not the correct lesson. Ukraine, and now Iran, have shown that like in WWI the defenders in 21st century wars have incredible advantages. And that you need to be able to produce drones in massive numbers.

Neither of those favors Europe attacking Russia. Who, you might want to ALSO remember, is a fucking nuclear power.

If you’re so eager to go fight Russia, go sign up in Ukraine. But it’s a very bad idea for Europe to do so.

The source of those rumors . . . .is apparently the US.

Why would Russia attack Poland, to widen a war that is already a quagmire?

you need to focus! It’s not time for a fiesta!

hey, he finally masked up!

micwosowft is just a smol bean

You’re going to see a brisk business in repurposing.

That requires some form of acid.

It’s most likely that stomachs were used to transport milk, and gave rennet from that source.

So, no actual plan, just “let’s keep stoking the war fires then act surprised when they catch”.

Because you don’t think it’ll be you fighting, I’m willing to guess. Like most chickenhawks, you’re eager to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian - and no further.

The big question is how far will the non-senile members of his administration go to keep the midterms - and if the Democrats will actually impeach and remove if they do manage, in spite of themselves, to get the power to do so.

Oh, I’m familiar with that term. It’s marketing nonsense brought to you by the same people that thought the Laffer Curve was not only real, but that the United States was on the right side of it.

As even your article states, the argument against it is beyond simple, as the figure ignores what the taxes buy. And the exact point is that Europe, with slightly higher taxes, provides significantly more to its citizens for their taxes.

How does it do that? Well, it’s pretty simple - it spends far less on expensive weapons systems (which as the Iran War has shown are overpriced failures at best), and less on things that go to corporate bottom lines, like private medical care.

Maybe that’s a correct course of action against country ran by genocidal motherfucker?

What course of action - please be specific.

And note these same governments you’re saying should be arming Europe are currently arming Israel as well, a nation which unlike Russia (which has a CoE vote against it) actually has a full genocide displayed and levied by the ICC.

You seriously think you can live peacefully with Putler?

Given that Russia is next to Europe, are you suggesting instead that we invade Russia and kill hundreds of millions of people? Or overthrow their government?

No, of course not. Your plan is to fight Russia to the last Ukranian.

Ukraine thought that too.

You mean when the government was overthrown in 2014 to decide to join an anti-Russian alliance with a history of illegal invasions?

I don’t like Russia, but to pretend that they’re just evil orcs is the stupidity usually reserved just for Americans. We need a peace that will enable Europe and Russia to work together, not to have us bleed for the benefit of the Americans.

Your figures are just nowhere near reality - and this - total taxation as government spending in GDP isn’t a thing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_tax_revenue

Your particular case is irrelevant.

No, it’s not. Because it shows exactly why your logic is nonsense.

The US has low overall tax rates - because it cuts the taxes for wealthy people while having tax on labor that is similar to most EU nations. It then also imposes large costs on middle class families to support its spending, which is very much pushed to the arms you seem to think are a good idea.

Its low quality of life isn’t unrelated.

If you want to help Ukraine, feel free to go volunteer. There’s plenty of conscripts there happy to change places with you.

Using them as a proxy to bleed Russia is not helping anyone except the US and weapons manufacturers.

That’s just not true. EU states spend tons of money on healthcare and other programs - the price is much higher taxation than US.

Funny, I (a very high earner) moved from the US to Spain.

My taxes went from roughly 42% to 45%. I also now get health care and education for my kids at a fraction of the price.

I don’t get F-35s that crash in the rain as much, but I’m trying to somehow make due.

And now we have crazy ruskie try hard invading our neighbour

You ever think that maybe the US wasn’t sad about that, and in fact wanted that proxy war? Because they said openly they liked it - see the recently departed Lindsey Graham.

The US might benefit from these nonsense games - they certainly profited from LNG sales after they blew up NordStream. But unlike them, we live next to Russia, so maybe it might be in our interest to live peacefully with them, instead of demanding their complete submission to NATO.