
"What is the point of NATO anymore?" Topic
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Legion 4  | 09 Apr 2026 1:18 p.m. PST |
SBm +1 SECGEN of NATO is being realistic. And he knows … the Western NATO members in their current situation, without the USA … NATO is not a real deterrent … He seems to want to keep NATO together which includes its critical linchpin … the USA. |
| Tango01 | 09 Apr 2026 5:33 p.m. PST |
What Do Conservatives Mean by "Western Civilization"? "…Over the last several hundred years we might take Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Heidegger, Gramsci, Sartre, and MacIntyre as a representative set of intellectuals without which the Western canon could not be complete. And yet, for some of these thinkers their ideas have an ambivalent relationship at best to Rubio's description of the West (Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Heidegger, Sartre) while others (Marx, Nietzsche, Freud, Gramsci) would be actively opposed to it. In MacIntyre's case, he was a Catholic steeped in Thomism, yet also an avowed Marxist who wanted nothing to do with "the West"—MacIntyre may be on the syllabus, but does he get a building named after him?
To take another edge case, we might ask: Is Russia part of Western civilization? On one hand, it's impossible to imagine the canon without Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Andrei Rublev. Yet, Russia has always had an oppressive, autocratic government inimical to the freedom and equality integral to the West. Do thinkers who have upheld Russian authoritarianism such as Ivan Ilyin, Vladimir Lenin, and Alexander Dugin count as legitimate representatives of Western civilization? How can we be consistent in claiming all the Russians we like as part of the West while excluding all those we don't? There are yet more yawning chasms of disagreement over the rightful heirs to the West (integralists, postliberals, neo-reactionaries), but suffice to say that, from a purely analytical perspective, this phrase is so capacious as to verge on meaningless. Does Western civilization lend itself to democracy and liberalism or authoritarianism and theocracy? All of the above, and then some. F.A. Hayek, noted libertarian economist, once described conservatives (Western civilization appreciators), in contrast to classical liberals, as being forced to resort "so frequently" to "mysticism" to defend their positions, a critique conservatives would do well to consider. Defenders of the West face a double bind. One option entails acknowledging that, by "Western civilization," what's really meant is Anglo-American classical liberalism, an admission which significantly truncates the horizon of acceptable discourse. The other is to embrace an understanding of Western civilization that is, to use a Chestertonian phrase, so open-minded that our brains fall out. While the former necessarily comes with certain self-imposed epistemic limitations, the latter creates an ouroboros situation where it's not even clear why the West is worth preserving…" link
Armand
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| Tango01 | 10 Apr 2026 5:22 p.m. PST |
NATO and the Bar Fight: A Bar Tab Europe Expects America To Pay Forever link Armand
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35thOVI  | 10 Apr 2026 5:38 p.m. PST |
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SBminisguy  | 10 Apr 2026 8:15 p.m. PST |
Wow -- just when I couldn't be surprised anymore… Surprise! Iran was recently nominated to the United Nations' Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) on April 9, 2026. This body advises on UN program priorities, including human rights, women's rights, gender equality, disarmament, and terrorism prevention. Iran's nomination was supported by… UK, France, Germany, Canada, Spain, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, and Finland. link I mean, not only did most of these nations refuse to provide even passive support for US operations to destroy Iran's nuclear program by denying the US the right to operate from bases in Europe the US built and pays for… they then closed their airspace to US planes… they rushed to the cameras to denounce America… Spain announced it's opening an embassy in Tehran… and now they support the world's foremost abuser of human rights, maybe second only to the CCP…the largest sponsor of terrorism… unrepentnely driving to get Nukes and which just butchered 30,000 people… to a comittee on the UN on " including human rights, women's rights, gender equality, disarmament, and terrorism prevention." Wow… From the barroom analogy posted by Tango with my own edits: "Think about what that means in bar fight terms. Your mate is in the middle of a brawl. The other guy has been throwing punches for fifty years. Your mate finally swings back — hard. And rather than stand up, his so-called friends at the bar won't even move their chairs out of the way…then they harangue their mate for being a trouble maker and buy the other guy a drink." |
Legion 4  | 10 Apr 2026 8:34 p.m. PST |
The UN is broken and NATO may not be too far behind … |
35thOVI  | 11 Apr 2026 5:28 a.m. PST |
SB and Legion +1 The UN has been dead for decades. The stench is rank. Only in NYC would the smell not be noticed. 😏 Take the building, ship the delegates home and leave it! IMHO. Probably get rid of a lot of spy's too. |
Tortorella  | 11 Apr 2026 5:49 a.m. PST |
A little hard on NYC, 35th! There are plenty of solid citizens there who will never forget 9/11, politics aside. But I agree on the UN, our generation's League of Nations has lost whatever minimal influence it might have had years ago. It draws no attention, has no impact. |
35thOVI  | 11 Apr 2026 5:58 a.m. PST |
Only Aimed at those who elected Zohran Mamdani. 😉 |
Legion 4  | 11 Apr 2026 5:15 p.m. PST |
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Legion 4  | 11 Apr 2026 5:15 p.m. PST |
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SBminisguy  | 15 Apr 2026 4:47 a.m. PST |
Interesting. Continuing to see so many European politicians het all ragefull at Trump. I'm sure the promotion of this is due as much to Chinese/Russian troll farms and EU Federalists as any thing else -- but I think its not so much rage at one man so much as its rage against an assertive America that is exercising power without thier permission and in ways that benefit America more than Europe. |
| Tango01 | 16 Apr 2026 5:25 p.m. PST |
Germany Is Now Airdropping Its Tiny Wiesel ‘Tankettes' link Armand |
SBminisguy  | 16 Apr 2026 6:14 p.m. PST |
?? That's not new, the Wiesel was designed to fit into a standard cargo plane for being airdropped. |
Legion 4  | 18 Apr 2026 7:59 a.m. PST |
Yes, they are tiny … they look like the size of an early WWII light tank … |
SBminisguy  | 18 Apr 2026 8:37 a.m. PST |
If you play the Warthunder MMO the Wiesel is fun to zoom around in. The autocannon variant can kill APCs from any angle and even MBTs in the flank, and the TOW variant is deadly at range. |
| Tango01 | 18 Apr 2026 5:08 p.m. PST |
The Baltic Is NATO's New Front Line "In July 1940, just days after the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov warned the Lithuanian deputy prime minister that ‘in the future, small nations will have to disappear.' The Baltic states and Finland, Molotov added, would ‘have to join the glorious family of the Soviet Union.' Historical analyses of European security have tended to relegate the Baltic region to the sidelines, focusing instead on major players, such as Britain, France, Germany and the Mediterranean states. Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has forced us to rethink this traditional perspective. In Baltic, Oliver Moody explains how in the space of just a few years, the Baltic region has moved to centre stage, becoming the geopolitical key to Europe's future. Moody has been the Berlin bureau chief of The Times since 2018, covering Germany and northern and central Europe. Moody's argument is straightforward. Of all Russia's possible invasion plans, the most predictable is an attack towards the west. And in this scenario, Russia is most likely to start with the Baltic peninsula, the smallest and most vulnerable part of NATO. As a result, it has never been more important to understand the political and security issues surrounding the Baltic. Moody starts with a review of the littoral states: the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania; their Nordic neighbours Denmark, Finland and Sweden; and fellow NATO members Germany and Poland. Russia has access to the Baltic Sea through its second largest city, Saint Petersburg, and its military exclave Kaliningrad, which is squeezed between Poland and Lithuania. Each of the Baltic borderlands is different. The small size and populations of the three Baltic republics make them particularly vulnerable to Russian incursion. Their defence is made more difficult by each having large Russian-speaking minorities…" link Armand
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| Tango01 | 22 Apr 2026 5:26 p.m. PST |
Germany unveils strategy for becoming Europe's strongest military by 2039 link Armand |
| noggin2nog | 24 Apr 2026 10:48 a.m. PST |
2039? I wonder why they picked that date? |
35thOVI  | 24 Apr 2026 11:48 a.m. PST |
100 years after 1939. Something about that date rings a bell. Brings polish sausage to mind for some reason, and sauerkraut too??? 🤔 |
SBminisguy  | 24 Apr 2026 1:55 p.m. PST |
Germany unveils strategy for becoming Europe's strongest military by 2039 They can't achieve that without fundamental changes. 1. They offshored their steel industry to China 2. The dismantled their energy grid to "Go Green" and no longer have reliable steady state electricty supplies 3. The have no young Germans who want to fight for them. Not only are Germans NOT having kids, the Left has spent the last 30+ years teaching German kids to hate their own country and culture. Nobody wants to serve in the numbers they need. 4. Because of 3) I have read European pundits saying the solution is to offer young "migrant" males German citizenship if they serve…'cause I can't see ANYTHING going wrong with giving the young male "migrant" community training and access to machineguns, tanks and explosives… |
| Tango01 | 24 Apr 2026 2:14 p.m. PST |
The population in Germany is over 25% people with a migration background… Turkish (~11.1%), Ukrainian (~8.7%), Syrian (~6.9%), and Romanian (~6.6%)
Perhaps the Germans can recruit volunteers from that segment of citizens or offer citizenship to others if they enlist in the armed forces.
How about Russians…? (smile)
Armand
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| Tango01 | 24 Apr 2026 5:41 p.m. PST |
US considers suspending Spain from NATO, reported internal email suggests link
Armand
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| Tango01 | 30 Apr 2026 5:53 p.m. PST |
Trump Weighs Pulling Some U.S. Troops From Germany in Spat With Chancellor link Armand
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Legion 4  | 30 Apr 2026 6:20 p.m. PST |
The new face of war ? link |
| Lilian | 04 May 2026 1:05 p.m. PST |
Punish Spain, Punish Germany, Punish Italy, Punish Britain Forgive Russia, Forgive again Russia, Forgive always Russia Ignore the rest of the world, and don't forget to insult everyone including the Pope even if he is a Yankee or your closest partners from Britain Germany to Saudi Arabia and give a kiss to the others who help to target your bases, ships or pilots from the neoconscons to the magagas, here we are |
Old Contemptible  | 04 May 2026 4:36 p.m. PST |
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| Tango01 | 04 May 2026 5:12 p.m. PST |
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| Tango01 | 04 May 2026 6:02 p.m. PST |
The significance of US military bases in Germany link Armand
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Grattan54  | 04 May 2026 6:18 p.m. PST |
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35thOVI  | 05 May 2026 12:41 p.m. PST |
"Romanian socialists and far right topple government The key NATO member on Europe's eastern edge faces fresh upheaval with an economic crisis looming. MAY 5, 2026 1:25 PM CET BY TIM ROSS AND FERDINAND KNAPP Romania's centrist government collapsed on Tuesday, throwing one of Europe's most strategically important countries into turmoil at a critical time. Center-right Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, who heads the National Liberal Party, lost a confidence vote in the country's parliament after only 10 months in office, bringing his short-lived and unpopular attempt to rein in the country's budget deficit to an abrupt end. The European Union's sixth most populous country — and a key NATO member bordering Ukraine — now faces an uncertain future as it seeks to stave off the threat of an economic crisis in the months ahead. Moderate centrist President Nicușor Dan is now expected to hold consultations with party leaders in an attempt to broker an agreement for a new coalition to take over running the country. Bolojan's defeat was in part masterminded by far right leader George Simion, who promised "an end to ten months during which the so-called pro-Europeans have delivered nothing but taxes, war and poverty." But Simion's bid to oust the prime minister only succeeded because his far right Alliance for the Union of Romanians joined forces with the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD), which quit Bolojan's coalition government last month. That unlikely alliance between the MAGA-supporting Simion and the Romanian social democrats triggered consternation among mainstream leaders in Brussels — who saw it as a new and unwelcome example of establishment parties teaming up with the populist far right. Valérie Hayer, president of the liberal Renew group in the European Parliaement, called it "an irresponsible act at a critical moment," while Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party called it a "European warning sign." Critics of such tactical arrangements say any centrist party that works with the far right — even on a short-term basis — risks helping to normalize extremists who threaten the EU's values. Bolojan's allies responded to their defeat by condemning the social democrats for partnering with Simion's nationalists, who have threatened to cut aid to Ukraine and oppose EU migration policies. "Creating parliamentary majorities with parties that are constantly attacking the EU and denying its role is profoundly anti-European," said Siegfried Mureșan, a Romanian lawmaker in the European Parliament who is also vice-president of the center-right European People's Party, to which Bolojan's party belongs. "I call upon the Party of European Socialists to explain why it is openly aligning itself with one of the most radically anti-European and extremist political forces in the EU," Mureșan added. A fresh crisis For Romania, the government's collapse heralds yet another episode in its recent history of upheaval. A vast, suspected foreign interference operation forced the 2024 presidential election to be canceled, and the frontrunner in that contest now faces trial on coup charges. Romania is also suffering from soaring inflation and has the EU's highest budget deficit. If the country does not complete key reforms by August, it risks losing out on around €11.00 EUR billion in EU funding, and if public finances aren't brought under control soon, analysts worry a credit rating downgrade could follow soon afterward. During his brief time in office, Bolojan attempted to tackle the challenges Romania faces with painful austerity plans he attempted to impose with headstrong determination. But last month the social democrats, who hold the most seats in parliament, pulled out of the prime minister's coalition government in a show of protests against his leadership and the spending cuts that affected parts of the country they represent. The PSD's decision to work with Simion to overthrow Bolojan may have a lasting impact on how the crisis unfolds. Simion won the most votes in the first round of last year's presidential election before losing to Dan in the run-off vote. Since then, his nationalists have consolidated their support and are currently leading the polls. But President Dan has been clear he will not allow Simion's party to be part of the next government. "I want to assure Romanians that, whatever happens, Romania will continue to follow its Western path, the state will continue to function, and there is political agreement on the immediate fundamental goals," he said before the parliamentary vote. Cristian Pîrvulescu, of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest, said Dan was undertaking an "extremely difficult" task as he attempts to restore stability. "He becomes the conductor of a dysfunctional orchestra at the worst possible moment," he said. "The political crisis has now formally become a governmental one, with constitutional risks still on the table if coalition-building fails." One option initially on the table was for the socialists to form a fresh coalition government with Bolojan's National Liberal Party, under the leadership of a new prime minister. "All options are open," PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu said, adding that he hoped a solution would be found quickly. Political analyst Radu Magdin said that several members of Bolojan's party were already "trying to reach out" to encourage lawmakers to "think about the renewal of a pro-European coalition." But following an afternoon meeting of the party's leadership, Liberal lawmaker Robert Sighiartău rejected the possibility of forming a new government with the socialists. If the impasse continues, Dan may be obliged to appoint a technocratic prime minister who is not a prominent figure in any of the country's political parties. Such a leader could potentially command wider support and be able to reassure investors that Romania remains committed to reducing its deficit and staying on a pro-Western political path. Carmen Paun contributed reporting to this article, which has been updated." |
SBminisguy  | 05 May 2026 4:18 p.m. PST |
Punish Spain, Punish Germany, Punish Italy, Punish Britain Forgive Russia, Forgive again Russia, Forgive always Russia Ignore the rest of the world, and don't forget to insult everyone including the Pope even if he is a Yankee or your closest partners from Britain Germany to Saudi Arabia and give a kiss to the others who help to target your bases, ships or pilots from the neoconscons to the magagas, here we areThat's your view. I see it differently. 1. Punish Spain, Punish Germany, Punish Italy, Punish Britain The US made a non-NATO Ally to Ally requests for help on an important security matter to stop Iran from deploying nukes. The US has many times honored Ally to Ally requests for aid, like US helped the UK in the Falklands, or France several times in Africa. Not only did these refuse, they also were deeply insulting and petty about it and morally sided with Iran by their statements. Not what allies do. So yes, based on this the US will take actions that reflect this change in status. 2. Forgive Russia, Forgive again Russia, Forgive always Russia Forgive Russia? Nah, not what's been happening. Trump has been open about his goal of a peace deal to end the bloodiest most destructive war in Europe since WW2 and try to peel Russia away from China. Here's what Trump's done: *Authorized U.S. forces to destroy a Russian Wagner-led assault force at the Battle of Khasham *Maintained core U.S. sanctions on Russia (banks, tech exports, oligarchs) *Continued enforcement against sanctions evasion networks in third countries *Upheld participation in the G7 Russian oil price cap system *Sanctioned vessels and entities tied to Russian "shadow fleet" oil transport *Continued (but adjusted/conditioned) military aid to Ukraine *Maintained U.S. troop deployments on NATO's eastern flank *Continued intelligence sharing and support to Ukraine *Sustained U.S. cyber operations posture against Russian threats *Refused to recognize Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory *Pressured NATO allies to increase defense spending and Ukraine support 3. Ignore the rest of the world, The US has been significantly engaged in the World still, even though many supporters of Trump prefer more isolationism. For example, the Admin is very active in LATAM rebuilding US relations and ejecting China and is close to perhaps flipping Cuba; very active in the Indo-Pacific including a new defense deal with Indonesia that includes basing rights; in Africa the US is busy with new trade and security deals to push back on China and brokered a peace deal between Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. 4. and don't forget to insult everyone including the Pope even if he is a Yankee or your closest partners from Britain Germany to Saudi Arabia Insult everyone? In the case of the American Marxist Pope -- he started it! And Trump fired back and finished it. I don't recall any insults aimed at the Saudis or Gulf allies. As for Europe? Yes, he's blunt and insulting in kind. For years Trump has been prodding Europe to get serious about Defense, to arm back up and help shoulder the security buden against Russia so the US can pivot to China. And he's been pushy about the Europens NOT buying Russian energy and financing Putin's war machine -- for which he was called all sorts of names and insults. But again, he usually doesn't start it and will fire back. Like Meloni, she'd actually been serving as a tempering influence on Trump and the EU but something happened to flip her, and she denied US basing use at bases the US constructed and helped maintain, denied overflights and was insulting. So he insults her back. I note that Trump's actions to wthdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany has both Merz and Meloni scrambling to kiss Trump's… ring. 5. give a kiss to the others who help to target your bases, ships or pilots I don't even know what this part of your rant means?
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Tortorella  | 05 May 2026 4:59 p.m. PST |
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35thOVI  | 05 May 2026 5:05 p.m. PST |
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Legion 4  | 05 May 2026 6:59 p.m. PST |
OVI +1 SBm +1 Can't say it any better than you both posted … |
SBminisguy  | 05 May 2026 11:15 p.m. PST |
Howdy, back from a break in the DH for whatever it was I said. You know, it's apparent to me that there's defintely a Euro Federalist effort to drive a wedge between the US and Europe, and Trump makes it easier for them. My point is, it's not all Trump's doing, all mean 'ol Trump bullying the poor wide-eyed European allies, true friends who feel Trump is being a mean mean meanie! European Federalists — organized groups like the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and aligned politicians and activists — have long promoted the ideology of transforming the EU into a full 'United States of Europe.' Their vision is a supranational federal state with its own federal government, unified foreign policy, shared fiscal powers like Eurobonds, and especially a strong independent European Army. In this vision, each nation in Europe cedes sovereignty to a continent-wide unified European government, essentially being reduced to States. Essentially the EU on steriods and all national autonomy stripped away. They believe only a European continent-sized federation can stand up to the US, China, Russia, or India in a multipolar world and achieve true 'strategic autonomy' by reducing reliance on external allies — with diminishing or removing US influence in European security seen as a positive step. Trump's America First approach, troop adjustments, and blunt NATO criticism have simply given them the perfect excuse to accelerate these long-standing ambitions, broaden their appeal, and promote a form of European nationalism under a federal banner. On social media, we're likely talking tens to hundreds of thousands of original promotional posts across platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) since 2025, with heavy amplification through shares, memes, youth creators, and some bots/foreign actors. Globalist leaders like Carney of Canada add weight to the vocal minority of activists, influencers, and federalist organizers driving the visibility, boosted by real geopolitical tensions. While mainstream European public support for deeper EU integration and a common army is notable (polls often show 40-60%+ favoring more EU defense powers or a European army in various countries), full federal union remains more elite- and activist-driven than a broad popular movement. I also don't think the foundations for such a polity are strong enough to hold up their ambitions – but they want it anyway. |
35thOVI  | 06 May 2026 7:10 a.m. PST |
So the Liberal Socialist Globalist Utopia, with only the "enlightened" leading those not up to their standards of education, breeding, morals and refinement. They take the majority from all (except themselves of course), keep what they want and redistribute what's left at their discretion. Bread and circuses to the unwashed hoards? "We know what's best for you. You are incapable of making those decisions for yourselves. You need big government to be your nanny and lifelong caretaker.". Of course all led by them. 😏 |
| Tango01 | 08 May 2026 5:31 p.m. PST |
Poland signs 44-bn-euro EU defence loan deal to modernise military link Armand |
| Tango01 | 11 May 2026 5:18 p.m. PST |
How to Spend Money Wisely: NATO's 1.5% Infrastructure Spending Target "…While other NATO members may have good intentions, they often find it challenging to select projects that best meet both their own national interests and those of the alliance. Fortunately, upgrading today's inadequate transport infrastructure and securing European telecommunications networks provide clear opportunities to channel 1.5% investments towards strengthening collective deterrence in Europe. So how have NATO allies responded so far? One European ally proposed a bridge to nowhere which failed to provide dual-use value for NATO. Other European NATO members pinned their hopes on Brussels' next multi-annual budget process, further delaying overdue investments. This confused response matters because Europe's transportation networks currently lack the dual-use infrastructure required for full-scale military operations. Furthermore, the timeline for action is shrinking. European intelligence officials have warned that Russia is preparing for a war on the continent by 2029 or 2030. Given this timeline, waiting until 2028 to strengthen transportation networks would be a strategic mistake. The northern Baltic region is particularly vital for ensuring NATO deterrence. One relevant infrastructure project there is Rail Baltica which will enable troop mobility for 200,000 soldiers between Poland and the Baltic region. Without the project, Baltic forces could be more easily isolated in a future conflict…" link
Armand
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Legion 4  | 14 May 2026 1:33 a.m. PST |
This is excellent ! Makes clear about the US/NATO situation and Iran. Nothing is accidental about this … The POTUS, Pentagon, Intel agencies, etc. … got it right. And yes even some of the TMPer's "Airchair Gens/Monday Morning QBs" missed it by miles …
As I keep saying the US leadership has a plan … many plans. But still some here, in DC, the media, etc. are so wedded to their narrative and agendas. They literally can't/don't/won't see the forest because the trees are in the way. Much like militant, radical, anachronistic, etc. islamists in Iran and in many places on the planet. link |
| Tango01 | 15 May 2026 5:17 p.m. PST |
Near Russian border, NATO grapples with ground robots in combat link Armand
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Legion 4  | 15 May 2026 5:53 p.m. PST |
Seems whether some like it or not … the 'bots, drones, etc. are coming in fast. We may have to accept … "They're heeeere !" … |
| Tango01 | 18 May 2026 2:28 p.m. PST |
Trump and the Domesticated European Elites "standard talking point of the American MAGA right is that European nations have become free riders on U.S. taxpayers. The complaint is not baseless: since the end of the Cold War, many European states have allowed their militaries to atrophy while relying on the United States to underwrite global security. Yet this argument misses the less visible benefits of the international system America constructed. The United States benefits not only materially from NATO and other transatlantic institutions, but politically and socially: European elites have been integrated into an American-centered order that shapes their incentives, ambitions, and sense of possibility.
In other words, America's real advantages derive from shaping the behavior of allied elites and embedding entire regions within a favorable institutional architecture. We are referring to a global order in which the ultimate horizon of vertical mobility is no longer the nation-state, but American institutions, global organizations headquartered in the United States, and American corporations. To understand this dynamic, one need only look across Europe. For elites in the post-communist member states of the European Union, a career in European institutions represents the pinnacle of advancement. The trajectory is rather familiar: national leadership becomes a stepping stone to Brussels. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, for example, went on to serve as president of the European Council. Numerous Eastern European leaders signal their competence and virtue through their "acceptance" in European circles, and speculation about their eventual transition to EU institutions is routine. Cadres from ruling parties are steadily absorbed into the bureaucratic structures of the Union. For Western Europeans, whose standards are considerably higher, careers in EU institutions carry less prestige. It is no accident that the current president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, rose to that position after an underwhelming tenure in German domestic politics, nor that the office has been held by figures from relatively minor states such as Luxembourg. Instead, Western European elites often proceed to what is effectively the final destination of global mobility: the United States. Politics within Western European states, even at the highest levels, increasingly functions not as a terminal destination, but as a platform for even greater transatlantic prestige. The young Austrian political star Sebastian Kurz, after his chancellorship, quickly became a global strategist for Thiel Capital. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak transitioned into an advisory role at Goldman Sachs, Microsoft and Anthropic. Germany's former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock serves as president of the United Nations General Assembly, headquartered in New York. Former British prime minister Tony Blair entered into advisory roles with JPMorgan following his time in office, while former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg served as secretary general of NATO for a decade, a position now held by former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, before returning to Norway as finance minister. Former Italian prime Minister Mario Draghi likewise spent part of his career at Goldman Sachs before assuming the highest offices in European governance. The specific positions may differ, but the underlying logic of elite circulation remains remarkably consistent. The significance of such trajectories becomes clearer when contrasted with cases that fall outside the accepted sphere. When former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder began working for Russian energy giants after leaving office, the reaction in the West was one of immediate and sustained outrage. The response was, in a sense, entirely logical: it implicitly acknowledged that the post-political engagements of national leaders carry significant geopolitical weight. Engagements with Western corporations, institutions, or alliances are treated as neutral or even commendable, whereas analogous ties to rival powers are deeply problematic. This double standard reveals the underlying structure of the transatlantic system established, and now perhaps to be dismantled, by the U.S. To the MAGA-minded observer, such developments may appear irrelevant as mere careerism with no bearing on American interests, yet this could not be further from the truth. European elites are disincentivized from confronting the United States because they are, in a very real sense, bought, not through crude corruption, but through the promise of status, influence, and post-political careers at the very center of global power under American hegemony. That political leaders from important nation-states would conclude their careers by relocating to another country is a revealing indicator of American power, but not historically unprecedented. This phenomenon can be understood as a contemporary form of the "domestication of the nobility" that took place in the early modern period—a concept explored by the historian Peter Wilson in Absolutism in Central Europe, drawing on the work of Norbert Elias and Jürgen Freiherr von Krüdener. Wilson describes how, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the lavish courts of Europe were not just beautiful, but also functioned as instruments of political control by pacifying and domesticating the nobility, thereby enabling the consolidation of absolutist states…" link
Armand |
| Tango01 | 30 May 2026 5:36 p.m. PST |
Polish Army Set to be Largest in Europe link Armand |
Legion 4  | 30 May 2026 8:27 p.m. PST |
The Poles don't like the Russians. That is nothing new. With Poland being so close to Russia they should have the biggest military. Plus the US has 4000-5000 troops and others in NATO also are deployed Poland … Putin don't like that … |
| Tango01 | 01 Jun 2026 5:48 p.m. PST |
How NATO Can Regain Initiative on Its Eastern Flank link Armand |
| Tango01 | 05 Jun 2026 5:47 p.m. PST |
NATO in Hormuz Is Not Mission Creep link
NATO jets intercept six Russian aircraft over the Baltic in one day link Armand |
Legion 4  | 06 Jun 2026 6:46 a.m. PST |
NATO in Hormuz Is Not Mission Creep Agreed … not at all. The open Strait is key to many locations'. With fossil fuels being used by 90%+ of the machinery, etc. in the world. |
| Tango01 | 12 Jun 2026 5:37 p.m. PST |
US plans major cut to jets, warships for NATO operations in Europe, NYT reports link Armand
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| Tango01 | 17 Jun 2026 6:15 p.m. PST |
IDV CL2X Hybrid Uncrewed Light Tank Emerges as Robotic Wingman for Main Battle Tanks link link Armand |
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