I distrust this type of article as China and Russia have lots to gain from trying to stirr up opposition or protests in Europe, especially on this topic of defense.
this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2025
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Jesus fucking Christ. The fact that he is getting away with so much bullshit based solely on the fear that he might do something is absolutely infuriating. Like, I get it. I understand that it's a complicated issue and these people caving to him are trying desperately to appease him to save their own countries or themselves. But this man, and whoever is backing him and possibly pulling the strings, is purposefully destroying society for more money and power. So much shit going backwards because less than 1% of the 8 billion of people on the entire fucking planet felt like they didn't have enough.
And at the end of the day, when everyone is done appeasing a madman, what will be left? What kind of world will we create as we bend the knee to the man that wants us all to suffer? If you appease the madman to save yourself, the only thing you will get in return is a life of fear in a madman's world.
Worse. More like less than 0.0001% of the humans on the planet.
With or without Trump, I don't think Europe has a choice at this point. Yes, if they US held up their part against Russia, Europe would have to spend less. That's the one area where Trump screwed Europe, but that being the case, Europe needs to spend this much on defense. Trump can just be a convenient excuse.
Now the question is: will they demilitarize if/when the threat dissipates? Methinks the EU is repeating the fatal appeasement strategy of the 1930s.
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At this point, I'm pretty sure they're just using it as an excuse to wreck social services.
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He can get fucked by a huge pine cone. He and those that back him are enemies of humanity at this point, willfully choosing to be cruel and sacrificing lives for money and power.
Don't appease. Destroy. Did it work with you tied to appease any other dictators?
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Does it say anywhere in the article what social programs are on the chopping block? I've heard this claim hundreds of times, but so far it's on the basis of "it's got to come from somewhere". What if you build military hospitals, military infrastrtucture and military schools? Wink wink, nudge nudge.
it's not listed because this is not what is happening
italy for example put bridge construction in that military budget (as critical infrastructure)
also the subtext was "spend that defense budget in america" and this is not happening either for variety of reasons, so it's partial failure already for them
“spend that defense budget in america”
hah, yeah, that part is hilarious. tramp already ruined the f35 program by suggesting that the ones sold to allies would come with degraded specs...why sink funding in something that you can only use with american permission exclusively for their stupid wars?
there's a couple of big failures in american defense industry (like shipbuilding) but F35 is not one of them. the alleged killswitch is not likely a thing because first, it could be used by the most probable adversary, and they already shown capability in EW; and second, it's not necessary because it requires constant stream of spare parts and maintenance. as if it's worth it, ask any remaining iranian radar operator for firsthand opinion
some countries switched to euro made jets anyway, but these aren't likely to be doing the job that F35 is cut to do anyway (SEAD)
there's already euro alternative in development, for which americans were explicitly not invited (GCAP, FCAS). there's also the everything else part of military, half of euro countries make now artillery (both tube and rocket) so these can be bought locally too
Yes, but israel gets the F35I variant. They are probably independent in software, targetting (and parts?), because israel as the US golden child always gets the juiciest deals. The EU, meanwhile, gets the "leeches, warmongers, pathetic freeloaders" treatment.
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Opinion article. Also they missed many NATO Top nuances, like the whole political game. But yes, NATO members in Europe have been spending more, and more defense is and was needed.
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