Stupid World

**oldrider** · 30th October 2018, 08:40

Wasn’t she supposed to serve the USA? Twitter unamused as IDF ‘salutes’ Haley for her support for Israel https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/1...rt-for-israel/ - Follow the money?

**oldrider** · 30th October 2018, 08:53

Kavanagh converts to Judaism to save Supreme Court nomination - (only in Jewmerica) - https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/0...rt-nomination/

**Viking01** · 2nd November 2018, 13:17

First we had the "Axis of Evil", and now we have the "Troika of Tyranny".
Even has an evil socialist ring to it.

https://www.apnews.com/26d89514878441f58273c8d91a5deff2

Strangely, in Cuba's case, the majority of the UN members appear to feel
differently about sanctions. Perhaps 60 years is enough.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-u...-idUSKBN1D15EM

**carbonhed** · 4th November 2018, 16:57

Four of Kavanaugh's accusers recant allegations...

**Viking01** · 6th November 2018, 14:20

http://cepr.net/blogs/cepr-blog/jobs...king-gets-paid

**Viking01** · 7th November 2018, 07:10

Can't have the vassals thinking independently and getting together
without permission.

Next thing you know, they'll start doing things without permission.

http://www.williamengdahl.com/englishNEO5Nov2018.php

**oldrider** · 7th November 2018, 09:10

Napoleon Bonaparte Monetary Reformer

**Viking01** · 8th November 2018, 11:38

http://www.atimes.com/article/trump-...al-with-china/

But why can't I find any mention of it on any of the various news websites
in the UK, Germany, France, China, Japan, India, Iran or the Middle East ?
Even Russia.

Ah, time differences. It just missed the news cut. OK, I'll look again tomorrow.

**Viking01** · 9th November 2018, 11:52

https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/11...e-of-facebook/

**Viking01** · 10th November 2018, 09:10

https://sputniknews.com/europe/20181...boards-london/

https://southfront.org/chinese-state...-anchor-video/

**Voltaire** · 10th November 2018, 12:25

Originally Posted by Viking01;

[url

https://southfront.org/chinese-state-media-reveals-its-artificial-intelligence-anchor-video/[/url]

Xi Jinping Can go on indefinitely then.

**Viking01** · 10th November 2018, 15:04

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-a8626751.html

I was about to suggest that in response for Norway having hosted
the 2018 Trident Juncture exercise, maybe the Russians had been
testing out their EW equipment on the Norwegian frigate (having
spoofed the oil tankers position), or quietly towed their temporarily
submerged less-than-dry dock from Murmansk in the dead of night.

But someone has already beaten me to the punch in the Comments
section. Hate it when that happens.

**Viking01** · 11th November 2018, 06:24

Don is feeling "very insulted" that his good friend Emmanuel Macron could
even suggest replacing some (or all) of NATO by European forces (possibly
even deploying European made armaments):

https://russia-insider.com/en/very-i...ina-us/ri25335

The French seem to be the most likely to want to strike an independent
course (remember de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO in 1966, and they
did not return until 43 years later in 2009 under Sarkozy) :

https://www.clingendael.org/sites/de...c_Autonomy.pdf

Given that:

-the USSR agreed to the consolidation of E and W Germany in 1989 (subject
to NATO agreement not to expand eastward)
-the USSR then collapsed in 1991 (with its military in very poor shape)

the justification of NATO (in response to a Russian threat) almost
evaporated overnight back in 1991.

However, NATO was then quickly "re-purposed" (its new mission became
then to "respond to threats from dangerous third party states").

It has since:

-expanded across much of eastern Europe (violating verbal assurances)
-been involved in several military adventures outside Western Europe
(Yugoslavia; Libya)

So, my questions:

1. Given the current state of political affairs (not to forget trade wars),
should Europe consider a shift to a European controlled / funded / manned /
operated NATO in the future ?

2. Should it limit its scope to protection of Europe alone ? And engage
outside Europe only under the auspices of the UN ?

3. What would be the main benenfits of Europe doing so (or not) ?

Your thoughts welcomed.

Feel free to use any of the following points in reply.

================================================== ======
1. NATO Expansion

-Further expansion of NATO across eastern Europe ? Desirable ?
-Deployment right up to Russian Borders ? [ e.g. Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia ]

2. NATO Involvement oustide Europe

-Involvement of European NATO forces in wars outside of the European mainland ?

3. Threat Assessment

-Europeans make own Assessment of Russian Military Threat (vs a US Assessment) ?
-How Easy to Obtain Concensus (given polarity of opinions) ?

4. Talking with the Enemy

-Restoration of European vs Russia Military Engagement and Co-Operation ?
-Less Political Posturing and Threat Making ?
-Support Future Reduction (removal) of Economic Sanctions against Russia
(and Reinstatement of Trading ?)

5. European Defence Policy

- A Common European Defence Policy Defined by Europe (vs one Dictated by
the US) ?

6. European Defence Budget

-A European Specified Budget (vs a US Dictated Spend) ?

7. European Spend on Military Equipment

-Europe NATO Not Necessarily Spend on Purchase of US Military Hardware ?
-Able to Spend on Design, Development and Deployment of own Euro military
hardware ?

8. European Forces Deployment and Training

-Risk reduction ? e.g. Not Conducting Exercises close to Russian borders ?
-Continued Co-Operation and Training with US Forces ?

9. Operational Readiness

-Greater Certainty that Defence Forces would be Available and Ready to Address
a Threat (vs Reliance upon the US) ?

10. Operational Control

-Own Operational Control over European Military and Hardware (vs US Control) ?

11. Decision to Initiate Live Military Action

-Triggering of European Defence Hardware (Missiles) or Movement of Forces to be
under European Control (vs US Control) ?

12. Eaves-Dropping

-Reduced Chance of Spying or Eaves-dropping on European Military ?

13. Removal of US Military Infrastructure used for Military Operation outside
Europe ?

e.g. US usage of German Ramstein base for drones in AFRICOM operations ?

14. Economic Loss for Local European Support Services (following withdrawal
of existing US Forces from certain European countries) ?

15. Future Threats

-Increased Migrant (or Terrorist) Flows into Europe ?
-Cyber War ?
-Space ?

**oldrider** · 11th November 2018, 07:33

ARE WE REALLY HEADING FOR ANOTHER TRAGEDY LIKE WORLD WAR I? https://ericmargolis.com/2018/11/we-...e-world-war-i/ Same script almost the same orchestrator's - can't fail?

**Viking01** · 13th November 2018, 08:30

So, in these times of increasing US sanctions against Russia, remind
me again why Russia should continue to assist the US ?

First, it was to provide RD180 engines to the US to launch their
rockets. I won't mention John McCain.

And now, it is possibly the supply of fire fighting aircraft to help
them fight their forest fires. I won't mention climate change.

https://russia-insider.com/en/us-fig...rcraft/ri25344

The less charitable among us might be inclined to say "let 'em burn".