Thoughts on NATO

[brokenscout]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...to-summit?lite

[roberth]

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/20...to-summit?lite

Why didn't you post some of your thoughts along with this article.

To me, NATO served a purpose, we protected millions from Soviet enslavement. I think those days are coming back but now Europe does not have the resources to take on any aggressive adversary and I'm not sure Europe is worth protecting any longer.

Look at Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, they all rely on Germany for their economic well being. All of these countries have rejected reducing their government spending and they cut everything except entitlements.

Maybe it is time to let them sleep in the bed they've made for themselves. Germany will want something for all the largess they are bestowing on these other countries.

Do you think Europe will help us when our economy finally collapses under the weight of entitlement spending?

[Danimal]

There is a lot to be said about NATO, but stepping back I can sum it up by realizing that it, the EU and the G20 summit are test runs for a global government. It will fall apart when the Euro falls apart (I hope). They are based on the same idealist / globalist views and drive for the power and control of imaginary created wealth will harbor peace and guide the mindless peasants through their daily lives. The EU is showing crystal clear that a nation is only as strong as its weakest constituent population, and an collection of nations is no different. It must suck to be Germany right now bailing out several lazy ass countries again and again all while pulling you under. With any luck it will get bad enough globally for all of the organizations to lose all authority and influence without it getting so bad as to result in a total collapse. At one time they may have served a purpose, but that purpose was always a mask covering a drive for power and control over the resources of other nations. And as far as protecting other nations from the ravages of Russia and other communist nations, NATO did have an effect on slowing the spread of communism, but that was in its self interest. If there is a total global collapse, the only countries that will come out of it at all will be countries controlled through the absolute authoritarian governments like Russia and China. Police states will take what they want and no figure head letter writing organization will do a damn thing about it.

[aahorn]

Why didn't you post some of your thoughts along with this article.

To me, NATO served a purpose, we protected millions from Soviet enslavement. I think those days are coming back but now Europe does not have the resources to take on any aggressive adversary and I'm not sure Europe is worth protecting any longer.

Look at Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, they all rely on Germany for their economic well being. All of these countries have rejected reducing their government spending and they cut everything except entitlements.

Maybe it is time to let them sleep in the bed they've made for themselves. Germany will want something for all the largess they are bestowing on these other countries.

Do you think Europe will help us when our economy finally collapses under the weight of entitlement spending?

yep yep agree with this opinion. the destruction of the euro and interaction between the competent germans and their utterly incompetent neighbors is going to be interesting to watch the next decade.

[Ronin13]

Some people these days... I truly cannot fathom why you would sign a contract (they even ask you: "you are aware that you are not doing this under duress or any coercion, this solely your decision?") with the full knowledge that you have a possibility of going to war (actually a great one by comparison to those who joined in the 1990's), and then be against that. When I signed my contract, just months before the big surge in Iraq, I knew full and well that in my current state of health and MOS that the odds of me deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan was hovering right at 98%- and I counted that 2% as a very slim chance that we would succeed before I finished my training and the wars would be over, or something would have come up or I got placed into a non-deploying unit (in which case I would request to be sent to a deploying unit). I earned every medal I received (and some I didn't receive but did earn, but oh well, whatever, I know what I did, I don't need a ribbon or piece of metal to prove anything) and am proud to have earned at least some recognition for my service.

As far as NATO is concerned, I've been to the NATO HQ in Bagram, I've seen how many European nationals are there by comparison to US, and the number is staggering! For every European officer there are at least 3 US. So my thoughts on NATO, pull your freaking weight, if you say that OEF is a NATO mission, but the US is doing 75% or more of the leg work and operations, then don't call it a NATO mission, call it a US-led operation, because that's truly what it is. I don't hold any ill will towards NATO, I didn't receive any direct orders from an NATO commanders, I took all my orders from a PA born LTC, fell under the rosters of 10th MTN DIV, and wore an ISAF patch on one arm and the US Flag on the other. So if these morons want to go throw their medals away because they're against a war then I say go for it, but why the hell did you sign up in the first place when you should have known you'd go to war? I'd love to meet one of these guys and tell him how stupid he sounds for being anti-war yet still signing up for a job that's sole purpose is waging war...

[airborneranger]

So if these morons want to go throw their medals away because they're against a war then I say go for it, but why the hell did you sign up in the first place when you should have known you'd go to war? I'd love to meet one of these guys and tell him how stupid he sounds for being anti-war yet still signing up for a job that's sole purpose is waging war...

Exactly! They are trying to portray themselves in the same light as the drafted Vietnam vets. As you stated, these dudes VOLUNTEERED. Some of them even volunteered for combat arms. Get over it!

[Ronin13]

Exactly! They are trying to portray themselves in the same light as the drafted Vietnam vets. As you stated, these dudes VOLUNTEERED. Some of them even volunteered for combat arms. Get over it!

Oh don't get me started on young, usually recently separated, soldiers trying to compare themselves to the Vietnam era vets... Makes me almost want to commit assault with a deadly weapon! You kids are nothing like the vets from 'Nam, my god father was forced to go to war, you volunteered...
The only thing we have in common with the Vietnam vets is we all have to wear the uniform and follow the orders of those above us. Well that and someone is always trying to part young troops from their hard earned money, I think that's been going on since Korea, maybe even before.

[airborneranger]

Returning medals eh? They were probably chaptered out of the Army

[roberth]

Returning medals eh? They were probably chaptered out of the Army

What does 'chaptered' mean? I didn't serve in the military so I don't know all these terms.

[brokenscout]

What does 'chaptered' mean? I didn't serve in the military so I don't know all these terms.

Kicked out. I really did not have an opinion ,just thought alot of people here would