Trump directly scolds NATO allies, says they owe "massive" sums

[dunroaming]

Good quote from JK Rowling about Trumps antics. "Tiny, tiny, tiny little man". 

 

Donald you continue to make a fool of yourself on a daily basis.  You are just a figure of fun now as illustrated by all social media and the world's press.  How long will the public humiliation go on for? 

[Jingthing]

A total embarrassment. 

 

Quote

 

Trump's behavior at NATO is a national embarrassment

Maybe next time, NATO should serve chocolate cake, give out gold medals, impress Trump with glowing orbs, and throw in a sword dance or two. Oh, and $100 billion.

But in all seriousness, for anyone who cares about the America's global leadership and the future of Europe, Trump's behavior at the NATO summit has been embarrassing.

 

 

 

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Trump-s-behavior-at-NATO-is-a-national-11174851.php#photo-12973222

[Skywalker69]

Trump Threatens “Very Bad Germans” With Autos-Tax On Mexico

 

According to Germany’s Der Spiegel, President Donald Trump is challenging Germany to an auto battle.

After attacking fellow NATO members at a Summit on Thursday, Trump went on to pick a fight with German automakers because of the “back dues” he thinks the country has to pay NATO.

 

http://dcpols.com/trump-threatens-very-bad-germans-with-autos-tax-on-mexico/

[KBsinter]

I read in a foreign paper awhile ago that Germany had not paid for 2yrs how true 

I do not know, England paid with some prompting last year........ 

"America first" is his battle cry and so be it !!!!.................

Edited May 26, 2017 by KBsinter

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

A shockingly clumsy, extremely undiplomatic, so called speech. trump is an embarrassment and a disgrace. 

I don't disagree, but sometimes I think straight talking and calling a spade a spade would have better results than trying to be diplomatic (this case being an exception). 

[dunroaming]

4 minutes ago, GarryP said:

I don't disagree, but sometimes I think straight talking and calling a spade a spade would have better results than trying to be diplomatic (this case being an exception). 

Yes but the straight talking needs to be coming from someone credible, not a buffoon.

[Thaidream]

I am not going to entertain conspiracy theories about 9/ll- the fact is almost 3,000 souls were extinguished and Article 5 was invoked and the Europeans came to America's aid.

 

Donald Trump is a not only a poor example of an American but a poor example of how a President should comport himself. It is apparent that he is a narcissistic meglomaniac who believes he is better than everyone else.  This man is destroying America's reputation abroad and in America- a whole generation will be lost if his budget gets passed.He has a complete lack of ethics and morality and does not represent the majority of Americans.

 

 

[simple1]

17 minutes ago, KBsinter said:

I read in a foreign paper awhile ago that Germany had not paid for 2yrs how true 

I do not know, England paid with some prompting last year........ 

"America first" is his battle cry and so be it !!!!.................

Untrue, here are the facts...

 

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_132934.htm

[just.a.thought]

The orange baboon strikes again, seems to be the right kind of politics to isolate the US. In the end he doesn't even need to build a wall since no one will want to visit.

[tso310]

15 minutes ago, just.a.thought said:

The orange baboon strikes again, seems to be the right kind of politics to isolate the US. In the end he doesn't even need to build a wall since no one will want to visit.

After he pushed the poor Montenegro PM to one side he stood there with is chest puffed out like an alpha male gorilla and his head tilted back. I was expecting him to start beating his chest. And Donald button up your jacket, you like quite scruffy when lined up against the other leaders.

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, KBsinter said:

I read in a foreign paper awhile ago that Germany had not paid for 2yrs how true 

I do not know, England paid with some prompting last year........ 

"America first" is his battle cry and so be it !!!!.................

Paid what? No one pays "dues" to Nato. As per usual, Trump is misinformed or just uninformed.

[KBsinter]

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

Paid what? No one pays "dues" to Nato. As per usual, Trump is misinformed or just uninformed.

Well, someone has to pay, who pays, the rent for that massive building they work from

I think TRUMP is asking for 2% of GDP from participants in NATO how he"s going to

retrieve these amounts from the likes of Greece and most of the other countries in the 

"E.U WHO ARE MOSTLY BROKE" but would expect the USA to send forces to free them

 

(more American graves)....................I am from the UK  by the way............................

Edited May 26, 2017 by KBsinter

[maximillian]

Just now, KBsinter said:

Well, someone has to pay, who pays, the rent for that massive building they work from

I think TRUMP is asking for 2% of GDP from participants in NATO how he"s going to

retrieve these amounts from the likes of Greece and most of the other countries in the 

"E.U WHO ARE MOSTLY BROKE" but would expect the USA to send forces to free them

 

(more American graves)........................

 

 

...but would expect the USA to send forces to free them.

 

Free them from what ? From whom ?

I would be happy if they would free our country from there presence.

[Caps]

24 minutes ago, KBsinter said:

Well, someone has to pay, who pays, the rent for that massive building they work from

I think TRUMP is asking for 2% of GDP from participants in NATO how he"s going to

retrieve these amounts from the likes of Greece and most of the other countries in the 

"E.U WHO ARE MOSTLY BROKE" but would expect the USA to send forces to free them

 

(more American graves)....................I am from the UK  by the way............................

you talk like they are the only ones that ever do anything and have more graves, maybe you should look closer to home 

[anon4546543]

1 minute ago, Caps said:

you talk like they are the only ones that ever do anything and have more graves, maybe you should look closer to home 

The conversation has got out of hand. The amount of graves should be a topic of remembrance, not a topic of bragging rights.

Lest we forget.

The poms and allies bore the brunt of nazi Germany until US changed the course of that war after they chose to enter.

Read about US  bombing and fighter roles. They fought in daytime and suffered huge casualty rates.

It is not about bragging rights.

As for UK self protection spending. The submarine fleet is a disgrace for starters. 

[Opl]

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

A total embarrassment. 

 

 

 

http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Trump-s-behavior-at-NATO-is-a-national-11174851.php#photo-12973222

From your shared link - a must read .. ( how Trump lectures US closest allies) "Trump was bedazzled by the kingdom's hospitality, but none of the Saudi opulence and money can whitewash Saudi Arabia's terrible record of fueling Wahhabi terrorism, carrying out record numbers of public beheadings, contributing to famine in Yemen, and withholding many basic rights for Saudi women and girls.  Days after one of the worst terrorist attacks in British history, Trump is visibly more comfortable praising autocrats and extremist governments who help to fuel violence and conflict. That should be a slap in the face to our liberal allies in Europe."

Edited May 26, 2017 by Opl

[Caps]

Just now, spiderorchid said:

The conversation has got out of hand. The amount of graves should be a topic of remembrance, not a topic of bragging rights.

Lest we forget.

The poms and allies bore the brunt of nazi Germany until US changed the course of that war after they chose to enter.

Read about US  bombing and fighter roles. They fought in daytime and suffered huge casualty rates.

It is not about bragging rights.

As for UK self protection spending. The submarine fleet is a disgrace for starters. 

i dont disagree with you, that was not my point....my point was he was making it sound like it was only the Yanks that ever did anything, please don't bore us with how the US saved us all, it was a joint effort and nothing you can say will change that 

[anon4546543]

5 minutes ago, Caps said:

i dont disagree with you, that was not my point....my point was he was making it sound like it was only the Yanks that ever did anything, please don't bore us with how the US saved us all, it was a joint effort and nothing you can say will change that 

Trump is a chump. He knows nothing about history, period.

Nor does he understand the subtle things that an intelligent pollie would say.

I am an Aussie and proud of the Aussie effort in any conflict. 

Other than Grenada and Panama, the US has not "won" any war since WW11. And they did win WW11 along with some minor actions of Britain and allies.

After US entered the war (reluctantly) they bludgeoned Japan and Germany, something that was in limbo before the US finally added their manufacturing base, technology and a grit to finish this thing.

[Andaman Al]

5 minutes ago, spiderorchid said:

And they did win WW11 along with some minor actions of Britain and allies.

After US entered the war (reluctantly) they bludgeoned Japan and Germany, something that was in limbo before the US finally added their manufacturing base, technology and a grit to finish this thing.

You may want to brush up a little on your own history  There was nothing 'minor' about the actions of Britain and other allies ! And yes they were reluctant to join in, study why they did. I am not complaining but your potted version of history is far from correct.

Edited May 26, 2017 by Andaman Al

[tomwct]

Any country not paid up with a 2% contribution should be removed from holding any senior command positions in NATO. 

Also the US should reduce their contribution from 3.7% to 2 percent immediately! That should get some countries to act

rather than waiting until 2024 like Germany wants!

 

[JetsetBkk]

10 hours ago, Prbkk said:

That is truly awful. Is it that he doesn't understand that the rest of the world views him as the quintessential "ugly American " ( in the Burdick/Lederer sense) or is that he doesn't care?

Yes, absolutely disgusting.   

 

 

 

[Andaman Al]

8 minutes ago, tomwct said:

Any country not paid up with a 2% contribution should be removed from holding any senior command positions in NATO. 

Also the US should reduce their contribution from 3.7% to 2 percent immediately! That should get some countries to act

rather than waiting until 2024 like Germany wants!

 

You are displaying that (like Trump) you have no idea how NATO is funded. There is both direct and indirect funding. I also do not see how the US is going to cut its ridiculous spending on arms. IF as you want the US cut its defence spending on NATO from 3.7% to 2% the President responsible would probably be whacked by the military industrial complex. NOTHING is at it seems and the US WANT to spend that money and to be able to justify it. There i a signed and ratified agreement in place that addresses spending and the targets that must be achieved by a given date. As long as nations abide by that then there is no issue we can complain about. In the mean time many european nations deploy troops in support of NATO and host the military from other NATO nations, neither of which is a cheap thing to do.

[anon4546543]

1 minute ago, Andaman Al said:

You may want to brush up a little on your own history  There was nothing 'minor' about the actions of Britain and other allies ! And yes they were reluctant to join in, study why they did. I am not complaining but your potted version of history is far from correct.

Ok, from an Aussie point of view, I know about Aussies in Nth Africa. I know about the"desert rats".

I know my father was in the navy that destroyed Italian beautiful ships. I know about Malta and other Brit outposts that held on.

 I know my father was in an escort ship when HMAS Australia was crippled in a kamikaze attack.

My uncle died fighting Japs in New Guinea on the Kokoda Track.

I know the Brits suffered horrible losses keeping Russia supplied. 

But limbo was the word until US entered. Hardly any Pom knows about Coral Sea battle, Guadacanal, and all those tiny islands where the Japanese made NAZI storm troopers seem like pansies.

 It was US that took the war to Europe from Anzio to Burgundy and beyond. And so on. The war in WW11 would possibly still be going on without the Yanks.   

[Caps]

20 minutes ago, spiderorchid said:

Trump is a chump. He knows nothing about history, period.

Nor does he understand the subtle things that an intelligent pollie would say.

I am an Aussie and proud of the Aussie effort in any conflict. 

Other than Grenada and Panama, the US has not "won" any war since WW11. And they did win WW11 along with some minor actions of Britain and allies.

After US entered the war (reluctantly) they bludgeoned Japan and Germany, something that was in limbo before the US finally added their manufacturing base, technology and a grit to finish this thing.

You are still not acknowledging my point...never mind.  I think you might also find that Russia did quite a bit of bludgeoning.  You must have borrowed your history books from the US 

 

[onthesoi]

5 hours ago, Thaidream said:

Just to set the record straight- Article 5 was invoked when Al Qaeda attacked America on 9/11 and killed almost 3,000 people. 'An attack on one is considered an attack on all'.  I know that British and Dutch Air Forces headed for the US and helped protect American airspace against any further attacks.  Americans should be grateful for this assistance and I believe Trump indicated that.

 

However, his admonishment about individual countries not doing their part regarding budget is hollow. American bases all over the World are there mainly to either stop a war; or contain it in the theatre in which is occurring. In other words- the Americans would rather fight the Russians in Europe than America or the Chinese in Asia rather than America. The Europeans and Asians are also getting coverage from American forward deployments but they are also contributing troops and equipment and hosting Us Forces which puts them directly in the path of any war. Mr. Trump does not truly understand the US doctrine or in the way Europeans; the Japanese and S. Koreans are contributing to Us defense. He is showing his ignorance and complete lack of diplomacy and decorum in bringing this subject up in a public forum.

 

As an American- I am appalled that the 'defense budget' as it is called is now at $632 Billion with a request from the Trump Administration for another $54 Billion  and to what end. It is already the largest military budget in the World. At the same time- Trump wants to spend $20 Billion on a border wall which is worthless; more billions on intelligence agencies (America only has 17 such agencies) and increase the US Border patrol and judges so as to be able to deport millions of aliens, who may be illegal' but are essential for American agriculture and industry,

While all of the above is increased- Americans have no universal healthcare and the costliest (not necessarily the best)  while Europe; Japan and many other Nations (even Thailand) are able to provide healthcare for its citizens. In addition- Mr Trump and his minions want to cut programs for the poor and elderly and give huge tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans.There is already a complete imbalance in wealth distribution in America with the 1% of the wealthiest Americans controlling 90% of the countries total wealth.

America needs to scale back its military budget- not increase it: America needs to scale back its Intelligence agencies- not increase it; America needs a real universal healthcare program not the nonsensical plan being touted by Trump and his minions; and America needs universal free university tuition so students do not become indentured servants to the Government for 20-30 years after graduation. In addition, America needs to get out of Afghanistan and Syria and let the Russians spend their money and blood.

When Europe: Japan and other countries look at the above imbalances in American life and standards of living- why would anyone in their right mind follow the American line of reasoning and increase their military budgets to 2% of their Gdp.

 

 

Any idea how that works out for every tax dollar, I remember under bush it was 22 cents of every tax dollar going to the military .....& 60 cents of every dollar spent on arms in the entire world came from the US which seems crazy but no one disputed the numbers.

[Caps]

Just now, spiderorchid said:

It was US that took the war to Europe from Anzio to Burgundy and beyond. And so on. The war in WW11 would possibly still be going on without the Yanks.   

That was a good post....right up until the last bit 

[Andaman Al]

2 minutes ago, spiderorchid said:

Ok, from an Aussie point of view, I know about Aussies in Nth Africa. I know about the"desert rats".

I know my father was in the navy that destroyed Italian beautiful ships. I know about Malta and other Brit outposts that held on.

 I know my father was in an escort ship when HMAS Australia was crippled in a kamikaze attack.

My uncle died fighting Japs in New Guinea on the Kokoda Track.

I know the Brits suffered horrible losses keeping Russia supplied. 

But limbo was the word until US entered. Hardly any Pom knows about Coral Sea battle, Guadacanal, and all those tiny islands where the Japanese made NAZI storm troopers seem like pansies.

 It was US that took the war to Europe from Anzio to Burgundy and beyond. And so on. The war in WW11 would possibly still be going on without the Yanks.   

The other thing you should be aware of coming from Australia is that when you are in a hole, stop digging  if you keep digging, who knows it could get so deep you might end up in........Australia.

 

We were not discussing your families personal involvement in the war, for which we are all of course grateful. I was saying that your view of the war was wrong and extremely simplified. You now seem to have made matters worse. Perhaps a few good documentaries are in order and not Hollywood movies. 

[anon4546543]

1 minute ago, Caps said:

You are still not acknowledging my point...never mind.  I think you might also find that Russia did quite a bit of bludgeoning.  You must have borrowed your history books from the US 

 

Russia did heaps of bludgeoning and possibly the most if you look at casualties and a sadist as a leader of Russia. 

 But Russia could never have done that without supplies from the west. Now you read your history.

 The amazing thing is that it took the combined efforts of Britain, its colonies and allies plus the later efforts of the US to defeat Japan and Germany. (and Italy and German hangers on)

 Thank God we have a tame German called Merkel and a war weary Japan to not contend with in the future. 

 

[Scott]

NATO wasn't in existence during World War II, continued off-topic posting will get your post removed and a good chance of a suspension.  

 

This discussion has been regurgitated time and again and goes no where.  

[ilostmypassword]

24 minutes ago, onthesoi said:

 

Any idea how that works out for every tax dollar, I remember under bush it was 22 cents of every tax dollar going to the military .....& 60 cents of every dollar spent on arms in the entire world came from the US which seems crazy but no one disputed the numbers.

Last time I checked it was down to a mere 50%.