Quote:

President Trump touched down in France on Friday and immediately took a shot at President Emmanuel Macron for his recent call for a "European army," calling the idea "very insulting" and renewing pressure on the country to contribute more to NATO.

Trump was reacting to remarks Macron made earlier this week when he said Europe was “the main victim” of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia.

“We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army,” Macron said, according to The Wall Street Journal. He also grouped in the U.S. with the countries from which France needed protecting.

“We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” he said on French radio.

Trump is in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, where he will join fellow world leaders and have a one-on-one meeting with Macron -- who is facing political turmoil at home and as a result may take a tougher stance toward the president than previous meetings.

Macron met with Trump on American soil in April, in a meeting filled with public hand-holding, smiles and affection. Macron, who called Trump “cher Donald” (“Dear Donald”) engaged in an awkward fist-bump with, before being the recipient of a kiss from, the U.S. president.

“We have to make him perfect,” Trump said later, after brushing "dandruff" off the dashing centrist’s shoulder. “He is perfect.”

But there were signs even in April that things were not perfect between the two. Trump is the de facto leader of Western nationalism, while Macron has cast himself as the leading international proponent of European globalism. In an address to Congress, he called for the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate deal -- from which the U.S. withdrew at Trump's direction.

At the United Nations in September, the Frenchman took a swipe at Trump’s brand of nationalism, criticizing a unilateralist approach that entails "a certain lawlessness where everyone pursues their own interests."

“I will never stop upholding the principle of sovereignty even in the face of a certain nationalism, which we’re seeing today, brandishing sovereignty as a way of attacking others," he said just hours after Trump addressed the General Assembly.

The spat over the European army indicates that relations could be deteriorating further.

Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage told Fox Business’ Stuart Varney earlier Friday that the army was a sign of Macron was a “Eurofanatic.”

“For Macron to do it just a few days before President Trump goes to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War, the First World War, I think was absolutely crass in the extreme,” Farage, a Fox News contributor, said. “Maybe you can see now why his poll ratings are collapsing in France.”

The idea of some sort of European army has been mulled on the continent for decades in various forms. However, it is unlikely to see support from a number of countries. Italy is currently going through a nationalist and Eurosceptic resurgence. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing pressure from nationalists in her country, while Britain is leaving the European Union.

But while Macron's idea may be somewhat extreme and premature, it may also reflect the political difficulties he faces at home. His approval ratings have dived as low as 29 percent as he faces accusations of being out of touch, and struggles to deal with domestic economic problems and the repercussions of the 2015 migration crisis.

A number of politically awkward viral moments -- including him recently lecturing an out-of-work gardener to look harder for a job -- have not helped.

Link

I’m actually okay with that idea. Europe might take national-defense more seriously if they are the ones paying for it, and if they are the ones in charge of it.

And now that Brexit is about to happen — finally, once and for all, no looking back — the UK could take its place as the buffer between EU and US. Probably not a bad place for the Brits to be, all in all. And NATO could take its (new) place as a non-military agency, a kind of think-tank consultancy where EU, UK, and US can sit down and discuss issues of mutual concern.

So while there are lots of moving parts here, and we should monitor the situation carefully, I really don’t view this as a bad thing.

If he has suggested it then we should completely remove our subsidies.

Why would we subsidize a potential adversary?

Trump 6' 3"
Macron 5' 8"

LOL. Emmanuel needs to politically stand up to the tougher, more demanding Trump. So I guess he won't be doing fist pumps, hugs, and arm grabbing this time.

European military might was putrid versus Germany In WW2, and Frenchy wants to return to that paradigm. Bring it on, globalist Frog.

Crimson: Why does Macon care about European military?


greetings from Macon, Georgia postcard

just askin' :)

(11-09-2018 07:58 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

Quote:

President Trump touched down in France on Friday and immediately took a shot at President Emmanuel Macron for his recent call for a "European army," calling the idea "very insulting" and renewing pressure on the country to contribute more to NATO.

Trump was reacting to remarks Macron made earlier this week when he said Europe was “the main victim” of Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia.

“We will not protect the Europeans unless we decide to have a true European army,” Macron said, according to The Wall Street Journal. He also grouped in the U.S. with the countries from which France needed protecting.

“We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America,” he said on French radio.

Trump is in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, where he will join fellow world leaders and have a one-on-one meeting with Macron -- who is facing political turmoil at home and as a result may take a tougher stance toward the president than previous meetings.

Macron met with Trump on American soil in April, in a meeting filled with public hand-holding, smiles and affection. Macron, who called Trump “cher Donald” (“Dear Donald”) engaged in an awkward fist-bump with, before being the recipient of a kiss from, the U.S. president.

“We have to make him perfect,” Trump said later, after brushing "dandruff" off the dashing centrist’s shoulder. “He is perfect.”

But there were signs even in April that things were not perfect between the two. Trump is the de facto leader of Western nationalism, while Macron has cast himself as the leading international proponent of European globalism. In an address to Congress, he called for the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate deal -- from which the U.S. withdrew at Trump's direction.

At the United Nations in September, the Frenchman took a swipe at Trump’s brand of nationalism, criticizing a unilateralist approach that entails "a certain lawlessness where everyone pursues their own interests."

“I will never stop upholding the principle of sovereignty even in the face of a certain nationalism, which we’re seeing today, brandishing sovereignty as a way of attacking others," he said just hours after Trump addressed the General Assembly.

The spat over the European army indicates that relations could be deteriorating further.

Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage told Fox Business’ Stuart Varney earlier Friday that the army was a sign of Macron was a “Eurofanatic.”

“For Macron to do it just a few days before President Trump goes to commemorate the centenary of the end of the Great War, the First World War, I think was absolutely crass in the extreme,” Farage, a Fox News contributor, said. “Maybe you can see now why his poll ratings are collapsing in France.”

The idea of some sort of European army has been mulled on the continent for decades in various forms. However, it is unlikely to see support from a number of countries. Italy is currently going through a nationalist and Eurosceptic resurgence. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing pressure from nationalists in her country, while Britain is leaving the European Union.

But while Macron's idea may be somewhat extreme and premature, it may also reflect the political difficulties he faces at home. His approval ratings have dived as low as 29 percent as he faces accusations of being out of touch, and struggles to deal with domestic economic problems and the repercussions of the 2015 migration crisis.

A number of politically awkward viral moments -- including him recently lecturing an out-of-work gardener to look harder for a job -- have not helped.

Link

I like how they buried the lead---

But while Macron's idea may be somewhat extreme and premature, it may also reflect the political difficulties he faces at home. His approval ratings have dived as low as 29 percent as he faces accusations of being out of touch, and struggles to deal with domestic economic problems and the repercussions of the 2015 migration crisis.

He's governed in a manner that is the polar opposite of Trump--and its biting him in the behind.

I say pull our resources and let them deal with their own defense. NATO is bleeding this country for no reason.

Another European leader with a military idea. What could possibly go wrong?

(11-09-2018 09:52 PM)ODUsmitty Wrote:  European military might was putrid versus Germany In WW2, and Frenchy wants to return to that paradigm. Bring it on, globalist Frog.

Did he get a note from his teacher-mom-wife to make this proposal.

The Orange Emperor got his mind right.

I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.

I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

(11-10-2018 08:57 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.

I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

The bad part is that the French would be in the lead. Their military hasn't been the same since Napoleon's march to Moscow.

Theoretically, there is something to it. But they need to have a group of the wealthier nations for a different speed EU, more integrated. Germany, France, Benelux, maybe Poland just to get one of the Slavic nations.

(11-10-2018 09:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(11-10-2018 08:57 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.

I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

The bad part is that the French would be in the lead. Their military hasn't been the same since Napoleon's march to Moscow.

Theoretically, there is something to it. But they need to have a group of the wealthier nations for a different speed EU, more integrated. Germany, France, Benelux, maybe Poland just to get one of the Slavic nations.

Dont be fooled. Germany runs Europe. France is a minor player

Make it so...tomorrow

Folks, this won't happen anytime soon. Emmanuel is talking out his political butt. He's probably getting heat from his Français homies that he's too pro-Trump. He's taking the Justin Trudeau route for now. He'll soon be back eating out of His Orangeness's hand.

From a practical, logistical, economic standpoint, "building a military" isn't something you just place your order, unpackage, and it rolls out in auto-operations mode. Heck, Europe can't even manage their so-called "Union."

(11-10-2018 09:18 AM)shere khan Wrote:  

(11-10-2018 09:04 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(11-10-2018 08:57 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.
I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

The bad part is that the French would be in the lead. Their military hasn't been the same since Napoleon's march to Moscow.
Theoretically, there is something to it. But they need to have a group of the wealthier nations for a different speed EU, more integrated. Germany, France, Benelux, maybe Poland just to get one of the Slavic nations.

Dont be fooled. Germany runs Europe. France is a minor player

I think part of this is Macron wanting to take the lead away from Germany. But the way I look at it, if they are going to raise their military spending to the NATO compliance minimum, the money is going to have to go to something. And is probably an OK place for it to go.

(11-10-2018 08:57 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.

I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

I think Trump's reaction was derived more from the lumping of USA in with Russia and China as enemies. Especially when considering history or our great sacrifices on their beaches.

(11-10-2018 11:14 AM)DFWMINER Wrote:  

(11-10-2018 08:57 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  I really don't think this is a bad idea. Let them take over some of the burden of securing their own supply lines. The big reason we spend more on defense than the next 10 or so countries combined is that, for about half of them, we are their defense.
I don't really understand Trump's reaction. When he was wanting our NATO partners to pick up more of the cost, this was what I thought he had in mind.

I think Trump's reaction was derived more from the lumping of USA in with Russia and China as enemies. Especially when considering history or our great sacrifices on their beaches.

That could well be. But Macron may have to pitch it that way to get it done.