Trump will be his own worst enemy in brussels | opinion

[Tahuyaman]

The US? All we need are LNG terminals on the Western Coast of Europe.

It's also not as expensive as one would think. It is a big mistake for a Western European nation to be energy dependent upon Russia.

[Dr. Who]

Then what is NATO's mission? Why is Europe important at all?

Its mission has changed considerably since it was founded. It's now basically the military wing of the UN and its mission is more focused on the prevention of terrorism than anything else. Ensuring peace in Europe is no longer an issue, given the EU. Rather than restricting membership to the US, Canada and Euro countries, given its current mandate, it should be extended to many more nations not just those who share the North Atlantic neighborhood. Then perhaps fundraising wouldn't be as much of an issue. Furthermore, perhaps if Russia was part of such an organization, they might be seen as less of a threat (which is more a matter of subterfuge than any existential danger that conventional warfare could prevent).

Europe is important for trade. It's important to the World Bank and the IMF.

[Captdon]

Its mission has changed considerably since it was founded. It's now basically the military wing of the UN and its mission is more focused on the prevention of terrorism than anything else. Ensuring peace in Europe is no longer an issue, given the EU. Rather than restricting membership to the US, Canada and Euro countries, given its current mandate, it should be extended to many more nations not just those who share the North Atlantic neighborhood. Then perhaps fundraising wouldn't be as much of an issue. Furthermore, perhaps if Russia was part of such an organization, they might be seen as less of a threat (which is more a matter of subterfuge than any existential danger that conventional warfare could prevent).

Europe is important for trade. It's important to the World Bank and the IMF.

NATO is what? NATO sent a few troops to Afghanistan and bombed Libya. They bombed the Serbs.

They are not the military wing of the UN. Where did you get such an idea?

Let Russia in? They are the reason NATO exists.

Where did this come from? It is pure fiction.

[Dr. Who]

NATO is what? NATO sent a few troops to Afghanistan and bombed Libya. They bombed the Serbs.

They are not the military wing of the UN. Where did you get such an idea?

Let Russia in? They are the reason NATO exists.

Where did this come from? It is pure fiction.

You are assuming that Russia remains a threat to Europe. How? Like I said, they couldn't even hold on to Latvia and Estonia etc. Russia is never going to launch a conventional war on Europe and only three members of NATO even have nuclear weapons. Russia is not the USSR. Yes, they have a large military and a ton of nukes, but not as modern as America's - nevermind America plus all EU countries. If they tried, Moscow would be conventionally bombed into oblivion. No one wants to use nukes. Russia's focus is in gaining economic power and out trading the west, not in seizing real estate. Old style imperialism is too expensive, too difficult to manage and always ultimately doomed to failure.

Ironically, it's not so much that Russia is a threat to the west, but that the west (EU) is a threat to Russia by potentially attracting away members of the Russian Federation to the EU.

[spunkloaf]

Always on the anti-American side.

There is nothing "Anti-American" about what The Doctor said.

[DGUtley]

There is nothing "Anti-American" about what The Doctor said.

Agree. In fact, it is totally American to criticize our politicians. Dr, welcome aboard!!

[spunkloaf]

The U.S. has been taken advantage far too long from other countries and its about time we stop allowing them too.

Ooh. An opinion. Tell me how, in what ways.

[Peter1469]

Its mission has changed considerably since it was founded. It's now basically the military wing of the UN and its mission is more focused on the prevention of terrorism than anything else. Ensuring peace in Europe is no longer an issue, given the EU. Rather than restricting membership to the US, Canada and Euro countries, given its current mandate, it should be extended to many more nations not just those who share the North Atlantic neighborhood. Then perhaps fundraising wouldn't be as much of an issue. Furthermore, perhaps if Russia was part of such an organization, they might be seen as less of a threat (which is more a matter of subterfuge than any existential danger that conventional warfare could prevent).

Europe is important for trade. It's important to the World Bank and the IMF.

NATO is doing very little to fight terrorism. They have been focused on its Cold War mission very ineffectively and at great risk of provoking Russia.

[Peter1469]

You are assuming that Russia remains a threat to Europe. How? Like I said, they couldn't even hold on to Latvia and Estonia etc. Russia is never going to launch a conventional war on Europe and only three members of NATO even have nuclear weapons. Russia is not the USSR. Yes, they have a large military and a ton of nukes, but not as modern as America's - nevermind America plus all EU countries. If they tried, Moscow would be conventionally bombed into oblivion. No one wants to use nukes. Russia's focus is in gaining economic power and out trading the west, not in seizing real estate. Old style imperialism is too expensive, too difficult to manage and always ultimately doomed to failure.

Ironically, it's not so much that Russia is a threat to the west, but that the west (EU) is a threat to Russia by potentially attracting away members of the Russian Federation to the EU.

I tend to agree that Russia does not want the Baltic States. Although if they did, a recent Rand study says they would have them within something like 30 hours (well before NATO could effectively react.) But then what (the question that Neocons never ask themselves).

Russia can't afford the pensions of its current pensioners. Adding the Baltic States to Russia would bankrupt Russia.

[Dr. Who]

NATO is doing very little to fight terrorism. They have been focused on its Cold War mission very ineffectively and at great risk of provoking Russia.

Well, officially they say they are focused on preventing terrorism. It's kind of hard to officially pursue a cold war that ended with the dissolution of the USSR almost 30 years ago. I agree that there seems to be an intent to keep threatening Russia, however I don't think it's because Russia might invade Europe, but because Russia might succeed in creating a powerful trade zone comprising Eurasia and Asia. Economic hegemony is the new imperialism.