Thread: European leaders 'scared to death' Trump will pull US troops home, ex-defense chief s

European leaders 'scared to death' Trump will pull US troops home, ex-defense chief says

By Bradford Betz
3 hours ago

European leaders are reportedly nervous that President Donald Trump will make good on his campaign promise to withdraw American troops from the continent if host countries fail to pay their fair share for defense.

Trump has long complained that the U.S. bears too large a financial burden, but has yet to act. While the issue is not expected to come up at the Brussels meeting of NATO next week, uncertainty abounds.

Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told McClatchy that European leaders are “scared to death” and are “increasingly worried [Trump] is going to do things not based on what’s in the best interest … but based solely on his vision of ‘America First.’”

Last month, a G-7 meeting in Canada turned sour when Trump disparaged allies and refused to sign a joint statement. Trump’s upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, has exacerbated concerns as well.

Erik Brattberg of the Carnegie Endowment’s Europe program, worried that criticizing Europeans weakens alliances and provides “new opportunities for countries like Russia to take advantage of that.”

Eastern Europe, which sits at Russia’s doorstep, has been particularly eager to keep American troops. Poland, for instance, has put forth a proposal for the U.S. to building permanent military bases.

According to Pew Research Data, more than 60,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Europe, including 35,000 in Germany, 12,000 in Italy, 8,500 in Britain, and 3,300 in Spain, with thousands more rotating into other European countries per circumstance.

But despite Trump’s rhetoric, his administration has maintained tactical support for Europe, having sent military equipment, participated in regional exercises, and signed defense agreements with Finland and Sweden. Still, any move to permanently withdraw American troops from Europe would ultimately require congressional authorization.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...hief-says.html

Bring OUR troops and OUR equipment home!

They have men and women to SERVE in their military!

They can go to a draft if they need to.

They can BUY their own military equipment!



WE ARE NOT THE POLICE OR ATM MACHINE FOR THE WORLD

GET OUR TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT ON OUR BORDER!

Absolutely!! They dare to cheat US on trade and then want to sit there whining about our troops protecting their asses?? BS on that!! Bring 'em home now!

The U.S. military presence in Europe deters American adversaries, strengthens allies, and protects U.S. interests. Whether preparing U.S. and Allied troops and deploying them to Afghanistan or responding to a humanitarian crisis in the region, the U.S. can more quickly and effectively project power and react to the unexpected using its forward-based military capabilities in Europe. Reducing this capability will only make America weaker on the world stage.

In the past 95 years, the U.S. has disengaged from Europe on two occasions: during the early 1920s when the U.S. occupation force left the Rhineland and during the huge troop drawdown in the early 1990s. Both cases ushered in new eras of instability and warfare on the continent. America’s economic and security interests require a stable Europe, and the U.S. military presence in Europe contributes to this.

Our first President, George Washington, enunciated a policy of peach through strength in his fifth annual message to Congress in 1793. He said:

"There is a rank due to the United States among nations which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."

peach through strength

I agree with this, but is it strength when other countries use the US like a doormat?

Strength would be to force them to pay their share.

Cut troops in HALF!

We can be there in no time. Shut off the piggy bank.

Originally Posted by stoptheinvaders

peach through strength

I agree with this, but is it strength when other countries use the US like a doormat?

Strength would be to force them to pay their share.

No it's not alright to be taken for granted. I agree our NATO allies should pay their fair share. I was just attempting to show why it's important that we have forward based units in Europe.

Without US muscle, Europe would collapse.

End of story.

Then they better wise up and stop acting like idiots.