Doug Bandow, National Interest: Why Isn't Europe Preparing for a War with Russia?
Three years ago the United States withdrew its combat units from Europe. Now it is sending them back, with regular rotations, to deter a Russian attack. Explained Brig. Gen. Timothy Daugherty: “Preparing for war is a lot cheaper than executing one.”
True. But why isn’t Europe doing the preparing?
During the Cold War the United States had about three hundred thousand troops in Europe. That number was down to 65,000 a couple years ago. Even so, that was too many: the continent long ago should have graduated from America’s defense dole. Yet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization had extended up to Russia’s borders and was threatening to add Georgia and Ukraine, former territories within the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. From Moscow’s perspective, NATO continued to play the containment game, only up to Russia’s borders and into its former heartland.
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WNU Editor: Same reason why Russia is not planning to invade Europe .... it is not going to happen.
7 comments:
This is a very good article. There is very little I could add. In general, Mr. Bandow has nailed it and is spot on!!
With that said I may have some disagreements at the margins. For example, I think he underestimates Russian capabilities and is overly critical of Putin. He also seems to accept as fact the notion that Russia meddled in our presidential election in spite of the lack of reasonable evidence to support such a hypothesis.
Also, he goes on to point out that the US should remain in NATO and other alliances as long as they advance US interests. In my opinion, NATO long ago ceased to advance US security interests and is undermining them.
I've been saying much the same things as this author has on this website and elsewhere for at least a year, probably longer and have been accused of being a "Russian troll." I guess that makes Mr. Bandow and other Americans who think US foreign policy needs to be reexamined and changed are also "Russian trolls."
That's what progressive policies do to young men, turn them into cowards.
Or it's because it's not going to happen.
Peace would break out.
Now in the future...given enough propaganda and a total dearth of "radio silence" types in both countries...maybe it could happen.
But I'd expect them coming down the Al-Can highway before the roll through this folder gap I hear so much about.
2050
God I love me some boris grebenschikov.
Maybe at some point the west-coastal ex-US
states will request Russian leadership, recapitulating an event a thousand years old....
"Send us the people who sing Radio Silence
To provide us with rational rule...
God it's hard to type with a heliostat and a sparrow.
My account of the future Chuckchi-led expedition up the Yukon River will have to wait another day, when a keyboard is more handy.
Ben La Hache
The Mackay Seer
Sad but temporary, one way or the other.
Very sad.
If it's any comfort to you, B, I don't think you're a Russian or Chinese troll any more than I am.
Just a touch of autism. Nothing wrong with that?
If a quality of something is recognized for what it is, good outcomes can be expected.
I'm not drunk, I'll tell you that much.
But when I was drunk, I commented in much the same way as I do now. I just get a yen for attention, a yen for expression.
I am stoned though, and I drink too much coffee.
Btw if you want to see how to stop a fire cold, study the western U.S. Fire departments. Of course the good roads help. And daytime air superiority.
Time will tell.
Semper Ventura
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