How NATO went from championing free speech to destroying it

[WuWei]

@gooddad409

@Imel

Your whole economy is based abroad.
I know you have an ocean between but you’re not self sufficient.

Wrong again.

It’s certainly not based in Europe.

[TheRedComet]

Only reason our governments don’t do to us is because they don’t see a need to right now. Could easily happen in the future if we get too uppity though.

Plus I bet Ireland has a very close trading relationship with China. And they pull the exact same bull crap as the Russian government.

Trust me, me and you have a lot more in common with the common Russian man than we do with the elitist swines who run our respective countries.

[Imel]

No i don’t believe the average Russian wants this war, but it’s the government that’s the problem.
Any protesters are imprisoned and enemies killed. I’d prefer not to live like that.

[Samm]

@Imel

Nato is a military alliance and all members contribute to varying degrees.
Yes the US and Germany are the highest to do so but the money is spent on sustaining Nato as an entity. Headquarters, staff, research & development, equipment etc.
This does not go to any member states to fund their economy. In fact they all pay something though it may fall short of 2%.
Wasn’t it formed against Russian aggression and here we are.
What to do?

Fulfill your financial contribution, that’s what.

(Yes, I know, as part of the UK you are.)

[Munimula1]

@TheRedComet

It’s a double edged sword. Those allies can drag you into wars in some cases. Like how Austria Hungary and Russia drug Germany and France into the July crisis that became World War I.

Overall I support NATO and what it stands for. But I’ll admit that we did our allies a disservice by allowing them to become so dependent on us.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-british-forces-carry-out-additional-strikes-against-houthis-yemen-2024-02-24/

US, British forces carry out more strikes against Houthis in Yemen

[TheRedComet]

You don’t have to live like that.

Just know that if you do find yourself under that regime one day, chances are it’ll be fellow Irishmen who are putting a gun to your head. Not some Russians that can’t even conquer Ukraine, much less Europe.

[TheRedComet]

I actually pointed out earlier that both the French and British navies are good and commonly work with the US navy.

But the truth is that if WWIII happened tomorrow and nukes weren’t used (because if they were who the hell cares anymore) they couldn’t do it alone. They would need our manpower and our logistics.

[WuWei]

@Imel

Any protesters are imprisoned and enemies killed. I’d prefer not to live like that.

We do.

[Imel]

Maybe but there’s a reason the Soviet Union broke up and as it turns out noone wants a piece of that action again.
He even wants Poland.
No thanks.

[TheRedComet]

He can want in one hand and ■■■■ in the other. Wonder which gets full first?

Poland is under article 5. Nuclear war is generally bad for business.

[WuWei]

Barely.

[TheRedComet]

Look at poor old Greece though. They pay that much and that country is on fire most of the year.

[Imel]

You don’t have to normalise this stuff you know.

[WuWei]

@Imel

You don’t have to normalise this stuff you know.

It is normal.

[TheRedComet]

The absence of it is what is abnormal.

[Samm]

@TheRedComet

Look at poor old Greece though. They pay that much and that country is on fire most of the year.

Of course their GDP is something like $215 billion. It doesn’t take much to exceed 2%. They are probably at 3% just to make payroll.

[Imel]

Climate is a bit dodgy in Greece so Putin is ok. Got it.

[TheRedComet]

No Greece is on fire because they are usually rioting and lighting their own government buildings on fire.

[WuWei]

[Imel]

Guess what. In Russia that wouldn’t be allowed.