Gates blasts Europe over NATO

[Straight Shooter]

I agree with what he said, the Europeans need to step up.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/10/nato-dismal-future-pentagon-chief

 

[Ulysses31]

He's talking shit and only cares about America's interests. Going to war with every muslim nation on earth will bankrupt any country that participates, the US didn't care when the UK was fighting the IRA and has never labelled them a terrorist organisation because of the Irish Catholic lobby in the US. Also in the Middle East the Saudis and Yemen are some of the worst offenders when it comes to violating human rights yet the US barely says anything about them because they are close allies who give them cheap oil. Good of him to praise all the European troops that have died fighting in America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it means a lot to us Mr Gates. He is right NATO should disband, it's a Cold War relic that should have gone with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

 

[beauregard]

He's talking shit and only cares about America's interests. Going to war with every muslim nation on earth will bankrupt any country that participates, the US didn't care when the UK was fighting the IRA and has never labelled them a terrorist organisation because of the Irish Catholic lobby in the US. Also in the Middle East the Saudis and Yemen are some of the worst offenders when it comes to violating human rights yet the US barely says anything about them because they are close allies who give them cheap oil. Good of him to praise all the European troops that have died fighting in America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it means a lot to us Mr Gates. He is right NATO should disband, it's a Cold War relic that should have gone with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Label the IRA terrorists, but the Orangemen need that label just as much. Both sides killed innocent people.

 

[Ulysses31]

Label the IRA terrorists, but the Orangemen need that label just as much. Both sides killed innocent people.

I totally agree, I have great sympathy for the Irish cause and can see how the history of the British in Ireland and the provacation of the Orangemen that continues today can turn some Irish to terror although I still believe that diplomatic solutions are the best way forward (agreed if the IRA are to be labelled terrorists then so should the UVF and UDA). My poorly explained point was that Britain could argue that the IRA is as dangerous to her as Islamic extremists are to America yet the US takes the threat to them more seriously than the threat to the UK just because there is a lot of support for Ireland in the US, there needs to be consistency and the removal of bias if NATO was to truly exceed but unfortunately there isn't but Mr Gates won't bring that up will he.

 

[Will E Worm]

Who elected Bill Gates? :tongue:

I don't see the IRA as "terrorists."

 

[UrMaSucksDonkey]

The IRA doesn't exist anymore.....Dissidents should not be considered them....There will probably always be people who wish to use violence to attain their goals so long as the idiotic question exists....Them same people would be the criminal fraternity if we got all ireland tommorrow....While Orange groups would wage guerilla warfare if they weren't engaged in the process.....I say this as a irish man myself....Need to sell all ireland to everyone if it is to be realistically achieved.....But fook good luck with that the state the south is in these days....Ironically they are strengthening their ties to britain cause they ass shafted themshelves.....Whole thing is a sore fucking head.

 

[UrMaSucksDonkey]

On this topic its all usual cold shoulder bluster......If US leaves NATO....Europe runs to china and russia for "peacekeeping" roles......US definitely not like to see this.

 

[Ulysses31]

On this topic its all usual cold shoulder bluster......If US leaves NATO....Europe runs to china and russia for "peacekeeping" roles......US definitely not like to see this.

The very existence of NATO is divisive to the International community, everyone knows it is controlled by the US who use it to portray an international front when engaging in conflicts, the US decides which conflicts NATO should get involved in yet expects all the NATO members to share the cost, where was NATO when Argentina invaded the Falklands and what did Britain get out of sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan? Diplomacy is the best way forward, it's holding up in Northern Ireland and no reason why it can't be replicated anywhere else.

 

[Trident1]

On this topic its all usual cold shoulder bluster......If US leaves NATO....Europe runs to china and russia for "peacekeeping" roles......US definitely not like to see this.

No not really.

NATO isn't going anywhere. Gates is pissed certain member countries aren't doing their fair share. Norway, France, and Denmark on the other hand have gone above and beyond.

 

[Ulysses31]

No not really.

NATO isn't going anywhere. Gates is pissed certain member countries aren't doing their fair share. Norway, France, and Denmark on the other hand have gone above and beyond.

Denmark was running out of Tomahawk missiles the other day and needed to borrow some from the Netherlands, doubt Gates was too pleased when he heard about that.

http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n252030

 

[Trident1]

Denmark was running out of Tomahawk missiles the other day and needed to borrow some from the Netherlands, doubt Gates was too pleased when he heard about that.

http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n252030

They'll get them where ever they can. I'm just surprised they didn't ask us for them. Perhaps the Dutch had them ready to go.

 

[mrtrebus]

Who elected Bill Gates? :tongue:

I don't see the IRA as "terrorists."

Well, I guess one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. . .

 

[Juliuscaesar]

Let's see with the current Euro crisis.

Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are fucked up beyond all reason and need bailouts..Wonder who's next.

 

[Trident1]

Let's see with the current Euro crisis.

Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are fucked up beyond all reason and need bailouts..Wonder who's next.

Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia.

 

[mrtrebus]

Hungary, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia.

Well those countries don't count. :hatsoff:

 

[busenbust]

Let's see with the current Euro crisis.

Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Ireland are fucked up beyond all reason and need bailouts..Wonder who's next.

...oh they are fucked i agree! but look at the strength of the euro ! two shit currencies but the greenback is being spat and dumped on !:hatsoff:

 

[Straight Shooter]

No not really.

NATO isn't going anywhere. Gates is pissed certain member countries aren't doing their fair share. Norway, France, and Denmark on the other hand have gone above and beyond.

In the article it said that France ran out of munitions two weeks into the Libya campaign. The U.S once again had to come in and save their ass.

 

[Trident1]

In the article it said that France ran out of munitions two weeks into the Libya campaign. The U.S once again had to come in and save their ass.

From now on they'll be stocked up for any contingency.