How important/relevant is NATO?

[BaiHu]

I'm dragging this out of the "How Drunk" thread and into its own thread, because I want to hear from you guys in the know.

Serious multi-part question, as I'm not a geopolitical wonk. I'm really hoping some of you guys with your .gov and .mil service can weigh in here:

Given the globalization of the world (something that IMO is a mixed bag of +/-), what do the other 22 partners in NATO bring to the table that the major 5 don't bring to US interests (I'm counting US as the 28th)? I get that treaties are good to have, but what is the net payout in security/funds/tax advantages/tariff advantages, etc?

Given that ~4 of those countries have allowed radicalized Islam to go unchecked and thereby drawing their region and the US into greater danger, why shouldn't we be charging them in one way or another (are we already?) for having to aid them more in their countries than they aid us in ours (yes, this is a presumption)?

I'll ignore the fact that the far left ideologies (that romanticize Europe) here in the US have created a whole host of problems. I'd rather discuss how NATO allies ignorance or failure to keep radical Islam in check has put an add'l undo pressure on the US military and therefore our country as a whole.

Have at it. I'm really interested to hear your thoughts.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[voodoo_man]

Seeing as how we (the US tax payers) fund them, they aren't exactly worth a shit without us.

[blues]

Seems to me that there are advantages to having (reasonably) quick strike capability far from our own borders.

At the same time there are the disadvantages of cost, financial and otherwise, as well as an obligation to support and defend the host nations as well as other parties to the treaty.

I don't doubt that it should be reexamined (or renegotiated) from time to time much as I wish our participation in the U.N would be.

Personally, I see it as a very complex issue with many layers and no easy answer. If I had my druthers, and it were somehow feasible, I'd rather see the U.S. direct most of its energy and financial resources toward making our own country better since we carry so much water for the rest of the world, often with no obvious benefit to ourselves.

The Libertarians, I suppose, share a similar position. That's probably why Johnson doesn't know where Aleppo is or the name of any foreign leaders.

[Suvorov]

Not at all.

It's funny how 6 of the top 10 nations in the world (GDP wise) feel the need to band together to protect themselves from the newly re-invented boogeyman of Putin's Russia with the worlds 14th largest economy. The idea of Putin and Russia pouring through the Fulda Gap today is laughable and I don't see Poland or many other Eastern European countries jumping at the bit to rejoin the Warsaw Pact. The only thing Putin would get by invading Poland is a bunch of dead Russian boys and that won't help his popularity at home. So why should the US be serving as the military backbone to 5+ other nations with strong economies that are more than capable of defending themselves from Putin's Bear. Of course we and NATO know that the Putin Bear is a joke, but we need a new world enemy (and the fact that he isn't willing to sell his country to the West like Yeltsin did is just not acceptable) which is why we are so intent on camping by his cave and poking at him with a stick. Poke at the bear, see it growl and bite our stick and then we jump up an down and scream rabid bear! All the while, NATO seems completely indifferent to the invasion on it's Southern Boarder.

Something tells me that if the Germans really were that concerned about Putin they would be arming themselves instead of selling almost every Leo2 they have ever made at competitive prices. No instead they let the US defend the world while they build their economic empire.

[David S.]

Not at all.

It's funny how 6 of the top 10 nations in the world (GDP wise) feel the need to band together to protect themselves from the newly re-invented boogeyman of Putin's Russia with the worlds 14th largest economy. The idea of Putin and Russia pouring through the Fulda Gap today is laughable and I don't see Poland or many other Eastern European countries jumping at the bit to rejoin the Warsaw Pact. The only thing Putin would get by invading Poland is a bunch of dead Russian boys and that won't help his popularity at home. So why should the US be serving as the military backbone to 5+ other nations with strong economies that are more than capable of defending themselves from Putin's Bear. Of course we and NATO know that the Putin Bear is a joke, but we need a new world enemy (and the fact that he isn't willing to sell his country to the West like Yeltsin did is just not acceptable) which is why we are so intent on camping by his cave and poking at him with a stick. Poke at the bear, see it growl and bite our stick and then we jump up an down and scream rabid bear! All the while, NATO seems completely indifferent to the invasion on it's Southern Boarder.

Something tells me that if the Germans really were that concerned about Putin they would be arming themselves instead of selling almost every Leo2 they have ever made at competitive prices. No instead they let the US defend the world while they build their economic empire.

Cuz sometimes one like just isn't enough.

[Jay Cunningham]

I'd rather see the U.S. direct most of its energy and financial resources toward making our own country better since we carry so much water for the rest of the world, often with no obvious benefit to ourselves.

[Jay Cunningham]

Not at all.

It's funny how 6 of the top 10 nations in the world (GDP wise) feel the need to band together to protect themselves from the newly re-invented boogeyman of Putin's Russia with the worlds 14th largest economy. The idea of Putin and Russia pouring through the Fulda Gap today is laughable and I don't see Poland or many other Eastern European countries jumping at the bit to rejoin the Warsaw Pact. The only thing Putin would get by invading Poland is a bunch of dead Russian boys and that won't help his popularity at home. So why should the US be serving as the military backbone to 5+ other nations with strong economies that are more than capable of defending themselves from Putin's Bear. Of course we and NATO know that the Putin Bear is a joke, but we need a new world enemy (and the fact that he isn't willing to sell his country to the West like Yeltsin did is just not acceptable) which is why we are so intent on camping by his cave and poking at him with a stick. Poke at the bear, see it growl and bite our stick and then we jump up an down and scream rabid bear! All the while, NATO seems completely indifferent to the invasion on it's Southern Boarder.

Something tells me that if the Germans really were that concerned about Putin they would be arming themselves instead of selling almost every Leo2 they have ever made at competitive prices. No instead they let the US defend the world while they build their economic empire.

[okie john]

Massive wisdom in this thread.

Putin doesn't need to go west when he can destabilize Syria and similar places. The refugees will destabilize the West for him, and his military will gain combat time and experience like Hitler's troops did in Spain in 1936. Whether NATO will recognize and respond to that in time to do any good is another story, but I'm not optimistic. More than likely, it's already too late.


Okie John

[Suvorov]

Massive wisdom in this thread.

Putin doesn't need to go west when he can destabilize Syria and similar places.

Okie John

I'm not so sure that it was Putin who destabilized Syria.

[Jay Cunningham]

Massive wisdom in this thread.

Putin doesn't need to go west when he can destabilize Syria and similar places. The refugees will destabilize the West for him, and his military will gain combat time and experience like Hitler's troops did in Spain in 1936. Whether NATO will recognize and respond to that in time to do any good is another story, but I'm not optimistic. More than likely, it's already too late.


Okie John

Putin?

lol

Yeah, Putin destabilized Syria.

Yeah, Putin is allowing Syrian refugees into Europe.

lolzlolzolzol