funny thing happened on the way to the Bundestag [POLITICS]

[saxitoxin]

The ruling conservative-left coalition of the German Bundestag Wednesday night passed a 2014 defense budget of €32.44 billion (US $44.13 billion), compared with a budget of €33.26 billion for 2013.

($1 billion cut)
http://www.defensenews.com/article/2014 ... nse-Budget

22 days earlier ...

Obama unveiled a $1 billion plan to bolster security for NATO allies. The package — dubbed the “European Re-Assurance Initiative” by aides — is “a powerful demonstration of America’s unshakeable commitment to our NATO allies,” Obama said.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2014 ... med-Russia

Change in German defense spending on Europe: -$1 billion
Change in U.S. defense spending on Europe: +$1 billion
Net Change in defense spending on Europe: $0

[patches70]

Why the US keeps subsidizing the European Union's defense is beyond me. The EU is big enough, rich enough and capable enough to defend themselves. No more need for American dollars and American troops to keep watch for them. Well past time for Europe to stand guard on her own walls.

[Dukasaur]

Why the US keeps subsidizing the European Union's defense is beyond me. The EU is big enough, rich enough and capable enough to defend themselves. No more need for American dollars and American troops to keep watch for them. Well past time for Europe to stand guard on her own walls.

The point of American defense policy is not to defend anything, it's to transfer money from the American taxpayer to the shareholders of defense contractors. A Europe that would defend itself would be putting money in the pockets of Dassault-Breguet and the like, not General Dynamics.

[mrswdk]

Plus, if Europe wasn't benefitting from American help with its defence then it would have little reason to give two shits what America says. American NATO spending buys it greater influence in Europe, just as American defence commitments in East Asia and the Middle East give it influence in those regions that it would otherwise lack.

[saxitoxin]

I AGREE WITH DUKASAUR AND MRSWDK

[Dukasaur]

I AGREE WITH DUKASAUR AND MRSWDK

[Army of GOD]

When I was in high school I got the lead role in the senior play, a rendition of "A Funny thing happened on the way to the Forum".


I quit because it interfered with baseball practice. REVERSE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL BITCHEZ

[nietzsche]

When I was in high school I got the blah blah blah...

I quit because I'm very tinny.

[Army of GOD]

What the f*ck is "tinny" you god damn puto?

[nietzsche]

You.

[notyou2]

When I was in high school, I didn't do anything because I was such a pot head.

[Endgame422]

When I was in high school I realized that if you intend to make a point with a numerical representation it's best to skip facts to lead the reader to make the same conclusion as you are presenting. Did you learn this from the American media?
Actual net defense spending on Europe=-364,810 dollars or -267,297 euro

[danfrank666]

The ruling conservative-left coalition of the German Bundestag Wednesday night passed a 2014 defense budget of €32.44 billion (US $44.13 billion), compared with a budget of €33.26 billion for 2013.

($1 billion cut)
http://www.defensenews.com/article/2014 ... nse-Budget

22 days earlier ...

Obama unveiled a $1 billion plan to bolster security for NATO allies. The package — dubbed the “European Re-Assurance Initiative” by aides — is “a powerful demonstration of America’s unshakeable commitment to our NATO allies,” Obama said.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/2014 ... med-Russia

Change in German defense spending on Europe: -$1 billion
Change in U.S. defense spending on Europe: +$1 billion
Net Change in defense spending on Europe: $0

this is because germany is re arming and the u s is slowly withdrawing by 2020.