Trump also said that NATO should pay more for US troops and equipment stationed in Europe to protect European borders.
Yesterday in Europe, NATO and the EU were quite shocked when Trump repeated this same message. Here is the New York Times :
In NATO Speech, Trump Is Vague About Mutual Defense Pledge
President Trump on Thurs punctured any illusions he was fence-mending in Europe
declining to explicitly endorse NATO’s mutual defense pledge
lashing out at NATO for “chronic underpayments” to alliance
tense day when Trump brought “America first” to very heart of Europe
European leaders visibly unsettled
some openly lamenting divisions with US on trade, climate, Russia.
discord palpable in body language
Trump greeted Macron grabbed hands, jaws clenched
Trump push aside Montenegro PM to get to his assigned place in front
split starkest at NATO hq
Trump lectured allies on financial contributions
Trump repeated complaint US was shouldering unfair burden
"23 of 28 member nations not paying what they should be paying” Trump declared
“not fair to the people and taxpayers of the US” he added.
“And many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years”
Trump said NATO members must "finally contribute" fair share to defense
“not fair to the people and taxpayers of US .."
Earlier Trump, a critic of EU during campaign, received chilly reception in Brussels
In talks Trump differed over intentions and policies of Putin of Russia
My comments : Trump appears to be against war. Or at least he does not want the US to fight more wars.
This makes Trump an Enemy of the Military Industrial Complex. The Military Industrial Complex is too powerful. They need to sell their weapons. This means they need war.
To make war profits, they need profitable enemies. Russia can be a profitable enemy. But Trump does not wish to make enemies of Russia and Vladimir Putin.
This makes the Military Industrial Complex very unhappy with Trump. They may even "take him out". Just like what happened to John F Kennedy 54 years ago.
And now Trump does not want to pay more than his fair share of NATO's Budget. Meaning less weapons purchases from the Military Industrial Complex.
But Trump is a 'deal maker'. The Art Of The Deal.How to make the Military Industrial Complex happy AND cut military spending at the same time.
Trump's insistence that NATO members pay up their share of NATO's defense budget means that there will still be weapons purchases from the Military Industrial Complex. A lot of NATO countries use American made weapons.
The US will pay less, NATO will pay more but the weapons will still get bought.
Then Trump has cut a deal with Saudi Arabia. Trump's Special Advisor and son-in-law Jared Kuschner (who is a Jew, without intending any offense) put together that US$110 BILLION defense deal with Saudi Arabia.
Trump has told the Saudis and the Islamic countries that the US will not be coming to their aid or their defense anymore. "You can settle your own problems" he told them point blank.
BUT (this is a big BUT) the US will sell the Saudis all the weapons they need.
This keeps the Military Industrial Complex happy. They still get to sell their weapons. US$110 BILLION worth.
My guess is the US will soon loosen up on weapons exports to other countries. Whoever would like to buy an M1 Abrams tank, maybe you will get a chance to do it sometime.
Posted by Syed Akbar Ali at 6:12:00 PM No comments:
As Predicted, New "Peace Process" Sparks Massive Salafi Violence In Pihilippines
Hi folks. Been occupied with plenty other things for the past six days. Almost back to normal now. New responsibilities and new directions have come up which will require more time. Its all about time. What we do with our 24 hours.
Anyway, please recall that just a few weeks ago I predicted that there will be an outbreak of violence in Mindanao and possible Sabah. Well it has happened. As you read this, fierce firefights are still going on in Marawi City in Mindanao. The ISIS inspired Maute terrorists are still shooting against Philippine government forces. Here is the news :
Link : https://youtu.be/JX8Ah4QjWfI
Philippines army rescues 78 hostages, kills 13 ISIS-linked terrorists – military
7 soldiers and police killed in Marawi
operation to rescue dozens of hostages held by IS terrorists
5 soldiers and 2 policemen killed in clashes with militants since Tuesday
army kill 13 gunmen of IS-affiliated Maute group
overran local clinic, taking hostages, occupying Marawi City Hall
forces rescued 78 civilians from Medical Center
terrorists tried to use them as human shields
troops secured 42 teachers trapped at Dansalan College
31 soldiers wounded in rescue attempt
Tues night, Duterte placed entire Mindanao under martial law for 60 days
after battles between govt and Maute in Marawi escalated
Duterte forced to cut short his trip to Russia to tackle terrorist insurgency
“Anyone now holding a gun, confronting the government with violence, my orders are spare no one, let us solve the problems of Mindanao once and for all," Duterte said Wednesday.
“If I think you should die, you will die. If you fight us, you will die. If there's an open defiance, you will die, and if it means many people dying, so be it. That's how it is,” he added.
Duterte will not hesitate to declare martial law throughout entire country
in event Maute and ISIS terrorists seek sanctuary in Visayas and Mindanao,” Duterte
“I will not allow the country to go to the dogs. As I said, the military has the primary role now of keeping the law and order situation and in all parts of the Republic of the Philippines,” the president said.
Philippines leader promised to resign if incapable of maintaining peace in his country
“As president, if I cannot confront them, I will resign,” Duterte said. “If I am incompetent and incapable of keeping order in this country, let me step down and give the job to somebody else.”
My comments : The muddling Peace Process in Mindanao facilitated by Malaysia for the past 25 years or more has gone nowhere. Now with the election of Duterte, Malaysia has no role to play at all.
So the Moro guys did the next best thing - they took their troubles to Saudi Arabia. Not all of them. Just two factions. Other factions were left out.
This is the result. The factions that were left out from Saudi Arabia have decided to attack Marawi City. The attack and holding ground (they occupied city hall, the hospital, schools and other buildings) was purely a show of force. They have no plans of permanently "liberating" any part of Mindanao from the Philippines.
This is just a statement that 'We are still here. You will have to deal with us".
It means money. They want money.
The no nonsense Duterte has decided to take the more aggressive approach.
If you decide to go to war, its all about firepower.
There is always a price to pay for foolishness.
Who is the fool and how big a price will they pay?
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