Posted on 07/14/2018 6:04:09 AM PDT by mkleesma
Call it a tale of two NATOs.
There may be no better way to summarize the extraordinary events, the astonishing clash of visions that took place this week both inside and outside of the massive glass and steel beehive that is the new North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters.
Strip away the toxic tweets, the political posturing and diplomatic body-blows and what remains painfully evident is a stark sense that the soul of the Atlantic alliance was up for grabs at the recent NATO leaders' summit.
On one side was U.S. President Donald Trump and his mercantilist view of the institution that started out life seven decades ago as a military command — a mechanism to coordinate the work of allied armies facing down the Soviet Union.
Trump the real estate developer made it clear that he sees NATO as an exclusive club where "delinquent" members have been freeloading at the expense of American taxpayers for decades.
Opposing Trump's viewpoint (and perhaps obscured by the president's Twitter tantrums) is the notion articulated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — that NATO is more than merely the sum of its tanks and jets, and its 29 occasionally fractious members.
In his remarks to the German Marshall Fund policy forum on Wednesday, Trudeau described NATO as a living expression of the liberal democratic "values and principles" forged out of the bloody nightmare of the Second World War.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbc.ca ...
Justin Trudeau: A legend in his own mind.
“”People around the world who are receiving the impacts of NATO don’t just benefit from the security elements of it, but benefit from this story we are telling — that democracies matter and that our values and principles matter,” Trudeau told the forum.”
WTF?
...as a living expression of the liberal democratic “values and principles” ...
Sort of like when the rats say that the US constitution is a living breathing document. Thy change the meaning of the law as the wind blows.
NATO was forged for one single purpose, to defend against the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. There is no other purpose for NATO except military defense.
Now that is funny.
How is populism not essentially the same as democracy?
The left only wants the left to vote?
There was a one-way conversation with President Trump telling the rest of NATO how it's going to be from now on.
Fidel’s son said a bunch of commie feel good words, and that counts as winning the argument??
I think the US should give notice of either NATO countries up their defense spending to 3% of GDP within 12 months and keep it at that level for the next 10 years, or we are out. They have been freeloading for decades, and the 3% being well above the 2% requirement is to make up for some of that freeloading.
Then we except NATO, keep what bases we need for our use and call it a day. Then, when Europe gets into another war, we stay neutral unless our national security is in immediate danger.
Justine Trudy is sad that communism hasn’t taken over.
I often win arguments I have with myself too.
[In his remarks to the German Marshall Fund policy forum on Wednesday, Trudeau described NATO as a living expression of the liberal democratic “values and principles” forged out of the bloody nightmare of the Second World War.]
Is this like our “Living” Constitution?
The left is so pathetic. Anything to avoid doing what needs to be done and replacing that action with useless platitudes.
Whatever happened to the Canadian Navy ?
Trudeau the nothing.
What a dumbass. The purpose of NATO is the mutual defense of the member states, not a campfire gathering singing Kumbaya.
Well, that’s right. If some NATO members want to add flowery descriptions, fine. To them I’d say: Just be sure to pay your **** bills and make sure the core purpose of NATO is fulfilled by all, first.
Can an individual stand on a street corner and preach the gospel in Canada?
Today, NATO can and should be replaced by an alliance of countries who wish to remain intact and not be overwhelmed by "refugee" invaders who expect free stuff and wave home country flags while refusing to assimilate.
Open borders not allowed.
What drugs are those journalists on?
Trudeau would lose an argument with an amoeba.
It’s Canadians, they are a very self righteous bunch.
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