General Discussion

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts) Sun Nov 18, 2018, 05:51 PM Nov 2018

What do you think about an EU military? Macron proposed this recently...

I have not heard the pros and cons, but on first take, I like the idea. The US could withdraw from the multiple military bases in Europe. I am all for cutting back on the behemoth US military.

8 replies

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What do you think about an EU military? Macron proposed this recently... (Original Post) Equinox Moon Nov 2018 OP

well, while Trump has done his best to destroy NATO, this might be the death knell... hlthe2b Nov 2018 #1

I think it's a good idea as none can depend on tRump. n/t RKP5637 Nov 2018 #2

True, I think this is their response to not being able to count on the US because of "yuk" Equinox Moon Nov 2018 #3

An EU coastguard would be a better idea. I can't see agreement on an EU army OnDoutside Nov 2018 #4

All good points Equinox Moon Nov 2018 #5

I'd enlist if it would get me out of Trumpist Dumbfuckistan and they rzemanfl Nov 2018 #6

I think it's a great idea... PeeJ52 Nov 2018 #7

Standardising hardware would go a long way to stretching the European defence budgets Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #8

hlthe2b

(102,200 posts)

1. well, while Trump has done his best to destroy NATO, this might be the death knell...

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 05:53 PM

Nov 2018

That is my immediate thought...

RKP5637

(67,102 posts)

2. I think it's a good idea as none can depend on tRump. n/t

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:01 PM

Nov 2018

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)

3. True, I think this is their response to not being able to count on the US because of "yuk"

Reply to RKP5637 (Reply #2)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:03 PM

Nov 2018

OnDoutside

(19,952 posts)

4. An EU coastguard would be a better idea. I can't see agreement on an EU army

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:11 PM

Nov 2018

anytime soon. I think they would need all remaining 27 countries to agree, but for example, neutrality has been a cornerstone of Ireland's foreign policy for 90 years. That said a large part of that was because there was no way British troops would be welcome in the Republic, so if the British exit the EU, it might put a different complexion on it. For others the notion of German troops entering their country might be an issue.

Equinox Moon

(6,344 posts)

5. All good points

Reply to OnDoutside (Reply #4)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:13 PM

Nov 2018

rzemanfl

(29,556 posts)

6. I'd enlist if it would get me out of Trumpist Dumbfuckistan and they

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:14 PM

Nov 2018

take 71 year-old men.

PeeJ52

(1,588 posts)

7. I think it's a great idea...

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:17 PM

Nov 2018

we'll need someone to come and rescue us from Trump and the Proud Boys when they put us all in concentration camps...

Pope George Ringo II

(1,896 posts)

8. Standardising hardware would go a long way to stretching the European defence budgets

Reply to Equinox Moon (Original post)

Sun Nov 18, 2018, 06:23 PM

Nov 2018

I suppose that whole "dissimilar adversary" thing has some merit in aviation, but the NATO motor pool is simply chaos. Simplifying that and small arms would really help the return on investment. There's no particular reason you couldn't standardise a uniform and just switch out national patches, even.

Britain has also been a brake on this kind of thing, but not so much for the next few years.

I'm a citizen of both Britain and Ireland, so I'm a little nervous on behalf of the latter, but I'd have to call it a step forward.

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