'Total failure' US Ambassador Sparks Anger in Germany

[Maeve]

Hadn't seen this until Hubby mentioned it this morning...

https://www.thelocal.de/20190319/total-diplomatic-failure-us-ambassador-sparks-anger-in-germany

It came after the United States on Tuesday labelled as "worrisome" budget plans by NATO ally Germany that project a fall in military spending in coming years.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused the biggest EU economy of freeloading on US military might with defence spending far below the NATO member target of two percent of GDP.

Germany's finance ministry had on Monday presented its budget planning for coming years, which signalled a drop

[maxsolomon]

1. The US should lower it's Defense spending by 1/3

700 billion a year is absurd (and doesn't accurately reflect the total cost of our Military).

Use the money to
1. Provide Universal Health Coverage
2. Balance the Budget/Reduce the Debt

Trump is just picking another fight to rile up the rubes who've never set foot outside our borders.

[DFW]

2. Just ask ANY of Germany's neighbors if they want a Germany with a beefed-up military again

They love today's modern economic powerhouse that buys up all the products of the neighbors, and educates its citizens to be peace-loving EU citizens, but ask if they would like their neighbor to be a MILITARY powerhouse again, and they'll answer, "ehhhh, no thanks." For that matter, that is the same answer you'll get from most Germans, too. Things have been better in Central Europe since Germany got off that kick.