A new Cold War? Can this shit be happening?

[chefist]

NEVER FUCKING HAPPEN.  The Euro gov's are all content to play Falkie to the American taxpayer.

That is the real truth...I don't know if all the citizenry understand that fact...but if they vote us out then that will be for them to figure out...not our problem any further from that point on...

[Yorkshire pud]

NEVER FUCKING HAPPEN.  The Euro gov's are all content to play Falkie to the American taxpayer.

It's mutually beneficial to both sides of the Atlantic (Governmentally that is). The USA defence corporations make a killing, from erm killing; as do the Euro defence companies; both swap ideas, tactics/ weapon systems/ bases/ personnel etc; and the governments can be showing they're 'defending the nation'...Meanwhile the taxpayers on each side pay a goodly amount as roads crumble, health services suffer.Having said that, I think I'm right in saying the UK is committed to spending 2% of it's GDP on defence spending. No idea what the figure is in the US, probably more (as will Russia's), because world domination doesn't come cheap! 

[chefist]

It's mutually beneficial to both sides of the Atlantic (Governmentally that is). The USA defence corporations make a killing, from erm killing; as do the Euro defence companies; both swap ideas, tactics/ weapon systems/ bases/ personnel etc; and the governments can be showing they're 'defending the nation'...Meanwhile the taxpayers on each side pay a goodly amount as roads crumble, health services suffer.Having said that, I think I'm right in saying the UK is committed to spending 2% of it's GDP on defence spending. No idea what the figure is in the US, probably more (as will Russia's), because world domination doesn't come cheap! 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

Even though as a percent of GDP the US is at 3.3%, which is not the largest in those terms...the size of our economy means that this represents a huge amount of money...over 9 times that of the UK...I think we could find some savings in there somewhere! 

[Yorkshire pud]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

Even though as a percent of GDP the US is at 3.3%, which is not the largest in those terms...the size of our economy means that this represents a huge amount of money...over 9 times that of the UK...I think we could find some savings in there somewhere! 

I think the USA spends more than any other country on defence; more than the next 26 countries combined; 25 of which are NATO allies. And, yes, I agree, you're correct.

[Caruthers612]

He's right. He's too modest to say so, but he had an uncanny resemblance to Leonid Brezhnev in his youth, and spent many of his younger days being passed around between various presidents and high-ranking generals in the US army. He was especially popular at birthday parties, where he would pop out of a birthday cake in a gold lame bikini and give us his best Marilyn Monroe impression. It might have been painful, but don't judge the man, and it paid his way through ballet school. 

        Sredni, you're bad. Really bad. And I love every minute of it. Remember to wear that thing I love when I come over later.

[Caruthers612]

            <makes official Time Out sign> Guys! Guys! I think our once meek and humble discussion may have gotten a wee bit out of control, eh what? Please let's return to the early days of this thread in which we exchanged recipes for gluten free blueberry muffins and designs for personal sex robots.

[albrecht]

NEVER FUCKING HAPPEN.  The Euro gov's are all content to play Falkie to the American taxpayer.

Any ex-military who served over with NATO guys here? I recall hearing a sorta conspiracy theory years ago by a German who was seconded to some NATO command in the 80s that the US controlled the fuel supply to many major European airports via its CEPS pipeline systems and we make (or made) a lot of money from it?

[Caruthers612]

         <sigh> I've created a monster...

[albrecht]

         <sigh> I've created a monster...

You created me. I am not a monster. I just speculated about future warfare (which you started,) and another thing I recalled about actuality, or at least claim! 

[Caruthers612]

You created me. I am not a monster. I just speculated about future warfare (which you started,) and another thing I recalled about actuality, or at least claim!

         Whoa, whoa, easy, I wasn't referring to you. I was commenting--jokingly--on how what started as me essentially thinking out loud about a possible return to Cold War days has now turned into people diving into JFK, conspiracy theories, etc. Everything's groovy, mon, have at it.

[Yorkshire pud]

         Whoa, whoa, easy, I wasn't referring to you. I was commenting--jokingly--on how what started as me essentially thinking out loud about a possible return to Cold War days has now turned into people diving into JFK, conspiracy theories, etc. Everything's groovy, mon, have at it.

See what happens when anyone jokes about the next world war? It's why we can't have nice things anymore.

[paladin1991]

Any ex-military who served over with NATO guys here? I recall hearing a sorta conspiracy theory years ago by a German who was seconded to some NATO command in the 80s that the US controlled the fuel supply to many major European airports via its CEPS pipeline systems and we make (or made) a lot of money from it?

I was over there and don't know anything about exactly.  I do know that 'our' pipelines are absolutely critical to our 'gallant' allies use as well as our own.  As to who exactly is profiting?  Shit I don't know, but I'd bet my last round of 5.56  that somebody is.   
Albrecht, you're a smart guy.  You know that if there is money to be made, it's going to be made.  And I would hazard a guess that it was all negotiated thru BS lawyers, international treaty and a sly look or two between negotiators.   

[Yorkshire pud]

I was over there and don't know anything about exactly.  I do know that 'our' pipelines are absolutely critical to our 'gallant' allies use as well as our own.  As to who exactly is profiting?  Shit I don't know, but I'd bet my last round of 5.56  that somebody is.   
Albrecht, you're a smart guy.  You know that if there is money to be made, it's going to be made.  And I would hazard a guess that it was all negotiated thru BS lawyers, international treaty and a sly look or two between negotiators.

Why gallant in quotes? Suggestion that only US military have bravery?

[paladin1991]

Why gallant in quotes? Suggestion that only US military have bravery?

Because most of them are worthless fucks.  And you know it.  It usually comes down to the Brits and the Yanks doing the heavy lifting.  Don't get your knickers in a twist my lovely Pud.

[b_dubb]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket

So say we all

[paladin1991]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Is_a_Racket

So say we all

Smedley Fucking Butler!  Told it like it is.  If there's a buck to be made, there's a pimp to chase it.

[Caruthers612]

Smedley Fucking Butler!  Told it like it is.  If there's a buck to be made, there's a pimp to chase it.

           Can I quote you on that? 

[Caruthers612]

See what happens when anyone jokes about the next world war? It's why we can't have nice things anymore.

             Teehee. 

[SredniVashtar]

Smedley Fucking Butler! 

That must have made for an unusual christening service. Anything goes over there it seems.

[Caruthers612]

That must have made for an unusual christening service.

           Not really. The priest's name was Arthur Up-Your-Ass Attaboy.

[paladin1991]

           Can I quote you on that? 

Quote me?  I demand you use that line in all conversations polite or otherwise.

[albrecht]

That must have made for an unusual christening service. Anything goes over there it seems.

Highly, highly racists statement. Not only assuming one would have a Christian name but to presume a religious ceremony for same! I hope inland revenue will audit you for this hate speech. 

[Robert]

Not to mention our nuclear detergent.

No more ring around the planet?

[Robert]

Who said "the original" cold war ever ended? I don`t know anybody who believes that.

The funny thing is that people have been referring to the Cold War in the past tense for about 50 yrs.

[albrecht]

The funny thing is that people have been referring to the Cold War in the past tense for about 50 yrs.

Heck 20 or so years ago defectors were telling us it was all a scam. (Soviets' "lost" but really it was a feint.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qkf3bajd4

[Caruthers612]

Heck 20 or so years ago defectors were telling us it was all a scam. (Soviets' "lost" but really it was a feint.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3qkf3bajd4

        1) Who's Jeff Ronset?

        2) If deception was this guy's job, why should we believe him?

        3) No, really, who's Jeff Ronset?