Politics

[rookhawk]

One clarification: I don’t believe Trump wants free trade, he wants equitable trade. If you’ll buy a billion from us without tax, we will meet you with full reciprocity. To buy $50bn from China and have them buy $1bn back is not free trade, it’s a hustle.

 

[sierraone]

Longwalker, Try, like me, an Aussie, to get a rifle out of the US . I bought a "special" Ruger No 1 from his eminence @sierraone over a year ago ... Seems we Aussies are no more popular with the current US administration than we were with the previous one ... Yup, @sierraone, still awaitin' ...

What is your government telling you the hold up is?

 

[geoff rath]

Not my government, it turns out. lt should have been here by now; seems the slip-up was his US agent's problem.
I've been promise an "expedited" delivery, whatever that means ...
My importer has a very good bottle of whisky pending on delivery... Hiss S agent is being asked for a small "favor" in the form of replacement front sight blades ....
Sound fair to you?
Have a good one Mate.

 

[geoff rath]

Not my government, it turns out. lt should have been here by now; seems the slip-up was his US agent's problem.
I've been promised an "expedited" delivery, whatever that means ...
My importer has a very good bottle of whisky pending on delivery... His US agent is being asked for a small "favor" in the form of replacement front sight blades ....
Sound fair to you?
Have a good one Mate.

 

[sierraone]

Not my government, it turns out. lt should have been here by now; seems the slip-up was his US agent's problem.
I've been promised an "expedited" delivery, whatever that means ...
My importer has a very good bottle of whisky pending on delivery... His US agent is being asked for a small "favor" in the form of replacement front sight blades ....
Sound fair to you?
Have a good one Mate.

So the rifle is still in the U.S.?

 

[geoff rath]

and to get back on subject, I maintain Bill Ruger set a new standard for "production" rifles with the No 1, and the RSM....
a real pity that his Magnum action is no more ....

 

[flat8]

The USA has labelled both Canada and the EU as threats to their "National Security" in order to justify new duties declared by their military Commander-in-Chief on the international trade of steel and aluminum. So I suggest that USA made products such as firearms and ammunition should be sold exclusively within the USA so Canada and Europe can help our esteemed neighbour defend themselves and improve their national security. Sadly, I have come to the conclusion that Canadians and Europeans should make do with their own products exclusively. For all our AfricaHunting friends in Canada, Europe, Africa and elsewhere, please don't buy any American made products. Lets's support the USA in their concern. One can never be too careful when there are evil guys to deal with, and it is our duty to help, as always.

Germany, the EU’s most powerful economy, is required by NATO to have 44 battle-ready tanks. They have nine. NINE. Let that sink in when you think about how well the EU ‘helps’ the US defend themselves.

 

[mdwest]

Germany, the EU’s most powerful economy, is required by NATO to have 44 battle-ready tanks. They have nine. NINE. Let that sink in when you think about how well the EU ‘helps’ the US defend themselves.

Dont get me wrong.. I completely agree that very few other NATO countries even attempt to pull their share of the weight or meet their agreements..

But where do the 44 and 9 numbers come from?

Every resource I have looked at estimates Germany to have somewhere between 250-350 main battle tanks in their full time component, and another 100+ in their reserves...

 

[HWL]

The world sleeps much better with 9 german main battle tanks than with 900..... Germany easily could have!

Greetings from Germany

HWL

 

[Red Leg]

The world sleeps much better with 9 german main battle tanks than with 900..... Germany easily could have!

Greetings from Germany

HWL

I would just as soon Putin’s sleep were a bit more disturbed by Germany. The sad thing is that from the mid-seventies to the early nineties, the Bundeswher had become the finest mechanized force on the continent. Yes, I am including the US. Leopard equipped brigades ran circles around us several times during Reforgers. Unfortunately, beginning in the early nineties, the organized “labor” movement within the armed forces, and falling interest and investment by successive governments has been like a cancer ever since.

I even wrote an article in the early eighties that was published in “Parameters” (no small achievement for a major) predicting the reemergence of Germany on the world stage as both the militay and economic dominat power in Europe. That crystal ball was, in large part, shattered by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the costs of reunification. What I would never have anticipated was the current apparent drift toward cultural suicide.

 

[Wheels]

But where do the 44 and 9 numbers come from?

Not sure where @flat8 got his info, but I had heard it as well. This is what I found. Looks like a battalion instead of the entire army. I have read in other places that Germany's equipment readiness is generally less than 50%

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201802151061685708-germany-army-lacks-tanks/

The German Bundeswehr lacks tanks to fulfill its obligations to NATO as the ninth tank brigade stationed in Münster, which according to army's plan should be engaged in NATO's new force, now has only nine combat-capable of the required 44 Leopard-2 tanks and three of the 14 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, newspaper Die Welt reports, citing a secret document of the country's Defense Ministry.



I also remember the Germans using broomsticks for rifles in NATO exercises, so had to look it up. This is what I found.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wo...omsticks-instead-of-guns-during-training.html


German soldiers used broomsticks painted black instead of guns during a joint Nato exercise last year due to severe equipment shortages, it has emerged.

The incident took place during exercises for Nato's rapid response force, formed in reaction to the Ukraine crisis, which is supposed to be ready to deploy anywhere it is needed at very short notice.

Soldiers in the Panzergrenadierbataillon 371 took part in the exercises last September in Norway.

The troops were missing 31 per cent of their MG3 general-purpose machine guns, 41 per cent of their P8 handguns, and more than three-quarters of their Lucie night-vision devices.


Wonder why Trump is pushing NATO members to meet their 2% obligation.

 

[Wheels]

One clarification: I don’t believe Trump wants free trade, he wants equitable trade. If you’ll buy a billion from us without tax, we will meet you with full reciprocity. To buy $50bn from China and have them buy $1bn back is not free trade, it’s a hustle.

Generally speaking I agree with you on this. However, Trump, Ross, Mnuchin, Lighthizer and Navaro have all been quoted as wanting zero tariffs between countries. In the Trump/Junker press conference they talked about working towards zero tariffs. In Ross' follow up to that press conference, he reiterated the eventual goal was zero tariffs between the EU and America. At some point, maybe we should take them at face value that they want zero tariffs or, free trade.

 

[markferrigno]

That is what 70 years for Defense Welfare buys you, broomsticks for guns and less than 10% of tanks/planes actually operational........ Close all the American bases in Germany and let them fend for themselves............ They seem to plenty of new fighting age males available..........

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

That is what 70 years for Defense Welfare buys you, broomsticks for guns and less than 10% of tanks/planes actually operational........ Close all the American bases in Germany and let them fend for themselves............ They seem to plenty of new fighting age males available..........

I wasn't a huge fan of Rumsfeld when he served under GWB. But he floated that idea publicly and Germany crapped themselves quite quickly. It won't happen and shouldn't happen as we have a common enemy in Russia. But as Trump is saying, they must be doing their part.

 

[HWL]

I wasn't a huge fan of Rumsfeld when he served under GWB. But he floated that idea publicly and Germany crapped themselves quite quickly. It won't happen and shouldn't happen as we have a common enemy in Russia. But as Trump is saying, they must be doing their part.

Times have changed.....

Today, America calls Germany an enemy and treats it like an enemy.

Russia calls Germany a friend, and treats it like a friend.


HWL

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Russia calls Germany a friend, and treats it like a friend.


HWL

Good luck with that.

 

[HWL]

Good luck with that.

It was not Germany, that initiated this.

The United States of America are lost as a reliable partner.


HWL

 

[Royal27]

It was not Germany, that initiated this.

The United States of America are lost as a reliable partner.


HWL

By wanting to be treated fairly and have partners live up to their agreed upon responsibility?

Interesting that when the US does what is best for itself you consider us an enemy and when Russia does what is best for itself you consider it a friend. All depends which way the money flows, doesn't it?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It was not Germany, that initiated this.

The United States of America are lost as a reliable partner.


HWL

Initiated what? That Germany and the other NATO countries contribute to the collective defense as agreed upon? If Germany feels it has better partner in Russia....well as I said, good luck with that. One trip to Dresden a number of years ago would have me think not. But it's your country, do as you see fit.

 

[HWL]

Initiated what? That Germany and the other NATO countries contribute to the collective defense as agreed upon? If Germany feels it has better partner in Russia....well as I said, good luck with that. One trip to Dresden a number of years ago would have me think not. But it's your country, do as you see fit.

..... America calls Germany an enemy......and treats it like an enemy!!!

Simply watch your president.

Today, Germany is a well respected country all over the world.

How many real friends America does have any more?


HWL