Jesus, I'm actually with the top guy. NATO was started with good intentions. USA, Canada, England, etc. wanted to make sure their buddies were safe, so they started NATO. But the US started ramping up military production, as they didn't want to be caught off guard by another big war, mainly because the WW2 caught them with their pants in the inner core. So they quickly had to build a military, feed the army, build the ships in the army, build the planes in the army, and it was a lot harder to mount an effective sea campaign because of Pearl Harbor. But let's get on topic. The USA didn't want to be caught with their pants down if the Soviet Union decided to come knocking, so they ramped up military production. America was doing pretty good, aside from the threat of nuclear war. Meanwhile in Europe, England and France were slowly but surely rebuilding their economies and militaries. (England had taken major damage in the south and a lot of damage was dealt to London by German air raids, and France was blown up really hard by USA to liberate it and by Germany during its 4-year occupation. France got a little but better off than other countries Germany conquered because French government officials worked with German officials to protect the citizens, and the sabotage campaigns done by Frenchmen to liberate Paris and other cities caused quite a bit of damage.) Germany had a lot of damage from WW2, caused by Hitler, as he ordered Berlin and other places to be utterly razed so the Allied forces couldn't do it themselves. After WW2, Soviet Union gained a lot of power (I'm not sure how, but I know they did, if anyone knows how, I'd love to know), and started looking developing nuclear weapons. USA and the other free (capitalist) European countries founded NATO, so they could protect each other, and the USSR and other non-free (communist) countries started the Warsaw Pact. That's how the Cold War and NATO started. But as England and the USA continued military development, the other NATO countries realized that they didn't have to work on military that much, because NATO rules say that if one country gets messed with, the rest pile on the aggressor(s). There were a few exceptions, one of the main ones being Germany, but most didn't build much of a military. And if America, Germany, and England decide they don't want to get in a fight with Russia and co., NATO is a thing of the past. So yeah, NATO is quickly becoming a burden on Germany, England, and America (home sweet home), as the majority of other NATO nations don't have that much to offer. Just my opinion. And regarding embargoes, Russian oil exports are too big to fail for Europe, as they are in control of most of the oil going into Europe. America does export some oil, but most oil used by Europeans is produced in Russia. If America suddenly increased exports exponentially, and could overcome Russian European exports and best the Middle Eastern oil-producers to gain the monopoly on European oil sales, then we only have to worry about Russia, China, and a few other people rushing into Western Asia and Europe. And just because Ukraine isn't a NATO country doesn't mean we aren't allies with them and don't have similar deals. Either NATO gets done away with, or most of the European countries need to get a better army. Just my two cents. Funny thread, BTW!! Great job as usual, Ashes.
@greatkingfrank good insight. With few observations. Germany didn't blewed France. Actually USA did more damage for those 4 months that lasted the eliberate France than germans did in 4 years of occupation. About how Russia managed to stay "strong" at the end of WW2 quite simple to explain. When Germany started the Barbarossa Operation, Russia moved all industry east of Ural mountains. Basically outside of any german bomber range. About how Europe depends on russians oil, only 30% of european oil needs are coming from Russia. And Russia needs more to sell oil to Europe than Europe needs to buy from Russia. Without oil sales no money for Russia. Is that simple. These year Russia was needed to use $80bil from their reserve. Reserve that consist in $120bil. That's 2/3 from their total reserve. The end is near.
"This is nothing.. My truck back home is a FORD 350 Heavy Duty dually with a gun rack" "Don't tell me I'm on the wrong side of the road.. YOU git to the right side of the road!" Bumper sticker says "VOTE HILLARY" "Hey have you brought change for the toll roads?" "This chick says my polish is a bit on the small side" "Why can't we drive thru Germany in October!?" "I smell PUTIN"
Thanks for the info about France. I'll change my post. And thanks for the stuff about Russia. I really like history and all that. I read all about modern history, because I've always wanted to go into politics and stuff like that, so I learn from past mistakes. Also, about the oil. With ISIS gaining power and land in the Middle East, and basically the Middle East is going to the dogs really fast, the only way for oil to get into Europe legally might just be Russian pipelines. And Russia's end is not near. Mainly because the leaders can export almost whatever they want at any given moment, so if they ramp up oil production, and Middle Eastern nations get overrun by ISIS, Russia could very well get a monopoly on European oil trade. And 30% is a lot of oil. The rest are probably smaller countries that sell oil to Europe. And also, if Russia invades Western Europe, most Western European countries will be in the dark, mainly because of pipelines. That 30% percent statistic most likely means that Russian pipelines can only go so far. Russia has a lot if oil, particularly in Siberia. I should have explained that better.
Also you have to consider that Russia was a communist country back then. So very easy to convert their whole industry in a war industry. Same system was applied after WW2 in all communist country. A factory where wash machines are produced today can produce machine guns starting tomorrow. A factory where cars are produced today can start to produce jet fighters starting tomorrow, and so on... And one more thing. During WW2 the GULAG was at his peak. Basically was million of slaves working for war industry.
Yeah. That's the thing with Communism- the government can do whatever they want to anyone they want. And Russia isn't communist anymore, but they are socialist, and from what I know about socialism, the government is in control of industry in the country, but the citizens still have rights. I believe France is socialist, but you still have free speech and what not there.
They are democratic ignorant pig. They choose democratically to have socialist principals because it is GOOD for them. There is free speech in Russia btw
I never said they weren't democratic. They are socialist, so the government has a lot if control over the industry in France. They a democracy has different forms. There's capitalist constitutional democracy (it's the best), socialist constitutional democracy (it's not the worst, but not very good,) communist constitutional democracy (worst by far), republican democracy in the form of either capitalist, socialist, or communist, and direct democracy.
oh statless noob greatkingfrank I expect you are used to talking crap on the forums with no consequences but I am in you hit range. Push my limits. Please.
Also Russia isn't socialist. It is as socialist as Obama.... which is odly socialist but that's beside the point. Russia's government is doing AMAZING for its citizens and changed it from a constantly corrupted communist country I the 70's to a world power that can make the USA and China sweat. It is GREAT for it's citizens and not the "slightly less good then 'murica cus in 'murica we like to feel special" kind of place. Its given its citizens a stable government and freed Crimea from the Ukrainians bringing them back to their native Russian speaking country.