General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums*****MUST READ***** Trump's Trip Was a Catastrophe for U.S.-Europe Relations
Seven years after the end of the Second World War, on the 10th of March 1952, the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the newly established Federal Republic of Germany received an astounding note from the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union offered to withdraw the troops that then occupied eastern Germany and to end its rule over the occupied zone. Germany would be reunited under a constitution that allowed the country freedom to choose its own social system. Germany would even be allowed to rebuild its military, and all Germans except those convicted of war crimes would regain their political rights. In return, the Allied troops in western Germany would also be withdrawnand reunited Germany would be forbidden to join the new NATO alliance.
Historians have long debated whether the note represented a genuine offer or a cynical ploy. (Current consensus: ploy.) Theres no debate about what happened next. Determined to anchor Germany securely in the Western camp of nations, German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer rebuffed the Stalin note. West Germany would enter NATO in 1955, build the European Union, and develop as an Atlanticist liberal democracy.
The Soviets did not quit, however. Again and again through the Cold War they would probe for ways to split Germany from the West, and especially from the United States. They probably came closest in the early 1980s, when millions of Germans marched in the streets against NATO nuclear missile deployments. (The 1983 song, 99 Luftballons is probably now the most enduring memento of that dramatic moment.)
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/05/trump-nato-germany/528429/
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)should be able to see how disastrous this trip was.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,714 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)see the roll out of Trump Make America Great Again part what ever. Watch for Name Calling and Media put downs.
It will be Circle the Wagons and protect Dumb Donnie at any cost. There will be Staged Propaganda events as well as some type of Military hit and run.
The Fat Rat is cornered my friends and we now know how he will act.
onethatcares
(16,188 posts)a naval poke at N. Korea might be in the works.
It would draw out the ultra patriots, bring chanting in the streets, and allow for martial law or at least hate filled attacks on diverse American citizens all in the name of keeping us "safe".
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)several days away.
Donnie is to tired to do his Stupid today.
OldRedneck
(1,397 posts)Trump tweeted that other NATO members had agreed to "pay what they owe" and it's a great day!!!
This article seems not to agree.
I'm confused.
iluvtennis
(19,876 posts)2%, but none of those 23 of 28 he said had not paid agreed to pay anything. Dumpty is a liar, BIGLY
DK504
(3,847 posts)You know when President Macron started speaking French he was saying what a raging asshole and what a slobbering idiot this wanna be dictator.