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France snaps back at NATO chief Rutte in feud over Europe’s defense muscle (www.politico.eu)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/i_r@thelemmy.club
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[–] 26 points 9 months ago (5 children)

France and Macron doing a lot of the lifting here. There are a lot of countries willing to mock them on their military might but lately they have been willing to approach the tough conversations.

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  • [–] 20 points 9 months ago* (3 children)

    There are a lot of countries willing to mock them on their military might

    This is just people memeing on them for their lackluster performance in WWII. Say what you will about that, but they certainly learned their lesson - since then they've been a military powerhouse, frankly the only European country that consistently pulls its weight in that respect. If other EU countries were Gaullist their combined military would outclass the US.

    And that's not even getting into their "nuke first, ask quesitons later" policy.

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago

    Even that (the memeing for their performance inWWII) has only come about in the last 40-50 years. People in the west used to poke fun at Poland for their lack of military might. Also, had the Nazis not gone thru Belgium, France, speculatively, would have been able to hold them at least for awhile. It's because of them getting routed like that that allowed their military to quickly dissolve and pivot, turning into a relatively organized resistance.

    Pretty sure France has the best military record in the West. So this position and type of posturing is in their wheelhouse for sure

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  • [–] 3 points 9 months ago

    Also, aside from the absolute, categorical failure of French strategic planning and leadership at the start of the Second World War, the Free French forces significantly contributed to a ton of campaigns during the war. Not to mention: WW2 was a divergence from the norm for France. Before, and since, they have been and still are a strategic military powerhouse, are able to punch far above their weight, and have pointedly maintained a serious domestic defense industry - which, nowadays, is showing very clear and obvious benefits.

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    • [–] 9 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

    I do not know to what extent Rutte is pragmatically playing the US admin for maximal benefit for the rest of the alliance, maybe this groveling makes sense, who knows? But meanwhile, it sure is pathetic and annoying.

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    [–] 7 points 9 months ago

    Hand it to the French to use "dear" as an insult. Well played!

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    [–] 5 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Europe could not defend itself without the U.S.

    Then how do you suggest we change this?

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    • [–] 5 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    Can someone please explain why journalists need to use quotations for phrases like: protester 'killed' by ICE.

    But then can write that France is fuming from some dumbfuck comment and not have to use them?

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago*

    Single quotes give the author massive leeway to interpret what was said. "This is a direct quote" and if I get it even slightly wrong there can be legal consequences. 'This is the vibe of what someone said' and can be interpreted very generously.
    Edit: if I say someone was killed by someone else I might have to prove it in court to avoid libel. If I say they were 'killed' it means that someone else feels like something of that sort might have happened & my chances of surviving a lawsuit go up.

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