A Promise is a Promise! Is it?

A Promise is a Promise

I am not an ardent Donald Trump supporter and I am sure there is much the President of the United States of America could do better. For one, he could “think” before he speaks, or at least consult his many trusted advisers before he issues a statement on Twitter or in a speech.

But when he is right, he is right and I must pay him grudging respect.

In Brussels, recently, he spoke out loud, asking the European members of NATO who do not pay their agreed upon, considered a fair share of 2% of the GNP of their respective countries to fulfill their obligation.

In fact, there are only 4 countries, (out of how many?) who are complying with this Agreement:

The much maligned USA pays 3.57% of their GNP, while Estonia, Greece and the United Kingdom comply with the 2% requirement. Poland, with 1.99% makes it almost the fourth compliant.

All the rest fall below this cut off point.

Mighty Germany is the biggest laggard, paying only 1.24% on their GNP into the coffers of Nato.

Well, Mrs.Angela Merkel whines that they will reach this level (of 2%) within a number of years, and in any event, Germany makes other than monetary contributions.

If Estonia and Greece are able to fork over the 2%, why in the name of all that's fair, will it take Germany, the mighty Germany, another few years to reach this level?

The reputable German Magazine “Der Spiegel” published some numbers concerning, for instance, Nato's involvement in Afghanistan:

The USA spent about 80 times the amount of Germany's contribution

2000 American GIs lost their lives, while 20,000 were wounded.

This compares with Germany's 35 dead and 204 wounded.

And here is Donald Trump quite right when he says that this imbalance is borne by the Citizens of the USA and Germany is the largest winner.

And this is not the only Agreement on which the Europeans are fudging:

Take Kyoto, for instance: This Agreement set reduced emission levels in respect of CO2 and other damaging exhaust products and all European countries signed this Agreement with great fanfare.

The USA refused its signature, stating that the goals stipulated could not be reached. Well, you should have heard the European Politicians and the European Press, How they lambasted America for its refusal to sign.

Now, many years later, everybody has to admit that none of the signatories have anywhere near reached the goals bragged about.

Sure, it's wonderful to sign such Agreements. Much hey can be made at the time the signatures are affixed. When down the road it is clear that all of it was but a signature on a piece of paper, well, that's “down the road”... we have gained the political benefit at the date of signing and by the time this farce shows its ugly face, it's too late and very few are left to bear the burden of guilt.

And so it goes with the Agreement to pay 2% of its GNP to the Operation of a Defense Alignment, such as NATO.

We sign it under great fanfare and we'll pay it when you catch us, and then we whine and promise to pay it at some future date, not yet determinable.

So, who is right? Trump, who insists that a promise is a promise, or Merkel and her ilk who are not at all embarrassed to let America bear the burden, of the defense of Europe

That's the way

Bertstravels

sees it