Spurred by Trump turnabout, European nations debate conscription

Europe should be able to defend itself against pint sized russia. It's unfortunate it takes the US disgracing itself to make this happen.

Mandatory conscription in the UK is unlikely, even if the Tories want it. Instead, the government will financially squeeze other options (education and benefit), prodding as many towards the armed forces as they can.

There have been persistent incidents of abuse at UK military training facilities. 'Private Eye' covers them. They usually only make the mainstream news when there are suicides. It would be a really big issue if they were forcing people into these places. Considerably political damage.

Unwilling conscripts are just cannon fodder. They are no substitute for a trained warrior or a drone.

Ukraine's trench warfare was not a useful guide to a modern European aggro. There were lots of caveats at play, and Ukraine didn't have nukes. After three years of messing about they actually hit Moscow with drones and Russia immediately agrees to a ceasefire to protect their energy infrastructure.

Anything involving NATO, even NATO without the US, would be very different. More like SK v NK. Poop balloons and minor incidents. Or Russia's energy infrastructure would go bang in the night. And you would see that from space.

quote: Few people in western Europe are willing to fight.

That depends on what you mean by 'fight'. I wouldn't fight in any formal capacity as a soldier, as I have no intention of being recycled as cannon fodder under the incompetent directives of my universally incompetent government. I consider the appropriate response to any nation state attack is to destroy the attacking government in its entirety asap with missile strikes on its parliament. And under any attempted occupation, I would slaughter absolutely any of the invader without mercy when they turned their back or when they slept. You invade my country, you lose the right to exist. Gloves off. No rules. That would not be a war. It would the eradication of an infestation. The nation state thing - wargames with citizens as gaming pieces/toy soldiers - I consider to be ethically unacceptable. Just target those who start the war, as soon as they do, erase them, and move on.

The US 'security' free-lunch days are winding down in Europe, DJT pressure resulting in huge EU defense budget increases and this means manpower needed!

DLT = Make Europe Strong Again!

Europe should be able to defend itself against pint sized russia. It's unfortunate it takes the US disgracing itself to make this happen.

I think this is a great development for Europe.

The US remains part of European security. It's the first line of defense against Russian attacks. There will be no reduction in the number of US bases, the troop numbers, or the weapons including nuclear ones. It is not in the interest of the US to withdraw from Europe.

The US remains part of European security. It's the first line of defense against Russian attacks. There will be no reduction in the number of US bases, the troop numbers,

That remains to be seen

or the weapons including nuclear ones. It is not in the interest of the US to withdraw from Europe.

An entire withdrawal, no, partial, it can and should actually, we need more of a realignment strategically given the geopolitical threats we are facing today.

bass4funk

The US remains part of European security. It's the first line of defense against Russian attacks. There will be no reduction in the number of US bases, the troop numbers,

That remains to be seen

Are you suggesting the US should withdraw its first line of nuclear defense back to the US increasing the launch time of missiles? I seriously doubt that. Those nuclear weapons need protection.

The US would save very little money withdrawing troops from Europe. It would also send a message to Putin about Russian expansionism.

Just more of Trump's bluster.

After three years of messing about they actually hit Moscow with drones and Russia immediately agrees to a ceasefire to protect their energy infrastructure.

LOL Have you been asleep for three years? Ukraine has been targeting Russian energy facilities from the first months. Russia is playing with Trump, Ukraine's electricity infrastructure is in tatters. Russia doesn't need to hit it anymore.

Who do you want in a fight? The guy who wants to fight or a guy that has been picked randomly from his age group? Or in Ukraine's case now, the guy who tried to run away from the fight and got caught?

Mr KiplingToday  12:40 am JST

I would want the guy fighting to avoid his family's enslavement, which is what Ukraine is doing.

bass4funkMar. 20  12:16 pm JST

Europe should be able to defend itself against pint sized russia. It's unfortunate it takes the US disgracing itself to make this happen.

I think this is a great development for Europe.

But not one that should risk losing Odessa over.

An entire withdrawal, no, partial, it can and should actually, we need more of a realignment strategically given the geopolitical threats we are facing today.

Asian countries aren't signing up for more US troops, and doubly so after this administration's behavior. You want them relocated to the southern border to do absolutely nothing of consequence. Maybe you also want some deployed to Israel.