Old conservatives, too stubborn to acknowledge the world has changed, cling to outdated beliefs.
this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
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Well, looks like the US says it's OK to purchase a Von der Leyen from the EU....
Von der Leyen expressed her desire for more production to occur within Europe in the future, which could include US companies developing and producing in Europe. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that the billions the EU is investing has a positive impact on the European economy.
Eh okay, but we already do have noteworthy arms manufacturer in the EU and Europe. So why add US arms into the mix, when we know that Trump or any CIC could just remotely disable the arms?
Many high ranking politicians and media managers in Germany are part of the radical pro US lobby group "Atlantikbrücke" - "Atlantic Bridge"
The possible next chancellor Merz, who is from the CDU like von der Leyen was their director from 2009-2019. I could not find if von der Leyen herself is or was a member, but she held speeches there, praising the lobby group, especially during her time as defence minister in Germany. For instance she held a speech for Merz birthday, where she refereed to the lobby group as "his Atlantic Bridge".
Other notable members of the lobby group are from the Axel Springer media, who recently started to give the AfD a platform in the past German election, while Trump and Musk endorsed the party fully.
Finally to show from which space of mind these people are, they are giving a George H.W. Bush award for "improving US-German relations."
The German politics and in particular the CDU, FDP and SPD are deeply ideologically entrenched with the US. They will never envision the US as an adversary.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantik-Br%C3%BCcke
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_von_Mitgliedern_der_Atlantik-Br%C3%BCcke
https://www.atlantik-bruecke.org/wp-content/uploads/2016-11-11-rede_bmin_atlantikbruecke.pdf
What about intercepting ballistic missiles? What about satellite intelligence?
There are some key elements we have to ramp up or straight out build from scratch if I have understood it correctly.
But the end goal should be European only IMO. It's not cars or candy, it's for our security.
Von der Leyen affirmed in the article published on Tuesday that US weapons, which could be technically disabled from Washington, could still be purchased.
~~What the hell is wrong with you? Did some US lobbyist promise to depose a few million into her offshore accounts?~~
I was rage-baited. Instead, my reaction should've been: what can we do? Should we send her emails? Toot at her or the @EUCommission@ec.social-network.europa.eu ? How do we make it clear to her that it's extremely unwise to let the US into the military supply chain of the EU?
She is just being a realist. Europe hasn't got the necessary weapon production yet. She still advocates the necessity for that.
Nothing really changed, we are still moving away from US supplies.
Yes, this is the sane take on this. Some weapon systems and ammunition are simply not available from European weapons manufacturers. Buying from the US is sometimes the only option until a European variant has been developed. It's not as if the European MIC is going to catch up with all modern warfare technology in a matter of months. It takes years to develop a working system (like an MLRS for intercepting ballistic missiles) and some more years to set up a robust supply chain and start producing.
The EU is nothing but a disappointment lately. It’s like they want the far right to start winning in europe.
I'm starting to be convinced this is one of the many intrinsic flaws to the way we're governing ourselves. It's an inevitable slippery slope, we'll keep ending up having to deal with it periodically as long as we don't change stuff in significant ways.
Edit: I think we need to approach them as our body would a splinter, or a zit. Just squeeze'em out. As I see it, Fascism is fundamentally inimical to life itself, could even compare it to a viral infection. Sure, some infection is inevitable even when squeezing out the splinter, but chances are good that it won't develop beyond anything superficial if we provide an appropriate immune response and treatment afterwards.
NOBODY in Europe wants that. We should set an example and buy everything from European manufacturers. There are many with better quality than US products. Trump laughs about how dumb we are!
Wait a few months or years and we'll learn who has paid her to say that.
Oh well, all good until the US stop sending ammunition and the multi-million air defense system becomes a very expensive paperweight. She could ask the Ukrainians how that feels. But then she isn't stupid, just malicious. And maybe a bit corrupt.
She should be in jail.