In todays news...

[Potter]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-66223747 - The mother of an airman who died after climbing into a commercial bin has spoken of her anger that more was not being done to stop similar tragedies.

A bloke from the RAF Regiment climbs into a bin pissed up and gets crushed and dumped into landfill.
His mum blames the bin company for not putting locks on the bins.

Grief is a funny thing and as a parent I feel for the woman, but how far does society need to go to protect people from themselves?

[irie]

Has she been appointed? Stoltenberg is in the job for another year+ I thought. Rutte was favourite but looks like he's quitting for quiet obscurity. Seems pretty obvious to go for someone from the EU bloc tbh.

The EU members of NATO have been a shambles for a very long time so it makes sense to put her in there to finish the job.

Especially France and Germany of course.

Edited because of following post.

[irie]

Has she been appointed? Stoltenberg is in the job for another year+ I thought. Rutte was favourite but looks like he's quitting for quiet obscurity. Seems pretty obvious to go for someone from the EU bloc tbh.

Why? The whole of the EU only contribute 20% of the NATO budget, and several EU countries especially Germany do not contribute as much as they have signed up to do.

And this ^^^

Germany has consistently spent far less than its obligation to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. And France was not a member of NATO from 1966 (when De Gaulle took France out of NATO) until 2009 when it rejoined.

[Count Steer]

Has she been appointed? Stoltenberg is in the job for another year+ I thought. Rutte was favourite but looks like he's quitting for quiet obscurity. Seems pretty obvious to go for someone from the EU bloc tbh.

Why? The whole of the EU only contribute 20% of the NATO budget, and several EU countries especially Germany do not contribute as much as they have signed up to do.

And this ^^^

Germany has consistently spent far less than its obligation to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. And France was not a member of NATO from 1966 (when De Gaulle took France out of NATO) until 2009 when it rejoined.

I could be wrong but I thought the 2% target was to be reached by 2025.

Anyway, as everyone is so interested in the functioning of NATO rather than taking cheap shots at EU members , here's an interesting analysis of some points/issues:

https://globalriskinsights.com/2021/03/ ... -security/

[irie]

Why? The whole of the EU only contribute 20% of the NATO budget, and several EU countries especially Germany do not contribute as much as they have signed up to do.

And this ^^^

Germany has consistently spent far less than its obligation to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence. And France was not a member of NATO from 1966 (when De Gaulle took France out of NATO) until 2009 when it rejoined.

I could be wrong but I thought the 2% target was to be reached by 2025.

Anyway, as everyone is so interested in the functioning of NATO rather than taking cheap shots at EU members , here's an interesting analysis of some points/issues:

https://globalriskinsights.com/2021/03/ ... -security/

For Germany it's always tomorrow

The 2014 “Defence Investment Pledge” (DIP) – made by Allies at the 2014 Wales Summit, the first NATO summit held after the illegal annexation of Crimea – established an important baseline by setting the goal of at least 2% of GDP spent on defence by all Allies as a political commitment agreed at the level of Heads of State and Government.

[Count Steer]

The 2014 “Defence Investment Pledge” (DIP) – made by Allies at the 2014 Wales Summit, the first NATO summit held after the illegal annexation of Crimea – established an important baseline by setting the goal of at least 2% of GDP spent on defence by all Allies as a political commitment agreed at the level of Heads of State and Government.

From the same source:

'As the Alliance approaches 2024, the tenth anniversary of the Defence Investment Pledge, all eyes will be focused on this initial deadline for reaching the 2% target. The 2023 Vilnius Summit and the 2024 Washington Summit will therefore be opportunities for NATO Leaders to review achievements and agree future commitments. These could include:....'

Might as well link the whole thing if people want the full picture.

https://www.nato.int/docu/review/articl ... index.html

[Yambo]

Mmmm, for quite a long time after 1945 the rest of Europe and the US didn't want Germany spending a lot of money on their military.

[cheb]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-66223747 - The mother of an airman who died after climbing into a commercial bin has spoken of her anger that more was not being done to stop similar tragedies.

A bloke from the RAF Regiment climbs into a bin pissed up and gets crushed and dumped into landfill.
His mum blames the bin company for not putting locks on the bins.

Grief is a funny thing and as a parent I feel for the woman, but how far does society need to go to protect people from themselves?

Seems to me to be the modern way, millions of people are mildly inconvenienced in trivial ways frequently because of one person's stupidity.

[Count Steer]

Mmmm, for quite a long time after 1945 the rest of Europe and the US didn't want Germany spending a lot of money on their military.

+ they have had '000s of Allied troops 'in-house', including the BAOR etc. Germany is a bit of a special case really but they do need to open the € taps on defence spending.

FWIW I don't think UvdL is a good choice, but we only have the scuttlebutt from the Telegraph to suggest she's in the frame. It IS interesting to speculate why Biden might favour her but primarily in the context of the USA/NATO/CSDP balance of power in Europe (and beyond). eg the USA might prefer all the NATO muscle to be on call should they wish to, for example, occupy Afghanistan. They can't do that with the CSDP. I wonder where UvdL stands on the CSDP? I'd have to dig a bit on that one. I'll have a guess that she/Germany are keener on NATO and France, for example, is a bit more leaning towards the CSDP.

[Yambo]

+ they have had '000s of Allied troops 'in-house', including the BAOR etc.

Yes, I was one of them for about 15 years plus two years in Berlin (not part of BAOR).

It was interesting to see the changes over the period from 1969 - 1990, the increasing influence of the Green Party, the calls for training areas to be given back, the attitude of some of the German population etc.

One of the arguments about training areas was to improve things for wildlife when in reality the training areas had abundant wildlife which was probably safer and better protected than in other areas.

[gremlin]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-66223747 - The mother of an airman who died after climbing into a commercial bin has spoken of her anger that more was not being done to stop similar tragedies.

A bloke from the RAF Regiment climbs into a bin pissed up and gets crushed and dumped into landfill.
His mum blames the bin company for not putting locks on the bins.

Grief is a funny thing and as a parent I feel for the woman, but how far does society need to go to protect people from themselves?

Seems to me to be the modern way, millions of people are mildly inconvenienced in trivial ways frequently because of one person's stupidity.

My F-I-L spent many years in the 'environmental waste industry', i.e. he was in charge of the binmen who collected rubbish in Bromley. Much as he welcomed sensible advances in working practices, one thing he laughed at was the procedure he was meant to implement, whereby the bulk bins to be collected had to be banged on the side with an accompanying cry of 'Is anybody in here?! This bin is about to be emptied!!' or some such bollocks.

[Mr Moofo]

Mmmm, for quite a long time after 1945 the rest of Europe and the US didn't want Germany spending a lot of money on their military.

+ they have had '000s of Allied troops 'in-house', including the BAOR etc. Germany is a bit of a special case really but they do need to open the € taps on defence spending.

FWIW I don't think UvdL is a good choice, but we only have the scuttlebutt from the Telegraph to suggest she's in the frame. It IS interesting to speculate why Biden might favour her but primarily in the context of the USA/NATO/CSDP balance of power in Europe (and beyond). eg the USA might prefer all the NATO muscle to be on call should they wish to, for example, occupy Afghanistan. They can't do that with the CSDP. I wonder where UvdL stands on the CSDP? I'd have to dig a bit on that one. I'll have a guess that she/Germany are keener on NATO and France, for example, is a bit more leaning towards the CSDP.

Perhaps even he realises that UvdL is pretty incompetent at most things she has done ( and was not of the EU leader list until Merkel shoe horned her in). That alone will put the balance of control back into the USAs hands.
Or maybe Biden just identifies with others of his same calibre ?

[Count Steer]

Perhaps even he realises that UvdL is pretty incompetent at most things she has done ( and was not of the EU leader list until Merkel shoe horned her in). That alone will put the balance of control back into the USAs hands.
Or maybe Biden just identifies with others of his same calibre ?

I suppose I should have said 'the USA' rather than Biden - I always assume he goes with what his advisers tell him. (They must brick themselves every time he goes off message).

I can see why the USA would want a weak Sec Gen. I'm sure they'd like as much control over as big a European force as they can get. As a Merkin once said 'The first World War was fought in Europe, the second World War was fought in Europe and the third World War damn well will be'. (China permitting).

They'd be better with a powerful proxy one that was onside with their aims though.

[Mr Moofo]

WW 3 will unfortunately be fought between the USA and China. Not sure how Europe will feature - other than the starting ground. But that is way more likely to be the South China Sea or Taiwan

[JackyJoll]

WW 3 will unfortunately be fought between the USA and China. Not sure how Europe will feature - other than the starting ground. But that is way more likely to be the South China Sea or Taiwan

You’re supposed to tell us to mark your words.

[demographic]

Perhaps even he realises that UvdL is pretty incompetent at most things she has done ( and was not of the EU leader list until Merkel shoe horned her in). That alone will put the balance of control back into the USAs hands.
Or maybe Biden just identifies with others of his same calibre ?

I suppose I should have said 'the USA' rather than Biden - I always assume he goes with what his advisers tell him. (They must brick themselves every time he goes off message).

I can see why the USA would want a weak Sec Gen. I'm sure they'd like as much control over as big a European force as they can get. As a Merkin once said 'The first World War was fought in Europe, the second World War was fought in Europe and the third World War damn well will be'. (China permitting).

They'd be better with a powerful proxy one that was onside with their aims though.

I'm not sure how having a British sec general would be better mind, we've been the US's bitch for so long I think its ingrained.

[irie]

BBC has duty to protect ‘young man’ in Huw Edwards scandal, says acting chairman

[Ant]

I've just read that because Starmer's latest flip flopping u turn on the two child benefit cap, some of his own MP's are now calling him "Sir Kid Starver".

[Saga Lout]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-66223747 - The mother of an airman who died after climbing into a commercial bin has spoken of her anger that more was not being done to stop similar tragedies.

A bloke from the RAF Regiment climbs into a bin pissed up and gets crushed and dumped into landfill.
His mum blames the bin company for not putting locks on the bins.

Grief is a funny thing and as a parent I feel for the woman, but how far does society need to go to protect people from themselves?

Is he in line for a Darwin Award? Seems to me the human race dodged a bullet if he hadn't bred yet.

[JackyJoll]

For Germany it's always tomorrow

Tomorrow belongs to me.