Does Little Angela Have the Courage to Stand Up to the School Yard Bully?

Spend on schools or bow to US demands?

German politicians debate NATO strategy

© Matthias Schrader / Reuters

US President Donald Trump has accused Germany of not contributing enough to the NATO budget – but will German Chancellor Angela Merkel dance to Washington’s tune?

On Thursday, Trump warned NATO members that they will be “dealt with” if they fail to fulfill their financial obligations to the US-led military alliance. Germany was singled out as one of those said to be delinquent on their obligations.

Martin Dolzer of Die Linke (Left Party) said that buying into Trump’s ideas may send the world order “into chaos,” citing US policy in the Middle East as evidence. Dolzer stressed that Germans do not want war, and said that more vital issues should be on agenda instead of boosting military spending.

“The German population does not want any more military expenses, the German population needs money for kindergartens, for education, for the growth of civil society organizations and the social sector,” Dolzer said. “There has to be a change. And the people in Germany, I think most of them want this change, but the government does not follow it.”

Though Merkel has shown no interest to raising defense spending, Alternative for Germany (AfD) chief whip Hansjorg Mueller believes she is poised to “bend down before the wish of the big brother” – a reference to Trump and the US.

“Our government is the government of a vassal state and governments of vassal states always obey to the wish of the big brother,” Mueller said.

Mueller believes a rise in defense spending would only further split German society, which is already divided over the chancellor’s immigration policy, and significantly weaken Merkel’s position. “We are viewing the doom of her leadership over Germany,” he told RT.

Nord Stream 2

Apart from its reluctance in meeting Washington’s demands, Berlin is also at odds with its ally over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. The US is opposed to the project and signaled that it might be targeted by sanctions. The measures could also affect German companies.

The situation with the project is “pure blackmail,” said Mueller, adding that he hopes Merkel does not give in the “dead-end game.”

Meanwhile, Dolzer believes the pipeline is necessary for stability. “If we want to have stable organization of the industry this is very, very necessary to build this Nord Stream pipeline and to not follow the sanctions,” Dolzer said, adding that the US government must be reminded that it cannot act like “a monopoly power” around the globe.

2% of GNP going to NATO is far too much. It is at least twice what is needed. Indeed, were it not for the relentless propaganda against Russia, there might be very little need for NATO. NATO was designed to be a deterrent to war with Russia, and now it seems determined to be the cause of it.

The USA is being insistent on raising levels of defense spending in all NATO countries for one reason only - so they can sell more weapons systems to NATO countries. Trump's resurgence of the American economy is significantly dependent upon that very thing.

What he has to do with Nord Stream 2 is very disturbing. In a world where countries treat each other with some semblance of respect, where they recognize the autonomy of other states, the US would have no business even commenting on Nord Stream 2. They oppose it because Trump wants Europe to buy American natural gas which would have to be shipped to them at a premium of about 30% above Russian natural gas through Nord Stream 2. Unable to compete in the marketplace fairly, the US has resorted to bullying tactics that are most unbecoming, almost colonial in its context.

Someone has to punch this bully square in the nose, and I wouldn't be surprised if it is little Angela. If she doesn't, I hope that all EU countries that give-in to the bully will include legislation forbidding them to procure any weapons systems outside of the EU.