[The Raven]

Achtung - on target.

[rbg81]

I think you mess with the Germans at your own risk.

[Lucky Dog]

Throughout history wars have always had an economic component. Typically, wars have been initiated by parties who perceive the greatest opportunity for gain and the lowest risk of loss. This fact is true even for those wars identified as “religious conflicts” such as the Crusades or jihad. It is also true for those wars apparently started by a tyrant or oligarchy to create an “external enemy,” ostensibly, for its own internal stability.

While the author identifies Russia as a possible belligerent, he fails to identify how Russia would gain more than it would lose in a European conflict. Beyond access to a warm water port, something Russia has coveted since the Czars, any potential Russian economic gain would be wiped out by a tremendous loss in trade and commerce. Consequently, absent some extreme circumstance, wherein Russia would be in danger of complete collapse or Germany, the “prize” in this article, was completely undefended by NATO, Russia might be a diplomatic “bully” but hardly a credible, unprovoked, military threat.

The author’s citation of Islamic “jihadists” as a threat, on the other hand, is far more credible. However, even this group must have its economic motivations and support examined. The economic potential gain is obvious and the lack of potential loss to the direct conflict initiators is also obvious. However, it is this very lack of possible loss that makes these “jihadists” unlikely, unaided candidates for war participants.

It takes a certain amount of economic “wherewithal” to mount and sustain any military effort, even a guerrilla war or terror campaign. These “jihadists” have nothing, directly. They must rely on “state sponsors.” These “state sponsors” are the appropriate, economic, or military pressure points for western nations to initially, reduce, forestall and/or eliminate the Islamic “jihadist” threats.

In summary, credibly threaten retaliation on the Middle Eastern state sponsors, either, militarily and/or economically, and the Islamic “jihadist” threat would diminish to a nuisance level outside of their home bases.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

The Premier land power in Europe is/ will be Germany. Presently their philosophy is sex is good, booze (especially beer) is good, violence is bad. When this changes, look out! So you, your children, and grandchildren should learn German my friends.

[Albion Wilde]

Mark Helprin is a brilliant writer and an independent thinker, whose political analysis has been published in Atlantic Monthly, Wall Street Journal, Commentary, National Review, American Heritage, and elsewhere. I became aware of him in the 80s with his sweeping historical novel set in New York City, Winter's Tale, that was a deep apology for refined human behavior in the midst of the chaos of the Industrial revolution then fueling the American project. Here is the Claremont Institute bio of Mark Helprin.

Although his name is similar, Mark Helprin is not to be confused with the former ABC political news editor Mark Halperin, who tried to influence the last Presidential election in Kerry's favor.

[Cacique]

Bump

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[burzum]

Facts like these assert themselves through every kind of historical fluctuation, even if America now sees Germany, the way stop for airlifters en route to Iraq and Afghanistan, as a kind of giant aircraft carrier with sausages.

I've honestly never thought of Germany like that before. But I certainly will from now on!

[Atlantic Bridge]

We Germans should build our own nukes. This is by far the best assurance against state terrorism.

Building nukes would take us a few days - in difference to the Iranians.

;)