NATO scrambling to dumb down coming summit for Trump

[KingOrfeo]

Foreign Policy reports:

NATO is scrambling to tailor its upcoming meeting to avoid taxing President Donald Trump’s notoriously short attention span. The alliance is telling heads of state to limit talks to two to four minutes at a time during the discussion, several sources inside NATO and former senior U.S. officials tell Foreign Policy. And the alliance scrapped plans to publish the traditional full post-meeting statement meant to crystallize NATO’s latest strategic stance.

On May 25, NATO will host the heads of state of all 28 member countries in what will be Trump’s first face-to-face summit with an alliance he bashed repeatedly while running for president. NATO traditionally organizes a meeting within the first few months of a new U.S. president’s term, but Trump has the alliance more on edge than any previous newcomer, forcing organizers to look for ways to make the staid affair more engaging.

“It’s kind of ridiculous how they are preparing to deal with Trump,” said one source briefed extensively on the meeting’s preparations. “It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They’re freaking out.”

<snip>

Another change: NATO traditionally publishes a formal readout, known as a declaration, after each major meeting or summit. While they’re often lathered in diplomatic drivel, declarations signal new strategies and key policy shifts that come out of closed-door meetings, giving direction to allies and the NATO bureaucracy — and showcasing alliance unity toward rivals like Russia, a former senior NATO official told FP.

This year, NATO has scrapped plans to publish a full formal meeting declaration. One NATO official said that’s because it’s not a full summit, like past major NATO gatherings in Warsaw in 2016 or Wales in 2014. “It’s not necessary to have another full declaration, as it’s not a full summit,” the official said. “This meeting is just much more focused.”

But behind closed doors, other officials are giving a different reason. NATO isn’t publishing a full declaration “because they’re worried Trump won’t like it,” another source said.

Experts say a declaration could be invaluable to European allies still struggling to get a read on Trump’s stance on Europe. Four months into office, Trump hasn’t clarified U.S. policy toward Europe — he cheered Brexit and appeared to endorse anti-Europe candidate Marine Le Pen in the recent French elections — let alone toward NATO.

 

[Rightguide]

Foreign Policy reports:

More bullshit.

 

[HisArpy]

Huh. NATO is freaking out that Trump is going to show up and they STILL haven't paid their overdue bills yet. So they're scared that the US will cut off their allowance if they get too in-depth with the politi-speak that says nothing, does nothing, and will piss off the guy who writes the yearly check.

On a different note, did anyone else notice that the thread title and the given rationale in the article aren't exactly synonymous?

 

[RobDownSouth]

Huh. NATO is freaking out that Trump is going to show up and they STILL haven't paid their overdue bills yet.

There is no "overdue bill"....and it is conager-class stupid to believe otherwise.

 

[Wrong Element]

I suggest that instead of face-to-face meetings with Donnie the Dunce, the NATO officials should appear exclusively on TV, preferably with Fox News logos down in the corner of the screen. And have girls in bikinis walk around every so often. That might just hold his attention.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Huh. NATO is freaking out that Trump is going to show up and they STILL haven't paid their overdue bills yet. So they're scared that the US will cut off their allowance if they get too in-depth with the politi-speak that says nothing, does nothing, and will piss off the guy who writes the yearly check.

On a different note, did anyone else notice that the thread title and the given rationale in the article aren't exactly synonymous?

“It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing" = "dumb down"

 

[KingOrfeo]

More bullshit.

Foreign Policy is fake news now?!

 

[HisArpy]

There is no "overdue bill"....and it is conager-class stupid to believe otherwise.

God, you really are a world class idiot, aren't you.

NATO alliance members haven't been paying their required % of their respective GDP's for YEARS. And they know they've been forcing the US to pay the whole freight. Trump, on the other hand, knows it and isn't shy about saying it in front of a camera.

Meanwhile they STILL aren't meeting their treaty obligations.

Of course they're worried about Trump. He's their meal ticket. Or rather WE are. It would be perfectly within the rights of the US to pull out of NATO for breach of contract and performance. You think NATO hasn't thought of that? You think Trump isn't capable of doing that? You think NATO isn't shitting their collective underwear at the thought?

OF COURSE they're getting rid of the political speak. Trump has no use for it AND it will only piss him off more.

But hey, why don't you go Google some more liberal created fake news that was proven bogus and then try to use it as a talking point. It makes you look so intelligent when you do that.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Foreign Policy is fake news now?!

If it doesn't have it's nose up the orange idiots ass it is fake news. Bullet points and small words only please the leader of the 'greatest' nation on the planet doesn't understand big words or have the ability to read very well.

Dumb down intelligence reports! WOW!

America prepare to be humiliated on the world stage. Again!

A nations leader should represent the common man. Xenophobic, short-sighted, stuck in the past and lacking basic reading skills.

 

[HisArpy]

“It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing" = "dumb down"

I didn't see the words "dumb down" anywhere in the article. I even did a word search for them - no results. So you're interjecting your personal belief into the article and warping the actual information.

I think it's interesting that what they're doing is what they've been trying to do for years and years but have had no incentive to actually do. Case in point:

Rank-and-file diplomats always try to push for shorter, more efficient meetings at NATO. “It’s not so unusual that they strain to try to keep it interesting and short and not dragged down into details,” said Jim Townsend, who served as the Pentagon’s top NATO envoy until January.

Note, that's OBAMA's envoy to NATO saying that.

So, let's stop injecting ourselves into the conversation and report the truth. not opinion masquerading as truth.

 

[Miles]

Huh. NATO is freaking out that Trump is going to show up and they STILL haven't paid their overdue bills yet. So they're scared that the US will cut off their allowance if they get too in-depth with the politi-speak that says nothing, does nothing, and will piss off the guy who writes the yearly check.

On a different note, did anyone else notice that the thread title and the given rationale in the article aren't exactly synonymous?

Maybe you need to look into this whole NATO thing a little further and not believe whatever the liar in chief says.

 

[KingOrfeo]

Meanwhile they STILL aren't meeting their treaty obligations.

Such as?

 

[Adre]

So, let's stop injecting ourselves into the conversation and report the truth. not opinion masquerading as truth.

Hold on there, buster. "Opinion as fact" is the backbone of BroPatrol political discussinatin'.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

2% of GDP spent on the military.

 

[HisArpy]

Such as?

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/02/daily-chart-11

Read the article and look at the pretty pictures. You'll notice that 14 of the 18 member nations have not met their NATO spending obligations. For a long time. Notice too, how the euro nations have been declining in their spending while the US has been increasing it's spending to cover the shortfall.



You really do need to start reading about the subjects you comment about. More than the headlines and Cliff notes summaries anyway.

 

[Hard_Rom]

2% of GDP spent on the military.

Then the US should stop investing more than 2%. If other countries won't hold to 2% then why should the US. Quit bitching and stop spending money military things. Pointing fingers never gets anyone anywhere. Invest your 2% and take the moral high ground, quietly. Not America's style but it might work and save a bit of cash.

 

[4est_4est_Gump]

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/02/daily-chart-11

Read the article and look at the pretty pictures. You'll notice that 14 of the 18 member nations have not met their NATO spending obligations. For a long time. Notice too, how the euro nations have been declining in their spending while the US has been increasing it's spending to cover the shortfall.



You really do need to start reading about the subjects you comment about. More than the headlines and Cliff notes summaries anyway.

He has an explanation for that. Their spending, like stimulus, has magic multipliers which means they are spending more than we are, if you look at it through the other end of the 'scope...

 

[HisArpy]

And, here's a thought for you guys...

IF the US didn't spend all that EXTRA money subsidizing foreign nations who are capable of paying their own dues, wouldn't that mean we would have more money for social programs without the need to raise our taxes and piss off the voters?

Think about that for a second.

 

[Hard_Rom]

The US is not subsidizing foreign nations. Picking up a bit of the slack is about it. But the US has a military which can take on the next 7 armed forces. You can afford it. Par your armed services down to a minimum and implement a true UHC system and then lets talk NATO contributions. You want to strut around and proclaim you're the 'greatest' of nations it comes with a price.

 

[KingOrfeo]

I didn't see the words "dumb down" anywhere in the article. I even did a word search for them - no results. So you're interjecting your personal belief into the article and warping the actual information.

“It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing" = "dumb down"

That is no warpage.

 

[HisArpy]

The US is not subsidizing foreign nations. Picking up a bit of the slack is about it. But the US has a military which can take on the next 7 armed forces. You can afford it. Par your armed services down to a minimum and implement a true UHC system and then lets talk NATO contributions. You want to strut around and proclaim you're the 'greatest' of nations it comes with a price.

Wait, so for all the talk about not liking the fact that America is the world's policeman, the world WANTS us to continue? As long as we pay more than anyone else that is. Right?

Meanwhile you get to slander us for doing what you want us to do?

Somehow I think you have more than 1 screw loose.

And it's not a "bit of the slack" when we're paying the bulk of the costs for decades. That's a major economic ouch that the world seems to think is ok because, hey, America. Oh, and don't forget about all those billions in foreign aid that aren't even being considered in this conversation.

'Cuz, you know, those fuckers in America can afford it and if they don't pay we'll burn the place down...

 

[HisArpy]

“It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child — someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing" = "dumb down"

That is no warpage.

No, it's deflection.

Go read the article. Seriously, it's in decent sized print and easy to understand too. Even the charts are simple.

 

[lovecraft68]

Unless they can take it down to paste eating in the corner, the'll still be over his head.

 

[HisArpy]

Unless they can take it down to paste eating in the corner, the'll still be over his head.

Someone else with a loose screw or 3. BUT! There's hope... There's actually a song that could help you with your Trump-phobia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

 

[Lancecastor]

Hey Laura, you writing any donald does ivanka shit?

Oh, sorry, you're more a son does mommy guy, amiright?

How's tricks?