>>While quite a bit of my earlier wait and see attitude evaporated, I still have no problem acknowledging some parts of his ramblings, like the part where he points the finger to abysmally low military spending in some EU/NATO countries, Germany being one of the worst offenders.
>>
>How times change.
>Germany once pointed - justly- with pride at its avoidance of things military.

I guess you refer to first discussions in 1949? Discussion during Korean war resulted in rearmarment in the mid-fifties, NATO membership (in my part) and creation of standing armies in both Germanies...

>Now it's an offense.

In my book it is an offense to argue for military action if not willing/being able to partake. US entered both WW late - in my book better than to start a war or be eager to enter it.

And current state of our army is somewhere between laughable and Operetta - reunification lead to surplus in numbers, exploding maintainance cost/effort coincidicing with spending cuts as to avoid any suspicion of former military aims and necessity due to reunification cost problems.

Not having army or resolve to defend IMO is somewhere an invitation for baddies. I never argued for a budget anywhere near in percentage to what US deems necessary for itself. Germany getting in after 9/11 but not entering second Iraqi war for me still feels mostly correct. Dragan once mentioned it might have been better for the West to stay out in the 90ies - from my removed sources it still looks not as a land or economic grab - but I will not argue hard against a description of belligerent removal of refugee pressure vs. the often claimed humanitarian reasons.

In First Iraqi war german military part was somewhere between nil and token support, but a sizable monetary part was covered. As the wall had fallen just before and German status really was in flux/undefined (even on treaty level!), this was ok for me. There also was intensive internal soul-searching at that time - in body politic and governed bodies.

I am glad that paying others to bloody their hands while claiming clean hands and conscience did not become the norm/aim.