Are Macron and Trump engaged in reverse psychology?

 SMOKING OUT EU LEADERS

WHO REALLY WANTS TO SEND TROOPS TO UKRAINE?

Much has been made of Donald Trump's remarks about NATO members that are not spending their committed amount of resources on military preparedness. He claimed he, as president, would not commit to defend them if they failed to prepare for their own defense. We heard outrage and also political attacks by his opponents. The reality is that even the head of NATO had to admit that NATO was more prepared after 4 years of Trump, because of the pressure by him on the members to plan for their defense. Todays statements are more of the same, a wake up call to NATO to stop depending on the United States to save the world. Another reality is, the United States is no longer going to be able to control the world, no matter who is the next president.

Much of the existing system in the United States needs reevaluation and reform, from a bloated defense budget that is spent on, no one actually knows, because it is reported to be too complicated to audit. One must suspect with the present shortages of basic ammunitions that much is spent on satisfying donors and buying allies and engaging in regime change operations. We are right to suspect that more money is not the answer, but a serious evaluation of priorities.

Then we have Macron of France who has been rattling sabers about EU troops to Ukraine, take note that he has not signaled NATO troops but individual efforts by EU members. It seems only the Baltic states and Poland have signaled weak positive support. While the Baltic states military is insignificant the Polish may be able to field 200,000 soldiers, the French combined military may be another 200,000.  Combined they are unlikely to be able to field more than 80,000 combat ready forces. Any such adventure would quickly require a move to institute a draft. Any such move would likely shut down France quickly with protests from the majority of their citizens. It is clear Macron is talking nonsense and is more likely to be signalling that the EU needs to decide soon about whether they want to continue this effort in Ukraine. He has received his answer and it is clear that EU support to send troops to Ukraine is not going to happen.

The reality is that the EU really needs Russian resources to have a positive future. Since they themselves have cut themselves off from these resources and it now appears that this situation may be permanent, with Russia finding willing economic partners in other parts of the world. They do not have the military will or resources to take these resources and they will now be forced to reanalyze their priorities for a positive future. That will put their green agenda in danger as it is not compatible with a modern industrial society. 

It appears that 2024 will indeed be a year of self examination by all the western countries, and the alternatives will all cause economic and social pain. The worst alternative is to stay on the present course.