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Comment by n8cpdx | Hacker News Reader

The 5% number is fudged, much of the increase over 2% comes from civic infrastructure investment. They’re fluffing the numbers.

Most EU defense spending isn’t on US equipment (only ~35%); I don’t get where the European victim mentality is coming from here - Europe can and is building up its own defense industry.

There’s some Trump nonsense more recently about buy American, but the demands to take security seriously have been going on for nearly 20 years, and have been largely ignored until Ukraine round two.

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> I don’t get where the European victim mentality is coming from here

It’s coming from the fact that we’re already in a difficult time with a slowdown in economy and then get bullied into spending the money we could be using to help our own people on new US weapons.

All for Trump to then sign half of Ukraine off to Russia.

Like it or not, the US will the war. They want to do business with Russia, not squabble over a country no one knew existed until 4 years ago.

> not squabble over a country no one knew existed until 4 years ago.

I think you're really not qualified to say anything about Europe if you didn't know Ukraine existed until 4 years ago.

So, your argument is that the US wants money no matter if it kills people with cars due to lower safety standards, nor if it gives up on allies and security guarantees the US promised? That just sounds like their greed is what's causing harm.

I appreciate that you created a new account just to disagree with me.

Anyway, "greed is good".

>just to disagree

Ad hominem. I did not create it to disagree with you specifically, your stance is not that unique, as you can see I've replied to similar positions. However, when you admit the quiet part out loud I feel like you have no rebuttal and are fine with the exploitation in favor of money standpoint, which should bring your other standpoints in question if this is your guiding principle.

I disagree in your assertion that sarcasm is an “ad hominem” attack.

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