Nato 'wake-up' call would renew deterrent against Putin with weapons production surge | Jim Townsend

A 'surge' in Western weapojns production and renewed Nato drills will be key to stopping expansionist ambitions in the Kremlin, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Jim Townsend tells Frontline on #timesradio
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[@pjhgerlach]

Europe should invest in its own defense industry so it's not reliant on a increasingly unstable United States.

[@markbrisec3972]

Sure, but let's be real, without US we're a laughing stock and nobody fears us.. Then there's the ireplacable nuclear umbrella that US provides for it's NATO allies, especially of course to the countries that are not the nuclear powers themselves.. Sure, GB and France are other 2 NATO members that have nuclear weapons, but nobody expects, Putin especially, that France or GB would use their arsenal against Russia if that country invaded and nuked Poland, Baltic states, Romania, Croatia, etc... France would never sacrifice Paris for Warsaw nor would GB sacrifice London for Riga.. The only credible nuclear deterrent in Putin's eyes is the one coming in the form of the Minuteman ICBMs, Ohio class submarines with Trident SLBMs and the B2s armed with the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb.... We freaking need America, and we can only hope that the Orange Buffoon won't get the second term, and even if he does, that his insane politics can't be repeated by someone else....

[@grahamthomson6969]

We saved a fortune after the cold war for decades. Time to spend

[@hymns4ever197]

Yeah, and leftists threw a gigantic party driving up insane amounts of debt. What have we got to spend?

[@dominiclane8538]

It shoukd never have been cut ever

[@bigdada018]

Blessings, peace and luck from California to Ukraine. 🙏🙏☮🍀💛💙

[@markbrisec3972]

Some of NATO members are really ridiculous regarding the 2% spending on defense.. Canada pledged to reach that goal by the year 2036... Jeeez.

[@arnovriends5873]

Luxembourg has the world's highest GDP per person, until recently they spent 0,51% We all know it's a small country but come man, principles??

[@pjhgerlach]

The only thing I've seen from the US is wavering and too little too late instead of steadfast and decisive. Scared instead of brave.

[@dominiclane8538]

Its what happens when you have weak and pathetic leaders

[@boink800]

Never poke the world's largest military alliance

[@boota1979]

@boink800 NATO should have been disbanded when the cold war ended.

[@boink800]

​@@boota1979Do the botskis not like NATO? I wonder why? Ha ha ha 😂 🤣 😆 😄 😀 😜

[@ikke12345]

​@@boota1979 Why?

[@royconestoga7326]

@@ikke12345Because it’s a Poohty bot.

[@tarius3436]

@@boota1979 Dont they teach you in Russia that the loser better shuts up and sleeps besides the toilet ? Russia wasnt and still isnt in any position to demand anything.

[@briansmith8950]

I can see no reason why a period of military training should not be a part of every person's education. It would certainly prepare everyone for the crises that so often emerge and leave us floundering. It might instil a greater sense of purpose and loyalty in younger generations as they come of age. It's my experience that those who have made the sacrifice of service in this way are far better prepared to face life's challenges and triumph. The benefits are far greater than just knowing how to point a gun.

[@luminyam6145]

Well I have made arrangements regarding conscription with my grandchildren and grandnieces and nephews. They will have refuge with me. I have spoken to the family, none of them will have to fight in any war they don't want to.

[@robertp457]

NATO is an acronym. It should be fully capitalized. I know the BBC does it, too, but it's wrong. How would anyone who's second language is English know the difference between a proper noun and an acronym without capitalizing it correctly?

[@jberkeley1195]

Its not rocket science spend the money on defending what you have or risk losing it all

[@livingtribunal4110]

_A 'surge' in Western weapons production_ 🤔 lolololol you still don´t get it, do you? 😂

[@joso7228]

Whisper this too - Scipio

[@Mr-Science-Stevens]

Excellent

[@alanbrady7116]

5 comments deleted from you know who. We have to invent a whole new language

[@Kodakcompactdisc]

It’s beyond a joke.

[@boink800]

The censor is alive and well

[@mindbanx]

The US is 4.3% of the global population.

[@joso7228]

Conscription 9:45 No Thanks. But the UK could consider a mature persons Recruitment Drive including Re-Enlistment. The expertise desired here comes from older experienced people. Women to help fill those service support roles and drone operation (along with the best qualified drone operators in the world - Gamers).

[@williammartin9450]

"The Balts"!? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@ArmorFair]

the Baltic nations; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.

[@ArmorFair]

Have to add Finland, Poland and Sweden

[@jonchicas-hw9op]

The United Nations = League of nations

[@arthurarthur6083]

Even during league of nations era Germany was excluded from organization. But Russia is still in UN.

[@HDR422]

Interesting.

[@leespalding6361]

Pootins is running scared but not fast have you seen how small he’s legs are when he’s not wearing heels. 😅

[@royconestoga7326]

He’s like a mini from the carny days of rasslin.

[@user-pz6ls4uk8k]

Не беспокойтесь вас догонит и попку порвёт

[@mrjerzheel]

Putin and Zelensky are same height

[@jeremysmith3786]

Interesting that an American talks about being prepared to use the kit you have. Hmm, which nation has ben repeatedly last to offer kit to ukraine, last with anti tank man portables, last with long range missiles, last with tanks, provides safe haven to Putins army by restricting the targets that ukraine can hit with US weapons; that's right, the USA!!!

[@Philippe56-qk1cr]

United against Poutler (from France)

[@s0ycapitan]

Ok we try to ramp up production, even though we've offshored our industry and blown up our powersations. How long is this going to take? Totally fanciful magical thinking.

[@TheSkaffen]

Going by the last great wars you can write off a couple of decades at least.

[@rmdomainer9042]

Pity you are a known bot. Otherwise one could take your "argument" at face value. Got many Russian products in your home? Thought so, me neither.

[@s0ycapitan]

​@@rmdomainer9042 Russia makes tanks, planes, bombs and missiles at a scale the UK couldn't even contemplate. When we had the Empire we could have competed, not now. Same goes for the USA. Most of the GDP is services. Apparently 40% of the chips in US arms comes from China. A great deal of steel also comes from China or India because we pretend that man made Global warming is real.

[@PaxHeadroom]

What do you recommend? Keep doing nothing? Seriously what is the point of your complaint? It's do or die.

[@s0ycapitan]

@@PaxHeadroom I don't believe the West is in danger from Russia. We don't have anything they want and if we had left well alone Ukraine would be in a much better place than they are right now.

[@TheSkaffen]

These creeps salivating over large scale war is disturbing.

[@rmdomainer9042]

Large scale war with whom? Russia could not even beat Mongolia these days.

[@ikke12345]

You have to do what you have to do! The alternative is not what you want

[@TheSkaffen]

@@rmdomainer9042 Russia is a space faring nation with superior nuclear capabilities. Underestimating them is costing 000's of lives.

[@TheSkaffen]

@@ikke12345 There are many alternatives.

[@rmdomainer9042]

@@TheSkaffen Maybe they can beat Ukraine in space because on earth they have not managed to conquer 3 of the 4 oblasts Putin claim are Russian.

[@johnnybgoode8104]

America has done more than it's fair share This guy can pss off saying our 875B annual defense budget isn't enough.

[@shaun1463]

the US oligarchs want more.

[@rmdomainer9042]

You spelled "its" wrong. I also from Iowa Oblast. We go shoot guns fry burgers yes?

[@shaun1463]

@@rmdomainer9042 i like people who think they are smart when they find a typo.

[@rmdomainer9042]

​@@shaun1463 People that work at botfarms in the third world are pretty bad at language too. Lots of typos there.

[@shaun1463]

@@rmdomainer9042 you are soo intelligent

[@salomoniezpizzaeria3349]

nuke2025

[@ticnatz]

The Poles can't wait to have a go at the Russians....

[@Zenon00007]

❤Ukrainian ❤

[@RudolphoAqui]

Supporting Ukraine’s success is Europe’s best security and will save children’s lives

[@mrjerzheel]

Supporting Ukraine will cost Europe hundreds of billions