A succinct, well-argued piece. The consensus that Europe needs to drastically increase defense spending bothers me not just because it's being used to justify austerity in every other sector, but also because it makes zero intrinsic sense. The budgets are big enough! (gift link) on.ft.com/3HwHyNT - ThreadSky

jackkennedy.ie • 12 days ago

A succinct, well-argued piece. The consensus that Europe needs to drastically increase defense spending bothers me not just because it's being used to justify austerity in every other sector, but also because it makes zero intrinsic sense. The budgets are big enough!

(gift link)

https://on.ft.com/3HwHyNT

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ainekeenan.bsky.social•12 days ago

Smoke and mirrors, Jack. We have no clue what considerations are at play, and we never will. The invasion of Ukraine could have been repelled in 2023-24 if existing armaments had been allowed to be used. NATO members dithered for their own good reasons. And we're the fools that will facilitate them.

faeelin.bsky.social•12 days ago

Hmmm I think you need weapons to defeat a Russian invasion of Latvia

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

Yes

If this article was arguing we should reduce the defence budgets of every European state to 0, then it would be pertinent to point out the need to have some weapons. Luckily that's not the case

faeelin.bsky.social•12 days ago

Where has Tooze been accurate in the last few years in your view

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

This is the first time I've read something by him. I don't really know who he is

faeelin.bsky.social•12 days ago

He famously said Russia was not a threat to Ukraine or Europe in 2021

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

Okay. That was obviously incorrect

When I said this is "A succinct, well-argued piece" I meant it is a "A succinct, well-argued piece", not "I endorse everything this person has ever said"...?

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

And most of the proposals for such increases don't really contest that point. They don't attempt to demonstrate how more money will make the situation better, or how lack of money is the problem. It's just "our forces suck. We need to do something. Increasing spending is something. We will do that"

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

But if you wanted to spend money on something that actually would make Europe more secure (and which is also just...right), might I suggest a colossal increase in social spending of all kinds, building the kind of stable, unified societies that are less susceptible to far-right/Russian influence?

jackkennedy.ie•12 days ago

No one ever wants to take *that* lesson from FDR

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