this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2026
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Europe

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With something like this, we know we are on the right track.

top 46 comments
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[–] yakko@feddit.uk 59 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I don't believe for a second the man fails to see the hypocrisy - he and his masters exercise hypocrisy like a muscle.

[–] Jaximus@lemmy.ml 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

If I read this comment last year I would have responded that they are fucking with us, saying insane bullshit to draw attention. Nowadays I am just convinced that they are idiots, somehow western institutions of all stripes have managed to draw in the most inane people possible. I don't think this man or Trump can be hypocritical, they just lack the cognitive capacity to be consistent.

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I've learned to split my assessment between followers and authoritarians. The followers tend to be like that, good at compartmentalizing and kinda just plain dumb, but the authoritarians follow a more dark triad pattern. Fairly normal intelligence, on the low end - but definitely smart enough to know they're getting away with something.

[–] impairedimperator@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The followers are also authoritarians, that's why they follow.

The leaders aren't just authoritarian, they're also high on social dominance. That why they seek leadership.

theauthoritarians.org

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 2 points 4 days ago

I wasn't using the right word - but I've read the book. We're on the same page

[–] Jhex@lemmy.world 41 points 4 days ago (1 children)
[–] DjangoFett@lemmy.zip 26 points 4 days ago

Defending oneself is one of the most basic forms of self-interest. It's in the fucking name.

[–] DrCake@lemmy.world 32 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I mean yeah it is ‘self-interest’, that’s not a gotcha. This is what the US wanted, Europe taking more control over their defence. Maybe if they hadn’t been so aggressive and stupid in their approach, countries would have continued buying US weapons.

Absolutly a self own by Trump

[–] gian@lemmy.grys.it 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This is what the US wanted, Europe taking more control over their defence.

Buying more US weapons, not developing their own... Read the fine prints for hell's sake 😜

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 11 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

The problem is that Republicans have demonstrated that they are perfectly fine having a leader who will just whip out sanctions left and right, often for no readily apparent reason. Continuing to rely on US manufactured weapons constitutes an unacceptable national security risk, because at any point support for those weapon systems maybe withdrawn.

They should have maybe thought about this before letting the international skid mark loose.

[–] TallonMetroid@lemmy.world 29 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

"Spend more on defense!"

...

"Wait, not like that!"

[–] Mihies@programming.dev 9 points 4 days ago

Exactly. Spend more mantra was so transparent from the get go.

[–] birdwing@lemmy.blahaj.zone 22 points 4 days ago

hahahahahahahaaaa

[–] DudeImMacGyver@kbin.earth 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Weren't they just bitching about Europe not having their own defense and relying too much on the US?

[–] Skua@kbin.earth 3 points 4 days ago

Yes, but they don't actually want Europe to be able to defend itself, they want European money to buy American weapons

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 16 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Well yeah. That's how it's supposed to work isn't it, capitalism?

[–] ReCursing@feddit.uk 18 points 4 days ago
[–] YouTalkinToMe@lemmy.world 15 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Well, surely he is an expert on the topic of self-interest.

[–] waitingtech@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago

The Pentagon has fiercely opposed the move, despite the US administration heaping pressure on NATO's European allies to become more independent in their self-defence.>

Left hand - right hand, meet.

[–] friend_of_satan@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

LOL, "how dare you MEGA!"

[–] LovelyMover@lemmy.zip 5 points 3 days ago

Ohhh man, thats too good. Our hats are made in the EU, not "chyna"

This makes me so happy!

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 9 points 4 days ago

You mean like with the "made in america" push and the aggressive taxing?

[–] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

They fucked around and now they’re finding out. I mean what did Americans think electing the „America first!!1“ guy as president would look to the rest of the world anyway?

I guess many of them weren‘t really aware there was a whole world out there but still. Deep down they know other countries do exist and can see what‘s happening in the USofA.

Countries and Unions acting in self interest is pretty much the default anyway but the current US administration built their entire propaganda machine on that premise. The world watched and drew their conclusions. Especially after the orange turd got the middle east all clogged up.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 days ago

after the orange turd got the middle east all clogged up.

I'm stealing that.

[–] rbos@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 days ago

Other countries were also supposed to put America first. No fair!!!

[–] ExtraJudgement@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

Ah, yes, the duality of USA's foreign policy w.r.t to the EU: We want you to pay (us) more and take on more responsibility for your own defense, but only in such a way that we still get to keep all our soft and hard power over you.

This may have become more obvious under Trump, but this is nothing new to anyone paying attention since the late 90s / early 00s.

[–] usernameunnecessary@lemmy.zip 8 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It's really something, them talking about "self-interest"

[–] Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io 3 points 4 days ago

What the US is exhibiting is 'billionaire interest' to be frank. It's certainly not what is in the best interests of the whole or even the vast majority of the country. Sigh. Please bear with us as we get rid of this fascist infection. And remember fascism doesn't respect borders.

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 5 points 4 days ago

We need to start writing these articles in a different tone. Instead of "slams" say stuff like "US ambassador compliments the EU for getting more independent" etc

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 4 points 4 days ago

First Usa has sailed further and further away from it's allies and from the whole "western" world.

Now they look at us and recognize that we are far away?

[–] susieq0044@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago

[nasal voice over intercom] Has patient number 13 reveived his sedatives yet?