TRUMP ABROAD--STANDS UP FOR AMERICA--ITS ABOUT TIME

TRUMP DOES NOT ENDORSE ARTICLE 5 (THE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE CLAUSE)

URGES NATO MEMBERS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

TRUMP IS RIGHT AND SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR HIS STANCE

The Washington Post, PBS and the rest of the main stream media can find nothing positive to say concerning Trump's interaction with the snooty gaggle of NATO nations he met in Sicily.  The MSM media snigger that he "didn't understand" the NATO relationship.. They chide him for being rude to the Montenegro Ambassador.  They ridicule him for squeezing the French President's hand too tight when they met.  Their sensibilities were offended when he brow beat the whole group  for not living up to their financial  responsibilities for defense.  But they were most troubled that he is "still thinking about" Article 5 (the mutual assistance clause) in the NATO charter which requires all NATO nations to go to the aid of any one of them that has been attacked.

(As for the Montenegro Ambassador who got elbowed aside...he was not even a formal NATO member at the time, and the "guy who pays all the bills" was somehow pushed into the rear for the photo session.  Trump was right in pressing forward. )

That may be the 'inside the Beltway view" from the cadre of elite Washington journalists, the Bush  and John McCain (Old War Horse) wing of the Republicans, and the Hate Trump "resist at all cost" Democrats.  But for the guys who work hard for a living and pay taxes and breakfast in Joe's Diner in the foothills of the Green Mountains of Vermont...there is another view.

The people up here know full well that the Germans, French, Italians, Belgians and a good part of the rest of the NATO crowd live the GOOD LIFE.  We see them tooling around up here in their fancy cars and spending dough in some of the high priced shops.  We know that they enjoy multiple long vacations, and sometimes spend them in the USA.  Their governments can spend more for the good life of their citizens.  They focus on domestic spending while we here in the USA focus on THEIR DEFENSE.    As a consequence of this "free lunch" they have the best health care, great roads, bridges, tunnels and infrastructure. They have secure retirement systems.  They have broadband wifi in every little village.  Their governments  spend tax dollars to protect worker's jobs.    Their minimal military and defense spending--permits them to spend more on welfare and health care.  They boast the world's lowest rates of infant mortality, adult morbidity, and adult mortality from common diseases. They even live longer than we do.  Why?   BECAUSE THEIR GOVERNMENTS  HAVE LITTLE OR NO OVERHEAD FOR THEIR OWN DEFENSE.  IT IS THE  USA TAXPAYER WHO keeps them SAFE..and permits them the LUXURY to live the good life.

Only five of the 28 nations in NATO presently actually pay their fair share of our mutual defense costs. And it is not a "misunderstanding of President Trump" as these journalists characterize it.  When these nations joined NATO they pledged to spend 2% of their GDP (a measure of their economic output) on the common defense.  They don't do it.  They have been welching on their defense payments.  That is an abrogation of their DUTY.  President Trump was absolutely right in being forthright about their responsibility. As a good negotiator....he is holding back ---"still thinking on it".  He is non-commital regarding  whether he supports "Article 5" the  mutual assistance clause in the NATO charter.  He is perfectly right in resisting endorsement,  perhaps until they make some change in their NATO funding.

It's time that somebody stood up for Americans.  I was glad to see Trump up there representing us forcefully.  It's about time someone did.