[Spridgets] Iran, NATO and Europe - obviously no LBC

Fri Mar 20 09:05:48 MDT 2026

How about we keep our politics to ourselves on this list and try to enjoy
the cars.

On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 10:02 AM David Woerpel via Spridgets <
spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:

> Amen to all both of you wrote. Especially Larry's closing plea.
> I'm just beginning my 8th decade(79) and a student of history.  Our close
> friends in Australia have the same fears and opinions as UK and Europe.
> Different perspectives help us see the total picture.
> 1st day of Spring!!  Approaching 60*F here in Cheeseland so may drop the
> tank on the Bugeye to replace the sending unit seal. Hardest part is
> emptying the boot.
> Regards,
>
> DaveW
>
> '59:{)
> '59 MGA 1500
> 'Pay It Forward"
>
> On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 7:38 AM Larry Macy via Spridgets <
> spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
>
>> Daniel,
>>
>> Well stated and thought from the British POV. I agree with your points,
>> but would like to insert one clarification. It is not America that is
>> insulting and bitching at NATO countries.
>>
>> I have been around for nearly 7 decades and this is the absolute worst
>> relationship between our NATO allies and the US I have ever seen in those
>> decades. Treating Russia as a “friend” over NATO, Iran and Ukraine is the
>> bottom of the barrel in my opinion.
>>
>> This is my opinion, and so far, in the US, I am still allowed to have
>> one.
>>
>> Spridgeteers, Please don’t t make this a mess. It is simply the opinion
>> of an Englishman and an American.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> On Mar 20, 2026, at 6:33 AM, Weslake1330 via Spridgets <
>> spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:
>>
>> Hi List,
>>
>> I wanted to post some thoughts on Iran, NATO and Europe that simply
>> aren't being reported on national news, as far as I can tell, whose
>> reporters seem to have no idea of analysis or wider impacts.
>>
>> The news isn't saying much about how much help Iran has had and continues
>> to have from Russia and China, the latter especially.  I believe that Iran
>> is an evil regime supported (English phrase: aided and abetted) over
>> decades by Russia and China.  I have heard that Chinese technicians aiding
>> Iran firing missiles have been killed.  So if America decides to attack
>> Iran that's ok by me in a broad sense.  Iran with nuclear weapons would be
>> a disaster for the world.
>>
>> NATO is about defence and its membership agreement makes that clear.
>> NATO is not a force multiplier to call upon when a member's aggression
>> needs some backup.  Yes, the USA puts more money into NATO than any other
>> country and arguably it has had the most back.  Europe provided the buffer
>> for the USA against the USSR and I guess that was a price the USA decided
>> was worth paying.  Well times change and the USSR not longer exists but
>> former members are a threat.  The flipside to the coin that isn't discussed
>> is not whether all the NATO countries need to spend more (and a couple do)
>> but could America spend less?
>>
>> America has stated that China rather that Russia are the real threats and
>> attacking Iran weakens China considerably though news commentators aren't
>> saying so.  America seems to continue to be well disposed to Mr Putin and
>> Russia and seem to ignore the large part of aid Russia has given to Iran.
>> Well I guess it might be in America's interest to say little and not state
>> what is close to being obvious.
>>
>> What makes no sense and is baseless criticism is to insult NATO and
>> European countries (who get very little oil and gas from Iran) for not
>> answering a call to aid from America.  It is India, China and other eastern
>> countries who are not going their oil from the Gulf, not NATO and European
>> countries.  It's also worth considering what countries are in NATO.  Well
>> Canada is in NATO and so is Denmark (who count Greenland as part of its
>> territory) and they have good grounds for not rushing to the assistance of
>> the USA.  What about the European countries in NATO?  Well they are still
>> very focused on supporting Ukraine and the Arctic where there is still
>> Russian aggression and threat - something that America thinks they ought to
>> be doing.
>>
>> It is never good sense to insult your friends and allies, or falsely
>> accuse them.  And while you might publicly state they aren't helping and
>> are free loaders, the truth and reality is quite different.  However, spend
>> enough time and energy publicly criticising them and there is a real risk
>> you'll discover how much they DID do when they decide to do a lot less or
>> nothing for you in the future.  Google RAF Croughton and see not only how
>> important that is to America but the controversy caused by a fatal road
>> accident that made everything connected to that site unpopular.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Daniel S
>> ------------------------
>>
>> spridgets at autox.team.net
>>
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>>
>> —
>>
>> Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
>> lmacy at mac.com
>>
>>
>> “Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet,” he
>> said. “Try to make sense of what you see and about what makes the
>> universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is
>> always something you can do, and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just
>> give up.”
>> ~Stephen Hawking
>>
>>
>> ------------------------
>>
>> spridgets at autox.team.net
>>
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> ------------------------
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-- 
Shalom,
Monty Love
256-337-5581
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