Gates rebukes European allies in farewell speech - The Washington Post

Gates rebukes European allies in farewell speech - The Washington Post: "“The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress, and in the American body politic writ large, to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources ... to be serious and capable partners in their own defense,”"

Odd that the US is the most hated nation when we provide the public good of stable borders through military strength. Of course being number 1 creates haters and war is ugly so being number 1 at war makes you especially hated. I wonder how much France and Germany will like it if we pull out of the middle east meaning they have to either allow Iran to progress towards nuclear armament or stop them? Because their populations are so heavily Muslim any conflict with Iran will cause domestic problems. In addition, Europe is much closer than is the US to Iran, so their nuclear arms are might hit there first. Europe has enjoyed free-riding on the US while scapegoating us as war mongers, but maybe the party will end.