Are you overly sensitive if you find the attitudes of NATO leaders repugnant? Several of them seemed to snicker and smirk when President Trump spoke recently in Brussels.

In other ways they indicated they did not appreciate his message.  Which was that their countries are pikers.  They don’t pay their fair share for their own defense. While they expect the  U.S. to cough up more than its fair share.  As it has since WWII.

Germany’s Angela Merkel spoke after Trump’s visit to Europe. She said “The times in which we could completely depend on others are, to a certain extent, over.  We Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands.”  To which you might say it’s about time.

If Merkel sounds resentful, she should be ashamed.  If she simply accepts reality, she should be commended.

That is because the reality is that the EU would probably not exist if America had not defended Europe for the last 60 years.  We spent hundreds of billions for the defense of Europe.  European countries spent meager amounts.

Yes, our strategy was meant to allow Europeans to focus on their recoveries after the war. But the idea was that once they were on their feet they should pony up for their own defenses.

And today some of their leaders scoff at Trump’s suggestion?  They smirk when he suggests they pay up?

They act like kids who have been on the Mom and Dad dole for too many years. They should be ashamed that they have promised and promised to live up to their responsibility.  But they have again and again failed to.

Suppose the U.S. and Britain had not kept armies in Europe after the war. Along with missiles, tanks and aircraft. The Soviets might easily have over-run and occupied several countries.  Several more than those they did punish with ugly communism.

Angela grew up in East Germany under Soviet oppression. She could have spent her entire life under communism.  If America had not spent fortunes to bring down the Soviet system.

Members of the EU often boast about the prosperity they have brought unto themselves.  Seldom do they credit the U.S. for its role.  Its role was to help them with its largesse. To get them back on their feet after the war.  Its role was to defend them.  In the years when they had no money for their defense.

In those years we kept 250,000 troops in Europe. That was a helluva lot of American tax money.  To keep the Soviets from invading. And to keep Europeans from fighting against each other.  As they had for centuries.

Some historians believe Europe would have continued its blood-letting ways were it not for the American presence. Do you suppose many Europeans today think of America as a friend that saved their backsides?  Do many thank America for their peace and prosperity?

It was the U.S. role to bolster and pay for the UN.  Without the U.S. money the UN would probably have failed. Do you think many people on this earth thank America for the UN?  Meanwhile, many countries criticize us for cutting back our contributions to it.

If Russia decided to roll tanks into Europe tomorrow the Europeans would face defeat within weeks.  If not days. The Russians have about a million troops.  Germany has 60,000. Who do you suppose Europeans would turn to in such a war? To help defend them.

You know the answer.

So maybe you don’t appreciate the snickering of some NATO leaders.  When they are asked to pay more for their own defense. If you don’t, count me on your side.

       From Tom…as in Morgan.           

       Find Tom on Facebook. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com.