this post was submitted on 16 Mar 2025
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According to former United States general Ben Hodges, the withdrawal of US troops from Europe is only a matter of time. In an interview with SonntagsBlick, he advises Switzerland to prepare for war.

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[–] Raylon@lemmy.world 25 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

If anyone is interested in the state of things in Switzerland:

Our defense is in chaos right now. A scandal in our state-owned but public weapons manufacturer just broke a few weeks ago and shortly after the secretary of the departement of defense announced her resignation. We will see if the newly elected one will improve the situation.

The army is generally seen as somewhat of a joke, especially by people who served, which is more than half of all Swiss men. We like to call it a "Pfadiverein" (boy scouts association).

Even with all that, the right wing parties want to give a shitload more money to defense, and cut costs in social spending and foreign aid to compensate. Left of centre the need to improve defense is also accepted, but 1) before the army gets more money, they need to get their shit together and 2) more important than the army itself is integration with the european security Infrastructure (the left parties are also very pro-EU). The centre politicians usually mix blth stances and lean more one or the other way.

Also we still stand to buy fighter jets from the US, and only the left parties are calling to cancel the deal.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 16 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

“According to everything I hear from Washington, Europe is no longer a priority.” Trump sees China as the main opponent of the US.

This didn't start with Trump, it has been building for a long time. I haven't seen anyone spell it out so clearly before though.

[–] dmalteseknight@programming.dev 2 points 4 hours ago

Frankly I think Trump sees western nations not led by dictators as threats.

[–] ammonium@lemmy.world 4 points 7 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 1 points 5 hours ago

Oh, this is exactly what I was saying, this has been going on since Obama.

[–] Teknikal@eviltoast.org 36 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

Anyone taking bets which Country gets threatened next I'm thinking Jamaica had to hand over 50percent of its rum.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 22 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

"Puerto Rico needs to end it's vicious trade war against the US or risk it's government being overthrown and made a US state."

[–] werefreeatlast@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

They better start exporting their bountiful electricity! They got so much of it, enough for a good 3 or 4 days of AI questions about how awesome our beautiful leader Mr orange is.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 2 points 9 hours ago

This isn't really a threat, because the person saying it doesn't make those decisions.

[–] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 43 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

It's high time that we throw out the US army from Europe. They've been waging war in the middle east from Rammstein for decades.

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[–] RetroGradeBE@lemmy.world 144 points 21 hours ago (4 children)

As bad as it sounds, if our European leaders can get their head out of their collective US-aligned asses, it could finally be a push to a more cohesive EU-defence policy that is not dependant on US logistics and firepower.

We have allowed ourselves to be way to complacent for far too long.

[–] Darkmoon_UK@lemm.ee 1 points 1 hour ago

Collectively European nations have the economy and technology to build a Military Industrial Complex to rival the US... I hope they truly wake up before it's too late, least the birthplace of western civilization also become it's grave 😢

[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 12 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

I hope this is what comes of it.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 1 points 1 hour ago

There are silver linings like this. The good news is that if we fight now, Trump will have destroyed a lot of the institutions (both domestic and foreign) that were holding back real progress. Clears the way to build better ones.

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[–] Brumefey@sh.itjust.works 53 points 19 hours ago (3 children)
[–] Zess@lemmy.world 29 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Switzerland is always prepared for war. Prepared to stay the fuck out of it and profit from it.

[–] urandom@lemmy.world 4 points 7 hours ago

I mean, if that’s an option …

[–] neons@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 8 hours ago

Doing my service 🫡 (I am a conscript and don't want this)

[–] NotLemming@lemm.ee 10 points 15 hours ago

My exact reaction lol. News is like satire now.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 23 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

US troops often withdraw leaving way too much equipment behind.

I better not see civilians with "cool military" gear! That's worse than any weeb or m'ladyian/fedorian.

But maybe I get to burn a Humvee or two since we "lack" those (now obviously surplus too) cybertrucks over here.

[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Shoving helos off a carrier deck comes to mind, when we were actually trying to evacuate refugees instead of lowering plane flaps to push off the hangers on. Guess the Taliban has Strykers and MRAPs now just like our cops, yay murica

[–] vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 4 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

I feel sorry for their mechanics.

[–] FordBeeblebrox@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

They’re about to learn the real lesson of the Big Green Weenie…logistics

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 123 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

Humans are so fucking stupid.

Standing in the middle of a fully stocked supermarket saying, “well, I guess this is it. We have no choice but to kill and eat each other.”

[–] HellsBelle@sh.itjust.works 78 points 21 hours ago (8 children)

Most are ok. It's the spoiled nepo babies who've grown into privileged assholes that are the problem.

[–] dgbhxi@lemm.ee 1 points 1 hour ago

some people have to vote for them and put them up there. So i would say most is accurate sadly :/

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 67 points 21 hours ago (20 children)

Plus the morons that keep voting them into power.

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