Concerning the great worries about the self defence capabilities of Europeans.

[Husar]

Let's put it like this, if you had to recruit people for your military, would you rather be recruiting Americans or Euros? If you had to have an identical number of either Euro or American military personnel guarding you with the same equipment, who would you choose? I think that I know the answer, and THAT is my point.

Probably Europeans. Once Russia has joined the EU, definitely Europeans.

[PanzerJaeger]

Probably Europeans. Once Russia has joined the EU, definitely Europeans.

Why?

[CBR]

The USMC has tougher training than the US army. They don't recruit as many and therefore can have higher standards. But I don't think one therefore can say "the US army stinks"

I don't understand this obsession with the (low) quality of citizens. The Western World can rely on having highly educated men and women, and the main difference in fighting power would be the level of training and quality/quantity of equipment.

And in what way are we to measure the willingness of a population to fight a long war? Look at polls for how popular the war in Afghanistan perhaps? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...in_Afghanistan

A quick look does not show a huge difference. So I guess Europe AND USA won't stand a chance against the über Russian bear or the even larger hordes of Chinese?

Or maybe some people are just living in another century and need to come back to reality. More fact and less truthiness please