(07-13-2018, 12:11 PM)Byron LeftTown Wrote: Trump revealed his negotiating style in a best-selling book many years ago. Yet many are surprised and even shocked every time he does it.

NATO allies each supposedly committed to increasing their defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2024. The US spends 3.6%, but the US operates in Southeast Asia and the Middle East - while most NATO allies just face Russia.

A valid negotiating tactic would be something like, "I want 2% by 2020 now. Four years sooner." or "No, it's got to be 2.4% now. 2% isn't going to cut it now."

Saying, "I want 4%" is beyond a negotiating tactic. It's hypocritical because we spend less than that.
Saying, "You owe us money" is not a negotiating tactic at all. It's incorrect. They are supposed to spend the money on themselves.
Saying, "You owe us money for all the past years" is not just incorrect but hysterical.

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