Adm Stavridis: Despite Economic Woes, NATO Members Should Still Pay Up

The global economy continues to lag. The euro is in steep decline. And European nations are mulling defense cuts. But none of this should lead NATO members to contribute less to the alliance, says U.S. Adm. James Stavridis.

Source

"Let us not forget this is a rich alliance," Stavridis said during a forum in Washington sponsored by the Atlantic Council. The U.S. European Command chief and NATO's supreme allied commander noted the combined gross domestic product of NATO's 28 members is $31 trillion.

Many of the alliance's member nations already fail to meet the so-called requirement that members devote 2 percent of their GDPs to NATO.

And with the euro sliding amid the global economic meltdown, some experts are raising concerns that member nations will send even less into alliance coffers.

Well it's about time somebody gets on NATO!!! Way to go Admiral!!

[edit on 5/19/2010 by UberL33t]