The report is absolutely scathing. Some choice quotes:
But when the next crisis came, both the US and the governments of Europe fell back on old models of alliance leadership. Europe, as EU high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell loudly lamented prior to Russia’s invasion, is not really at the table when it comes to dealing with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It has instead embarked on a process of vassalisation.
But “alone” had a very specific meaning for Scholz. He was unwilling to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine unless the US also sent its own main battle tank, the M1 Abrams. It was not enough that other partners would send tanks or that the US might send other weapons. Like a scared child in a room full of strangers, Germany felt alone if Uncle Sam was not holding its hand.
Europeans’ lack of agency in the Russia-Ukraine crisis stems from this growing power imbalance in the Western alliance. Under the Biden administration, the US has become ever more willing to exercise this growing influence.
BTW, Argentina invented the ballpoint pen and Bics are produced either in Argentina or Brasil, lol.
John J. Loud patented it in 1888, the man was American. Those never took off, though, manufacturing wasn’t there yet it took 50 years so the second name you see listed as inventor is László Bíró, Hungarian… who fled to Argentina. 10 years after starting to produce his pens. Maybe read up on shit before you base your jingoism on it. Next thing you’re going to tell me is that Che is from Angola.
If you wonder how hard it is to make ballpoint pens: Very. It took China until 2017 to nail the requirements – it’s not that the concept is hard, but manufacturing at the required precision at scale is anything but easy.
When it comes to production I have no idea where you got Argentina from, BIC’s South American factories are in Brasil: Stationary, Lighters and Shavers in Manaus, Stationary in Rio.
Not actually sure whether they producing their own balls but they definitely produce their own razor blades. I mainly brought Bic up as an very good example of unfancy European engineering: Yes, you can get cheaper stuff, but you’re probably going to haul curses at it at some point in time, and end up spending more money because buying cheap is more expensive than buying once.
Worse, you could be buying Gillette or Wilkinson who only seem to produce good ole fashioned safety razor blades to make people think safety razors suck so they can sell more overpriced cartridge stuff. My Bic blades are 11ct a piece, I could use a fresh one every shave and still spend less than what those want for their seven-blade cartridges. That’s even true if you buy the cream of the cream, Japanese “let’s make the best possible product, not care about price” blades: Feather. 29ct a piece.