Good job, Denmark, Greenland and NATO! Its always a pleasure reading how well informed, intelligent people handle conflict.
Ever since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, I have been impressed how Europe and NATO, at large, have handled crisis. Of course there have been issues, struggles, and decisions made that, looking back, may not have been ideal; but, European decisions by-in-large have been measured and well thought out. Not so easy when you have a war raging on your continent.
I’ve begun grading Trump’s stunts based on three criteria: (1) Does it undermine Trump politically? (2) Will it cause minimal suffering or death? (3) Is it reversible once we rid ourselves of Trump?
The Greenland caper, like the Jerome Powell criminal investigation, gets high scores on all three counts and is therefore more benign than, say, cutting aid to children in Africa, which resulted in countless deaths, and didn’t seem to harm Trump at all.
Venezuela concerns me more than Greenland given its potential to destabilize the region and its lack of reversibility.
“….kind of factual rebuttal is rare in alliance diplomacy, and it signaled that Denmark and Greenland were no longer willing to let exaggerations pass unchallenged in the name of courtesy.
Great article as usual Mary. Also interesting that this all makes main headlines and distracts from the fact that all the Epstein files have still not been released, how convenient !
When the goose of the crook is cooked Greenland is the polished host with proper places assigned. So lovely to see dignity , Denmark included. No insult just diplomacy, watch ‘The Spin’.
I think I have to put a Godfather lens over this piece and watch the American crew go back and brief the boss. He listens, sputters and grunts, "Bah, do the thing anyway."
There might be an explanation for the bizarre "must-own" and "there are things that you can only do if you own it" rhetoric. If one considers America as the traditional USA, an independent Western country, it makes no sense. But if one considers the current USA as a Russian asset, it makes sense. Russia would love Greenland. And it could only get easy access with ownership, because of NATO. If NATO tanks, AND Russia already has Greenland, Russia has won big. Or, flip it around and consider the "it's crawling with Russian ships" rhetoric, which it isn't. But in the spirit of the meme, in that case a scenario in which two Russian assets (the current leaders of Russia and the USA) are duelling for who has the biggest win would make it an in-house competition, so to speak. Not to mention the upcoming cage fight. At any rate, assumptions that the word America always means the USA as culturally or constitutionally defined runs the risk of masking other dynamics.
Your clarity is always welcomed. As are the no-nonsense, thoughtful remarks made to the US participants in/after the meeting. If only Trump had diplomats rather than doormat surrounding him.
In 1916, with the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, US agreed to allow Denmark sovereignty over Greenland in exchange for the Virgin Islands. This regime doesn't even -pretend- to honor past agreements. Epstein's Island is a part of that group. (No, we have not forgotten)
Good job, Denmark, Greenland and NATO! Its always a pleasure reading how well informed, intelligent people handle conflict.
Ever since February 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, I have been impressed how Europe and NATO, at large, have handled crisis. Of course there have been issues, struggles, and decisions made that, looking back, may not have been ideal; but, European decisions by-in-large have been measured and well thought out. Not so easy when you have a war raging on your continent.
I’ve begun grading Trump’s stunts based on three criteria: (1) Does it undermine Trump politically? (2) Will it cause minimal suffering or death? (3) Is it reversible once we rid ourselves of Trump?
The Greenland caper, like the Jerome Powell criminal investigation, gets high scores on all three counts and is therefore more benign than, say, cutting aid to children in Africa, which resulted in countless deaths, and didn’t seem to harm Trump at all.
Venezuela concerns me more than Greenland given its potential to destabilize the region and its lack of reversibility.
Canada is also opening a consulate in Greenland next month.
“….kind of factual rebuttal is rare in alliance diplomacy, and it signaled that Denmark and Greenland were no longer willing to let exaggerations pass unchallenged in the name of courtesy.
So polite and polished. Bottom line he “lies!”
Great article as usual Mary. Also interesting that this all makes main headlines and distracts from the fact that all the Epstein files have still not been released, how convenient !
When the goose of the crook is cooked Greenland is the polished host with proper places assigned. So lovely to see dignity , Denmark included. No insult just diplomacy, watch ‘The Spin’.
I think I have to put a Godfather lens over this piece and watch the American crew go back and brief the boss. He listens, sputters and grunts, "Bah, do the thing anyway."
There might be an explanation for the bizarre "must-own" and "there are things that you can only do if you own it" rhetoric. If one considers America as the traditional USA, an independent Western country, it makes no sense. But if one considers the current USA as a Russian asset, it makes sense. Russia would love Greenland. And it could only get easy access with ownership, because of NATO. If NATO tanks, AND Russia already has Greenland, Russia has won big. Or, flip it around and consider the "it's crawling with Russian ships" rhetoric, which it isn't. But in the spirit of the meme, in that case a scenario in which two Russian assets (the current leaders of Russia and the USA) are duelling for who has the biggest win would make it an in-house competition, so to speak. Not to mention the upcoming cage fight. At any rate, assumptions that the word America always means the USA as culturally or constitutionally defined runs the risk of masking other dynamics.
Your clarity is always welcomed. As are the no-nonsense, thoughtful remarks made to the US participants in/after the meeting. If only Trump had diplomats rather than doormat surrounding him.
In 1916, with the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, US agreed to allow Denmark sovereignty over Greenland in exchange for the Virgin Islands. This regime doesn't even -pretend- to honor past agreements. Epstein's Island is a part of that group. (No, we have not forgotten)
It is interesting that the "little island nation" managed to wield a rather large stick when it came to dealing with Trump. I love it.
I read that Canada was also opening a consulate in Greenland...Have you heard about that?