Trump came to NATO demanding backup for Iran, Greenland, Erdoğan, and his Spain tantrum. Mark Carney gently reminded everyone what a defensive alliance is actually for.
I just can't shake the notion that Trump's murky relationships with Putin and Netanyahu are shaping a lot of this. Trashing NATO and our relationships with NATO countries plays right into Putin's hands. We have a State Department, National Security Council, and intelligence apparatus that are bereft of mature leadership and sophisticated "strategery". Trump is in the room with grownups who now know how to play him, and he is eminently playable.
Good analysis. After Sking’s recommended operation, who is left to analyze , negotiate, and plan amongst all the others, NATO , there must be adequate people, spy rings, intelligence communities. It’ll be a long time before trust here can be worthy, it will take a lot of time to root out the rot. It isn’t just Trump and his lackies needing gone -which means 2 more years ,the lame duck period, it’ll be likely be more of the same, or quite similar As the dementia progresses , more interpretations that ‘ he really meant to say’ stuff will happen.
How the other heads of state can stomach him, depend on anything he says, or avoid the destruction this hangry demented man inflicts …beats me.
Once again, I appreciate the clear-eyed, thoughtful, entertaining review of the state of play/horror today. At the same time, I feel trapped in an abusive marriage with my government, desperately looking for ways out. I tell myself with varying degrees of confidence: focus on actions that will help advance and protect our Republic.
There is no one, NO ONE, in the current regime capable of handling an international meeting such as NATO in Ankara.
The United States has no leader at that level who can understand the complex issues and join in meaningful discussions.
Moreover, no American official has the integrity and diplomatic tact to participate as an equal in that group.
The saying is, don't worry about what you can't change.
But I do worry that my country will never be able to recover from Trump's destruction, not at home or on the world stage.
Don’t bite unless medically necessary. But the issue now is that major surgery is required to cut out the entire executive branch.
Well put!
I just can't shake the notion that Trump's murky relationships with Putin and Netanyahu are shaping a lot of this. Trashing NATO and our relationships with NATO countries plays right into Putin's hands. We have a State Department, National Security Council, and intelligence apparatus that are bereft of mature leadership and sophisticated "strategery". Trump is in the room with grownups who now know how to play him, and he is eminently playable.
Good analysis. After Sking’s recommended operation, who is left to analyze , negotiate, and plan amongst all the others, NATO , there must be adequate people, spy rings, intelligence communities. It’ll be a long time before trust here can be worthy, it will take a lot of time to root out the rot. It isn’t just Trump and his lackies needing gone -which means 2 more years ,the lame duck period, it’ll be likely be more of the same, or quite similar As the dementia progresses , more interpretations that ‘ he really meant to say’ stuff will happen.
How the other heads of state can stomach him, depend on anything he says, or avoid the destruction this hangry demented man inflicts …beats me.
I hope it’s “rope a dope” and pray the planet survives until the end of this term.
The midterms and a blue wave is our last defense, I’d agree most people think the same Jack. 🤞
Once again, I appreciate the clear-eyed, thoughtful, entertaining review of the state of play/horror today. At the same time, I feel trapped in an abusive marriage with my government, desperately looking for ways out. I tell myself with varying degrees of confidence: focus on actions that will help advance and protect our Republic.