This is good news that Europe has finally realized that their need to rearm is imperative to their future safety. So, Job 1 is underway (& using frozen $$ of Russia is perfect). Now, to focus on Job 2 - get tRUMP the heck out of office (in jail actually). His lack of understanding negotiating & how to 'read' people is creating the harm this world is facing becuz of him. Donny is a menace to the world's safety - full stop.
We are in complete agreement, L.G. Trump not only failed to "understand negotiating and read people", he blundered into thinking that whatever (overstated) successes he may have had in the business world can be replicated in the world of diplomacy and geopolitics. In business dealings, there is only one determinant- money.
Can money substitute for Putin's (reputed to be the wealthiest man in the world) obsession with power and legacy? Can it substitute for Ukrainian determination to retain their freedom, independence, human dignity, sovereignty, and commitment to their national character and heritage? He will make the same mistake with Gaza, notwithstanding new (and presumably more comfortable) accommodations in the desert somewhere in Libya. The Romans understood the "attachment" people have to their homelands when they destroyed Carthage and salted a large stretch around it to ensure that nothing would grow there.
Trump's hubris is still waiting to be played out, and, unfortunately, the consequences will also fall on innocent Americans.
My belief in the potential of humanity to do better than we are at the moment was given a major boost by Europeans this morning. A random association--maybe not so random on Memorial Day--was the recognition that Europe as it is today would not have been possible were it not for U.S. Forces and the sacrifice of thousands in the face of Hitler and his demonic followers. Trump of course knows nothing about nobility, sacrifice for a worthy ideal or even the kind of teeth-gritting perseverance necessary to take and defend a stand of any kind, save those based upon narrow self-interest. TACO man. I hope he crumbles like one, and soon.
That's exactly the thing that makes me gnash my teeth at night! He is so manifestly a drag on not only their party but also a danger to our country at large that I have a huge problem understanding why they don't. It would be easy, after all, as he has so many violations of the Constitution under his overlarge belt that Impeachment would be a snap. Putting two and two together, Robbo, I can only come up with two hypotherses: One, as the GOP has been the refuge for racists and white supremacists since the Civil War and Two, that a whole lot of GOP reps are the bought and paid for stooges of foreign and domestic billionaires who could give a rip about the needs of we the people. It's 'as if' we've been taken over without them spilling a drop of blood or even breaking a sweat. Makes me crazy.
Your blog, Diane, supports my firm belief that Ukraine, despite its recent setbacks, is at the cusp of victory.......a victory not over a "defeated" Russia but over a Russia that has reached the limits of its wartime economy and is on the verge of imploding and forced to pull back its forces.
There are those moments in history when wars were won or lost because one side or the other leaves the field of battle prematurely. Had it not been for Russian resilience in Stalingrad during the 6 months preceding the onset of winter, or George Washington's colonial, ragged forces during the 6 years before the Battle of Yorktown, the world would have been very much different from what it is today. In both cases, the outcome of their wars was determined by a willingness to take the pain just a little bit longer.......not unlike a boxer in the ring delivering the decisive punch in the 12th round.
Thankfully, 82% of Ukrainians will not trade territory (and fellow Ukrainians) for "peace". There are a great many factors now working in their favor that were not available earlier. At the same time, Russia appears ready to put all its efforts and resources into a "final" summer offensive. This may be when Putin's "hubris" exacts its retribution......Russia's Battle of the Bulge, its last major offensive, and its catastrophic losses.
Give Ukraine the ability to use integrated and long range forces to break this stalemate. Imagine Moscow being bombed in force nightly. Or to be able to concentrate forces capable of eliminating the point of attack. They have never been given the equipment to be able to do this.
"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers.
In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.
Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."
That is a quote from General Smedley Butler in his pre-Eisenhower “military-industrial complex” quote from his 1935 book War is a Racket, perhaps the most contrarian Memorial Day perspective, and precursor to Art of the Deal.
Now that the Europeans are finally getting their defense act together, and Canada has a new Prime Minister who actually knows how to run a meeting, perhaps the Americans can figure out how to contain the damage being done daily by their TACO crypto Chef.
Carney joins Macron and Starmer in condeming Israel for attacking Hamas which wants to irradiate Israel and uses innocent people as human shields. Shame on him.
Why would anyone be surprised by Trump’s desire for trade versus any desire to take a moral stand on any issue of consequence. He has the spine of a jellyfish - nothing against jellyfish.
Mr “Two weeks” Trump continues to give Putin breathing space and avoids any commitment to the survival of Ukraine in a form that the Ukrainians would wish to have and it is clear that this not going to change in the foreseeable future.
Finally, it has become obvious to the Europeans that Trump has no interest in their wellbeing, the implementation of 50% tariffs on their imports (not withstanding the TACO implications) into the USA and his subservience to Putin has shown where his allegiances lie. It is a shame that the steps being proposed by Merz where not in place 2-3 years ago, but better late than never I guess.
I believe, as I have stated previously, it is time for Germany to shake off their historical hangovers and prove that they can be part of the solution (and Europe) and not the problem. Merz is taking the first steps. Russia is now the problem.
Europe needs to draw upon its own resources, it cannot wait or rely on Trump. His incomprehensible ramblings, his inability to maintain focus, his unreliability and his penchant for backpedaling leave the Europeans no choice but to question Trump’s commitment to Europe and NATO, his support for Ukraine over Russia and take the steps necessary for it’s own survival.
It seems to me that trumps posting Putin is crazy is his way of saying “ I tried and Ukraine and Russia don’t want peace so we are out “. All just more preposterous postering of a very dangerous self serving corrupt president. This leaves Putin to continue the killings of innocent citizens. Another Trump gift to Putin.
I hope I am wrong but I don’t think so. I maintain Putin has something to keep Trump in line!
As there is no mystery whatsoever whose side Trump is on in the Russia-Ukraine war I’d be happily surprised if he actually allows the sale of weapons to the E.U. to be used against his ally. The trade deficits he keeps ranting about are smoke and mirrors and only skirt reality anyway. His constant unbelievable threats on new sanctions against Russia are finally being replaced with talk of relaxation and doing business again. Gee. Who saw that coming?
This is good news that Europe has finally realized that their need to rearm is imperative to their future safety. So, Job 1 is underway (& using frozen $$ of Russia is perfect). Now, to focus on Job 2 - get tRUMP the heck out of office (in jail actually). His lack of understanding negotiating & how to 'read' people is creating the harm this world is facing becuz of him. Donny is a menace to the world's safety - full stop.
Yes and now he is inproven mental decline BUT will the GOP remove him is the big question.
Sorry typo 'IN PROVEN' mental decline.
We got it - I think you're right - but will that be enough to 'remove' him AND is Vance a good backup? What a mess.
We are in complete agreement, L.G. Trump not only failed to "understand negotiating and read people", he blundered into thinking that whatever (overstated) successes he may have had in the business world can be replicated in the world of diplomacy and geopolitics. In business dealings, there is only one determinant- money.
Can money substitute for Putin's (reputed to be the wealthiest man in the world) obsession with power and legacy? Can it substitute for Ukrainian determination to retain their freedom, independence, human dignity, sovereignty, and commitment to their national character and heritage? He will make the same mistake with Gaza, notwithstanding new (and presumably more comfortable) accommodations in the desert somewhere in Libya. The Romans understood the "attachment" people have to their homelands when they destroyed Carthage and salted a large stretch around it to ensure that nothing would grow there.
Trump's hubris is still waiting to be played out, and, unfortunately, the consequences will also fall on innocent Americans.
My belief in the potential of humanity to do better than we are at the moment was given a major boost by Europeans this morning. A random association--maybe not so random on Memorial Day--was the recognition that Europe as it is today would not have been possible were it not for U.S. Forces and the sacrifice of thousands in the face of Hitler and his demonic followers. Trump of course knows nothing about nobility, sacrifice for a worthy ideal or even the kind of teeth-gritting perseverance necessary to take and defend a stand of any kind, save those based upon narrow self-interest. TACO man. I hope he crumbles like one, and soon.
And Trump's father did not enlist to fight Hitler.
No surprise there, as Fred Trump has often been described as a Nazi sympathizer!
And please Canadian forces, not just US forces. And Russian forces.
Trouble is GOP has no intention of removing him.
That's exactly the thing that makes me gnash my teeth at night! He is so manifestly a drag on not only their party but also a danger to our country at large that I have a huge problem understanding why they don't. It would be easy, after all, as he has so many violations of the Constitution under his overlarge belt that Impeachment would be a snap. Putting two and two together, Robbo, I can only come up with two hypotherses: One, as the GOP has been the refuge for racists and white supremacists since the Civil War and Two, that a whole lot of GOP reps are the bought and paid for stooges of foreign and domestic billionaires who could give a rip about the needs of we the people. It's 'as if' we've been taken over without them spilling a drop of blood or even breaking a sweat. Makes me crazy.
Your blog, Diane, supports my firm belief that Ukraine, despite its recent setbacks, is at the cusp of victory.......a victory not over a "defeated" Russia but over a Russia that has reached the limits of its wartime economy and is on the verge of imploding and forced to pull back its forces.
There are those moments in history when wars were won or lost because one side or the other leaves the field of battle prematurely. Had it not been for Russian resilience in Stalingrad during the 6 months preceding the onset of winter, or George Washington's colonial, ragged forces during the 6 years before the Battle of Yorktown, the world would have been very much different from what it is today. In both cases, the outcome of their wars was determined by a willingness to take the pain just a little bit longer.......not unlike a boxer in the ring delivering the decisive punch in the 12th round.
Thankfully, 82% of Ukrainians will not trade territory (and fellow Ukrainians) for "peace". There are a great many factors now working in their favor that were not available earlier. At the same time, Russia appears ready to put all its efforts and resources into a "final" summer offensive. This may be when Putin's "hubris" exacts its retribution......Russia's Battle of the Bulge, its last major offensive, and its catastrophic losses.
“But who can, or wants to, do business with a kleptocracy run by a mafia…”
Who? DJT
“. . .and most of NATO’s 32 members pledge to spend 3.5% on core defense . . .”
But not Canada.
Give Ukraine the ability to use integrated and long range forces to break this stalemate. Imagine Moscow being bombed in force nightly. Or to be able to concentrate forces capable of eliminating the point of attack. They have never been given the equipment to be able to do this.
"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers.
In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested.
Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."
That is a quote from General Smedley Butler in his pre-Eisenhower “military-industrial complex” quote from his 1935 book War is a Racket, perhaps the most contrarian Memorial Day perspective, and precursor to Art of the Deal.
Now that the Europeans are finally getting their defense act together, and Canada has a new Prime Minister who actually knows how to run a meeting, perhaps the Americans can figure out how to contain the damage being done daily by their TACO crypto Chef.
Another Canadian not holding his breath!
Not meaning to be rude (Canadian here!) but I am not holding my breath.
Ditto
me neither
Ditto 🇨🇦
Carney joins Macron and Starmer in condeming Israel for attacking Hamas which wants to irradiate Israel and uses innocent people as human shields. Shame on him.
Why would anyone be surprised by Trump’s desire for trade versus any desire to take a moral stand on any issue of consequence. He has the spine of a jellyfish - nothing against jellyfish.
Mr “Two weeks” Trump continues to give Putin breathing space and avoids any commitment to the survival of Ukraine in a form that the Ukrainians would wish to have and it is clear that this not going to change in the foreseeable future.
Finally, it has become obvious to the Europeans that Trump has no interest in their wellbeing, the implementation of 50% tariffs on their imports (not withstanding the TACO implications) into the USA and his subservience to Putin has shown where his allegiances lie. It is a shame that the steps being proposed by Merz where not in place 2-3 years ago, but better late than never I guess.
I believe, as I have stated previously, it is time for Germany to shake off their historical hangovers and prove that they can be part of the solution (and Europe) and not the problem. Merz is taking the first steps. Russia is now the problem.
Europe needs to draw upon its own resources, it cannot wait or rely on Trump. His incomprehensible ramblings, his inability to maintain focus, his unreliability and his penchant for backpedaling leave the Europeans no choice but to question Trump’s commitment to Europe and NATO, his support for Ukraine over Russia and take the steps necessary for it’s own survival.
Where are Europes RED lines?
It seems to me that trumps posting Putin is crazy is his way of saying “ I tried and Ukraine and Russia don’t want peace so we are out “. All just more preposterous postering of a very dangerous self serving corrupt president. This leaves Putin to continue the killings of innocent citizens. Another Trump gift to Putin.
I hope I am wrong but I don’t think so. I maintain Putin has something to keep Trump in line!
True. We need to recognize Trump is in severe mental decline and despicable GOP do nothing. America now ungovernable.
As there is no mystery whatsoever whose side Trump is on in the Russia-Ukraine war I’d be happily surprised if he actually allows the sale of weapons to the E.U. to be used against his ally. The trade deficits he keeps ranting about are smoke and mirrors and only skirt reality anyway. His constant unbelievable threats on new sanctions against Russia are finally being replaced with talk of relaxation and doing business again. Gee. Who saw that coming?