Trudeau is a vacuous and prissy socialite fangirl/mean girl. Starmer reminds me of the malevolent chubby old cat-lady/lesbian busybodies who populate the Sociology and Political Science faculty at my university.
Well, Justin is now dating Katy Perry. I don't know what that means. I do know that after he divorced from wife Sophie the joke was that he was free to date other men, too.
I appreciate the thought but everyone "looking on" already hates us and just wants our money.
They are losers and Trump can't change that. He can only defend our country from their stupid, selfish policy decisions (eg) the just-announced maritime global carbon tax
And then it will all fall on us, and in a far worse scenario. France and the UK are nuclear armed countries. As is India and of course Russia. The collapse of Europe, as history has proved, always falls on our shoulders. And in this nuclear armed present the stakes are far too high.
Exactly what falls on us? If we let Europe reap what they sow, how can anything EU fall on us if we walk away?
Our presence currently isn't stopping or slowing anything. Islam is taking over Europe as their leaders not only watch but continue their complicity.
You pretend our involvement in NATO and the UN is making a difference on an outcome. Some UN/NATO members (Spain) still aren't paying their fair share financial commitments so why should we care about Europe if they don't? We had to humiliate many in the last two years to start paying their obligations, their leaders preferring to maintain free healthcare and six-week 'holidays' over higher taxes for their national security.
It's happening. They are doing to New York City with Mamdani what they have done to London. It's in our backyard today. America isn't the keeper or arbiter of the world's stupid decisions about themselves.
I don't think the democrats or the young radicals understand the Muslim plan. This has been in the works since day l. I don't want to cover my head with a burka so listen up males. If Mamdani actually gets elected, it's time for serious consequences for NYC and I mean that sincerely or we are FAFO, yes WE/US. time for hardball and the pols are not taking it seriously but then Bernie and Mz Ocasio don't even know how or what. This is not the homecoming king/queen election. Hardball time.
But it does not have to fall on our shoulders this time, Suzie. Putin is not the dark face in the woodpile. It is the EU beast. Russia was our ally in both previous world wars .
Putin wanted to become a partner with the West in economic trade shortly after he became President of Russia , but the idiot leadership in the West at the time rebuffed him. Today, there are many moving parts in our current geopolitical system, an ever growing one being Islam. It is on the march throughout Europe, Canada and the UK - even trying hard here in the US too.
If the EU suffers an economic collapse - which right now is closer to a reality than not- the repercussions could be catastrophic for the entire world.
Trump is trying his damnedest to pull them away from the edge of that cliff, but in their arrogance and delusional allegiance to their green energy fantasies and socialist policies they refuse to relent.
Islamists getting their hands on nukes is game over for the planet.
No question the stakes are high, Suzie. The question is what the EU is willing to yield. 4547 has leverage. He should use it. Personally, I am done with Europe. Close the military bases in Europe. All of them. Bring the military home. The land of kings and queens has become the land of Court Jesters.
Shrugged, we can't just turn our backs on the rest of the world. if we do, we will ultimately face an entire planet of Communist and Islamic countries, who are all salivating to take over the US.
Far, far better to deal with the individual components of this situation NOW piece by piece.
Plus, don't be misled by what just the governments of those other countries are doing. "The people" are waking up and rising up in these countries. America itself hung in the balance at the 2024 election, and we so far have pulled through. Normal people are slow to recognize and rise up against poisonous government, but once they awake, they should prevail, because The Sensible People far outnumber their Poisonous Governmental Class.
TPG, my comment was specifically in reference to Zelensky, Starmer, and Trudeau and I still say let them fail and fall hard.
More generally, I feel similarly for all of Europe. Even a casual observer of the news can see that Europe WANTS the invasion of Islam. TO remove free speech rights for citizens on top of that means the leaders of Europe are participating it their own overthrow. Do you really think Trump - or America - can stop that if that is what they want?
If Europe wanted help to return to some degree of normalcy I would support that help but not when they are FUNDING Russia's war with their oil money while they try to sandwich the US military into funding and fighting their war in Ukraine. The war is in their back yard and they don't seem to care or wish to really pick a side.
“Success begets more success. Persistence also matters. Trump does not accept failure as anything but a delay.”
I read Melanie Philip’s this morning that the peace in Israel is a sham because 1) Hamas & 2) Qatar. But she misunderestimates Trump & the axiom quoted above.
Qatar is itself a problem, which is why Trump made them the guarantor. He’s killing two birds with one falafel.
Well said. I admire Ms. Phillips for her hard-headed and clear-eyed insight, but one must remember that she is, perhaps looking at things through an exclusively Israeli lens. Of course, it would be good for Israel to be rid of those pesky arab/islamist nutjobs, but at what cost to America? Sad to say, we need to have friendly (or at least not overtly hostile) relationships with countries other than Israel, and especially the ones in the Middle East. Trump knows how to play both (or all) ends against the middle and how to leverage other parties to a multi-party deal to come to a satisfactory resolution. He didn't learn how to deal with unions, government goons, material suppliers and rival real estate developers in New York City (and elsewhere) without picking up a trick or two along the way, which he has used to America's benefit in his presidency.
Ms. Phillips is just as concerned for the plight of Jews in UK and elsewhere. She will no doubt thrill if this peace in ME is successful, bc it can only help turn the tide again Moslem aggression elsewhere.
My concern is the 1400 or so history of Moslems breaking truces when they feel strong enough. Only places that drove them out remained quiet - I'd say see Spain but they seem to be working on surrendering to them this time.
I think Ms Philips is both correct and wrong at the same time. Qatar is the head of the snake that allowed Hamas to survive as long as it did. Qatar may be blunted for the moment because Saudi Arabia and the other gulf states are not fans. With Iran almost defanged Qatar won’t have is own strong benefactor. But Hamas itself won’t disarm and will always be a threat. Not an existential threat but one that could at any time kill Israelis.
Sometimes real history is blurred when written by the victor; sometimes it's crystal clear.
After the fall of the USSR in 1991, Henry Kissinger promised the Russians that there would not be one inch of NATO movement towards Russia. Since then, five easterly countries have been added to NATO. RFK Jr. points out that American industrialists love NATO additions because the new members are obligated to purchase weaponry built to NATO specifications. Our country's military industry writes those specifications; there's not much ability to "shop around".
Sorry, I'm a loyal patriot, but we are a patron of this aggression.
So three of the worst strongmen in the world - PDJT, Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin are going to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
Orban is grievously misunderstood in the West. Hungary is a small (5 million population), which is successfully preventing the swarms of young battle aged (and rape inclined, as the news shows) men from the ME. Not to mention saving Hungary for the Hungarians.
It is, based on Rod Dreher's reporting, one of the only places left in Europe where women enjoy safety going out to restaurants and meeting friends at night.
So I would put Orban into the category of clear eyed leaders, like our VSG, Pres. Trump.
Which ones? “Worst strongmen?” I haven’t had enough coffee yet Gail, I’m not following. Unless you haven’t had enough coffee yet and didn’t detect my sarcasm.
Trump will not be able to negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukraine war that we and NATO started until he understands the history of the bloodlands. Over the centuries, invaders from Europe in the west and from the south by Muslims have slaughtered scores of millions of Russians and enslaved millions of others (where do you think the term "slave" came from). In 1962, we almost went to war against the Soviet Union because they put some missiles in Cuba 1200 miles from D.C. A nuclear armed Ukraine in NATO and hostile to Russia will never be accepted by any Russian leader. The sooner Trump and the neocons around him accept that fact, the sooner we might be able to negotiate a peace that gives Russia the security guarantees they require and Ukraine independence, like the Swiss, Finland, and Austria had during the Cold War.
I don't think anyone is talking about a "nuclear armed Ukraine," not even Zelenskii. In addition, Putin has more problems internally than any previous Russian leader has had to deal with, in the form of the islamic residents from the former Soviet "'stans". Moreover, he may put on a happy face when speking with/about China, but he well knows that Zhi has designs on Russian territory in Siberia. Russia is rapidly losing its Slavic ethnicity, birth rates among Russian women being practically nil, with far more abortions than live births being recorded in recent years. Russia also has an economy based on export of raw materials, which is not conducive to growth. This is true of Ukraine as well, so Zelenskii is in the same boat. The old paradigms no longer apply. Trump knows this. Putin knows this. Zelenskii (finally) knows this. Trump has cashiered the old warmongering neocon cabal that used to hold sway in the State Department and has used the indictment of the most prominent neocon, Bolton to send a message that the old ways are finished. (Bolton being the chicken he is killing to send a message to the monkeys.) So by all means, there wil be security guarantees offered to Putin who will accept them in order to preserve what remains of Russia. Or so I fervently hope.
The U.S. knowingly fueled the war in Ukraine by advancing NATO to Russia's doorstep, while in effect surrounding the Baltic Sea. Additionally, when Barrack Hussein Obama allowed Russia to illegally annex Crimea, he practically invited Russia to invade Ukraine for the strategic purpose of creating a land bridge between Crimea and Russia. So, much of the blame for the current conflict lies squarely with the U.S.
To both you and James - Putin started this war because he views it as existential to the survival of the Rus. Yes, the US has some clumsiness attached to this, especially Biden's comments before the war started being legendarily bad. This was never about NATO though, that's just a feint. NATO was on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Putin is trying to re-establish the defense perimeter of the old Soviet Union. The move into Georgia, the work in one of the 'Stans, Crimea annexation - all of it is working towards re-establishing defensible borders. Ukraine actually is just on the way to others - the Baltics, the Romania/Moldova area, and Poland. By taking Ukraine he hoped to install a Russian toady- work to destabilize the political situation in these areas and be ready to move further west when the next opportunity arose - probably the next democrat US president.
Of course no one knew how poorly the Russians would fare. They are no longer a premier military - but they do have nukes. Poland could probably beat them straight up in a fight (Poland is arming quickly - sending old Soviet weapon systems to Ukraine in exchange for bright new shiny US ones).
So we now essentially have WWI trench warfare going on in Ukraine on a line that hasn't moved much in a couple years.The Russians are slowly wearing them down. Trump is trying to pressure Russia to stand down under threat of the US greenlighting the use of longer range weapons by the EU to attack Russian military, energy and logistics hubs in Russia proper.
Ukraine is a total mess now, with few young men and many that have fled the country. I read this week that Poland has now said it will accept NO MORE refugees from Ukraine. That has to put pressure on little Zelenskyy...along with his (apparently unconstitutional) refusal to hold elections and his actions against the Ukrainian church.
As somebody said, "never" is a long time. And what "will never be accepted by any Russian leader" is more likely to be dictated by economic and military realities than by Putin or his successors.
He is by far the most unique President we have ever had. He gets things done others have found impossible to do.
For me his biggest issue are these darn judges that keep blocking his domestic plans to stop Antifa and the blue state nonsense they seem to be protecting.
My solution is a class action lawsuit brought by multiple citizens in jurisdictions with activist judges whose TROs harm us. Data Republican (are you here?) could do a sort marrying the districts with activist judges in districts where there are also illegal alien crimes against citizens.
Would be a terrific case for a young and ambitious attorney.
Yes--America today offers some fantastic opportunities to "young and ambitious" MAGA attorneys-- and journalists. Let's get some true groundbreaking investigative reporting, and dynamic legal attacks on forces that have been undermining the US.
Charlie Kirk demonstrated how effective a dedicated young person can be. You know there are more young folks out there with the passion to make very strong contributions. I look forwards to seeing them come forward.
We know from recent actions we can't trust Zelensky or Putin regarding the Ukraine War. Both are selfishly clutching it for their own gains. Both ignore Trump and probably laugh behind his back. At this point, we should back out completely from any peace keeping AND back out of the UN and NATO - completely - and not go back. Let Europe put their time and money into the war as they choose to slide themselves into a new Islamic state.
We'll be defending ourselves against the nuclear threat of Europe in the not-to-distant-future. Ironic to think how NATO and the UN will deal with an islamic EU against the United States, both members, with the US still paying most of the bill.
I dream of the day I hear DJT tell the UN “You have 180 days to get every scrap of yourself out of the USA, or we take down the building with you in it!”
I, for the life of me, cannot think of a reason that the EU forced their countries to accept the wild migration train, claiming it was displacement from 'climate change'. Its like they never looked at the history of those areas that have been fighting for thousands of years, and said sure. Welcome. They imported cultures that were totally incompatible with their native peoples. Must have been a hell of a bribe.
And yes, we need to stop paying for the UN. That group could teach Grad level course in corruption
Horribly weak leaders, cries of Racism if mass migration denied, climate change!, all religions are equal, Obama-begat-globalism, woke BS, indoctrination. Trump trashes all of it! Thank God for DJT🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Don't look for logic in any of the EU decisions on immigration.
Climate change is a hoax - all lies - to enable the take-over from Globalists. They are systematically destroying every free market western economy and culture by a "soft invasion" to erase that country's culture.
The real question is why are local leaders following it? Why are they enabling it? They are smart enough to know what is going on.
"The real question is why are local leaders following it?" They've either been brainwashed by the elites at the WEF, Davos. Bilderberg, UN - or have been bought off.
yep, my thoughts too. The locals and even the 'elites' dont realize that once the migration has changed it all, they will be next. No one likes a traitor and socialism like them even less. I have to think socialism everywhere is the end goal. They want to reduce carbon, namely the population.
Yeah, climate change is a hoax but it made a handy excuse to let them open the countries up to migration and chaos. The chaos is probably one of the goals too. I figure the locals have been brainwashed or bribed to believe they will be part of the elites above all us peons.
From the looks of the hate and I mean unbelievable hate on the internet and the media towards PDJT, they are NOT smart enough to get it if the dolts in this country are not smart enough to see they are being played.
But you keep proposing that we just walk away and wash our hands of these other countries. Isn't that just surrendering, and allowing our opponents to solidify another beachhead against us?
Not at all. It is to make the lazy bastards get off their asses and defend themselves and their homeland. If they don't care why should we care?
We can't save them if they are actively doing things to be defeated. We aren't the "president" of the EU countries.
We're fighting a similar enemy in America that is trying to overthrow us in a treasonous coup. BLM, ANTIFA, the DNC and all the dirty money they get from Soros and others is doing the same here as in Europe.
Europe is reaping what they sow. America is fighting like crazy here to stop the same things from happening. We can't save both. We'll be lucky to save ourselves.
If we can save ourselves, I will be very very happy. If we get a Dim after Trump we are so screwed. I pray for Vance and a few others too to follow Trump. If NY City votes in the socialist, then the country will have a really good example to go with all the positive changes Trump has made.
A couple of countries are also trying, Italy, Hungry.
We need to build a wall around our entire border, although we have enough nitwits in this country that it will be a tremendous agenda just to keep America itself;
She was so bad opening up with Migration. Then pushing all the green energy stuff.
That pic is amazing. Those leaders ~ especially Merkel ~ were so pissed at Trump for telling them that shutting down all their coal, gas and nuclear energy plants to buy oil from Russia was going to bite them in the a$$. Putin was not their friend. The MSM doesnt report it here but there have been a ton of cold weather deaths in Germany, UK, France and several others. All because they shut down their high density energy sources. Then the pipelines were blown up.
Largely because the Europeans were too fat (i.e., lazy / comfortable) and happy, and their high-mindedness blinded them to the ruin they were inviting.
If you back out that means halting all military supplies to Ukraine which - IMHO - should have been done long ago. A few months back it was reported Ukraine was drafting 60yr olds! For the historically challenged that seems Volkssturm- level desperation; the Volkssturm was a last-gasp force of sacrificial lambs in the form of over age men & under age boys hastily conscripted by The Third Reich to throw against The Red Army approaching Berlin in March 1945.
If Ukraine is @ that point, they’ve got to be on their last legs. As a lifelong Military Historian, I can’t understand why Putin has let this war fester militarily for as long as he has. Traditionally Russians go in heavy like a bull with about as much finesse, with heavy artillery support & armor. Collateral damage is not in their lexicon. Go look @ pictures of Grozny during the Chechen Wars of the 1990’s.
In the days of Zhukov, Kiev would have been isolated, hammered, & encircled long ago. This retread Passchendaele routine defies description.
You know more than me but it seems we agree the war has progressed to a state beyond reason, and by recent behavior, beyond an interest in getting help to stop it.
Meanwhile, Zelensky continues with his new-gotten wealth and investments in luxury real estate.
I respect Trump's commitment to saving all human lives, especially those lost needlessly in war, but some things can't be fixed unless the people involved want it to be fixed.
The problem is that Putin has no heart, is crazy and determined to win...what ever his "win" definition is. No Tomahawks and keep our military equipment for ourselves. We have enough trouble in this country and it needs Pdjt's full attention. To think millions of people showed up to hate the administration at this No Kings thing is just shocking.
The EU has continued to buy gas and oil from Russia since the very start of the war, even increasing its imports in early 2025.
Trump has threatened India with harsh sanctions for doing the same thing, which has not gone unnoticed by Modi.
Trump has threatened to incur the severest of sanctions upon Russia for its intransigence on bringing the war to an end, but is hampered from doing so until the EU ceases all its imports from Russia.
Does anyone see Ukraine factoring anywhere in any of these aspects to this war, except as some sort of prop?
The EU and NATO started this war, and the EU and NATO have prolonged this war.
Just what the hell was the end game in the convoluted and delusional minds of the EU powers that be, for having provoked this war in the first place?
Who the hell fights a war against an enemy you are also continuously funding?
What the hell has been the entire point of this war from the get go?
Zelensky is nothing more than the puppet of the EU, and strictly follows their orders. Putin is more than aware of this fact.
Everything points to the EU/NATO as the chief aggressor and instigator if you ask me, but why, and to what end?
War is very profitable. Period. I believe it is really that simple. Plus, crises allow politicians and their handlers to exert greater control over the people and resources, and scarcity leads to impoverishment and control, while abundance leads to prosperity and freedom.
"Peace" through fire (arms) superiority works. We are witnessing it.
Putin needs to save "face". Let him. We don't care but he does. Let him slide off to his Dacha or Mega-Dacha and enjoy the rest of his life. We don't care.
Trump cares about one thing- world peace. And anyone who does not get that is clueless.
Having lived through presidencies from Great Society Lyndon through Alleged President Joe Stolen, I had slowly developed the marinated cynicism that absolutely defines Europe's Western countries. But over time Trump has won me over: there ARE good people, people who put their nation first, people who sacrifice all luxury, power, and wealth for a higher good. It reminds me of the birth of my first child - God I Iove this thing so, but it is scary just how vulnerable that makes me.
But sometimes you just have to dive in and the Devil take the hindmost. Please be careful, Donald; the people still have a dream and they are depending on you to bring it back to life.
Sorry to be so maudlin; sometimes I just can't help it.
I'm right with you, James! Cynicism can appear sensible, but when idealism calls and we rise to the call and "dive in", as you say, this can be a marvelous and inspiring step forward for the whole world.
And there is a real "power of the universe" the impels our desire to step forward and answer the call of idealism.
"He just has to shut down another perfectly good opportunity for World War 3. What good is a Department of Defense if you cannot have a war, blow through a trillion dollars in defense contracts, give billions of dollars worth in missiles to our allies and leave billions of dollars in equipment to the enemy when you bug out?"
The defense contractors don't WANT TO GIVE UP TRILLIONS!!
The defense contractors and big pharma because he is hurting their bottom line and that is why they don't want to give Trump a chance.
I have Google email, and each day my computer opens with MSN news as the start-up screen. I only wish I could send the head of every article I read Don's title to the great write-up today. "Give Trump a chance, "you flaming, ignorant, a**holes" (the last part is my own thinking ... sorry, but a guy can only put up with so much BS before flaring up). I couldn't choose an answer for the survey today. Truth is "I don't know", and I am not sure anyone does. Putin and Trump are well matched in the 'I have the upper hand' contests of world order. If 'the Donald' can pull this off and get peace everywhere as a standard, not a luxury, the US is in for a grand old time for the next 3 years and beyond. The Trump haters won't change, and the liberal Democrats won't change, so we - the majority of the country - have to beat them back through the ballot process and through law and order. That means, let's build a few more prisons in unpleasant environments and put the paid Antifers (who, of course, don't exist) in there for a while, and put anybody else who believes looting, rioting, burning, and pretty much being a horses' patoot is acceptable behavior.
I voted "never", but not because I have no confidence in Trump's peacemaking skills. Instead, some time ago I reached the conclusion that Putin cannot AFFORD PEACE because it will reveal to the Russians that he has wasted all the economic progress made since the Soviet Union fell apart, plus the lives of about a million Russians -- and for what gains, as a result of all those sacrifices? Not much more than the ruins of a failed vanity project which highlights his incompetence as a war leader.
As a student of history, Putin is quite aware of the possible consequences of Russian defeats in war; and recent history has seen quite a few. In the Crimean War of 1853-1856 Russia was defeated by a coalition of Turkey, France, England, and a few more allies; even though initially Russia had larger armed forces, their defeat forced it to make serious, humiliating concessions. That caused a lot of violent unrest, which intensified during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904/5, when the Japanese sank 2 of Russia's 3 fleets, in the Strait of Tsushima, between Korea and Japan. On that occasion Russia was forced to make even more concessions, by ceding some of its far-eastern territories to the Japanese; and this humiliation, along with a third one during WWI, when the Germans beat them in East Prussia, led to the Revolution of 1917 by Russian Social Democrats, which produced the abdication of the Tsar; next, in October of that same year that provisional government was overthrown by the Communists, who promptly shot the Tsar and his entire family. Next came about 3 generations of murderous totalitarian rule ...
To make a potentially long story short, deep down the Russian dictator knows that peace, however it is achieved, is likely to bring him the kind of end that furious Italians inflicted on Mussolini.
But, Wim, achieving peace in the Russia-Ukraine war does not mean Russia is defeated. if the peace agreement allows Putin to keep the land he has conquered, I would say that overall, that is a WIN for Putin. Ukraine is the loser in this war, because as a little country that is full of internal problems and corruption, they never in the first place should have gone to war with Russia. They were internally unprepared to run a successful war.
So achieving peace in the Russia-Ukraine war has been largely about bringing Zelensky to the point of realizing they have been stupid, and it is in their best interest to swallow the loss of some of their land in order to prevent the entire collapse of their country.
Sorry, TPG, but I have to differ on several points.
1. Unless Putin stays in office, achieving peace will mean Russia IS defeated. I cited precedents, one of those being Russia in WW1: The Germans beat them, and next the Tsar was overthrown, and to achieve peace Russia was forced to make concessions.
2. NO, in any peace settlement, Putin should NOT get to keep the land he has conquered. Least of all Crimea, which is impractical for them to maintain, anyway.
3. You say: "Ukraine is the loser in this war, because as a little country that is full of internal problems and corruption, they never in the first place should have gone to war with Russia." I'm sorry, but that's a lot of untruths and gross exaggerations in one sentence. To begin with, compared to Russia (or the US), Ukraine may not look very big on a map, but in size it looks similar to Germany or Poland. As to corruption: that is a universal problem that we, in the US, have a fair amount of too. Remember the Russia Hoax, the political prosecutions of Trump, the enormous waste of federal funds that has been revealed? But if the course of the Ukraine war has shown anything, it is that in comparison, Russia's corruption problems are truly monumental. Their military, for one thing, was and is rife with corruption, with all the generals stealing the money allocated for weapons acquisition and maintenance, and building themselves mansions with it ... and all that corruption has had consequences. And then, where did you get the idea that Ukraine went to war with Russia? It's unquestionable that Russia was the aggressor, invading Ukraine from several directions; but except for occupying about 20% of Ukraine, Russian advances stagnated a couple of years ago.
The only way in which Russia has performed well in this war is in propaganda; they always have been good at that. We will never know whether people like Mearsheimer or Tucker Carlson were turned by vanity or ignorance or bribery or indoctrination, but you should try to avoid regurgitating their ideas. And you should to that, if nothing else, to show some respect to the Ukrainian people who have heroically defended their territory from the Russian hordes who massacred civilians, abducted their children and stole their toilets.
As to 1.--I believe Putin WILL get to stay in office when the war ends, especially if he gets to keep the land he acquired.
As to 2.--He should get to keep the land he conquered, because Ukraine has not developed into a country that had the capability to repel Russia immediately when he took it, but had to beg other countries to help them try to get it back. A country that has not developed the capacity to protect itself, should not be surprised when people try to take things from it. They can't expect everyone else to run to their aid.
As to 3.--The corruption in Ukraine is not comparable to ordinary corruption. They have been tied for 1st (Most Corrupted Country on Earth) with Nigeria.
And yes, Russia was the aggressor most recently. But Ukraine, by not developing the resources necessary to defend itself, de facto invited Russia to take advantage of them. Lastly, as to the Ukrainians, there is always some degree of knee-jerk response to defend one's country, but one has to realistic about your ability to defend it (without begging other people to defend you), and at this point, it appears that most of the Ukrainian people want no more of this war.
I appreciate your points and your always valuable and interesting historical information, but we may have to agree to disagree on these particular Ukraine-related items.
Your writing amazes me for its dubious facts, the main one of which is your apparent assumption that Putin has defeated Ukraine. Nope; in 3 1/2 years of very costly fighting he has only managed to take between 15 and 20%, and the front has been essentially static since, despite any number of Russian mass-attacks better known for the number of soldiers attacking than for the number of survivors. I DO NOT call that a defeat for Ukraine. As a matter of fact, the closest analogy is the static trench war in Belgium and northern France in World War 1. Nobody was declared the winner in that one, until the US intervened and turned the tide. And in hindsight that was a bad idea, I admit; but mainly because of the vengeful peace that was imposed on Germany, which inspired Hitler to start the next war.
As to corruption, a ranking of corruption in 180 countries on Wikipedia places Ukraine close to the middle, at #105. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index According to that Index, with regard to the degree of national corruption, Ukraine is close to India (96), Argentina (99), the Dominican Republic (also 99), and somewhat higher scored countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Thailand, Turkey ... Assuming that Wikipedia is accurate on these scores, and recognizing that those are based on perceptions, Ukraine is not all that bad; and would you oppose helping out Argentina or Brazil because there's a similar degree of corruption inside their borders?
In summary, I'm afraid the CORRUPTION factor is another red herring concocted by the Kremlin's propagandists.
“His abuse of Zelensky, Justin Trudeau and Keir Starmer show he does not suffer weak men well.“
I wouldn’t call that abuse. More like well deserved spankings for petulant children.
Zelensky is at least identifiably male.
Trudeau is a vacuous and prissy socialite fangirl/mean girl. Starmer reminds me of the malevolent chubby old cat-lady/lesbian busybodies who populate the Sociology and Political Science faculty at my university.
Well, Justin is now dating Katy Perry. I don't know what that means. I do know that after he divorced from wife Sophie the joke was that he was free to date other men, too.
Doesn't say much for Katy Perry ; once again talent isn't necessarily linked to good character or intelligence 🤔 . She has an amazing voice .
Not impressed, actually I wouldn't know a song of hers or her voice if I heard her on the radio or elsewhere, ZZZzzzzz
It may prove once and for all that Katy Perry was once a dude. :) I keed I keed.
What is Macron?
A pussy-whipped euroweenie elitist.
I like your thinking, this is fun.
And from the old Peanut section, he was called a cheese-eating-surrender-monkey. Trump called him the Governor of Canada. LOL
Some men actually like older women and I know that for a fact. So many good reasons.
A gay man dominated by an older transgender female.
We shall see…
I'd rather not see but it will come out one day.
It may in fact come out every night!
so, Candy Owens is right?
I disagree.
A limp noodle.
You all are a tough crowd today for politicos, damn tough !!
We need to be tough! They are failing in their duties!
I was thinking the same thing, a lot of junior high boys locker room talk. That's all I need to say, lol.
I remember Rush calling some of those people Linguini Spines.
Little Napoleon.
Very little…
Except in his own mind! Hah!
I must not have an international relations bone in my body because I don't know why Trump puts an ounce of himself into dealing with these losers.
I'd walk away and let them fall. HARD!
I think it's probably the principle in this historical quote from a French general:
Pour l'encourager les autres.
Loosely translated as: hang one as an example to the others.
I appreciate the thought but everyone "looking on" already hates us and just wants our money.
They are losers and Trump can't change that. He can only defend our country from their stupid, selfish policy decisions (eg) the just-announced maritime global carbon tax
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115385308751129485
PDJT uses Toby Keith diplomacy /we will put a boot up your ass/ indealing with [allies ?].
That's why you kill the chicken in front of the monkeys!
I've never heard that before, but I am willing to etch it in zinc.
😎👌🔥Impressionnant, mon amour.
And then it will all fall on us, and in a far worse scenario. France and the UK are nuclear armed countries. As is India and of course Russia. The collapse of Europe, as history has proved, always falls on our shoulders. And in this nuclear armed present the stakes are far too high.
Exactly what falls on us? If we let Europe reap what they sow, how can anything EU fall on us if we walk away?
Our presence currently isn't stopping or slowing anything. Islam is taking over Europe as their leaders not only watch but continue their complicity.
You pretend our involvement in NATO and the UN is making a difference on an outcome. Some UN/NATO members (Spain) still aren't paying their fair share financial commitments so why should we care about Europe if they don't? We had to humiliate many in the last two years to start paying their obligations, their leaders preferring to maintain free healthcare and six-week 'holidays' over higher taxes for their national security.
It's happening. They are doing to New York City with Mamdani what they have done to London. It's in our backyard today. America isn't the keeper or arbiter of the world's stupid decisions about themselves.
NYC electing Mamdani after 9/11. I didn't see that one coming at all.
Kinda like electing a guy named Hussein 0bama 7 years after 9/11.
We're in a strange world that is getting stranger every year. The old rules no longer apply.
I don't think the democrats or the young radicals understand the Muslim plan. This has been in the works since day l. I don't want to cover my head with a burka so listen up males. If Mamdani actually gets elected, it's time for serious consequences for NYC and I mean that sincerely or we are FAFO, yes WE/US. time for hardball and the pols are not taking it seriously but then Bernie and Mz Ocasio don't even know how or what. This is not the homecoming king/queen election. Hardball time.
But it does not have to fall on our shoulders this time, Suzie. Putin is not the dark face in the woodpile. It is the EU beast. Russia was our ally in both previous world wars .
Putin wanted to become a partner with the West in economic trade shortly after he became President of Russia , but the idiot leadership in the West at the time rebuffed him. Today, there are many moving parts in our current geopolitical system, an ever growing one being Islam. It is on the march throughout Europe, Canada and the UK - even trying hard here in the US too.
If the EU suffers an economic collapse - which right now is closer to a reality than not- the repercussions could be catastrophic for the entire world.
Trump is trying his damnedest to pull them away from the edge of that cliff, but in their arrogance and delusional allegiance to their green energy fantasies and socialist policies they refuse to relent.
Islamists getting their hands on nukes is game over for the planet.
Those are the stakes we currently face.
No question the stakes are high, Suzie. The question is what the EU is willing to yield. 4547 has leverage. He should use it. Personally, I am done with Europe. Close the military bases in Europe. All of them. Bring the military home. The land of kings and queens has become the land of Court Jesters.
Yes. Europe is making a lot of stupid self-defeating decisions - or no decisions (doing nothing) to let their immigrations problems multiply.
It's their choice and they can live with it.
We can't manage all of Europe and ourselves. Trump is still almost single-handedly saving America thanks to the treasonous RINOs.
Indeed, Putin will be our biggest Allie against the Horde .
Sorry , " ally " .
Trump has a reason/motive for everything he does. He is one unusual human being. But he needs to talk less....he will never learn.
Shrugged, we can't just turn our backs on the rest of the world. if we do, we will ultimately face an entire planet of Communist and Islamic countries, who are all salivating to take over the US.
Far, far better to deal with the individual components of this situation NOW piece by piece.
Plus, don't be misled by what just the governments of those other countries are doing. "The people" are waking up and rising up in these countries. America itself hung in the balance at the 2024 election, and we so far have pulled through. Normal people are slow to recognize and rise up against poisonous government, but once they awake, they should prevail, because The Sensible People far outnumber their Poisonous Governmental Class.
TPG, my comment was specifically in reference to Zelensky, Starmer, and Trudeau and I still say let them fail and fall hard.
More generally, I feel similarly for all of Europe. Even a casual observer of the news can see that Europe WANTS the invasion of Islam. TO remove free speech rights for citizens on top of that means the leaders of Europe are participating it their own overthrow. Do you really think Trump - or America - can stop that if that is what they want?
If Europe wanted help to return to some degree of normalcy I would support that help but not when they are FUNDING Russia's war with their oil money while they try to sandwich the US military into funding and fighting their war in Ukraine. The war is in their back yard and they don't seem to care or wish to really pick a side.
They don't care. I surely don't care.
Amen, Shrugged.
I get tired of arguing against 'emotional' rather than logical responses.
Hmm...I don't think my argument was at all emotional.
I think it is completely hardheaded and logical to say we could face a planetary Communist and Islamic block if we just wash our hands and walk away.
And it is important to separate the European and UK governments from their people.
To clarify, I'm not saying support Zelensky, Starmer, and Trudeau/Carney. I'm saying support the MAGA-type uprisings in UK and Canada.
Trump also thinks France's Macron is weak, which he is. Did you see the recent death-grip shake Trump gave Macron?
To a press that believes in time outs, it's child abuse!
I thought the same thing.
“Success begets more success. Persistence also matters. Trump does not accept failure as anything but a delay.”
I read Melanie Philip’s this morning that the peace in Israel is a sham because 1) Hamas & 2) Qatar. But she misunderestimates Trump & the axiom quoted above.
Qatar is itself a problem, which is why Trump made them the guarantor. He’s killing two birds with one falafel.
Well said. I admire Ms. Phillips for her hard-headed and clear-eyed insight, but one must remember that she is, perhaps looking at things through an exclusively Israeli lens. Of course, it would be good for Israel to be rid of those pesky arab/islamist nutjobs, but at what cost to America? Sad to say, we need to have friendly (or at least not overtly hostile) relationships with countries other than Israel, and especially the ones in the Middle East. Trump knows how to play both (or all) ends against the middle and how to leverage other parties to a multi-party deal to come to a satisfactory resolution. He didn't learn how to deal with unions, government goons, material suppliers and rival real estate developers in New York City (and elsewhere) without picking up a trick or two along the way, which he has used to America's benefit in his presidency.
Ms. Phillips is just as concerned for the plight of Jews in UK and elsewhere. She will no doubt thrill if this peace in ME is successful, bc it can only help turn the tide again Moslem aggression elsewhere.
Steve, your killing two birds with one falafel made me roar with laughter. Mucho gracias.
De nada
My concern is the 1400 or so history of Moslems breaking truces when they feel strong enough. Only places that drove them out remained quiet - I'd say see Spain but they seem to be working on surrendering to them this time.
Amen
I think Ms Philips is both correct and wrong at the same time. Qatar is the head of the snake that allowed Hamas to survive as long as it did. Qatar may be blunted for the moment because Saudi Arabia and the other gulf states are not fans. With Iran almost defanged Qatar won’t have is own strong benefactor. But Hamas itself won’t disarm and will always be a threat. Not an existential threat but one that could at any time kill Israelis.
And Qatar is getting access to the Idaho afb. They don’t want to lose that.
Sometimes real history is blurred when written by the victor; sometimes it's crystal clear.
After the fall of the USSR in 1991, Henry Kissinger promised the Russians that there would not be one inch of NATO movement towards Russia. Since then, five easterly countries have been added to NATO. RFK Jr. points out that American industrialists love NATO additions because the new members are obligated to purchase weaponry built to NATO specifications. Our country's military industry writes those specifications; there's not much ability to "shop around".
Sorry, I'm a loyal patriot, but we are a patron of this aggression.
Being a loyal patriot does not mean supporting Big War Machine and the billions and trillions of dollars that flow to the weapons manufacturers.
Please read a little closer. I'm far from supporting that system.
American industrialists, i.e., weapons manufacturers, lobby House and Senate members to push the cause for war. Eisenhower should come to mind.
By remaining silent and passive, we implicitly accept this, thus the "patron" designation. Thanks.
You are correct. I was actually trying to agree with you.
Understood. No harm. As Donna Reed said: War is not good for children, and other living creatures.
Agree ; we ( the USA ) carry much responsibility for this Ukraine situation .
I've often wondered why it was our job to see that the Z-grows up. He had a career in comedy. T'ain't funny, McGee!
Blessings to you sir.
Indeed!
"But Putin has confused Trump treating him as a peer with weakness on a Dubya level. "
Helped along by the enemedia, with lines like this from Politico:
"Trump has since abandoned his strategy of coddling Vladimir Putin to push Russia to the negotiating table"
Trump was never coddling Putin; he was giving Putin a choice between the easy way and the hard way.
And Putin is well aware of MSM's attempts to manipulate .
So three of the worst strongmen in the world - PDJT, Viktor Orban and Vladimir Putin are going to meet in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
What a time to be alive!
Orban is grievously misunderstood in the West. Hungary is a small (5 million population), which is successfully preventing the swarms of young battle aged (and rape inclined, as the news shows) men from the ME. Not to mention saving Hungary for the Hungarians.
It is, based on Rod Dreher's reporting, one of the only places left in Europe where women enjoy safety going out to restaurants and meeting friends at night.
So I would put Orban into the category of clear eyed leaders, like our VSG, Pres. Trump.
Let's hear it for strong men!!!
Those words don’t mean what you think they mean.
Which ones? “Worst strongmen?” I haven’t had enough coffee yet Gail, I’m not following. Unless you haven’t had enough coffee yet and didn’t detect my sarcasm.
Oh, you’re right!! I haven’t had enough caffeine yet this morning because I did miss your sarcasm! PHEW!! 😂😂
Trump will not be able to negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukraine war that we and NATO started until he understands the history of the bloodlands. Over the centuries, invaders from Europe in the west and from the south by Muslims have slaughtered scores of millions of Russians and enslaved millions of others (where do you think the term "slave" came from). In 1962, we almost went to war against the Soviet Union because they put some missiles in Cuba 1200 miles from D.C. A nuclear armed Ukraine in NATO and hostile to Russia will never be accepted by any Russian leader. The sooner Trump and the neocons around him accept that fact, the sooner we might be able to negotiate a peace that gives Russia the security guarantees they require and Ukraine independence, like the Swiss, Finland, and Austria had during the Cold War.
This was never about NATO and Ukraine. If it was the fighting would already be over
I don't think anyone is talking about a "nuclear armed Ukraine," not even Zelenskii. In addition, Putin has more problems internally than any previous Russian leader has had to deal with, in the form of the islamic residents from the former Soviet "'stans". Moreover, he may put on a happy face when speking with/about China, but he well knows that Zhi has designs on Russian territory in Siberia. Russia is rapidly losing its Slavic ethnicity, birth rates among Russian women being practically nil, with far more abortions than live births being recorded in recent years. Russia also has an economy based on export of raw materials, which is not conducive to growth. This is true of Ukraine as well, so Zelenskii is in the same boat. The old paradigms no longer apply. Trump knows this. Putin knows this. Zelenskii (finally) knows this. Trump has cashiered the old warmongering neocon cabal that used to hold sway in the State Department and has used the indictment of the most prominent neocon, Bolton to send a message that the old ways are finished. (Bolton being the chicken he is killing to send a message to the monkeys.) So by all means, there wil be security guarantees offered to Putin who will accept them in order to preserve what remains of Russia. Or so I fervently hope.
The U.S. knowingly fueled the war in Ukraine by advancing NATO to Russia's doorstep, while in effect surrounding the Baltic Sea. Additionally, when Barrack Hussein Obama allowed Russia to illegally annex Crimea, he practically invited Russia to invade Ukraine for the strategic purpose of creating a land bridge between Crimea and Russia. So, much of the blame for the current conflict lies squarely with the U.S.
What do you think that war is about? Genuinely curious, Jim.
To both you and James - Putin started this war because he views it as existential to the survival of the Rus. Yes, the US has some clumsiness attached to this, especially Biden's comments before the war started being legendarily bad. This was never about NATO though, that's just a feint. NATO was on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
Putin is trying to re-establish the defense perimeter of the old Soviet Union. The move into Georgia, the work in one of the 'Stans, Crimea annexation - all of it is working towards re-establishing defensible borders. Ukraine actually is just on the way to others - the Baltics, the Romania/Moldova area, and Poland. By taking Ukraine he hoped to install a Russian toady- work to destabilize the political situation in these areas and be ready to move further west when the next opportunity arose - probably the next democrat US president.
Of course no one knew how poorly the Russians would fare. They are no longer a premier military - but they do have nukes. Poland could probably beat them straight up in a fight (Poland is arming quickly - sending old Soviet weapon systems to Ukraine in exchange for bright new shiny US ones).
So we now essentially have WWI trench warfare going on in Ukraine on a line that hasn't moved much in a couple years.The Russians are slowly wearing them down. Trump is trying to pressure Russia to stand down under threat of the US greenlighting the use of longer range weapons by the EU to attack Russian military, energy and logistics hubs in Russia proper.
A good summary.
Ukraine is a total mess now, with few young men and many that have fled the country. I read this week that Poland has now said it will accept NO MORE refugees from Ukraine. That has to put pressure on little Zelenskyy...along with his (apparently unconstitutional) refusal to hold elections and his actions against the Ukrainian church.
Not a great guy, the little comic Z.
Neither country will come out of this in good shape.
As somebody said, "never" is a long time. And what "will never be accepted by any Russian leader" is more likely to be dictated by economic and military realities than by Putin or his successors.
“That we and NATO started….” Seriously? I’ll bet you love the 1619 Project as well.
I just wouldn’t bet against Trump.
He is by far the most unique President we have ever had. He gets things done others have found impossible to do.
For me his biggest issue are these darn judges that keep blocking his domestic plans to stop Antifa and the blue state nonsense they seem to be protecting.
He should just ignore the ones refusing to abide by Supreme Court decisions. No reason to waste time relitigating that which has already been decided.
My solution is a class action lawsuit brought by multiple citizens in jurisdictions with activist judges whose TROs harm us. Data Republican (are you here?) could do a sort marrying the districts with activist judges in districts where there are also illegal alien crimes against citizens.
Would be a terrific case for a young and ambitious attorney.
Any takers here?
Yes--America today offers some fantastic opportunities to "young and ambitious" MAGA attorneys-- and journalists. Let's get some true groundbreaking investigative reporting, and dynamic legal attacks on forces that have been undermining the US.
Charlie Kirk demonstrated how effective a dedicated young person can be. You know there are more young folks out there with the passion to make very strong contributions. I look forwards to seeing them come forward.
I'm in and it's a plan, why not? Nothing ventured.......right? Sometimes the element of surprise can confuse the enemy.
I DO not GET how these judges can overrule the President of the US...they have power how and why?
Follow the Money if You’re Following Trump…
We’ve always said “Follow the money” to learn what’s happening anywhere. Donald Trump has combined The Art of the Deal with The Art of War.
It’s really Profit for Peace, and the nations of the world are lining up to participate. How simple, and how ingenious.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
This is a great commentary. I so much admire your mix of wit, history and use of English. Keep it coming!
We know from recent actions we can't trust Zelensky or Putin regarding the Ukraine War. Both are selfishly clutching it for their own gains. Both ignore Trump and probably laugh behind his back. At this point, we should back out completely from any peace keeping AND back out of the UN and NATO - completely - and not go back. Let Europe put their time and money into the war as they choose to slide themselves into a new Islamic state.
We'll be defending ourselves against the nuclear threat of Europe in the not-to-distant-future. Ironic to think how NATO and the UN will deal with an islamic EU against the United States, both members, with the US still paying most of the bill.
For many years I've believed "get the US out of the UN & get the UN out of the US".
You are not alone by millions Joe.
I dream of the day I hear DJT tell the UN “You have 180 days to get every scrap of yourself out of the USA, or we take down the building with you in it!”
I just hurt myself hollering, "Amen!"
Thank you, Well stated....start packing would be a nice surprise message to those insincere nothings.
😎
I, for the life of me, cannot think of a reason that the EU forced their countries to accept the wild migration train, claiming it was displacement from 'climate change'. Its like they never looked at the history of those areas that have been fighting for thousands of years, and said sure. Welcome. They imported cultures that were totally incompatible with their native peoples. Must have been a hell of a bribe.
And yes, we need to stop paying for the UN. That group could teach Grad level course in corruption
Horribly weak leaders, cries of Racism if mass migration denied, climate change!, all religions are equal, Obama-begat-globalism, woke BS, indoctrination. Trump trashes all of it! Thank God for DJT🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
They have been pushing that golabalism really hard havent they?
Don't look for logic in any of the EU decisions on immigration.
Climate change is a hoax - all lies - to enable the take-over from Globalists. They are systematically destroying every free market western economy and culture by a "soft invasion" to erase that country's culture.
The real question is why are local leaders following it? Why are they enabling it? They are smart enough to know what is going on.
"The real question is why are local leaders following it?" They've either been brainwashed by the elites at the WEF, Davos. Bilderberg, UN - or have been bought off.
yep, my thoughts too. The locals and even the 'elites' dont realize that once the migration has changed it all, they will be next. No one likes a traitor and socialism like them even less. I have to think socialism everywhere is the end goal. They want to reduce carbon, namely the population.
Money and power are strong incentives to weak humans.
Replacement Theory in action.
Yes. And European birth rates, so many other places in the world, are far below sustainability levels.
Yeah, climate change is a hoax but it made a handy excuse to let them open the countries up to migration and chaos. The chaos is probably one of the goals too. I figure the locals have been brainwashed or bribed to believe they will be part of the elites above all us peons.
From the looks of the hate and I mean unbelievable hate on the internet and the media towards PDJT, they are NOT smart enough to get it if the dolts in this country are not smart enough to see they are being played.
But you keep proposing that we just walk away and wash our hands of these other countries. Isn't that just surrendering, and allowing our opponents to solidify another beachhead against us?
Not at all. It is to make the lazy bastards get off their asses and defend themselves and their homeland. If they don't care why should we care?
We can't save them if they are actively doing things to be defeated. We aren't the "president" of the EU countries.
We're fighting a similar enemy in America that is trying to overthrow us in a treasonous coup. BLM, ANTIFA, the DNC and all the dirty money they get from Soros and others is doing the same here as in Europe.
Europe is reaping what they sow. America is fighting like crazy here to stop the same things from happening. We can't save both. We'll be lucky to save ourselves.
Can't explain it any simpler than that.
If we can save ourselves, I will be very very happy. If we get a Dim after Trump we are so screwed. I pray for Vance and a few others too to follow Trump. If NY City votes in the socialist, then the country will have a really good example to go with all the positive changes Trump has made.
A couple of countries are also trying, Italy, Hungry.
We need to build a wall around our entire border, although we have enough nitwits in this country that it will be a tremendous agenda just to keep America itself;
Angela Merkel, the former East German communist, guilty for the opening.
When I want to gloat I look at the famous photo of Merkel "confronting" Trump at a NATO or G7 meeting in Canada in 2017 or 2018.
What a pitiful woman. Arrogant and horribly damaging for her country.
She was so bad opening up with Migration. Then pushing all the green energy stuff.
That pic is amazing. Those leaders ~ especially Merkel ~ were so pissed at Trump for telling them that shutting down all their coal, gas and nuclear energy plants to buy oil from Russia was going to bite them in the a$$. Putin was not their friend. The MSM doesnt report it here but there have been a ton of cold weather deaths in Germany, UK, France and several others. All because they shut down their high density energy sources. Then the pipelines were blown up.
Largely because the Europeans were too fat (i.e., lazy / comfortable) and happy, and their high-mindedness blinded them to the ruin they were inviting.
If you back out that means halting all military supplies to Ukraine which - IMHO - should have been done long ago. A few months back it was reported Ukraine was drafting 60yr olds! For the historically challenged that seems Volkssturm- level desperation; the Volkssturm was a last-gasp force of sacrificial lambs in the form of over age men & under age boys hastily conscripted by The Third Reich to throw against The Red Army approaching Berlin in March 1945.
If Ukraine is @ that point, they’ve got to be on their last legs. As a lifelong Military Historian, I can’t understand why Putin has let this war fester militarily for as long as he has. Traditionally Russians go in heavy like a bull with about as much finesse, with heavy artillery support & armor. Collateral damage is not in their lexicon. Go look @ pictures of Grozny during the Chechen Wars of the 1990’s.
In the days of Zhukov, Kiev would have been isolated, hammered, & encircled long ago. This retread Passchendaele routine defies description.
You know more than me but it seems we agree the war has progressed to a state beyond reason, and by recent behavior, beyond an interest in getting help to stop it.
Meanwhile, Zelensky continues with his new-gotten wealth and investments in luxury real estate.
I respect Trump's commitment to saving all human lives, especially those lost needlessly in war, but some things can't be fixed unless the people involved want it to be fixed.
The problem is that Putin has no heart, is crazy and determined to win...what ever his "win" definition is. No Tomahawks and keep our military equipment for ourselves. We have enough trouble in this country and it needs Pdjt's full attention. To think millions of people showed up to hate the administration at this No Kings thing is just shocking.
The EU has continued to buy gas and oil from Russia since the very start of the war, even increasing its imports in early 2025.
Trump has threatened India with harsh sanctions for doing the same thing, which has not gone unnoticed by Modi.
Trump has threatened to incur the severest of sanctions upon Russia for its intransigence on bringing the war to an end, but is hampered from doing so until the EU ceases all its imports from Russia.
Does anyone see Ukraine factoring anywhere in any of these aspects to this war, except as some sort of prop?
The EU and NATO started this war, and the EU and NATO have prolonged this war.
Just what the hell was the end game in the convoluted and delusional minds of the EU powers that be, for having provoked this war in the first place?
Who the hell fights a war against an enemy you are also continuously funding?
What the hell has been the entire point of this war from the get go?
Zelensky is nothing more than the puppet of the EU, and strictly follows their orders. Putin is more than aware of this fact.
Everything points to the EU/NATO as the chief aggressor and instigator if you ask me, but why, and to what end?
That’s always been the elephant in the room.
War is very profitable. Period. I believe it is really that simple. Plus, crises allow politicians and their handlers to exert greater control over the people and resources, and scarcity leads to impoverishment and control, while abundance leads to prosperity and freedom.
"Peace" through fire (arms) superiority works. We are witnessing it.
Putin needs to save "face". Let him. We don't care but he does. Let him slide off to his Dacha or Mega-Dacha and enjoy the rest of his life. We don't care.
Trump cares about one thing- world peace. And anyone who does not get that is clueless.
Having lived through presidencies from Great Society Lyndon through Alleged President Joe Stolen, I had slowly developed the marinated cynicism that absolutely defines Europe's Western countries. But over time Trump has won me over: there ARE good people, people who put their nation first, people who sacrifice all luxury, power, and wealth for a higher good. It reminds me of the birth of my first child - God I Iove this thing so, but it is scary just how vulnerable that makes me.
But sometimes you just have to dive in and the Devil take the hindmost. Please be careful, Donald; the people still have a dream and they are depending on you to bring it back to life.
Sorry to be so maudlin; sometimes I just can't help it.
I'm right with you, James! Cynicism can appear sensible, but when idealism calls and we rise to the call and "dive in", as you say, this can be a marvelous and inspiring step forward for the whole world.
And there is a real "power of the universe" the impels our desire to step forward and answer the call of idealism.
Your first paragraph says it all.
"He just has to shut down another perfectly good opportunity for World War 3. What good is a Department of Defense if you cannot have a war, blow through a trillion dollars in defense contracts, give billions of dollars worth in missiles to our allies and leave billions of dollars in equipment to the enemy when you bug out?"
The defense contractors don't WANT TO GIVE UP TRILLIONS!!
The defense contractors and big pharma because he is hurting their bottom line and that is why they don't want to give Trump a chance.
Aditionally the WEF wants to reduce the world's population. Peace and prosperity doesn't fit into the plan.
Did you mean the WEF, Klaus Schwab’s brainchild?
Yes, fingers don't work like they used to. I'll edit. Thanks
And PDJT is large and in charge much to the dismay of the mic and big pharma.
I have Google email, and each day my computer opens with MSN news as the start-up screen. I only wish I could send the head of every article I read Don's title to the great write-up today. "Give Trump a chance, "you flaming, ignorant, a**holes" (the last part is my own thinking ... sorry, but a guy can only put up with so much BS before flaring up). I couldn't choose an answer for the survey today. Truth is "I don't know", and I am not sure anyone does. Putin and Trump are well matched in the 'I have the upper hand' contests of world order. If 'the Donald' can pull this off and get peace everywhere as a standard, not a luxury, the US is in for a grand old time for the next 3 years and beyond. The Trump haters won't change, and the liberal Democrats won't change, so we - the majority of the country - have to beat them back through the ballot process and through law and order. That means, let's build a few more prisons in unpleasant environments and put the paid Antifers (who, of course, don't exist) in there for a while, and put anybody else who believes looting, rioting, burning, and pretty much being a horses' patoot is acceptable behavior.
I voted "never", but not because I have no confidence in Trump's peacemaking skills. Instead, some time ago I reached the conclusion that Putin cannot AFFORD PEACE because it will reveal to the Russians that he has wasted all the economic progress made since the Soviet Union fell apart, plus the lives of about a million Russians -- and for what gains, as a result of all those sacrifices? Not much more than the ruins of a failed vanity project which highlights his incompetence as a war leader.
As a student of history, Putin is quite aware of the possible consequences of Russian defeats in war; and recent history has seen quite a few. In the Crimean War of 1853-1856 Russia was defeated by a coalition of Turkey, France, England, and a few more allies; even though initially Russia had larger armed forces, their defeat forced it to make serious, humiliating concessions. That caused a lot of violent unrest, which intensified during the Russo-Japanese war of 1904/5, when the Japanese sank 2 of Russia's 3 fleets, in the Strait of Tsushima, between Korea and Japan. On that occasion Russia was forced to make even more concessions, by ceding some of its far-eastern territories to the Japanese; and this humiliation, along with a third one during WWI, when the Germans beat them in East Prussia, led to the Revolution of 1917 by Russian Social Democrats, which produced the abdication of the Tsar; next, in October of that same year that provisional government was overthrown by the Communists, who promptly shot the Tsar and his entire family. Next came about 3 generations of murderous totalitarian rule ...
To make a potentially long story short, deep down the Russian dictator knows that peace, however it is achieved, is likely to bring him the kind of end that furious Italians inflicted on Mussolini.
Greatly enjoy your historical perspective!
Why, thank you! It remains true, of course, that history doesn't EXACTLY repeat itself, but in this case the odds look good.
But, Wim, achieving peace in the Russia-Ukraine war does not mean Russia is defeated. if the peace agreement allows Putin to keep the land he has conquered, I would say that overall, that is a WIN for Putin. Ukraine is the loser in this war, because as a little country that is full of internal problems and corruption, they never in the first place should have gone to war with Russia. They were internally unprepared to run a successful war.
So achieving peace in the Russia-Ukraine war has been largely about bringing Zelensky to the point of realizing they have been stupid, and it is in their best interest to swallow the loss of some of their land in order to prevent the entire collapse of their country.
Sorry, TPG, but I have to differ on several points.
1. Unless Putin stays in office, achieving peace will mean Russia IS defeated. I cited precedents, one of those being Russia in WW1: The Germans beat them, and next the Tsar was overthrown, and to achieve peace Russia was forced to make concessions.
2. NO, in any peace settlement, Putin should NOT get to keep the land he has conquered. Least of all Crimea, which is impractical for them to maintain, anyway.
3. You say: "Ukraine is the loser in this war, because as a little country that is full of internal problems and corruption, they never in the first place should have gone to war with Russia." I'm sorry, but that's a lot of untruths and gross exaggerations in one sentence. To begin with, compared to Russia (or the US), Ukraine may not look very big on a map, but in size it looks similar to Germany or Poland. As to corruption: that is a universal problem that we, in the US, have a fair amount of too. Remember the Russia Hoax, the political prosecutions of Trump, the enormous waste of federal funds that has been revealed? But if the course of the Ukraine war has shown anything, it is that in comparison, Russia's corruption problems are truly monumental. Their military, for one thing, was and is rife with corruption, with all the generals stealing the money allocated for weapons acquisition and maintenance, and building themselves mansions with it ... and all that corruption has had consequences. And then, where did you get the idea that Ukraine went to war with Russia? It's unquestionable that Russia was the aggressor, invading Ukraine from several directions; but except for occupying about 20% of Ukraine, Russian advances stagnated a couple of years ago.
The only way in which Russia has performed well in this war is in propaganda; they always have been good at that. We will never know whether people like Mearsheimer or Tucker Carlson were turned by vanity or ignorance or bribery or indoctrination, but you should try to avoid regurgitating their ideas. And you should to that, if nothing else, to show some respect to the Ukrainian people who have heroically defended their territory from the Russian hordes who massacred civilians, abducted their children and stole their toilets.
As to 1.--I believe Putin WILL get to stay in office when the war ends, especially if he gets to keep the land he acquired.
As to 2.--He should get to keep the land he conquered, because Ukraine has not developed into a country that had the capability to repel Russia immediately when he took it, but had to beg other countries to help them try to get it back. A country that has not developed the capacity to protect itself, should not be surprised when people try to take things from it. They can't expect everyone else to run to their aid.
As to 3.--The corruption in Ukraine is not comparable to ordinary corruption. They have been tied for 1st (Most Corrupted Country on Earth) with Nigeria.
And yes, Russia was the aggressor most recently. But Ukraine, by not developing the resources necessary to defend itself, de facto invited Russia to take advantage of them. Lastly, as to the Ukrainians, there is always some degree of knee-jerk response to defend one's country, but one has to realistic about your ability to defend it (without begging other people to defend you), and at this point, it appears that most of the Ukrainian people want no more of this war.
I appreciate your points and your always valuable and interesting historical information, but we may have to agree to disagree on these particular Ukraine-related items.
Your writing amazes me for its dubious facts, the main one of which is your apparent assumption that Putin has defeated Ukraine. Nope; in 3 1/2 years of very costly fighting he has only managed to take between 15 and 20%, and the front has been essentially static since, despite any number of Russian mass-attacks better known for the number of soldiers attacking than for the number of survivors. I DO NOT call that a defeat for Ukraine. As a matter of fact, the closest analogy is the static trench war in Belgium and northern France in World War 1. Nobody was declared the winner in that one, until the US intervened and turned the tide. And in hindsight that was a bad idea, I admit; but mainly because of the vengeful peace that was imposed on Germany, which inspired Hitler to start the next war.
As to corruption, a ranking of corruption in 180 countries on Wikipedia places Ukraine close to the middle, at #105. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_Perceptions_Index According to that Index, with regard to the degree of national corruption, Ukraine is close to India (96), Argentina (99), the Dominican Republic (also 99), and somewhat higher scored countries such as Algeria, Brazil, Thailand, Turkey ... Assuming that Wikipedia is accurate on these scores, and recognizing that those are based on perceptions, Ukraine is not all that bad; and would you oppose helping out Argentina or Brazil because there's a similar degree of corruption inside their borders?
In summary, I'm afraid the CORRUPTION factor is another red herring concocted by the Kremlin's propagandists.