President Trump

[dawg80]

Whoa! the Indian media is making mincemeat out of Trump. Now, this is how you flame someone. Hopefully the dems won't watch any of it and actually learn something.

Now, more importantly, Trump had better go "hat in hand" and make amends with PM Modi and the Indian people. Our relationship with India is too important to put at risk. How important? Well, even if it harms Ukraine by continuing to fund Putin's war machine, Trump needs to mend fences with India. You know how I feel about supporting Ukraine, but again, we cannot afford to sour our relationship with India. Have to try to help Ukraine another way. Leave India alone.

BTW, there's more on the whole US-India relationship going back to Trump's first term when he traveled to India, with their previous PM, who was much friendlier to the US/West. But the US did not follow through quick enough to deliver on those deals, and then the Bidenites completely tanked it, further driving India toward Russia and even China, or at least they are trying with the Chicoms.

[DawgyNWindow]

But I thought you were all in on sanctions.

Apparently, India has chosen to fund the Russian war machine, and consequently Putin's desire to annex Ukraine. Thus, sanctions are not going to work, and Europe is going to have to up their contributions to offset the amount Russia is going to continue to pump into their military. This means the war is going to get a lot more expensive, and I don't want US dollars going there to support this futile effort.

Europe, on the other hand, can buy as many of our weapon systems they want to ship to Ukraine. This helps the US economy keep humming along.

[dawg80]

Yes, I support sanctions that can harm Russia. I would think any thinking human being would support sanctions too. Putin is pure evil, on par with Hitler and Stalin. How can anyone not want to see him and his regime ended? I don't want to see the US get involved in a shooting war with Russia (or China), so what we can do is invoke sanctions designed to harm Putin's economy and thus his war machine. If the sanctions don't work as well as we would hope, well then, we have to keep on trying. That said, we cannot afford to irreparably harm our relationship with India. I was thrilled to see India put out a "tell all" absolutely hammering the EU in their hypocrisy. The Indian minister of commerce/economy published a laundry list of all the business dealings ongoing between the EU and Russia. Bam!

There is about $300 billion of Russian assets currently frozen in western banks. Of that amount only $5 billion is in US banks, the rest mostly in EU banks. Many, including myself, advocate seizing that Putin money to be used to support Ukraine. It's perfect, European nations can buy US weapons using Putin's own money and donate them to Ukraine. Thus far, only a tiny amount of Putin's money has been seized by any government, and that was used for humanitarian reasons. I think it was Belgium that did that. The hardliners in Russia threaten nuclear war against any nation that take their money. So, Europe is frozen in fear. The US has not touched Putin's $5 billion in American banks so far.

[DawgyNWindow]

So Biden pushed India to keep buying Russian oil to keep the oil market from collapsing because of his stupid energy policies???? On the one hand he was giving Ukraine billions in aid (after telling Russia a "minor" incursion wasn't that big of a deal), then he was telling India to buy and re-sell Russian oil on the open market while simultaneously working to kill US energy production! Not to mention draining our strategic petroleum reserves around election time.

You have to really try to be that incompetent!

[PawDawg]

He was and is incompetent but his handlers weren’t. They were and are corrupt. Follow the money…

[dawg80]

So Biden pushed India to keep buying Russian oil to keep the oil market from collapsing because of his stupid energy policies???? On the one hand he was giving Ukraine billions in aid (after telling Russia a "minor" incursion wasn't that big of a deal), then he was telling India to buy and re-sell Russian oil on the open market while simultaneously working to kill US energy production! Not to mention draining our strategic petroleum reserves around election time.

You have to really try to be that incompetent!

He was and is incompetent but his handlers weren’t. They were and are corrupt. Follow the money…

Biden never knew what was going on. His handlers were conducting all that anti-American shenanigans.

Generally speaking, when I see some folks saying Biden was incompetent, or obummer was, or the dems are, I try to remind them be thankful that they are all so stupidly incompetent insomuch as their goal is to destroy America (and the free world). Be thankful they ain't any better at it.

[dawg80]

Trump = Modi = Xi as it regards Ukraine. That simple equation sums it up. If you understand the full ramifications of that then you understand Trump's position on supporting Ukraine.

But, just in case you seek a little more explanation, let me add a couple of details. For Trump Ukraine is a nothing-burger, not worthy of any consideration, he doesn't care about the Ukrainian people, not one iota. That's exactly the attitude Modi and Xi have. For all three of them this represents a business opportunity. Trump is putting the US first (in the VERY short term***) and seeking business deals with Russia. Right now, Modi and Xi are buying cheap Russian oil, preserving their own reserves, and also re-selling it on the open market for profit. Trump wants some of that too. You might say, great! But...


*** now, back to the long-term ramifications

Trump is burning bridges with traditional allies. Sure, short term, getting some resources from Russia, and below market prices is good for the US economy, and also this will open doors back to India and China, and those positive economic possibilities. But all of this comes with a price. A price the US and Americans will pay day the road.

European leaders are convening an emergency meeting this weekend to discuss the Ukraine matter and to react to the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska. Yes, Europe should always have been leading the Ukraine-support effort without ANY regard to what the US does or doesn't do. Maybe now they will stop leaning on Trump/US and take full charge.

One note: Putin is wanted by the International Court; he has arrest warrants on him for the war crimes he has committed in Ukraine. If Putin comes to Alaska, and I still doubt he will, then US officials need to arrest him and turn him over for trial and execution.

[dawg80]

Been so focused on Ukraine that I was remiss in not posting congrats to Trump and his team on two successes, the end of conflict between 1) Cambodia and Thailand, 2) Armenia and Azerbaijan. And in the latter case, this, Trump has pledged economic support and cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan creating a corridor of commerce that by-passes both Russia's and Iran's influence. This is HUGE in so many ways! Will provide more details in future posts, but for now you can rest assured that this is a big coup pulled off by Trump's team. This even blocks Turkey's attempt to usurp influence in the region. Turkey is a member of NATO and sometimes even friendly to the US and to the West, when it also benefits them. But, Turkey, like India, is all out for itself, so it is good...no, it is awesome! that US has seized this hegemony.

This new economic corridor also cuts out Putin's control on the O&G transport in the region. Heretofore Russia owned/operated all the pipelines passing through the southern Caucuses, a monopoly. Not anymore, now the US/Armenia/Azerbaijan will have our own pipelines, at least providing competition for Russia in this region.

Again, together with ending the Pakistan-India conflict, this is an accomplishment for Trump and his team of diplomats. Good job!

[DawgyNWindow]

One note: Putin is wanted by the International Court; he has arrest warrants on him for the war crimes he has committed in Ukraine. If Putin comes to Alaska, and I still doubt he will, then US officials need to arrest him and turn him over for trial and execution.

I guess you are also for this sham court (with the great Jack Smith) to arrest Netanyahu and bring him to "justice"?

I bet old Jack would love a good juicy warrant against mean old Trump, too.

[dawg80]

I guess you are also for this sham court (with the great Jack Smith) to arrest Netanyahu and bring him to "justice"?

I bet old Jack would love a good juicy warrant against mean old Trump, too.

I see you are vehemently defending your pal Putin. You're in good company as he is Trump's pal too.

For the rest of you, Putin is war criminal, guilty of heinous crimes. Netanyahu, on the other hand, is not guilty of anything. But some Putinites like to hide behind the veil of "he did it too." That doesn't hold water with those of us who really know the truth.

[DawgyNWindow]

I see you are vehemently defending your pal Putin. You're in good company as he is Trump's pal too.

For the rest of you, Putin is war criminal, guilty of heinous crimes. Netanyahu, on the other hand, is not guilty of anything. But some Putinites like to hide behind the veil of "he did it too." That doesn't hold water with those of us who really know the truth.

And yet both have arrest warrants from the globalist court you revere so much. We should abdicate our sovereignty to such a court, right?

Perhaps you should volunteer to go arrest Putin.

War crimes are for the vanquished. You could even napalm entire cities and burn mostly the elderly, women and children without being called a war criminal if you win the war.

[dawg80]

And yet both have arrest warrants from the globalist court you revere so much. We should abdicate our sovereignty to such a court, right?

Perhaps you should volunteer to go arrest Putin.

War crimes are for the vanquished. You could even napalm entire cities and burn mostly the elderly, women and children without being called a war criminal if you win the war.

You must think the Nuremburg trials of those Nazis was unjust and unwarranted. After all, as you insist, there is no such thing as war crimes. Okay, got it.

[dawg80]

Rumor: Trump plans to trade Alaska for returned Ukrainian territory. Putin really wants Alaska insisting that the sale of it was illegal and it still belongs to Russia.

Well, I don't think even Trump is that stupid...

[PawDawg]

Rumor: Trump plans to trade Alaska for returned Ukrainian territory. Putin really wants Alaska insisting that the sale of it was illegal and it still belongs to Russia.

Well, I don't think even Trump is that stupid...

More insane rumors from some of your trusty sources?

You lose what little cred you had when you call a man who you agree with 75% of the time "stupid".

[dawg80]

More insane rumors from some of your trusty sources?

You lose what little cred you had when you call a man who you agree with 75% of the time "stupid".

I agree with Trump more than 75% of the time. Not sure of the exact percentage but it's probably close to 90%.

I thought the use of was a hint I didn't buy the rumor. But I guess that went over your head too.

Now, speaking of rumors, this is a doozy! Some are saying Trump is luring Putin to Alaska so he can be arrested. But DawgyNWindow thinks there are no war crimes so such charges against Putin are bogus. Dawgy would show up with signs protesting Putin's arrest, "Release Our Hero", his sign would read.

Here's a voice of reason for ya, Brian Berletic, former US Marine and now a fellow in a military think tank and international security analyst says Trump is positioning the US to be "Pontius Pilate" washing his hands of the consequences of the war in Ukraine and leaving the verdict to Europe. Then, no matter what happens, Trump/US can say, hey! wasn't our fault. Playing both ends against the middle. I'm leaning toward this theory myself. Berletic makes a convincing argument for this path by Trump.

What is the advantage of Trump/US doing this? Well, first, Trump secures a somewhat workable relationship with Putin/Russia. Trump likes Putin, a lot, and wants to establish a good relationship with Russia. And, if Europe steps up and aids Ukraine in winning the war, then Trump can play mediator between Europe and Russia in the aftermath.

Of course, if Putin wins in Ukraine then, well by then, we'll have a new POTUS anyway.