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Title: Trump’s New Flip Flop on NATO: “It’s No Longer Obsolete; They’ve Made a Change, They DO Fight Terrorism Now”
Source:
The Daily Sheeple
URL Source: http://www.thedailysheeple.com/trum ... -do-fight-terrorism-now_042017
Published: Apr 12, 2017
Author: The Daily Sheeple
Post Date: 2017-04-13 06:53:40 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 859
Comments: 6
Ah the words of Candidate Trump versus those of President Trump. We aren’t even 100 days into his presidency and it’s like listening to two completely different guys speak. President Trump just wrapped up a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg where he completely flipped 180 degrees from his stance on NATO during the 2016 election cycle. Just the complete opposite of everything Trump ever said just happened. First, a refresher. Here’s just one example (of many many available) of candidate Trump on NATO, regarding how the US should withdraw from NATO and that it’s “obsolete”: That is just a total contrast to what he said today. Some highlights from this afternoon include: Trump now believes NATO to be the quote “bulwark of international peace and security” The US is going to help “upgrade” NATO NATO has “made a change” and “now they do fight terrorism” AND NATO is “no longer obsolete” The only thing that remained the same is Trump’s stance on member states paying more… but at the 2% of GDP he requested NATO member states to pay, how is that going to diminish America’s financial burden in relation to NATO in any meaningful way? Watch for yourself. Interesting that the White House made the video of the press conference unlisted and disabled comments. Hmm… Delivered by The Daily Sheeple
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Things have gotten more difficult with Russia. Trump talked tough on China and Europe in the election, which encouraged the Chinese and Europeans to be conciliatory when meeting with him. China is now putting pressure on North Korea in unprecedented ways. And started this public cooperation right after meeting with Trump, and right after Trump ordered a missile strike on Syria and made a big display of sending a flotilla to Korea. The Chinese talked turkey with Trump, and came to a rapprochement with him, it appears. So, we can expect, going forward, good relations with China, at least for awhile. That's good. Ditto for Europe. Trump announced his skepticism during the election, making it clear that he was willling to cut off Europe. A lot of European leaders were arrogant trash-talkers of candidate Trump, but then they faced the nightmare reality of Trump in power, capable of hurting them and their countries, badly (just as he could have done to China). In both cases the weaker party decided to end the confrontation with the man and accept his leadership, and in return they got a warm welcome and brought back "on wing". The pecking order of things vis-a-vis Europe has been re-established. Europe pledged things to Trump, and Trump, having gotten what he wanted, accepted, and reinvigorated the alliance with his words and support. That leaves the final major issue the question of Russia. Trump has long wanted good relations with Russia. He campaigned on that, and he wants it. Before, it was CRITICAL to have good relations with Russia because of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and because of the costs of the buildup in Europe, that Europe was not bearing. But progress on the Russia front has come more slowly, thanks in very large part to the hellbent resistance to it on the part of the American Establishment. Trump has moved cautiously towards Russia. With China and Europe shored up, the best thing that can happen for America AND for Russia is for the USA and Russia to reach a rapprochement, just as Trump just reached with Europe and China. Do that, and the four major regions of the developed world will be in remarkable harmony, and Russia can resume it's focus on Putin's dream of making Russia the functioning commercial route between Europe and China - the new Silk Road. Good US relations with China and Europe do not preclude good relations with Russia, if the Russians want it. There are some fine things set on Russia's table if they are cooperative: demilitarization of their Western frontier, and overland commerce through Russia from the East. The Russians have the same Islamist enemies we do. So, the final piece of the puzzle is the rapprochement with Russia. That can happen. They have declared Syria their client and Assad their man. The first part of that is fine - if they can get the war there over with and stop the refugee flow that imperils the West. The second part is much more problematic. The Assads have been murderous dictators, much worse than, say, the Castros. Can there ever be true peace for the Syrian people if they are in charge? Not really. Of course, letting the place go over to the jihadists is worse. So, either new leaders have to be groomed to replace the Assads, OR (and this is never talked about) Assad has to behave like Raul Castro or Gorbachev and actually STOP the brutality, turn over a new leaf, and back away from murder and torture as casual instruments of government. CAN Assad do that? Is he capable of it? Probably not. But if he wants to survive, he'll have to. And then there's Iran. The Russians are allied with Iran, but Iran exports terror. Once again, the Russians can have Iran, but they need to suppress the export of terrorism. The Ukraine war can be brought to a reasonable close, with the US acquiescence to Russian Crimea (it was always Russian anyway), and the West agreeing that the Ukraine will not be attached to the EU or certainly NATO. Do that, and the trade can flow that will make Russia rich. The pieces are in place, and Trump has shown himself adept at diplomatic deal making. The question is whether the puzzle can be made to fit with Russia. If it is, then the things promised to America by Trump will come to pass, but in a different way. Instead of headlong collision with Europe and China to save money and jobs, we will save a ton of money through a general decrease in militarization of West and East due to peaceful relations. And obviously having relations good enough to NEGOTIATE fair trade with China is better than having a trade war. Trump campaigned on making America great again, and assuming European and Chinese intransigence, and Russian cooperation. Turns out China and Europe were much more eager to make a deal with Trump than expected, so the trade war with China may not be necessary, and cutting off Europe may not be either. If rapprochement is found with Russia, Trump can do BETTER for America than what he proposed in the election. The Trade War with China he talked about in the election would have burnt down the world economy to extract American freedom. But it may well be possible to simply NEGOTIATE terms with the Chinese that allow for American recovery - without the trade war. Trump seems to be well on his way to the most harmonious international system we will have ever seen, and the workers who voted for him will end up benefiting more from that than the trade war discussed in the election. To view Trump finding good relations with China and Europe as a betrayal may well turn out to be obtuse. Circumstances have changed - they are afraid of what Trump might do, and they are being much more cooperative than expected. So WHY NOT cooperate for a better world, that will be better for the American worker? No reason. Trump did not promise a trade war with China and to kill NATO. He promised those things IF the Chinese and Europeans would not deal. But they ARE dealing, so he's going to be able to get with honey what he would have had to extract by vinegar. That's better for EVERYBODY.
#2. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
Western border of Russia is where every major invasion came through after Genghis Khan. Sankt Petersburg is 100 miles from NATO border in Estonia. What do you mean by demilitarization?
How much honey can he provide for Europe and China? Bees are dying out.
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Replies to Comment # 1. There are some fine things set on Russia's table if they are cooperative: demilitarization of their Western frontier
#3. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
He promised those things IF the Chinese and Europeans would not deal. But they ARE dealing, so he's going to be able to get with honey what he would have had to extract by vinegar.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
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