Whether or not Putin meets Donald Trump and Vladimir Zelensky in Istanbul, the Russian dictator will be desperate to portray strength while making false promises of cooperation.
Thank-you for a review of World War II, explains much. Mr. Trump just wants to make a "deal." Mr. Trump really doesn't care who wins, just as long as he can make a "buck!" He has no moral standards, just my humble opinion. (Just listened to the current episode of "Battlegrounds!" I am a retired Navy type and worked with Canada keeping track of the USSR submarine fleet during the Cold War. I have great respect for the people of Canada.)
First - trump signed the revised mineral deal with Ukraine which puts him in the Ukraine camp as a supporter or risk the whole deal going down the toilet if Ukraine loses the war.
Second - to clarify- Putin invited 13 countries to parade - he needed them to each bring as large a military contingent as they could to fill in the massive holes in the parade caused by lost soldiers and equipment in his war. Never before would Putin dilute his power and presence with 13 other leaders for any reason.
You are totally correct in your assessment. The Russian people only hear what the government wants them too. Russia has actually been cracking down on VPNs etc so they can’t see what other countries think. They are to some extent probably clueless to the enormous numbers of casualties as the are recruited outside of the Moscow area. This is why defunding Radio Free America is such a disaster. That people still seem to think he is a strong leader and has history on his side just shows how ignorant we have become.
Really illuminating and I particularly liked the exposure of Putin, long a “godless” Communist, taking up the posture of a man defending Christianity from “terrorists” when in reality he supports most of the terrorists in the Middle East. But then, like fellow trickster, Trump, it’s all about self interest and delusional ambitions. What’s particularly disturbing about this president being in thrall to Putin in ways that have already been destructive is that he defies the old axiom, “You can’t trick a trickster”. I’m afraid you can.
Demented Donald is willfully ignorant it’s only concerns are his Ego and his Wallet.
He is a product of television the 1990s version of Arthur Godfrey is ruling America . Demented Donald Trump legacy presidential library should be a presidential TV set located on Rikers Island in New York City. I pray that his mistakes are small. It’s about time for him to find another trophy, wife and or caretaker.
The only thing Putin understands is POWER. Trump thinks he has some kind of sway over Putin, and Putin lets him think that, as he makes a fool of Trump over and over again. Trump needs to arm Ukraine heavily, big beautiful missiles, and don't advertise it. Let Ukraine unleash a barrage on Moscow that it can't stop, destroy a Putin palace, something big and important in Moscow. Putin needs a bloody nose. Unfortunately, killing hundreds of thousands of his soldiers does not have the same effect as hitting him close to home.
Trump certainly has no knowledge of the history of World War II. Trump is an ignoramus who is very likely an asset of Putin and Russia. Far from ending the war “ in one day”, he has been prolonging it as thousands die. As you write, the close relationship with Russia is tenuous at best. I fear Trump sees things in terms of what is best for Trump and is blind to the realities you cite. I only hope Europe and Canada can continue to exert financial pressure on the Russian economy and can continue to supply Ukraine with weapons and necessities. Until Trump sees the end of the war as being in his best interest (future minerals rights in Ukraine are not enough), I fear the massacre will continue.
Imagine a world in which the Ds hadn’t engaged in the Russia hoax re 2016. How much more latitude would the President have now regarding both UKR (25 meter target) and China (maybe 200, but approaching rapidly)?
Some ‘hoax’ that wound up in numerous convictions and guilty pleas including:
Paul Manafort, President Trump’s campaign manager convicted (8x) for financial crimes involving work he did on behalf of pro-Russia groups in Ukraine.
Roger Stone convicted (7x) for witness tampering and perjury / lying to congress as he worked to obstruct their inquiries into the ‘hoax’.
LTG (Ret) Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to investigators and then later aided / assisted them in their investigation.
President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen pled guilty to lying about his involvement in Trump Tower Moscow.
George Papadopoulos pled guilty to lying to investigators following an ill-informed attempt at political espionage when he tried to tell an Australian diplomat that the Russians had incriminating evidence on Clinton.
At least three others pled guilty.
We could be wrong, but last we checked hoaxes don’t usually end up in numerous guilty pleas and convictions….
And, we’re also not seeing how allowing flagrant disregard for the rule of law and weird obsessions with strongman politics and autocrats creates latitude… unless you’re somehow mistakenly convinced that Neville Chamberlain was the real hero of World War II…
John McCann summed up Russia as” a gas station, pretending to be a country”
Vladimir Putin is a failed KGB agent who’s actually a gas station attendant pilfering the countries funds wearing a presidential uniform while butchering 1,000,000 of his own troops… little man big guy ego.
Trump a man who’s never read a book cover to cover is really out of his depth. His specialties are going bankrupt with other people’s money, publicity and trophy wives . Trump Is awed by Putin’s adroit, pilfering the natural resources of an entire country for his own personal gain. That’s demented Trump’s personal hero.
“ Putin is in a position of profound weakness. In Istanbul, he or his people will employ every tool of deception at their disposal. But President Trump and his advisors will have seen and heard all of it before. The history they know will help them recognize Putin’s ruse. That recognition might help him see the first step in forcing Putin to acknowledge the damage he has done to his own nation and that his only viable option is to end his war on Ukraine.”
Well, none of that happened. Putin didn’t go to Istanbul, only some very lower level people showed up, and then only to not engage in talks. And Trump’s advisors have NOT “seen and heard it all before”. Steve Witkoff, his real estate friend, is the “envoy” and negotiator with Russia, and all he ever does is come back from 2 hour confabs with Putin believing in and repeating all of Putin’s talking points. When are you going to wake up and admit that no one in this administration, least of all Trump, wants to actually help Ukraine? They all want to “end the war” by giving Ukraine to Putin and walking away. Stop defending the indefensible.
General McMaster seems to have forgotten the meeting between Stalin and Hitler when the Molotov-Ribbentrop alliance to carve up Poland was in place. Professor Sean McMeekin’s “Stalin’s War,” documented this meeting as well as this loathsome socialist alliance of mutually evil empires that end with the National Socialist Worker’s Party (NAZI) invasion June 22, 1941 of Stalin’s Soviet Union.
I’d be intrigued to hear General McMaster’s Hoover Institute colleague, Victor Davis Hanson’s thoughts on this often neglected part of Ww Ii.
Thank-you for a review of World War II, explains much. Mr. Trump just wants to make a "deal." Mr. Trump really doesn't care who wins, just as long as he can make a "buck!" He has no moral standards, just my humble opinion. (Just listened to the current episode of "Battlegrounds!" I am a retired Navy type and worked with Canada keeping track of the USSR submarine fleet during the Cold War. I have great respect for the people of Canada.)
It's not just your humble opinion. It's the irrefutable truth.
First - trump signed the revised mineral deal with Ukraine which puts him in the Ukraine camp as a supporter or risk the whole deal going down the toilet if Ukraine loses the war.
Second - to clarify- Putin invited 13 countries to parade - he needed them to each bring as large a military contingent as they could to fill in the massive holes in the parade caused by lost soldiers and equipment in his war. Never before would Putin dilute his power and presence with 13 other leaders for any reason.
Putin orchestrated the murder of over 300 innocent Russians and blamed the Chechens!
He ordered his secret police to plant bombs beneath four Russian apartment buildings!
A local policeman was on the sector the last bombing and recognized the work of the secret police!
He was murdered but not before he spread the message around! Every Winona’s since been murdered! But not before the story got out!
Putin used terror against his own people to consolidate his power!
He’s as evil as the Saudi King!
Trump’s out of his league
His “clown act” is child’s play!
Do not surrender to a crummy general losing a war. Even if he’s the President’s boyfriend.
You are totally correct in your assessment. The Russian people only hear what the government wants them too. Russia has actually been cracking down on VPNs etc so they can’t see what other countries think. They are to some extent probably clueless to the enormous numbers of casualties as the are recruited outside of the Moscow area. This is why defunding Radio Free America is such a disaster. That people still seem to think he is a strong leader and has history on his side just shows how ignorant we have become.
Really illuminating and I particularly liked the exposure of Putin, long a “godless” Communist, taking up the posture of a man defending Christianity from “terrorists” when in reality he supports most of the terrorists in the Middle East. But then, like fellow trickster, Trump, it’s all about self interest and delusional ambitions. What’s particularly disturbing about this president being in thrall to Putin in ways that have already been destructive is that he defies the old axiom, “You can’t trick a trickster”. I’m afraid you can.
I think most sentient people know what putin is. Unfortunately, the most important person doesn’t.
Demented Donald is willfully ignorant it’s only concerns are his Ego and his Wallet.
He is a product of television the 1990s version of Arthur Godfrey is ruling America . Demented Donald Trump legacy presidential library should be a presidential TV set located on Rikers Island in New York City. I pray that his mistakes are small. It’s about time for him to find another trophy, wife and or caretaker.
The only thing Putin understands is POWER. Trump thinks he has some kind of sway over Putin, and Putin lets him think that, as he makes a fool of Trump over and over again. Trump needs to arm Ukraine heavily, big beautiful missiles, and don't advertise it. Let Ukraine unleash a barrage on Moscow that it can't stop, destroy a Putin palace, something big and important in Moscow. Putin needs a bloody nose. Unfortunately, killing hundreds of thousands of his soldiers does not have the same effect as hitting him close to home.
Trump certainly has no knowledge of the history of World War II. Trump is an ignoramus who is very likely an asset of Putin and Russia. Far from ending the war “ in one day”, he has been prolonging it as thousands die. As you write, the close relationship with Russia is tenuous at best. I fear Trump sees things in terms of what is best for Trump and is blind to the realities you cite. I only hope Europe and Canada can continue to exert financial pressure on the Russian economy and can continue to supply Ukraine with weapons and necessities. Until Trump sees the end of the war as being in his best interest (future minerals rights in Ukraine are not enough), I fear the massacre will continue.
Imagine a world in which the Ds hadn’t engaged in the Russia hoax re 2016. How much more latitude would the President have now regarding both UKR (25 meter target) and China (maybe 200, but approaching rapidly)?
Some ‘hoax’ that wound up in numerous convictions and guilty pleas including:
Paul Manafort, President Trump’s campaign manager convicted (8x) for financial crimes involving work he did on behalf of pro-Russia groups in Ukraine.
Roger Stone convicted (7x) for witness tampering and perjury / lying to congress as he worked to obstruct their inquiries into the ‘hoax’.
LTG (Ret) Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to investigators and then later aided / assisted them in their investigation.
President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen pled guilty to lying about his involvement in Trump Tower Moscow.
George Papadopoulos pled guilty to lying to investigators following an ill-informed attempt at political espionage when he tried to tell an Australian diplomat that the Russians had incriminating evidence on Clinton.
At least three others pled guilty.
We could be wrong, but last we checked hoaxes don’t usually end up in numerous guilty pleas and convictions….
And, we’re also not seeing how allowing flagrant disregard for the rule of law and weird obsessions with strongman politics and autocrats creates latitude… unless you’re somehow mistakenly convinced that Neville Chamberlain was the real hero of World War II…
Thank you, Senator Schiff.
Well, you know, we're all entitled to our own opinions... but not our own facts.
Most professionals don’t build an argument based on non sequiturs if they want to be taken seriously.
Oh, that Hillary!
America’s bitter ex-wife
Sad.
John McCann summed up Russia as” a gas station, pretending to be a country”
Vladimir Putin is a failed KGB agent who’s actually a gas station attendant pilfering the countries funds wearing a presidential uniform while butchering 1,000,000 of his own troops… little man big guy ego.
Trump a man who’s never read a book cover to cover is really out of his depth. His specialties are going bankrupt with other people’s money, publicity and trophy wives . Trump Is awed by Putin’s adroit, pilfering the natural resources of an entire country for his own personal gain. That’s demented Trump’s personal hero.
“ Putin is in a position of profound weakness. In Istanbul, he or his people will employ every tool of deception at their disposal. But President Trump and his advisors will have seen and heard all of it before. The history they know will help them recognize Putin’s ruse. That recognition might help him see the first step in forcing Putin to acknowledge the damage he has done to his own nation and that his only viable option is to end his war on Ukraine.”
Well, none of that happened. Putin didn’t go to Istanbul, only some very lower level people showed up, and then only to not engage in talks. And Trump’s advisors have NOT “seen and heard it all before”. Steve Witkoff, his real estate friend, is the “envoy” and negotiator with Russia, and all he ever does is come back from 2 hour confabs with Putin believing in and repeating all of Putin’s talking points. When are you going to wake up and admit that no one in this administration, least of all Trump, wants to actually help Ukraine? They all want to “end the war” by giving Ukraine to Putin and walking away. Stop defending the indefensible.
General McMaster seems to have forgotten the meeting between Stalin and Hitler when the Molotov-Ribbentrop alliance to carve up Poland was in place. Professor Sean McMeekin’s “Stalin’s War,” documented this meeting as well as this loathsome socialist alliance of mutually evil empires that end with the National Socialist Worker’s Party (NAZI) invasion June 22, 1941 of Stalin’s Soviet Union.
I’d be intrigued to hear General McMaster’s Hoover Institute colleague, Victor Davis Hanson’s thoughts on this often neglected part of Ww Ii.
Its embarrassing to have to tell people that I held a commission in the same army as you.
Expertly written Sir. Love it! But are we smart enough to take advantage of Putin's immense weakness?
He would know.