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Donald Trump’s Destruction Of Trust With NATO Nations Undermining American And International Cooperation And Intelligence Gathering!

Ronald 39 Comments

Donald Trump has destroyed any trust that NATO nations have in American government leadership, after he made the outrageous accusation that NATO nations did not contribute anything worthy to their participation in the Afghanistan War after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

The fact is that all of the nations in NATO sent troops, and lost many, in size of their populations, in that Afghanistan War, including Denmark, which has been pressured to give control of Greenland to the United States, an action that will never be approved by NATO or Denmark and Greenland.

The deleterious effect of unstable Donald Trump’s utterances have ended any possibility that there will be the same intimacy and collaboration of the so called “Five Eyes” nations (US, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand)–all English speaking nations–on intelligence gathering, which has existed for many decades.

It will also make other nations in NATO who have also collaborated and cooperated with the United States–including France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Denmark,The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain–be hesitant to engage in the same relationship with the US that it has had.

The Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom (Keir Starmer) and Canada (John Carney), have issued outraged statements, and demands of apology for the horrible, uncaring statements Trump has issued. Trump has responded lamely on this matter, so the international world order established after World War II is in its death knell, as the nations listed above, plus others in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East will pause and reconsider how they best protect their own security and safety, with Donald Trump clearly seen as more of a danger than a reliable ally!

The Threat Of NATO Breakup Over Greenland Is Real!

Ronald 39 Comments

Donald Trump is on the road to taking direct military action to seize Greenland if Denmark does not agree to hand over control of the territory to the United States.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is in crisis, as the nations in the alliance have vowed to back Denmark, and oppose annexation of the territory to the US government.

So we are on the cusp of potential military conflict, with nations that have been allied with the US for 76 years ready to confront US military forces, an unfathomable scenario.

NATO will crumble, and the alliance of the closest allies the US has–the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Canada, and all of the remaining nations in the 32 nation alliance–will face the threat of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federation taking advantage of the crisis to strike at some of the nations close to the Russian border, including Poland, and the Baltic States of Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania.

It is hard to fathom what can be done to stop Trump dead in his tracks from provoking potential war, and at the least, potential disintegration of the international alliance that has existed since the end of World War II!

This is a terrifying situation, with Trump totally unleashed and dangerous, and a threat to world peace!

Trump Lusting For Greenland A Threat To NATO And International Law And Stability, And Must Be Vigorously Opposed!

Ronald 48 Comments

Donald Trump, clearly imperialist oriented, as John Tyler, James K. Polk, and William McKinley were in the 19th century, is lusting for the United States to take over control of Greenland, which has been a territory controlled by Denmark for the past three centuries.

Greenland, primarily ice covered, and having only about 57,000 people, has been an area utilized for defense by both NATO and the United States, but now, Donald Trump is threatening military action if Denmark is unwilling to give up control of Greenland and allowing the purchase of that vast land of significant natural resources, including oil, gas, and rare earth minerals.

The thought that Trump would be reckless enough to destroy the NATO alliance is horrifying, and would only encourage further aggression by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine and neighboring nations that once were part of the Soviet Empire before 1989.

It would also encourage Chinese aggression against Taiwan, and also endanger Japan and South Korea.

The NATO alliance of 80 years would be eviscerated, and six major European nations—Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Poland—have issued a joint statement condemning any threat to Denmark and its Greenland territory.

However, Stephen Miller, a key Trump advisor, has made it clear that the Trump administration intends to gain control of Greenland, in a threatening and aggressive manner, in an interview on CNN with Jake Tapper.

America is faced with a leader who has become drunk with power and ego, and is ready to upend the international order, that was stabilized after World War II, and has promoted defensive alliances that have succeeded in avoiding another world war for 80 years.

Donald Trump is promoting an international crisis that is totally unnecessary, as Greenland has already had an American military base, and Denmark is not against further American presence, but they are not willing to have America have direct control by purchase, and are outraged, rightfully, by threats of military force, which would destroy NATO!

90th Anniversary Of Social Security: Republicans Still Wish To Destroy This Landmark Legislation!

Ronald 4 Comments

Today marks the 90th Anniversary of the Social Security Act of 1935, arguably the greatest single accomplishment and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal.

Behind major European nations (Great Britain, France, Germany) in bringing about this legislation, Social Security provided security and a safety net to elderly, widows, orphans, children, and the disabled, to insure a basic standard of living.

It was not designed to provide an entire sense of security for anyone, but an important part of protecting families and those no longer working or able to work, of a minimal coverage of protection.

From the beginning and until the present, the vast majority of Republicans have been against Social Security, and we still have in 2025 those conservatives and Republicans who term Social Security “A Ponzi Scheme”, which is totally inaccurate.

The danger, however, is that Social Security may run out of ability to provide full benefits, including cost of living adjustments by the early 2030s, unless Congress agrees to raise the amount of income that is taxed to cover the payments.

There is no reason why all income, not just wages, should not be taxed, but the Presidency of Donald Trump and the MAGA Republican mentality represents a dire threat to the long term survival of the program.

The American people need to be educated and informed of the crucial need to elect Democrats who will continue to promote this wonderful legislation that has made the lives of tens of millions of Americans more dignified, whether in retirement, or in families that have disabled members, or have lost a wage earner.

Imagining A Theodore Roosevelt-Donald Trump Meeting!

Ronald 8 Comments

At a tumultuous time like now, in late March 2025, after two months of the second Donald Trump Presidency, it seems appropriate to make a comparison between a past President, Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President, and Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President.

First, the similarities:

Both TR and Trump were Republican Presidents, although massively different in philosophy and outlook.

Both TR and Trump ushered in massive change, revolutionary in many ways.

Both TR and Trump were attention grabbers on a daily basis, constantly creating news and publicity.

Both TR and Trump were egomanics, having an element of insecurity that required them to insist on “rocking the boat” on a regular basis.

Both TR and Trump could be described as “characters”, highly outspoken more than any other combination of Presidents.

It has been said that TR wanted to be “the bride at every wedding, and the groom on every wedding cake”, and that Trump wanted to be equally admired and noticed constantly.

TR was toasted by Great Britain as a great man during and after his Presidency, and loved every minute of it, while Donald Trump was toasted as a great man during his first Presidency by the Saudi Arabian government, and loved every minute of it!

Both TR and Trump were born to wealth and in New York City, with TR in Manhattan, and Trump in Queens County, and with TR’s vacation home in Nassau County, Long Island, at Oyster Bay, and Trump’s vacation home in Palm Beach County, Florida at Mar a Lago.

As former Presidents running again for reelection in 1912 for TR and 2024 for Trump, both were victims of assassination attempts, with TR more seriously wounded than Trump, but both showing a defiant spirit at the time of their being victims.

Now, the massive differences between TR and Trump!

TR was our youngest President ever at age 42 and ten and a half months of age in September 1901, while Trump was our oldest inagurated President age 78 and 7 months in January 2025, and he will be the oldest President when he leaves office in 2029, surpassing Joe Biden in that statistic if it occurs.

TR believed in a need for a stronger, more engaged national government, challenging the conservative, laissez faire philosophy of the Republican Party, and proudly asserting he was a “progressive”.

Trump has declared “war” on the federal government, wanting to cut down the involvement of the national government in a wide variety of ways, promoting a return to state and local government control as in the Gilded Age of the late 19th century.

TR was the promoter of environmental reform and conservation of natural resources, regarded as the single most significant President in that area of policy.

Trump has made clear his desire to shut down most environmental and conservation efforts, and promote more drilling and more industrial use of natural resources, despite the reality of climate change and global warming. He is attempting to cut back on national parks, national conservation lands and national monuments in a dramatic fashion.

TR believed in the need for federal government regulation for consumers, regarding food and drug protection, while Trump has allowed himself to appoint a Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, who is reckless and unstable, and has created great concerns about the protection of health for the American people.

TR promoted openmindedness on workers’s rights, while Trump has demonstrated that he is unconcerned about the average working man and the significance of labor unions.

TR believed in the concept of corporate regulation and responsibility, while Trump has the belief that corporations should not be regulated, and corporate taxes should be cut, both in his first term, and now in his second term. So TR utilized the anti trust laws, while Trump has not and will not do so.

TR and Trump both were involved in the issue of the Panama Canal, with TR promoting a revolution in the area of Colombia which broke away, became independent with US support, and agreed to the building of the Canal, while Trump is now promoting US takeover the Canal, which was given back by treaty in 1977 under Jimmy Carter, and returning to Panamanian control in the year 2000.

TR was aggressive in his relations with the rest of Latin America, promoting the “Big Stick” policy, with intervention in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, while Trump has created tensions in the entire Western Hemisphere, and including our Canadian neighbors to the North, as well as the nations south of the US.

TR cultivated good relations with Japan, while looking down on China, while Trump is being aggressive in his policies toward China, and ready to use tariffs against all nations, including those in Asia.

TR wanted good relations with Europe, particularly with Great Britain and France; was suspicious of Germany; and critical of Russia and its mistreatment of Jews and other minorities. Trump, on the other hand, seems ready to abandon NATO and our close alliances with Western democracies since World War II, and is cozying up with our traditional antagonist, the Russian Federation..

TR won the Nobel Peace Prize for helping to negotiate the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War, while Trump is hoping for a Nobel Peace Prize by resolving the Russia-Ukraine War.

It is very clear that TR, were he alive today, would be a major critic of Donald Trump, and would have no issue in confronting him openly and “in his face”.

The question is how would Trump react to such scathing and extreme criticism!

The Deteriorating US-Canada Relationship

Ronald 22 Comments

The United States has been blessed with having the best possible neighboring nation in Canada, which it shares a boundary of 5,525 miles, the longest boundary between any two nations in the world.

There has been no major issues between Canada and the US for nearly two centuries, just the “normal” disagreements that any two neighbors might have over time.

But now, the United States under President Donald Trump is creating conflict with its policy of promoting economic war through imposing tariffs, which only harm both nations.

Additionally, Trump has promoted the idea of Canada becoming the “51st State”, totally preposterous idea, and if anything, Washington DC SHOULD be the 51st state!

It has caused growing hostility between Canadians and Americans, whether at sports events, or just promoting a new wave of Canadian nationalism, resentful of the unnecessary provocations which undermine both nations, not only economically, but also regarding national defense and security of both nations.

Canada may stop sharing intelligence information with the United States as a result of Trump’s cozying up with Russia and Vladimir Putin in its war with Ukraine, as well.

There is the danger that the nations America is closest to (all of which share the English language)–not just Canada, but also the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand–will stop such shared intelligence, which would be a major tragedy in international relations against authoritarian regimes around the world that undermine security of all of those nations! This alliance has been known as the “Five Eyes” alliance.

It could also affect other major democracies, including France and Germany, to be more cautious in their dealings with the US government.

The recent news that new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has denounced Donald Trump and that Canada will match tariff for tariff is something all decent Americans will support wholeheartedly!

Trade With China, Canada, Mexico Are Dominant In American Economy

Ronald 3 Comments

When one looks at a map of the United States, based on significance of trade with our leading trade partners–China, Canada, and Mexico–it is clear that Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs of 10 percent on China and 25 percent on Canada and Mexico, will cause an economic calamity.

Eighteen states have China as their major supplier of imported goods; twenty three states have Canada as their major supplier of imported goods; and three states have Mexico as their major supplier of imported goods. Germany, Saudi Arabia, and India have an impact in a few other states.

So it is pure insanity to impose protective tariffs, when history tells us it always leads to economic disaster.

Disturbing Right Wing Trend In International Affairs, Mirroring Donald Trump!

Ronald Leave a comment

As the threat of Donald Trump continues to be a menace, we are seeing in international affairs a troubling and disturbing trend of right wing populism, mirroring his extremism.

Already, this has been evident in Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Italy, and now The Netherlands, along with Egypt, India, Myanmar, and now Argentina, and dangers of right wing extremism threatening to rise in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

Religion, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist is a growing factor in these nations.

It seems as if the world is moving back into the Fascism movement that was so prominent in the 1930s and 1940s.

Donald Trump Raves About Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, And Republicans Stay Silent!

Ronald 3 Comments

Former President Donald Trump is demonstrating yet again how dangerous and crazy he is, and yet the Republican Party acts prostrate toward him!

Trump went on Fox News Channel and was interviewed by Tucker Carlson, who we know has said he hates him, but still has him on his show, as the goal is, ever after, to make money for Carlson and Fox News Channel by allowing Trump to spew forth his authoritarian impulses!

Trump praised Communist dictators Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, Xi Jinping of China, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea, lavishing them with glowing statements about how smart they are, and how brilliant they are, despite their well known record of human rights violations against their own populations, and threats to their neighbors.

And although one might say Putin is NOT a Communist, since the Russian Federation supposedly replaced the Soviet Union in December 1991, reality is that Putin WAS a Communist functionary in the Soviet KGB in the 1980s.

Imagine this, Communism was the enemy to decades of Republicans from the time of the Russian Revolution to the downfall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

It made the careers of innumerable Republicans, including the infamous Senator Joseph McCarthy, President Richard Nixon, and a massive number of others.

But along comes Trump, glorifying and praising these dangerous and unstable authoritarians, who could also be termed “Fascists” in their tactics, such as past horrors as Adolf Hitler of Germany, Benito Mussolini of Italy, Juan Peron of Argentina, and Francisco Franco of Spain in the 20th century.

The differences between “old line” Communists and modern Fascists are miniscule, and to have an American President praise such tyrants, and his party stays silent, is truly proof that the Republican Party and Fox News Channel are a danger to American freedom, security, and democracy!

How is it that Republicans have completely changed their perception of foreign enemies, and are engaged in similar tactics to undermine the civil rights and civil liberties of millions of Americans, who do not fit the image of white supremacy Christianity?

What has happened that the party of Lincoln, TR, Ike, and Reagan has reached this point?

Joe Biden Showing Vladimir Putin How Tough He Is, Not Easily Intimidated By Russian Threats!

Ronald Leave a comment

The Ukraine Crisis is the most dangerous single moment in international affairs, since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962!

Vladimir Putin seems poised to have Russian troops invade and occupy Ukraine, changing the map of Europe in a way that could lead to continental war and even nuclear war, if the situation gets out of hand.

Joe Biden is showing Putin and the Russian Federation how tough he is, and made clear he will not be easily, or at all, intimidated by Russian threats.

A Russian move westward would also endanger NATO allies, particularly Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, and cannot be tolerated.

It does seem as if Putin is backing off at this writing, but still there are 130,000 troops at the Russian-Ukranian border, while Putin complains about 3,000 US soldiers being deployed to eastern Europe, specifically to Germany and Poland.

Putin is a bully, and the only way to deal with a bully is NOT to back down, so we are in a tenuous, scary period, but if it works out that Russia backs off on its threat to Ukraine, it will make Joe Biden look as good as John F. Kennedy standing off with Nikita Khrushchev sixty years ago!