North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Trump An Appeaser Of Russia Openly, Willing To Sacrifice Ukraine, Sending Dangerous Message That Can Also Affect Taiwan’s Future!

Ronald 9 Comments

It is well known that Donald Trump has an affinity for dictators, particularly Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation.

A Senate committee headed by Marco Rubio stated in 2019 that Russia had intervened in the Presidential Election of 2016 to favor Trump over Hillary Clinton.

Trump has denied this, but now he is pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine, which has been fighting a brutal war of survival against Russia for nearly four years now, to give up part of their territory and other concessions to Russia, giving a deadline of Thanksgiving.

In the middle of this mess, Rubio, now Secretary of State, is caught in turmoil, and seems confused as to what is going on, as he has a long history of being hardline toward Russia and other autocracies!

Donald Trump has no problem becoming the new Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain, who conceded Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany in 1938, which did not prevent the coming of World War II.

What Trump is perpetrating is a threat to NATO and, specifically, to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, all part of the old Soviet Union before 1989, and also to Poland.

Trump’s conceding to Putin is also a warning to Taiwan, with the growing threat that mainland China claims it will take over that island, as in their view, it is part of their nation, rather than an independent nation, as it has been since 1949.

THe lessons of history are being ignored, that giving in to authoritarians never works out well for democracies, particularly when there are unreliable allies.

Renaming Defense Department As War Department A Bad Sign For Future!

Ronald 2 Comments

Pege Hegseth, the Fox News weekend host, now heading the Pentagon, has brought the “wrecking ball” to that government agency, and has promoted renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War.

That was the name of the department that deals with military and security matters from 1789 to 1947, but renamed the Defense Department under President Harry Truman in 1947.

But Donald Trump and his crony, Hegseth, want to promote a war like imperialistic image, and are aggressively engaged in hostile actions toward nations in the Western Hemisphere, including attacks on speculated “drug boats” of Venezuela and Panama regarding the Panama Canal Treaty, as well as pushing the idea of Canada becoming the “51st state”, thereby causing the worst relations with our northern neighbor in more than a century and a half of peaceful neighborliness.

Additionally, there is growing fear of Trump and Hegseth pushing for control of Greenland, taking it away from Denmark, which it has been part of for the past two centuries, thereby causing tensions with NATO.

Additionally, Hegseth has attempted to force journalists who report on the Pentagon to agree to limitations on freedom of the press, but the good news is that journalists of the left and the right have refused enmasse to agree to such limitations.

The idea of reviving the Department of “War” needs to be repudiated in every way possible, and the idea of US invasion of sovereign nations and territories needs to be repudiated vehemently by all civilized nations, as there should not be any caving in to the concept of US imperialism being revived!

Release Of Israeli Hostages A Major Accomplishment For Donald Trump, BUT What About Preserving Democracy In America?

Ronald 12 Comments

The deal struck by President Donald Trump that has led today to the release of Israeli hostages is a major accomplishment, for which Trump deserves credit and praise.

However, Trump is over the top in his belief that a new world has emerged in the Middle East, as if this arrangement solves all of the issues involving the Palestinians and Israel, and the reality that Hamas has not been totally dissolved.

So the likelihood is for future warfare and conflict, and more bloodshed down the road, if not immediately.

This is a sad situation, but is a realistic assessment.

So while Trump can be praised for what he has done, and it has made him popular in Israel, the reality is that it does not make up for the total destruction of American democracy and the rule of law at home in America.

Trump has been engaged with his sycophants in the Cabinet, in the MAGA Republican Congress, and in the Supreme Court, in undermining the Bill of Rights.

It is clearly well along toward establishment of an authoritarian Fascist government, that is nativist, racist, misgonynist, homophobic, and imperialist oriented on the world stage, with his threats toward Latin America, Canada, and NATO, and his creating tensions around the world with his crazy tariff policies.

24 Years After September 11: Nation Is Not Safe Under Donald Trump!

Ronald 81 Comments

The nation is arriving at the 24th Anniversary of the September 11 World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks by Al Qaeda, and with a sense that the world and the nation are at a difficult and dangerous time.

Donald Trump is undermining American foreign policy, alienating our allies in NATO and in Asia, with his tariffs, and his willingness to see tyrants such as Vladimir Putin in a more friendly manner, despite the Russia-Ukraine War.

Trump has undermined our defense capabilities with his incompetent choice of Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, and Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence.

Trump boasts about our defense and power, but America is not safer with his unstable leadership.

There is a lot to be concerned about regarding safety for the American people and nation in future years under Donald Trump’s Presidency.

80th Anniversary Of End Of World War II: Concerns About Future Of International Affairs Under Donald Trump!

Ronald 13 Comments

Eighty years ago, World War II finally came to an end, with the surrender of Japan, four months after the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The United States became the leading nation in the world, and was relied upon by democracies in Europe and Asia in the Cold War Years from 1945-1991, and the post Cold War Years since 1991.

But now, under Donald Trump, much of the world’s nations are not trusting the United States anymore, and Trump is alienating our allies in NATO as well as Asian nations.

At a summit in China, with Russia and India also present, those three nations made it clear that they were not going to let the United States under Donald Trump dictate to them, or control them through tariff wars and Trump rhetoric about American superiority.

Trump has alienated the largest populated nation in the world, India, over his 50 percent tariffs, and India is cozying up to its former rival, China, which is making clear its desire to control the world’s future as the dominant nation.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its war against Ukraine, and the summit of Trump and Vladimir Putin has led to no breakthrough on ending the war.

And Israel, determined to take over the Gaza Strip and allow the US to make it the Middle East “Riviera”, is committing genocide against the civilian population, and creating a long term continued nightmare for America in the Middle East.

So even though the 80th year anniversary of the end of the worst, most devastating war in human history, is being celebrated, the seeds of a truly horrifying World War III by an emboldented, authoritarian tyrant named Donald Trump, is provoking the majority of the world’s population against American dominance.

Trump also is now threatening Venezuela; and pursuing Greenland control being taken away from Denmark; and the issue of the Panama Canal is another worrisome matter.

The international situation at present is highly combustible, and America is clearly in rapid decline in prestige and influence at this anniversary.

A new close alliance of China, Russia, and India is a nightmare scenario, far more than even Nazi Germany and Japan during World War II.

Alaska Summit Of Trump And Putin A Win For Putin!

Ronald 20 Comments

Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin on American soil in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, and it was a total win for Putin and Russia!

Putin was greeted by a “Red Carpet”, and was permitted to drive to the location of the summit in “The Beast” Presidential Car, which is usually only allowed for allied leaders such as Great Britain and France.

But Putin got “royal treatment”, and clearly, has no interest in stopping the war against Ukraine, and not even willing to agree to a cease fire.

Clearly, Trump can easily be flattered, as he was about Putin suggesting that their next summit be in Moscow.

But no agreements were reached about ending the war against Ukraine, and no indication of any substantive agreement on anything.

Trump is not concerned about European security of NATO allies or of Ukraine, and is more concerned about the possibility of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, than saving lives and showing toughness toward Russia.

His inability to show strength and determination are likely to encourage China to make moves toward Taiwan, with the clear understanding that Trump will not do anything to repel such an aggression.

Putin, an international war criminal, gained stature from the meeting, while Trump came across as a very weak excuse for a man, one with no principles except gaining wealth and abusing power over his fellow American countrymen.

The world is less safe as a result of this disaster of a summit, which should never have taken place, as there was no planning or agreements arranged before the meeting, which is the usual nature of a high level summit!

Is Donald Trump The New Neville Chamberlain Of Appeasement?

Ronald 24 Comments

Eighty Seven years ago, in October 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain made a deal with Nazi Germany’s dictator Adolf Hitler, to hand over, peacefully, part of the nation of Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland), to avoid possible war, without consulting that nation.

Less than a half year later, Germany seized the rest of Czechoslovakia, and then in September 1939, World War II began.

Chamberlain went down in history for the act of appeasement, making it clear for all time that one does not give in to a dictator, in the thought that doing so will prevent future conflict.

Rather, one must stand strong and be willing to defend freedom and democracy.

Generations of students have been taught this lesson, but now, Donald Trump seems ready to kowtow to Russian Federation dictator Vladimir Putin at the upcoming Alaska Summit this Friday, over the issue of the continuing assault on Ukraine since February 2022.

European nations in NATO and President Joe Biden have supported and supplied Ukraine with the ability to resist the Russian invasion, which has been brutal, but now Trump seems ready to hand over a portion of Ukraine to Putin, rewarding an aggressor, whose intention is to conquer all of that nation, in his bid to restore the former Russian Empire.

Trump, already perceived as overly willing to favor Russia, including the reality that Putin wanted Trump elected in 2016, and collaborated in bringing that result about, is ready to commit appeasement, undermining the international order, and with no concern for Ukranian democracy.

Already, the horrendous mistreatment of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Oval Office meeting in February was disgraceful beyond belief, and with Vice President JD Vance another disgraceful appeaser in his own right, joining in the assault on Zelenskyy before the entire world.

Vladimir Putin KNOWS he has the number of Donald Trump, and international stability is in danger, as all Trump wants is to win the Nobel Peace Prize, no matter what harm it does to democracy around the world.

If anything, Trump should win an award for the Appeasement Prize as the successor to Neville Chamberlain, whose reputation in history lies in tatters!

Trump Foreign Policy In Disarray, Particularly With Russia And Israel

Ronald 39 Comments

The idea that Donald Trump is “in charge” on American foreign policy has now been proved to be incorrect.

Trump came in with a pro Russian and pro Israel foreign policy, but now he is demonstrating disagreements with both Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu.

Both autocratic leaders are clearly NOT allowing the American autocrat to dictate to them what they should do regarding the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Gaza War.

Trump had thought he would accomplish his goals of ending both wars on “Day One”!

Reality is otherwise, and is making Trump look weak and ineffective in foreign policy, as much as he is causing disarray with our long term allies in NATO.

America’s role in the world is in flux, and not for the better!

Trump, Vance, Rubio Are The New Appeasers, A La Neville Chamberlain!

Ronald 28 Comments

It is very sad and disturbing that Donald Trump, JD Vance, Marco Rubio and the rest of the Trump foreign policy and national security team are defying the Republican record on Russia, which has always been strongly to repel the Russians, whether the old Soviet Union, or the present Russian Federation under Vladimir Putin.

The Republican Party prided itself historically as being tough on Russia, trying mightily to surpass the Democratic Party in that regard.

But really, all Presidents of both parties saw Russia as the ultimate rival that was a threat to world peace, and specifically to our European allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

But now, the Trump team is demanding that Ukraine concede the loss of territory to Russia in Crimea from 2014 and the more recent losses since 2022.

They also demand that Ukraine never be allowed to be a member of NATO.

What Trump and his team are doing is catering to Russia, and asking Ukraine to give up its sovereignty.

And for Trump to claim, wrongfully, that Ukraine started the war against Russia in February 2022 is an absolute outrage!

Trump, Vance, Rubio et al are practicing appeasment as Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain did toward Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany over Czechoslovakia in 1938, but that led to World War II the following year.

Giving in to bullies emboldens them further, but Trump and his team are not learning from history, and are endangering American national security as well as all of the NATO nations and our Asian allies!

This appeasement will only embolden China toward aggression against Taiwan, and North Korea to become a threat to South Korea and Japan!

JD Vance, An Opportunist And Untrustworthy Heir Apparent To Presidency! :(

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Vice President JD Vance, in his first three months as the 50th Vice President, has demonstrated that he is an opportunist who is untrustworthy.

Vance has stirred a lot of controversy with his statements and actions, making clear of his goal of being Donald Trump’s successor in the White House.

With Donald Trump’s often irrational and contradictory statements and policy changes, stirring a lot of chaos, the sense is that Vance might, at some point, succeed to the Oval Office during this term.

This is a man who has completely reversed himself from his views and thoughts about Donald Trump.

Vance has antagonized our traditional NATO allies with his anti Ukraine utterances, and his pro Russian and anti immigrant leanings make him clearly a man of no decency and compassion.

His nasty and aggressive interaction with Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office was highly inappropriate!

Also, his uninvited trip to Greenland, and his aggressive stance toward Denmark, has made that nation and NATO very uneasy.

As the third youngest Vice President, after John C Breckinridge (1857-1861) and Richard Nixon (1953-1961), he is perceived as the likely MAGA Republican front runner in 2028.

The thought of Vance as the likely successor to Trump is a horror, and makes former Vice President Mike Pence look a lot better!

At least, Pence did the right thing in counting the Electoral Vote results at the time of the US Capitol Insurrection, while Vance has said he would not have accepted those results, which are meant to be ceremonial.