General Trump hilarity free-for-all thread

[Cain]

I'm not entirely opposed, as I think the intervention in Syria is very much illegal and doesn't enhance European or American security massively.

That said, it also

1) Screws over the Kurds, who are gonna get slaughtered
2) Essentially means Assad wins the civil war
3) Allows Hezbollah to move troops back into Lebanon, impacting on Israel's security
4) Gives ISIS breathing room
5) Gives Russia a free geopolitical win.

5 really sticks in my craw, because he could have demanded some pretty hefty concessions from Russia to get the troops out.  But he just gave it away, for free.

Afghanistan worries me more though.  The Taliban are winning, and between that fact and a US staged withdrawal, they don't really have any incentives to negotiate right now. 

[MMIX]

Has anyone seen any comment from Israel yet?

[Cain]

They're....not happy.  Not on a level of unhappiness as they were over the whole "lol Russians here is raw Israeli intel" business, but this is now the second time they have been directly dicked over by Trump, in favour of Putin.

[MMIX]

He just doesn't get the whole "Loyalty" thing. Sad

[LMNO]

They're....not happy.  Not on a level of unhappiness as they were over the whole "lol Russians here is raw Israeli intel" business, but this is now the second time they have been directly dicked over by Trump, in favour of Putin.

But he moved the Embassy to Jerusalem!



Sheesh.... THEM people.

[Cramulus]

I met a lot of Israelis in Germany this year who were very pro-trump, which I still find bizarre even given the embassy thing.

Will be curious to see if they change their tune this summer.

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

I'm conflicted too. While on the one hand we shouldn't have been there in the first place, on the other hand America in in large part the one who made this mess by ousting Saddam. Amd while cutting and running is a pretty crappy exit strategy, at least he has an exit strategy

[Bruno]

I met a lot of Israelis in Germany this year who were very pro-trump, which I still find bizarre even given the embassy thing.

Will be curious to see if they change their tune this summer.

Trump supporters and their ilk seem to be very emotionally invested in symbols and rituals. I think it has more to do with an instinct for marking territory than anything resembling logic.

We "took prayer out of school" so what do they want to do? They want to defund or completely eliminate public education. A big ass wall? Won't work. Will cost a shit ton of money. But it sure does mark the hell out of territory.

Anything that doesn't have their stank on it is bad, and must be destroyed.

[Bruno]

Honestly, I'm surprised this hasn't already happened.


https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/officials-worry-trump-may-back-erik-prince-plan-privatize-war-n901401?fbclid=IwAR2By2vZWXXHUrYr-DhjNYCGvsrIeuCCeiUOh6lwTP5Dhl8B_5pBYIgr7EM

.

In an interview with NBC News, Prince said he believes Trump advisers who oppose his plan are painting "as rosy a picture as they can" of the situation on the ground, including that "peace is around the corner" with recent U.S. efforts for peace talks with the Taliban. He said he believes Trump's advisers "over-emphasize the fluff and flare of these so-called peace talks."

Prince, a staunch Trump supporter whose sister is Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, argues that after 17 years of war in Afghanistan, it's time for the U.S. to try something new.

"I know he's frustrated," Prince said of the president. "He gave the Pentagon what they wanted. ...And they haven't delivered."

Prince said he hasn't spoken directly to Trump about the plan, but told NBC News he plans to launch an aggressive media "air campaign" in coming days to try to get the president to embrace it.

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

I definitely don't like the idea of the troop withdraw being in the context of making peace with the Taliban-

[Doktor Howl]

I definitely don't like the idea of the troop withdraw being in the context of making peace with the Taliban-

When are you enlisting?

[Prelate Diogenes Shandor]

I'm fine with the troops being removed, but the Taliban is pure evil - philosophically on a level comparable to the nazis or the confederacy or imperial japan (although not nearly as much of an actual threat as these were) - and should be considered an active adversary subject to drone strikes, sabotage, and assassinations for as long as it exists

[Pergamos]

So, Trump's pulling troops out of Syria (or he tweeted he's doing it -- I realize there's a difference there).

This is oddly conflicting.  On one hand, I've never liked the way the US has handled the region, and so I... agree... with Trump...  Which makes me immediately want to say, "no, stay, it's probably a gift to Russia to leave." 

But then, a lot of Republicans I really don't trust on matters of foreign policy have loudly declared that the troops should stay, so I'm back to being pro-troop withdrawal.



Someone smarter than me, please help.

The right thing, done  for the wrong reason, is still the right thing.  I am sure it is a gift to Russia, but we were still up to no good there.

My hope is that Russia shifts a bit in the Kurd/Turkey conflict.  It makes no sense to me that they aren't more anti-Turkey,what with Turkey shooting down their plane and all.

[Cramulus]

I went to Foxnews.com to see how they're covering the gov't shutdown. They aren't (right now, at least). But I did find THIS: https://www.foxnews.com/science/safari-ranger-trampled-to-death-by-sexually-charged-elephant

[Doktor Howl]

It's amazing where you can make cuts to help give billionaires more money.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-moves-to-freeze-pay-for-federal-workers-amid-government-shutdown/ar-BBRznwj?ocid=spartanntp