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Donald Trump’s Insult to History

M

moe

Sophomore
May 29, 2001
32,565
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American leadership in the world declines while Trump retreats.

Before Mr. Trump attended his first meetings of NATO and the Group of 7 last week, European leaders hoped they could bring him around on critical issues. That now seems like a pipe dream. Mr. Trump doubled-down on his most destructive campaign impulses by hectoring the other members at length for what he called their insufficient levels of military spending, and by refusing to reaffirm NATO’s bedrock mutual defense commitment. He also broke with the allies on other issues. He offered a more conciliatory line on Russia and refused, despite their entreaties, to endorse the Paris agreement on climate change.

For now, it looks as if it is up to Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron to keep the alliance alive and relevant, at least until Mr. Trump wakes up to the need for American leadership or until another, wiser president replaces him.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/...-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0
 
R

RichardPeterJohnson

Sophomore
Dec 7, 2010
20,602
120
0
moe said:
American leadership in the world declines while Trump retreats.

Before Mr. Trump attended his first meetings of NATO and the Group of 7 last week, European leaders hoped they could bring him around on critical issues. That now seems like a pipe dream. Mr. Trump doubled-down on his most destructive campaign impulses by hectoring the other members at length for what he called their insufficient levels of military spending, and by refusing to reaffirm NATO’s bedrock mutual defense commitment. He also broke with the allies on other issues. He offered a more conciliatory line on Russia and refused, despite their entreaties, to endorse the Paris agreement on climate change.

For now, it looks as if it is up to Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron to keep the alliance alive and relevant, at least until Mr. Trump wakes up to the need for American leadership or until another, wiser president replaces him.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/...-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0
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During the campaign, I thought he was spewing his garbage about NATO just to placate the rubes and deplorables who he needed to win. Just like he did with birtherism. I thought that he really didn't believe all that garbage. But now it's apparent that he's as dumb as the people who voted him in. He's making a mess of our country in no time. I guess there are some things that he can get done.
 
M

moe

Sophomore
May 29, 2001
32,565
152
63
TarHeelEer said:
A different spin on the same numbers. We're the only one of significance above the 2% goal. Everyone else in this "alliance" rides our coattails. Pony up.
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Of course there is no handout. Each country spends money on its own defense. No NATO country sends any money to the U.S. whether they're meeting their 2% target or not. Maybe Donald wants to see the USSR get the band back together again.
 
R

RichardPeterJohnson

Sophomore
Dec 7, 2010
20,602
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moe said:
Of course there is no handout. Each country spends money on its own defense. No NATO country sends any money to the U.S. whether they're meeting their 2% target or not. Maybe Donald wants to see the USSR get the band back together again.
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If an alien just landed on Earth and observed Trumplethinskin's actions, he'd swear that TTS is an ally of Russia and not NATO.
 
DvlDog4WVU

DvlDog4WVU

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2008
46,692
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moe said:
Mr. Trump doubled-down on his most destructive campaign impulses by hectoring the other members at length for what he called their insufficient levels of military spending, and by refusing to reaffirm NATO’s bedrock mutual defense commitment. He also broke with the allies on other issues. He offered a more conciliatory line on Russia and refused, despite their entreaties, to endorse the Paris agreement on climate change.
Click to expand...
It's more destructive to point out the lack of commitment than it is to actually not live up to the commitments? Interesting analysis.

Paris Climate Change is a goddman joke.
 
M

moe

Sophomore
May 29, 2001
32,565
152
63
DvlDog4WVU said:
It's more destructive to point out the lack of commitment than it is to actually not live up to the commitments? Interesting analysis.

Paris Climate Change is a goddman joke.
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When the U.S. is the 800 lb gorilla in NATO and our commitment to NATO is questioned by the other members, yes that's a problem.
 
T

TarHeelEer

Redshirt
Dec 15, 2002
89,286
37
48
moe said:
When the U.S. is the 800 lb gorilla in NATO and our commitment to NATO is questioned by the other members, yes that's a problem.
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Their commitment has being questioned first. Their response is questioning our's. Yeah, ok.
 
R

RichardPeterJohnson

Sophomore
Dec 7, 2010
20,602
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WhiteTailEER said:
When the POTUS has said on multiple occassions that he wants to pull us out of NATO ... that seems to be a reasonable response.
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The irony is, it is always the US asking for help in conflicts ad with the exception of France's refusal to support invading Iraq (and in hindsight, they made the right call) they always have stepped up. Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia....NATO has been there for us.
 
DvlDog4WVU

DvlDog4WVU

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2008
46,692
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WhiteTailEER said:
When the POTUS has said on multiple occassions that he wants to pull us out of NATO ... that seems to be a reasonable response.
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So, we're going to hold him to campaign rhetoric and not acknowledge the followup comments where he has changed his tune? I've seen numerous times where he has reaffirmed our commitment to NATO since making the "obsolete" comment.
 
W

WhiteTailEER

Sophomore
Jun 17, 2005
11,534
170
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DvlDog4WVU said:
So, we're going to hold him to campaign rhetoric and not acknowledge the followup comments where he has changed his tune? I've seen numerous times where he has reaffirmed our commitment to NATO since making the "obsolete" comment.
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So he said one thing then and he says something else now ..... which is the way he really feels and which is placating a particular audience?

If somebody changed their stance that dramatically and that often, wouldn't you question their commitment?

It's like everybody else in the world is supposed to change all of the rules to suit him and how he is. But we can't call this abnormal?
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
2,238
113
moe said:
American leadership in the world declines while Trump retreats.

Before Mr. Trump attended his first meetings of NATO and the Group of 7 last week, European leaders hoped they could bring him around on critical issues. That now seems like a pipe dream. Mr. Trump doubled-down on his most destructive campaign impulses by hectoring the other members at length for what he called their insufficient levels of military spending, and by refusing to reaffirm NATO’s bedrock mutual defense commitment. He also broke with the allies on other issues. He offered a more conciliatory line on Russia and refused, despite their entreaties, to endorse the Paris agreement on climate change.

For now, it looks as if it is up to Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron to keep the alliance alive and relevant, at least until Mr. Trump wakes up to the need for American leadership or until another, wiser president replaces him.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/...-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0
Click to expand...

A ffenchy and a german? The Frenchy will surender at the first bullet. Just like our welfare system, the Nato pack has been abused like Aid to dependent Children. You liberals are so screwed up, you think that a contract that stipulates you must contribute 2% of your GDP to NATO is just a suggestion. It's time we, as Americans, quit footing the bill for Europe. Get out of the socialism rut and become a real force.
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
2,238
113
DvlDog4WVU said:
It's more destructive to point out the lack of commitment than it is to actually not live up to the commitments? Interesting analysis.

Paris Climate Change is a goddman joke.
Click to expand...
Can I tripe like this? Liberals are a waste of the carbon atom.
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
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RichardPeterJohnson said:
During the campaign, I thought he was spewing his garbage about NATO just to placate the rubes and deplorables who he needed to win. Just like he did with birtherism. I thought that he really didn't believe all that garbage. But now it's apparent that he's as dumb as the people who voted him in. He's making a mess of our country in no time. I guess there are some things that he can get done.
Click to expand...
Who are you calling rubes?
 
DvlDog4WVU

DvlDog4WVU

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2008
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WhiteTailEER said:
So he said one thing then and he says something else now ..... which is the way he really feels and which is placating a particular audience?

If somebody changed their stance that dramatically and that often, wouldn't you question their commitment?

It's like everybody else in the world is supposed to change all of the rules to suit him and how he is. But we can't call this abnormal?
Click to expand...
Applying a new set of standards towards politicians than we have in the past? Regardless, in my view, our commitment to NATO is beyond reproach. Merkel is wrong to challenge this. She has **** piled up on her side of the street and has the audacity to ***** about us asking her to clean it up.
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
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DvlDog4WVU said:
Applying a new set of standards towards politicians than we have in the past? Regardless, in my view, our commitment to NATO is beyond reproach. Merkel is wrong to challenge this. She has **** piled up on her side of the street and has the audacity to ***** about us asking her to clean it up.
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Liberals don't care about being held responsible. If they don't pony up, all countries, we need to start pulling out some of the troops and cancelling or reducing substantially, all the contracts we have with the locals who provide services to our troops. Money talks, ******** walks.
 
C

countryroads89_rivals

Sophomore
Sep 6, 2013
27,594
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DvlDog4WVU said:
Applying a new set of standards towards politicians than we have in the past? Regardless, in my view, our commitment to NATO is beyond reproach. Merkel is wrong to challenge this. She has **** piled up on her side of the street and has the audacity to ***** about us asking her to clean it up.
Click to expand...

The rest of the modernized world is on the side of Germany. Continue on.
 
Airport

Airport

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countryroads89 said:
The rest of the modernized world is on the side of Germany. Continue on.
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We can kick the **** out of all those sycophants. They have benefited from the generosity of the American people. The rest of the world is jealous of the US .
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
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countryroads89 said:
I don't think jealous is the word you are looking for. [roll]
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Sure it is, you think that any of those countries are really relevant in the world when it comes to projecting force? They can't defend themselves, can't even pay 2% of their GDP for their self defense. Have you ever fired a French rifle? Neither has a Frog. England is our only true ally that makes a difference in the world and they have made themselves a socialist country that can't really project power.
 
O

old buzzard

Senior
Dec 30, 2005
6,252
553
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countryroads89 said:
The rest of the modernized world is on the side of Germany. Continue on.
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So who should run the United States and set our policies ? The rest of the world.........Germany ?? Or the man we elected to be President and look out for the best interest of our nation. Libs seem to have a real problem accepting Trump promising to put America First and then actually going out and doing it.
 
C

countryroads89_rivals

Sophomore
Sep 6, 2013
27,594
120
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old buzzard said:
So who should run the United States and set our policies ? The rest of the world.........Germany ?? Or the man we elected to be President and look out for the best interest of our nation. Libs seem to have a real problem accepting Trump promising to put America First and then actually going out and doing it.
Click to expand...

Destroying the good relationships that we have worked over the last 70 years with our allies is not putting America first...and I believe his slogan was "make America great again."

He has made us the laughing stock to the rest of the world.

 
DvlDog4WVU

DvlDog4WVU

All-Conference
Feb 2, 2008
46,692
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countryroads89 said:
The rest of the modernized world is on the side of Germany. Continue on.
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I would imagine it no other way. If they actually lived up to their commitments then we wouldn't be needed as a deterrent for the rest of the world to behave. Not sure how anyone can objectively look at this and see Merkel being right. Perhaps we reaffirm our strong commitment to NATO and just stop funding it? But but but we said we were committed.
 
O

old buzzard

Senior
Dec 30, 2005
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[QUOTE="countryroads89, post: 1560185, member: 5410"I believe his slogan was "make America great again."

Listen closely to what Trump said in his inauguration speech



Maybe you were in your little safe space petting your comfort puppy when he spoke those words.
 
W

WhiteTailEER

Sophomore
Jun 17, 2005
11,534
170
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DvlDog4WVU said:
Europe has been silent for 72 years. Had we not been there, that **** would be under the Reds a long time ago.
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Is Europe the rest of the world?
Wasn't there just a bombing in Manchester?

Europe really isn't doing all that great.

But that completely ignores everything going on in the Middle East, the human rights violations in China and North Korea. The human sex trafficking going on everywhere.

For goodness sakes ... we have an opioid epidemic right here. We can't even make people in the US behave, let alone the rest of the world.
 
W

wvu2007

Senior
Jan 2, 2013
21,220
457
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old buzzard said:
[QUOTE="countryroads89, post: 1560185, member: 5410"I believe his slogan was "make America great again."

Listen closely to what Trump said in his inauguration speech



Maybe you were in your little safe space petting your comfort puppy when he spoke those words.
Click to expand...


Actually she was marching with her ***** hat on. No lie. That should tell you all you need to know.
 
Airport

Airport

All-Conference
Dec 12, 2001
82,078
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WhiteTailEER said:
Is Europe the rest of the world?
Wasn't there just a bombing in Manchester?

Europe really isn't doing all that great.

But that completely ignores everything going on in the Middle East, the human rights violations in China and North Korea. The human sex trafficking going on everywhere.

For goodness sakes ... we have an opioid epidemic right here. We can't even make people in the US behave, let alone the rest of the world.
Click to expand...

The reason that europe is having the problems it's having is because of socialism and open borders. All countries have problems, only a few can really affect those around it and around the world. We are one of the few.
 
bornaneer

bornaneer

Senior
Jan 23, 2014
30,211
842
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DvlDog4WVU said:
Europe has been silent for 72 years. Had we not been there, that **** would be under the Reds a long time ago.
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We have done enough......especially for the Germans. As you correctly pointed out.....if it wasn't for the U.S.A. all of Germany would now be a part of the USSR. We were the ones that stopped Uncle Joe. England,France and the rest of the little sisters in what was left of Europe could never have stopped Stalin.
 
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