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dissonant1's avatar

"Trump has conclusively placed himself in the position of needing to prove that he’s only an impulsive and compulsive bullshitter—just not a liar. That’s hardly a basis for successful engagement with foreign leaders."

Couldn't agree more. Alex K. provides the details of the argument:

"As they say, the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one. However, I find this particular simplest explanation difficult to believe for a number of reason. If it were true, Trump’s role would have been so outrageously devious that it would probably destroy his presidency. In one fell swoop, he would have proven right all those who insisted that he was a bad faith, duplicitous, double-dealing backstabber entirely unworthy of trust and support. At the same time he would have made his remaining supporters look hopelessly naive and foolish."

"For Trump, who presented himself as a peace maker and who takes pride in his deal-making capability, this would have been a spectacular own goal as the whole world is watching. If you are willing to burn your reputation in such an obvious manner, how would you even get anyone to sit at a table to negotiate with you in good faith. You could no longer achieve any deal of any significance."

https://alexkrainer.substack.com/p/trumps-iran-deception-is-it-regular

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ROBERT Incognito's avatar

It’s really sad what has become of America and its presidents. Biden was supposed to be the moderate and became the most wildly progressive president ever and Trump was supposed to be the peace president and is the exact opposite. Trump has lied to his base and I for one am no longer supporting him; I hope the MAGA crowd wakes up and withdraws support as well. However, where we go from here I do not know.

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D F Barr's avatar

I will say it again today on my late father’s birthday. I remember him saying it in the 1970’s, but I was too young to understand at the time, “Those damn Jews are gonna wind up getting us all killed someday.”

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Xantil's avatar

After Tricky Dicky, we now have Tricky Donny...

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Deceitful Donny, the liar in chief.

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Its Just Me's avatar

Here's the lede from an American Thinker post.

"Globalize The Intifada? No, Globalize Chanukkah!

By Milli Sands

If there is one nation that has improved life more than any other in the modern world, it is Israel and her people in the diaspora."

No, it's not satire.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

She's referring to the billions of dollars we give them. The USA has done more to enrich Israeli's than their own citizens.

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Its Just Me's avatar

That seems to be the thing with the U SA, take care of everyone except ourselves.

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Tristam's avatar
1dEdited

Remembering Izzeldin Abuelaish, the Palestinian physician whose daughters were killed several years ago by Israeli bombs while he was performing surgery in the Israeli hospital where he worked.

A Jewish group organized a speaking tour in USA for Dr. Abuelaish based on his book/mantra: I Will Not Hate. I attended one such event.

I keep telling myself not to let "Hate" take hold: Abuelaish did not (he said).

Last I heard, he lives in Canada, not Palestine -- basically, in exile, away from all that was familiar and dear.

There is a difference between Hate and Anger.

(hmm. Crooke spoke of Synergy. Israelis "mow the lawn." Iranians power drones with lawn mower motors.)

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dissonant1's avatar

Yes. "Love your enemies" has never meant not being able to be angry with and oppose their actions; quite the contrary.

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Its Just Me's avatar

Tucker Carlson is now persona non grata among American Thinker and PJ Media for his opposition to America getting involved against Iran.

Tucker is labelled a member of the "woke right", whatever that means. He is also in the cross hairs of those who label others as anti-Semitic.

In my view, he sticks to his principles.

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dissonant1's avatar

I guess the cockroaches are scurrying now that Tucker has turned the lights on. Thanks for the report.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Israel bans Israelis from leaving the country

Israeli minister of transportation Miri Regev confirms that only tourists and diplomats are allowed to leave the country.

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Its Just Me's avatar

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. H/t, the Eagles.

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TomA's avatar

If, in February 2022 at the start of the SMO, Russia had destroyed all the bridges across the Dnieper, a large component of the AFU would have been trapped in the East and heavily compromised by a lack of resupply. This development would likely have prevented the counteroffensive of Sept 2022 that returned most the eastern oblasts to Ukrainian control. This misstep is likely responsible for over a million avoidable casualties on both sides. Similarly, Iran can "turn off the lights" and air conditioning in Israel with a single wave of its ballistic missiles if it so chooses. This is because Israel is small and isolated. It is the weak link. The Donald becomes irrelevant if Iran ends this now. There is no upside to prolonging this disaster.

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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

Thank you for pointing out both, that Russia chose not to blow up all bridges on the Dneiper; and, that the country, Israel, is small, isolated, and politically "green" with its total reliance on electricity to power every machine and technology of modern life. These are separate topics, to me; but Russia's SMO didn't want to destroy civilian infrastructures, even though the nations were engaged in mortal combat.

My thought is "outrage" when contemplating the Israelis' hubris of greenlighting years of vanity wars for the self protection of its criminally indicted P.M., and the continuation in comfortable styles of living by the jetsetting dual citizens, and goy friend partners

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Mark Wauck's avatar

It's a defensible perspective. The other side of it is that the longer the war in Ukraine goes on the weaker NATO is.

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dissonant1's avatar

Nice to see principles in action.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Barchart @Barchart

17h

Credit markets are currently pricing in a 6-level credit downgrade for the United States, which would give it a rating of BBB, just a smidge above investment grade 

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Mark Hazard's avatar

DXY (USD Index) DOWN + US10Y (US 10YR Yield) UP = PROBLEM

Canaries in a coal mine.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Just heard Scott Ritter saying that Israeli jets are using Brit bases on Cyprus. I was wondering when this would happen.

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AmericanCardigan's avatar

Brits are also providing refueling tanker aircraft to Israel via Cyprus too.

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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

Yes, and Germany, also, has sent a refueling tanker to the area for Israel's use.

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aDoozy's avatar

I am curious because I have seen many places in Cyprus, thanks to Alex Christoforou's daily news and commentary videos filmed there.

In the past, when he is in Limassol, he goes to the beach, and often points out the planes landing and taking off from the airport next to Limassol.

After reading here about the British allowing Israeli jets to use their bases, I found that the large RAF Akrotiri base next to Limassol is used as a forward mounting base for overseas operations in the Middle East. The other British base, Dhekelia, has just one runway.

Lots of help given to Israel from other countries...I read about a German reconnaissance plane detected close to Iran during the past days.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Middle East Observer @ME_Observer_

5h

 Israeli Cabinet member Gila Gamliel: We categorically demand that the United States join the war against Iran.

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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

The gall of a stiff-necked people even unto this day

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Tristam's avatar

I regret that I have but one finger to give ...

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Mark Wauck's avatar

DD Geopolitics @DD_Geopolitics

4h

 JUST IN! U.S. Cancels Bilateral Talks With Russia

The United States has unilaterally canceled a scheduled meeting with Russia aimed at resolving tensions in bilateral relations, according to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

She noted that the talks, which were intended to address key irritants — including the functioning of diplomatic missions — were scrapped at Washington’s initiative.

Zakharova added that Moscow still hopes the pause taken by the U.S. in consultations on embassy operations won’t drag on indefinitely, implying that further delay would only worsen the already strained relations.

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Kieran Telo's avatar

I believe that Mr Lavrov predicted the "inertia" (lack of real desire for change in policy) could prove a long-term problem.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Patarames @Pataramesh

3h

After Israeli air & missile defenses are degraded sufficiently by aero-ballistic missile strikes:

 The phase of mass One-Way-Attack drones will start

Missile forces will then focus to disrupt airbase operations

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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

My mind was taken aback when I read your previous post with Mr. Helmer's analysis---and I read: "fraudster" = DJT. The damnation of a man by naming him "fraudster" is a complete murder of that man's reputation. And, with the passed two days filled with Tucker Carlson's worthwhile admonition to Trump, in public, only to be bombastically rejected by alpha male, aka inferiority complex person: Trump---I'm appalled by the amount of reassessment "home work" I am now obliged to do in order to understand any part of the reality that's being revealed on the world stage. Because I remember the forceful clarity of his Inaugural Speech of his mission for a peaceful, prosperous world for all mankind, I can't yet grasp the fullness of the lie that is the man Trump, who would be a liar to be king.

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kim's avatar

Dirty Tricks President .....

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