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TomA's avatar

Trump understands that when a new security architecture is established in Europe, that will inevitably lead to a close trade relationship between Russia and the EU nations; particularly with respect to cheap energy. Such a development will revive European economies while elevating Russia to premier status in global relations. Russia has risen from the ashes of the 1990s and earned its way to the top. It is immoral for Trump to align with the Globalists and attempt to subvert Russian sovereignty and economic success. We would do well to partner with them rather than treat them as dupes to be exploited. This would be a win-win-win in both the business sense and as redemption for the past sins of prior political leaders here in the US. The world is growing to hate us for supporting genocide of the Palestinians and blowing up the Nordstream Pipeline. We can and should do better, and Trump needs to lead the way.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

Absolutely.

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NedZeppelin's avatar

I still say wait and see. Trump’s “team” and the MSM are busily pre-shaping policy by thier various “proposals” and I really think it is all noise, no signal. Trump will go with the historic deal (and make history himself) because he has to. Ignore the spasms of those who lost the election, but I agree they have a lot of power. The ME may be a different story but again I think Trump would try to build on the Abraham Accords and get us out of Syria. This time his concern is his legacy.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

The Abraham Accords were Kushner's recipe for Jewish Supremacy across the Middle East. This time around things are very different. That will be a recipe for disaster.

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Joanne C. Wasserman's avatar

"Can Trump sell a real deal?" Perfectly stated, answer coming fast. Trump is 78 and campaigned like a healthy athlete in a pro sport. Trump also has been "head" of the Trump Organization for his entire career---also demonstrating corporate networking and brand name "showmanship" athleticism. But you are calling him out on something else: his internal self awareness for confronting the truth of the Ukraine war reality. He probable understands the state of conflict (West has lost bigly) since he had a military academy education. And he knows the negotiating ploys used throughout corporation world businesses. But Trump has to choose to act honorably with the victor, Russia's Pres. Putin, and commit to whatever agreement he concludes with Putin on behalf of the U.S.A., Ukraine, and all NATO partners. He's got to commit his soul to the deal made to end the War, and defend it with his life. If Trump can see History judging him on this impending settlement to end the War, and put his personal honor on the line to enforce the settlement by all Western parties in the conflict, then Trump will deserve honor and respect. Can he let go of social-climbing braggadocio and do the right thing for a bigger reason than ego---I am praying for him to do the right things.

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Mark Wauck's avatar

The Untold Story of Carter’s Fateful Foreign Policy

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-untold-story-of-carters-fateful-foreign-policy/

Long but interesting summary of how things went wrong, and the people behind it.

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Manul's avatar

Maybe Brennan doesn't want Trump to revoke his security clearance, which enables the grifter to consult on classified projects for deep pocket defense contractors?

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SMH's avatar

Surely those of us that frequent this blog are not the only ones who realize that Russia is holding all of the aces in this situation? They won’t be intimidated or threatened by more impotent bloviating from the US and they have the luxury of time being on their side. “I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow your house down!” is clearly not gonna cut it.

I’m reminded of a scene in the first “Die Hard” movie where the cocky and clueless corporate huckster decided to show how you negotiate like a professional, ended as you would expect, one dead huckster and nothing positive accomplished.

With apologies to William F. Buckley Jr., these people obviously do not have a keen grasp of the obvious.

Unless someone on Trump’s team knows how to make crow palatable, I’m not expecting much in the way of positive accomplishments, and if that doesn’t keep you awake, you’re not paying attention.

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Cosmo T Kat's avatar

Witty and accurate, nicely stated.

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ML's avatar

Terrificly well said SMH.

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SMH's avatar

I appreciate your response ML!

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Joe's avatar

Dmitri Trenin

Academic Supervisor of the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy at HSE University, RIAC member

The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)

Russia will take Whatever Russia wants

- the scraps will go to US and EU

""""" Ukraine, as it existed on December 31, 1991, is gone.

Crimea, Donbass, and two other regions have already returned to Russia through referendums.

Odessa, Nikolayev, Kharkov, or Dnepropetrovsk

We will take only what can be integrated and defended """""

https://russiancouncil.ru/en/analytics-and-comments/comments/what-ukraine-should-look-like-after-russia-s-victory/

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Joe's avatar

There is an appearance at least to me that when in 2022 all the claims of the Russians are weak, they fight with shovels, they ran of of missiles, they have washing machine chips, they run their soldiers in suicide waves, the citizens are leaving Russia no one is volunteering etc etc etc

The US and EU Corporations went in and bought extensive land

there is extensive reporting on that

eg: https://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/2023/04/oligarchs-and-corporations-are-expanding-control-over-ukraines-agricultural-land-with-help-from-the-imf-and-the-world-bank/

eg: https://www.oaklandinstitute.org/sites/oaklandinstitute.org/files/takeover-ukraine-agricultural-land.pdf

The EU Countries like France made ' security deals '

eg: " French National Assembly approves bilateral security "

What the heck is " bilateral security " Ukraine will give weapons to France if France is attacked by Russia = OR is it Ukraine will use what France gives Ukraine to protect French Corporate investment property in Ukraine - I think the latter

It appears to have been a land rush at the onset of the war - and now it appears Billions of Corporate investment will be lost.

----------------------- Regardless No One is Cleaning Up the Mess

No One Will Pay to Rebuild Ukraine

Unless - and possibly the Ukrainians Best Hope at this point

Russia comes in - takes the territory - Referendum to Join Russia

and Russia rebuilds like they did for Mariupol

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Joe's avatar

Russia will Take Whatever Russia does not desire

- the scraps will go to US and EU

""""" Ukraine, as it existed on December 31, 1991, is gone.

Crimea, Donbass, and two other regions have already returned to Russia through referendums.

Odessa, Nikolayev, Kharkov, or Dnepropetrovsk

We will take only what can be integrated and defended """""

Dmitri Trenin

Academic Supervisor of the Institute of World Military Economy and Strategy at HSE University, RIAC member

The Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC)

https://russiancouncil.ru/en/analytics-and-comments/comments/what-ukraine-should-look-like-after-russia-s-victory/

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ROBERT Incognito's avatar

As always Mark, thank you for your insight and observations, I always truly appreciate your posts.

Unfortunately, those of us who know the truth/reality of the situation with Russia and Ukraine are a micro-minority; hopefully, Tulsi Gabbard might be part of that minority and be able to communicate this reality to Trump. If she does and Trump does the right thing he will need to studiously avoid any grassy knolls.

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Dec 31
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Mark Wauck's avatar

A good presentation. I would respond with the example of Zhou''s debacle in Afghanistan--Americans hate losers and screwups. Trump will be portrayed by the usual suspects--the political establishment and ruling class and Deep State that hate him--as both. That's what will make things difficult, and the best response is to embrace a global peace deal.

I totally agree that Trump needs to get Ukraine behind him. Re the Middle East, loose lips sink ships. Trump has loose lips and is making the ME tough, too.

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Dec 30
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ML's avatar

Hey skm, this excerpt from a longer MW piece should help clear things up!

“I received an inquiry regarding this term that I’ve recently begun using. What does this actually refer to? The short answer is that this term, the Anglo-Zionist Empire, refers to the aggregate result of input from various actors in the Anglosphere—dominated by America and the UK, but including colonial states of the US and UK, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. Component parts that go to make up the aggregate include the political establishments, the Deep State establishments—Intel and Foreign Policy—the Israel Lobby in the US and UK, Neocon imperial ideology, and so forth.“

For the full article, see: https://meaninginhistory.substack.com/p/why-anglo-zionist-empire

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Dec 31
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ML's avatar

From my perspective, I believe the problem is the players, not the term used to describe them! Cheers!

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