War in Ukraine

Much as I hate to be in a position give explanations for Trump, based on my experiences during the time in question and information received by people who were actually there (and had no reason to lie to me), in my opinion what you’ve written is more consistent with a political narrative rather than the whole truth of the matter. The narrative is important to the politicians currently in power because they can’t credibly say “We successfully deterred Russia” (despite having the means to do so) so they have to say, “Well, it would have been even worse if Trump had remained President,” which would be impossible to prove or disprove even if the facts we know lined up to support that argument … and they don’t.

It’s easy to say, “Trump didn’t support Ukrainian membership in NATO,” but that implies Biden did, and he didn’t. But even if Trump had supported it (loudly) the majority of NATO countries would not have, so it is a moot point. The idea of Ukrainian membership was lukewarm at best before Russia’s limited land grabs in 2014; after that, it was categorically unacceptable to most members (and 100% have to agree). Most countries are in NATO for entirely self-serving purposes and joined because they particularly desire to never be at war with Russia for any reason. Bringing in a country that makes war with Russia more, not less, likely is simply not in their interest.

It’s also easy to say “Trump did not support NATO” based on the inexcusable unstatesmanlike public comments he would make, but the realities don’t fit that narrative. The truth is the Trump Administration’s National Security and National Defense Strategies (including the classified elements) strongly indicated that support of NATO and Pacific allies against revisionist Russian and Chinese threats was the number one national security priority. That is, by the way, not the case with the Biden Administration, even after Russia has initiated this naked war of aggression.

In my opinion, Trump was correctly hard on NATO for its underspending and implicit expectations that the U.S. should perpetually assume most of the financial and manpower burden for defending Europe for Europeans who would just rather someone else did it. He was also correct in pointing out the risks of economically depending on Russia for energy. I think we all agree there. Where he was terribly, terribly wrong was in his approach to the problem. If you’re a parent with an overweight child, there are positive, healthy ways you can motivate your child to lose weight, and there are also toxic, bullying methods that may work at cross purposes to your intentions. Since Trump is nothing more than a toxic bully, his method was predetermined, and in trying to shame them into taking their collective security more seriously, all he did was piss them off.

As far as Trump giving Putin whatever he wanted, again the actual facts just don’t match up. It was Trump who authorized the lethal military aid to Ukraine, including the many Javelins that probably stopped Russia’s lightning attempt to grab Kyiv and end the war quickly. Biden slowed and interrupted those arms shipments several times over the year before the invasion started. Now one can argue that Biden’s intentions were good in trying to de-escalate the situation, but in hindsight that appears to be naive and was, in fact, giving Putin what he wanted, which is the general accusation against Trump. Let’s also not forget it was Trump who was an obstacle to Nordstream 2, which Biden stood aside for in an effort to, again, placate Putin. Once more, maybe the intentions were good, but they were naive and arguably made the aggressor more aggressive.

In short, there are plenty of other reasons that Trump shouldn’t be President. On the whole, though, his approach to dealing with China and Russia was probably more correct than Biden’s. The only reason to say otherwise is to give political cover to this Administration for its many, many errors leading up to this war and since it started. Personally, I don’t care who gets credit for defeating Russia and deterring China … as long as that happens. But like I was saying way back in February, I sure hope this Administration has a better plan than simply blaming Trump for defeat. Trump is not President and (God willing) will never be President again. Biden is President. If he presides over a victory, then it’s his victory. But if he presides over a defeat (as he did with Afghanistan), then it’s his defeat. Blaming Trump is simply not going to wash.

 

head of Wagner group trying to take control of the military.

Have to wonder if he was the one behind the bridge explosion and a number of the mysterious deaths

Kremlin ‘power grab’ in full swing as controversial Wagner Group boss pushes Putin to oust defence minister Shoigu (msn.com)

An internal coup inside the Kremlin is reportedly in full swing as the chief of the controversial Wagner mercenary group is putting Russian president Putin increasingly under pressure to sack his Defence minister, Sergie Shoigu.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, who heads the Wagner Group, also dubbed Putin’s private army which primarily consists of mercenaries, is reportedly increasingly involved in day-to-day decision-making with regards to the war in Ukraine.

Prigozhin only answers to Putin and he claimed that Wagner forces captured Bakhmut in the east of Ukraine, not Russian forces.

Prigozhin, who only answers to the Russian president, is said to be so frustrated with the lack of progress in Ukraine that he is pressuring Putin to sack the country’s defence minister, Shoigu, according to various reports in Russia and Europe, including CNN.

 

Could have been to scare the Ukrainians across the water. "See, if we did this to ourselves, imagine how dangerous we could be if weren't scared to fly in your neighborhood?"

 

That’s why I’m not scared of Russian nukes. I work at one the places that would be moderately high on their target list in the event of nuclear war. Ironically, I might be in a relatively safe location. That being said, if I was in Costa Rica on vacation, I would be terrified of getting hit by a nuke aimed at the southwestern U.S.

 

Now there's a nice thought, glowing coconuts.

 

‘You Can’t Force Love’: Russian Diplomats Told to Kiss the West Goodbye

Call their bluff and cut ties? They can have an " interests' section in a third party's embassy.

 

Cutting diplomatic ties should have been on the table a long, long time ago.

 

This is an article underscoring my point earlier about the Wagner Group potentially being behind the mysterious deaths of Putin’s inner circle oligarchs

 

I would say Iran is doing it because they have hated the U.S. for over 40 years, and don't like the sanctions we put on them. So Iran's enemy's enemy has become their friend.

Saudi Arabia's current king (or crown prince) doesn't like Biden, who made a stink (for good reason) about him after he bumped off the writer who kept criticizing him. Saudi kings think it is their birthright to have western leaders kiss their ring and bow to them, and never criticize the way they do things. I also don't think the younger generation of Saudi rulers has as much hatred for Iran as the older ones do.

An American (with dual citizenship) was just sentenced to 16 years in a Saudi prison for making a critical tweet before traveling to Saudi Arabia.

Family: Saudis sentence US citizen to 16 years over tweets

 

Japan is starting to spend more on national defense as a result of the Ukraine War and China's growing belligerence.

Analysis-Japan rushes to rearm with eye on 2027 - and China's Taiwan ambitions

 

Apparently, Russia wants Ukraine to be more friendly to Russia and less friendly to the West. That's why Russia is killing so many Ukrainians.

October 18, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news | CNN

So warfare is how Russians show affection for one another... Now I've heard it all.

 

Some of this I agree with, some i take exception to, but I don't want to turn this thread into an R/D pissing match. I'll just say that my post was in reply to a poster trying to frame this as a biden conspiracy. That doesn't mean I believe Biden has done no wrong. I just don't believe that Putin is "taking advantage" of Biden as the poster suggested. It's a complicated set of variables acting upon Vlad...

 

The change in leadership of the russian team is becoming obvious. His connections with Iran led to the drones (and Iranian support techs) joining the battlefield and then directing them at civilian infrastructure intended to demoralize or depopulate regions.

Time for longer range Himars to start dismantling russian infrastructure (water, power, sewer) facilities in Russia if that is the game to be played.

 

Putin is counting on it.

 

What happened to DD? Did he get conscripted? Meanwhile it looks like Kherson is about to fall.

 

I’m here. Just giving hilarity air time. Russia likely just reading for a last-gasp Ukrainian counter-offensives before the midterms.

 

Yes but I wonder it is a voluntary evacuation or not. It is beign driven by propoganda that Ukranians are going to bomb the city to pieces and I don't think that would happen. Even russian general admitting that Kherson is going to fall. seems like they are taking anything of value with them, looting the banks and other things of value as they go.

Putin Declares Martial Law In Moscow-Seized Regions As Kherson Evacuation Begins (rferl.org)

The head of the Russian-occupied region of Kherson in southern Ukraine says pro-Kremlin administrative officials are transporting people away from the regional capital to the left bank of the Dnipro River ahead of an expected offensive by Ukrainian forces.

"The entire administration is already moving today," Moscow-installed regional head Vladimir Saldo, said on Russian state television.

 

Israel not going to supply weapons, maybe advance warning systems. Do not understand or support their position. Kowtowing to Moscow to try and get some help with Syria

Ukraine updates: Russia begins 'evacuation' from Kherson – DW – 10/19/2022

Israel has offered to help Ukrainians develop air attack alerts for civilians, but was adamant it would stop short of sending weapons to Kyiv.

"Maybe we can support them with an early warning systems that will allow them to alert the right population in a more accurate manner, which will then allow them to have some kind of long perspective emergency routine," Defense Minister Benny Gantz said.

After a barrage of strikes on Ukrainian cities this week the country's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he would ask Israel for immediate air defense supplies.