The Trump foreign policy thread

PLW · Post by **PLW** » Wed May 24, 2017 11:42 am

If I were the intelligence community I would give Pence the Presidential briefing and limit Trump's knowledge of specifics to the greatest extent possible.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed May 24, 2017 1:10 pm

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed May 24, 2017 4:53 pm

There are always at least two submarines in that zone. Any moron would know that we have had two or more subs there since WW2.

Chaz · Post by **Chaz** » Wed May 24, 2017 4:59 pm

That's some nice justifying right there.

NickAragua · Post by **NickAragua** » Wed May 24, 2017 5:35 pm

OUR WORDS ARE BACKED WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS!

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed May 24, 2017 5:59 pm

Chaz wrote:That's some nice justifying right there.

No, Rip isn't justifying anything -- he's just leaking classified information from his Navy days. It's very presidential of him.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:28 pm

Geez is anyone surprised that the US maintains submarines on patrol of the coast of Russia and China?

Come on people now you are just being obtuse.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:29 pm

Rip wrote:Geez is anyone surprised that the US maintains submarines on patrol of the coast of Russia and China?

Come on people now you are just being obtuse.

It has to be tough to maintain the level of hypocrisy that you've had to since Trump won.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:35 pm

It is nearly impossible to give away the location of a modern submarine to the point of putting it in danger. The only people that know exactly where it is are all onboard. The most anyone else knows is what operating area it is in. Each operating area covers thousands of square miles. Nothing but a red herring.

On the bright side it gives the contrarians something to muse over rather than worrying about something that may actually be a problem. So knock yourselves out. At the end of the day no one who is involved in operating those subs gives two shits about who Trump tells "there be subs lurking off the Korean coast".

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:45 pm

Rip wrote:It is nearly impossible to give away the location of a modern submarine to the point of putting it in danger. The only people that know exactly where it is are all onboard. The most anyone else knows is what operating area it is in. Each operating area covers thousands of square miles. Nothing but a red herring.

On the bright side it gives the contrarians something to muse over rather than worrying about something that may actually be a problem. So knock yourselves out. At the end of the day no one who is involved in operating those subs gives two shits about who Trump tells "there be subs lurking off the Korean coast".

So far you are doing nothing but deflecting when it comes to real problems with the Trump admin.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:50 pm

The particular fact of two subs (rather than one or none or eight) isn't the point.

Have you read the transcript? It's Trump's bragging and need to impress that matters. It's the same deep, needy, dangerous character flaw that led Trump to betray the Israelis and damage the war against ISIS just so he could impress the Russians Putin told him to entertain.

The bigger issue with this transcript, though, is the praise of Duterte's violence. It's absurd, clueless, frightening, and telling all at once.

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed May 24, 2017 8:59 pm

It's fun to watch Rip justify things Trump does that he railed against Obama for. I almost feel bad for the poor guy. He's really working overtime these days.

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:01 pm

Holman wrote:The particular fact of two subs (rather than one or none or eight) isn't the point.

Have you read the transcript? It's Trump's bragging and need to impress that matters. It's the same deep, needy, dangerous character flaw that led Trump to betray the Israelis and damage the war against ISIS just so he could impress the Russians Putin told him to entertain.

The bigger issue with this transcript, though, is the praise of Duterte's violence. It's absurd, clueless, frightening, and telling all at once.

I started a detailed response like this and just said nah. Nice job.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:15 pm

Holman wrote:The particular fact of two subs (rather than one or none or eight) isn't the point.

Have you read the transcript? It's Trump's bragging and need to impress that matters. It's the same deep, needy, dangerous character flaw that led Trump to betray the Israelis and damage the war against ISIS just so he could impress the Russians Putin told him to entertain.

The bigger issue with this transcript, though, is the praise of Duterte's violence. It's absurd, clueless, frightening, and telling all at once.

I know it isn't the point. That is why I chose to argue about that rather than about the point because the point is nothing more than bitching about water being wet. Of course Trump is a long winded braggart who doesn't have a clue whether what he is tossing out there is fact or just something some dude in a uniform told him on the way to the bathroom.

I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:16 pm

Rip wrote:I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

If you weren't a right-winger you'd have more choices.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:21 pm

Rip wrote:I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

Luckily, you got both. #YGG

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Wed May 24, 2017 9:27 pm

Rip wrote:
I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

You've officially become a parody.

Now, get back to your Wikileaks conspiracy stuff. Hannity needs you!

gbasden · Post by **gbasden** » Wed May 24, 2017 10:21 pm

Rip wrote:
I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

You're funny.

Have you seen the president's budget? It might as well be titled "Destroying the lives of the little people to increase the wealth of the .1%" Subtitled "Muahhahahahaha!" And with a picture of a mustachioed villain tying Lady Liberty to some train tracks.

RunningMn9 · Post by **RunningMn9** » Wed May 24, 2017 10:21 pm

And totally no one cares. Well, except the Pentagon. They cared.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Wed May 24, 2017 10:40 pm

Rip wrote: I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

How quaint.

Alefroth · Post by **Alefroth** » Wed May 24, 2017 10:41 pm

hepcat wrote:
Rip wrote:
I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.
You've officially become a parody.

Now, get back to your Wikileaks conspiracy stuff. Hannity needs you!

Are you sure he hasn't officially become a caricature? I thought he was already a parody. I can't keep up.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu May 25, 2017 7:50 am

link

LordMortis · Post by **LordMortis** » Thu May 25, 2017 8:11 am

Rip wrote:I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.

Me too. Where are we going with this? Trying to examine if Trump is crazy or evil? I don't think he's the former, though he is taking on or appealing to a touch of senility. I think a case can be made that he's either dupe or he's evil and I can't tell which. It's hard to accept the later, which is why we all go with former. I mean McConnell and Ryan? There's overt evil for ya.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:03 am

Can "we" please stop pretending this President and his administration is not a threat to National security? This is a disgrace. Our best partner - by a million miles can't trust us any longer with confidential data. We generally work off the same data! I can't wrap my mind around the fact that there aren't people hanging off the emergency alarms. I actually hope they are doing so behind the scenes because we are in big trouble otherwise.

Paingod · Post by **Paingod** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:28 am

Did he really pull "But her emails" again?

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:59 am

LordMortis wrote:
Rip wrote:I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.
Me too. Where are we going with this? Trying to examine if Trump is crazy or evil? I don't think he's the former, though he is taking on or appealing to a touch of senility. I think a case can be made that he's either dupe or he's evil and I can't tell which. It's hard to accept the later, which is why we all go with former. I mean McConnell and Ryan? There's overt evil for ya.

Pssst...he was in full drama queen mode and insinuating Hillary and/or Obama are evil.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Thu May 25, 2017 11:50 am

Trump foreign policy disaster - he was expected to endorse Article 5 in his speech but didn't. This has to be seen as a deliberate move by the White House.

Macron literally covered his face during the speech to probably make an otherwise unprintable remark.

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Thu May 25, 2017 11:54 am

And Trump yet again shows his true colors at the meeting trying to do his version of the Johnson treatment,

https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/8 ... 3188221952

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Thu May 25, 2017 12:39 pm

To be fair, there had been talk of pie.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu May 25, 2017 12:56 pm

hepcat wrote:
LordMortis wrote:
Rip wrote:I will still take a POTUS who is touched over one who is evil, ALL DAY LONG.
Me too. Where are we going with this? Trying to examine if Trump is crazy or evil? I don't think he's the former, though he is taking on or appealing to a touch of senility. I think a case can be made that he's either dupe or he's evil and I can't tell which. It's hard to accept the later, which is why we all go with former. I mean McConnell and Ryan? There's overt evil for ya.
Pssst...he was in full drama queen mode and insinuating Hillary and/or Obama are evil.

True, but at least he admitted that Trump is crazy.

$iljanus · Post by **$iljanus** » Thu May 25, 2017 1:22 pm

Enough wrote:And Trump yet again shows his true colors at the meeting trying to do his version of the Johnson treatment,

https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/8 ... 3188221952

If he wasn't our president this would be pretty hysterical. Unfortunately for us though...

Still had to laugh at him straightening his suit jacket at the end and thinking Two scoops for me!

hepcat · Post by **hepcat** » Thu May 25, 2017 1:48 pm

That smug, self satisfied look on his face after he pushes his way to the front perfectly sums up his character. Or lack thereof. I believed this long before he scammed his way into the White House: he has a face that was made to be smacked.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu May 25, 2017 1:59 pm

A backpfeifengesicht.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu May 25, 2017 2:15 pm

Trump's foreign policy has crystallized in the past two weeks as love for Putin, Erdogan, and the Saudis, help for ISIS, admiration for Duterte, and contempt for Israel and our NATO allies.

This trip has really made a statesman of him.

Enough · Post by **Enough** » Thu May 25, 2017 6:27 pm

I just love how Trump was unable to say anything critical about Saudi Arabia now that he's president but he sure had the cajones to rip NATO a new one as he stood in front of the NATO 911 memorial. Winning!

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Thu May 25, 2017 6:48 pm

Trump to EU: Germany Is ‘Bad, Very Bad’ for Selling Too Many Cars in the U.S.

In a closed-door meeting with European leaders Thursday, President Trump ripped Germany for running a trade surplus with the U.S., calling the nation “bad, very bad” or “evil, very evil,” depending on the translation.

“Look at the millions of cars that they’re selling in the USA. Horrible. We’re gonna stop that,” Trump added according to Der Spiegel, which heard about the conversation from someone in the room. EU Commission leader Jean-Claude Juncker reportedly stood up for Germany and defended the practice of free trade.

Trump’s apparent pledge to end German car sales in the U.S. is a dumb one considering how many German cars are made in the U.S. As Slate notes, Daimler, Volkswagen, and BMW all manufacture hundreds of thousands of cars in the Trump-loving South each year.

A separate report from the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung noted that Trump’s chief economic adviser Gary Cohn also made a fool of himself in the meeting. In the meeting Cohn reportedly spoke about striking separate trade deals with Germany and Belgium, which wouldn’t be possible since EU nations negotiate trade deals as a group. This is a point Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel had to make to Trump nearly a dozen times when they met last month.

“The EU side was terrified about the lack of awareness,” Der Spiegel reports.

To be fair, back when America was at peak greatness, Germany was very bad indeed. It makes perfect sense for Trump to go there. #MAGA #DailyGodwin

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:21 pm

What a goddamned embarrassment.

We could probably power the planet for for several years if we could connect turbines to everyone spinning in their graves right about now.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:29 pm

There are hundreds of Trump embarrassments, and new ones come out every day. Some of them are huge, alliance-wrecking disasters, while others are just bush-league idiocies.

Here's a thread on how Trump got on a call with the PM of Denmark and thought he was talking to the king.

Spoiler:

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:30 pm

Yeah, but look at what we would have had to deal with had we gone against the wishes of our Russian overlords. People not losing health insurance, respect on the global stage, funding for science - it would have been a goddamn liberal-infested nightmare.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu May 25, 2017 9:52 pm

Enough wrote:I just love how Trump was unable to say anything critical about Saudi Arabia now that he's president but he sure had the cajones to rip NATO a new one as he stood in front of the NATA 911 memorial. Winning!

The whole point of this trip appears to be to weaken Europe and NATO. Party of Reagan!

Putin got waaaay more than he paid for out of this election.