Politics, politics, politics (so long and thanks for all the fish)

[ricky2tricky4city]

Well the clear change in US policy is in the direction of ending the conflict as soon as possible. It probably doesnt help that Ukraine have been chewing through so much ammo and missiles that the US's own reserves are dwindling. In a recent senate report the US military would exhaust all of its current munitions in the opening few weeks of a major conflict with Russia and China. Similar report on the British armed forces last year - we'd only be able to sustain a significant conflict for anything other than a fleeting moment....

I think US foreign policy is nothing but Trump foreign policy...I don't think he's considering anything or anyone else when formulating what he wants. (From one day to the next)

That appears (at the moment) to be a fast track to a nobel peace prize (lol) and a carve up of Ukraine with a man he's aligned with. Putin get rewarded for his aggression with a land grab. Trump gets minerals access and a constant pay out from Ukraine to 'protect' them. Always follow the money with Trump ..it's his only interest. (That's why he's totally fine with the use and rundown of aging US munitions...the US are getting paid) Meanwhile Zelensky gets bullied and belittled in the middle, whenever the 'big' guys think he's being awkward or inconveniencing them .

 

[Rorschach]

I think US foreign policy is nothing but Trump foreign policy...I don't think he's considering anything or anyone else when formulating what he wants. (From one day to the next)

That appears (at the moment) to be a fast track to a nobel peace prize (lol) and a carve up of Ukraine with a man he's aligned with. Putin get rewarded for his aggression with a land grab. Trump gets minerals access and a constant pay out from Ukraine to 'protect' them. Always follow the money with Trump ..it's his only interest. (That's why he's totally fine with the use and rundown of aging US munitions...the US are getting paid) Meanwhile Zelensky gets bullied and belittled in the middle, whenever the 'big' guys think he's being awkward or inconveniencing them .

Here's a good take on where we are at from.David Rothkopf

Trump Between Two Summits

Sometimes when you're a clueless old narcissist the high points are really low points

open.substack.com

 

[Rorschach]

And I like the fact that Ukraine dropped news of their new long range cruise missle today. Boss move.

 

[johnola]

News is no good they should just send them north.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Putin must be laughing his socks off.

 

[johnola]

Putin must be laughing his socks off

Are they in a better position than before? The answer has to be no. It’s a spectacular blunder.

Whatever he might feel he has achieved will take a massive bite out of Russias future.

All that land they have is for the taking in the coming century.

The Russian population is falling fast and the rump is aging and they have problems with alcohol and aids. A billion African and Asian teenagers desperate for resources will be licking their lips.

And Ukraine and Europe will happily let these mass movements through.

A whacking pile of nukes won’t help them there.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Are they in a better position than before? The answer has to be no. It’s a spectacular blunder.

Whatever he might feel he has achieved will take a massive bite out of Russias future.

All that land they have is for the taking in the coming century.

The Russian population is falling fast and the rump is aging and they have problems with alcohol and aids. A billion African and Asian teenagers desperate for resources will be licking their lips.

And Ukraine and Europe will happily let these mass movements through.

A whacking pile of nukes won’t help them there.

Time will tell but possibly not in the longer term.
I was referring to what is happening right now, with Trump fawning over Putin, bringing him in from the wilderness, seemingly willing to push some of his (Putin's) required concessions onto Zalensky and essentially appeasing Putin. Which we all know is unlikely to clip Putin's wings.
I wouldn't trust Trump at all with any security guarantees.

 

[johnola]

Time will tell but possibly not in the longer term.
I was referring to what is happening right now, with Trump fawning over Putin, bringing him in from the wilderness, seemingly willing to push some of his (Putin's) required concessions onto Zalensky and essentially appeasing Putin. Which we all know is unlikely to clip Putin's wings.
I wouldn't trust Trump at all with any security guarantees.

No but he has made the point it is Europes problem really, and it is.

Europe has the population and resources to wholly overwhelm Russia but they are too busy trying to have everyone, and particularly the Americans, over.

 

[thfcsteff]

Well the clear change in US policy is in the direction of ending the conflict as soon as possible. It probably doesnt help that Ukraine have been chewing through so much ammo and missiles that the US's own reserves are dwindling. In a recent senate report the US military would exhaust all of its current munitions in the opening few weeks of a major conflict with Russia and China. Similar report on the British armed forces last year - we'd only be able to sustain a significant conflict for anything other than a fleeting moment....

Is that your honest interpretation?

 

[Silly McSilly Face]

Is that your honest interpretation?

Yes. Trump is simply being transactional about the situation. And I don't really see an alternative.

E.g. Comments that Trump is trying to "carve up Ukraine" or "impose an unjust settlement" on Ukraine. He isn't. Russia is.

Russia is not far from winning. Why? Because as I've said we are not far away from US and European stocks of munitions and equipment being exhausted to the point of unacceptability. We have essentially been supplying a war without putting our economies or production on a wartime footing.

Russia have as it is advanced to the point where they are nearing their stated first objective of capturing the whole of the Donbas anyway.

Ukraine are running increasingly short of manpower and equipment.

What is the alternative to trying to end the conflict and placate the Russians by giving in to at least some of their demands?

What is the alternative to letting Russia have the territories they already control?

I just don't see what people think is the alternative approach here.