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Jeffrey's avatar

This was an excellent piece and (as usual) the thoughtful comments of your readers really add to my understanding.

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Kathy  Welch's avatar

Excellent thread!

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Daniel Howley's avatar

I think what stood out to me the most today was the grotesque retrenchment around the term security guarantees. It was grotesque because the Trump administration blocked Ukraine's entry into Nato early in their 2nd term. Since then Ukraine has earned Nato membership for its willingness to defend Europe, and will strengthen NATO's defense of democracy against Putin if Trump can be forced to rebuke Russia. Ultimately making the US and Europe stronger. Ukraine has proven to itself to be the courageous spear in article 5.

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Owen  dyer's avatar

I have got an idea that will solve the problem of land swaps..give putin Alaska back... if he will retreat to previous borders...then ukraine can join nato and they can all live happily ever after

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Leigh Horne's avatar

Um, no? For one, there are oil fields there. For another, that would give Putin contiguous borders with the US and Canada, for two, EFF PUTIN. He is an effing war criminal.

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Jeffrey's avatar

I know your arguments still hold, but (in the spirit I believe the op was meant) perhaps we could sweeten the offer by throwing in Texas and Florida?

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Leigh Horne's avatar

LOL. Agreed.

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Susan Travis's avatar

David, thanks for this excellent piece. It will be interesting to see how this meeting goes and how trump ignorant Inc spin it.

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William Hancock's avatar

A very concise description of pretty much everything that is currently wrong with US foreign policy. The fish rots from the head down.

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Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

I'm comparing this to an intervention. One-on-one pleas, threats, and deals don't work with active alcoholics and addicts. Family members, co-workers, and/or close friends organize an intervention to get the individual into treatment. In this case, however, "treatment" is futile. The main objective is to keep the drunk from breaking things.

Come to think of it, the intervention analogy works on another level: Trump is what happens when too many of us don't pay enough attention to how money, racism, and ignorance (etc.) corrupt elections. It's long past time to wake the hell up.

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Barbara Upshaw's avatar

I hope President Zelensky and the NATO representatives kick Trump’s ass. I am so ashamed of and horrified by the people who are “running” our country. You can’t tell me that this is who the majority of Americans are. God be with us all.

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Chip Pitfield's avatar

Trump will wash his hands of Europe and Ukraine. He’ll manufacture some rationale that’ll excuse his ignorance and effective betrayal, but that’s exactly what he’ll do. Assisting in the defense of Ukraine will fall to Europe (and Canada).

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Glass Half-Assed's avatar

When you say that “his days are numbered as president” - what do you mean? Do you think he will fulfill his term? Or simply that his power is diminishing.

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Jeffrey's avatar

Good question! My guess is all of the above…

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Lynn Waldorf's avatar

Great article!!!!

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Nigel Brazier's avatar

The best outcome would be for Trump to ‘wash his hands’ of the conflict and let the Europeans deal with situation. As long as the Arms continue to be available ( for sale ) US interference and loss of the Crown ( leader of the free world!) the situation can be contained. Trumps next failure will be in the Pacific.

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MidwestGal's avatar

Oh, if we only had a bold, respectful, intelligent, leader like Zelensky! Now, that would be something to celebrate!

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Marc Panaye's avatar

If he wants it that badly, I say give Trump the Piece prize.

Buy him some old cup from a junkyard, paint the thing yellow and say it is gold.

Put a plaque on it with the toddler's name and the full name of the prize which is POS (no, not point of sale).

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MidwestGal's avatar

No to the parody suggested here! Ego would have him crowing on this "honor', when we know it's a joke on him. FYI:

ICC, indicted Putin for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and kidnapping Ukraine children. None of Putins actions even hint at peace. Just like %47s imitation of Putin.

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Marc Panaye's avatar

FYI Joyce, I'm a Belgian and I more then know the ICC indicted Putin (and Bibi aswel as I hope you know).

I said "Piece prize", not "Peace prize". Piece as in piece of the word starting with sh and ending it and meaning excrement.

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Marc Panaye's avatar

I hope holidayboy Vance will be there occupying his favorite coach in the brothelized oval office of Putin's puppet Trump.

I'd love to see him being told by Ursula von der Leyen to shut-up, behave and finish his hot chocolate milk without making stains on the coach.

And I am really sorry but as a European I have to say bye-bye to this US.

We'll talk again when the organizer of the failed coup of JAN 6th 2021 is finally before his judges and I do mean the earthly ones prior to the heavenly ones.

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Diane Lee's avatar

Great article David, so true. Thank you 🙏💙

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