Russia Attacks Ukraine - 23 Feb 2022 #13

[Betty P]

MSN

<3

Well that's interesting.

 

[Betty P]

There's really no love lost between them.
I think Trump just has no respect for Trudeau (who has no respect for Trump). All the "Governor" talk and 51st state is a lot of that. After the Canadian elections, I think it will tone down.

I was reading a quote recently from a political pundit familiar with Trump. He said that with Trump, politics is usually personal. If he gets angry with another politician or nation, its for personal reasons. Many have speculated that Trump has long been angry with Canada because he had two Trump hotels there that failed.

The idea that Canada should become the 51st state of the US is patently ridiculous. That will never happen, nor should it. Something else about Canada bothers him, probably having to do with money or personal business deals. JMO

Its why we need to make it law that presidents should put their assets in a blind trust when they take office.

What’s Behind Trump’s Love-Hate Relationship With Canada

Canada is one of the United States’ largest trading partners, but President Trump wants to either take it or leave it.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Sundog]

I can't see that happening .I'm Canadian and can't see trump working with Freeland or Carney . Both candidates don't feel any love for trump and we know trump hates Freeland. Plus most Canadians know we can't trust the USA any more jmvho edited to add we have a election this weekend and either Carney or Freeland will be our new Prime Minister

I was thinking of Pierre Poilievre, not Carney or Freeland. I agree with you about Carney and Freeland. They are just clones of Justin.

 

[Sundog]

IMO. Can't he just make one up like all of his fake Time magazine covers and Super Hero whatevers?

I doubt President Trump is interested in the nobel peace prize. He knows it has become a joke and not to be taken seriously due to its political biases.

 

[LovesPeace2]

I was thinking of Pierre Poilievre, not Carney or Freeland. I agree with you about Carney and Freeland. They are just clones of Justin.

Yep that election will come soon enough. And trump already doesn't like PP lol

 

[sunshineray]

It does worry me that it might turn into a World War. Putin is doing a good job of manipulating - separating the US from Europe - weakening all the alliances. I think Trump is foolish to trust Putin. I understand Trump doesn't want to get into a war with Russia as then it would be a world war. But witholding aid and intelligence from Ukraine is just absolutely despicable. All because of an ego! Because he is annoyed about that meeting.

Honestly, Trump doesn't need any help riding down his highway to hell. He's not being manipulated by anyone. Putin has what Trump desires more than anything else, a dictatorship. He's a fan boy and wants his own gig enslaving his millions and puppeteering worldwide. That is the truth of it. He will fail but the destruction he can and will cause is heartwrenching. AJMO

 

[justtrish]

yes, I know, i tried to go back and edit to three years, but it was too late to edit.

Technically we are now in the 4th year. Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb of 2022 so either way it's over 3 years now and counting.

 

[Betty P]

Yep that election will come soon enough. And trump already doesn't like PP lol

I wonder if we can have Justin Trudeau move to the US and run for POTUS here in the next election? JK, but that would be great. If not, hoping Canada invades the US.

 

[branmuffin]

There’s no justification for this beyond pure cruelty. These people were allowed in because they were escaping war and crisis, and now Trump wants to rip that protection away. No official announcement yet from Homeland Security, but if this happens, it’s just another example of Trump throwing allies under the bus out of spite.

IMO

When you look up 'petty' in the dictionary, Donald Trump's image should be there.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

This x100
I feel like it needs posting in every thread.

DBM

 

[Deleted member 39678]

At what point does willful ignorance become a choice? We have mountains of evidence, history, diplomacy, and basic facts laid out—and yet some people refuse to engage with it. They dismiss history when it’s inconvenient, ignore diplomacy when it contradicts their stance, and sidestep data that doesn’t fit their narrative.

Somewhere along the line, it stops being about debate and starts being about deliberate denial. And frankly, it’s exhausting. We can have our opinions, but we don’t get to rewrite reality to fit them.

DBM

 

[UK Girl]

Watching another press conference with Secretary of Defense Hegseth and the UK defense secretary. There's a lot of military people at this round table discussions. I'll try to find the link I can post. But I'll look for one.
It's happening inside the White House. UK defense secretary support a peace agreement. Appears to be six or more UK military official and six or more US military officials.
Moo

Yes the Uk support a peace agreement as long as it is a strong lasting one.

 

[Sundog]

China taking sides to defend Ukraine. What the heck are they up to? Maybe they're going to offer the finance the war for Ukraine?
They need to end this war before all of Europe winds up in war.

The last week clearly shows fractures within the European countries ?
Will Russia take advantage of the divide within the European Nations and the European Union being at odds with the US?

From the link you posted from MSN...
Europe and Ukraine must participate in the peace process on equal terms with Russia and the United States. Moscow and Washington cannot solely determine the conditions for peace, states China’s special envoy for European affairs, Lu Shaye, according to SCMP.

According to the Chinese diplomat, he is "appalled" by how US President Donald Trump treats his allies in Europe.
Moo

This special envoy to europe from China has gone rogue before and the Chinese embassy in the U.S. has had to make it clear in the past that his remarks were his own opinion, not those of Beijing. So I wouldn't give it much thought.

 

[Simply Southern]

I wonder if we can have Justin Trudeau move to the US and run for POTUS here in the next election? JK, but that would be great. If not, hoping Canada invades the US.

We'll take a hard pass on that. Thanks but no thanks

I don't think that Canada could even begin to invade the US. I spend some little on defense and rely mainly on the US. They still can't meet their 2% with NATO.
Moo

 

[UK Girl]

MSN

 

[MrsWatson]

I didn't understand why Trudeau flew to Florida to meet with the president BEFORE the inauguration. What was so important it couldn't wait until he was officially sworn into office? It was just really odd.
Not sure what happened in that meeting, but that's when Trump started calling it the 51st state.
Moo...

BBM
The men discussed "many important topics", Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, including fentanyl, illegal immigration, and trade.
Trudeau travelled to West Palm Beach as Canada seeks to head off the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, a source has confirmed to the BBC.

Trump praises 'very productive' Mar-a-Lago meeting with Trudeau

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Florida as Canada seeks to the avoid blanket tariffs threatened by the president-elect.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Sundog]

I wonder if we can have Justin Trudeau move to the US and run for POTUS here in the next election? JK, but that would be great. If not, hoping Canada invades the US.

Spare me, please. I might have to move to Canada if that would ever happen.

 

[Sundog]

Yep that election will come soon enough. And trump already doesn't like PP lol

I think that would change if PP's party was elected and got a majority government and PP became the leader and hence PM. Right now PP is in campaign mode and has to be careful to not alienate many of the voters. But his policies will be much closer to President Trump than they were to Justin Trudeau and the libs.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Labour has never had the best opinion of Trump tbh

They were right.

 

[Vern]

Democracy vs Communism, current battleground is, unfortunately, Ukraine. Cuban missile crisis. Vietnam. Iraq. Afghanistan. Global strategic chess moves.

It's easy for France, UK, all of Europe to scream for continued war while thousands die in Ukraine...let that escalate to the sons and daughters of Europe coming home in body bags, then that tune might change.

Trump represents the U.S. He is not of the warhawk ilk that in recent election was crushed in all branches of U.S. government.

The U.S. isn't abandoning Europe, not even close. The U.S. is calling to end the butchery in Ukraine.

Those who call for continued bloodshed, death, and destruction are baffling to me.

I think this exactly amplifies the previous poster's comments. No one is calling for the bloodshed, death, and destruction to continue. They are calling for a fair and just Peace Deal for Ukraine that doesn't require them being extorted out of their geological treasures for generations to come at the tune of 500 billion unjustified dollars and which doesn't even include an actual guarantee of peace from further aggression.

If no peace is guaranteed in the Deal, then it simply is not a "Peace Deal".

That's about morality.

One of Trumps platforms was indeed to get the US out of wars (endless wars??).

Yet, here we have him now threatening to Annex:
Canada;
Greenland;
Panama ....

^^^^
Those above things are "not peace" and not democratic. Threatening annexation .... so peaceful. History has plenty of examples where that led to. It's something that "warhawks" do.

Not to count the other sovereign democratic nations that he is currently undermining via other means.

Article 5 was invoked by the US and every single NATO nation showed up to assist. Again, we asked for "no thanks" and not a dime back.

The only time that Europe has been at risk since the very inception of NATO (the long stand off of the Cold War aside - it was at an impasse) .... "nope; you're on your own". The whole of Europe, by the President's own words and actions in the past 6 weeks, has become even more at risk of war today than it was just a week ago. If ne wants to not have wars, then the diplomats should actually behave diplomaticly. Personally, not too much to ask for I would think.

Telling other nations who they can share intelligence with (our own intelligence??!). Nyet. Trump may be your President, but he is not ours. The rest of the world, including the very allies that he is now throwing under the bus, does not have to kow-tow and obey his every whim and moving-every-hour goalpost.

I get it. Trump wants to put America first. The Golden Age.

If Trump wants out of NATO then:

- then get OUT (ooops he needs a 2/3 majority vote to do that though);
- really save the American budget some money and physically get out too. No keeping his American boots on ground in Europe under the now-supposed-umbrella of it being "required" for NATO collective defense and aggression response which he is clearly stating he has no intention of actually doing so when it comes to Europe.

I also pointed out that a raise to 5% would entail even the US having to increase their NATO spending by 500 billion per year. ---- somebody had best tell DOGE right quick! Or is it that Trump expects all NATO nations to do that except his to get to 5%? Given that direction has already been given to slash 8% per year for the next 5 years from that US budget? If so, that 500 billion is increasing as he's cutting from his 3.2% now ...

https://www.npr.org/2025/02/20/nx-s1-5303947/hegseth-trump-defense-spending-cuts

I've also seen PH's Undersectary's specific suggested cuts to (for those percentages) to US Forces & Capabilities. I predict a pivot away from the Pacific is also on the horizon. Edit to add: "IMO" because ... *sources*.

Q on NATO: He's either in or he's out. He needs to choose one. It is impossible to be half-pregnant.
IMO, which do you think he is? Because no one else knows, not even his allies, at this point in time.


On Budgets:

*Here's a great site where users can attempt their own adjustments to US budgetary expenditures to bring it under control and see how it works/impacts other areas. I've put through a few scenarios now and I managed to achieve the aim every time and I didn't just cut. I funded K-12, funded paid family leave etc etc. Because: saving money doesn't mean one has to become inhumane. Hint: it's really much easier to do when you "close tax loopholes for the ultra rich" and "tax billionaires" at the same rate everyone else is.

Committee For A Responsible Budget