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WHAT To Make of Donald Trump's Soft-on-the-Russians Thing?
Reaganite Republican ^ | 20 November 2015 | Reaganite Republican

Posted on 11/20/2015 8:11:20 AM PST by Reaganite Republican



Trump never wanted anything to do with Ukraine -that was the first thing that aroused my suspicions- and I remember him saying 'the Germans should be doing more', but what kind of leverage does Berlin really have in dealing from a position of weakness with the EU crumbling, Islamic invasion underway, and Russia has all the oil/gas and military power? 

A bit one-sided once American walks-away. And aren't all NATO members obligated to consolidate/coordinate policy, even re. the Donbas? 

The current GOP front-runner has said the trouble is Putin doesn't respect Obama -but he would Trump, of course- so he feels can 'deal' with the Kremlin and come out ahead- and perhaps he could.  The emerging Cold War II surely springs from Obama Administration weakness, kissing Russian ass while they barely attempt to conceal their contempt. Yet Trump went so far as to predict he'd 'get on very well with Putin'.

But The Donald shouldn't be so breezily blessing Putin's turning Latakia, Syria into another Crimea -bristling with Russian military hardware (and troops now apparently)- this development is a disaster in my opinion, the Russians have been vying for this kind of power in the Middle East for 70 years. Obama was basically just a welcome mat they walked right over and wiped their feet on- it's humiliating. 

I'm sure Putin and his ME allies -Assad, Hezbollah, Hamas, and IRAN- 
won't attempt to drive up the price of oil or anything. 

Trump has also said he'll be a great friend to Israel- why not ask them what they think of a new Russian-Hezbollah alliance creeping-up on their northern border.

For me there is no single issue Trump is so off on as thinking we can trust or should support any Russian military adventurism based on their justifications rendered alone... the Russians are out for the Russians, they're not going to save the world from anything.

Talk of military alliances with the Kremlin to me also seem ill-advised on a number of levels- they consider themselves to be enemies of the United States for one, but perhaps Putin would have to be interested in talking to us after seeing how Obama grabbed ankle for the Iranians.

People might say Reagan sat down and attempted to deal with Gorby, but the Gipper never intended to give the Soviets what they truly wanted and needed- for 'Star Wars' to be cancelled. Reagan toyed with them and did do some business, but for the most part he knew he had them on the ropes and played that to American advantage.

Perhaps Trump sees a bit of himself in the Russian leader-- after all, Berlusconi is a Putin pal too, similar boisterous business tycoon type-
makes sense, these kind of guys often form mutual-admirations societies.


But if he ends up being the GOP nominee (I'm a Cruz guy myself), Donald Trump -for all his plusses and minuses- is sure to disappoint in this area -dealing with the Russians- right from the start. After all, I don't think they have much to offer us that we need- Russia doesn't make anything other than military equipment, really. Even their Vodka has been widely outclassed by a dozen other countries, and we've got plenty of natural gas ourselves.

I don't want to 'deal' with the Russians.

The trust factor is also a big one when dealing with the Kremlin- their record of transparency and good-faith fulfillment of promises is not what you might call 'admirable'. For lack of trust, some people are simply more difficult and time-consuming to do business with, and unfortunately Russians see all in zero-sum terms -anything good they get has to come at the other's expense. 

The Western 'win-win' type of deal where synergies produce more bounty for all is a completely foreign -even unbelievable- concept to them... they're far too cynical for anything like that.

And it seems we may be dealing with Putin for decades, rather than years... 
is Trump thinking long-term -which he always does- perhaps planning to do some building in Moscow? 

Trump's 'good for them', cheering-on the Russians in Syria is really one of the oddest things I've ever heard him say- sure would welcome some other explanations...
I don't get it, nor why such a position doesn't bother a significant cross-section of Trump supporters out there.




TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: elections; kremlin; putin; russians; trump
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1 posted on 11/20/2015 8:11:20 AM PST by Reaganite Republican
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To: AdvisorB; ken5050; sten; paythefiddler; gattaca; bayliving; SeminoleCounty; chesley; Vendome; ...

***PING***


2 posted on 11/20/2015 8:12:06 AM PST by Reaganite Republican (FREEDOM - OPPORTUNITY - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY)
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To: Reaganite Republican

He’s channeling now not only Churchill, but also FDR (on foreign affairs)?


3 posted on 11/20/2015 8:13:45 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: 9YearLurker

My personal guess is this one is all business with Trump- he thinks well, Putin controls a lot of wealth- so Trump sees $ for the US, himself, or his allies in trying to get along with Putin.

I also don’t think Trump wants to spend $ on arms buildups or operations vs Russians because he has a lot of other things he plans to spend $ on, like saving SS, building airports and roads... this while cutting the deficit supposedly


4 posted on 11/20/2015 8:20:40 AM PST by Reaganite Republican (FREEDOM - OPPORTUNITY - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY)
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To: Reaganite Republican
He's a pragmatist. Right now, Obama is not leading, nor has he ever led. Putin is. Putin has stepped up to the plate and is doing something about ISIS.

Obama isn't. In fact, Obama is doing just the opposite and endangering this country and its citizens.

So, I believe, in Trump's mind, he is willing to let Putin carry the burden for the next 13 to 14 months because, as a nation, we have no choice considering the present administration.

5 posted on 11/20/2015 8:22:17 AM PST by Parmy
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To: Reaganite Republican

Germany can’t used the excuse of being invaded by muslims. They sent them letters of invitation then had red carpets waiting on them.


6 posted on 11/20/2015 8:22:48 AM PST by VerySadAmerican
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To: Reaganite Republican

“Keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer.”


7 posted on 11/20/2015 8:24:46 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Reaganite Republican

Trump understands Putin - believes Putin is protecting his government’s interests (and after that, his country’s interests). Trump can understand and respect that.

What he does NOT respect are those who act from naive, illogical thinking or fantastical ideologies - like Obama.

given what Obama, George Bush and some sort of covert operation with the Saudis seem to have wrought in Iraq, Syria, Libya and Egypt, one has to wonder what obama is thinking.


8 posted on 11/20/2015 8:25:39 AM PST by PGR88
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To: Reaganite Republican

Another steaming pile of BS. Get real. Do you want to go to war over the Ukraine? Europe never takes care of its own backyard. Example: Bosnia. We finally had to go in there. They should have handled that mess. They should be engaged in the Ukraine also.

As far as Syria goes our dear leader has picked the wrong side. The Syrian rebels are likely worse than Assad. Assad has always protected the Christians. The rebels persecute them. Russia does not want ISIS coming into their territory. Let them fight ISIS. We are not doing the job. Somebody needs to do it. Trump is right Russia will get mired down over there just like we have. So let them bankrupt themselves in the Mideast. Meanwhile they kill a bunch of terrorists.

Trump knows most of the leaders of the Mideast by their first name. If you think he doesn’t know who’s who in the zoo over there you are naïve. You think those people don’t talk to him.?


9 posted on 11/20/2015 8:26:10 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Yeah, if we throw in with the Muzzies now, against Trump, we can get Rubio elected!


10 posted on 11/20/2015 8:26:27 AM PST by Navy Patriot (America, a Rule of Mob nation)
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To: Parmy

Obama hates Putin because he makes his ____ look small.


11 posted on 11/20/2015 8:26:43 AM PST by I Hired Craig Livingstone (Keep America Great -- Cruz 2024)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Everyone knows everything bad Russia does, but consider...

1. Crimea had always been part of Russia proper, for two centuries. Transferring it to the Ukraine was an anti-nationalist administrative move since it’s only land bridge to the Ukraine. Crimea joined Ukraine in independence when Russia was still Soviet... and only then on the condition it be semi-autonomous. Ukraine revoked the semiautonomy unilateral. 90%+ of Crimeans are Russians, and voted heavily to join Russia... long before the Russian invasion (2003).

2. Ukraine is dominated by Soros-backed social liberals; liberals hate Putin because he’s refused to join the Sodomite brigade, and has implemented policies to promote marriage, child-raising and oppose abortion. In the last seven years, child-birth is up 50%, life expectance is up 10 years. And the abortion rate has fallen more than 80% since the Soviet era. Meanwhile, Ukraine is still stuck in the post-Soviet demographic pits.

3. In the Ukrainian Civil War, Ukraine has completely obliterated the civilian infrastructure of the breakaway regions. While Russia has done little to prevent its “weekend warriors” from joining the independence struggle in Eastern Ukraine, no-one can argue that it has carried any of the fight beyond the breakaway regions.

4. The US, Turkey and our allies armed, funded and supplied armed movements in Syria which have now joined ISIS, and which all agree on the goal of the extinction of Christianity in the Middle East. Russia alone has opposed this extinction.

5. Russia has jumped more than 60 spots in the Economic Freedom Index... out of less than 180 nations! It is now more free than several Western nations.

Now, why is she our arch-enemy?


12 posted on 11/20/2015 8:28:01 AM PST by dangus
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To: Reaganite Republican

In the final analysis much of what is playing out on the world stage is wrapped up in big money, oil, shipping, manufacturing, etc.. Trump is a master at moving around in those circles. The poor cannot finance revolutions. Only the rich can do that.


13 posted on 11/20/2015 8:29:51 AM PST by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: dangus

Khrushchev “gave” Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR, because he wanted to curry favor with the Ukrainians in his bid for power at the time.

It was merely symbolic, Moscow was still in charge.


14 posted on 11/20/2015 8:29:56 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Reaganite Republican

Trump’s alot smarter than some of you armchair generals.


15 posted on 11/20/2015 8:30:04 AM PST by McGruff (Rest in Peace in dog heaven Diesel)
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To: Parmy

That’s an interesting angle- you’re probably right


16 posted on 11/20/2015 8:33:07 AM PST by Reaganite Republican (FREEDOM - OPPORTUNITY - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

No starting an unnecessary US-Russian war, but I would support Ukraine on the level that Reagan did the Solidarity movement in Poland, at least- nobody’s talking land battles with the Russians.

The Ukrainians should get a lot more equipment from us, and back the Russians off there- actually it looks like they’re ready to throw in the towel now


17 posted on 11/20/2015 8:36:36 AM PST by Reaganite Republican (FREEDOM - OPPORTUNITY - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY)
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To: Reaganite Republican

Maybe because those iof us who have already done some shooting in wars and lost things in the ME aren’t all that willing to see our younger relatives go through it again.

Trump - like Putin in a way - is a tough guy. They will see more eye to eye with some mutual respect, unlike the strutting pigeon in the White Hut now who respects no one and no one respects him.

Suria has been a de facto Russian satellite for many years now, so to see Russia propping up Assad Is no surprise. Toppling every ruler in the region has caused the mess we are in now - those tribes evidently need an iron fisted dictator to rule them and keep them peaceful.

Westerners forget: Islam only respects strength, we will never win their hearts and minds. Body count and real estate is what wins wars.


18 posted on 11/20/2015 8:39:14 AM PST by datura (Proud Infidel)
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To: datura

Like Sting sang, “The Russians love their children too.” Muslims don’t. They are the bigger threat and we need to at least temporarily put aside our differences and unite to fight this plague.


19 posted on 11/20/2015 8:44:33 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Yes. The old Evil Empire has grown into something much different, and is actually defending the things America used to. Christianity.

I’ve been in a firefight against Soviets many years ago, changed the guard with them at Spandau, and considered them my mortal enemy most of my life. No longer.


20 posted on 11/20/2015 8:49:48 AM PST by datura (Proud Infidel)
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