Mattis isn’t a neocon, is he? I only ask because I’ve read media reports that he favors war with Iran, something I believe Trump would oppose. Also, with the rumored nominations of Bolton and Newt (yes, I realize the irony of me questioning this one), he seems to be picking foreign policy hardliners, many who have expressed antagonism towards Russia.
What do my fellow FReepers think is at play here? Is Trump abandoning his noninterventionist foreign policy (except for his pledge to destroy ISIS), or does he just want opposing views to his own on his team, to challenge him? Is that his management style? Some of you may not like my example (Democrats would flip out), but JFK seemed to have that management style, but also got to the point where he just didn’t trust his advisors and did what he thought was right, in spite of them.
I think Reagan is an excellent example of this as well with the “Evil Empire” speech, though I think we missed a historic chance of cooperation, and only antagonized and humiliated Russia by the actions of Bush I and Clinton. I blame them both for the rise of Putin, much as historians blame the treaty of Versailles for Hitler.
I just don’t want him getting terrible advice in regards to Russia (who we may finally have a chance to establish rapport with) and other hot spots. I hope Trump stays his own man, with the populist, noninterventionist streak.
I wish he would nominate someone like Pat Buchanan, or others of the same caliber and mindset, to push back against the hawks, and give opposing views.
Putin may not be the ideal guy to work with (and we can’t blindly trust him), but he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and he and Trump did signal a willingness to begin again.
Honestly, the threat of miscalculation and accidental nuclear war is one of the largest, untalked about threats facing both of our countries (and mankind), so I will be glad to see any form of new cooperation between the two of our nations, as long as Putin is not naive enough to run roughshod over our NATO allies (although, quite frankly, allowing some of these buffer nations to join was a mistake and a clear betrayal of HW Bush’s promise not to by Clinton and his neolib/neocon advisors).
I also think The Donald should lift sanctions against Russia over Crimea. I honestly believe the Ukraine debacle was caused by Hillary and Obama’s efforts to overthrow an elected government, and Crimea was Putin pushing back. Honestly, Russia has a much more compelling claim to Crimea than Ukraine to begin with, and everyone knows it, with the Peninsula being “given” to Ukraine as a mere symbolic gesture by Kruschev to begin with. It was a strategic mistake by Russia not to reclaim it, when they allowed the Soviet Union to disband at the end of the Cold War, which created this unnecessary hotspot.
What do you guys think? I hope to get some serious, thoughtful replies on this.
Also, I promise I am not a Kremlin apologist or Guccifer 2.0, so help me Mother Ru- err... God.
Most of the countries if not all that we have issue with seem to understand one thing- strength. If you approach them with touchy/feely crap they take it as a sign of weakness and proceed to run over the top of you.
If you show strength, and toughness, and have a strong military to back it up- those countries tend to walk softly around you because they understand that and respect it.
That doesn’t mean we need a true war monger that will be causing problems by acting tough when it is not necessary and backing people into a corner where they feel they have no choice but to fight. We don’t need bullies in our government for sure but we do need strong, tough people.
I think we have less problems with others when we are carrying a big stick. Just my opinion but look at the mess the touchy/feelies are leaving behind.
Just my thoughts and opinions based on observation through the years...this is not something I even pretend to be an expert about.
Thank you for your well-thought reply.
To save the Republic we must face three issues (and immigration is NOT one of them):
1. The currency is going to collapse and we are not ready.
2. The welfare state is coming to a bitter and perhaps violent end. Only a matter of time. (Immigration perhaps plays a part in this one.)
3. Obama and Hillary have been trying to start a war with Russia which we may not win.
Obama is blamed for letting Iran have nukes. But we are not ready to attack them, kill them, destroy their armies, invade their territory, replace their government, execute or imprison their leaders and finally destroy their desire and ability to make nukes! Would Russia let you do that? Would Islam let you do that?
I think General Breedlove was lying about Putin’s activity on the border because he was trying to start a war. Obama/Hillary threatened war with Russia at the behest of her Saudi employers. Breedlove is gone now, thank God, but Putin really is now preparing along his border.
As to NATO, we have no reason to defend Germany and other European socialists who insult us at every opportunity. I feel for Poland as they have been a true friend ever since Lech Walensa, which is why the Germans feel free to insult us, since they know we will protect Poland.
The Mid-east is like the Balkans at the end of the Ottoman empire. There is an stubborn contest between Russian and Saudi oil interests in the region. If both sides guarantee the security of Israel, then we can let them fight it out.