For Erdogan, that is Jacksonian Realism - ie. doesn't hurt the USA, sorry, not our problem. But the flip side of the Jacksonian code is - make one move to harming US interests or personnel in Turkey and you will be referred to in the past tense.
As for NATO, I agree that everyone need to pay they fair share for being under the American defense umbrella, however, calling article 5 under question when particularly the Baltic states are under Russian pressure is NOT a good idea.
As for his praise for Erdogan?
I find it unfathomable.
I thought Trump knew who our enemies are?
Hint: Erdogan is one of them.
So while he throws Nato allies like Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia under the bus, he praises the wannabe Kalif and islamist Erdogan.
*sigh* Here I thought we had an almost perfect candidates.
These are BOTH major strikes against Trump imho.
Sadly,
Euro
Trump is far from perfect.
But he is who we have.
he does need to stop pandering to the Ron/Rand Paul and Pat Buchanan crowd with regard to foreign policy. If anything, one of the GOP strengths is supposed to be NOT being like Michael Moore, a pussy who is eschews American greatness. There’s no doubt that Trump will own Obamllary as POTUS, but he is only enabling her attacks this way.
You don’t understand. The United States is bad. Civil liberties aren’t the slightest bit important. Erdogan is a great guy, a real winner - Look how he’s eliminating his enemies by the myriad! What a stud! - and we love the accelerated growth of Islamic fundamentalism.
Now stay alert, because tomorrow’s memo may say the exact opposite, and the first one to stop clapping is toast.
When I first heard his comments about the attempted coup, I shrugged it off and thought maybe he was not up to speed about the dynamics in Turkey - now I don’t know, but maybe he thinks he shouldn’t make Erdogan a bigger enemy at a time when the airbase has been shut down.
He didn’t praise Erdogan. He merely acknowledged his effectiveness in stopping a coup. Its also not clear that a coup would’ve been preferable to Erdogan no matter how distasteful he is.
>For example, asked about Russia’s threatening activities that have unnerved the small Baltic States that are among the more recent entrants into NATO, Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us.”
And unwilling to help those who refuse to meet their obligations is the very heart of reciprocal exchange. This is just common sense.
I happen to think the coup was staged for Erdogan to usher in a stricter Islamic regime. Even if it wasn’t so, what Erdogan is now doing is NOT the way to handle dissent.
This is the stuff that has always had me nervous about Trump. I don’t think he does enough homework before he speaks. He only knows what he believes on a high-level and isn’t aware of his mistakes enough to avoid saying something stupid.
If he doesn’t start getting this corrected now, the debates will be an unmitigated disaster.
He needs to polish up before he implodes. He can make no mistakes from here on out. Hillary’s camp and the media will twist even the best speech or interview. He can’t hand soundbites to them.
No one has apparently read Trump’s book from the 80s, “Art of the Deal?” Amazing???!!!
When a businessman like Trump starts a negotiation, he starts out by asking for way more than what he expects.
In this case he is renegotiating the NATO Treaty and he know s that if he doesn’t start out acting as though the US is going to go home, the cheap a$$ bastards in the rest of NATO will continue to let the US pay the lion’s share of the cost.
I’m hoping this is one of those cases where Trump offers over-the-top praise with the sort of glint in his eye that sends a chill down my spine. Then very bad things happen to whoever it is.
He’s just showing respect for strength, and dialing back US arrogance (at least until it’s warranted again.) A little courtesy is all, backed by toughness and smarts.
“We can no longer be the stupid people.”
IMHO.....I am with Mr. Trump!!! Just look at what a mess both the world and our country is in because of the policy of maintaining the faild past. We live in a new, ever fastly changing world. Many of our allies have not met their both their military or financial, obligations in pacts or business agreements and they need a comeuppance from the USA!!!!
Obama/Clinton has bankrupted our nation and just continues to throw money away...all with no positives in return. Trump is a man of action!!! Those like Obama & Clinton....that lead from behind are destroying our country.....I’ll take DJT any day of the week, over these losers and America haters!!! Go Donald J. Trump!!!
Remember, this is the Slimes, who will spin for Hildebeast
For Erdogan, that is Jacksonian Realism - ie. doesn't hurt the USA, sorry, not our problem. But the flip side of the Jacksonian code is - make one move to harming US interests or personnel in Turkey and you will be referred to in the past tense.
I trust the man's judgement .. the people he'll surround himself with will all be top notch within their areas of expertise .. Bolton, Newt, etc
Let's not panic quite yet, shall we ? !
Oh man.
Where is this so-called praise the Hillary propaganda team claims is here? Saying he defended against a coup is not praise, its a factual observation. Saying we have no right to be hypocrites when we have our own dirty laundry to deal with is also a factual observation.
You should know better then to let the New York Times tell you what to think.
This is a nothing burger. Trump has said America 1st & he will deal with NATO accordingly.
Trump didn’t “praise” Erdogan. He merely stated a fact.
Vote Trump 2016
What would our reaction be if Obama said this?
And as far as defending NATO countries is concerned? Why should we defend them if they follow policies that lead to their being attacked? Since some EU countries that are in NATO have leaders who have put into place a suicide pact with the devil which will destroy them, why would we come to their defense.....again.