Over the course of the presidential campaign, President Trump repeatedly suggested that the US would seek improved relations with Russia, a policy that was extremely controversial, but seen as more or less a “sure thing” after the inauguration.
A month after inauguration, the future of US-Russian relations are a lot less clear, with top Trump Administration figures sending wildly conflicting messages on their intentions, and whether even a basic normalization of defense coordination is possible.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford met with Russian Army Gen. Valery Makarov and said the US was very much open to restoring communications with the Russian military. Lt. Gen. Frank McKenzie presented this improvement as a matter of course, insisting that even in the worst days of the Cold War, the US military had the ability to communicate with the Russians.
But Defense Secretary James Mattis appeared to take a totally different perspective, insisting the US could only restore its relations with Russia “from a position of strength,” after spending days hyping the “threat” Russia poses to Europe in trying to coax more military spending out of NATO nations there.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared similarly doubtful on improved US-Russia ties, saying the US would only work with Russia in specific ways that favor the United States, and then only to the extent that the Russians “live up to their commitments.”
Clearly a lot of officials have a lot to say, but the one person whose position on US-Russia relations would be the most important, President Trump, is almost completely silent on the matter. Though in recent speeches Trump has reiterated his view that it would be “a positive thing” if the US got along with Russia, he has carefully dodged all questions about any specific action that will or won’t be taken.
Like a broken clock, the Donald is bound to get something right sometime. In my view, one of those rare rightnesses is Trump’s observation that it couldn’t hurt to cooperate with Russia on mutually advantageous matters — such as effectively fighting Al Qaeda and ISIS (in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere), where Russia has done a lot more than my (US) Government has been doing for the past several years. Whether Donald really means what he says (or understands what he says) is another thing entirely. Let’s hope.
Nobody has told Trump yet that the aim in Syria is for his country to kick out the Russians and claim Syria for the US. Why would anyone still try to claim that isn’t the US agenda richard? It is, and that’s not consistent with improved relations with Russia.
The only reason you American continue to talk like this has got to be just plain arrogance. Even the most braindead of the people who hang around this site understand the US agenda. Is it denial?
Powerful nations have always dealt with one another with good doses of suspicion and distrust, no matter what the official “line” is. There is no reason to think that that has changed. If we play “nice” there is not the slightest reason to assume that Russia will.
Given the present state of the Red Baiting opposition to Trump, it is probably best that he offer no specifics.
If he had a good idea, they’d oppose it and demonize.
If he had a bad idea, they’d do the same, and he might try to do it anyway.
Better to say nothing. Actions, which we can hope will actually show some success via Tillerson.
Saying is a lot different than ‘doing’. And so what do you Trump cheerleaders think of this:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/02/classified-memo-tells-intelligence-analysts-keep-trumps-daily-brief-short
The deep state wresting away control from a duly elected president?
or
Taking necessary and sensible precautions to guard vital secrets. And perhaps even going as far as taking precautions against Trump to ensure he has been disabled from pushing the red button to start a nuclear war? I would suggest that the deep state has acted to take more precautions than what is being said publicly.
Maybe some people would even suggest that the long knives are out, in order to be able to act if it becomes necessary?
It is as I thought. You spent months telling everyone that Trump is a phoney and a sell out. Telling all Trump supporters to stop bring delusionsl. Now that is patently clear that the deep state — with the support from Repunlicsn party, not to mention rabbidly lying media — is out to stifle by sll means Trump foreign policy — you sre showing anREMARKABLE understanding for the deep state and their “protecting” us from ourselves.
I asked the question Bianca, so why are you going off on me for doing that.
But fwiw, it’s probably the first time your country’s spooks are needing to take away some control from a president who they are supposed to be working for. Not because he’s going to make friends with Russia, because it’s pretty obvious to anybody who doesn’t have their head up their own ass, but because he’s a batshit crazy psychopath who can’t be trusted to do anything more than be your country’s chief dogcatcher.
It’s over Bianca, and you’re probably smart enough to know it. Taking out your disappointment on me isn’t going to help.
It is clear that neither Trump nor its inner circle had any sort of strategy on dealing with Russia going in. Trump used flattery to Putin as bait during his campaign to get at the Clintonite “psychos” (Putin has no soul; is Hitler). When he won, all the stops were pulled on the idiotic Manchurian Candidate narrative, and Trump having no plan to offer to normalize relations with Moscow, decided to simply to continue on the beaten path to ease the domestic tensions. A month into his term, Trump has no “alternative” strategic thinking on his team to offer vis-a-vis Russia. For the moment he simply counter-bashes the media and totters on the Nuland-McCain road to nowhere. You guys could help by tweeting Bannon to get off his ass and coax Susan Eisenhower to accept the post of deputy to Tillerson (or Nuland’s replacement as under-secretary for Europe/Eurasia). She is the brightest policy analyst around and would gain instant credibilty with media.
Listen to her: http://www.focuswashington.com/2016/06/15/susan-eisenhower-gop-dems-learn-american-voters/
It’s not clear to Raimondo yet. He’s got too much invested in his Trump dreams and so who knows how he will extricate himself? One possibility he seemed to mention as one of his low points was his age of 65.
I wouldn’t want to see that happen so I hope he comes around soon. Mistakes are made by everyone. But clinging to their mistakes makes matters much worse than facing reality.
Trump is a way better choice than the pants lady.