Im not saying Trump is wrong, Europe absolutely needs to do more for its security especially on Ukraine. The way he has gone about it though is completely wrong. Getting into a drag down argument with Zelensky in the Oval Office and sending Vance to Europe to insult their leaders and countries publicly isn't a great idea. It will eventually degrade US power by shifting the dynamics of the Allied relationships from one of "We share values" to a transactional relationship. Better leaders use soft power to achieve their means. Would Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon or LBJ (all notoriously tough negotiators) have done what Trump and Vance did? No, they would have done so diplomatically and behind the scenes. It's like a workplace, what's more effective, a manager who yells and berates staff/stakeholders or one who effectively engages people to deliver results? As I said, I agree with Trump on a lot of things Ukraine/Europe related, but his methodology is dreadful.
It's always been transactional. I applaude Trump for making it explicitly so.
And again, what does this "soft" power give the US? Currency is the only thing you've pointed to and it's not clear that's even on the table.
And can I remind you that virtually all EU leaders spend much of the past 8 years publicly and explicitly criticizing and insulting Donald Trump, and have been criticizing the US for its entirely domestic issues for decades? People are mad that the US isn't being a doormat any more and tdoing to Europe what they do to the US. Europe is powerless without the US and need to learn that the time of biting the hand that feeds you is over. These dickheads were furiously insulting the US over fucking George Floyd of all things (something that no US state or federal department supported or condoned, much less ordered), and yet consider it unconscionable that Vance would tell them off for sending jack booted thugs to break down people's doors and haul them off to jail for wrongthink?
It's simply incoherent to say that the US is crucial for Ukraine's security and independence and then do nothing but insult the US. When has criticizing and insulting Trump ever accomplished anything? They've all been doing this for the past 9 years and the result was Trump winning the popular vote.
But in any case, what's so hilarious about all of this is that virtually everyone furious at Trump right now repeated the same propaganda that Biden wasn't senile and didn't need to be replaced. Well done, morons, this is your reward.
Germany and France have a pretty solid defence industry that can be ramped up if needed. If push comes to shove and nuclear weapons aren't involved, Id back Europe over Russia any day. As I said, Ive worked with ADF people who train under similar doctrines and let me tell you I have full faith in those capabilities.
Germany is building a new missile factory that won't be finished until September 2026. And that's for a factory that's already started. The rest of Europe cannot ramp up in a meaningful time period. And it's not as if that factory alone will change the course of the war or anything.
I put the question to you, how do you think this Ukraine problem should be resolved?
I'm not sure, but being willing to entertain the idea of a peace agreement with Russia that involves territorial and/or other concessions has to be part of it. It's one thing to say such agreements can't or won't work because Russia will violate them, but most of the opposition is not for this reason, it's opposition to the very idea that Ukraine should
have to give up anything. Zelenskyy himself said that the war isn't over until Ukraine has all territories including Crimea back - delusional.
And what almost nobody is considering is that the US having critical minerals mining projects across Ukraine is probably a
really, really good way of making the US invested in the security of Ukraine and making the Russia more hesitant in the scope of their attacks.
