holmes435 wrote:Putin / Russia want Brexit, that's why they pushed so hard for it - if it dies and Europe is stronger, they lose.old salt wrote:Happy times for Putin. EUrope is coming apart at the seams.
Paris in flames & now a shooting in the Strasbourg Xmas market by a local on the security watch list.
Semi-soft Brexit agreement going down. Lame duck Merkel. Military buildup in Ukraine.
US paralyzed with Russophobia. No matter what Trump does (even if nothing) he'll be accused of being Putin's puppet.
In other news, France has these moments frequently. It's so out of place for us to demand help for the poor and lower class that it looks like a major uprising to the U.S..
16 (and counting) Trump associates had contacts with Russians during campaign or transition, including at least six who have plead guilty or have been convicted of crimes relating to the matter.
Oil and gas prices are dropping, which is really bad for Russia. Russia is also facing more sanctions and opposition from a united front of the modern world. They have reacted by doing things like sending bombers to Venezuela and Naval blockades. And yet Putin's approval rating is still dropping significantly (which has happened really one other time).
The US isn't paralyzed unless you're the Republican party trying to pass healthcare reform or immigration reform.
In reality, it's not happy times for Putin - I'm not sure where you're getting that from.
Putin IS free to do whatever he wants. That's my point.a fan wrote:If you really believe that, that means he's free to anything he wishes.old salt wrote:US paralyzed with Russophobia. No matter what Trump does (even if nothing) he'll be accused of being Putin's puppet.
For Trump's fans, including old salt, he can do no wrong. This also means he's free to do anything he likes. So lifelong Republicans don't care if he protects Union jobs over non-Union jobs. Or tanks the stock market by over-borrowing and starting trade wars with, well, everyone.
I have no clue why you think Trump can't do anything he wants. Wishful thinking?
While Putin continues to tighten his grip on Crimea & threaten E Ukraine, rather than increasing sanctions, our EU/NATO allies debate whether or not to even continue existing sanctions. The Ukrainian President pleas for NATO to send warships to maintain freedom of navigation in Ukrainian territorial waters, & the response is for the US (acting alone) to inform Turkey of our intent to send a single (vulnerable) destroyer into the Black Sea, ...maybe.
The US, EU & NATO encouraged Ukraine to give up their nucs & to prepare for NATO & EU membership, then helped them stage 2 successful revolutions against pro-Russian elected governments.
The US-EU-NATO pushed Ukraine to this point. Now that Putin pushes back, we turn our backs on them.
I disagreed with doing all that, but we did it. We can't turn away now.
The more Putin takes, without meaningful pushback, the more he'll continue to take.
We're paralyzed by our political debate & uncertainty over Trump-Russia, & our NATO allies won't act without us in the lead.
...& so far, they're not following our lead.