Kremlin Insiders Reveal How Trump Is Already Helping Putin

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  President-elect Donald Trump’s social media posts about annexing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal startled America’s allies and delighted foreign foes. In Russia, the statements were interpreted to mean that Trump isn’t really opposed to foreign wars of conquest after all.

 

  To them, Trump’s tirades revealed that—just like Russian President Vladimir Putin—Trump would be delighted to invade any country that couldn’t fight back...

 

  In the meantime, Trump’s stated intentions towards Greenland, Canada, and Panama are being celebrated as implicit validation for Russia’s current and future land grabs. 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kremlin-insiders-reveal-how-trump-is-already-secretly-helping-putin/

[TedG]

LOL…You are so desperate. 

[mokwit]

7 minutes ago, TedG said:

LOL…You are so desperate. 

Tried to get a Liberal circle jerk going and totally failed.

[jas007]

On 1/1/2025 at 12:29 PM, placeholder said:

  President-elect Donald Trump’s social media posts about annexing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal startled America’s allies and delighted foreign foes. In Russia, the statements were interpreted to mean that Trump isn’t really opposed to foreign wars of conquest after all.

 

  To them, Trump’s tirades revealed that—just like Russian President Vladimir Putin—Trump would be delighted to invade any country that couldn’t fight back...

 

  In the meantime, Trump’s stated intentions towards Greenland, Canada, and Panama are being celebrated as implicit validation for Russia’s current and future land grabs. 

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kremlin-insiders-reveal-how-trump-is-already-secretly-helping-putin/

 That's more or less what I felt when I first read about the Panama thing.  And it's a perfect illustration of why, in reality, the entire Neocon construct of how the world should work is nonsense.  American exceptionalism, regime change for every country that doesn't fall in line, endless wars, etc.  It's all nonsense once people have to face reality and the fact that Russia has a long history in that part of the world, a history of being invaded through Ukraine, most recently by Hitler's Nazis,  and has legitimate national security interests. It doesn't want NATO missiles in Ukraine, and understandably so.  

 

Just as the USA wasn't about to tolerate Russian missiles in Cuba in 1962, it probably wouldn't tolerate Russian missiles there now, or in Mexico or Canada.  America has a sphere. of influence. So too does Russia.  Neither country will tolerate existential threats. 

 

In any event, Trump has a point about Canada and Greenland and Panama.  Isn't China establishing a presence in all three areas? 

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19 hours ago, jas007 said:

 That's more or less what I felt when I first read about the Panama thing.  And it's a perfect illustration of why, in reality, the entire Neocon construct of how the world should work is nonsense.  American exceptionalism, regime change for every country that doesn't fall in line, endless wars, etc.  It's all nonsense once people have to face reality and the fact that Russia has a long history in that part of the world, a history of being invaded through Ukraine, most recently by Hitler's Nazis,  and has legitimate national security interests. It doesn't want NATO missiles in Ukraine, and understandably so.  

 

Just as the USA wasn't about to tolerate Russian missiles in Cuba in 1962, it probably wouldn't tolerate Russian missiles there now, or in Mexico or Canada.  America has a sphere. of influence. So too does Russia.  Neither country will tolerate existential threats. 

 

In any event, Trump has a point about Canada and Greenland and Panama.  Isn't China establishing a presence in all three areas? 

 "Isn't China establishing a presence in all three areas?"

Oh no!China is establishing a presence!  Could you be a little more vague? Probably not.

[jas007]

39 minutes ago, placeholder said:

 "Isn't China establishing a presence in all three areas?"

Oh no!China is establishing a presence!  Could you be a little more vague? Probably not.

It's easy enough to look up. I supposed I could have said "military presence."  

 

 China is establishing a military presence through surveillance activities in Canada, military donations and investments in Panama, and infrastructure projects in Greenland—all of which raise significant geopolitical concerns for North America and its allies.

[placeholder]

15 minutes ago, jas007 said:

It's easy enough to look up. I supposed I could have said "military presence."  

 

 China is establishing a military presence through surveillance activities in Canada, military donations and investments in Panama, and infrastructure projects in Greenland—all of which raise significant geopolitical concerns for North America and its allies.

So it's a establishing a military presence with no actual soldiers? Or do you believe Trump's claim: 

"Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal."?

[mdr224]

Cant take any of this guys posts seriously

[jas007]

8 minutes ago, placeholder said:

So it's a establishing a military presence with no actual soldiers? Or do you believe Trump's claim: 

"Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal."?

 I've never been to Panama so I only know what is reported or what people have told me.  Panama is usually not mainstream news, at least not in the USA. The only real news I've seen recently are stories about the now exorbitant transit costs for the canal.  

 

Maybe Trump knows something? He does seem concerned. Rightfully so, I think. 

 

 Panama recognized the People’s Republic of China in 2017. China took advantage of the new relationship after Panama joined China's Belt and Road initiative in 2018, and various agreements and infrastructure projects followed.  A strategic move by China, particularly in light of the strategically vital Panama Canal.  

 

The current Panamanian administration has cooled its relations with China, to an extent. Consequently, some Chinese projects or partnerships have been abandoned or stalled.

 

With the return of the Trump administration and Trump's stated desire to re-acquire the canal, Panama may well re-think its relationship with China, given the current  geopolitical tensions revolving around Taiwan.

 

Maybe the US will simply take back the Canal Zone, one way or another?  It wouldn't surprise me. 

 

 

 

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, jas007 said:

 I've never been to Panama so I only know what is reported or what people have told me.  Panama is usually not mainstream news, at least not in the USA. The only real news I've seen recently are stories about the now exorbitant transit costs for the canal.  

 

Maybe Trump knows something? He does seem concerned. Rightfully so, I think. 

 

 Panama recognized the People’s Republic of China in 2017. China took advantage of the new relationship after Panama joined China's Belt and Road initiative in 2018, and various agreements and infrastructure projects followed.  A strategic move by China, particularly in light of the strategically vital Panama Canal.  

 

The current Panamanian administration has cooled its relations with China, to an extent. Consequently, some Chinese projects or partnerships have been abandoned or stalled.

 

With the return of the Trump administration and Trump's stated desire to re-acquire the canal, Panama may well re-think its relationship with China, given the current  geopolitical tensions revolving around Taiwan.

 

Maybe the US will simply take back the Canal Zone, one way or another?  It wouldn't surprise me. 

 

 

 

"Maybe Trump knows something/? That's pretty much giving him a blank check to lie. And given that you write here about how the current Panamanian government has cooled on China, his claim continues to make no sense. 

[jas007]

31 minutes ago, placeholder said:

"Maybe Trump knows something/? That's pretty much giving him a blank check to lie. And given that you write here about how the current Panamanian government has cooled on China, his claim continues to make no sense. 

It must make sense to Trump, right?  Otherwise, why fool with it all?  With all the nonsense going on in the world, why fool with Panama?  To be sure, it would be an easy win.  

 

Did Trump ever resume reading his daily briefings?  

 

Of course, there's also the "problem" of Venezuela. 

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, jas007 said:

It must make sense to Trump, right?  Otherwise, why fool with it all?  With all the nonsense going on in the world, why fool with Panama?  To be sure, it would be an easy win.  

 

Did Trump ever resume reading his daily briefings?  

 

Of course, there's also the "problem" of Venezuela. 

Because Trump would never stoop to lie? Or believe a random source if it suited him?

[jas007]

30 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Because Trump would never stoop to lie? Or believe a random source if it suited him?

But why lie about it?  What's the rationale? 

[placeholder]

22 minutes ago, jas007 said:

But why lie about it?  What's the rationale? 

As I recall now, some businessman complain to him about the allegedly exorbitant rates that Panama was charging to transit the canal. So Trump gets angry and starts making things up.

[jas007]

5 minutes ago, placeholder said:

As I recall now, some businessman complain to him about the allegedly exorbitant rates that Panama was charging to transit the canal. So Trump gets angry and starts making things up.

OK, that makes some sense.  It has been in the news lately. Obscene transit rates.  Whatever goes through the canal, we all end up paying for it.  I wonder what the rates were when the US ran the zone?  VS how much it cost to maintain a military presence?   

[placeholder]

4 minutes ago, jas007 said:

OK, that makes some sense.  It has been in the news lately. Obscene transit rates.  Whatever goes through the canal, we all end up paying for it.  I wonder what the rates were when the US ran the zone?  VS how much it cost to maintain a military presence?   

The reason the rates are skyrocketing is really simple. Unfortunately it's due to something that the right wingers deny is really a thing: anthropogenic climate change. There's been a prolonged drought in Panama. The lake that feeds the canal is very low. So the canal can't accommodate as many ships as it once did. That means there is now a bidding war to get through the canal. That way, Panama can make up for some of the lost income due to lower traffic. The canal doesn't cost nothing to run.

[NoDisplayName]

On 1/2/2025 at 1:32 PM, jas007 said:

In any event, Trump has a point about Canada and Greenland and Panama.  Isn't China establishing a presence in all three areas? 

 

Why, yes!.  They're building ports and highways and other infrastructure.

 

Call me when they regime-change a dozen stable, secular democratically-elected governments yearly, or have 800 foreign military bases.

[jas007]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

The reason the rates of the skyrocket is really simple. Unfortunately it's due to something that the right wingers deny is really a thing: anthropogenic climate change. There's been a prolonged drought in Panama. The lake that feeds the canal is very low. So the canal can't accommodate as many ships as it once did. That means there is now a bidding war to get through the canal. That way, Panama can make up for some of the lost income due to lower traffic. The canal doesn't cost nothing to run.

It's all interesting.  China wants to build a canal across Nicaragua.  They just need to raise billions of dollars and overcome political protests and geopolitical tensions. 

[NoDisplayName]

6 minutes ago, jas007 said:

OK, that makes some sense.  It has been in the news lately. Obscene transit rates.  Whatever goes through the canal, we all end up paying for it.  I wonder what the rates were when the US ran the zone?  VS how much it cost to maintain a military presence?   

 

Panama can set their rates as they please.

Don't like it?  Go around.

 

Or just like last time, when the US supported a military revolt to steal the territory from Columbia.

[jas007]

2 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Panama can set their rates as they please.

Don't like it?  Go around.

 

Or just like last time, when the US supported a military revolt to steal the territory from Columbia.

Of course they can set their rates.  And yes, the US can and will intervene if that's what they want to do.  If they feel some nation is trying to control Panama.  The Monroe Doctrine.  

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

5 minutes ago, jas007 said:

Of course they can set their rates.  And yes, the US can and will intervene if that's what they want to do.  If they feel some nation is trying to control Panama.  The Monroe Doctrine. 

 

 

Ah, rules based international order!

Like this?

 

Of course they can set their 9-dashed line.  And yes, China can and will intervene if that's what they want to do.  If they feel some nation is trying to control the South China Sea.  The Mao Doctrine. 

 

It's all fun and games until somebody loses a Ford class carrier.

[SunnyinBangrak]

This is EXACTLY why we need to investigate the Russia collusion hoax and bang up Obama, Clinton and the rest that concocted it. Clearly the false narrative that Trump is Putins puppet needs properly adressing.

It wasnt even Trump that the Moscow mayors wife was pumping money to. Democrats always accuse others of what they are guilty of themselves. Every. Single. Time.

[frank83628]

'Interpreted' ? Haha, Trump/Russia bashing fail. What a wally

[placeholder]

5 hours ago, jas007 said:

Of course they can set their rates.  And yes, the US can and will intervene if that's what they want to do.  If they feel some nation is trying to control Panama.  The Monroe Doctrine.  

 

 

Great idea. Violate international law based on a feeling. The same kind of feeling that the leaders of China and Russia experience.

As for the Monroe Doctrine, not exactly the most popular doctrine  given the devastation inflicted in its name on so many nations in the Americas. And, of course, it enjoys no legal status internationally and never did. It started as an empty threat created by the President it's named for. 

[jas007]

10 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Great idea. Violate international law based on a feeling. The same kind of feeling that the leaders of China and Russia experience.

As for the Monroe Doctrine, not exactly the most popular doctrine  given the devastation inflicted in its name on so many nations in the Americas. And, of course, it enjoys no legal status internationally and never did. It started as an empty threat created by the President it's named for. 

Yes, but I'm sure you realize how the USA has been operating lately.  International law is applicable for the rest of the world.  For the USA, only if that's convenient for the war mongers.  I don't see any change on the horizon, given Trump's Cabinet picks. 

[placeholder]

16 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

This is EXACTLY why we need to investigate the Russia collusion hoax and bang up Obama, Clinton and the rest that concocted it. Clearly the false narrative that Trump is Putins puppet needs properly adressing.

It wasnt even Trump that the Moscow mayors wife was pumping money to. Democrats always accuse others of what they are guilty of themselves. Every. Single. Time.

I live in hope that some day you will get your facts straight. This isn't one of those days. The wife of the Moscow mayor left Russia in 2010  because she was being investigated for criminal activity. Since then, she has been based in London.

 

Elena Baturina

Russia's second wealthiest woman, Elena Baturina, was married to Yury Luzkhkov, who was the mayor of Moscow for years.

In 2010, Luzhkov was removed from the mayor's post; Baturina and their daughters left the country.

Baturina soon sold almost all of her assets in Russia including a construction company called Inteko and a cement factories.

https://www.forbes.com/profile/elena-baturina/

 

Police Raid Company Of Ex-Moscow Mayor's Wife

Russian police have raided the Moscow offices of Inteko, a real estate firm owned by Yelena Baturina, the wife of Moscow's former mayor, Yury Luzhkov.
Irina Dudukina, a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, said the search was linked to an investigation into suspicions of embezzlement of 13 billion rubles ($443.7 million) from the Bank of Moscow.
Interfax quoted Baturina as saying, "I know for certain that these searches have no relation to either our company or the Bank of Moscow," and that "this is simply an ordered [raid] and a form of [political] pressure."

https://www.rferl.org/a/ex-moscow_mayors_wife_firm_raided/2312367.html

 

Putin, is, in fact, her enemy.

[Jim Blue]

I have a feeling there may be WMD in Panama !

[gamb00ler]

23 hours ago, mdr224 said:

Cant take any of this guys posts seriously

Don't worry... he's no threat to your position at the top of the unserious list.

[Rampant Rabbit]

must have an endless  supply of  barrels to scrape

[simple1]

On 1/2/2025 at 4:09 PM, TedG said:

LOL…You are so desperate. 

 

trump's messaging has evoked influencer responses within Russia, he's playing a dangerous game.

 

"Trump simply says it straight—we are everything and you are nothing," Mikheyev noted.

"This is especially interesting because it drives a wedge between him and Europe, it undermines the world architecture, and opens up certain opportunities for our foreign policy," MIkheyev said, adding that if Trump "really wants to stop the third world war, the way out is simple: dividing up the world into spheres of influence."

 

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-responds-donald-trumps-greenland-proposal-2005643