5 minutes ago, Tug said:

I beg to differ they know how to get by with a mylignant narcissist I’m sure they are being advised by experts as to best handle ( the Donald) as you call him.

I'm sure you are very right. 

 

But Trump is plainly and awkwardly saying and acting out loud, what most of his predecessors were doing sneekyly under the table, behind the wings (they call it diplomacy I think). The point here is that it may be America, Russia, Israel, Europe or whereever...naive is he or she,  who takes the politician's word for granted...Amen. 

55 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

Everybody giving out on Trump, yet all the world leaders in front of the cameras are openly bootlicking the Donald. 

 

Those ultimately at fault are all those heads of state, mainly all over most of Europe, who have been boot licking America for decades. 

 

Even much before Trump, America (their politicians and bureacrats not refering to americans so please...)....America has always been a global bully. 

You don't have to worry about that anymore, due to Don American influence is waning by the day, and that's probably a good thing for the world. 

Up to now (Trump) Europe and the west in general saw the US as a staunch friend and ally one who could be trusted and counted on. 

 

They were happy to support the US defence industry by buying their products it was a win win for all concerned. 

 

This gave the US defence industry more money for research and development while at the same time due to economies of scale reducing the costs of procurement for the US and other governments.

 

Post Trump it is a different matter Europe and the west have woken up to the fact that if they want weapons they can use as they want or supply to whoever they please they had better develop and manufacture them themselves.

 

This is without a doubt going to have a detrimental effect on the US defence industry in the future as sales dry up.

 

Putin has obviously ordered Trump not to supply Tomahawks

 

If Europe had their own version of Tomahawk I’m sure Ukraine would already have had them they have the Storm Shadow air launched but it has nowhere near the range of the Tomahawk.

 

If Ukraine had been supplied with the weapons they needed without tying their hands behind their back at the very beginning of the invasion it would not have dragged on as long as it has and Russia could have been stopped.

 

Trumps idea for stopping the war is freeze the lines as they are now and let Russia keep everything it has so far occupied.

 

This would not bring lasting peace only reward Russia and give Putin more time to build up his forces and supplies for another invasion either Ukraine again or somewhere else.

 

Trump is obviously on Putins side he has stopped all support and supplies for Ukraine and at the same time has not imposed any tariffs on Russia (his favourite tool for punishing countries) when he has on just about every other country in the world. 

 

America will not regain the respect influence or position in the world it used to have after Trump or if it does it will take a very long time as spidermike007 said that is probably a good thing for the world.

On 10/16/2025 at 8:34 PM, Bannoi said:

Putins playing Trump again just like an old fiddle.

 

The guy who appointed a moron to run the FBI matching wits with a veteran KGB officer.  But but but the FBI can't be trusted, so the US president puts his trust in the KGB guy.  

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/13/trump-putin-meetings-interpreter-notes/2565471002/

 

All this speculation is about what Putin has on DT, I never heard of anyone suspecting that perhaps he also has something on Melania, from the time before she married.  Personally I don't think DT would put up much defense for her, save for an initial, luke-warm comment.  He buried one of his ex-wives on a golf course, you know,  

 

Why don't the MAGA faithful come straight out and support Putin first hand?  Why not just have Vlad make speeches on US teevee so he can speak directly?