“And then Trump made the call….He overruled the Pentagon. He reversed the decision to stop the flow of weapons to Ukraine. Just like that, the crisis was defused—for now.”
Shankar, as promised my sincerest apologies: well done and great call. However (I know you saw this coming), you are still missing my point.
You still seem to be under the illusion that there was some renegade group in the Pentagon calling the shots, outside the knowledge of Dear Leader.
Do you honestly believe the two numb-nuts; I mean Colby and Hegseth are acting on their own and calling the shots? Hegseth is a joke, and as unserious as they come. Hegseth couldn’t tie his own shoes without permission.
Moreover, this was all Trump’s doing. He was testing the waters and seeing what he could get away with. This time he lost, and reversed course to save face. And of course the Pentagon is the fall guy: this time around! With Iran, it was Gabbard.
Shankar, you said last week that Trump is finally coming around, showing empathy for the countless of murdered Ukrainian children. This is what sociopaths excel at; faking empathy, while secretly not giving a damn. A perfect example is this weekend’s flooding in Texas. Trump said, “what a tragedy,” he then half blamed it on Biden, and then continued to finish his round of golf. Classic SOCIOPATH!
Make no mistake. Trump will continue to undermine our Ukrainian policy. He may not be able to shut down (YET), but he certainly can and will slow it down.
Bottom line, two weeks ago at the G7, Trump met with Zelenskyy, promised to send more weapons, and instead, a week later, he stopped the shipment of Patriots, and lifted all the sanctions on Russian banks that finance the war. He has also been refusing to enact new sanctions after promising to do so.
My point, no matter how you slice it, Trump and his minions will continue to undermine Ukrainian policy for as long as they can get away with it. This is not changing course, this is regrouping and figuring out your next line of attack.
And honestly, after this BBB was passed giving Trump a $170 billion slush fund, it’s only a matter of time before Trump controls ever lever of power in this country (which he doesn’t already control), including full control of the military.
We are currently experiencing a paradigm shift for American foreign policy, while Heritage continues to lay waste to our institutions domestically; bringing them to heel. This is all intentional and deliberate and I’m certainly not the only person to see this.
Trump is not by any means Europe’s or America’s friend. Here’s an article in the Atlantic which makes the case better than I can.
Why ??? no apology needed. We had different views. What's wrong with that. Does that not make both of us better when we dig deeper. I respect that. Will answer your Trump question shortly.
Phillips O'Brian had a piece whete he quoted the phrase Russians used to say. "If only Comrsde Stalin knew ", refusing to believe that Stalin was behind all of the purges, gulags etc. choosing instead to believe that it was the aparatchiks doing it and if only Comrade Stalin knew, he would stop it. I read his daughter's book and even she didn't believe that it was her father's doing.
I agree completely with Robert. It's naive to think that it was Colby or the zoentagon who did this. It was them following Ddumpf's orders, unwritten of course, so Noone can track it back to him. He's got plenty of practice doing this, with Roy Cohen's training.
You deserve a High Five for exemplary work every day, but they are not wrong, Spanky’s strange mix of mental failings requires him to be in absolute control with no accountability.
I’m appreciative of you bringing this to our attention, and to the variety of explanations as to who did what, and why. The mafia Don is proudly unpredictable, and loves having things broken so he can pretend to be the all powerful fixer. He loves having other leaders call him to do these things. And underlings bypass him. I’m glad so many others made calls to Congress too, and other actions. We do matter.
"Do you honestly believe the two numb-nuts; I mean Colby and Hegseth are acting on their own and calling the shots? Hegseth is a joke, and as unserious as they come. Hegseth couldn’t tie his own shoes without permission."
I honestly think you're wrong on this one, Robert. I think Colby and Hegseth tried to pass this one by Hippo Don. Maybe Colby even passed Hegseth on this one. Possibly Colby played his hand because both Hippo Don and Hegseth are, indeed, morons.
The reason why Colby thought he could get away with it - Hegseth wouldn't mind stopping support, and Hippo Don doesn't even realize what decade he lives in. Remember when four service men and women died? Hippo Don didn't have a clue what the reporter was talking about.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hippo Don is left out of 'ordinary decisions'. I would be even less surprised if he wasn't left out, but forgot an hour later he was informed...
You may be right, but don’t forget that it has been Russia who has been financing all of Trump’s property’s since the 90’s, and it was always Trump with an affinity for Russian propaganda; literally regurgitating Putin’s talking points ad nauseam throughout all of his presidential campaigns.
And I agree, Trump usually doesn’t take a policy position on most things except to get his priorities passed through Congress; however, when it comes to Putin, he has been extremely consistent.
He’s even been trying to get Russia back into the G8, and you definitely have to agree that neither Colby or Hegseth could have lifted the sanctions on the Russian banks. So you can’t claim Trump is a clueless soul when it comes to this topic, since he’s been Putin’s greatest cheerleader since his famous performance; riding down his golden escalator at Trump Tower in 2015…:)
Agreed. I don't think it matters whether Trump is personally directing this. Like the Mafia boss he is, everyone working for him knows what the boss wants without direct orders. That way the boss is never accountable.
I wouldn't call Hippo Don clueless, exactly. But remembering where he stands at any given point, other than that he admires Putin, and craves the latter's attention like a child angling for a candy - that's all that drives Our Orange King, astounding as it is.
I do stand by my point that it is exactly Hippo Don's admiration for Putin that strenghtened Colby in the idea that he could bypass procedure without consequence in his 'decision' to stop support.
I think Hegseth played a minor role in Colby's play. Hegseth's a fool, easily ignored by someone like Colby, who is, unfortunately, no dummie. I fear that Colby will have learned from his mistake, and will cover his bases on his next play...
Perhaps, as the wise man once said, “we shall see!”…:)
Just remember, it’s not just the weapons. Destroying USAID, and Voice of America allows Russia and China to continue to operate propaganda machines without US countermeasures; ultimately hurting the US brand globally.
Additionally, Trump has been gutting our cyber warfare capabilities; destroying our ability to defend against Russian cyber attacks; and firing most of our most qualified experts on the subject, which also helps Russia. Furthermore, we’ve been dismantling decades of programs to counter Russia’s aggression and China’s rise; all of which are under attack, or have been completely decimated by Trump based on the most specious of justifications.
My point, it’s not just an attack against Ukraine. Weve been slowing dismantling our nation’s ability to defend against Russian aggression. Russia never intended to go to war with the US; they know they can’t win. Since Khrushchev was president, it has been Russia’s goal to destroy America from within. Hence, their programs to target and attract American businessmen and government officials with a soft sell, instead of using g Kompromat; buy them, or finance their business ventures when they are in trouble or no one else will touch them. IMHO…:)
I don't deny all that - USAID, Voice Of America, Cyber Warfare etc - but I don't think Hippo Don has done all that 'to help' anyone. He simply doesn't understand what any of these things stand for, how they work, and what the consequences are when they're broken down.
Truth is, Hippo Don has the conceptual understanding of a five year old boy, if that.
Remember when he started blabbering about how people were flooding the country from 'insane asylums' all over the world? Hippo Don must have heard someone talking about 'asylum seekers' and he only knew the word 'asylum' in the context of 'insane asylums.'
From that point on, the three cells in the cavity where a brain should be conflated 'asylum seeker' with 'insane asylum', and the conviction arose that insane people were flooding the Southern Border. Naturally, if other countries were emptying their insane asylums into the country, they were also emptying their prisons, and so all the people crossing the Southern Border were insane and criminal.
Subsequently, if other countries were emptying their insane asylums and prisons into the US, crime was going down in the rest of the world. Completely ludicrous, but - consistent. On the conceptual level of a five year old, that is.
Does Hippo Don actually believe this 'story'? Like hell he does. We find it hard to believe that he's that moronic. But - he is.
Injecting bleach?
No, seriously, this is the level of understanding we're talking a bout. This is the level of conceptual thinking we're talking about with regards to our Brave King Bone Spurs. He is, in other words, a true moron.
A verifiable imbecile.
It is dangerous to suspect any deeper thinking on his part, the danger being that that is exactly what's missing - deeper thinking. There is only an infathomable craving for attention and admiration combined with a total lack of empathy.
And that, that is the reason why he admires Putin and Kim Il Sung - because he mistakes lack of opposition for admiration. If he is helping them, it stems from this craving for admiration. From nothing else.
Because he doesn't understand anything else, not the world we live in, nor the consequences of his own actions...
I don’t doubt anything you say, but I think you’re underestimating the guy; he’s a master salesmen, and when it comes to his own interests, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
And let’s not forget, Project 2025 is a carbon copy of Orban’s playbook, which he got from Russia. And Orban has been a thorn in NATO and the EU’s side; doing Putin’s handiwork from within the house..:)
In any but his current job Trump would have been given notice that if he didn't undergo a thorough neuropsychological evaluation he would be 'fired' immediately before he causes any more chaos. And pending the results, which I am assuming would be telling, he would be put on suspension. TACO isn't a joke; it's a sympton. And I so agree that Hegeth is a lickspittle of the first rank and tha neither he or anyone else with current power within the Pentagon is about to do anything without running it up Trump's, er, flagpole. Sad to say.
There’s also the recent piece in the SCMS, confirming from Xi’s own lips China’s desire for a Kremlin victory. There’s a possibility someone explained that to him.
I must simply add here that all of Trump’s efforts so far to bring the world to heel in obedience to his absolute rule have failed. The exports that helped made us a rich nation such as grain and guns have collapsed as Europe rearms themselves as they did before World Wars I and II. Canada has replaced our grain orders with theirs. Trump demanded the other NATO nations “pay their share,” and they have, just not in the way Trump expected. France has created a French made HiMARs version that can be fitted to the Ukrainians’aging F 16’s and Russian fihhter planes. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and others are supplying more of their own weaponry to Ukraine because they all realize that if Ukraine falls they will be next.
Trump’s ignorance of history, culture, and diplomacy shows brighter every day.
The rest of the west does not wish to be bullied anymore. Together they are able to withstand Trump’s posturing and threats. And we, here in the US, are only a country of consumers now. We have abandoned and attacked the very people who harvest our crops, build our houses, and work in the most horrible of our plants. We are now trained to want more while giving less.
Of course, Unless we can reverse course. As Winston Churchill famously said America always does the right thing , after it has tried everything else. !!haha. Our obfuscation of the obvious is famous.
If there were a golden buzzer, I'd hit it. Your voice, your knowledge is making a difference. You have the courage to make predictions; of course you'll shift course on some, but, your percentage of hitting the mark is astronomical! Thank you Shankar!
"For now". The one thing that is predictable about Trump and "decision-making" (is that an oxymoron?) is that he is unpredictable. Today he approves weapons transfers, tomorrow he forgets what he did today. It's no way to make war-fighting plans. That said, it's up to Europe to ramp up as much support for Ukraine as possible. Anything sent by the US should be considered a "bonus".
The EU/NATO need to step up to the plate and send offensive weapons to Ukraine. Putin is winning the war not because he has the more powerful military but because the US is withholding the weapons Ukraine needs to resoundingly defeat Putin. The EU/NATO must give Ukraine the weaponry they need to reach out and touch Putin in a personal way. It is the only way to end this atrocity inflicted on Ukraine by Russia supported by Trump.
This is the texture of Trump's participation in both foreign and domestic policy. I wholeheartedly agree with the assessment that "next time" the pro-Putin factions will be more cautious. The sad part is that there will be a next time.
Trump's focus on Ukraine is focused on how he can use Ukraine to extract "deals" from Putin. Trump seems unable to understand that Russia is a gas station with nuclear weapons. Russia is not a nation that has or will turn its face to the future. Its backward gaze is likely what attracts Trump in the first place. Putin embraced a "Drill, baby, drill" perspective and rode it to supremacy in Russia. Trump's "Drill, baby, drill" approach sees Putting as a model to be emulated.
Both Putin and Trump have turned their nations' faces from the future. Trump sees hope in this. It may be what drives him to believe that he "understands Putin". Putin, a professional autocrat, sees Trump, an amateur in most things, as a food source. So, there's a difference. This difference animates the Trump-Putin dance over Ukraine.
In this context, Trump adds a bit of aid to Ukraine, oblivious of how or whether Ukraine succeeds. Ukraine is merely a tool for Trump to use to leverage Putin. That Trump fails to understand that Putin is broke is beside the point. Trump believes Putin can render unto Caesar. Information to the contrary doesn't register.
The pro-Putin block tried to navigate Trump's beliefs. This time they discovered that not even the chaff generated by Middle East could hide their "guess" that the Trump would allow a tip towards Putin.
This isn't policy, it surfing. Surfing the erratic waters of Trump's ego-driven "gut" is not a sport that offers participants trophies. There's only ever one Trophy. And Trump only gives it to himself.
Trump nullification is Ukraine's, and the EU's best approach. Supply Ukraine with all it needs and a bit more. This is the only way to win Trump's surfing olympics - make it irrelevant. Or as irrelevant as possible. Trump has been offering Putin the "good' of "Time". Time necessary to somehow defeat Ukraine. The pro-Putin faction's aim was to also give Putin "Space".
Specifically, Ukrainian air space.
The world saw what happened to Iran when it lost control of its airspace. The pro-Putin faction was trying to bring this reality to Ukraine. Apparently there are enough members of the GOP willing to stand up for what's right - at least in Ukraine, and at least for now. This adds urgency to the mission of the EU. Handing frozen Russian assets to Ukraine now, or even on a defined schedule would help to explain to Putin why he cannot win. It may even explain to the US's pro-Putin faction that their efforts will never succeed.
Trump did not override the Pentagon. Trump sometimes likes to give orders through the press or tweet to show who’s the boss and who’s the apprentice. It is also possible that Trump did not consider this decision as a priority ( even though too many , thousands are getting killed in his language ) and Hegseth did not want to remind Trump for fear of being asked to SFU since he’s busy with the BBB. Trump doesn’t care who gets killed and where.
Yes. That has been the case I made from the start. This is the direct result of the structural gap created in the system by not filling up the NSA post. Trump had to fill that position.
Good news indeed! As long as they stick to it—it’s a very odd admin with too many folks who either have a dictator-wannabe complex or a lack of experience and knowledge.
Do we really think Hegseth and Colby made the original decision to withhold weapon shipments WITHOUT running it by Trump, or getting a directive from Trump on the first place?
“And then Trump made the call….He overruled the Pentagon. He reversed the decision to stop the flow of weapons to Ukraine. Just like that, the crisis was defused—for now.”
Shankar, as promised my sincerest apologies: well done and great call. However (I know you saw this coming), you are still missing my point.
You still seem to be under the illusion that there was some renegade group in the Pentagon calling the shots, outside the knowledge of Dear Leader.
Do you honestly believe the two numb-nuts; I mean Colby and Hegseth are acting on their own and calling the shots? Hegseth is a joke, and as unserious as they come. Hegseth couldn’t tie his own shoes without permission.
Moreover, this was all Trump’s doing. He was testing the waters and seeing what he could get away with. This time he lost, and reversed course to save face. And of course the Pentagon is the fall guy: this time around! With Iran, it was Gabbard.
Shankar, you said last week that Trump is finally coming around, showing empathy for the countless of murdered Ukrainian children. This is what sociopaths excel at; faking empathy, while secretly not giving a damn. A perfect example is this weekend’s flooding in Texas. Trump said, “what a tragedy,” he then half blamed it on Biden, and then continued to finish his round of golf. Classic SOCIOPATH!
Make no mistake. Trump will continue to undermine our Ukrainian policy. He may not be able to shut down (YET), but he certainly can and will slow it down.
Bottom line, two weeks ago at the G7, Trump met with Zelenskyy, promised to send more weapons, and instead, a week later, he stopped the shipment of Patriots, and lifted all the sanctions on Russian banks that finance the war. He has also been refusing to enact new sanctions after promising to do so.
My point, no matter how you slice it, Trump and his minions will continue to undermine Ukrainian policy for as long as they can get away with it. This is not changing course, this is regrouping and figuring out your next line of attack.
And honestly, after this BBB was passed giving Trump a $170 billion slush fund, it’s only a matter of time before Trump controls ever lever of power in this country (which he doesn’t already control), including full control of the military.
We are currently experiencing a paradigm shift for American foreign policy, while Heritage continues to lay waste to our institutions domestically; bringing them to heel. This is all intentional and deliberate and I’m certainly not the only person to see this.
Trump is not by any means Europe’s or America’s friend. Here’s an article in the Atlantic which makes the case better than I can.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/putin-trump-russia-ukraine/683414/?gift=NOJ2QUPq21Etl5vIIQw7a6-UUK1-Q7fiXdL1szaAdrs
Why ??? no apology needed. We had different views. What's wrong with that. Does that not make both of us better when we dig deeper. I respect that. Will answer your Trump question shortly.
Phillips O'Brian had a piece whete he quoted the phrase Russians used to say. "If only Comrsde Stalin knew ", refusing to believe that Stalin was behind all of the purges, gulags etc. choosing instead to believe that it was the aparatchiks doing it and if only Comrade Stalin knew, he would stop it. I read his daughter's book and even she didn't believe that it was her father's doing.
I agree completely with Robert. It's naive to think that it was Colby or the zoentagon who did this. It was them following Ddumpf's orders, unwritten of course, so Noone can track it back to him. He's got plenty of practice doing this, with Roy Cohen's training.
I was expecting a high-five though!!
I would, but I can’t find that emoji. Would you settle for a 👍👍👍? I believe three thumbs up has to be equivalent to a high-five….:)
Got it. 👍👍👍
You deserve a High Five for exemplary work every day, but they are not wrong, Spanky’s strange mix of mental failings requires him to be in absolute control with no accountability.
I’m appreciative of you bringing this to our attention, and to the variety of explanations as to who did what, and why. The mafia Don is proudly unpredictable, and loves having things broken so he can pretend to be the all powerful fixer. He loves having other leaders call him to do these things. And underlings bypass him. I’m glad so many others made calls to Congress too, and other actions. We do matter.
"Do you honestly believe the two numb-nuts; I mean Colby and Hegseth are acting on their own and calling the shots? Hegseth is a joke, and as unserious as they come. Hegseth couldn’t tie his own shoes without permission."
I honestly think you're wrong on this one, Robert. I think Colby and Hegseth tried to pass this one by Hippo Don. Maybe Colby even passed Hegseth on this one. Possibly Colby played his hand because both Hippo Don and Hegseth are, indeed, morons.
The reason why Colby thought he could get away with it - Hegseth wouldn't mind stopping support, and Hippo Don doesn't even realize what decade he lives in. Remember when four service men and women died? Hippo Don didn't have a clue what the reporter was talking about.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hippo Don is left out of 'ordinary decisions'. I would be even less surprised if he wasn't left out, but forgot an hour later he was informed...
You may be right, but don’t forget that it has been Russia who has been financing all of Trump’s property’s since the 90’s, and it was always Trump with an affinity for Russian propaganda; literally regurgitating Putin’s talking points ad nauseam throughout all of his presidential campaigns.
And I agree, Trump usually doesn’t take a policy position on most things except to get his priorities passed through Congress; however, when it comes to Putin, he has been extremely consistent.
He’s even been trying to get Russia back into the G8, and you definitely have to agree that neither Colby or Hegseth could have lifted the sanctions on the Russian banks. So you can’t claim Trump is a clueless soul when it comes to this topic, since he’s been Putin’s greatest cheerleader since his famous performance; riding down his golden escalator at Trump Tower in 2015…:)
Agreed. I don't think it matters whether Trump is personally directing this. Like the Mafia boss he is, everyone working for him knows what the boss wants without direct orders. That way the boss is never accountable.
I wouldn't call Hippo Don clueless, exactly. But remembering where he stands at any given point, other than that he admires Putin, and craves the latter's attention like a child angling for a candy - that's all that drives Our Orange King, astounding as it is.
I do stand by my point that it is exactly Hippo Don's admiration for Putin that strenghtened Colby in the idea that he could bypass procedure without consequence in his 'decision' to stop support.
I think Hegseth played a minor role in Colby's play. Hegseth's a fool, easily ignored by someone like Colby, who is, unfortunately, no dummie. I fear that Colby will have learned from his mistake, and will cover his bases on his next play...
Perhaps, as the wise man once said, “we shall see!”…:)
Just remember, it’s not just the weapons. Destroying USAID, and Voice of America allows Russia and China to continue to operate propaganda machines without US countermeasures; ultimately hurting the US brand globally.
Additionally, Trump has been gutting our cyber warfare capabilities; destroying our ability to defend against Russian cyber attacks; and firing most of our most qualified experts on the subject, which also helps Russia. Furthermore, we’ve been dismantling decades of programs to counter Russia’s aggression and China’s rise; all of which are under attack, or have been completely decimated by Trump based on the most specious of justifications.
My point, it’s not just an attack against Ukraine. Weve been slowing dismantling our nation’s ability to defend against Russian aggression. Russia never intended to go to war with the US; they know they can’t win. Since Khrushchev was president, it has been Russia’s goal to destroy America from within. Hence, their programs to target and attract American businessmen and government officials with a soft sell, instead of using g Kompromat; buy them, or finance their business ventures when they are in trouble or no one else will touch them. IMHO…:)
Thanks for your replies, first off.
I don't deny all that - USAID, Voice Of America, Cyber Warfare etc - but I don't think Hippo Don has done all that 'to help' anyone. He simply doesn't understand what any of these things stand for, how they work, and what the consequences are when they're broken down.
Truth is, Hippo Don has the conceptual understanding of a five year old boy, if that.
Remember when he started blabbering about how people were flooding the country from 'insane asylums' all over the world? Hippo Don must have heard someone talking about 'asylum seekers' and he only knew the word 'asylum' in the context of 'insane asylums.'
From that point on, the three cells in the cavity where a brain should be conflated 'asylum seeker' with 'insane asylum', and the conviction arose that insane people were flooding the Southern Border. Naturally, if other countries were emptying their insane asylums into the country, they were also emptying their prisons, and so all the people crossing the Southern Border were insane and criminal.
Subsequently, if other countries were emptying their insane asylums and prisons into the US, crime was going down in the rest of the world. Completely ludicrous, but - consistent. On the conceptual level of a five year old, that is.
Does Hippo Don actually believe this 'story'? Like hell he does. We find it hard to believe that he's that moronic. But - he is.
Injecting bleach?
No, seriously, this is the level of understanding we're talking a bout. This is the level of conceptual thinking we're talking about with regards to our Brave King Bone Spurs. He is, in other words, a true moron.
A verifiable imbecile.
It is dangerous to suspect any deeper thinking on his part, the danger being that that is exactly what's missing - deeper thinking. There is only an infathomable craving for attention and admiration combined with a total lack of empathy.
And that, that is the reason why he admires Putin and Kim Il Sung - because he mistakes lack of opposition for admiration. If he is helping them, it stems from this craving for admiration. From nothing else.
Because he doesn't understand anything else, not the world we live in, nor the consequences of his own actions...
I don’t doubt anything you say, but I think you’re underestimating the guy; he’s a master salesmen, and when it comes to his own interests, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
And let’s not forget, Project 2025 is a carbon copy of Orban’s playbook, which he got from Russia. And Orban has been a thorn in NATO and the EU’s side; doing Putin’s handiwork from within the house..:)
In any but his current job Trump would have been given notice that if he didn't undergo a thorough neuropsychological evaluation he would be 'fired' immediately before he causes any more chaos. And pending the results, which I am assuming would be telling, he would be put on suspension. TACO isn't a joke; it's a sympton. And I so agree that Hegeth is a lickspittle of the first rank and tha neither he or anyone else with current power within the Pentagon is about to do anything without running it up Trump's, er, flagpole. Sad to say.
There’s also the recent piece in the SCMS, confirming from Xi’s own lips China’s desire for a Kremlin victory. There’s a possibility someone explained that to him.
I read that as well.
I must simply add here that all of Trump’s efforts so far to bring the world to heel in obedience to his absolute rule have failed. The exports that helped made us a rich nation such as grain and guns have collapsed as Europe rearms themselves as they did before World Wars I and II. Canada has replaced our grain orders with theirs. Trump demanded the other NATO nations “pay their share,” and they have, just not in the way Trump expected. France has created a French made HiMARs version that can be fitted to the Ukrainians’aging F 16’s and Russian fihhter planes. Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and others are supplying more of their own weaponry to Ukraine because they all realize that if Ukraine falls they will be next.
Trump’s ignorance of history, culture, and diplomacy shows brighter every day.
The rest of the west does not wish to be bullied anymore. Together they are able to withstand Trump’s posturing and threats. And we, here in the US, are only a country of consumers now. We have abandoned and attacked the very people who harvest our crops, build our houses, and work in the most horrible of our plants. We are now trained to want more while giving less.
It won’t end well for us.
Of course, Unless we can reverse course. As Winston Churchill famously said America always does the right thing , after it has tried everything else. !!haha. Our obfuscation of the obvious is famous.
If there were a golden buzzer, I'd hit it. Your voice, your knowledge is making a difference. You have the courage to make predictions; of course you'll shift course on some, but, your percentage of hitting the mark is astronomical! Thank you Shankar!
Thank you....
"For now". The one thing that is predictable about Trump and "decision-making" (is that an oxymoron?) is that he is unpredictable. Today he approves weapons transfers, tomorrow he forgets what he did today. It's no way to make war-fighting plans. That said, it's up to Europe to ramp up as much support for Ukraine as possible. Anything sent by the US should be considered a "bonus".
Yes.
As an addendum, this appeared in this mornings' "The Guardian":
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/08/us-pentagon-military-plans-patriot-missile-interceptor
Well done
Thanks Shankar! Looking forward to your insights and analyses every day!
The EU/NATO need to step up to the plate and send offensive weapons to Ukraine. Putin is winning the war not because he has the more powerful military but because the US is withholding the weapons Ukraine needs to resoundingly defeat Putin. The EU/NATO must give Ukraine the weaponry they need to reach out and touch Putin in a personal way. It is the only way to end this atrocity inflicted on Ukraine by Russia supported by Trump.
Erratic:
This is the texture of Trump's participation in both foreign and domestic policy. I wholeheartedly agree with the assessment that "next time" the pro-Putin factions will be more cautious. The sad part is that there will be a next time.
Trump's focus on Ukraine is focused on how he can use Ukraine to extract "deals" from Putin. Trump seems unable to understand that Russia is a gas station with nuclear weapons. Russia is not a nation that has or will turn its face to the future. Its backward gaze is likely what attracts Trump in the first place. Putin embraced a "Drill, baby, drill" perspective and rode it to supremacy in Russia. Trump's "Drill, baby, drill" approach sees Putting as a model to be emulated.
Both Putin and Trump have turned their nations' faces from the future. Trump sees hope in this. It may be what drives him to believe that he "understands Putin". Putin, a professional autocrat, sees Trump, an amateur in most things, as a food source. So, there's a difference. This difference animates the Trump-Putin dance over Ukraine.
In this context, Trump adds a bit of aid to Ukraine, oblivious of how or whether Ukraine succeeds. Ukraine is merely a tool for Trump to use to leverage Putin. That Trump fails to understand that Putin is broke is beside the point. Trump believes Putin can render unto Caesar. Information to the contrary doesn't register.
The pro-Putin block tried to navigate Trump's beliefs. This time they discovered that not even the chaff generated by Middle East could hide their "guess" that the Trump would allow a tip towards Putin.
This isn't policy, it surfing. Surfing the erratic waters of Trump's ego-driven "gut" is not a sport that offers participants trophies. There's only ever one Trophy. And Trump only gives it to himself.
Trump nullification is Ukraine's, and the EU's best approach. Supply Ukraine with all it needs and a bit more. This is the only way to win Trump's surfing olympics - make it irrelevant. Or as irrelevant as possible. Trump has been offering Putin the "good' of "Time". Time necessary to somehow defeat Ukraine. The pro-Putin faction's aim was to also give Putin "Space".
Specifically, Ukrainian air space.
The world saw what happened to Iran when it lost control of its airspace. The pro-Putin faction was trying to bring this reality to Ukraine. Apparently there are enough members of the GOP willing to stand up for what's right - at least in Ukraine, and at least for now. This adds urgency to the mission of the EU. Handing frozen Russian assets to Ukraine now, or even on a defined schedule would help to explain to Putin why he cannot win. It may even explain to the US's pro-Putin faction that their efforts will never succeed.
Trump did not override the Pentagon. Trump sometimes likes to give orders through the press or tweet to show who’s the boss and who’s the apprentice. It is also possible that Trump did not consider this decision as a priority ( even though too many , thousands are getting killed in his language ) and Hegseth did not want to remind Trump for fear of being asked to SFU since he’s busy with the BBB. Trump doesn’t care who gets killed and where.
CNN reports that Hegseth didn’t keep Trump and Rubio in the loop on the stoppage he initiated and these guys were so busy they couldn’t care.
Yes. That has been the case I made from the start. This is the direct result of the structural gap created in the system by not filling up the NSA post. Trump had to fill that position.
Good news indeed! As long as they stick to it—it’s a very odd admin with too many folks who either have a dictator-wannabe complex or a lack of experience and knowledge.
Lies, all lies!
Cheers. The fight continues.
Loved: It worked out...
Do we really think Hegseth and Colby made the original decision to withhold weapon shipments WITHOUT running it by Trump, or getting a directive from Trump on the first place?
Even Rubio was not kept in the loop. He is technically the NSA.