So it begins - historic nk summit

[Commodore]

We are already seeing signs that China will most likely supplant the US soon as the new World Superpower. For example, China has announced a massive investment in trade infrastructure around the world to the tune of $1 trillion

For that to happen though, China will have to maintain at least a civil relationship with the US. Their economy is a farce. A farce that will come crashing down and send them right back into poverty if they decide to make enemies with us. Also, for a nation to be a superpower, they have to have a military that can back up their economic might. China doesn't have that right now and won't have that for the foreseeable future. The Chinese military, while powerful, isn't really capable of fighting wars far from home like the US military can. Their blue water navy is still laughable compared to the US, and a strong blue water navy is absolutely essential to the power projection capability that a global superpower requires. Their air force is also still not where it needs to be for them to be a superpower.

Basically, China's military is still very much geared towards defending their homeland and fighting regional wars not far from their borders. And their military is very, very good at those two things, but they are still very far away from being able to do what the US does.

Russia in not our friend. China could be because we have strong trading ties. Your US-Russia-China block idea is stupid.

Our relationship with Russia was actually improving greatly until very recently. I'd like to see that relationship resume. Of course it's hard for that to happen with certain politicians screaming wild conspiracy theories about Russians "hacking" our elections when all they did, at most, was put out some political ads on Facebook and hire a bunch of internet trolls to talk up Trump.

Our relations with China were also improving until recently as well. So for a while there (mid to late 2000s) it seemed like my power bloc was a real possibility.

So you think we are more culturally and ideologically aligned with Russia and China than the EU?

Yes. This is evidenced by the increasingly strained relationship with Europe over the past decade or so. Hell, Germany even refuses to call us a friend now, and they've been calling us a friend since the end of WWII. Apparently we are just a "partner" now. And I have a sneaking suspicion the only reason Europe doesn't treat us with outright and utter contempt is because they are still deathly afraid of Russia and still need US protection.

The thing I find really sad is the US is finding out now that none of our so-called friends ever really cared about us. We were just the rich kid that everyone pretended to be friends with because we had money and cool toys to play with. But now that we aren't paying everyone's way anymore, all of a sudden they don't return our calls or want to hang out anymore.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Yes. This is evidenced by the increasingly strained relationship with Europe over the past decade or so. Hell, Germany even refuses to call us a friend now, and they've been calling us a friend since the end of WWII. Apparently we are just a "partner" now. And I have a sneaking suspicion the only reason Europe doesn't treat us with outright and utter contempt is because they are still deathly afraid of Russia and still need US protection.

Well, given Trump's predilection for anti-European/anti-EU rhetoric, and the ridiculous set of sanctions imposed on the EU recently, what did you expect? Even Canada, the USA's most staunch ally, is having difficulty being friendly right now.

So really, if you're worried that your "so called friends" aren't treating you well, you only have to look to "The Donald" to figure out why. Mr. Motor-mouth has brought this on himself, and if he keeps it up, the US will find itself with very few allies. If any at all.

 

[sophie]

Our relationship with Russia was actually improving greatly until very recently. I'd like to see that relationship resume. Of course it's hard for that to happen with certain politicians screaming wild conspiracy theories about Russians "hacking" our elections when all they did, at most, was put out some political ads on Facebook and hire a bunch of internet trolls to talk up Trump.

If "improving greatly" means rolling over while Russia engages in imperialistic landgrabs of other sovereign nations and sitting by passively as Russia actively engages in sabotaging our democratic process, I tremble to think what things would look like as a fully realized bloc.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Well, given Trump's predilection for anti-European/anti-EU rhetoric, and the ridiculous set of sanctions imposed on the EU recently, what did you expect? Even Canada, the USA's most staunch ally, is having difficulty being friendly right now.

Some of the EU member states themselves are starting to lean anti-EU, the business in Italy isn't pretty on top of the UK/Hungary/Poland stuff. EU is not quite as draconian as China yet though, so I don't see how China is somehow better-aligned with USA culturally/ideologically.

What I'm not 100% clear on is the US justification for backing out on the Iran deal. Was there at least some coughed-up evidence that Iran was acting in bad faith?

 

[BenitoChavez]

What I'm not 100% clear on is the US justification for backing out on the Iran deal. Was there at least some coughed-up evidence that Iran was acting in bad faith?

This is Trump's reasoning

black people = bad
Obama = really really bad
muslims = bad
no nukes = I can push you around.

It's really not anymore complicated than that.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

This is Trump's reasoning

black people = bad
Obama = really really bad
muslims = bad
no nukes = I can push you around.

It's really not anymore complicated than that.

No, I mean it. There must be some statement made that Iran acted in bad faith, or that the deal was overwhelmingly bad for the US. I don't care about your perceived motivations for it, or anybody else's for the moment. I'm interested in the reason/excuse being used.

 

[Birdjaguar]

This is Trump's reasoning

black people = bad
Obama = really really bad
muslims = bad
no nukes = I can push you around.

It's really not anymore complicated than that.

You left one thing out: Trump wants to undo everything Obama did regardless of whether or not it was beneficial.

 

[Broken_Erika]

You left one thing out: Trump wants to undo everything Obama did regardless of whether or not it was beneficial.

Wouldn't that fall under: "Obama = really really bad"?

 

[Birdjaguar]

Wouldn't that fall under: "Obama = really really bad"?

From the general to the specific.

 

[BenitoChavez]

No, I mean it. There must be some statement made that Iran acted in bad faith, or that the deal was overwhelmingly bad for the US. I don't care about your perceived motivations for it, or anybody else's for the moment. I'm interested in the reason/excuse being used.

Have at it

 

[ori]

Yes. This is evidenced by the increasingly strained relationship with Europe over the past decade or so. Hell, Germany even refuses to call us a friend now, and they've been calling us a friend since the end of WWII. Apparently we are just a "partner" now. And I have a sneaking suspicion the only reason Europe doesn't treat us with outright and utter contempt is because they are still deathly afraid of Russia and still need US protection.

curious how our president just yesterday reiterated the friendship between our countries then

I do believe that it is also a wonderful moment for the friendship between our countries in turbulent times!

- it is not the German position that the US / German friendship is no longer that but rather a mere partnership, this squarely falls into the lap of the US government that unilaterally decided to view this as such. Of course having the US president accuse the German government of falsifying its criminal statistics in order to lie to its populace about the impact of immigration on the same day does make for turbulent times, but that again is solely the decision of the US government.

 

[Zkribbler]

No, I mean it. There must be some statement made that Iran acted in bad faith, or that the deal was overwhelmingly bad for the U.S. I don't care about your perceived motivations for it, or anybody else's for the moment. I'm interested in the reason/excuse being used.

Long-range missiles are not part of the nuclear deal. Trump is angry because Iran is continuing to develop them. Trump wants Iran to act as if they are in the deal. Iran won't.

 

[Broken_Erika]

The US also seems to think that the "Spirit of the Deal" means total subservience.........

 

[Hrothbern]

Long-range missiles are not part of the nuclear deal. Trump is angry because Iran is continuing to develop them. Trump wants Iran to act as if they are in the deal. Iran won't.

How would Trump react when the EU would develop their own MAD ?

 

[rah]

He'd probably claim it a victory if the EU escalated it's own defense spending.

 

[Hrothbern]

He'd probably claim it a victory if the EU escalated it's own defense spending.

I did not say defense spending (buying US tanks, jets, etc)
Only MAD and ofc the submarines (that he will never sell).
Will take some time to get that developed and build, but still, despite the submarines, much less cost than increasing conventional military.

 

[Berzerker]

Of course having the US president accuse the German government of falsifying its criminal statistics in order to lie to its populace about the impact of immigration on the same day does make for turbulent times, but that again is solely the decision of the US government.

payback for the photo of Merkel leaning on the table

 

[ori]

no its in line with the new US ambassador telling everyone his mission is to support right wing parties in Europe - nothing to do with some photo and everything to do with the conscious decision by the US government to no longer deem friendly nations friends.

 

[Berzerker]

That aint how Trump's brain works, ideology is second to ego. She made him look bad so he got revenge.

 

[rah]

I did not say defense spending (buying US tanks, jets, etc)
Only MAD and ofc the submarines (that he will never sell).
Will take some time to get that developed and build, but still, despite the submarines, much less cost than increasing conventional military.

I think you're underestimating the cost of a nuclear program.
But regardless, I they're spending money on that, in the end, then we wouldn't have to spend as much to protect them.
That's an easy spin into a Trump brag fest.