Yesterday Donald Trump marked his first year back in office in a term that some commentators have dubbed Trump 2.0 and he used the opportunity to boast about what he had achieved in that year. He claimed that he was bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. because of tariffs and that he was saving money by pulling out of all kinds of international organisations as well as ensuring that he was getting the best deals possible all over the world. He waffled for several minutes about how he could get something for $37m, already negotiated during his first term, that "crooked Joe" (his term - certainly not mine!) paid $500m for - to be honest he was so busy boasting that I lost the point of what he was on about.
He claimed that NATO was now stronger - how creating a schism between the U.S. and all of its allies, including Canada, I will never know. I have already discussed the Greenland issue in a previous post and so, what is crystal clear to the rest of the world but fails to land with him and his MAGA supporters, is not worth another word... or maybe just two SHEER IDIOCY
If the US wants to be isolationist so be it - but don't attack allies in the process. The world is not one big piece of real estate for sale to the highest bidder.
And yet in the midst of everything he continually repeated the same slogan "Peace through Strength" which to me seems to have echoes of the Nazi Strength through Joy programme. I know it is clearly not the same, but the semantics are remarkably similar.
And here is the contradiction which proves that he is full of s**t.
But first a little more context...
He demonstrated (admittedly quite) adeptly, how Peace through Strength can work by reining in Israel, even to the point of forcing IDF bombers to turn around mid-flight, and ending the war in Gaza. In principle this was no different to both Bosnia and Kosovo, in that the aggressor was stopped in their tracks - even the Balkan Crises were a bit more clear cut because after all what Israel was doing could be justified as an act of righteous fury and self-defence. Let's not forgot that Hamas brought the war upon themselves with the 7th October (2023) attacks, regardless of the injustices concerning settlements that the Palestinian people face.
Moving swiftly on, he ably demonstrated that, on his orders, the U.S. decapitated the leadership of Venezuela in a single overnight strike before moving on to Greenland and then when the Europeans drew a line in the sand he threatened more tariffs.
He doesn't seem to understand that while in the short term tariffs may benefit the U.S. domestic economy it will ultimately bring it down because nobody will trade. As imports falter so will exports...
Back to the point, it must be obvious to my readership now that Peace through Strength only works with those who he can intimidate and bully. Where is this strength when reining in Russia's aggression and overt threat to European peace. His relationship with Putin is sycophantic (sophisticated language for an a**licker / c**ksucker). Firstly, he brings Putin in from the cold and then he invites him to the Board of Peace that he wants to establish - it feels like an embellished version of the 1938 Munich conference where so called Great Powers decide the fate of the world without any consideration to the people they are f**king with. Those of you who know me will already be aware that I consider Munich 1938 as Britain's real betrayal of its European neighbours and I consider Poland's betrayal to be more on France.
Maybe Putin really does have the goods on Trump.
To reiterate, whenever there is a whiff of Putin about Trump turns into a simpering wimp and a b**ch to Putin's every whim and this is at the core of his contradiction - or to put it more simply the guy is full of s**t.
Real strength does not come from pushing the weaker and defenceless around, rather by defending them instead. A real mark of civilisation is how it looked after the weak within society and not how it exploits them.
I rather suspect that he is rushing his fascist America First Policies because after the mid-terms (in November) the Senate and House of Representatives will cage him and then if he continues there will be an insurrection that hopefully will remain only the political sphere. What gives me some hope is that an increasing number of Republicans are saying that what Trump is doing is wrong, but what the U.S. really needs now is a strong, astute opponent and the logical place to look is the Democratic party - but who is there? Barrack can't come back and while his wife Michelle could potentially do it she has expressed zero interest in becoming political and too many remember her unfairly as "the angry black woman".
Just maybe she can be persuaded, if it means saving the U.S. I was never a particular fan of Barrack, but I do believe he stood for integrity and honest politics even though he wasn't as consequential as he could have been (Syria - red lines anybody?)
The only other person is Bernie Sanders, but sadly to many in the U.S. he is seen as nothing more than a wolf in sheep's clothing, a covert communist. The guy speaks a lot of sense.
Come on America it is time to stand up before it is too late and may I remind you that Hitler was eased legitimately into power before he took total control.
And with that sombre note I wish you, as always to stay safe and well my friends.
