President Trump’s foreign policy is beginning to shape up as one of retrenching U.S. reach in certain areas of the globe where, in his view, the “locals” are sufficiently wealthy and resourced to carry a greater defense burden.
That explains the U.S. position on Ukraine: it should be primarily a European affair and, somewhat ironically, a test case for the Obama concept of “leading from behind”. Unfortunately for the Ukrainians, the chickens of decades of deliberate military underfunding in most NATO countries have come home to roost in Ukraine.
Recall also VP Vance’s comment about the Red Sea when an attack against the Houthis was being discussed. He wondered why the U.S. was taking charge as, according to him, 40% of traffic went to Europe while only 3% went to the U.S. - suggesting that European navies should be the primary asset, forgetting that those countries (with vanishingly few exceptions) long ago gave up on blue water navies.
But Israel is a different case. It fights for itself, by itself while vindicating major U.S. interests in the region, notwithstanding the preferred narratives in much of the media.
The primary American adversary is China and, simply put, attempting to be everywhere all the time risks overstretching U.S. capacity and imperiling the overall strategy. There is a certain hard hearted but realist cold calculation of national interests going on here.
On the issue of recognizing Palestine, that simply doesn’t seem to be on the table in the U.S., the slew of federal laws against it being only part of it. Especially after the barbarity of October 7, a supermajority of the American public supports Israel.
As a side note, in the attempt to minimize or explain away Hamas’ genocidal tendency, UN Secretary General Guterres infamously claimed the attack did not come “in a vacuum”. It turns out he was right but not for the reason he claimed: we now know from seized documents that Hamas attacked not to vindicate any Palestinian “right” but to derail the adherence of Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords.
And that important initiative from the first Trump Administration is another indication of his conception: each region will create alliances to manage local affairs, freeing up the U.S. generally.
I think that’s what America First really means in this context, even as one might have preferred a name not so overburdened with so many negative historical connotations.
The Trump Policy? Anything that assuages his megalomania and malignant narcissism. He has no moral compass. The new leader of Syria is handsome. That's Trump's rational for making a deal? Anything that serves Trump's "big, beautiful" brain.
Not so sure the original comment was not correct; saying this as a Trump voter. The Dems with their litigations, media coverage have TDS, other criticisms of DT may be warranted - he’s all over the map literally and figuratively, plus I’m not convinced he knows history or geography.
Your first comment was about Mr. Trump's psychology. Now you've backed down and switched to a different argument, demonstrating that you were simply venting your bile and not making a serious argument.
President Trump, who considers himself the dealmaker of the century, is treating geopolitics like he’s working a real estate deal. He’s a businessman first and a president second. This makes Israel second guess what would happen if they act unilaterally in their best security interest that Trump might not approve. I call this Reason #28 of why Sovereign Israel should develop, manufacture, and stock their own military weaponry. Trump is a practical man and knows (1) Israel has widespread support in America among Evangelicals and conservative Jews, and (2) America needs Israel as a strategic, economic, and military partner in the volatile Middle East. In other words the Jewish state needs the chuptzah to strike while the iron is hot and act in their best security interest.
That's right: be surprised if you are not surprised. It is amazing to me that given his history, his chronic exaggeration, lying, persecution complex, grotesquely venal nature, his art of the con job, and all the other character flaws this man so obviously exhibits, the only surprise to me is that anyone could have ever trusted him for a second for anything at all.
For months a majority of Israelis have said that the priority should be hostage release and a cease-fire, and not "total victory" over Hamas, which requires a total destruction of Gaza, immense human suffering, and many Israeli combat deaths. The fact that a cease fire would preserve the American relationship should make a cease-fire the obvious strategic choice.
Sure. Israel can think of contingency plans, but Netanyahu should do the democratic and moral thing by ending this horrible war.
It's such a tragedy that in a moment of crisis, Israel is led by a narcissist who would led Israel burn if it just keeps him in the prime ministership a minute longer.
Has Washington stopped arms deliveries? No. Has Washington even hinted at the solution — the one that’s been out there for decades — as the only viable solution? No. Has Washington, this Administration or previous ones, condemned the occupation? No. Has Washington meaningfully objected to the ongoing expropriation of land? No. Has Washington objected to the clearly articulated policy of imminent population expulsion? No. Has Washington even hinted at, let alone threaten, sanctions for ongoing violations of international law? No. Where, then, is the surprise? That the sociopath went on a first date with a tribe rather than the traditionally favored one? Really? That’s it?? All while joint plans with the favored one are being drawn up to bomb Iran???
Absolutely the correct attitude. Like the rest of the world, Israel can no longer accept or expect that the relationship with the US is the same as it was before Trump Version 2.0.
There is no going back no matter who sits in the White House. No Democratic President will be willing to pay the price Biden did to support Israel so generously going forward.
It would surprise me if after all of the terror carried out by Iran and their commitment to more death and destruction the mighty West with all their tanks, ships, jets and subs would hand Iran a nuclear weapon. In the not too distant future Iran is going to jump out and scream surprise, look at our nuke!!
President Trump’s foreign policy is beginning to shape up as one of retrenching U.S. reach in certain areas of the globe where, in his view, the “locals” are sufficiently wealthy and resourced to carry a greater defense burden.
That explains the U.S. position on Ukraine: it should be primarily a European affair and, somewhat ironically, a test case for the Obama concept of “leading from behind”. Unfortunately for the Ukrainians, the chickens of decades of deliberate military underfunding in most NATO countries have come home to roost in Ukraine.
Recall also VP Vance’s comment about the Red Sea when an attack against the Houthis was being discussed. He wondered why the U.S. was taking charge as, according to him, 40% of traffic went to Europe while only 3% went to the U.S. - suggesting that European navies should be the primary asset, forgetting that those countries (with vanishingly few exceptions) long ago gave up on blue water navies.
But Israel is a different case. It fights for itself, by itself while vindicating major U.S. interests in the region, notwithstanding the preferred narratives in much of the media.
The primary American adversary is China and, simply put, attempting to be everywhere all the time risks overstretching U.S. capacity and imperiling the overall strategy. There is a certain hard hearted but realist cold calculation of national interests going on here.
On the issue of recognizing Palestine, that simply doesn’t seem to be on the table in the U.S., the slew of federal laws against it being only part of it. Especially after the barbarity of October 7, a supermajority of the American public supports Israel.
As a side note, in the attempt to minimize or explain away Hamas’ genocidal tendency, UN Secretary General Guterres infamously claimed the attack did not come “in a vacuum”. It turns out he was right but not for the reason he claimed: we now know from seized documents that Hamas attacked not to vindicate any Palestinian “right” but to derail the adherence of Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords.
And that important initiative from the first Trump Administration is another indication of his conception: each region will create alliances to manage local affairs, freeing up the U.S. generally.
I think that’s what America First really means in this context, even as one might have preferred a name not so overburdened with so many negative historical connotations.
The Trump Policy? Anything that assuages his megalomania and malignant narcissism. He has no moral compass. The new leader of Syria is handsome. That's Trump's rational for making a deal? Anything that serves Trump's "big, beautiful" brain.
Your TDS is showing.
Not so sure the original comment was not correct; saying this as a Trump voter. The Dems with their litigations, media coverage have TDS, other criticisms of DT may be warranted - he’s all over the map literally and figuratively, plus I’m not convinced he knows history or geography.
TDS goes both ways. Let’s use some critical thinking.
Have you met Trump? You write as if you know him. If you have not met him you are just describing the image the media has constructed for you.
I happen to know someone has met him many times. That’s not what’s relevant. It’s his actions and policies.
Your first comment was about Mr. Trump's psychology. Now you've backed down and switched to a different argument, demonstrating that you were simply venting your bile and not making a serious argument.
President Trump, who considers himself the dealmaker of the century, is treating geopolitics like he’s working a real estate deal. He’s a businessman first and a president second. This makes Israel second guess what would happen if they act unilaterally in their best security interest that Trump might not approve. I call this Reason #28 of why Sovereign Israel should develop, manufacture, and stock their own military weaponry. Trump is a practical man and knows (1) Israel has widespread support in America among Evangelicals and conservative Jews, and (2) America needs Israel as a strategic, economic, and military partner in the volatile Middle East. In other words the Jewish state needs the chuptzah to strike while the iron is hot and act in their best security interest.
yes strike now!
Respond boldly. Praying for you and all of Israel.
That's right: be surprised if you are not surprised. It is amazing to me that given his history, his chronic exaggeration, lying, persecution complex, grotesquely venal nature, his art of the con job, and all the other character flaws this man so obviously exhibits, the only surprise to me is that anyone could have ever trusted him for a second for anything at all.
Please surprise Iran with wipeout of their nuke program.
For months a majority of Israelis have said that the priority should be hostage release and a cease-fire, and not "total victory" over Hamas, which requires a total destruction of Gaza, immense human suffering, and many Israeli combat deaths. The fact that a cease fire would preserve the American relationship should make a cease-fire the obvious strategic choice.
Sure. Israel can think of contingency plans, but Netanyahu should do the democratic and moral thing by ending this horrible war.
It's such a tragedy that in a moment of crisis, Israel is led by a narcissist who would led Israel burn if it just keeps him in the prime ministership a minute longer.
We have said never Trust Trump.his whole career.
He has always been a career con man blowhard toxic tar baby
Anyone not familiar with them pre-politics might get a pass
But no one gets a pass after the first term
Trust but verify.
Has Washington stopped arms deliveries? No. Has Washington even hinted at the solution — the one that’s been out there for decades — as the only viable solution? No. Has Washington, this Administration or previous ones, condemned the occupation? No. Has Washington meaningfully objected to the ongoing expropriation of land? No. Has Washington objected to the clearly articulated policy of imminent population expulsion? No. Has Washington even hinted at, let alone threaten, sanctions for ongoing violations of international law? No. Where, then, is the surprise? That the sociopath went on a first date with a tribe rather than the traditionally favored one? Really? That’s it?? All while joint plans with the favored one are being drawn up to bomb Iran???
Absolutely the correct attitude. Like the rest of the world, Israel can no longer accept or expect that the relationship with the US is the same as it was before Trump Version 2.0.
There is no going back no matter who sits in the White House. No Democratic President will be willing to pay the price Biden did to support Israel so generously going forward.
This 'no surprises' policy is something you've made up.
It would surprise me if after all of the terror carried out by Iran and their commitment to more death and destruction the mighty West with all their tanks, ships, jets and subs would hand Iran a nuclear weapon. In the not too distant future Iran is going to jump out and scream surprise, look at our nuke!!
If Iran tests a nuke, what does Israel do? What does Iran expect Israel to do? If Iran didn't fear Israel, they would have tested nukes already.