Ivo writes, "For many in Europe, Trump is now seen as a threat almost on a par with Putin."
Ok, to address these fears, let's go ahead and pull all American forces out of Europe so that Trump will no longer present this threat to Europe. We in America apologize for terrorizing Europeans for so long, and will now remove ourselves from your continent so you'll have only Putin to worry about.
Ivo writes, "But now this dependence, long seen as a strength, has become a vulnerability, with some worrying that the United States can use its control over Europe in nefarious ways."
WWI, WWII, the cold war, Serbia, and now Ukraine. American blood and treasure spent on Europe's behalf, over and over and over again. Those are our "nefarious ways". Apologies will not be forthcoming.
Ivo writes, "Meanwhile, Europe seems to have taken Trump’s measure."
None of the current US/EU controversies, or the war in Ukraine, would be happening if the EU had voluntarily taken responsibility for the defense of it's own continent decades ago.
That didn't happen because EU politicians enjoyed out sourcing some of their defense budgets to American taxpayers, because this allowed those EU politicians to win votes by providing EU citizens with generous welfare state benefits like universal healthcare, which Americans don't get.
European dependence on America was entirely valid and necessary in the period following WWII. That was 80 years ago. 80 years ago. We're long past the point where that dependence makes sense.
Trump is pursuing long standing American policy in this regard by the means that have sadly proven necessary, setting off a bomb under EU complacency and dependency.
Commentators on Substack are not doing a great job of taking the EU's measure.
Ivo writes, "While everyone is saying Trump is trying to get to peace, the reality is he’s trying to please Putin—peace or no peace."
While not agreeing or excusing anything Trump might do or not do...
Lowering tensions with Russia has some merit.
1) Russia can erase America in an hour. It's in America's, Russia's, and the world's interest that these two nuclear superpowers avoid conflict where ever possible. That won't always be possible, but we should try.
2) The two most dangerous dictatorships in the world are growing a cooperative alliance aimed against the free people of the world. Russia is the weak partner in that alliance, and is thus the logical party to try to seduce.
I don't mean that Trump is right and everyone else is wrong. My point is instead that Trump is not automatically wrong about something just because he's Trump. It's possible to be an unlikeable asshole and still be right sometimes, ie. like Nixon's opening to China in the 70s.
I wonder if you have already decided to leave the US as you floated during your speech in Amsterdam. We can use you here in the Netherlands!
Ivo writes, "For many in Europe, Trump is now seen as a threat almost on a par with Putin."
Ok, to address these fears, let's go ahead and pull all American forces out of Europe so that Trump will no longer present this threat to Europe. We in America apologize for terrorizing Europeans for so long, and will now remove ourselves from your continent so you'll have only Putin to worry about.
You're on your own kids, good luck!
Ivo writes, "But now this dependence, long seen as a strength, has become a vulnerability, with some worrying that the United States can use its control over Europe in nefarious ways."
WWI, WWII, the cold war, Serbia, and now Ukraine. American blood and treasure spent on Europe's behalf, over and over and over again. Those are our "nefarious ways". Apologies will not be forthcoming.
Ivo writes, "Meanwhile, Europe seems to have taken Trump’s measure."
None of the current US/EU controversies, or the war in Ukraine, would be happening if the EU had voluntarily taken responsibility for the defense of it's own continent decades ago.
That didn't happen because EU politicians enjoyed out sourcing some of their defense budgets to American taxpayers, because this allowed those EU politicians to win votes by providing EU citizens with generous welfare state benefits like universal healthcare, which Americans don't get.
European dependence on America was entirely valid and necessary in the period following WWII. That was 80 years ago. 80 years ago. We're long past the point where that dependence makes sense.
Trump is pursuing long standing American policy in this regard by the means that have sadly proven necessary, setting off a bomb under EU complacency and dependency.
Commentators on Substack are not doing a great job of taking the EU's measure.
Ivo writes, "While everyone is saying Trump is trying to get to peace, the reality is he’s trying to please Putin—peace or no peace."
While not agreeing or excusing anything Trump might do or not do...
Lowering tensions with Russia has some merit.
1) Russia can erase America in an hour. It's in America's, Russia's, and the world's interest that these two nuclear superpowers avoid conflict where ever possible. That won't always be possible, but we should try.
2) The two most dangerous dictatorships in the world are growing a cooperative alliance aimed against the free people of the world. Russia is the weak partner in that alliance, and is thus the logical party to try to seduce.
I don't mean that Trump is right and everyone else is wrong. My point is instead that Trump is not automatically wrong about something just because he's Trump. It's possible to be an unlikeable asshole and still be right sometimes, ie. like Nixon's opening to China in the 70s.