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[US Foreign Policy] Peace For Sale

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    JaysonFourJaysonFour Classy Monster Kitteh Registered User regular
    Couscous wrote: »
    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/world/middleeast/trump-iran-iraq-coronavirus-militas.html
    WASHINGTON — President Trump was getting ready to declare the coronavirus a “national emergency,” but inside the White House last Thursday, a tense debate erupted among the president and his top advisers on a far different subject: whether the United States should escalate military action against Iran, a longtime American rival that has been devastated by the epidemic.

    One group, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Robert C. O’Brien, the national security adviser, urged a tough response to rocket attacks that had killed two American troops at a base north of Baghdad, arguing that tough action while Iran’s leaders were battling the coronavirus ravaging the country could finally push them into direct negotiations.

    But Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pushed back. The Pentagon and intelligence agencies did not have clear evidence that the attacks, launched by the Shiite militia group Khataib Hezbollah, had been ordered by Iran, they argued, and warned that a large-scale response could draw the United States into a wider war with Iran and rupture already strained relations with Iraq.

    The military’s position prevailed, at least for the time being. Mr. Trump authorized airstrikes against five militia weapons depots inside Iraq, carried out at night to limit the possible human toll.
    Because an epidemic causing huge problems in both countries is exactly the right time to launch offensive actions.

    Just... no words. No fucking words at all.

    I'm just done with this administration. Just fucking done with it. Pandemic's ravaging the world, and now Donnie wants to use it to score fucking political points against the Iranians instead of investing time and effort against corona.

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    Captain InertiaCaptain Inertia Registered User regular
    Seriously wait a month and Iran’s leadership might look a lot different

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    MayabirdMayabird Pecking at the keyboardRegistered User regular
    Wait a month and the US's leadership might look a lot different.

    Actually a lot of countries when you get down to it.

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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    So in other ridiculous news:
    https://cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/north-korea-trump/index.html
    (CNN)North Korea said President Donald Trump sent Kim Jong Un a personal letter in which he expressed his willingness to help with "anti-epidemic work," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency early Sunday."

    In the letter, Trump "explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries of the DPRK and the U.S. and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, saying that he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic," according to a statement from Kim Yo Jong, Kim's younger sister and first vice department director for WPK Central Committee, as reported by KCNA.
    She also praised Trump's move as "good judgment and proper action" toward retaining a good relationship with the hermit nation at a time with what she referred to as "big difficulties and challenges."
    "We regard it as a good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president to make efforts to keep the good relations he had with our Chairman by sending a personal letter again at a time as now when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations, and think that this should be highly estimated," she said.

    Now, don't get me wrong: helping NK to deal with the pandemic is a good idea for both medical reasons and diplomatic ones, but of all the countries on earth that can concievably do anything to help someone else america is presently a ways down the list.

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    JaysonFourJaysonFour Classy Monster Kitteh Registered User regular
    Gaddez wrote: »
    So in other ridiculous news:
    https://cnn.com/2020/03/21/politics/north-korea-trump/index.html
    (CNN)North Korea said President Donald Trump sent Kim Jong Un a personal letter in which he expressed his willingness to help with "anti-epidemic work," according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency early Sunday."

    In the letter, Trump "explained his plan to propel the relations between the two countries of the DPRK and the U.S. and expressed his intent to render cooperation in the anti-epidemic work, saying that he was impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people from the serious threat of the epidemic," according to a statement from Kim Yo Jong, Kim's younger sister and first vice department director for WPK Central Committee, as reported by KCNA.
    She also praised Trump's move as "good judgment and proper action" toward retaining a good relationship with the hermit nation at a time with what she referred to as "big difficulties and challenges."
    "We regard it as a good judgment and proper action for the U.S. president to make efforts to keep the good relations he had with our Chairman by sending a personal letter again at a time as now when big difficulties and challenges lie in the way of developing the bilateral relations, and think that this should be highly estimated," she said.

    Now, don't get me wrong: helping NK to deal with the pandemic is a good idea for both medical reasons and diplomatic ones, but of all the countries on earth that can concievably do anything to help someone else america is presently a ways down the list.

    Whee, things are falling apart all around him and Trumpy the Clown has to wave his tiny wang around and try to score points with dictators still.

    What a disgrace.

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    KarozKaroz Registered User regular
    edited March 2020
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7IL9ZRZXY
    U.S. Indicts Venezuela’s Maduro on Drug-Trafficking Charges With $15 Million Reward

    Huh.

    Karoz on
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    KrieghundKrieghund Registered User regular
    Panama 2.0?

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    monikermoniker Registered User regular
    Karoz wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7IL9ZRZXY
    U.S. Indicts Venezuela’s Maduro on Drug-Trafficking Charges With $15 Million Reward

    Huh.

    So he's Reagan's heir?

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    ArbitraryDescriptorArbitraryDescriptor changed Registered User regular
    Karoz wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7IL9ZRZXY
    U.S. Indicts Venezuela’s Maduro on Drug-Trafficking Charges With $15 Million Reward

    Huh.

    Has Venezuela responded that, for reasons of national security, their Office of Counsel Legal has determined that the president cannot be charged with a crime while in office, and apologized for the inconvenience of any crimes their president is alleged to: have to committed, be in the process of commiting, or be planning to commit in the future?

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    GaddezGaddez Registered User regular
    Jragghen wrote: »

    It's almost like when you treat everyone who is your ally like shit, drag your feet on dealing with the worst viral outbreak in a hundred years and keep screaming AMERiCA FIRST until your eyes are bulging out of your head it undermines the standing of your country and casues everyone else to reconsider their options.

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    Giggles_FunsworthGiggles_Funsworth Blight on Discourse Bay Area SprawlRegistered User regular
    .
    Karoz wrote: »
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA7IL9ZRZXY
    U.S. Indicts Venezuela’s Maduro on Drug-Trafficking Charges With $15 Million Reward

    Huh.

    LOOK OVER THERE!!!

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    TryCatcherTryCatcher Registered User regular
    edited March 2020
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    TryCatcher on
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    Captain InertiaCaptain Inertia Registered User regular
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    And they apprehend him how...?

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    HobnailHobnail Registered User regular
    Some sort of disastrous commando raid would liven up an otherwise dull newscape

    Broke as fuck in the style of the times. Gratitude is all that can return on your generosity.

    https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
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    TryCatcherTryCatcher Registered User regular
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    And they apprehend him how...?

    Well, a an official charge for drug trafficking against Noriega was a previous step before Operation Just Cause.

    Just saying.

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    Santa ClaustrophobiaSanta Claustrophobia Ho Ho Ho Disconnecting from Xbox LIVERegistered User regular
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    And they apprehend him how...?

    Well, a an official charge for drug trafficking against Noriega was a previous step before Operation Just Cause.

    Just saying.

    So...Operation Just Because?

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    ArbitraryDescriptorArbitraryDescriptor changed Registered User regular
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    And they apprehend him how...?

    I assumed that's where the 15 million dollar bounty comes in.

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    I ZimbraI Zimbra Worst song, played on ugliest guitar Registered User regular
    Jesus fucking Christ, I feel like an exasperated parent. "We don't need any more coups. You begged and pleaded for that coup in Bolivia and now you don't even play with it anymore"

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    CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/02/pentagon-policy-fox-news-162685
    2 Fox News regulars are finalists for Pentagon policy chief

    As leaders scramble to respond to a global pandemic, the Pentagon is moving to fill vacancies in the upper echelons of the departmen
    The White House is close to selecting a nominee to be the Pentagon’s policy chief, following the ouster of John Rood in February as part of President Donald Trump’s loyalty purge.

    Douglas Macgregor, a retired Army colonel and frequent Fox News commentator, and Anthony Tata, a retired Army brigadier general, former state bureaucrat and also a Fox News regular, are the leading candidates for the job of undersecretary of defense for policy, two administration officials tell POLITICO.
    Welp, not sure how to state how bad that is that "2 Fox News regulars" doesn't already cover

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    MorganVMorganV Registered User regular
    As it pertains to the Intel community and foreign relations, seems like the Intel IG that flagged the whistleblower and then protected them, is being fired. Because of course he is.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-firing-inspector-general-who-flagged-ukraine-whistleblower-complaint-n1176576

    I'm honestly surprised that they were able to get Trump to wait this long. Cause you know he's been calling for it for months now. Slip it out in the middle of a pandemic. Like pardoning Arpaio during a hurricane.

    The POTUS is father. The POTUS is mother.

    That more wasn’t made of the Vindman firing (and his brother, for fuck's sake) is a fucking travesty.

    Fuck this guy. Fuck eveyone around him. And if he wins in November, fuck everything, because this is just the beginning.

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    ToxTox I kill threads he/himRegistered User regular
    Couscous wrote: »
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/02/pentagon-policy-fox-news-162685
    2 Fox News regulars are finalists for Pentagon policy chief

    As leaders scramble to respond to a global pandemic, the Pentagon is moving to fill vacancies in the upper echelons of the departmen
    The White House is close to selecting a nominee to be the Pentagon’s policy chief, following the ouster of John Rood in February as part of President Donald Trump’s loyalty purge.

    Douglas Macgregor, a retired Army colonel and frequent Fox News commentator, and Anthony Tata, a retired Army brigadier general, former state bureaucrat and also a Fox News regular, are the leading candidates for the job of undersecretary of defense for policy, two administration officials tell POLITICO.
    Welp, not sure how to state how bad that is that "2 Fox News regulars" doesn't already cover

    I don't hate this on its face. Like, even the most moderate GOP President giving a Pentagon job to a retired flag officer who happens to have politics that line up with their own shouldn't necessarily be scandalous.

    But because this is Trump, it's probably who he was told to hire, more or less. Or who he owed a favor to.

    Twitter! | Dilige, et quod vis fac
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    RingoRingo He/Him a distinct lack of substanceRegistered User regular
    No, Trump has a pretty consistent track record of bringing people into the Administration via having thought they sounded smart loyal on Fox News

    I doubt there is much more to it than that

    Sterica wrote: »
    I know my last visit to my grandpa on his deathbed was to find out how the whole Nazi werewolf thing turned out.
    Edcrab's Exigency RPG
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    MosatiMosati Registered User regular
    Ringo wrote: »
    No, Trump has a pretty consistent track record of bringing people into the Administration via having thought they sounded smart loyal on Fox News

    I doubt there is much more to it than that

    If you imagine Trump manically consuming cable news on an unending Adderall binge and making executive decisions constipated on the toilet with his cellphone in one hand and Hannity's dick in the other it really can pull things in perspective.

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    EinzelEinzel Registered User regular
    Somewhere, all of this is moving the needle for military folks, right?

    Right?

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    FencingsaxFencingsax It is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understanding GNU Terry PratchettRegistered User regular
    Einzel wrote: »
    Somewhere, all of this is moving the needle for military folks, right?

    Right?

    Trump has been moving the needle all along. It's been slow and understated, but ever since he mocked gold star families there has been a noticeable change.

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    KrieghundKrieghund Registered User regular
    So when the counter purge inevitably happens, who is going to be left to run stuff?

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    electricitylikesmeelectricitylikesme Registered User regular
    Krieghund wrote: »
    So when the counter purge inevitably happens, who is going to be left to run stuff?

    I mean are they really running it now?

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    Santa ClaustrophobiaSanta Claustrophobia Ho Ho Ho Disconnecting from Xbox LIVERegistered User regular
    Fencingsax wrote: »
    Einzel wrote: »
    Somewhere, all of this is moving the needle for military folks, right?

    Right?

    Trump has been moving the needle all along. It's been slow and understated, but ever since he mocked gold star families there has been a noticeable change.

    A Navy Captain was relieved of command because he wouldn't shut up about the outbreak on his ship. Because it was contradictory and embarrassing to Trump. This is who he is.

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    monikermoniker Registered User regular
    His approval among the military was 42% approve 50% disapprove. This was in December, before the pandemic really started to spread and his utter failure at it. So it's likely dropped since after what happened on the Roosevelt.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/

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    JaysonFourJaysonFour Classy Monster Kitteh Registered User regular
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    TryCatcher wrote: »
    Barr answered some questions in a press conference, found this helpful Twitter account that picked some of them.

    And Univison reminds people that Maduro is not recognized as a head of state, so is ok:


    Finally, here's the official record with the opening and closing remarks of Barr's press conference.

    And they apprehend him how...?

    Well, a an official charge for drug trafficking against Noriega was a previous step before Operation Just Cause.

    Just saying.

    So...Operation Just Because?

    Operation I Want To Wave My Tiny Orange Dick Around is closer to the truth. His base must be starving for red meat of their alpha president looking all manly and strong again, so of course I imagine the operation is already under way and we're going to kick the hornets nest while we're running from the killer bees.

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    OghulkOghulk Tinychat Janitor TinychatRegistered User regular
    moniker wrote: »
    His approval among the military was 42% approve 50% disapprove. This was in December, before the pandemic really started to spread and his utter failure at it. So it's likely dropped since after what happened on the Roosevelt.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/

    Holy shit that's an atrocious military approval rating for the commander in chief.

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    enlightenedbumenlightenedbum Registered User regular
    Oghulk wrote: »
    moniker wrote: »
    His approval among the military was 42% approve 50% disapprove. This was in December, before the pandemic really started to spread and his utter failure at it. So it's likely dropped since after what happened on the Roosevelt.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/

    Holy shit that's an atrocious military approval rating for the commander in chief.

    Well, a Republican one.

    Self-righteousness is incompatible with coalition building.
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    CelestialBadgerCelestialBadger Registered User regular
    Oghulk wrote: »
    moniker wrote: »
    His approval among the military was 42% approve 50% disapprove. This was in December, before the pandemic really started to spread and his utter failure at it. So it's likely dropped since after what happened on the Roosevelt.

    https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/12/17/half-of-active-duty-service-members-are-unhappy-with-trump-new-military-times-poll-shows/

    Holy shit that's an atrocious military approval rating for the commander in chief.

    Well, a Republican one.

    Obama’s was worse. For cultural reasons.

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    KetBraKetBra Dressed Ridiculously Registered User regular

    Blake works for politico

    Another mystery for the ages.

    KGMvDLc.jpg?1
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    OrcaOrca Also known as Espressosaurus WrexRegistered User regular
    For those that don't have tweet embeds, link to actual article: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/pentagon-amazon-trump-contract-187850

    Tweet quote:
    BIG: The Pentagon's inspector general could not determine if the White House interfered in a DoD contract to Amazon because Pentagon lawyers invoked a "presidential communications privilege"

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    Captain InertiaCaptain Inertia Registered User regular
    If I’m reading right, IG says while they couldn’t definitively say if the White House interfered, they were able to determine that the procurement officers who actually worked the bids weren’t influenced by senior DoD officials, so that’s good enough, get fucked Amazon

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    DiannaoChongDiannaoChong Registered User regular
    a
    KetBra wrote: »

    Blake works for politico

    Another mystery for the ages.

    "We can't tell you if the president interfered in the contract bidding because the president interfered with the contract bidding and is claiming privilege so he cant get in trouble"?

    steam_sig.png
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    ArbitraryDescriptorArbitraryDescriptor changed Registered User regular
    edited April 2020
    a
    KetBra wrote: »

    Blake works for politico

    Another mystery for the ages.

    "We can't tell you if the president interfered in the contract bidding because the president interfered with the contract bidding and is claiming privilege so he cant get in trouble"?

    Back up. This was the DoD IG, not Congress or the courts, so the Executive branch invoked executive privilege against itself? Is that even an applicable context?

    I don't know whether a President even needs valid a justification to tell an IG to kick rocks, let alone this one, this just seems like invoking the 5th amendment to decline a survey.

    ArbitraryDescriptor on
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    HobnailHobnail Registered User regular
    edited April 2020


    Not much for expressions of gaiety, the Taliban. Those thermal scopes are frightening shit, like night clearer than day type stuff.

    Hobnail on
    Broke as fuck in the style of the times. Gratitude is all that can return on your generosity.

    https://www.paypal.me/hobnailtaylor
This discussion has been closed.