U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, July 16, 2018. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor
Peter Apps, Reuters: Trump’s unsettling summit game
In the end, Donald Trump’s post-summit press conference with Vladimir Putin produced fewer surprises than many feared. In contrast to the U.S. president’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, there was no announcement to blindside regional allies such as a suspension of military exercises. Like the first part of Trump’s trip to Europe, however, the outcome of the Helsinki meeting will outrage his critics, play well with his domestic political base and unsettle European nations. Indeed, that may well have been its purpose.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive
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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- July 16, 2018
Transcript: Trump And Putin's Joint Press Conference -- NPR
Brushing Russia probe aside, Trump, Putin lay groundwork for future talks -- Asia Times
'Mixed signals': Putin-Trump meeting deconstructed -- AFP
Trump is right about who’s to blame for bad relations with Russia -- David P. Goldman, Asia Times
Trump’s Meeting With Putin Draws Alarmed Responses From Both Parties -- Natasha Bertrand, The Atlantic
Bruised in Brussels: Was Trump’s summit drama worth it? -- Sebastian Sprenger, Defense News
The Nato summit proves Europe doesn't get Trump – or the US -- Cas Mudde, The Guardian
Why Europe Gets No Respect -- Victor Davis Hanson, Defining Ideas
Russia: What type of legacy will World Cup leave behind? -- Andy Richardson, Al Jazeera
From stones to guns — Kashmir's vicious cycle of violence -- Rifat Fareed (Tral, India-administered Kashmir), DW
A Kimdom awaits: China and South Korea get down to business -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times
Pakistan election: 'Military does not want Sharif's party to win another term -- Kishwar Mustafa (Interview), DW
Eritrea: 'How can a crazy one-man rule work for lasting peace?' -- Chrispin Mwakideu, DW
Mueller Investigation Keeps Growing Fast -- Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux, FiveThirtyEight
The Plan to Save America from Bankruptcy -- Frederico Bartels, National Interest
5 comments:
Russian woman living in U.S. arrested, charged with being a foreign agent
A lot of howling fake outrage.
Trump could have said something really dumb like "I can be more flexible after the election". But he didn't. Or he could have gone and chopped wood at his ranch in Texas with him. Didn't do that either.
However Trump did wipe out ~200 Russian mercs in Syria after they attacked a SOCOM FOB. Not to mention sanctions. He could have mocked Putin for virtually cancelling their PAK FA fighter jet. Or plowed into Putin's sinking poll numbers.
No one looks good standing next to Putin - with that Cheshire smirk of his. Bush didn't look good, Obama didn't, Hillary, Kerry, etc, didn't. 6'3" Trump doesn't have to humiliate 5'6" Putin on the stages of Helsinki.
I suggest you all watch the presser for yourselves. Instead of giving any credence to the hand-wringing horseshit the progressive media and nevertrumpers are vomiting out.
Russinsocal , really pleased with what happened , i mean the US president said "blame is on both countries " think for a minute , a United State of America president said US should be blamed , and it seemed if he would given a choice between his intelligence guys and Putin he will chose Putin words . I was never for Russian collusion but know i would give it 50-50 .
Anon,
Both sides are to blame. Trump stated the obvious here.
Given the track record of US Intelligence, more specifically the poor track record, I would be inclined not to trust them either. At a minimum, they are going to need to present more evidence of such a claim. When we are dealing with known incompetents and perhaps liars as these people have a track record of, "just trust me" is not good enough.
In contrast, Putin did NOT need this summit. America does need this. As such, Putin would have no need to lie. It is possible that someone in Russia did something without his knowledge. So, if I were Trump, given the situation, I probably would be inclined to trust Putin over the people who comprise my (un)intelligence service keeping in mind this is part of a careful and meticulous diplomatic effort that many good people spent much time meticulously putting together.
I would also point out a public dressing down of Putin arguably the most powerful man in the world by a POTUS is probably not going to be good for diplomacy and I see no way for such an action to end well for America or our citizens. As such, anything such as collusion would need to be addressed with a degree of finesse in private diplomatic talks. think of it as the option of a chisel or a hammer. In this case, the chisel would be used.
With that said given the intelligence people POTUS inherited and their poor track record or Putin I would be inclined to trust Putin. There is no upside for Russia in this and much downside risk. As such, the collusion myth is just that, a myth propagated and spread by a sore loser and her supporters. It's long past time for such people to GROW UP!!
Besides, as has been pointed out elsewhere, any Russian interference is like a child toy water gun compared to the tidal wave after tidal wave of interference in Russian affairs by the US. At a minimum, US NGOs appear to have been heavily involved in trying to undermine Russia's leadership. By the failure of the US government to condemn such actions could appear to indicate support.
Both sides bear blame. This is stating the obvious. Now along comes a wise man like Trump who is trying to step back from this and perhaps end it. He has a willing partner on the other side in Putin. Unfortunately crazies on BOTH sides want to continue Cold War 2 at pretty much any costs. This is a war we didn't need, can't readily afford, may not be able to win, and even if we do somehow "win" the costs will be enormous with no real upside benefit.
The Greeks had a saying that whomever the gods wished to destroy they first made mad. This is madness on the part of US leaders. Does this apply to them and will the American people going to allow these crazies to destroy them in the wake of their stupidity? I'd like to think the American people are still at least relatively sane.
While POTUS did say he trusts his intelligence personnel, the bad apples that he inherited will take some time to purge especially those in management positions.
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