Can Trump pull off the deal of the century?

A few thoughts from Bret Stephens on neo-conservatism that I agree with. Originally Posted by txdot-guy

Have the neocons found those WMDs yet?

Ranks up there with ending the Russo-Ukraine war on day one.

Have the neocons found those WMDs yet? Originally Posted by texassapper

No but there is a significant difference between regime change and assisting a sovereign country in defending itself against invasion.

No but there is a significant difference between regime change and assisting a sovereign country in defending itself against invasion. Originally Posted by txdot-guy

yes... which came first?

Victoria Nuland, the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, played a central role in the events leading to the ousting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. She is described as the "mastermind" behind the regime change, actively plotting the overthrow of the democratically elected government while promoting the narrative that the event was a victory for democracy rather than a coup.
Her involvement included direct discussions with U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt about selecting post-coup leaders, notably stating that Arseniy Yatsenyuk was "the guy" to lead the new government.
A leaked phone call between Nuland and Pyatt revealed her frustration with the EU's approach, where she reportedly said "Fuck the EU," indicating a preference for a more direct U.S. strategy to shape the outcome.
The events culminated in the Ukrainian parliament voting to remove Yanukovych from office on February 22, 2014, following deadly clashes and the signing of an agreement on February 21 that Yanukovych had initially accepted.

Role in the 2014 Revolution of Dignity:
Nuland was a key figure in the U.S.-backed effort to support the opposition during the Euromaidan protests, which began in November 2013 in response to Yanukovych's decision not to sign an association agreement with the European Union.
Her actions, including direct involvement in selecting leadership and pushing for a specific political outcome, were central to the events that led to Yanukovych's removal.

Controversial Narrative and Propaganda:
The U.S. and its allies, including Nuland, were accused of systematically downplaying the role of far-right and neo-Nazi groups like the Right Sector and the Azov Battalion in the uprising and the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine.
This was done to present the new Ukrainian government as a legitimate democratic force resisting Russian aggression, a narrative that faced increasing scrutiny as evidence of the far-right's influence emerged.

Aftermath and Legacy:
The removal of Yanukovych led to the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the outbreak of the war in Donbas, and the eventual election of Petro Poroshenko as president.
The events are widely seen as having significantly escalated tensions between Russia and the West, with Nuland's actions being a focal point of criticism, particularly from Russian officials who labeled the events a "coup".

yes... which came first? Originally Posted by texassapper

You’re quoting russian propaganda.

Did the euromaidan protests arrive organically or were they masterminded by Victoria Nuland and the west?

I know which one I believe. This type of uprising is the fear at the root of Putin’s invasion. He doesn’t want a democratic revolutionary government in power right next door giving an example to the people of Russia that things can change.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euromaidan

Euromaidan or the Maidan Uprising was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv.

The protests were sparked by President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Ukraine's parliament had overwhelmingly approved of finalizing the Agreement with the EU but Russia had put pressure on Ukraine to reject it.

The scope of the protests widened, with calls for the resignation of Yanukovych and the Azarov government.

Protesters opposed what they saw as widespread government corruption, abuse of power, human rights violations, and the influence of oligarchs.

Transparency International named Yanukovych as the top example of corruption in the world. The violent dispersal of protesters on 30 November caused further anger.

was the largest democratic mass movement in Europe since 1989 and led to the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.

LOL.... yeah Did Vicki have anything to do with it? yes or No?

Then you’re not listening. They said exactly what I stated. Originally Posted by 1blackman1

... They weren't sayin' that Yesterday...

#### Salty

No. They are there for the exact opposite reason, they know he is clueless. Originally Posted by 1blackman1

... And yet - that's NOT what those World Leaders
are saying.

#### Salty Originally Posted by Salty Again

Oh. The world leaders spoke LOUDLY when pooty showed up.
You just didn't listen.

Oh. The world leaders spoke LOUDLY when pooty showed up.
You just didn't listen. Originally Posted by Precious_b

... Oh, WE listened loud and clear - me and President Trump.

And Trump is of course gonna continue to negotiate a
peaceful resolution of the conflict.

... Try not to soil yerself and cry when that happens.

#### Salty

See. Didn't listen. Rest of world did.

Thanks for illuminating the obvious for us.

How goes Trump’s deal of the century?

I guess if you worked for Trump and figured out that he is clueless, he not only strips you of your secret service when you publicly divulge his incompetency but also sends the FBI to raid your house when you call him out for his ineptitude about this deal of the century... damn the geezer in Chief is quite the cunty old bitch when Bolton calls him out. Bolton is simply saying what any non-brainwashed clueless MAGA thinks but with more expertise and in stronger detail, so Trump harasses him at his house about possessing classified documents. Give me a fucking break.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bol...ched-his-house

"Russia has not changed its goal: drag Ukraine into a new Russian Empire," Bolton posted to his X account at 7:32 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

"Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede territory it already holds and the remainder of Donetsk, which it has been unable to conquer," he continued, linking to an NPR interview he joined earlier in August. "Zelensky will never do so. Meanwhile, meetings will continue because Trump wants a Nobel Peace Prize, but I don't see these talks making any progress,"

Putin isn’t gonna meet with Zelensky. Trump already gave Putin what he wants. Time without an US economic sanctions. The best play by Putin was telling Trump he’s open to security guarantees then pulling the football by making conditions on the - no NATO troops on the ground. Well in other words, no security that would serve as a real detriment.

Next he’ll have Trump agreeing to North Korean or Belarusian troops providing the security guarantee. Trump and Tiny would go for that I’m sure.

Putin isn’t gonna meet with Zelensky. Trump already gave Putin what he wants. Time without an US economic sanctions. The best play by Putin was telling Trump he’s open to security guarantees then pulling the football by making conditions on the - no NATO troops on the ground. Well in other words, no security that would serve as a real detriment.

Next he’ll have Trump agreeing to North Korean or Belarusian troops providing the security guarantee. Trump and Tiny would go for that I’m sure. Originally Posted by 1blackman1

i'm quite sure neither Trump or Tiny would go for that. just more tds conjecture on your part counselor. the real issue seems to escape most posters that this is equal parts Ukraine civil war when they ousted Yanukovych for a sudden turn toward Russia breaking a EU agreement. this ignited a East Donbas separatist movement. never mind rumors of US regime change here .. too late already happened! bahaha



and then there is that NATO thing. that Putin has been saying is a Red Line since G Bush Jr was president. so here we are and Trump could solve the conflict but there's really one way he's have to do the one thing he's threatened but refrained from .. massive secondary sanctions to anyone doing Biz with Russia and of course that's China and India.



that of course has global implications and the EU better back it up along with the US and Trump.



The key pillar of Russia's war chest is cracking. The timing couldn't be worse.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/k...073929713.html




Trump could trigger a financial crisis in Russia — if he wants to — but has backed off from his threat of ‘very severe consequences’

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump...173007662.html

• President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their meeting in Alaska on Friday without a ceasefire deal. Despite Trump’s earlier threat that Moscow would face “very severe consequences” if the summit didn’t produce an agreement, he said he would hold off on imposing new sanctions. But a tougher U.S. crackdown on tankers delivering Russian oil would cripple Putin’s war machine, an expert said.

The U.S. holds immense leverage over Russia’s economy and ability to continue waging war on Ukraine, but President Donald Trump has backed off from earlier warnings that lack of progress on a ceasefire would result in harsh penalties for Moscow.


Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended their highly anticipated meeting in Alaska on Friday without a deal. On Saturday, Trump shifted his stance toward reaching a more comprehensive peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, mirroring Putin’s position, rather than a ceasefire.



He also reportedly backed Putin’s idea for Ukraine to give up territory it holds in exchange for a Russian promise that it won’t attack again.


That marked a big swing from his rhetoric leading up to the Alaska meeting, as he threatened “very severe consequences” for Russia if Putin didn’t agree to a ceasefire.
When asked why he didn’t follow through, Trump said he would hold off on any new penalties and suggested the threat remains on the table as diplomacy plays out.

“Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that now,” he told Fox News. “I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”


Trump had previously warned Russia’s oil sector could face secondary sanctions. Oil and gas generate the bulk of the Kremlin’s revenue, and the U.S. could exploit this critical vulnerability.


In particular, cutting off the “shadow fleet” of tankers that deliver Russia’s oil under the radar would send the war economy into a “deep financial crisis,” according to Robin Brooks, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former chief economist at the Institute of International Finance.



After the Biden administration sanctioned nearly 200 ships in January, just before Trump returned to office, their activity collapsed, he pointed out in a Substack post on Saturday.
But there are 359 more ships that have already been sanctioned by the European Union or United Kingdom, but haven’t been targeted yet by the U.S.



“Sanctioning these ships would be a hammer blow to the Russian war machine,” Brooks wrote. “There would undoubtedly be a sharp fall in the Urals oil price, reducing the flow of hard currency to the Russian state, and the Ruble would most likely depreciate significantly.”
Meanwhile, foreign policy expects have called the Alaska meeting a success for Putin as he was able to avoid severe consequences from Trump while also buying time for his military to make more battlefield gains in Ukraine.



But Melinda Haring, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, also noted that Trump has significant leverage over Russia.


“Let’s hope that Trump sees through Putin’s endless appetite to talk and tires of the Russian dictator’s pseudo-historical lectures,” she wrote in a blog post. “Trump can squeeze the Russians; he seems to forget that the United States holds the cards, not Moscow.”
Oil and gas revenue tumbled 27% in July from a year ago, and Russia is running out of financial resources as war-related spending deepens its budget deficit.



The National Wealth Fund, a key source of reserves, has dwindled from $135 billion in January 2022 to just $35 billion this past May and is expected to run out later this year.
“Russia’s economy is fast approaching a fiscal crunch that will encumber its war effort,” economist and Russia expert Anders Åslund wrote in a Project Syndicate op-ed last week.


“Though that may not be enough to compel Putin to seek peace, it does suggest that the walls are closing in on him.”


This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

American company factory hit by two missiles in Ukraine.

Trump's response, "they need to move the factory to Mississippi"