Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-25

[The Brain]

Even with stupid mundi at the helm, the US is a big and important actor in the West. And it's still nominally a member of Nato.

[crazy canuck]

Maybe not polite society, but you are not a pariah anymore when the American president, even the current one, receives you as honoured guest.

I am hearing this line a lot, but it doesn't make much sense.  Who respects what the US does?

I can definitely imagine how inside North Korea or Russia meeting with the president can be framed as a prestige event.  To those countries the illusion of importance is more important than reality.

Yes, exactly the point.  Beyond states that are pariahs what the US did in this meeting gave Putin no prestige.  Rather the opposite, everyone was wondering how badly the US would handle it.

[Solmyr]

Putin wasn't even in Alaska himself, apparently. It was a rather obvious body double.

(Yeah, I realize there are conspiracy theories and all that, but Putin really does not look like the guy in the Alaska photos.)

[The Minsky Moment]

No matter how low expectations one sets for Trump's performance, he always manages to find a way to underdeliver.

What an utter disgrace.

[HVC]

No matter how low expectations one sets for Trump's performance, he always manages to find a way to underdeliver.

What an utter disgrace.

And 50% of the voters still love him. Greater then that accept him, since I place non-voters in the trump is ok category.

[Maladict]

(Yeah, I realize there are conspiracy theories and all that, but Putin really does not look like the guy in the Alaska photos.)

Given his vanity I imagine he has cosmetic surgery regularly.

[Syt]

Worked for F. Murray Abraham in Star Trek Insurrection

[Solmyr]

(Yeah, I realize there are conspiracy theories and all that, but Putin really does not look like the guy in the Alaska photos.)

Given his vanity I imagine he has cosmetic surgery regularly.

Probably, though the Alaska guy looks notably worse than Putin does usually. Like skin drooping under his chin etc.

[Solmyr]

Also, the 1 on 1 Trump-Putin meeting was changed to 3 on 3 with Lavrov present. This may indicate that Lavrov was the one running the show there.

[Josquius]

Russian vehicles attacking today are flying the US flag.

Probably, though the Alaska guy looks notably worse than Putin does usually. Like skin drooping under his chin etc.

I was thinking he looked better than normal

[Caliga]

GOOD JOB Neville Trump!  Astounding victory!

[Zanza]

Trump has today repeated the line about Ukraine starting the war and having the ability to stop it (by surrendering).

I expect the meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and the Europeans tonight will be a shitshow similar to the last Zelenskyy visit.

Maybe even the end of "the West" as a geopolitical entity depending on how far Trump goes on pushing Putin's agenda.

Edit: But in the end, the Europeans are fairly weak and divided and will cave in again.

[crazy canuck]

If the "West" is to survive it has to be without the US for the foreseeable future.

[Bauer]

I wish the idea of the west would transform into a close cooperation of true democracies (and those aspiring to join).

[Maladict]

I wish the idea of the west would transform into a close cooperation of true democracies (and those aspiring to join).

I think it will eventually. But there might not be many left by then.