Political discourse in this country is pretty much the Jerry Springer show, i.e., angertainment and freak fest. Facts and logic are boring but bias and bombast which gets people riled up gets eyeballs. We have seen horrific examples of what goes on on cable news with Trump back in office. It’s a free for all. But the fact is that despite how depressed, confused or checked out the American electorate is right now, delicate negotiations are going on in Russia and Ukraine. The results of these negotiations will have an effect on global geopolitics for some years to come. And we have a notoriously ignorant and thin-skinned buffoon as our standard bearer.
“It’s going to be difficult for Donald Trump to produce ( in the Russia/Ukraine talks) anything that isn’t utter humiliation”
— CathyNotToday2 (@Cathy2NotToday) February 22, 2025
Yes, Trump set up the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. He blames it on Biden but history has recorded who put togeher that particular *deal.* And the Ukraine *deal* is turning into extortion, with Trump threatening to take Ukraine off the internet if they don’t hand over all their minerals.
U.S. negotiators are threatening to effectively cut off Ukraine’s access to the internet if the country’s leaders don’t agree to hand over minerals worth billions of dollars, according to a report Saturday.
Reuters was told by three sources that Trump’s representatives have suggested ending Ukraine’s use of the Starlink satellite internet system.
It would effectively take the war-torn nation offline.
The sources said the threat was brought up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he initially turned down the mineral proposal.
The move left onlookers shocked.
“Extortion, pure and simple,” said lawyer and outspoken Trump nemesis George Conway.
Writer Thom Hartmann commented, “Russian asset.”
On Thursday, Zelensky was told his country faced “imminent shutoff,” Reuters reported.
” Ukraine runs on Starlink. They consider it their North Star,” the outlet’s source said. “Losing Starlink … would be a massive blow.”
Trump has suggested Zelensky agree to give Trump’s administration $500 billion in mineral access to repay money spent by the U.S. to support the nation.
Musk was hailed as a hero when he provided thousands of Starlink terminals as the Russians destroyed communications infrastructure after its 2022 invasion, Reuters reported.
Melinda Haring, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, told Reuters, “Losing Starlink would be a game changer.”
The United States has always been the good guy. But as the interviewee on the BBC said, “America is a significantly smaller player than it was and its will to be that person (the leader of the entire world) has diminished.” And of course with El Genius in the Oval Office, America’s ability has been vastly truncated.
I shudder to think what will happen in the next month or two with respect to Ukraine. Putin has to do something. He can survive in this war maybe another year and speculation about how long Ukraine can hold up is uncertain. How I wish for the nth time that Kamala had won but we have to play the cards we’re dealt.
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Friday morning on MSNBC, former Ambassador to Russia, Michael, McFaul explained how Sphincter Face again ruined his own “great dealmaking!” McFaul still has high-level contacts in both Russia and Ukraine. He reported that a few days ago, Zelenskyy was ready, pen in hand, to sign the deal for the West to have a large amount of Ukrainian mineral rights. He simply wanted to see, in writing, EXACTLY what he would receive in return! The Big Sphincter had nothing! No agreements with any players on the US side of the table…Sphincter Face doesn’t deal, he is the only stakeholder and he thinks he should get it all by stamping his feet!! If he wanted the glory of ending the war, he might have come close a week ago, but he f’ed it up BIGLY!! 🤣🤣
Trump is stupid, ignorant, easily flattered, and a bully. His idea of negotiation involves threats and bullying and blackmail. At this point, the best we can hope for is a stroke. Unfortunately he plays golf so.much he doesn’t deal with any stress, so his blood pressure isn’t likely to hit dangerous levels.
Vance is a loathesome chameleon, but he graduated from Yale law school.so he isn’t dumb as a post. I suspect he doesn’t like Putin, and policy might change.
As an ex-Catholuc, I am inclined to pray for a happy death, sooner rather than later, for several people whose names will go unmentioned.