What is this world coming to? A Republican smacking Trump virtually? Will Trump even be able to understand him? It’s for a very good reason. We really don’t want Trump to do something. We really, really don’t. This would be bad and leave us open to a whole bunch of nasty stuff. It would start with us potentially losing bases. Trump, don’t do it! Respect to Raw Story:
A Republican senator has broken ranks to criticize President Donald Trump’s remarks about allied nations. Trump has resumed his longstanding criticism of NATO, questioning the alliance’s utility and threatening to withdraw U.S. support if member nations don’t increase defense spending.
Jerry Moran (R-KS) urged unity with NATO members, with Trump consistently criticizing the intergovernmental organization for its lack of support for the United States’ war in Iran.
Writing in The Hill, “Shared interests bind alliances together. The U.S. is stronger because of the willing and able partners in Europe with whom our global interests largely align. At a time when our nation’s own budgetary pressures and backlogged industrial base limit our ability to sustain force in multiple theaters simultaneously,
we cannot afford to take them for granted. Indeed, we need them now more than ever and should treat them accordingly — as the valued allies they are.”
Leaving NATO would be one of the worst things we could do. Think about the united front of NATO. Think about what it protects us and our allies from. Russia would be a good start. Why NATO can’t help Ukraine is unknown. We wish they would. There have to be reasons we don’t know. Ukraine is kicking Russia’s A$$ in this unprovoked war, but they need help to keep going. It pisses me off that we didn’t help when it started and won’t help now. Ukraine is another issue that I’m practically fanatical about. But I digress.
Members of Trump’s cabinet were also critical of NATO’s refusal to back the bombing of Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced Trump’s position by criticizing NATO for not backing the Iran war, suggesting the alliance lacks commitment to U.S. strategic interests.
However, Rubio simultaneously acknowledged NATO’s crucial value, noting the alliance provides critical basing rights for U.S. military operations globally. NATO allies have expressed significant concerns about Trump’s unilateral decision to wage war against Iran without seeking alliance consultation or approval.
And well they should! He just decided to throw missiles and bombs at Iran and the rest of us were clueless. Of *course* they are concerned! It could have gone much better if we had talked to NATO, because if nothing else, they could have helped us plan the attacks instead of randomly throwing things. Trump’s war was a debacle. Trump’s war was illegal. We are running the risk of being dangerously unable to protect ourselves. Replacing what we’ve used will take literally *years*. What happens if someone declares war against us, or if Trump tries to start a second war somewhere else? Ugh, I digress again. It’s perfectly understandable that the rest of NATO doesn’t want to get involved with Iran. They’ve seen us fail!
When Trump asked NATO for assistance, he was rebuffed by several member nations concerned about the legal justification for military action. According to three European diplomats and a Pentagon official “familiar with the plan,” the list “includes an overview of members’ contributions to the alliance and places them into tiers,” and was drafted as a means to help the Trump administration look “for ways to punish allies who refused to back the Iran war,” Politico’s report reads.
“They don’t seem to have very concrete ideas… when it comes to punishing bad allies,” a European official told Politico on the condition of anonymity. “Moving troops is one option, but it mainly punishes the U.S. doesn’t it?”
BOOM. As I was saying. We have bases all over the place. Losing them would be Very Bad. Right now, the last I remember, we have a base within range of almost everything. Losing that would be a terrible blow. I’m not going to get into how our Navy is being wasted on the damn blockade. We need NATO. NATO needs us. But there are times, like now, they have to wonder what the hell is going on over here. And they’re probably wondering why we don’t get rid of Trump. Well, we do, too.
See you soon!
Friends, I know everybody begs you for money. I promise you that of all of the outlets bugging you for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a bunch of old, disabled people, except one writer in his mid-50s. But the rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the ability to continue our quest to tell the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
Every so often Sen. Moran says something that makes him sound like he’s supporting the good ideas. He refuses to have a town hall where people can ask him why he votes pro Trump about 98% of the time. We’re still waiting for the explanation of the trip he and seven other Republicans took to Moscow at government expense for the 4th of July, 2018.
This is why I appreciate my readers. I didn’t know this. So it’s an even bigger surprise that he did what he did. Thank you!!!!