this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024
606 points (97.2% liked)

politics

19233 readers
2694 users here now

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That's all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

What is clear, however, is that Trump — who ostensibly spent four years as president of the United States — has little clue about what NATO is or what NATO does. And when he spoke on the subject at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend, what he said was less a cogent discussion of foreign policy than it was gibberish — the kind of outrageous nonsense that flows without interruption from an empty and unreflective mind.

“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump said, recalling an implausible conversation with an unnamed, presumably European head of state. “‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted responding. “‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”

The former president’s message was clear: If NATO members do not pay up, then he will leave them to the mercy of a continental aggressor who has already plunged one European country into death, destruction and devastation.

Except NATO isn’t a mafia protection racket. NATO, in case anyone needs to be reminded, is a mutual defense organization, formed by treaty in 1949 as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union hardened into conflict. “The parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all,” states Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

Non-paywall link

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] GilgameshCatBeard@lemmy.ca 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Make no mistake…. He has NO CLUE what NATO is.

[–] doesnt_use_lemmy@lemmings.world 5 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Ostensibly? I'm pretty sure he was president for four years. Does anybody protest that?

[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

He was president for 4 years and treated it like retirement. Even if it was explained to him exactly what NATO was several times, I doubt he paid attention or cared enough to retain the information.
Putin doesn't like NATO and that's all he needs to know about it.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

He has this bizarre idea in his head that NATO is like one of his golf clubs with membership fees and not GDP pledges.

[–] ogmios@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago (2 children)

It's a bit weird hearing people make a huge fuss over Trump not taking the Russian threat seriously while they themselves are refusing to spend even just the minimum they've already agreed to spend on defence. Especially if we're looking at the potential of the US being an unreliable partner, shouldn't we be putting a lot more effort into shoring things up here at home? (Canadian)

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago
[–] Mossheart@lemmy.ca 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yes, we definitely should, but you won't find a party on any side of the spectrum that will run on that.

[–] ogmios@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago

Which is among the reasons that people are losing faith in government, and why Trump is capable of capitalizing on the issue.

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago

Syphilis brain deterioration

[–] autotldr@lemmings.world 2 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


And when he spoke on the subject at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend, what he said was less a cogent discussion of foreign policy than it was gibberish — the kind of outrageous nonsense that flows without interruption from an empty and unreflective mind.

“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump said, recalling an implausible conversation with an unnamed, presumably European head of state.

The former president’s message was clear: If NATO members do not pay up, then he will leave them to the mercy of a continental aggressor who has already plunged one European country into death, destruction and devastation.

NATO, in case anyone needs to be reminded, is a mutual defense organization, formed by treaty in 1949 as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union hardened into conflict.

Or consider the time, last November, when Trump confused China and North Korea, telling an audience of supporters in Florida that “Kim Jong Un leads 1.4 billion people, and there is no doubt about who the boss is.

And because no one now expects him to be a responsible political figure with a coherent vision for the country, it’s as if no one blinks an eye when he rants and raves on the campaign trail.


The original article contains 1,108 words, the summary contains 231 words. Saved 79%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 10 months ago

NATO/potato from the Cheeto.

[–] TakiMinase 1 points 10 months ago

D. Trump, traitor

[–] Daft_ish@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

To me Trump has no business commenting on NATO at all. He has no business commenting on anything I don't care if he was president. The man is a jackass and is way out of his depth. Why we tolerate it is insane.

Our politicians operate closer to nobility of a bygone era then they do of members of a republic. For this they deserve the guillotine.

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago

something about the Soviet Union right?

[–] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 0 points 10 months ago

¿Por qué no los dos?

load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›