this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024
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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.

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago

Trump knows what NATO is. This is rhetoric for his voters.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Stop applying Hanlon's Razor to Trump.

It's fucking malice.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)
[–] [email protected] 42 points 9 months ago (4 children)

How do people not see this as being directed by Putin? Russia is literally the only beneficiary of this "stupidity".

[–] [email protected] -4 points 9 months ago

It's a NYTimes article. As much stupid shit as Trump has said, he was right about the NYT. And that's why they have all these very shareable articles exploring every nook and cranny of his psyche. This article would have been exhausting to read in 2017.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The funny thing is, Russia would never actually strike NATO. I don't know what the fuck State or JCS are letting him get away with while DOJ jacks off with reports about the incumbent's mental health, but Trump needs to be gagged and thrown into solitary yesterday.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Is that a new brand of wood chipper?

[–] [email protected] 23 points 9 months ago (1 children)

For the GOP voters? 50+ yrs of highly concentrated, and pointed propaganda.

For the nonvoters? Bc their favorite social media sites (this one included) are full of russian bad faith actors working to make Status Quo Joe seem somehow worse, or, at the very least, more ineffectual, than ronald mcdump.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Just saw a fella here the other day absolutely screeching and livid that Joe "hasn't done anything for Flint." I mean, neither did Donald and also Donald hamstrung the EPA as best he could to make things worse all over the nation.

The dishonesty is so overt. That guy didn't respond to anything, either, so no updates if he is concerned for the EPA or not.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Its all performative. Theres no shortage of 20something yr old leftist idealists that are ripe for the brainwashing. Just discovered The Dunk Tank, which i guess is more of the same.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

24 year old leftist redneck the fuck is the dunk tank, is that some tankie shit im too Non Credible Defense pilled to understand.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It’s hexbear so yes, tankie shit. They screen grab themselves “dunking” on “liberals”!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Fair enough, didnt realize it was hexbear. Sounded like a podcast or something like that.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It certainly has the exact structure of all the other Russian agitation material, designed to breed resentment.

I can imagine the typical low-information voter: "What? They think we're required to fight for them? And they refuse to do their share at the same time? Oh the entitlement!" - bam - anger against EU, happy about Trump supposedly calling them out, may even support leaving NATO.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

True, but EU countries not contributing to mutual defense also helps Putin. Both are bad. Some EU countries are finally adding some defense spending now there's a literal war on their continent.

The lack of defense spending in Europe is pushed by European political parties partially supported by Russia. So basically, Putin has created the problem that he told Trump to yell about.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

And then he invaded Ukraine and most of those countries found their wallets quick!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

That this point I think he thinks that NATO is what you call TiVo, and that TiVo is still a thing.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago

something about the Soviet Union right?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Define President

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 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)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago
[–] [email protected] 88 points 9 months ago (2 children)

The guy currently on trial for racketeering is asking people for protection money or something bad will happen to them? Who would have thought!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Dude's a mob boss, everyone around him has taken the fall and he's still there. That's insane.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, And Hells Angels lied to me. I thought mob bosses were intelligent, charismatic, and capable of playing 4d chess. Meanwhile...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago

Because he's not the real mob boss, he's the useful idiot for the people using him (first Mafia, now Putin).

[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago

What is insane is that people are still taking the fall for him. When it's pretty clear Donnie cares only for himself. Everyone has convinced themself that they're special. No, they're not. Everyone is a stooge to Donnie.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Also "you have to pay your bills, unlike me who literally NEVER pays ANY bills." I mean, if there is one consistent element in Trump's character for the decades he's doing business is that he's constantly stiffing people.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 9 months ago

Worked with a batshit crazy old lady in the quality department for about a year. She was stuck there (both job and location) while she cared for her very elderly mother. Before that she had something to do with finance, fashion and F1 racing (like a client liaison or something) but any way. She recalled a tale from late 80s early 90s of being in a very specific bank (Royal back of Scotland?) and watching Mr Trump storm out after being denied a loan. The utter bliss she experienced in telling that story every ting i asked to hear it again... Brought happiness to my heart.

I miss you Marylin you batshit crazy old lady.

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