(1) Now they're bashing Trump for saying Montenegro cd get aggressive & cause war that would drag in NATO. (Tucker interview.)
It's true, Montenegro could. He was talking about a known risk of multilateral security treaties.
Remember, he knows more about Slovenia than most...
It's true, Montenegro could. He was talking about a known risk of multilateral security treaties.
Remember, he knows more about Slovenia than most...
(2) Slovenia is one of the most peaceful countries of the former Yugoslavia. But I'm saying a man who met his wife during the decade of the Balkan Wars & has been around her & her family for 20 years knows what he's talking about re Montenegro.
(3) They are claiming he is parroting the Russian view of Montenegro joining NATO. Pfft. His general point about collective security is solid. The world is covered in treaties like NATO. They all have this same conundrum. Let me tell you about the ANZUS treaty.
(4) After the historic work of Australian, New Zealand and Unites States armed forces in WWI and WWII, it was logical for the 3 countries to sign the ANZUS treaty, which functioned like NATO and the other treaties. An attack on one is an attack on all. This method works.
(5) The Left managed to engineer enough anti-nuclear nonsense in NZ during the 70s & 80s that we foolishly elected a Labour govt in 1984 that essentially killed ANZUS for no good reason. The same kind of policy idiocy persists here today. Sad.
(6) Thanks to the intellect & charity of Australia & the USA, if the SHTF for NZ, they would still come to our aid. Both out of self interest and compassion for NZ. I apologize for the rank stupidity of my countrymen who are all take and no give.
(7) Every NATO, ANZUS, or ASEAN grouping has at least one NZ, Montenegro, Turkey or Burma, for example. Collective security is the best thing to do, but it can go wrong. Trump agrees with it but he wants a conversation about stopping things going wrong. Obviously impeachable.
(8) NATO is getting massive. There are bound to be problems like this, with several countries wanting to join who maybe shouldn't, & some who did join but aren't exactly living up to their commitments, whether that's to free an innocent Pastor, or pay the country's bills.
(9) Trump doesn't hate Montenegro or its people. I realize that fact is irrelevant to TDS sufferers. Fine.
Non-violent Montenegrans probably agree with him that peace is far better than war, given the choice. Maybe the haters shld listen to them iso white knighting the country.
Non-violent Montenegrans probably agree with him that peace is far better than war, given the choice. Maybe the haters shld listen to them iso white knighting the country.
(10) All the countries in & around Europe that were occupied or severely affected by the USSR have deep issues arising from that time period. By & large, their people, & ours, are working constructively to make things better. There is a buffer zone between W. Europe & Russia...
(11) The countries in the buffer zone have been used & abused for at least 100 years (my knowledge of their history earlier than that is too scant for me to comment, but I'm sure many countries have been going through the same cycle for much longer.)
(12) The power struggle between West and East (re Europe) will always be there. Current US policy on Russia is based on reaching agreement across the full spectrum of issues, to reach "peaceful cohabitation," particularly for the people of these unlucky buffer zone countries.
(13) Trump is doing just fine as the head of the foreign policy arm of the US govt. Contrary to the deranged rantings of the supposedly great & the good, he's not some loose cannon flailing about on FP. Mutual trust & respect within the Trump, Pompeo, Bolton & Mattis team.
(14) Any of them wld say the same thing about Montenegro if asked, but they'd say it in a different way. They're each remarkably accomplished leaders in their field. Pompeo goes from embassy to embassy getting rock star welcomes. Mattis gets the loudest cheers on military bases.
(15) Bolton has earned a special place in the hearts of hawkish policy wonks like me. IMO, the time for questioning the patriotism & integrity of these four men has passed. The MAGA agenda is the largest, most complex work program in political history & it's over people's heads.
(16) The haters, of course, aren't about to admit that the MAGA policy agenda is over their heads. The Dunning-Kruger effect is like that.
This week we have been privy to only a tiny fraction of US foreign policy processes. That is necessary.
This week we have been privy to only a tiny fraction of US foreign policy processes. That is necessary.
(17) Trump's oft-used "we'll see what happens" really is the best statement that can be made on a lot of this stuff. If you want direct govt, move to Switzerland. The US has representative govt. Not everything is made public before it happens. That is right and proper.
(18) The frenzy of this week will die down eventually. Always look at the big picture of foreign AND domestic policy. When I think about how many plates Trump has spinning in the air at the same time, it astounds me, still. All will be well. Hold the line.
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