Thread by @JMichaelWaller

1) Take a look at Europe and trans-Atlantic relations, and see how they have moved in the direction President Trump envisioned. His 2017 Warsaw speech on sovereignty summed it up nicely. Excerpts follow. nbcnews.com/politics/donal…

2) "Despite every effort to transform you, oppress you, or destroy you, you endured and overcame....

"The story of Poland is the story of a people who have never lost hope, who have never been broken, and who have never, ever forgotten who they are."

3) "there is a courage and a strength deep in the Polish character that no one could destroy. The Polish martyr, Bishop Michael Kozal, said it well: 'More horrifying than a defeat of arms is a collapse of the human spirit.'"

4) "A strong Poland is a blessing to the nations of Europe, and they know that. A strong Europe is a blessing to the West and to the world.... there are dire threats to our security and to our way of life...."

5) "Today the West is also confronted by the powers that seek to test our will, undermine our confidence, and challenge our interests. To meet new forms of aggression, including propaganda, financial crimes, and cyberwarfare, we must adapt our alliance to compete effectively...."

6) "We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere, and its support for hostile regimes — including Syria and Iran — and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defense of civilization itself."

7) "on both sides of the Atlantic, our citizens are confronted by yet another danger — one firmly within our control. This danger is invisible to some but familiar to the Poles: the steady creep of government bureaucracy that drains the vitality and wealth of the people."

8) "The West became great not because of paperwork and regulations but because people were allowed to chase their dreams and pursue their destinies."

9) "Americans, Poles, and the nations of Europe value individual freedom and sovereignty. We must work together to confront forces, whether they come from inside or out, from the South or the East, that threaten over time to undermine these values ...." (continued)

10) "... and to erase the bonds of culture, faith and tradition that make us who we are. If left unchecked, these forces will undermine our courage, sap our spirit, and weaken our will to defend ourselves and our societies."

11) "They are doomed not only because our alliance is strong, our countries are resilient, and our power is unmatched. Through all of that, you have to say everything is true. Our adversaries, however, are doomed because we will never forget who we are."

12) "As long as we know our history, we will know how to build our future. Americans know that a strong alliance of free, sovereign and independent nations is the best defense for our freedoms and for our interests...." (continued)

13) "... That is why my administration has demanded that all members of NATO finally meet their full and fair financial obligation.

"As a result of this insistence, billions of dollars more have begun to pour into NATO."

14) "To those who would criticize our tough stance, I would point out that the United States has demonstrated not merely with words but with its actions that we stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual defense commitment."

15) "... the defense of the West ultimately rests not only on means but also on the will of its people to prevail and be successful and get what you have to have. The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive."

16) "Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost? Do we have enough respect for our citizens to protect our borders? Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?"

17) "We can have the largest economies and the most lethal weapons anywhere on Earth, but if we do not have strong families and strong values, then we will be weak and we will not survive."

18) "Our own fight for the West does not begin on the battlefield -- it begins with our minds, our wills, and our souls. Today, the ties that unite our civilization are no less vital, and demand no less defense ...."

19) "Our freedom, our civilization, and our survival depend on these bonds of history, culture, and memory.

"... Just as Poland could not be broken ... the West will never, ever be broken. Our values will prevail. Our people will thrive. And our civilization will triumph."

Here’s how a Washington Post editorial board member distorted Trump’s Warsaw speech to create the fake narrative. washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-par…