Trump Thread

[HopAlongBunny]

Trump deflects masterfully from his Russian ties in the "American way" ie: bombing the snot out of a weak foreign power that has no reply:

https://wonkette.com/615254/trump-bo...zzing-about-it

If dead babies are the trigger...this is a campaign that has only just begun

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/trump...licy-1.4061371

[Gilrandir]

Trump deflects masterfully from his Russian ties in the "American way" ie: bombing the snot out of a weak foreign power that has no reply

No reply indeed? What about the fabled Russian Pantsyr and C-300? Having being warned beforehand, they could have at least intercepted the Tomahawks.

[HopAlongBunny]

No reply indeed? What about the fabled Russian Pantsyr and C-300? Having being warned beforehand, they could have at least intercepted the Tomahawks.

Perhaps; Such a response would need Russia to have shared the warning with Assad...no idea if they did.
Syria does have the Pantsyr, supplied by Russia, whether or not Syria had a chance to use it; again I have no idea.
It might be the case that the target was just not worth the expenditure of any ammunition to defend it; airfield? there are more of those, and not like its difficult to make another one; besides Russia has loads of planes :)

[Brenus]

Russia has still not the means to oppose USA.
Putin didn't (couldn't) react to a Russian airplane shot down by Turkey and one of the crew member murdered by the militian paid by Turkey. No way in my opinion, at this time, Putin/Russia will do something.
Now, more worrying is how Russia will use this for their own purpose. If I was Ukrainian, I would be deeply worried about Trump's wording (national interest).
US president changed, US policy still the same.

[Gilrandir]

Perhaps; Such a response would need Russia to have shared the warning with Assad...no idea if they did.
Syria does have the Pantsyr, supplied by Russia, whether or not Syria had a chance to use it; again I have no idea.
It might be the case that the target was just not worth the expenditure of any ammunition to defend it; airfield? there are more of those, and not like its difficult to make another one; besides Russia has loads of planes :)

AFAIK, Russia was informed by the US about the missile strike and they got their planes and people away from the airfield which was targeted. Russia uses this airfield as a stage one (planes do not "live" there, they come to refuel and the like), so when ALL OF THEM packed and left hastily I don't think Syrians didn't guess the import of this even if they weren't directly told about what was to come.

Besides on one of the pictures of the airfield after the strike an upturned Pantsyr was spotted. So the conclusion is that Russia/Syria did have something to counter the strike with, the question is why they didn't - either they didn't dare or the weapons weren't up to the task (despite the eulogies which had been voiced before).

If I was Ukrainian, I would be deeply worried about Trump's wording (national interest).

Perhaps I missed something, so I'm not worried a bit. If you give details I might start to.

[Brenus]

Perhaps I missed something, so I'm not worried a bit. If you give details I might start to.

USA just attack a country which was not a direct danger to them under a vague pretext of national interest not to see a kind of behavior. When you see how Putin did use Kosovo precedent for his own goal...
But if you don't, don't mind me...

[Gilrandir]

USA just attack a country which was not a direct danger to them under a vague pretext of national interest not to see a kind of behavior. When you see how Putin did use Kosovo precedent for his own goal...
But if you don't, don't mind me...

Putin did it too, three years ago. Russian artillery repeatedly shelled Ukrainian soldiers (especially border guards) across the border. So nothing new is gonna happen now.

[Sarmatian]

No reply indeed? What about the fabled Russian Pantsyr and C-300? Having being warned beforehand, they could have at least intercepted the Tomahawks.

USA and Russia like to use proxies to fight. Fighting it out with no intermediaries is so 1940's.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

USA and Russia like to use proxies to fight. Fighting it out with no intermediaries is so 1940's.

Proxies were a reasonable choice for both. USA casualty tolerance has always been lower than many, and the USSR lost 1/8 of its population between 1938 and 1946. I've heard some argue that the Russian population has still not truly recovered from that culling.

[Gilrandir]

Proxies were a reasonable choice for both. USA casualty tolerance has always been lower than many, and the USSR lost 1/8 of its population between 1938 and 1946. I've heard some argue that the Russian population has still not truly recovered from that culling.

USSR population =/= Russian population

[Seamus Fermanagh]

USSR population =/= Russian population

No, but ethnic Russians under the USSR during that period were NOT spared much. Yes, Ukraine had it worse per capita and some of the 'stans also, but it is NOT like the Russians were way better. Stalin fed everyone into the grinder to win.

[rory_20_uk]

Trump briefly looks "Presidential" and "strong" and it is something he can do to stand up to Russia that is superficially good but meaningless. Russia can continue to do what it wants. Hell, if hypothetically if every runway was destroyed Russian planes would still be enough. Until every runway is levelled along with infrastructure and the Rebels are given SAMs it will at best impede.

Putin can even get all shouty and both sides can look great to their admirers - a strong man standoff.

The USA will struggle to have a follow up that will sort out the quagmire - Russia is lucky as all they want is warm water ports and specific influence with no interest in the locals. The West has such high standards they are all but impossible since most of the locals are unclear what a resolution looks like.