"Trump couldn't help mouthing off about GAZA before all the hostages were out."

Yeah. It has nothing to do with Hamas.

Hamas is playing a game. They are seeing how far they can push without turning the world against them. Their goal of extirpating the Jewish state has not changed. They're just seeing what they can get away with.

I think Mr. Carville's point was maybe to focus first and foremost on experience and qualifications, rather than those things that shape the individual's personal life.

"Not only did the report say he got a house, with furnishings, but now he also wants $50k to paint it."

So...most government-provided houses are owned or managed by private management companies. In my mind, any service requests would have gone through the management company, who would then fulfill the request.

It would be really weird for the SECDEF to reuqest that someone other than the housing management company pain the house, although this could be some sort of one-off thing. He is the SECDEF, so he may not be living in normal military housing.

Reading between the lines, this would suggest the possibility that Syria is favoring more western alignment. Syria's traditional enemies under the Assad regime were anti-government fighters, and possibly Israel. It does not appear as though Iran will play a future role in Syria. From my vantage point, the biggest contention will be with regards to the SDF, who control much of the northeastern part of Syria. They have also been the primary western partner in the OPERATION IMMINENT RESOLVE, the fight to destroy ISIS. The Turks regard them as terrorists.

"Many (most?) in the US dislike the United nations because of an apparent lack of the ability of the US in the UN to dictate things."

As one of the five permanent members, the US is already in as favorable position as it could hope to ever be.

Withdrawing from the US would eliminate much of the ability we have to influence foreign affairs.

I don't really understand that "rich people" part of this, but the article nails it.

Tariffs will benefit US-based producers at the expense of all consumers. Basically, producers can increase their prices to match whatever foreign competition would be charging, a cost which would include the import taxes. Put yourself in the shoes of a producer and you'll understand why this is beneficial. You can now up your price point by 15-20% of whatever. The consumer will have no choice but to pay it.

"You really think subscriptions to Politico and NYT were stopping Russia?"

I think limited funding is what was curbing Russian influence operations, especially when compared to the commies. USAID was devised as mechanism to spread influence during the cold war, where military or other influence levers may not have been suitable. The commies couldn't match this directly because they were too poor. Which is why they often chose the military route, providing equipment and expertise.

TBH, I don't know to what extent USAID is still involved in influence operations. But it does behoove the US to have some system that is able to do what USAID was designed to do by JFK when the program was first implimented.

"Trump is buying out whomever and whatever he wants.... and he's using our money."

Oh god, he's become another Bernie.

#82

It would appear that Trump taking extreme positions is driving real-world results. Maybe. Mexico, Columbia, Panama, maybe Canada?

The US taking control of Gaza would normally be considered unrealistic, but Trump is president. The possibility that this could happen may drive states like Egypt and Qatar, who have historically funded Gaza, to step up and play a greater role in ensuring the region does not devovle back into the outlaw state it has been for the last two decades. And if that occurs, really, the only losers are the Islamic Resistance and their supporters.

If Gaza is going to be a Mediterranean Riviera, who do you think Tamim the Glorious wants cashing in on that?

"Oh puhlease. Obama let Dubya off of the hook for war crimes and crimes against humanity. What makes you think that he would go after Trump??"

Was Obama the authority that would have pressed charges against GWB for war crimes or crimes against humanity?

And if so, couldn't Trump have done the same to Obama?

Don't get me wrong...I think Obama had big brass balls when compared to GWB. I don't think NEPTUNE SPEAR would have occurred under GWB. Too much political risk. But if you understand what went down with that raid, it was almost some Reagany/Tom Clancy ----.

A) The biggest beneficiary from killing USAID will be China and Russia. USAID isn't about helping poor people...if that were the case the money would just be directed to underachievers in the US. It is about proliferating US influence, particularly in the developing world and spreading goodwill. The commies will now be able to do that at a discount rate.

B) you are not "robbing the poor" by not giving them money. Robbing them would be taking the money they had, by force.

I'm waiting for someone to propose increasing taxes on the bottom 75% of income earners.

The bottom 50% might be the most under-taxed demographic in the western world.

"One likes to have a leadership that is predictable, and truth be told, I have absolutely no idea what insanity Trump has in store for us in the coming years"

Trump doesn't know either.

Policy depends on what his feelings are in the moment. Or at least that's how it appears to me.

"Also Trumpy has already reinstated "schedule F" which allows him to have civil servants stripped of protections so that career employees can now be fired at will."

And why is that bad? Aren't most jobs like that? I know mine is.

I can also quit at will.

Heh,

You think I idolize a National Socialist?

Really?

Trust me, you'd have a lot more appreciation for the National Socialist's 25 point plan than myself.

"The Europeans will take care of themselves, but do not think pulling these troops out of Europe is going to save any money as we will be back soon enough to fight the Russian and their lackeys."

More likely, the troops would be repositioned to better support a fight in the Pacific. I'm a Europe guy, so I'm not super smart on the China problem set, but my understanding is there isn't a Polish or Finnish or Norwegian equivalent in that theater. It's the US, Australia, and maybe some support from Korea or Japan.

"Who on the Trumper side is gonna argue that this isn't exactly what Putin wants?"

Did you read the comments at the bottom of the article?

The worst thing that could happen to Russia is that European countries increase their defense spending and begin re-arming. It's already happening. Poland is poised to become the strongest military power in western Europe. Between them, the Scandanavian countries already have the ability to hold the entire commie western flank at risk. The US could never do that on its own, even if it wasn't directing the bulk of its resources on the Pacific.

It's not, or at least it shouldn't be a strong US that Russia fears, it should be a strong Europe. And many European countries still remember the threat of the commie bootheel.

The north remembers!

"MythBomber is our very own Trump supporting white supremacist."

How so?

"You see, there is no reason to try to improve this situation. It is as the natural state should have it. White men leading black men, not the vice versa."

What's to improve?

There is nothing to stop a black aspirant from becoming an officer any more than there is a white person. Or any other person for that matter. It's just a job. In fact, it's probably easier than most jobs because it just takes effort. The officer corps are typically undermanned. In 2024, my daughter's ROTC detachment accepted 100% of the cadets into the professional cadet corps. It just takes more effort than pursuing some other career path. But it's not like it's a big deal. If you're medically qualified, have the grades, and can pass a PT test and a piss test, you'll likely commission.

"A leaked memo from the Defense Intelligence Agency shows personnel were instructed to suspend observances of certain holidays that do not specifically honor white men"

I did not see anything in the memo directing the DIA to continue observing holidays that specifically honor white men. Maybe because that's not typically a thing?

"It wasn't meant to protect them from a Russian invasion."

Not according to Clown.

"Is this in anticipation of the southern deployment of forces to receive mortar and other small/medium projectile incoming fires?"

I think it is a stream of consciousness decision not based on existing capability gaps.

Unlike the commies, the US has minimal Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) systems. Maybe 4-5 total, compared to the 15-20 currently deployed by the Soviets. It's a difference in philosophy. The US relies primarily on aircraft to fill air defense roles, because the US (and the west in general) can field highly capable, multi-role aircraft that can shoot down missiles one minute and drop bombs on enemy targets the next. The Russians don't have this ability. Their planes are less advanced, and their pilots are less proficient. Their GBAD systems are pretty good, and require a fraction of the training needed to gain proficiency when compared to a manned aircraft.

I'm not against the Iron Dome. I think it would be a good asset to test out on the Ukrainian Test Range.

"You protect American by providing all citizens with national healthcare and education."

Did those things protect Ukrainians?

"Hezbollah and Hamas are both funded by Iran."

Hamas is funded by multiple nations. Qatar maybe being the biggest contributor.

"You know Gaza isn't in Egypt, right?"

I'm guessing the answer is "no."