There was no deal on the table and Trump did not have any kind of a strategy or plan for the encounter other than simple domination. He wanted Zelenskyy to grovel before him and agree to everything, but he couldn't care less about what the everything might be. The point of the exercise was domination and humiliation, pure and total.
Thank you for this excellent article. I agree President Zelens’kyi shows more courage , compassion and devotion to democracy than those two spineless and cowardly thugs Vance and Trump and their enabling sycophants who in an attempt to ridicule President Zelenskyy disgraced themselves and the USA. And Mr. Glenn? Come on what more needs to be said: he is Marjorie Taylor Green’s. Boyfriend
JD Vances critized President Zelenskyy because he is using constrips in the military, never mentioned Russia is using N Korean soldiers and releasing murders and rapist from their prisons to fight their war.
If you think this is our most shameful event in US diplomatic history, you need to read more history, though I would grant you it might get into the top 10. More importantly, had this happened behind closed doors, it would be mostly unknown and/or written off as "diplomacy," most of which happens behind closed doors, and is not likely to be thought of as "eye candy.” But this event was a scripted show, and it went pretty much like anyone could have predicted had they thought about the dynamics.
Let's be candid: Zelensky has little left with which to bargain, the American people voted for a tougher stance on the outflow of support to Ukraine [by voting for Trump]; Trump promised it, and now he's delivered. I personally find the alignment with Putin morally and strategically offensive and deranged—and far worse than the performative clown show we saw last week—even if Zelensky is hardly the morally heroic figure he is sometimes portrayed [including on this site]. Had the previous Administration not pussy-footed around with weapons and related support during its first three years—remember, the war has been extant since 2014; it’s this latest invasion that’s 3 years old last month] we might not still be stuck to this tar baby—and ooh boy, is it a tar baby: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-timeline-of-key-events-in-the-trump-ukraine-story—but that’s completely speculative. What isn’t speculative, though, is Trump; he’s a malignant narcissist, and last week went according to [the retribution] script.
This is exactly how one should expect an incredibly unequal bargaining relationship to go. There is in fact a new sheriff in town; he is realigning the landscape. And he is all too happy to do it in public with everyone watching. Like any narcissist, he has zero public shame and can never actually feel remorse for any action [even if he may be able to on weird occasion muster up something for public consumption]. This is who and what he is. it’s how he operates. Wailing and gnashing of teeth doesn’t change anything, even if it’s good for clicks.
The West is in a proxy war with Russia and Ukraine is the battleground. Everyone knows it now, but if you need a real background on what's happening, John Mearshimer and Jeffrey Sachs clearly explain why this is happening, including why this war started in the first place and why it was supposed to "end quickly" has no end.
Russia is not even trying and Ukraine is being mutilated in the meantime.
The entire war is a pile of bad faith arguments and it needs to end... especially from the position that these Western countries can't even take care of their own population and have no business involving themselves into the business of other countries.
This is all just theater for politicians to push through whatever they think will benefit themselves and has nothing to do with the Ukrainian people in much the same way that most pandemic measures had nothing to do with science and all to do with politics and popularity.
I guess the “Christian right” is not in favor of truth. I thought it was the devil who is about lies and deceit. And for an office that claims to be “transparent”, what is the problem with setting the record straight? It is absurd to say that Ukraine started this war. Russia invaded Ukraine! If Canada or Mexico invaded the United States, would fight to maintain USA territory. How stupid does the White House and The POTUS and Fox News, and all of the other bootlickers think Americans are?
Consider a smaller example of rewarding aggression--the schoolyard bully. Would ANYONE accept from a school the response: "in the interests of playground peace, we suggest your children just give up their lunch money?"
Trump's redefinition of "peace" is one of the scariest things he has done.
There was no deal on the table and Trump did not have any kind of a strategy or plan for the encounter other than simple domination. He wanted Zelenskyy to grovel before him and agree to everything, but he couldn't care less about what the everything might be. The point of the exercise was domination and humiliation, pure and total.
“ domination and humiliation “ Yep it is all he has to bring to the table. And we the people of America made him our leader.
You know, I’m rather sick of this “we” shit 💩
Thank you for this excellent article. I agree President Zelens’kyi shows more courage , compassion and devotion to democracy than those two spineless and cowardly thugs Vance and Trump and their enabling sycophants who in an attempt to ridicule President Zelenskyy disgraced themselves and the USA. And Mr. Glenn? Come on what more needs to be said: he is Marjorie Taylor Green’s. Boyfriend
JD Vances critized President Zelenskyy because he is using constrips in the military, never mentioned Russia is using N Korean soldiers and releasing murders and rapist from their prisons to fight their war.
He is also being punished because of the infamous ‘perfect phone call’ that led to Trumps first impeachment
If you think this is our most shameful event in US diplomatic history, you need to read more history, though I would grant you it might get into the top 10. More importantly, had this happened behind closed doors, it would be mostly unknown and/or written off as "diplomacy," most of which happens behind closed doors, and is not likely to be thought of as "eye candy.” But this event was a scripted show, and it went pretty much like anyone could have predicted had they thought about the dynamics.
Let's be candid: Zelensky has little left with which to bargain, the American people voted for a tougher stance on the outflow of support to Ukraine [by voting for Trump]; Trump promised it, and now he's delivered. I personally find the alignment with Putin morally and strategically offensive and deranged—and far worse than the performative clown show we saw last week—even if Zelensky is hardly the morally heroic figure he is sometimes portrayed [including on this site]. Had the previous Administration not pussy-footed around with weapons and related support during its first three years—remember, the war has been extant since 2014; it’s this latest invasion that’s 3 years old last month] we might not still be stuck to this tar baby—and ooh boy, is it a tar baby: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/a-timeline-of-key-events-in-the-trump-ukraine-story—but that’s completely speculative. What isn’t speculative, though, is Trump; he’s a malignant narcissist, and last week went according to [the retribution] script.
This is exactly how one should expect an incredibly unequal bargaining relationship to go. There is in fact a new sheriff in town; he is realigning the landscape. And he is all too happy to do it in public with everyone watching. Like any narcissist, he has zero public shame and can never actually feel remorse for any action [even if he may be able to on weird occasion muster up something for public consumption]. This is who and what he is. it’s how he operates. Wailing and gnashing of teeth doesn’t change anything, even if it’s good for clicks.
No ONE, I mean NO ONE is buying tRump's BS!!! It's over Donnie, you and mUSK are LOSERS!!!
Unfortunately, FAR TOO MANY of our fellow Americans are still gulping his kool-aid as fast as he spouts it.
The West is in a proxy war with Russia and Ukraine is the battleground. Everyone knows it now, but if you need a real background on what's happening, John Mearshimer and Jeffrey Sachs clearly explain why this is happening, including why this war started in the first place and why it was supposed to "end quickly" has no end.
Russia is not even trying and Ukraine is being mutilated in the meantime.
The entire war is a pile of bad faith arguments and it needs to end... especially from the position that these Western countries can't even take care of their own population and have no business involving themselves into the business of other countries.
This is all just theater for politicians to push through whatever they think will benefit themselves and has nothing to do with the Ukrainian people in much the same way that most pandemic measures had nothing to do with science and all to do with politics and popularity.
I guess the “Christian right” is not in favor of truth. I thought it was the devil who is about lies and deceit. And for an office that claims to be “transparent”, what is the problem with setting the record straight? It is absurd to say that Ukraine started this war. Russia invaded Ukraine! If Canada or Mexico invaded the United States, would fight to maintain USA territory. How stupid does the White House and The POTUS and Fox News, and all of the other bootlickers think Americans are?
Stupid enough to elect him TWICE.
Great read
Consider a smaller example of rewarding aggression--the schoolyard bully. Would ANYONE accept from a school the response: "in the interests of playground peace, we suggest your children just give up their lunch money?"
Trump's redefinition of "peace" is one of the scariest things he has done.
The freedom struggle continues!