Trump on EU Leaders

[baggieal]

Whilst I have no time for Trump and even less time for his stance on Ukraine - he?s right about the European Allies. Talk - Talk - Talk

European leaders for what he perceives to be a collective failure to act over the war in Ukraine.
The US president said Kyiv's European allies "talk but they don't produce... and the war just keeps going on and on".
He said: "I know the good leaders. I know the bad leaders. I know the smart ones. I know the stupid ones. You get some real stupid ones, too.

[baggiematt]

Let him talk, he always talks. Reality is, hes a clown that has turned american and international politics into a circus.

What exactly is he criticising European leaders for? What does he expect them to do?

Reality is, he is a crooked man leveraging US strength to get what he wants out of the deal, which is to shaft Ukraine, leave the rest of Europe vulnerable and appease the man who probably helped him get elected in the first place.

A crooked and corrupt man in open sight, absolutely not interested in helping Europe and folk like you fall for it rotten.

[baggieal]

Let him talk, he always talks. Reality is, hes a clown that has turned american and international politics into a circus.

What exactly is he criticising European leaders for? What does he expect them to do?

Reality is, he is a crooked man leveraging US strength to get what he wants out of the deal, which is to shaft Ukraine, leave the rest of Europe vulnerable and appease the man who probably helped him get elected in the first place.

A crooked and corrupt man in open sight, absolutely not interested in helping Europe and folk like you fall for it rotten.

Why can?t Europe help themselves with a middle finger up to him? Why can?t they use the billions in frozen assets sitting in Brussels?

It?s called balls Matt! Starmer can?t even stop the boats FFS 😂😂

[kettering_baggie]

I’m not a Trump fan but when he accuses European leaders as weak, he is absolutely correct. Look at Starmer, for starters, what a complete tw@t the man is, unfit to lead a dog, let alone a country. The first responsibility of a government, whatever party, is the defence of the nation and Starmer is failing us (actually, as Labour always does). If Trump washed his hands of Europe completely, Putin would have a free hand, there’s nobody to stop him.

[baggiematt]

I’m not a Trump fan but when he accuses European leaders as weak, he is absolutely correct. Look at Starmer, for starters, what a complete tw@t the man is, unfit to lead a dog, let alone a country. The first responsibility of a government, whatever party, is the defence of the nation and Starmer is failing us (actually, as Labour always does). If Trump washed his hands of Europe completely, Putin would have a free hand, there’s nobody to stop him.

Of course Europe could stop Putin. He cant get passed a tiny corner of Ukraine. The only thing that makes Europe weaker is Trump giving him what he wants. Crippling European military and giving key strategic land making an attack on Europe easier.

Our problems are minuscule compared to what that orange nonce has caused in the US. We ask for resignations after Starmer taking £4k of glasses handouts, Trump was gifted a £400m jet!

Our biggest allies bully us. Trump is weak, the famous phrase Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) - world renowned now. All talk no bottle. How many times has he switched sides between Russia and Ukraine?

[baggieal]

Of course Europe could stop Putin. He cant get passed a tiny corner of Ukraine. The only thing that makes Europe weaker is Trump giving him what he wants. Crippling European military and giving key strategic land making an attack on Europe easier.

Our problems are minuscule compared to what that orange nonce has caused in the US. We ask for resignations after Starmer taking £4k of glasses handouts, Trump was gifted a £400m jet!

Our biggest allies bully us. Trump is weak, the famous phrase Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO) - world renowned now. All talk no bottle. How many times has he switched sides between Russia and Ukraine?

And what did Biden do apart from insisting the allies couldn’t fire missiles into Russian territory?

Billions in Russian assets sitting in Brussels so just needs someone with balls to use it! Clearly not Starmer though😂

[baggiematt]

And what did Biden do apart from insisting the allies couldn’t fire missiles into Russian territory?

Billions in Russian assets sitting in Brussels so just needs someone with balls to use it! Clearly not Starmer though😂

At least Biden didn?t pally up with Putin and try to sell Ukraine. Biden was unwavering for support of the Europe, Trump isnt.

I have no idea why we dont spend the Russian assets. Neither do you. People with sense probably have a plan for it. Who knows?

[Omegstrat6]

I agree with Matt on one aspect of this one. Trump is just a narcissistic braggart and him calling EU leaders weak is no different to him calling reporters "stupid" or low "IQ". He likes to think of himself as a strong man but he isn't known as TACO for nothing so calling European leaders "weak" is hypocritical at best.

In the case of Starmer, I do agree that he is a weak leader mostly because he consistently does not read the room or properly think things through enough which then leads to him being forced to reconsider and either make U-turns or else dilute policies. On the other-hand, being a "strong" leader in itself certainly does not mean that that individual is necessarily a force for good as numerous authoritarian regimes have proven over time. Putin, of course, included.

I also think Matt is right to ask what anyone should expect EU leaders to do as the situation is not straightforward. Even if NATO members had continued to invest in their military as they had during the Cold War, Europe still could not stand up to Russia alone and without US support unless it's leaders were prepared to use nuclear weapons which would clearly be a no-win situation.

Where I disagree with Matt is in thinking that just because Russia is struggling to take Ukraine that the European NATO countries alone could win a war against Russia even if they used seized Russian assets to help fund it. The editorial piece by Frank Gardner currently on the BBC online news site explains why and echoes what former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and many others who should know have been saying for some time.

There seem to me to be 3 main factors to consider if things were to escalate to this point: firstly, European NATO members may have the tech but they have limited supplies of both equipment and personnel, secondly is the changing face of warfare with the impact of hybrid attacks on data systems and drone usage for example that need to be countered and lastly is the fact that however poorly trained, led or equipped Russia's front-line forces are, Putin has a massive reserve he can call upon and he is prepared to keep sacrificing them. Moreover, Russia might not enjoy support from China (who would likely happily watch from the side-lines as both Russian and European forces are depleted) but India and others would still likely trade with Putin and help him economically.

The world would feel safer a lot safer without Putin in it but a change of POTUS to one that had some integrity and moral fibre certainly would not go amiss either.

[On Balance]

It has often been said on here and elsewhere that Putin has something on Trump. I wonder if there is a connection between the three mentioned below.

Trump, Putin, Epstein. I’ll say no more!

[baggiematt]

I agree with Matt on one aspect of this one. Trump is just a narcissistic braggart and him calling EU leaders weak is no different to him calling reporters "stupid" or low "IQ". He likes to think of himself as a strong man but he isn't known as TACO for nothing so calling European leaders "weak" is hypocritical at best.

In the case of Starmer, I do agree that he is a weak leader mostly because he consistently does not read the room or properly think things through enough which then leads to him being forced to reconsider and either make U-turns or else dilute policies. On the other-hand, being a "strong" leader in itself certainly does not mean that that individual is necessarily a force for good as numerous authoritarian regimes have proven over time. Putin, of course, included.

I also think Matt is right to ask what anyone should expect EU leaders to do as the situation is not straightforward. Even if NATO members had continued to invest in their military as they had during the Cold War, Europe still could not stand up to Russia alone and without US support unless it's leaders were prepared to use nuclear weapons which would clearly be a no-win situation.

Where I disagree with Matt is in thinking that just because Russia is struggling to take Ukraine that the European NATO countries alone could win a war against Russia even if they used seized Russian assets to help fund it. The editorial piece by Frank Gardner currently on the BBC online news site explains why and echoes what former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and many others who should know have been saying for some time.

There seem to me to be 3 main factors to consider if things were to escalate to this point: firstly, European NATO members may have the tech but they have limited supplies of both equipment and personnel, secondly is the changing face of warfare with the impact of hybrid attacks on data systems and drone usage for example that need to be countered and lastly is the fact that however poorly trained, led or equipped Russia's front-line forces are, Putin has a massive reserve he can call upon and he is prepared to keep sacrificing them. Moreover, Russia might not enjoy support from China (who would likely happily watch from the side-lines as both Russian and European forces are depleted) but India and others would still likely trade with Putin and help him economically.

The world would feel safer a lot safer without Putin in it but a change of POTUS to one that had some integrity and moral fibre certainly would not go amiss either.

Europe is substantially more powerful than Russia. We have them on economy, military capability and intelligence. Quite substantially.

They couldnt take on Finland in their hay day.

No doubt about it, Ukraine are first line of defence and unless America pulls strings and shafts us, they will be there taking losses for years.