Subject: Re: OT, out
I think the essence of Jim's worry is that the rule of law is not as reliable as most people perceived before. Trump has proven that rules can be changed quickly, including claiming rights to other countries lands, which dwarfs claiming right to other people's money.

Alas, the US has proven itself to be 'agreement incapable'. Going back many decades. Each time the Federal government changes to the other party everything can, and often does, change. Obama did it when he got elected, Biden did it when he got elected. Heck, Bush (HW) did it when he got elected after Reagan -- and they were in the same party.

In the international arena an inevitable consequence of being the biggest hombre in the room. At other times in history different countries were the biggest hombre and they always did the same thing. Spain, France, England.

And now we are finding out that the CIA, et. al. has been messing with countries & regions all over the world for decades, regardless of whoever the President was, probably since the end of WW2.

I find it amusing that Europe is considering ignoring "rule of law" with respect to the $300 billion of frozen Russia assets. Lending money using Russia's assets as collateral. (Great, I'll borrow money from the bank and put your house up as collateral.) Seizing the interest earned on the $300B. (The earnings of an asset belong to the owner of that asset.)