No. of Recommendations: 8
The US has spent a decade wooing India to become our ally. They ship a substantial quantity of fabrics, garments and cut gem-stones into the US.
So, President Trump told Prime Minister Modi of India that he had negotiated the cessation of the recent conflict between India and Pakistan with Pakistan and he wanted Modi to recommend him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Modi, who didn't want or need foreign meddling refused to nominate Trump. So, allegedly to punish Russia and force them to the bargaining table with Ukraine, President Trump heaped huge tariffs on India because they are the second largest customer in the world for Russian oil. Of course, he did not place tariffs on China, the largest purchaser of Russian oil (presumably because they can cut off supply of strategic rare earth magnets) nor tightened the screws on Russia itself. Rather than using the significant power of the US government to stifle the flow of capital into and out of Russia using our control of the SWIFT financial transfer system (or even applying tariffs on Russian products - for some reason they avoided the tariffs placed on other nations).
So, this week, while Russia continued to bomb the heck out of Ukraine while President Trump continues to ignore the fact that his ultimatums to Russia keep expiring without result or his carrying out any restraints, not only was Russia's Putin and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un marching in lock-step with China's Secretary Xi, but so was Prime Minister Modi.
In the meantime, rather than increase the pressure that the US can bring to bear against Russia, Trump has blamed Europe for continuing to buy oil from Russia.
So, rather than support Ukraine by turning the thumb-screws on Russia and strengthening our ties with our allies, our leadership seems to be intent on ending the war by having Ukraine accept Russia's condition, while threatening to absorb one of our closest allies, invade a territory of another, break off support of many of the others and economically attack one with is (I think) the fourth largest economy in the world (and the most populous customer).
Just when you think things can't get more confusing, there is the possibility (I would say probability except the US Supreme Court seems to be willing to ignore precedence in applying the law, so anything is possible) that the tariffs will be judged illegal and the money already collected will have to be returned to the importers - causing windfall profits at the same time as the US treasury will be emptied and the American consumer will have paid for the whole debacle.
Jeff
No. of Recommendations: 4
It's almost as if Trumps prior business "successes" could have predicted this outcome.
No. of Recommendations: 13
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/objectively-a-sovi...Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa hit out at Donald Trump. During a speech at the PSD Summer University, Mr Sousa said, "The president of the most powerful global superpower is objectively a Soviet or Russian asset. He acts as an agent."
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I am not accusing President of this, but if it were the casse, what different choices would he be making making?
No. of Recommendations: 0
There is a cultural matter Modi won't get past, no matter what.
Perhaps I am cherry picking, but it is a major part of Indian history. The English need not apply. Even American English need not apply.
A good friend of mine who set me up in my software stack to create my video game was a student in London, originally from the UAE. He is part of the Indian diaspora. I asked him about his days as a student in London. There was plenty of anger there. I assured him I am Irish. I got entry to the "club".
Trump may have purposely offended Modi and or India with his arrogance. Maybe? Yep. Don't hold your breath waiting for the Indians to come back to the table.
The world is complex, and so is Modi. Really, Trump is not at the table for India. Meaning he is offering the Indians nothing.
Our interest is in Apple manufacturing here in the US instead of in China, India, or Vietnam.
It is a big deal and we may have won this round. It ain't pretty.
No. of Recommendations: 1
that is the thing, a hidden asset could never do this level of damage.
it's the public nature of such cooperation that yields its exponential damage.
one could go through the role for all the agencies, but let's take demographics as a key case.
for russia and china, both deportations and vaccine nonsense is unprecedented in the destruction of the future american work force. the smartest people not wanted, whether born in america or willing to follow rules. no amount of foreign adversary defense spending could achieve this.
like scotuus, this is multi-generational damage far outliving trump\MAGA.
