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I'm curious about one aspect of the Golden Dome:

Don't we need Canada to agree to participate in it?

I mean, Canada's already the location of nearly all of the Northern Warning System missile detection network - all those radar are mostly along Canada's northern coats. Presumably the Golden Dome will have missile detection that either piggy-backs off the NWS and launches counter-missiles from there, or will involve replacing those systems with new ones in the same location.

If Greenland's going to be part of the Golden Dome, then the dome has to go pretty far north. Greenland's entirely north of Canada, after all - Greenland would be unnecessary for the Golden Dome if the northern line of the Golden Dome is on U.S. soil, rather than Canadian territory.

Which begs the question - why is Donald Trump getting into a pissing match with Canada? If the Golden Dome - and access to/defense in the Arctic more broadly - is so fundamentally important to Trump, then he's going to need Canada's help with all that. Why on earth is he stoking conflict with them, when they're integral to something he thinks is that important?

he's going to need Canada's help with all that.

Remember, his middle name is TOILET. So anything he says/claims is full of it.

His thinking (LOL) goes along the lines of "I can do whatever I want and everyone else MUST OBEY !!"

As stated, full of it.

Do as you choose and ignore Spankee. He will go back to his nap fairly quickly. He gets colicky every now and then, so one has to know what causes his problem(s)--besides EVERYTHING.

His thinking (LOL) goes along the lines of "I can do whatever I want and everyone else MUST OBEY !!"

As Bush 43 liked to bellow "we don't need a permission slip"

He gets colicky every now and then, so one has to know what causes his problem(s)--besides EVERYTHING.

As noted before, he's had a terrible week: plane broke down, skunked on Greenland, Newsom mocking him with "TACO Tuesday", countries that have a shred of self-respect rejecting his bribe laundering scheme.

He'll feel better, once he's beaten someone up. The only question is who he will decide to beat up.

Steve

He'll feel better, once he's beaten someone up. The only question is who he will decide to beat up.

Panama?

Or maybe ICE needs to fast rope into another American city.

Panama?

He seems to be waiting for the Panama Supreme Court. BlackRock offered some $22B to buy several ports, including the two in Panama, from Hutchison. But someone sued, complaining Hutchison was not fulfilling it's contract with Panama. That contract issue is what the court is deliberating. Having Panama throw Hutchison out would probably be cheaper than BlackRock buying the ports. But Trump the American Colossus would probably want control of the actual access to the canal, as that would give him another means to extort other countries. Right now, in spite of Trump the Perfect's claims, Panama is actually running the canal, not China.

There is no quick profit for Trump in taking over Cuba. The US economy gets along just fine without Cuban cane sugar. In fact, flooding the US with Cuban sugar would make the corn lobby foam at the mouth.

Shutting off oil imports from Canada would be the fastest way for God's Gift to the World, Trump to line his pockets, as well as his paymaster's in big oil, while trying to teach Carney a lesson for snubbing the Pirate King's bribe laundering scheme.

Of course, bombing Kharg Island with that big fleet he was bragging about yesterday, is another option.

Apparently, the fix was in, before the Maduro snatch operation.

Venezuela’s Delcy Rodríguez assured US of cooperation before Maduro’s capture

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/22/delc...

Rodriguez will visit the US soon. She is in the process of pushing legislation through the Venezuelan legislature to give US oil companies near total autonomy in how they operate in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s interim president to visit US amid deepening oil ties

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20260122-vene...

Documents show that Venezuela's proposed oil-reform will give companies operating autonomy and cash proceeds to companies.

https://www.worldenergynews.com/news/documents-sho...

I would not be surprised if Trump the God demands a huge equity stake in PDVSA, so he can steal part of that company's income, while his big oil paymasters are fattening their own pockets off of Venezuela.

Steve

Yes, Canada is a part of the Golden Dome.

Why is Carney so hell bent on bending over for China? That’s the question yo should be asking.

Why is Carney so hell bent on bending over for China? That’s the question yo should be asking.

vs bending over for Trump the God?

Steve

Why is Carney so hell bent on bending over for China? That’s the question yo should be asking.
Albaby has explained this a zillion times (okay, that was hyperbolic:-)
Why is Trump so hell bent on chasing away his long term worldwide allies?

Also, listen to the Carney Davos speech as it explains much.
Alan

Why is Carney so hell bent on bending over for China?

The real question is “Why is Trump driving smaller countries into the arms of China?

China must think they hit the jackpot with Donald Trump.

Why is Trump so hell bent on chasing away his long term worldwide allies?

If a country is chased away by 1 American President in 1 year…

…what Sirena say about how much they were our friends to begin with?

Something to ponder.

The real question is “Why is Trump driving smaller countries into the arms of China?

Again. If somebody thinks that China is a better place to line up with than the US…they’re probably a Chinese agent.

Because no one who’s sane does.

vs bending over for Trump the God?

Canada gets protected by the Dome also.

Carney is an idiot if he thinks China is going to buy anything other than oil from Canada.

what Sirena say about how much they were our friends to begin with?

Something to ponder.

Friends don’t kick friends in the teeth.

https://youtu.be/N8Uknh5qgR4?si=wPPfhfQqNo4mFMDC

Friends don’t kick friends in the teeth.

Again. If it only takes 1 year, then they weren’t much friendly at all.

If somebody thinks that China is a better place to line up with than the US…they’re probably a Chinese agent.

That’s just silly.

Trump is a bully. He is creating irreparable damage to the United States with his boorish and, frankly, irrational behavior.

Under those circumstances, Canada believes that at this moment China is more trustworthy than the United States. And Canada is correct.

And a lot of our allies are coming to the same conclusion.

The fact that you don’t see the damage Trump is causing is on you, not Canada.

And this is not only hurting us in the area of trade. Trump is also endangering our national security. What country their right mind would trust the Trump administration with highly classified information? Here’s a hint: None.

This is entirely on the Republicans who are completely obsequious to Trump’s irrational behavior.

But then again, Carney is an idiot even if doesn't think that.

But then again, Carney is an idiot even if doesn't think that.

That he is. Carney is a weak man who sees way to lay all the problems that Canada has (all under Labour governments) T Trump’s feet. Never mind their creeping authoritarianism until Trudeau and their economic issues.

Carney will push hard for a pipeline to the west coast…but Canada don’t own a lot of British Columbia, lol.

Carney will push hard for a pipeline to the west coast…but Canada don’t own a lot of British Columbia, lol.

They already have a pipe to the west coast. It's apparently running close to capacity. It should not be that difficult to run a second pipe along the same easement. Of course, if Canada was Texas, the government would simply declare eminent domain, seize the land, and hand it over to the pipeline company. There was a plan under consideration to run a pipe to the east coast, so Europe would have more alternatives, but it had not been given a green light.

Steve

Again. If somebody thinks that China is a better place to line up with than the US

Kids playing in the sandbox. One friend becomes unreliable, you need to diversify by necessity. So you pick up new friends. By necessity, Dopushka, by necessity.

Again. If somebody thinks that China is a better place to line up with than the US...

Trump’s back to threatening 100% tariffs on Canada this morning,
wow I can’t imagine why the Canadians (and the world) now see the Chinese as a more reliable trade partner.

Are we great again yet?

This “unstable” thing is yet another left wing Group think Label that libs decide via their kollectyiv. Hilarious how that works, Lán bó.

But then again, Carney is an idiot even if doesn't think that.

“If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”

Carney is right.

Venezuela was on the menu.

Greenland spent some time on the menu, and might still return as dessert.

Gaza ended up on the menu. Panama might be on the menu. And Trump has threatened to put Canada on the menu.

Canada has no desire to be on the menu. It’s only taking steps to make it less likely that it will end up there.

Can’t blame them.

Gaza ended up on the menu.

Ah! Maybe the "Gaza reconstruction fund" will be the next Trump bribe laundering operation, after he has pocketed the Billions for membership on his "Board of Peace". Of course, his response to Canada declining to pay the bribe makes the "bribe laundering machine" look more like an "extortion machine".

Steve

they’re probably a Chinese agent.

Because no one who’s sane does.

You are stating the Spankee Crime Family are Chinese agents AND they are NOT SANE.

Carney will push hard for a pipeline to the west coast

Canada already has a pipeline to the Pacific Ocean. Your Alzheimer's is showing....

Why is Carney so hell bent on bending over for China? That’s the question yo should be asking.

Because the U.S. is demonstrating that it is an unreliable and risky trading partner. And that the U.S. will use Canada's dependence on the U.S. as its very largest trading partner as a weapon against Canada. Making it essential - indeed almost imperative - that Canada diversify its export markets to have a greater reliance on China.

Canada's been a close and true ally, and business partner, for many decades - and now we're treating them like complete and utter carp. So they're going to have to protect themselves from us economically.

Yes, Canada is a part of the Golden Dome.

I mean - maybe? Canada doesn't have to let the U.S. build the Golden Dome on their territory. It's to their advantage to have it there, of course - but they might also recognize that as essential leverage to use against the U.S. for things that Canada wants.

In days gone by, the sort of mutual cooperation that led to the NWS being put in without any bargaining would have continued. But the U.S has degraded that relationship. So now, Canada might demand a "quid" to the "quo" of letting the U.S. use their territory for the Golden Dome.

Because the U.S. is demonstrating that it is an unreliable and risky trading partner

Sorry, this is nonsense and little more than a talking point - no offense.

There’s zero universe where China is a more reliable trading partner. Carney’s also on crack if he thinks China buys anything but oil from him.

decades - and now we're treating them like complete and utter carp.

You know, I read these statements and people forget about all the quotas and levies slapped on US goods that made it tough for us to compete for a long time…

I mean - maybe? Canada doesn't have to let the U.S. build the Golden Dome on their territory.

Sure. We could just China take out Vancouver or Toronto. No skin off our nose.

but they might also recognize that as essential leverage to use against the U.S. for things that Canada wants.

Sure. If Carney is a maniac and wants to play games with his national security.

You realize that Canada has very, very little military power, right? A more open Arctic means their massive coastline is wide open.

But the U.S has degraded that relationship. So now, Canada might demand a "quid" to the "quo" of letting the U.S. use their territory for the Golden Dome.

So in exchange for us buying more maple syrup they allow us the privilege of keeping their towns from being nuked? Sure, why not.

You know, I read these statements and people forget about all the quotas and levies slapped on US goods that made it tough for us to compete for a long time…

We had NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, for decades. Trump claimed that it was a bad agreement. Then he renamed it USMCA and pretended that it was something new, and claimed that it was a great agreement unlike anything anyone had ever seen before. Now in his second term he, and you, are trashing and violating the very same agreement that he signed.

And you expect anyone on earth to view him as a reliable trading partner?

There’s zero universe where China is a more reliable trading partner.

What on earth are you talking about? China's not the one bouncing their tariffs back and forth like a yo-yo. China's not the one abrogating existing free trade agreements every time the head of state gets annoyed with some unrelated aspect of other nation's conduct. China's not the one trying to completely upend the established rules of international trade.

You know, I read these statements and people forget about all the quotas and levies slapped on US goods that made it tough for us to compete for a long time…

And we had some, too. Canada's got quotas and tariff quotas on certain ag products (like eggs and milk), and we've got some on certain Canadian products (like lumber and steel). But for the most part, trade with Canada was largely unrestricted under NAFTA - until Trump decided to just ignore our prior commitments. That we agreed to.

I don't really understand what you're thinking, here. Was the idea that the U.S. would unilaterally reset all the terms of trade that have been in place for decades....and no one would react? That no one would take measures to respond to a previously stable set of trade practices becoming subject to whatever the President decided on any given day they should be?

Sure. We could just China take out Vancouver or Toronto. No skin off our nose.

You don't think a Chinese military bases in Vancouver or Toronto wouldn't affect our national security posture? Boy, talk about playing games with your national security.

Sure. If Carney is a maniac and wants to play games with his national security.

You mean like Trump is doing? We have one of the largest land borders between any two nations on earth, and Trump decides that he's going to treat the adjacent country this badly? You'd think that someone who wasn't a maniac and didn't want to play games with his national security might be more solicitous of maintaining positive relations with them.

I don't really understand what you're thinking, here.

There’s a stage of human development in which a person begins to realize that their perspective is not the only perspective, and that we live in and must negotiate a world of different and sometimes conflicting perspectives.

Some people never move beyond that stage.

What on earth are you talking about? …
China's not the one trying to completely upend the established rules of international trade.

Okay.

I don't really understand what you're thinking, here.

I’ve explained my positions a number of times. Here’s another.

1. For decades we were sold “free trade” and watched industry after industry close down in the US. The assumption was always that “free”==“fair”. In looking into some of these things we find that US goods were being restricted in all sorts of ways.

2. I believe in free trade. But free trade needs to be fair at the same time where US exporters have a chance. The existing trade deals it seems were open to many restrictions.

The left for decades would complain about the “hollowing out” of America’s middle class and industrial base. I guess that all goes by the wayside when a Republican is in office.

3. China is gearing up to take Taiwan and perhaps other things by force. The original year was 2027 but the recent scandal in the Strategic Rocket Force plus Xi’s purge of their top general likely sets that timetable back. Canada wanting to partner with them? That’s nuts.

4. Canada’s economy is suffering from high costs and an affordability problem. Carney inherited a mess from Trudeau and sees in Trump a way to lay it all on the feet of the US. Hey, that’s politics.

5. If someone thinks that the Chinese are reliable in any way they’re nuts. China’s economy is some ways like the fake town of Rock Ridge in the last couple of scenes in Blazing Saddles: a cardboard facade. Corruption is endemic in many places in the economic structure and their “banking system” is highly suspect.


But if Canada wants to flood itself with cheap stuff and the. Wonder where all their jobs went in 10 years… that’s on them.

Some people never move beyond that stage.


Every liberal accusation is in reality a confession.

Sometimes laughably so.

You realize that libs way outnumber cons here and that the left wing perspective dominates here, right? And that fact makes your accusation kinda silly.

There’s zero universe where China is a more reliable trading partner.

I think Albaby's point is that Canada is diversifying away from the United States to reduce risk. That's very prudent. Increase your trade with China, Brazil, England to reduce volatile trade with the US that happens when Trump needs distractions, etc.

But if Canada wants to flood itself with cheap stuff and the. Wonder where all their jobs went in 10 years… that’s on them.

There's no doubt that Canada would prefer to do most of their trade with the U.S. After all, they have done most of their trade with the U.S. We're their largest source of imports, as well as their largest export market. There's no other nation on earth that they're as closely linked to.

But if we're going to keep punishing them and whipsawing them and ripping up our trade agreements and threatening them with things like 100% tariffs every time the President gets annoyed with them...they can't continue with that. They can't continue to rely on the U.S. to the extent they have. They have to diversify their international trading so that they aren't as vulnerable to us.

It didn't matter that they were so vulnerable to us in the past, because we were trustworthy. We weren't using the fact that they integrated their economy so closely with ours as a weapon against them. Now we are. We weren't abrogating trade agreements every time the President gets a different idea about something. Now we are. So they have to change.

This is not surprising. It's the inevitable result of the U.S. trying to reset many (most?) of our trading relationships in ways that are fundamentally less favorable to all our counterparties. Of course they're going to change what they do in order to mitigate the changes we're making to their disadvantage. And of course their responsive actions are going to be things we don't necessarily like, such as increasing their interactions with China - the world's second largest economy.

Because we're unilaterally reducing their access to export to the U.S., they want to rebalance. So they're going to replace some imports from the U.S. with imports from China. That gives them leverage to get more favorable trade terms for their exports to China, to replace the lost access to the U.S. market. It's not ideal, but it's better than having 65-75% of their entire bilateral trade be solely with the U.S.

I think Albaby's point is that Canada is diversifying away from the United States to reduce risk.

Have a rec. I get that; I just think the “unreliability” theme is inaccurate.

Because we're unilaterally reducing their access to export to the U.S., they want to rebalance. So they're going to replace some imports from the U.S. with imports from China.

That’s no leverage. They’re not going to buying the same stuff.

Carney’s also on crack if he thinks China buys anything but oil from him.

I have sold items to China--not oil. You do NOT know what you are talking about.

That’s no leverage. They’re not going to buying the same stuff.

It will be a lot of the same stuff. Canada's largest exports to the U.S. are energy products, forest products (lumber), and minerals and metals - all of which are also Canada's largest exports to China. One of their largest export segments to the U.S. is auto parts, because so many U.S. automakers moved their parts supply chains all over both sides of the border; that won't be replaced by China, but in Trump's trade regime it's being destroyed altogether anyway.

It won't match up perfectly, of course - but that's not the point. Canada isn't going to try to eliminate trade with the U.S., but try to reduce the degree of their bilateral trade with the U.S. They can't rely on us to honor our trade agreements or keep business practices between the two countries stable, so they have to cut down their exposure to our now-more-volatile approach to trade.

It's just strange. The administration has acted as though having freedom to operate in Greenland is of such vital strategic importance that it's worth straining NATO to the breaking point, but doesn't seem to think that maintaining good relations with Canada - who controls an area of Arctic border 10x larger than Greenland and all of our existing Northern Warning System - is worth worrying about. So we drive them to enter into stronger trade relations with China, praise them for entering into stronger trade relations with China....and then threaten them with punitive tariffs for entering into stronger trade relations with China as we wake up to what we're doing?

Wonder where all their jobs went in 10 years…

ROFLMAO !!

Spankee can't comprehend TEN MINUTES in the future, let alone ten years.

You know, I read these statements and people forget about all the quotas and levies slapped on US goods that made it tough for us to compete for a long time…


You are buying into Trump's endless victim narrative without really thinking. Why do Trumpers leave their brains at the door when they enter the MAGAsphere.

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