After bashing NATO, Trump returns to take on press
Having left our alliances in shambles to an extent Vladimir Putin daren’t have hoped for, Donald Trump returned from his world tour to the plaudits of his supporters; proving yet again that nothing will shake their adulation, ever.
Literally a laughing stock among European leaders after he left (Daily Mail: tinyurl.com/they-mock), Trump’s arrogant know-nothingism only increased devotion amongst the devoted. Who needs Europe? Since when is Russia an enemy? Why care about human rights? Or climate change? Or that several hundred thousand German cars are built each year in America?
NATO’s workings continue to flummox Trump, who still asserts member nations owe us money. Whereas it’s true many spend less on defense than agreed, no one “owes” money to anyone. Undoubtedly he’s been told this, often. (It took Angela Merkel, leader of the free world, eleven tries to instill transient understanding of how the EU works.) One assumes, then, the falsehood is addressed to his base at home, whose intelligence Trump must hold high in disregard. (GQ: tinyurl.com/dim-view)
And what if those countries were to increase their military spending? If Greece added 50,000 troops, would we decrease our forces by that amount? If Germany built another airbase, would we close one of ours over there? What, in other words, is his point? Disunity, maybe? Trump, who can’t stop praising murderous despots, procaciously insulted our allies, while refusing clear commitment to Article 5, under which every NATO country joined in support of us after 9/11. How high were the fives in the Kremlin?
http://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/schwab-after-bashing-nato-trump-returns-to-take-on-press/?utm_source=DAILY+HERALD&utm_campaign=91df0d65f1-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d81d073bb4-91df0d65f1-228635337