Wider War Threat Removed by Trump and Putin

BREATHE EASIER: PEACE IS AT HAND. Trump and Putin have removed the threatening shadow of wider – even nuclear – war stemming from Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov just termed today’s talks in Saudi Arabia “very useful”; so did the US troika. See:

Rapid Rapprochement with Russia

FAST MOVING US-RUSSIA RAPPROCHEMENT. Feb 12th: Trump-Putin 90-min telecon; 13th: Hegseth: No Ukraine in NATO; 14TH: Vance: Why not fix Democracy in Europe? 15th: Rubio-Lavrov: Repairing the damage done by Obama and Biden and preparing for Russia-US summit.

Taking on the Germans

UNPRECEDENTED: That’s the word for today’s bitter exchange between VP Vance, after his stunning speech, and German President Steinmeier, who excoriated the new US govt for “showing no respect for established rules, partnership, and trust built over time”.

Can Tulsi Take Down the Undertakers

Tulsi Gabbard confirmed. Can she face down the good ol’ boys who conceive and undertake cockamamie covert action? Can she transfer to the motor pool the malleable analysts posing as Russian experts? Also latest on Trump-Putin on Ukraine; ceasefire in Gaza.

8 Billion Ways to Lose your Leverage

Doubtful that Trump actually has Netanyahu “totally under his thumb”. US leverage largely lost w/major gift of $8B for more bombs. Netanyahu probably can slither out from between the proverbial rock and hard place, helped by Trump’s phantasmagoria on Gaza.

Move Them or Kill Them

On “Judging Freedom”, Larry Johnson and I disagree on who is cleverer – Trump or Netanyahu. In my view, Trump has given Netanyahu carte blanche avec les bombs needed to render “moving Palestinians to nice places” academic. Real aim unveiled: Kill them all.

A Steep Learning Curve

On Feb 7, 1965 in Pleiku, Viet Cong killed/wounded 100+ Americans, destroyed 10 aircraft. “Best and Brightest” to LBJ: (1) 1965, launch wide air attacks on N Vietnam; (2) 1968, sorry, we were wrong; stop, negotiate.” W/Trump advisers: is learning curve just as steep after 60 yrs?