Donald Trump the Megathread part II - mod warnings in OP, Updated 18/03/25

Akrasia

Even in the game 'risk' Alaska and Kamchatka are 2 of the most strategic zones on the map

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224432#Comment_123224432

This didn't happen. Radiation levels in Hiroshima and Nagasaki returned to normal levels within a couple of months.

Dr Robert

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224376#Comment_123224376

He's nearly defeated. That's why he needs the US.

Remember, Putin hates the West and the US.

Rawr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224449#Comment_123224449

As a sort of History-nerd aside, Alaska has actually been a theater for war, but in that case WWII:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_campaign

The Japanese attacked and successfully occupied two of Alaska's Aleutian Islands and deported their Aleut population to prison camps back in Japan. If Alaska had been a US State at the time, it would have signified the first foriegn invasion of a US State since the War of 1812. The Japanese occupation last about a year until they were forced out by the US Army.

The proximity of Alaska to Russia, and it's past as a Russian colony should give the US pause when dealing with the current Russian Federation. I'm sure Vlad would be delighted to have a resource-rich foothold on the North American continent. The reason this isn't as "hot" a front in conflicts is both due to the remote & harsh nature of the area, and also to how very difficult transport logistics can get on both sides of the Bering Strait. It's not impossible to move an army up there, but you're entirely dependant on Naval and Air support to make it at all possible. You really can't count on roads in that part of the world.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224376#Comment_123224376

It isn't that Russia/Putin is undefeatable, full stop. Nobody would really think that. The question is if Russia can be defeated or outlasted with the men and materials Ukraine can muster, plus the aid that western nations are prepared to give.

How long can Russia fight on for in the current geopolitical situation?

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224528#Comment_123224528

that really is the question. When Trump and his acolytes say 'end the war' they mean 'let Putin win'.

If the framing instead of how do we 'end the war' is how do we 'defeat Russia' then the solutions are very different.

Allowing Russia to win is not a long term solution. Putin is an enemy, and when your enemies win, they get stronger

Patrick2010

If the west let Ukraine fall Georgia and Moldova will follow. Once Putin has those in his pocket he’ll set his sights on Poland. Trump has managed to align America with pariah states like Russia and North Korea.

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224387#Comment_123224387

The member of the press who asked the question about Zelenskys attire is the boyfriend of Margorie Taylor Green.

Coincidence?

No.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224565#Comment_123224565

I'm surprised Russia didn't overrun Georgia years ago. Seems like it would have been relatively handy to do.

If Ukraine did fall, it would be difficult to see Russia being in a position to launch fresh offensives on other countries shortly after that just because of exhaustion. Instead, it would be probable that Russia would do what it has long done and just stoke political discord within target countries and get some pro-Russian leader elected. It's a much more economical way to do things.

facehugger99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123223358#Comment_123223358

How long do you think it’s going to take for Ukraine to win this war as a matter of interest?

How many more Ukrainians will need to be sacrificed in the meat grinder before it’s won?

strathspey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224565#Comment_123224565

I don't think is accurate. ruZZia would have to overcome a natural border of hate towards orcs that stretches from the Baltics, including Finland, all the way to the Mediterranean. ruZZia wouldn't have the capacity to subdue this local and well placed hatred towards them.

looksee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224639#Comment_123224639

So Ukraine says, no, take over, Russia, you are welcome. (Just like Ireland would in a similar situation - 'eyeroll') And then who will be the next to fall and the next, and none of them fighting back because people will get killed by Russia, sure you might as well give him the rest of Europe.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224389#Comment_123224389

America is going to have to turn the tide of public opinion against Trump and his cabal.

Thst means highlighting their errors and bad behaviour.

That involves inter alia holding up placards and engaging in public demonstrations.

Trump is probably looking for an excuse to use brutal force against his opponents and to demonize their characters

All public demonstations against this regime will have to be orderly which is why Trump will go after any leaders that are ensuring that and he will try to provoke violence so that he can with public acceptance cowe the opposition into acqiescence.

Probably why he released the Jan 6 prisoners -to bust up the demonstrations..

This may be difficult viewing.

(Edited with an added hyphen after "prisoners")

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224588#Comment_123224588

I think Trump was playing to the gallery" and was encouraging that "reporter".

Was it a Thomas Becket moment?

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224639#Comment_123224639

Do you think the Russians will stop killing those who identify as Ukrainian in occupied territories? Do you think Russia should face no consequences for invading Ukraine? You or I or the US should not be the ones to decide what is an acceptable conclusion to this. Zelensky has the backing of Ukrainian's and they are the victims in this.

Btw, Trump's strategy of abandoning Ukraine will lead to countless deaths and the reason for it is he's a fan of Putin. The same man who has been egging on genocide since the start of the war. The same man who has critics of the war killed. The same man who has engaged in what amounts to radioactive attacks in the UK. Not to mention his global effort to engage in election interference.

Also your strategy of appeasement was tried in the 1930s, it turned out pretty poorly.

Flex

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224643#Comment_123224643

I wouldnt be so confident. Look at how American attitudes and outlooks have changed in a month. Trump lies repeatedly with impunity. The day after Macron publically corrected his '$350b…. Europe gave a loan, whereas we get nothing back' and he was fact checked on multiple sites, he was just repeating the same again, and people eat it up and let it inform their outlooks.

If Trump said tomorrow he decided to send military and economic aid to Russia under the guise of "Well Russia wants to stop the war, but Ukraine wants to keep it going, so its actually Russia who is under attack, lets help these poor people under attack", it would be swallowed immediately. People would start putting Russian flags on their Facebook profiles.

Further, read Facebook and X messages from the general Irish populace,

• blaming of Ukraine,
• the EU elites being warmongers,
• Ukraine actually being to blame for war,
• VAT being an unfair tariff on the USA,
• Irish politicians expressing support for Ukraine or even just stating we need to increase our defence spending as we are completely defenceless today get 'why cant ya build houses for us… the EU are robbing our pensions… we need Trump in Ireland…. why not give peace a chance…. Putin just wants peace'.

Its prevalent in Poland and eastern-EU states that I visit regularly, however they thankfully have more experience with Russia so are still getting ready in earnest;

• 'the EU are robbing our pensions',
• 'the EU are warmongers',
• 'the EU is sending all of our factories to Germany because they want to be the masters of us'.

Disinformation easily and quickly sways a population in a matter of weeks, most people just listen to what the mainstream media say and follow it eventually. Thats how Orban has been elected overwhelmingly in Hungary for five-terms in a row despite robbing EU funding for Hungary and giving it to his son-in-law, childhood friends, his father to build a Hapsberg-era styled palace for their family, along with voting with USA, Russia, North Korea last week at the UN….; he controls the mainstream media in Hungary which parrot him being a hero, mastermind, putting Hungary first….

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224676#Comment_123224676

Demonstrations barely work in liberal democracies as it is. They're going to work even less in a country like the USA which is rapidly sliding into an authoritarian state.

I'm not saying it should be violence, but MAGA needs to be met with something considerably stronger than standing out with a placard for an afternoon.

golfball37

Sarah Palin famously said she can see Russia from her house in Alaska as a validation of her credentials on foreign policy .

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224711#Comment_123224711

It has to include public demonstrations.

Public opinion is vital even when is is suppressed.

After the Berlin wall came down East Germans were surprised* that we in the West thought that they supported their "government" and bought all the lies.

*From my recollection at the time.

Timberrrrrrrr

HHopefully Americans will treat Vance/Trump like this everywhere they go

https://twitter.com/MalcontentmentT/status/1896115876220510211?t=G6x8hB6O-ryQ70uweh1gKg&s=19

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224676#Comment_123224676

I haven't heard of any anti-Trump protesters being 'busted up' by any of the released January 6th rioters so far.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224740#Comment_123224740

You don't think that is down the road?

(Edited that post for clarity of what I meant to say)

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224742#Comment_123224742

Doubt it would be the Jan 6th people doing it. They're not exactly what you'd call elite footsoldiers. It wasn't called the 'Beer Belly Putsch' for no reason.

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224742#Comment_123224742

That's theoretical. The US federal government has no power of what state and local law enforcement officers do. Furthermore, even Trump wouldn't go as far as pardoning perpetrators of new attacks against peaceful protesters. After all, although he pardoned the Blackwater men who shot civilians dead in Baghdad, he didn't pardon the Americans who tortured prisoners in Abu Ghraib - so he actually does have standards!

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224752#Comment_123224752

Well I was thinking of the Proud Boys and similar groups who were involved in Jan 6 and now released(I think)

I imagine Trump had it in mind to use them .

Of course he can just use the police ("aim for their legs,boys") but those groups would be a useful ,maybe more flexible and personally loyal asset (agent provocateurs).

Are we entering America's 1930's period?

political analyst

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224495#Comment_123224495

Nearly defeated my foot!

As Benedict Spence said on the Press Preview on Sky News, just after 11:30 PM on 28 February 2025, the Russian economy is run from a lower base than the Western economies are and so Putin can afford to keep the war going on indefinitely.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224770#Comment_123224770

Yes I believe he would.Those are the standards I see in him.

There are no gardrails now (just his demise in god knows how many years )

Even then his successor will follow his "policies"

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224786#Comment_123224786

This makes no sense. If the base is lower (Smaller than Spain's despite having nearly 10 times the population) then there's less capacity to pay for a long drawn out conflict.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224676#Comment_123224676

I think this post is a bit hysterical to be honest. For the most part, Trump is a bluffer. He isn't creating some kind of militia to bust up demonstrations as you put it. I think you are jumping to conclusions and have a propensity for worrying about worst case scenarios.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123224817#Comment_123224817

He will get carried along in the tide.He has unleashed the dogs of civil war (not saying it will come to that) and has already undermined democracy and the democratic alliances world wide.

When the consequences are so severe we need to entertain worst case scenarios (ie even worse than now)

I believe his intention is to feed Ukraine to the dogs if it suits his purpose.(does he believe Putin will act honorably if allowed to overrun the country or does he not care as only America (his kind of America) counts?

Is Ukraine just another "s-hole country" to him?

Hos do you think he will react when the first demonstrations are violently attacked?

"First I heard of it"? "Fake news" ?"Next question"? "Get that reporter outa here"?