Trump

[Sandydragon]

Seems a bit moody the media having a mass-wank over a huge bomb designed to kill indiscriminately.

They've asked more questions about the GBU-43/B than they did over the alleged chemical attack. A chemical attack of which there is still very little real evidence, apart from claims made by all sides.

We do know that a chemical weapon was used. The medical reports on the victims confirm that.

It would have been nice for there to be a full and open investigation into the incident, but Russia vetoed that proposal.

[OptimisticJock]

Imagine how many MOABs Britain will have with that extra 350 million a week they'll get from not sending cash to the EU!

The empire is back baby!

You actually get 20 MOABs for that amount of cash. That's a lot of bang.

Not bad for 36 isis scalps each.

[WaspInWales]

Seems a bit moody the media having a mass-wank over a huge bomb designed to kill indiscriminately.

They've asked more questions about the GBU-43/B than they did over the alleged chemical attack. A chemical attack of which there is still very little real evidence, apart from claims made by all sides.

We do know that a chemical weapon was used. The medical reports on the victims confirm that.

It would have been nice for there to be a full and open investigation into the incident, but Russia vetoed that proposal.

It's all a little dubious to say the least. The footage I've seen is far from convincing in terms of proof of a chemical attack. Perhaps seeing people wearing oxygen masks is enough to convince the media? The initial reports seemed to suggest sarin was the agent used, but there seemed to be very little to back this up. Then when witness statements seemed to suggest people could smell the agent, chlorine was added to the narrative. As for the medical reports, again, it's all a little dubious.

The US are refusing to release their 'evidence'. We just have to trust the WH according to them.

There is still absolutely no sense in Assad doing this. They have absolutely nothing to gain. The only players who stand to gain from this is Trump and the rebels.

Russia vetoing the UN proposal is entirely predictable and shitty at the same time too. Is it really any different from the US protecting their allies with vetoes?

[WaspInWales]

How does bombing Syria help a US president struggling for approval and/or appreciation?

Here's how:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... trike.html

We've already seen headlines regarding Trump and Syria using adjectives such as 'decisive' and 'bold' to describe his actions.

The whole thing is just a PR exercise.

Add to that, the dropping of the biggest non-nuclear bomb ever known to man, on some other baddies in the ME, and within a few short days, Trump has gone from an unpopular buffoon to an all American hero. The maker of very unpopular domestic policy that affects millions of people to the saviour of the 'beautiful babies' of Syria.

There's no irony in the fact that many of those 'beautiful babies' may have gone on to develop into adults who may have wanted to leave a war-torn country in order to settle in the 'relative' safety that the US can provide.

Lol@them as Trump says you can go fwck yourselves as he wants to block your entry to the US.

[Digby]

Part of it is a PR exercise certainly, and perhaps even more one aimed at North Korea than those in Afghanistan and Syria, but an awful lot of foreign affairs is PR. And I really wouldn't worry too much that those who 10 days ago thought Trump was a cretin are suddenly going to be full of admiration, yes some are big fans of Trump but they always were and there's maybe as much chance of them shifting away from someone nominating a religious conservative to the supreme court as the Assad apologists doing other than supporting Putin's position

[Sandydragon]

Seems a bit moody the media having a mass-wank over a huge bomb designed to kill indiscriminately.

They've asked more questions about the GBU-43/B than they did over the alleged chemical attack. A chemical attack of which there is still very little real evidence, apart from claims made by all sides.

We do know that a chemical weapon was used. The medical reports on the victims confirm that.

It would have been nice for there to be a full and open investigation into the incident, but Russia vetoed that proposal.

It's all a little dubious to say the least. The footage I've seen is far from convincing in terms of proof of a chemical attack. Perhaps seeing people wearing oxygen masks is enough to convince the media? The initial reports seemed to suggest sarin was the agent used, but there seemed to be very little to back this up. Then when witness statements seemed to suggest people could smell the agent, chlorine was added to the narrative. As for the medical reports, again, it's all a little dubious.

The US are refusing to release their 'evidence'. We just have to trust the WH according to them.

There is still absolutely no sense in Assad doing this. They have absolutely nothing to gain. The only players who stand to gain from this is Trump and the rebels.

Russia vetoing the UN proposal is entirely predictable and shitty at the same time too. Is it really any different from the US protecting their allies with vetoes?

So the evidence from doctors in Turkey is also unreliable?

[Sandydragon]

Part of it is a PR exercise certainly, and perhaps even more one aimed at North Korea than those in Afghanistan and Syria, but an awful lot of foreign affairs is PR. And I really wouldn't worry too much that those who 10 days ago thought Trump was a cretin are suddenly going to be full of admiration, yes some are big fans of Trump but they always were and there's maybe as much chance of them shifting away from someone nominating a religious conservative to the supreme court as the Assad apologists doing other than supporting Putin's position

For the record, Trump is still a cretin. His brinksmanship with North Korea is mor concerning and seems to rely on China restraining NK.

However, Trump does have some good advisorswho know the ME well. On this occasion he seems to have listened, bolstered by Fox TV reports.

[WaspInWales]

We do know that a chemical weapon was used. The medical reports on the victims confirm that.

It would have been nice for there to be a full and open investigation into the incident, but Russia vetoed that proposal.

It's all a little dubious to say the least. The footage I've seen is far from convincing in terms of proof of a chemical attack. Perhaps seeing people wearing oxygen masks is enough to convince the media? The initial reports seemed to suggest sarin was the agent used, but there seemed to be very little to back this up. Then when witness statements seemed to suggest people could smell the agent, chlorine was added to the narrative. As for the medical reports, again, it's all a little dubious.

The US are refusing to release their 'evidence'. We just have to trust the WH according to them.

There is still absolutely no sense in Assad doing this. They have absolutely nothing to gain. The only players who stand to gain from this is Trump and the rebels.

Russia vetoing the UN proposal is entirely predictable and shitty at the same time too. Is it really any different from the US protecting their allies with vetoes?

So the evidence from doctors in Turkey is also unreliable?

Ahh yes Turkey, they wouldn't have anything bad to say about Syria now would they?

Why on earth would evidence from there be any more reliable than elsewhere in this dreadful situation?

[caldeyrfc]

Part of it is a PR exercise certainly, and perhaps even more one aimed at North Korea than those in Afghanistan and Syria, but an awful lot of foreign affairs is PR. And I really wouldn't worry too much that those who 10 days ago thought Trump was a cretin are suddenly going to be full of admiration, yes some are big fans of Trump but they always were and there's maybe as much chance of them shifting away from someone nominating a religious conservative to the supreme court as the Assad apologists doing other than supporting Putin's position

For the record, Trump is still a cretin. His brinksmanship with North Korea is mor concerning and seems to rely on China restraining NK.

However, Trump does have some good advisorswho know the ME well. On this occasion he seems to have listened, bolstered by Fox TV reports.

Who's that? Jared Kushner?
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/02/polit ... hner-iraq/

[morepork]

So we have had a few botched invasions based on extremely dubious evidence, 5 or so years of droning weddings, schools, and hospitals, and now massive bombs are being flung at people to bolster domestic approval ratings. Way to go. Winning hearts and minds all the way. All this with a fuckbucket at the helm who thought relevant history on the Korean peninsular went back as far as the last episode of MASH, and very possibly has never read a book from cover to cover, tweeting gloating keyboard warrior jibberish after each casual deployment of (fucking expensive) ordnance.

Fuck these cunts.

[Sandydragon]

Part of it is a PR exercise certainly, and perhaps even more one aimed at North Korea than those in Afghanistan and Syria, but an awful lot of foreign affairs is PR. And I really wouldn't worry too much that those who 10 days ago thought Trump was a cretin are suddenly going to be full of admiration, yes some are big fans of Trump but they always were and there's maybe as much chance of them shifting away from someone nominating a religious conservative to the supreme court as the Assad apologists doing other than supporting Putin's position

For the record, Trump is still a cretin. His brinksmanship with North Korea is mor concerning and seems to rely on China restraining NK.

However, Trump does have some good advisorswho know the ME well. On this occasion he seems to have listened, bolstered by Fox TV reports.

Who's that? Jared Kushner?
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/02/polit ... hner-iraq/

I was thinking of Mattis in particular.

[canta_brian]

Good to see the trumpton is fully aware of the North Korean situation.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/t ... ign=buffer

Scroll down to the paragraph about Bill Clinton dealings with "this gentleman".

In further news he is looking forward to meeting Queen Victoria on his state visit.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

[morepork]

Jesus he is thick. It's at the stage now where everything he says is assumed bullshit unless proven otherwise. Constant childish sniping using spectacularly "inaccurate" facts. What a total clown.

[canta_brian]

All gone quiet on yhe trump front lately. This might be why...

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/ ... ening.html

[Sandydragon]

It is all a bit quiet, strangely so for the showman himself.

Either his officials are actually planning stuff and have managed to impress on trump th necessity not to make too much noise whilst they do so, or his administration is effectively clueless. Both options very possible.

The fact Kushner is looking at major policy areas with no expertise is a bit concerning, if he isn't getting together some of the actual experts in that field then it's down right alarming.

[WaspInWales]

There's plenty going on and the great man has posted a number of tweets in the past week or so.

It's very much standard fare stuff though; Obamacare, the Wall, fake news, immigrants, NK, China and even France have been rewarded with a mention.

The real winner though has been the recipient of a Purple Heart medal awarded by Trump. Army Sergeant First Class Alvaro Barrientos had a leg amputated after an attack in Helmand province and received his medal along with the words 'congratulations' and 'tremendous'.

WTactualF!

[WaspInWales]

Bigly tax reform on the way too.

[Sandydragon]

There's plenty going on and the great man has posted a number of tweets in the past week or so.

It's very much standard fare stuff though; Obamacare, the Wall, fake news, immigrants, NK, China and even France have been rewarded with a mention.

The real winner though has been the recipient of a Purple Heart medal awarded by Trump. Army Sergeant First Class Alvaro Barrientos had a leg amputated after an attack in Helmand province and received his medal along with the words 'congratulations' and 'tremendous'.

WTactualF!

Bet he feels much better now.

[canta_brian]

There's plenty going on and the great man has posted a number of tweets in the past week or so.

It's very much standard fare stuff though; Obamacare, the Wall, fake news, immigrants, NK, China and even France have been rewarded with a mention.

The real winner though has been the recipient of a Purple Heart medal awarded by Trump. Army Sergeant First Class Alvaro Barrientos had a leg amputated after an attack in Helmand province and received his medal along with the words 'congratulations' and 'tremendous'.

WTactualF!

I expect he will be bigly good at hopping.

There is no direct link between Trump's brain and mouth.

[Digby]

Given a sniff he'd have Barrientos deported

[Digby]

Scrapping NAFTA has become talk to the others about a renegotiation and NAFTA can stay, at least for now. It seems these will be urgent talks, though as yet no detail or even outline as to what Donald wants to urgently talk about

[kk67]

Given a sniff he'd have Barrientos deported

'American coffee for American voters'.

[WaspInWales]

Nice to see Trump still winning on everything. It's a shame the nasty media doesn't agree with this.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39760283

I honestly don't get why he feels he needs to massage his ego at every opportunity. He constantly posts and retweets pro-Trump opinions as facts without anything to back them up and then he wonders why others don't agree:


It's almost as if Fox News is running America.

[WaspInWales]

That's two WH correspondants dinners he's missed now.

It's almost as if he can't take a joke...

[WaspInWales]

History with Trump: