July 20, 2017

Trump is Putin's Best Agent of Disruption

As Russia's democratically re-elected Leader for Life, Putin, can take the long view, developing long term projects. 

Putin’s triumphant project is Trump. Putin is at heart a jokester, really.

Trump is Putin's great Agent of Disruption. Even better than an Agent of Influence.

Russia did its utmost to boost Trump's electoral prospects. Russia is still nurturing Trump's disruptive tendencies.

Trump is continually disrupting the US government, the nation and international reputation. 

At the G20 Trump was again played by Putin “It’s very clear that Trump’s best single relationship...is with Putin. US allies were surprised, flummoxed, disheartened.

China doesn't mind Trump bringing interesting times to America, either.

Best buddies - Montage courtesy Slate
--- 

Pete

8 comments:

GhalibKabir said...

Putin must feel quite smug these days (I would be if I was him)....

American infighting is getting to the point where a pack of infighting dingoes might start looking more orderly/decent :(

what is most disheartening (and enraging) to see is the absolute pig-headedness shown by trump voters (esp. the religious kind) in ignoring the shenanigans of tangerine twitler and minions.

It is as if they give two hoots about everything else (so long as they can stick it to the " 'effing librul elite" on the coasts)...

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

Western or democratic countries show good tolerance for China and Saudi Arabia and are stern to Russia.

Deep resposiblity by Pol Pot for China and Tibet invasion or harsh treatment of foreingn labors and violation of human rights of women in Saudi Arabia seem not be important for democratic countries. Economy of China and oil of Saudi Arbia make democratic countries three wise monkeys.

Currently, Russia is heavily criticized for Crimea occupation. Crimea belonged to Russia from 1773 to 1953. In 1954, Soviet decided annexiation of Crimea to Ukraine. But, was this annexiation legal? Until 1953, Stalin, one of most cruel dictators ruled out Soviet, purged innocent people, ca. 20-30 million people, sent Siberia. Treatment in Siberia was so cruel. Even after the death of Stalin, fear ruled out Soviet. How could Russian resist decision by Soviet?

Afer the Cold War, democtric countries yet provided perspective strategy against Russia to construct peaceful world.

Regards

Anonymous said...

I send commet before correction. I sent corrected version.

Hi Pete

Western or democratic countries show good tolerance for China and Saudi Arabia and are stern to Russia.

Deep resposiblity by Pol Pot for China and Tibet invasion or harsh treatment of foreingn labors and violation of human rights of women in Saudi Arabia seem not be important for democratic countries. Economy of China and oil of Saudi Arbia make democratic countries three wise monkeys.

Currently, Russia is heavily criticized for Crimea occupation. Crimea belonged to Russia from 1773 to 1953. In 1954, Soviet decided annexiation of Crimea to Ukraine. But, was this annexiation legal? Until 1953, Stalin, one of most cruel dictators ruled out Soviet, purged innocent people, ca. 20-30 million people, sent Siberia. Treatment in Siberia was so cruel. Even after the death of Stalin, fear ruled out Soviet. How could Russian resist decision by Soviet?

Afer the Cold War, democtric countries yet provided perspective strategy against Russia to construct peaceful world.

Regards

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

[some of the following further translated into English]

Western or democratic countries show great tolerance for China and Saudi Arabia but are stern to Russia.

Democratic countries did not seem worried about Pol Pot's genocide in Cambodia, China invading Tibet, or, Saudi Arabia's harsh treatment of foreign labourers and violation of woman’s human rights. The economy of China and oil of Saudi Arbia make democratic countries “three wise monkeys” (ie. turn a blind eye).

Currently, Russia is being heavily criticized for occupying Crimea. Crimea belonged to Russia from 1773 to 1953. In 1954, the Soviets decided to merge Crimea with Ukraine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Crimea#1954_Transfer_to_Ukraine
But was this annexiation legal? Until 1953, Stalin, was one of most cruel Soviet dictators who innocent people, ca. 20-30 million people, sent Siberia [and/or killed?]. Treatment in Siberia was so cruel. Even after the death of Stalin, fear ruled Soviet. How could Russian people resist Soviet decisions?

After the Cold War, democratic countries provided a perspective [perceptive?] strategy towards Russia to construct a peaceful world.

Regards

Pete said...

Hi Ghalib Kabir

Yes Trump and his pro-Russia circle seem quite willing to ignore US laws and conventions that get in the way of their relationship with Mother Russia (particularly Putin).

This relationship even extends to the relatively unexplored aspect of joint business ventures between "Trump Inc." and Russian companies. Putin's power dominates many/most companies in Russia.

See Business projects of Donald Trump in Russia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_projects_of_Donald_Trump_in_Russia

"Donald Trump has pursued business deals in Russia since 1987, and has sometimes traveled there to explore potential business opportunities. In 1996, Trump trademark applications were submitted for potential Russian real estate development deals.

Trump's partners and children have repeatedly visited Moscow, connecting with developers and government officials to explore joint venture opportunities

...individual Russians have invested heavily in Trump properties, and following Trump's bankruptcies in the 1990s he borrowed money from Russian sources. In 2008 his son Donald Trump Jr. said that Russia was an important source of money for the Trump businesses.

...In a 2015 interview, Trump said that his repeated attempts to launch business deals with Russians resulted in contacts with "…the top-level people, both oligarchs and generals, and top of the government people. I can't go further than that, but I will tell you that I met the top people, and the relationship was extraordinary.""

And much more. Russian businessmen (and East European female trophies) have obviously stroked Trump's "ego" for decades.

Pete

Pete said...

Hi Anonymous [at 25/7/17 12:38 AM]

On Crimea/Ukraine fortunately for Russia Trump will likely treat Russia less harshly over the long term. This is in terms of trade and financial restrictions placed on Russia.

Putin is certainly more moderate and kinder to his people than those extreme Soviet dictators Stalin and Lenin.

While Stalin's atrocities featture loud in Russian history Lenin's terror is often left out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin#Anti-Kulak_campaigns.2C_Cheka.2C_and_Red_Terror:_1918.E2.80.931922

"Lenin repeatedly emphasised the need for terror and violence to overthrow the old order and for the revolution to succeed.[249] Speaking to the All-Russian Central Executive Committee of the Soviets in November 1917, he declared that "the state is an institution built up for the sake of exercising violence."

"...A decree in April 1919 resulted in the establishment of concentration camps, which were entrusted to the Cheka,[270] later administered by a new government agency, Gulag.[271] By the end of 1920, 84 camps had been established across Soviet Russia, holding about 50,000 prisoners; by October 1923, this had grown to 315 camps and about 70,000 inmates.[272]

Those interned in the camps were used as slave labour.[273] From July 1922, intellectuals deemed to be opposing the Bolshevik government were exiled to inhospitable regions or deported from Russia altogether; Lenin personally scrutinised the lists of those to be dealt with in this manner.[274] In May 1922, Lenin issued a decree calling for the execution of anti-Bolshevik priests, causing between 14,000 and 20,000 deaths.[275]

The Russian Orthodox Church was worst affected; the government's anti-religious policies also impacted on Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, Jewish synagogues, and Islamic mosques."

Regards

Pete

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete

Very recently, Mr. Mike Pompeo, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency correctly pointed out biggest threat is China not Russia [1].

http://freebeacon.com/national-security/cia-gives-power-spies-bolster-intelligence-operations/ (Pompeo: China, not Russia, poses greatest long-term threat, July/26/2017)

Over the longer term, however, Pompeo singled out China as the most serious security challenge.

While China, Russia, and Iran all are expected to pose significant problems in the future, China is a greater threat because of its robust economy and growing military power—both aimed against the United States.

"I think China has the capacity to present the greatest rivalry to America of any of those over the medium and long term," he said.

China's military is building up forces that are aimed at countering U.S. power projection around the world, he said.

"So you see that, whether it's going on in the South China or East China Sea, or the work they're doing in other parts of the world," Pompeo said.

In acquiring foreign technology, he noted: "If you look at them, they are probably trying either to steal our stuff, or make sure they can defeat it. And most often, both."


Regards

Pete said...

Hi Anonymous [at 29/7/17 5:17 PM]

China is indeed America's main rival economically and strategically. But I think Putin (a sort of European balance of power manipulator) pushed Trump across the electoral numbers line. China, for its part, does not want such a Trump disrupted America. China, now a mainly capitalist country, realizes such a poorly led America is ultimately bad for business.

An excellent essay on Trump's disruptive contribution is "A post-America world?" of August 3, 2017 https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/post-america-world/

"After last year’s shock US election result, many critics of Donald Trump had hoped he would grow into the presidency and heed its reasonable conventions. Not so.

After more than six months, his administration has been characterised by chronic chaos and toxic infighting...

...Trump is such a loose cannon and strikingly ignorant of the world—a potentially deadly combination in a crisis. What he is doing, however, is unnerving US allies in East Asia, which is no way to preserve the regional balance of power in the face of a rising China."

Thank goodness Australia is Malcolm in the Middle of:

- China (Australia's main trading partner) and

- America (Australia main military partner).

Regards

Pete