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My issue with Trump is how ignorant he seems to be about everything he's asked. You might say that Clinton is dangerous, but she's not stupid. Trump IS very stu

by oneloop 10y ago

My issue with Trump is how ignorant he seems to be about everything he's asked. You might say that Clinton is dangerous, but she's not stupid. Trump IS very stupid. Also, what is this "power vacuum"that you're talking about? What are you trying to say, that if Obama was militarily more aggressive, there would be less ISIS? Weren't you just before concerned about Clinton wanting war? You can't have both.

gonvaled 10y ago
The power vacuum comes from topping Saddam Hussein for geopolitical reasons. Opportunistic use of the September 11 attacks to open up a new era of wild-wild-west politics, where the world is up for grabs. And we wonder that Russia feels emboldened to push its geopolitical interests? Russia needs to do that, or risk being wiped out from the world stage by an extremely aggressive US.
- oneloop 10y ago
  Regarding your second paragraph, awareness amongst the US population should be risen about that. For the past 3 or so years Russia has been getting more and more nervous about the US defence shield. Its argument is that the US can use it for offence missiles which could be used to strike and neutralise its nuclear potential. Instead of addressing the issue, the US has been playing dumb by claiming that "don't worry mate, this is against Iran not Russia!" Now, Russia plays its own geopolitical game too, of course. And you might believe that the US defence shield poses no danger to Russia. But you have to ask yourself, what does Russia believe? Because if Russia really believes the US is making moves to neutralise its nuclear threat, it's just a matter of time until it strikes, because like you said the alternative is to be wiped out from the world stage. Don't corner a rat. Very very concerning. And this has been some ten years in the making, since the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty (which the US argued at the name was so that it could build its missile defence system). This does not seem conducting of stability in the world.
- pluma 10y ago
  Not just Hussein but the entire Arab Spring. Heck, the US is still trying to topple Assad although it's blindingly obvious that doing so will only strengthen ISIS in Syria. The problem with US foreign politics is that in the face of it they seem entirely ignorant of how their actions appear to the rest of the world (and what it might mean to their interests and how they would react to that). EDIT: To clarify, I'm not saying the US was responsible for the entire Arab spring, but the Arab Spring and the mess it caused (when the initial euphoria had ended) are part of the fallout from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
pluma 10y ago
I don't know whether he's stupid, but he's wilfully ignorant. I think he genuinely just doesn't care about many topics and isn't interested in learning more about them than necessary to make some vague statements that may seem relevant. I was extremely surprised how serious Americans take Trump as a candidate when it is so obvious the vast majority of his speeches are incoherent rambling around one or two talking points played for effect. I mean, seriously? A wall between the US and Mexico? There is already a wall between the US and Mexico. The various specifications he gave at various points throughout the primaries are obviously figures he pulled out of his ass to paint a more visually impressive picture. And a stop for Muslim immigrants is entirely on par for the course. Sure, any other politician would have been more nuanced and phrased it differently so it doesn't sound like it's religious discrimination but let's not pretend that racism is a new thing in the US. Trump's campaign boils down to bar-room clichés: lazy, half-baked "solutions" to real and complex problems. None of that is likely representative of what he would actually do once elected. Just like none of the "shatter the glass ceiling" and "yay minorities" rhetorics actually represent what Clinton will do once elected.

by oneloop 10y ago

gonvaled 10y ago

The power vacuum comes from topping Saddam Hussein for geopolitical reasons. Opportunistic use of the September 11 attacks to open up a new era of wild-wild-west politics, where the world is up for grabs. And we wonder that Russia feels emboldened to push its geopolitical interests? Russia needs to do that, or risk being wiped out from the world stage by an extremely aggressive US.

oneloop 10y ago
Regarding your second paragraph, awareness amongst the US population should be risen about that. For the past 3 or so years Russia has been getting more and more nervous about the US defence shield. Its argument is that the US can use it for offence missiles which could be used to strike and neutralise its nuclear potential. Instead of addressing the issue, the US has been playing dumb by claiming that "don't worry mate, this is against Iran not Russia!" Now, Russia plays its own geopolitical game too, of course. And you might believe that the US defence shield poses no danger to Russia. But you have to ask yourself, what does Russia believe? Because if Russia really believes the US is making moves to neutralise its nuclear threat, it's just a matter of time until it strikes, because like you said the alternative is to be wiped out from the world stage. Don't corner a rat. Very very concerning. And this has been some ten years in the making, since the US withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty (which the US argued at the name was so that it could build its missile defence system). This does not seem conducting of stability in the world.
pluma 10y ago
Not just Hussein but the entire Arab Spring. Heck, the US is still trying to topple Assad although it's blindingly obvious that doing so will only strengthen ISIS in Syria. The problem with US foreign politics is that in the face of it they seem entirely ignorant of how their actions appear to the rest of the world (and what it might mean to their interests and how they would react to that). EDIT: To clarify, I'm not saying the US was responsible for the entire Arab spring, but the Arab Spring and the mess it caused (when the initial euphoria had ended) are part of the fallout from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

pluma 10y ago

I don't know whether he's stupid, but he's wilfully ignorant. I think he genuinely just doesn't care about many topics and isn't interested in learning more about them than necessary to make some vague statements that may seem relevant. I was extremely surprised how serious Americans take Trump as a candidate when it is so obvious the vast majority of his speeches are incoherent rambling around one or two talking points played for effect. I mean, seriously? A wall between the US and Mexico? There is already a wall between the US and Mexico. The various specifications he gave at various points throughout the primaries are obviously figures he pulled out of his ass to paint a more visually impressive picture. And a stop for Muslim immigrants is entirely on par for the course. Sure, any other politician would have been more nuanced and phrased it differently so it doesn't sound like it's religious discrimination but let's not pretend that racism is a new thing in the US. Trump's campaign boils down to bar-room clichés: lazy, half-baked "solutions" to real and complex problems. None of that is likely representative of what he would actually do once elected. Just like none of the "shatter the glass ceiling" and "yay minorities" rhetorics actually represent what Clinton will do once elected.