45th President of the United States, Donald Trump (Vol. 7)
Discussion
Have they experiences of Stable (genius) Doors? Pence and Pompeo are heading to Turkey for ceasefire talks that Turkey sat they won't have.
The U.S. delegation President Donald Trump is sending to try to negotiate a ceasefire and settlement between Turkey and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces will depart in the next 24 hours, a senior administration official said Tuesday.
The trip was welcomed by top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, but the idea of talks already has been rejected by Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned any mediation between his government and the Syrian Kurdish forces his nation considers terrorists.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pence-set-head-del...
The U.S. delegation President Donald Trump is sending to try to negotiate a ceasefire and settlement between Turkey and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish forces will depart in the next 24 hours, a senior administration official said Tuesday.
The trip was welcomed by top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, but the idea of talks already has been rejected by Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned any mediation between his government and the Syrian Kurdish forces his nation considers terrorists.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pence-set-head-del...
Tartan Pixie said:
No. Trump was the point of failure for a system that was already broken.
From when Rojava first came in to existence a few years ago and through its various permutations until it became the NES (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria) they wanted autonomy within a unified Syria, ie a deal with the Syrian government. For years now I've been reading articles about talks between Syrian and Rojava diplomats that their American allies would not let them move on (McGurk holds primary responsibility for this).
The reasons behind this go way back beyond Trump (and McGurk) to why we had two separate peace processes in the first place, a toothless talking shop in Vienna and the Astana process where all the running was made. American diplomats were too jumped up on their own pomposity to go to a 's
thole country' like Kazakhstan and involve themselves in actual negotiations.
Mark my words on this, the Turks will only go as far as a pre-ordained line that will have been decided in Astana. My guess is the M4 highway plus a bit to have fire control over the road. Syrian government will take the majority, USA will be left with Al-Tanf and the more Jordanian bits*.
The idea that a tripwire force of Americans could have stopped this from happening is absurd. Any tripwire force requires serious diplomatic engagement to function and that function was forgone the moment America refused to either involve themselves in the Astana process or force the other participants towards Vienna. Trump being a vacuous hole did not alter the inevitable.
When I say inevitable I do mean it, you'll see this when the betrayal of the Kurds in Syria repeats itself in Afghanistan for exactly the same reasons. Afghanistan is surrounded by Pakistan, Iran and China yet America chooses to pursue talks with the Taliban, possibly the least relevant people in the entire scenario. One day America will betray their allies in Kabul, maybe it'll be a different president and the failure method will be more managed but the betrayal will happen all the same, it's a function of a failed strategy.
Perhaps it makes more sense if we remember what good American strategy looks like. South Korea and Japan could have easily spent the last fifty years trying to kill each other but they haven't, I would also lay money that America has profited far more from their interaction with these two countries than anything spent on reconstruction. If only America had such foresight in the middle east the world would be very different today.
By contrast today's America pursues only a blocking strategy where they try and surround Iran and China by holding territory with no viable trade routes and no appreciable American effort to improve people's lives by connecting their occupied territories to the western economic system. This is not a viable strategy so unless there is a major change in American foreign policy failure is only a matter of time.
I do not say this to be down on America, quite the opposite. America is and should be a force for good in this world. Give us more of the good stuff please.
<><><>
*Shout out to King Abdullah of Jordan. I'm a big fan of the idea that the best generals are the ones we never hear of because the war never happened and it is quite remarkable how little we hear about Syria's southern neighbour. Hat tip.
Good post! From when Rojava first came in to existence a few years ago and through its various permutations until it became the NES (Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria) they wanted autonomy within a unified Syria, ie a deal with the Syrian government. For years now I've been reading articles about talks between Syrian and Rojava diplomats that their American allies would not let them move on (McGurk holds primary responsibility for this).
The reasons behind this go way back beyond Trump (and McGurk) to why we had two separate peace processes in the first place, a toothless talking shop in Vienna and the Astana process where all the running was made. American diplomats were too jumped up on their own pomposity to go to a 's
thole country' like Kazakhstan and involve themselves in actual negotiations.Mark my words on this, the Turks will only go as far as a pre-ordained line that will have been decided in Astana. My guess is the M4 highway plus a bit to have fire control over the road. Syrian government will take the majority, USA will be left with Al-Tanf and the more Jordanian bits*.
The idea that a tripwire force of Americans could have stopped this from happening is absurd. Any tripwire force requires serious diplomatic engagement to function and that function was forgone the moment America refused to either involve themselves in the Astana process or force the other participants towards Vienna. Trump being a vacuous hole did not alter the inevitable.
When I say inevitable I do mean it, you'll see this when the betrayal of the Kurds in Syria repeats itself in Afghanistan for exactly the same reasons. Afghanistan is surrounded by Pakistan, Iran and China yet America chooses to pursue talks with the Taliban, possibly the least relevant people in the entire scenario. One day America will betray their allies in Kabul, maybe it'll be a different president and the failure method will be more managed but the betrayal will happen all the same, it's a function of a failed strategy.
Perhaps it makes more sense if we remember what good American strategy looks like. South Korea and Japan could have easily spent the last fifty years trying to kill each other but they haven't, I would also lay money that America has profited far more from their interaction with these two countries than anything spent on reconstruction. If only America had such foresight in the middle east the world would be very different today.
By contrast today's America pursues only a blocking strategy where they try and surround Iran and China by holding territory with no viable trade routes and no appreciable American effort to improve people's lives by connecting their occupied territories to the western economic system. This is not a viable strategy so unless there is a major change in American foreign policy failure is only a matter of time.
I do not say this to be down on America, quite the opposite. America is and should be a force for good in this world. Give us more of the good stuff please.
<><><>
*Shout out to King Abdullah of Jordan. I'm a big fan of the idea that the best generals are the ones we never hear of because the war never happened and it is quite remarkable how little we hear about Syria's southern neighbour. Hat tip.
USA have form for this - their intervention in the Angolan war and switching sides during the endgame just to get their hands on Angolan oil (Cabinda - Gulf Oil) delayed Zimbabwean independence and the end of apartheid in South Africa by a good few years as they were no longer trusted.
I don't have the facts but I heard it said that the Angolan Gulf Oil oil production falls under domestic US production figures - not sure if true (Angola was/is one of the largest oil producers).
Gameface said:
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of people not complying with subpoenas and nothing happening about it.
fking charge them.
What's the point otherwise???
For now at least, the law doesn’t mean much in the US at the top end of things. Or maybe it never has but it’s now so out in the open because trump is so brazen. f
king charge them. What's the point otherwise???
JonChalk said:
Another one of Trumps attempt at self-aggrandisement, this time using the family of Harry Dunn has failed.
Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my fk up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"
I guarantee he’ll end up slagging the Dunns now they haven’t played along with the stunt.Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my f
k up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"swisstoni said:
JonChalk said:
Another one of Trumps attempt at self-aggrandisement, this time using the family of Harry Dunn has failed.
Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my fk up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"
I guarantee he’ll end up slagging the Dunns now they haven’t played along with the stunt.Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my f
k up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"Mr Seiger told BBC Breakfast: "After quite sincere and warm condolences [President Trump] got down to business and said he had Mrs Sacoolas in the next room.
"I looked to my side and I saw at least three photographers ready to almost do a press call."
He insisted the meeting should take place in the UK, in the presence of therapists and mediators, but "certainly now now and certainly not in the White House in front of a bank of photographers".
"You don't just throw open the circus doors with the cameras," he added.
p1stonhead said:
swisstoni said:
JonChalk said:
Another one of Trumps attempt at self-aggrandisement, this time using the family of Harry Dunn has failed.
Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my fk up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"
I guarantee he’ll end up slagging the Dunns now they haven’t played along with the stunt.Unknown to them, he had Anne Saccoolas stashed in the room next door to where he was holding an informal meeting with the Dunns, and a number of photographers lined up, but the Dunns refused to meet her under those circumstances.
You can imagine what the press releases would have said, but subtext is "don't look over there at my f
k up in Syria, look at shiny jangly keys over here"Mr Seiger told BBC Breakfast: "After quite sincere and warm condolences [President Trump] got down to business and said he had Mrs Sacoolas in the next room.
"I looked to my side and I saw at least three photographers ready to almost do a press call."
He insisted the meeting should take place in the UK, in the presence of therapists and mediators, but "certainly now now and certainly not in the White House in front of a bank of photographers".
"You don't just throw open the circus doors with the cameras," he added.
Seventy said:
Quite the most astonishing lack of self awareness I’ve ever encountered.
I honestly think he’d be working in Starbucks if he wasn’t a Trump.
This is from Donald John Trump Jr.? I honestly think he’d be working in Starbucks if he wasn’t a Trump.
The SVP of the Trump Organisation?
Professional Nepotist Magazine's Man of the Year for the last 3 years?
Calling out nepotism?
That is a slice of fried gold.
justice. said:
What is this, Jerry Springer?! What a genuinely loathsome person.
As much as it probably was his idea I can also see why it might be some more sane people's also - if they'd had the meet, yes maybe take a photo which is very wrong, the US teams would probably have then tried to close down the issue with 'time to heal and reflect' or other such garbage as they had all discussed it and that is really all the Americans are going to let happen. At least refusing to meet keeps the issue alive but it's clear they (US) want this to go away so this would have been the quickest route to something they'd have labelled 'resolution' on the issue.Pintofbest said:
justice. said:
What is this, Jerry Springer?! What a genuinely loathsome person.
As much as it probably was his idea I can also see why it might be some more sane people's also - if they'd had the meet, yes maybe take a photo which is very wrong, the US teams would probably have then tried to close down the issue with 'time to heal and reflect' or other such garbage as they had all discussed it and that is really all the Americans are going to let happen. At least refusing to meet keeps the issue alive but it's clear they (US) want this to go away so this would have been the quickest route to something they'd have labelled 'resolution' on the issue.Byker28i said:
Breadvan72 said:
If some blah I have seen on the net is to be believed, under Trump’s orders, a US military base has been abandoned and has since been occupied by Russian forces. MAGA!
Yup as reported yesterday, the US rapidly pulled out, a retreat, destroy stuff rather than taking it and handing over to the russians. The one you've seen was an operational base at Manbij that the russians are boasting they've taken over.Edit: RT are busy filming inside it. A great coup for russia
https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1184313012171108...
Russian mercenaries give video tour of abandoned US base in Northern Syria, laughing at the hasty US retreat, showing unfinished meals on dining tables, coke, crisps, footballs, a basketball court and heavy military equipment left behind. A Russian propaganda coup.
They've even put it on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5dyWr7NAhY&fe...
Looks like a hasty retreat...
Gameface said:
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of people not complying with subpoenas and nothing happening about it.
fking charge them.
What's the point otherwise???
How do US subpoenas work? Is it down to the recipient to challenge them, or the issuer to enforce it? How easy/ certain is it to do in court?f
king charge them. What's the point otherwise???
No doubt any ruling would be appealed anyway, and Trump has a pet SCOTUS now
kowalski655 said:
Gameface said:
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of people not complying with subpoenas and nothing happening about it.
fking charge them.
What's the point otherwise???
How do US subpoenas work? Is it down to the recipient to challenge them, or the issuer to enforce it? How easy/ certain is it to do in court?f
king charge them. What's the point otherwise???
No doubt any ruling would be appealed anyway, and Trump has a pet SCOTUS now
In this case I think it's the committee that issued to subpoena has to vote to issue a charges of contempt, and then the full chamber votes on it.
I think the term is inherrant contempt
Inherent contempt, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service "is a constitutionally based authority given to each house to unilaterally arrest and detain an individual found to be 'obstruct[ing] the performance of the duties of the legislature.'" It can be used "not only to combat subpoena non-compliance, but also in response to other actions that could be viewed as 'obstructing' or threatening either house’s exercise of its legislative powers."
How does inherent contempt work? First, there is "a House or Senate resolution authorizing the execution of an arrest warrant by that chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms." The individual is then taken into custody and brought before the House or Senate for a hearing "in which allegations are heard and defenses raised." If the legislative body finds the individual guilty of contempt, "the House or Senate may then direct that the witness be detained or imprisoned until the obstruction to the exercise of legislative power is removed."
From:
https://popular.info/p/obstruction-junction
Gameface said:
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of people not complying with subpoenas and nothing happening about it.
fking charge them.
What's the point otherwise???
The problem is when you're trying to take down someone as corrupt as Trump and his cohorts, you need to follow procedure to the letter and then some. This can mean a lot of waiting.f
king charge them. What's the point otherwise???
The reason they need to be so anal about procedure is that most people get off charges do so entirely due to technicalities. Defence lawyers specialise in getting evidence dismissed entirely based on minor procedural errors made by investigators or prosecutors. Once the evidence has been bought into question it may be excluded from the case.
So prosecutors need to ensure their case is tighter than Trump's butt hole before charging anyone.
Edited by captain_cynic on Wednesday 16th October 10:47
Byker28i said:
Byker28i said:
Breadvan72 said:
If some blah I have seen on the net is to be believed, under Trump’s orders, a US military base has been abandoned and has since been occupied by Russian forces. MAGA!
Yup as reported yesterday, the US rapidly pulled out, a retreat, destroy stuff rather than taking it and handing over to the russians. The one you've seen was an operational base at Manbij that the russians are boasting they've taken over.Edit: RT are busy filming inside it. A great coup for russia
https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/1184313012171108...
Russian mercenaries give video tour of abandoned US base in Northern Syria, laughing at the hasty US retreat, showing unfinished meals on dining tables, coke, crisps, footballs, a basketball court and heavy military equipment left behind. A Russian propaganda coup.
They've even put it on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5dyWr7NAhY&fe...
Looks like a hasty retreat...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttAMZfXpjgw
Recognized it straight away... clearly spent too much time playing that game when younger!
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