Trump's withdrawing from the nuclear treaty to construct another self-serving crisis

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Link to tweet

In this case, the ploy is to ramp up the notion that Russia is out of compliance with the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, so that Trump can proceed with his desire to develop and deploy a new generation of mini 'usable' nukes. Withdraw from the treaty will allow the U.S. to proceed with nuclear tests which were restricted by the INF.

Watch for that development coming shortly after this announcement today.

What I wondering about in the meantime is the aim of the administration to upgrade and deploy existing missiles, like the Tomahawk, and ship them off to Europe.

Such a move would require the agreement of our NATO allies... That's right, the same NATO which Trump has been shunning and disparaging in the past few months.

WaPo:

Trump’s announcement that the United States would exit the treaty raised fears of a return to Cold War tensions when nuclear-tipped missiles across the continent threatened to strike targets within minutes...

European leaders have sought to preserve the arms control framework, even as NATO foreign ministers declared Tuesday that they believed Russia was in violation.

“I regret that we now most likely will see the end of the INF Treaty,” said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has spoken of how the Cold War arms buildup shaped his views of security as he grew up in Norway. “We really felt that the world was moving forward when the Soviet Union and the United States in 1987 agreed.”

The termination plan was set to go into effect Tuesday, but German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other European leaders persuaded Trump to delay the move to allow for additional consultations, according to diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions...

What's likely to happen will be similar to this push past the European allies we're supposed to be protecting from nuclear war with this arms agreement. Trump is poised to escalate nuclear weapons development without any regard at all for the security of our allies. What's forgotten is how the U.S. pledge to halt its own nuclear proliferation and our commitments under NATO served to keep other nations from pursuing their own nuclear weapons programs with the promise of mutual defense.

Trump's systematic, unilateral withdrawal of our security commitments around the globe threatens to transform the world into a nuclear wild west. Armageddon cowboys looking to actualize rapture.

[lark]

1. PUtin told him to do this, so he is.

His master speaks and he jumps. PUtin is determined to remake the world using drumpf as his main tool for destruction of the West.

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2. it is a dog and pony show

Putin last month announcing some new weapons delivery system, and Trump responding today.

With every other concession, many in the last few months, like Syria and Afghanistan, it would be extremely naive to conclude there's no coordination of this nuclear fallout between the two.

Funny how swimmingly Trump has been describing relations with Putin. This is kinda sudden, and curiously in Putin's favor. No other president concluded it to be in our interest to scrap the existing nuclear arms agreement over violations. Why this president?

Adam @Khanoisseur
Obama admin chose not to retaliate against Russia, fearing that would make Moscow withdraw from INF, which drew criticism from Republicans. Moscow would welcome a withdrawal from INF because it frees Russia to develop missiles to address threats, including China and Pakistan.
9:05 AM - Feb 1, 2019

Despite his celebrated relationship with Putin, he's declaring a nuclear crisis has been precipitated by the Russian president.

Lift the sanctions! On with the arms race!

How could that not be suspicious?

[world wide wally]

3. Putin wants his mid-range nukes so he can threaten the NATO countries.

Of course, Trump goes along with him. He's the boss and that is what the secret meetings were all about.

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4. so no more treaty to work to restrict him

...basically back to an arms race.

In the self-interest of both men.

Link to tweet

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5. If this is correct, oil prices should go back over $100/barrel

Selling energy (oil & nat gas) are Putin's main source of foreign money.
And he needs foreign money because his economy is 1/10th size of China's.

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6. he's glutting along with U.S. and SA

...doesn't want to decrease production.

Along with the high U.S. production levels, there should be downward pressure on prices.

[ffr]

7. Should be LBN. I'd think.

Do it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. The least he could do is play homage to Slim Pickens

and ride the bomb down like he did in Dr. Strangelove.