Pres. Obama is laying a fine trap

[Ilsa]

If Trumputin withdraws US forces from Poland, Norway etc because Putin is mad about the new line of defense, then Trump's allegiance will be apparent.

[JenniferJuniper]

1. Bet Obama was an awesome Stratego player when he was a little kid

Trump on the other other hand, probably would have been bombed out of the game immediately.

[Orrex]

2. I agree. Tether ball is beyond Trump's comprehension.

[csziggy]

7. The pole was the only thing little Trumpkid could keep his eyes on... nt

[wordpix]

6. he can only focus on one sex show at a time and even then

his brain shifts to the next one

[Vinca]

3. That's what I was thinking, too. If Trump pulls them back, it's a clear sign he's serving Pootie

and no one else. I also expect sanctions will be removed.

[SticksnStones]

4. Trump's allegiance is already apparent.

The question remains though, at what point will that allegiance generate a consequence from anyone in government or law enforcement.

[watoos]

5. I think there may also be another trap

Most of Trump followers view Chelsea Manning as a traitor. Will Trump applaud or condemn president Obama's commutation of Manning's sentence? I'm guessing he condemns it which will tick off his good buddy Assange.

[Ilsa]

13. Yeah, so is the Israel / Putin-supported Iran issue. nt

[Mika]

8. Our new line of defense.

Love it. Straight outta Orwell's 1984.
Doubleplusgood, citizen.

[uponit7771]

9. Trumps allegiance is already apparent no?

[Ilsa]

12. Yes, but it's one more instance that might

get through a few more thick heads.

[world wide wally]

10. If you haven't figured it out by now, we are in even more trouble than I thought.

Trump is already acting on Putin's orders and his plan is working beautifully.

[Ilsa]

14. Yes, I understand that.

It is one more situation that creates a choice Trump must make. Removing the troops will be an open, conspicuous task to appease Putin, vs not ordering them to the east to begin with. He may have to answer for it.

[lapislzi]

16. To whom? To whom must he answer?

To the Senate Foreign Relations Committee? Chaired by whom? To the Department of State? Operated by whom? To the press, to whom selected tidbits will be dribbled and spun in exchange for "access"? To the intelligence community, who is busily at war with itself?

To the people, for whom this is just another episode of reality TV?

There are few checks on this man; fewer still that have a hope of proving effective.

At one time I'd hoped that some cooler heads would prevail amongst the Congress and cabinet--or maybe even the Joint Chiefs--but I see precious few of these, and the obstacles the brave ones face are mighty.

[Ilsa]

17. It won't matter without hard evidence of his loyalty to

Russia. But it will, perhaps, open some eyes. It appears to be better than doing nothing at all, and we don't know what fruit this bring.

[jaxind]

11. Yeah...

Yeah, but then tRUMP just spins it! With the sanctions, tRUMP says he'll left them if Putin helps us defeat ISIS. He'll come up with something else for this latest trap. And, his followers will just believe him (including those in the administration and in Congress)!

[Calista241]

15. All he has to do is get something for their withdrawal in an exchange.

I don't think it'll be that hard. Maybe Edward Snowden's extradition, or some vague promise to stick it to the Iranians.

Having the troops there is something Trump will view as leverage to be exploited in exchange for something.

But I agree, he doesn't want the troops there long term. Probably he only people that do are the Poles.

[Ilsa]

18. Thank you for your insight. nt