Trump, Putin, Obama, Crimea and the right whatever

[_MeDotOrg]

Trump doesn't have a very good understanding of history (Andrew Jackson could have prevented the Civil War). Everyone knows Trump doesn't read books, and his intake is primarily on current events.

But Trump's recent illogical and skewed explanation of Putin's annexation of the Crimea shows how his narcissism filters out reality. Is this insanity? I suppose it depends on how you define insanity. But increasingly Donald Trump seems to be a prisoner of his own narcissism with respect to his understanding of the world.

I know you like President Obama, but it [the Crimea] was annexed during President Obama’s term. If [Crimea] was annexed during my term I would say, ‘Sorry, folks. I made a mistake. Sorry folks.’ President Obama was helping the Ukraine. Crimea was annexed during his term.

Now it’s a very big area -- a very important area. Russia has its submarine. That is where they do their submarine work and that is where they dock large and powerful submarines, but not as powerful as ours and not as large as ours, but they have their submarines, and President Obama was pure and simply outsmarted. They took Crimea during his term. That was not a good thing. It could have been stopped, it could have been stopped with the right, whatever. It could have been stopped but President Obama was unable to stop it, and it’s too bad.

Remember, Trump is talking about the Annexation of Crimea with respect to the argument against Russia's re-admittance into the G7. After Russia annexed the Crimea, they were kicked out of the G8. Ignoring Vladimir Putin's responsibility, Trump blames the annexation on Obama, who was "outsmarted". He claims the annexation "could have been stopped with the right whatever".

"The right whatever" is merely a place mark. Trump hasn't a clue as to what the solution to Russia's annexation of the Crimea would or should have been. If this was on a Seinfeld episode, Putin could have been stopped with the right "Yada Yada Yada".

So, on the basis of an unexplained premise that Obama could have done something to stop Putin annexation of the Crimea, Putin's actions become Obama's responsibility. Again, this explanation is undertaken in defense of the idea that Russia should be readmitted into the G7. So he is telling other countries that they should accept his interpretation of events? That they should forgive Putin and blame Obama for the annexation of the Crimea?

Why does Donald Trump think this way?

His narcissism, certainly. He must see himself to be a superior leader to Obama. In his mind, the problem becomes a misstep by Obama, rather that being initiated and instigated by Vladimir Putin. Trump's lens to the world focuses on the sizzle and not the steak. But to blame the annexation of the Crimea on the previous President while pushing strongly to readmit Russia into the G7? Even discounting Greenland, something is rotten in the State of Denmark, so to speak. I truly think Trump hates Barack Obama more than Vladimir Putin.

There may be other reasons of which we are not aware. I'm going to be interested in Trump's loans through Deutsche bank.

[_Nomomo]

There may be other reasons of which we are not aware. I'm going to be interested in Trump's loans through Deutsche bank.

Apparently those loans from Deutsche Bank were only made to Trump due to Putin's Russian oligarch friends co-signed for them.

[_Some Schmo]

But Trump's recent illogical and skewed explanation of Putin's annexation of the Crimea shows how his narcissism filters out reality. Is this insanity? I suppose it depends on how you define insanity. But increasingly Donald Trump seems to be a prisoner of his own narcissism with respect to his understanding of the world.

This goes to the debate I regularly have with myself, "Is he lying or just wrong most of the time?"

I think it's fair to say he's a delusional maniac.

[_Gunnar]

I think it's fair to say he's a delusional maniac.

Any who still doubt that at this point, or, at least, fail to suspect it, are themselves delusional.

[_Some Schmo]

I think it's fair to say he's a delusional maniac.

Any who still doubt that at this point, or, at least, fail to suspect it, are themselves delusional.

Agreed.

You know, reading it back, it sounds hyperbolic. And yet, I'm not sure there's a more precise description. Delusional maniac captures it all (although delusional maniacal asshole might even be a tad closer).

It's not an insult. It's a classification.

[_canpakes]

And now this:

Trump slow-walks Ukraine military aid meant to contain Russia

The Trump administration is slow-walking $250 million in military assistance to Ukraine, annoying lawmakers and advocates who argue the funding is critical to keeping Russia at bay.

President Donald Trump asked his national security team to review the funding program, known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, in order to ensure the money is being used in the best interest of the United States, a senior administration official told POLITICO on Wednesday.

But the delays come amid questions over Trump’s approach to Russia, after a weekend in which the president repeatedly seemed to downplay Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine and pushed for Russia to be reinstated into the Group of Seven, an annual gathering of the world’s largest advanced economies. The review is also occurring amid a broader internal debate over whether to try and halt or cut billions of dollars in foreign aid.

United States military aid to Ukraine has long been seen as a litmus test for how strongly the American government is pushing back against Moscow.

The Trump administration in 2017 approved lethal arms sales to Ukraine, taking a step the Obama administration had never done. The move was seen as a sign that Trump’s government was taking a hard-line approach to a revanchist Vladimir Putin despite the president’s public rhetoric flattering the Russian leader. Scaling back that assistance could expose Trump to allegations that his policies are favoring Moscow.

For the 2019 fiscal year, lawmakers allocated $250 million in security aid to Ukraine, including money for weapons, training, equipment and intelligence support. Specifically, Congress set aside $50 million for weaponry.

Now, that funding is being called into question. The senior administration official, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss internal matters, said the president wants to ensure U.S. interests are being prioritized when it comes to foreign assistance, and is seeking assurances that other countries are “paying their fair share.”

Defense Secretary Mark Esper and national security adviser John Bolton are among the officials reviewing the Ukraine security funding.

The explanation isn’t sitting well with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where members of both parties have pushed to increase military assistance to Ukraine and U.S. military efforts to deter Russia in Eastern Europe.

There is "an at least temporary effect," said Rep. Tom Malinowski, a New Jersey Democrat who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "The bigger problem is that Trump is once again showing himself to be an asset to Russia.

[_Gunnar]

I can't help but notice that even diehard supporters of Trump like subby and Ajax are making no attempts to defend Trump on this issue.