So why exactly is Trump having a summit meeting with Putin ?

"This is a summit about appeasement and we should be terrified that Trump is going to sell out America and its allies.Any other President — Republican or Democrat — would use this summit to confront Russia for its on-going attack on our democracy, for its illegal occupation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine, for its efforts to assassinate people using chemical weapons in the U.K., and for its backing of [Syrian President Bashar al-]Assad. We should be confronting Russia and redrawing clear red lines, not trying to cut any deals because the only deal to be had is one where Russia agrees to completely change its behavior. That's not going to happen." - Max Bergmann of the Center for American Progress.

"If Trump really were a Russian asset, it's hard to think what else he could do to rupture the Western alliance, diminish U.S. influence, undercut democratic government and human rights, boost Russia's leverage in the Middle East and give Putin a green light to manipulate our elections with impunity." - Jennifer Rubin , WaPo.

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MartinII · 70-79, M

Perhaps he just thinks it’s good to talk to people. Putin may be an unpleasant person, but it’s not obvious that he is an enemy of the US. Similarly, Trump may be an unpleasant person, but it’s not obvious that he is, or should be, an enemy of Russia. And of course, if he were Obama, everyone would be saying how wonderful he was.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@MartinII Perhaps he would like to spend some time talking to our former allies (Canada, the UK, France, Germany, etc.) instead of Putin and Kim.

room101 · 51-55, M

@MartinII When Obama was a Senator, he said that he would be willing to talk to anybody, foes included. Fox etc went absolutely apeshit. So no, everybody wouldn't be saying how wonderful he was.

Be honest, trump is not doing this because "he just thinks it’s good to talk to people". He's doing it serve his own interests.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@windinhishair I think he should do both.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@room101 Fox may have done, but all the liberal media, on both sides of the Atlantic, loved it.

I don’t think he’s doing it to serve his own interests, I think he’s doing it to serve what he judges to be the US’s interests. Whether one agrees with that judgment is, of course, a quite separate matter.

room101 · 51-55, M

@MartinII Your statement is that "everyone would be saying......", now it's just the liberal media. Make your mind up, which is it?

Looking at trumps performance thus far, I can't see anything that he has done that wasn't about his own interests. Whether those interests have been purely financial, keeping himself in the limelight or, distracting from his scandals and illegalities.

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@MartinII Name one thing that the US needs Russia's help with. (And you can forget Syria , that's already settled.)

Ynotisay · M

@MartinII "But it's not obvious that he's an enemy of the U.S." Are you serious with that? So you're truly taking one man's word, Trump, over that of [i]every[/i] bureau charged with investigating Russia? How does that work man? And why do I think you wouldn't have said that a few years ago?
I don't get it. I really don't.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@room101 I accept your criticism of my original post. I should have said most commentators.

As to the rest, I am afraid you are too cynical for me.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@RodionRomanovitch I don’t see the relevance of your point. The criticism of President Trump talking to Putin is based on the premise that Russia is an enemy. If that’s true, it’s arguable whether the President should be talking to Putin or not. In my opinion he should. But either way, it’s nothing to do with the US wanting something from Russia.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@Ynotisay I’m not taking the President’s word for it, nor anyone else’s. I’m just expressing my own opinion. If you disagree, I would be interested to know why.

room101 · 51-55, M

@MartinII Too cynical? No mate, I'm too much of a realist for you.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@room101 What it boils down to is, it’s a matter of opinion. Time will tell who is right.

room101 · 51-55, M

@MartinII So you think it's a matter of opinion whether trump has done what I've said he's done?

Interesting 🤔

MartinII · 70-79, M

@room101 To me, it’s clear that you are wrong. But as I say, that’s a matter of opinion - firmly held on my part, but not necessarily correct!

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@MartinII " The criticism of President Trump talking to Putin is based on the premise that Russia is an enemy."

Russia is , has been , and will for the foreseeable future , be considered a hostile power to the US.

There is [b]NO[/b] doubt whatsoever that they interfered in the last US election and there is also prima facie evidence that the Trump campaign was co-ordinating with Russian operatives.

So my question remains ; Why on earth should the US be talking to a hostile power , in denial of their misdeeds and still running operations to influence US foreign policy and undermine its democracy.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@RodionRomanovitch You make assertions as if they were facts. Some people consider Russia to be a hostile power, some don’t. Among those who think Russia is, or might be, hostile, some think the US should engage with Russia, some don’t. Throughout history nations have talked to actual or potential enemies, while others have ignored them or fought wars with them - sometimes successfully, sometimes not, in all cases!

RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M

@MartinII I have asserted nothing. Try asking the intelligence chiefs , the generals and almost everybody in Congress whether they consider Russia to be a friend or a foe. And , of course, engaging with them is not necessarily a bad thing .... but it is the motives for doing so that both interest ,and alarm , me and others.

MartinII · 70-79, M

@RodionRomanovitch Your posts are full of assertions. Just read them!

I’m pretty sure that most intelligence chiefs, generals and relevant members of the cabinet would give a nuanced answer to your question. No doubt there are many views in Congress, and some Democrats will be influenced by their belief that Russian intervention had a decisive impact on tbe Presidential election. As to your last sentence, I agree with you.