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What goes into USA allies' calculations?

Ms. Applebaum makes a point about allies not helping Trump out with the Strait of Hormuz because they can calculate that he won't remember they helped next week if they did, and she's probably right.

But what she doesnt say and what I find really disturbing is that they may also be factoring in the cost of aiding and abetting Trump in terms of the continued damage he can rain on everyone, including their countries, Iran and the US itself.

Is it "treasonous" to wonder/hope about allies factoring internal US politics into their calculations?

Maybe, but this patriotic bs about wishing the President success really falls apart when it's so obvious that he's not all that interested in doing a good job for the country as much as for himself.

Ironically, that's one part about America First I'm hoping foreign leaders get. They can't trust or rely on the US with its present leadership at all.

https://open.substack.com/pub/anneapplebaum/p/trump-doesnt-remember-what-hes-done?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=316prm
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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
America First is an aggressive nationalist policy. It is now dawning upon the world that it is incompatible with international cooperation.
swirlie · 31-35, F
@SunshineGirl
Very good way to explain America's new status on the world stage, which is being one of incompatible self-flagellation in a world where other more developed Nations form trade partnerships to serve each other.
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@swirlie Lets modify that last line to "for mutual benefit" . There is this thing called "Competitive advantage, where one party has a natural advantage the other cant equal. Like China having a billion people providing cheap labor, or another having a supply of scarce minerals. Its to both partners advantage to exchange those advantages, to do more business between them and supply all third parties.😷
swirlie · 31-35, F
@whowasthatmaskedman
Excellent points you make!

I wonder why the United States thinks it can go it alone when it doesn't have millions of Americans who want to do labor work, nor does it have natural resources in the ground to call it's own, nor does it have it's own crude oil supply from which to produce oil products, nor does it have it's own fresh water supply or capacity for generating America's own electricity?
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
@swirlie Exactly. Canadas hydro power is a natural competitive advantage.😷