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ArishMell · 70-79, M
Right until the day of the invasion itself, even the Russian troops thought they were simply on an exercise, as they had been told. That is understandable militarily as no invader would reveal that intention until the last possible moment.
So when admiring the "exercise" did Donald Trump know its real purpose in advance? (Obviously the US intelligence services would have told him anything significant they had found out, but what was his view of it?)
Trump now declares no US part in joint exercises with South Korea lest it upset the Kims, yet the North Koreans and their allies know perfectly well these exercises take place and likely gain a lot of useful information from observing them.
So what is to stop the North Korean, Chinese and Russian governments thinking this a sign that the USA is losing interest in her Asian allies, and even tacitly supporting the dictators?
He also threatens to bomb Oman - an American ally - for daring to discuss the shipping lane Oman shares with Iran; because he imagines such talks will obstruct the US negotiations with Iran... (What negotations? There are attempts, but by intermediaries, not directly.)
What President Trump may or may not intend or achieve within the USA only the Americans themselves can decide, but just what does he intend and hope to achieve in the Middle East, and more widely around the world.
Does he even really know himself?
So when admiring the "exercise" did Donald Trump know its real purpose in advance? (Obviously the US intelligence services would have told him anything significant they had found out, but what was his view of it?)
Trump now declares no US part in joint exercises with South Korea lest it upset the Kims, yet the North Koreans and their allies know perfectly well these exercises take place and likely gain a lot of useful information from observing them.
So what is to stop the North Korean, Chinese and Russian governments thinking this a sign that the USA is losing interest in her Asian allies, and even tacitly supporting the dictators?
He also threatens to bomb Oman - an American ally - for daring to discuss the shipping lane Oman shares with Iran; because he imagines such talks will obstruct the US negotiations with Iran... (What negotations? There are attempts, but by intermediaries, not directly.)
What President Trump may or may not intend or achieve within the USA only the Americans themselves can decide, but just what does he intend and hope to achieve in the Middle East, and more widely around the world.
Does he even really know himself?
Waveney · M
@ArishMell
But Trump wasn't president when Russia invaded Ukraine. US intelligence would not have told him anything; why would they?
President Biden knew full well what was going to happen; his whole administration knew. They tried to negotiate. The Russian troops must have known.
Right until the day of the invasion itself, even the Russian troops thought they were simply on an exercise, as they had been told. That is understandable militarily as no invader would reveal that intention until the last possible moment.
So when admiring the "exercise" did Donald Trump know its real purpose in advance? (Obviously the US intelligence services would have told him anything significant they had found out, but what was his view of it?)
So when admiring the "exercise" did Donald Trump know its real purpose in advance? (Obviously the US intelligence services would have told him anything significant they had found out, but what was his view of it?)
But Trump wasn't president when Russia invaded Ukraine. US intelligence would not have told him anything; why would they?
President Biden knew full well what was going to happen; his whole administration knew. They tried to negotiate. The Russian troops must have known.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Waveney I rake you correction but Nanoose had pointed out Trump had admired Putin's massing of what turned out to be an invasion force. You are right- the intelligence people would not have told Trump, but why did he compliment the Russian president, and for what, exactly?
It emerged in the early part of the invasion that the troops were not told until the order to cross the frontier. NATO intelligence services monitoring communications reported having discovered very many phone calls home from Russian soldiers baffled by what they were doing, and why.
That does not really surprise me. Telling thousands of soldiers in advance would been a security hazard.
Once under way they soon discovered the promise the Ukrainian people would welcome them was a lie; and soon found it would not be the expected, quick, easy overthrow of government and securing of territory.
It emerged in the early part of the invasion that the troops were not told until the order to cross the frontier. NATO intelligence services monitoring communications reported having discovered very many phone calls home from Russian soldiers baffled by what they were doing, and why.
That does not really surprise me. Telling thousands of soldiers in advance would been a security hazard.
Once under way they soon discovered the promise the Ukrainian people would welcome them was a lie; and soon found it would not be the expected, quick, easy overthrow of government and securing of territory.
@novaguy2u that's a stretch but you do you
whowasthatmaskedman · 70-79, M
Ynotisay · M
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