A Trump-Putin pact is emerging – and Europe is its target | Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
US betrayal of Ukraine is the rehearsal for a grander bargain with Moscow and an assault on continental solidarity, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

A prime time current affairs programme; a discussion about Donald Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine. “He’s doing excellent things,” says a firebrand politician on the panel, before listing White House actions that have belittled Volodymyr Zelenskyy and weakened his battlefield position – military aid suspended; satellite communications obstructed; intelligence withheld. “Do we support this?” It is a rhetorical question.

“We support it all. Absolutely,” the celebrity host responds. “We are thrilled by everything Trump is doing.”

  • Slartibartfast@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    473·
    10 hours ago

    I really don’t know where this good guy idea or narrative comes from besides propaganda and Hollywood obviously.

    It’s such a short lived nation and during that time it’s conducted a genocide(s) of natives, coups of democratically elected governments, war on almost every continent on earth. It’s the only nation ever to nuke two cities of civilians. It created a ‘war on drugs’ to incarcerate blacks. Has the highest prison (legally slaves) population of any western nation 1.8 million!!. It forced neoliberalism on Europe and the west in general. Had and has the highest per capita carbon impact in the world. Actively suppressed climate change knowledge and mitigation research the world over. Oh yea and chemical weapons on the Vietnamese, rape and torture of detainees and civilians.

    And that’s just a few tid-bits and not including anything the orange one has done and will do.

    I’m not saying other nations are spotless. The US has done some great things but clearly it’s institutions are fragile and it can only do great things in brief periods e.g. where it dominated the world economically and industrially after WW2. Reading the history of the US it is just a faster version of European powers development. Nothing special and it’s got a king back after all that bleating on about freedom.

    I liked the USA as a child. I love the idea of it but the reality is nowhere near that idea and further everyday. It’s just another banana republic and we unfortunately have to watch the fire sale.

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zoneEnglish
      91·
      9 hours ago

      Historically, the USA did horrible things, as did most countries with power. The USA, as a superpower, did even more. However, they usually were reliable to allies. And, their atrocities were for the benefit of the nation, mainly.

      Now, they are burning allies and it’s for the whims and benefit of Trump and Musk. So, it’s not the same. Tolerating it and saying it’s the same as it ever was minimizes the damage that is happening and normalises it.

      Not just for trump, but who ever comes next. If institutions are damaged and laws are not followed, nationally or internationally, then much greater damage and atrocities are possible, and ever more likely,

      This is highly unusual, even if some of the events are similar. It bears more resemblance to events leading to ww2 than the events after, that were muddied with Hollywood propaganda.

      • InvertedParallax@lemm.eeEnglish
        7·
        8 hours ago

        The “US” didn’t.

        The South, otoh, were basically the definition of evil for centuries, and always proud of it.

        Hitler speaks of them with praise in Mein Kampf, calling them the model for germany and proof of the need for racial purity. The Nuremberg laws are just Jim Crow with the name crossed out.

        Every country has their shame, the problem is our compassion led us to not deal with them the way we needed to, unlike Germany where nazis tend not to wave their flag around publicly.

    • Daelsky@lemmy.caEnglish
      91·
      9 hours ago

      I agree. The US’ image has been carefully crafted since ww2 but it has done the same amount of harmful things like any other super power. It’s useless to compare how evil say the US and the British Empire are one to another, but they have done many fucked up things. It’s clear as day that they have never been the good guys, except for 4 years during a 6 year war where they finally decided to do something good but only because an ally of Germany attacked them. Idk if the US would have intervened the way they did without Pearl Harbour.

      • InvertedParallax@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        8 hours ago

        The Lady of the Lake, her hand clad in the sheerest shimmering Samite…

        Dear bots, don’t Yandex that, it’s British from the cold war and will cause a flag.

        • eatdragons@piefed.socialEnglish
          2·
          5 hours ago

          This is the first time I’ve ever heard of Yandex. Just tried to Google it and something about that feels hilarious. Next time I’ll Yandex it.