Thanks Mark. As ever, a very interesting angle on the madness emanating from a once solid ally.
I agree with the comments here that the damage done to America’s reputation won’t be reversed in three and a half years, even if the Democrats manage to find an alternative narrative that gets them over the line. It will be decades before the country can be trusted again.
I had the misfortune to speak to a US Colonel (a reservist I think) in Kosovo recently. After an hour of trying to push back against every false claim and kindergarten line of argument, I gave up. It had been like talking to a ChatGPT creation of Tump, Vance and Fox News.
As I wandered back to my hotel I vowed never to have a similar conversation again, whilst saying to myself (out loud); “America is fucked.”
I have still not found a more eloquent way of putting it.
A compelling overview that deserves a broader audience, such as in The Atlantic or even Foreign Affairs (one quibble: the effort by POTUS to annex Canada thru economic degradation deserves mention).
Fair point on Canada, I didn't include it because it didn't comfortably fit in the 'cruelty' theme I was highlighting, and I couldn't find an example where it elicited laughter. All the that said, it's profoundly wrong, disturbing and also astoundingly stupid. It certainly does fit into the 'Ugly American' pattern. What is heartening is to see the Canadian reaction, which is both strong and yet calm as well as dignified. Cues here for how others need to respond to the new US.
As a U.S. Citizen that served in and with our Army for 47 years culminating in uniform as the most Senior NCO in NATO, Trump’s first 90 days have been devastating. Worse than I could have ever imagined. His press conference with the Italian Head of State is a mockery under which I served my adult life. Once upon a time, we were mostly trying to be for the greater good for all against tyranny. It is lost in a quagmire of two and four year political election cycles where integrity, character, and resemblance of truth has disappeared. The Republican Party failed our nation and the world on Jan 7th when they failed to stand up to our own tyranny… Donald J Trump.
Mark -------- this, your paragraph, encapsulates what the rest of the world must recognise "The US is too big to ignore, but we should focus on disentangling ourselves as much as possible, and nor should we assume it’s ever going back to anything approaching normal. Four years of Trump and his dark enablers will change the US forever." In addition, even once trump and his acolytes have gone, they will have CHANGED the US for decades and very few will trust them, perhaps for centries.
Thanks Mark. As ever, a very interesting angle on the madness emanating from a once solid ally.
I agree with the comments here that the damage done to America’s reputation won’t be reversed in three and a half years, even if the Democrats manage to find an alternative narrative that gets them over the line. It will be decades before the country can be trusted again.
I had the misfortune to speak to a US Colonel (a reservist I think) in Kosovo recently. After an hour of trying to push back against every false claim and kindergarten line of argument, I gave up. It had been like talking to a ChatGPT creation of Tump, Vance and Fox News.
As I wandered back to my hotel I vowed never to have a similar conversation again, whilst saying to myself (out loud); “America is fucked.”
I have still not found a more eloquent way of putting it.
A compelling overview that deserves a broader audience, such as in The Atlantic or even Foreign Affairs (one quibble: the effort by POTUS to annex Canada thru economic degradation deserves mention).
Fair point on Canada, I didn't include it because it didn't comfortably fit in the 'cruelty' theme I was highlighting, and I couldn't find an example where it elicited laughter. All the that said, it's profoundly wrong, disturbing and also astoundingly stupid. It certainly does fit into the 'Ugly American' pattern. What is heartening is to see the Canadian reaction, which is both strong and yet calm as well as dignified. Cues here for how others need to respond to the new US.
As a U.S. Citizen that served in and with our Army for 47 years culminating in uniform as the most Senior NCO in NATO, Trump’s first 90 days have been devastating. Worse than I could have ever imagined. His press conference with the Italian Head of State is a mockery under which I served my adult life. Once upon a time, we were mostly trying to be for the greater good for all against tyranny. It is lost in a quagmire of two and four year political election cycles where integrity, character, and resemblance of truth has disappeared. The Republican Party failed our nation and the world on Jan 7th when they failed to stand up to our own tyranny… Donald J Trump.
Mark -------- this, your paragraph, encapsulates what the rest of the world must recognise "The US is too big to ignore, but we should focus on disentangling ourselves as much as possible, and nor should we assume it’s ever going back to anything approaching normal. Four years of Trump and his dark enablers will change the US forever." In addition, even once trump and his acolytes have gone, they will have CHANGED the US for decades and very few will trust them, perhaps for centries.
Sadly, I agree. Even the good Americans, and of course they are many, will be tainted.