MAGAThread XX: A Journal of the Plague Year

[Ifreann]

I'm not personally a huge fan of Bolsonaro. But the point about not Trump alienating allies holds true in the UK, Israel, a number of Arab countries, and the Indo-Pacific, not to mention Brazil. On average, the mainstream contention that Donald Trump has "burned bridges" is mostly false, outside the EU anyway.

The fact that Trump has not alienated all allies is not really relevant. If he had, that would have been extreme, even for him. But you would have sung laud to him regardless, so who knows.

“The mainstream contention that Trump has alienated allies is false, if you forget all these historic allies in a strategic position he alienated”

When we think about whether Trump has alienated America's allies, we must keep in mind that the allies that he has alienated don't count.

[The Alma Mater]

The fact that Trump has not alienated all allies is not really relevant. If he had, that would have been extreme, even for him. But you would have sung laud to him regardless, so who knows.

“The mainstream contention that Trump has alienated allies is false, if you forget all these historic allies in a strategic position he alienated”

When we think about whether Trump has alienated America's allies, we must keep in mind that the allies that he has alienated don't count.

To be fair, he did unite his allies as well. Who can forget the whole "America first, (insert country here) second" campaign by talkshow hosts from all over the globe?

http://everysecondcounts.eu/

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

When we think about whether Trump has alienated America's allies, we must keep in mind that the allies that he has alienated don't count.

To be fair, he did unite his allies as well. Who can forget the whole "America first, (insert country here) second" campaign by talkshow hosts from all over the globe?

http://everysecondcounts.eu/

What do people like GHK think "America First" means because it's sure as fuck isn't "Hong Kong First" or even "Defeat PRC First".

[Borderlands of Rojava]

To be fair, he did unite his allies as well. Who can forget the whole "America first, (insert country here) second" campaign by talkshow hosts from all over the globe?

http://everysecondcounts.eu/

What do people like GHK think "America First" means because it's sure as fuck isn't "Hong Kong First" or even "Defeat PRC First".

America first basically means "bye rest of the world." That means Hong Kong doesn't get backed by America and gets taken over by China, not that we ever cared about Hong Kong in the past or present.

[Kexholm Karelia]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

This is nonsense and agitprop and you know it.

[The Alma Mater]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Actually, European countries spend less on healthcare than the USA. The US system is hideously expensive and inefficient.
Obamacare improved it slightly, but it is still pathetic.

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

I admit that this was one of the things I agree with Trump on. Europe agreed to a percentage, so Europe should pay that percentage.

[Ifreann]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

Is there any point in telling you that Europe doesn't beg the US to protect us from Russia? Do you even care that what you're saying isn't true?

[Valrifell]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

Is there any point in telling you that Europe doesn't beg the US to protect us from Russia? Do you even care that what you're saying isn't true?

The answer is clearly no to both.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

I admit that this was one of the things I agree with Trump on. Europe agreed to a percentage, so Europe should pay that percentage.

What if that percentage was dumped in kindergartens and turning bases into aristocratic villa complexes?

[Ifreann]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Actually, European countries spend less on healthcare than the USA. The US system is hideously expensive and inefficient.
Obamacare improved it slightly, but it is still pathetic.

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

I admit that this was one of the things I agree with Trump on. Europe agreed to a percentage, so Europe should pay that percentage.

Europe didn't agree to anything of the sort. NATO recommends that members spend at least 2% of their national budgets on their armed forces. It's a suggestion.

[Eukaryotic Cells]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

This whole victim narrative is just bunk.

America does not have free healthcare because of America's internal political dynamics, not because they spend more on defense than many other countries.

[The Alma Mater]

I admit that this was one of the things I agree with Trump on. Europe agreed to a percentage, so Europe should pay that percentage.

What if that percentage was dumped in kindergartens and turning bases into aristocratic villa complexes?

I still believe that one should honour contracts.

[Valrifell]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

This whole victim narrative is just bunk.

America does not have free healthcare because of America's internal political dynamics, not because they spend more on defense than many other countries.

America: *is the richest country to exist*
Also America: "Sorry guys we just can't afford to do something that every other nation on the planet has been able to provide for decades :/"

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

What if that percentage was dumped in kindergartens and turning bases into aristocratic villa complexes?

I still believe that one should honour contracts.

So these sort of affairs are ok to dump that precious 2% on?

This whole victim narrative is just bunk.

America does not have free healthcare because of America's internal political dynamics, not because they spend more on defense than many other countries.

America: *is the richest country to exist*
Also America: "Sorry guys we just can't afford to do something that every other nation on the planet has been able to provide for decades :/"

Also America: "You called 911 for an ambulance? That'll be $6000."

[Ifreann]

Europe: “Look we have free healthcare we don’t spend huge amounts of money on the military!”

Also Europe: “Oh nose! America pls spend on military to protect us from Putin!”

This whole victim narrative is just bunk.

America does not have free healthcare because of America's internal political dynamics, not because they spend more on defense than many other countries.

Not to mention that America spends massively on healthcare as it is.

[North American Imperial State]

I still believe that one should honour contracts.

So these sort of affairs are ok to dump that precious 2% on?

America: *is the richest country to exist*
Also America: "Sorry guys we just can't afford to do something that every other nation on the planet has been able to provide for decades :/"

Also America: "You called 911 for an ambulance? That'll be $6000."

It is great when I can call an ambulance for free.
It's not perfect, but thank god for the NHS

[Eukaryotic Cells]

This whole victim narrative is just bunk.

America does not have free healthcare because of America's internal political dynamics, not because they spend more on defense than many other countries.

America: *is the richest country to exist*
Also America: "Sorry guys we just can't afford to do something that every other nation on the planet has been able to provide for decades :/"

It's really just a way of deflecting blame for one' own failings. Our broken healthcare system, crumbling infrastructure, etc. is our fault. It's not France's fault, or Germany's fault, or Italy's fault.

I do think some countries should spend more on defense, or more specifically get more involved in Europe's common defense. We should have a joint exercise where we collectively practice activating and moving up some brigades to the Baltics, Poland or other areas. If this sort of thing triggers Russia, so be it.

[Kowani]

Trump orders the Pentagon to pull almost all troops from Somalia

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Trump orders the Pentagon to pull almost all troops from Somalia

Usually I don't agree with Trump but we shouldn't be in Somalia. The Somalis probably don't want us there and we have no business being there or anywhere else we aren't welcomed in.

[Kexholm Karelia]

Trump orders the Pentagon to pull almost all troops from Somalia

Ending neocon wars since 2016

[Neutraligon]

Trump orders the Pentagon to pull almost all troops from Somalia

Ending neocon wars since 2016

So how is arming the Chinese (Taiwanese) not neocon?

[Kowani]

Trump orders the Pentagon to pull almost all troops from Somalia

Ending neocon wars since 2016

well, no
this is pretty much his only actual pullback

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Ending neocon wars since 2016

well, no
this is pretty much his only actual pullback

I'mma wait and see if the Somali pirate problem miraculously vanishes.

Oh, and apparently Kellyanne Conway is the latest person added to the list saying Trump lost.

Well if Frau Alternative Facts says it it must be true. <.>

[Kexholm Karelia]

Ending neocon wars since 2016

So how is arming the Chinese (Taiwanese) not neocon?

Because it’s defensive, like the Korean War. We aren’t invading a random country for oil, we are protecting a small, free capitalist democracy from a huge bloodthirsty communist regime