Misleading title. My take: While Putin can be stern (and effective) with Trump when necessary, his overarching priority is to avoid risk of forcing on mercurial Trump a choice between “humiliating retreat or nuclear war” (to quote JFK’s warning after Cuba)
From foxnews.com
Memorial Day: “The making of peace is at least as costly as the making of war — at least as liable to bring disgrace & prison“ Dan Berrigan. So, if making peace today means prison that’s where we need to be. Are there enough prisons for all of us? NOT YET
https://consortiumnews.com/2010/122010a.html
The full truth be told, Iran did NOT stop working on a nuclear weapon in 2003. Iran had NEVER STARTED! TELL NO ONE! Widespread ignorance on this could allow Trump to claim he has now forced Iran to stop such work! Some background on Cuba at min 1:58:55 ff.
Gabbard Is Out. In sworn testimony she could not duck the fact that Trump lied on “imminent threat” fr Iran. AND she and Pam Bondi tried to hold accountable quintessential Deep State actors Comey, Brennan – driving two more nails in Gabbard & Bondi coffins
The SVR (Russia’s CIA) warns Latvia “NATO membership will not protect accomplices of Ukrainian drone terrorism from retribution.” Did Putin sound out Xi on direct retaliation against NATO despite risk? Also, more Israeli cruelty to Sumud flotilla to Gaza.
Without any cards to play, Trump grovels to Xi while Putin prepares for constructive dialogue. Watch to the end as I give a personal account of former Sec Def Bobby Gates and former Sec of State Condi Rice!
Session includes lively exchange between Scott and me on whether Russia is likely to mount missile attacks on Kyiv and European sites, in reaction to drone strikes deep inside Russia. Scott says Yes; Ray says No. For that segment, see minute 1:22:00 to end
Trump is received by Xi with high pomp, low circumstance. CEOs fly home with no rare earth minerals. US lack of leverage laid bare on Taiwan, Iran. After 5-day “decent interval”, Putin will arrive in Beijing for far more serious coordination on Iran, etc.
Seems Trump could not find the words “rare earth minerals” in Xi’s folder, as Trump took a peek at dinner. CEOs rumored to be getting special-edition Chinese checkers instead. Mario & I talk “Thucydides Trap” & Xi’s “win-win” approach to win over hegemony.
As dust from Beijing summit settles, context for comparison from old China and Russia hands (Chas & me). On Xi-Putin mtg in May 2024 https://consortiumnews.com/2024/05/17/ray-mcgovern-russia-china-two-against-one/ How a US-Russia-China erstwhile equilateral triangle became isosceles, with the US the short side.https://consortiumnews.com/2020/07/28/presumptuous-pompeo-pushes-preposterous-peking-policy/ 