Skip to main content

A Different American President's Opinion on Afghanistan

Image
By

 +

JMJ

I have to admit that President Trump's actions over the past few days have been more than annoying. 

Trump as a Soviet Negotiator

As I've mentioned, Trump appears to Negotiate like the Russian or Soviets like Herb Cohen described in his book "You can negotiate anything".  

All "Soviets" whether for Moscow or from Memphis [Tradicat: ... or New York], use the same six steps in their negotiation dance:

  1. Extreme initial positions: They always start with tough demands or ridiculous offers that affect the other side's expectation level.
  2. Limited authority. The negotiators themselves have little or no authority to make any concessions.
  3. Emotional tactics: They get red faced, raise their voices and act exasperated - horrified that they are being take advantage of. Occasionally they will stalk out of a meeting in a huff.
  4. Adversary concessions viewed as weakness. Should you give in and concede them something, they are unlikely to reciprocate.
  5. Stingy in their concessions. They delay making any concession and when they finally do, it reflects only a miniscule change in their position.
  6. Ignore deadlines. They tend to be patient and act as though time is of no significance to them.

Speaking about the 'mid-way' offer by Trump. It isn't a midway offer, its only midway for the tariffs that he has decided to impose. Looking at the list, Trump definitely has tapped #1, #2 (Trump holds all authority), #3 (he has been pushing this button a lot),  #5 (the mid-way offer, delaying Tariffs instead of removing).

While #4 and #6 haven't happened yet  - we'll see if Canada blinks is Trump sees it as a weakness.

Unexpected Consequences

So while Europe is now doing what Trump wanted, that is spending more on military spending and contributing more to the defense of Ukraine, it may actually hurt the USA military defense  industry.  I've already noticed European countries restarting mothballed weapons facilities and awarding them contracts that, presumably, would have gone to USA companies.

It will be interesting to watch.

 




Afghanistan: a Tale of Two Presidents

As a side point, I have been reading George W. Bush's memoirs - Decision Points. When I got to the following paragraph, I remembered that Trump is the one who started the Afghan withdrawal - a withdrawal finished by Biden.

Bush's words are definitely prescient:

Ultimately, the only way the Taliban and al-Qaeda can retake Afghanistan is if America abandons the country. Allowing the extremists to reclaim power would force Afghan woman back into subservience, remove girls from school and betray all the gains of the past nine years. It would also endanger our security. After the Cold War, the United States gave up on Afghanistan. The result was chaos, civil war, the Taliban takeover, sanctuary for al-Qaeda, and the nightmare of 9/11. To forget that lesson would be a dreadful mistake.

So - I don't know what will happen and all the while remember to keep the Faith.


P^3.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rome,the SSPX and this time of Crisis - Updated

By
+ JMJ Obviously there's lots of events right now. First we have the April 1st - I almost thought it was April Fools - meeting between Pope Francis and Bishop Fellay.  Nothing really news worthy as this is a natural progression as Rome appears to be considering fulfilling Archbishop Lefebvre's wish to 'accept us as we are'. Second we have the April 8th publication of what will be a verbose exhortation of the Synod of the Family. I'm willing to bet that the Pope will give with one hand (unilateral regularization of SSPX) and take with the other (ambiguous document that opens the flood gates of sin further). Much to pray for. P^3
30 comments
Read more

SSPX and the Resistance - A Comparison Of Ecclesiology

By
Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making.  It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX.  The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience.  The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members.  It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...
8 comments
Read more

Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations - Courtesy of SSPX.org

By
+ JMJ In the blogosphere there are number of responses to this crisis in the Catholic Church that lead to conclusions that run counter to Catholic Doctrine and Dogmas - if taken to their logical conclusion. The validity of the New Rite of Episcopal consecrations is one such hotspot within more extreme sections of the 'traditionalist' culture. Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations Courtesy of SSPX.org Why the new rite of episcopal consecration is valid Introduction This comprehensive study was compiled to settle a debate that has been circulating in traditional Catholic circles. Some writers have examined the new rite of episcopal consecration and concluded that it must be invalid. Since this would cause manifest problems if it were true and due to the heightened awareness of such a theory, we present a study of this question concluding that it is valid. Following the Council, in 1968 a new rite for the ordination of bishops was promulg...
1 comment
Read more

Comparision of the Tridentine, Cranmer and Novus Ordo Masses

By
+ JMJ I downloaded the comparison that was linked in the previous article on the mass (here) . ... a very good reference! P^3 From: Whispers of Restoration (available at this link) . CHARTING LITURGICAL CHANGE Comparing the 1962 Ordinary of the Roman Mass to changes made during the Anglican Schism; Compared in turn to changes adopted in the creation of Pope Paul VI’s Mass in 1969 The chart on the reverse is a concise comparison of certain ritual differences between three historical rites for the celebration of the Catholic Mass Vetus Ordo: “Old Order,” the Roman Rite of Mass as contained in the 1962 Missal, often referred to as the “Traditional Latin Mass.”The Ordinary of this Mass is that of Pope St. Pius V (1570) following the Council of Trent (1545-63), hence the occasional moniker “Tridentine Mass.” However, Trent only consolidated and codified the Roman Rite already in use at that time; its essential form dates to Pope St. Gregory the Great (+604), in whose time the R...
Post a Comment
Read more