FAKE NEWS On Monday, Donald Trump was a president with a 34% approval rating, mouthing off about how President Obama did "wire tapps" to him and former NSA Susan Rice did "unmasking" to his dearly beloved inner circle, all the while being under multiple investigations for colluding with Russia to steal the 2016 election. But all that existed in a pre-4/4 world, before Bashar al-Assad gassed and killed more than 70 people in Syria's Idlib province. Of course, Assad has murdered eleventy million people, so that's not new. Back in 2013, Assad was committing atrocities, and Donald Trump, then just a simple puss-grabbing reality TV star, was
There was little damage done, and they didn't even target the runways, as retired military commentators expected (including a ret. colonel who'd been to that base). Considering they gave the Russians an hour's heads-up (reportedly notifying congressional leaders last), I'm betting they tipped off their allies the Syrians, and the aircraft were moved to one of the many other bases. I'm also really skeptical about the casualty numbers given the warning. This was a classic Trump reality TV, military-style WWE, designed to quash the Putin puppet theme. It also serves to make him look both like a tough guy, since dictators all over the world have been having a field day thinking they had a kindred spirit in the Oval Office, and an empathic good guy, in spite of banning those "beautiful babies" from coming into the US. A "good guy with a Tomahawk missile." Even conservatives in some forums are calling it "kabuki theater" (albeit for reasons other than Trump trying to end Russia-gate speculation). But the media, our European allies and some Democrats seem to be falling for it. SAD!
Trump's never had any problem with throwing around other people's money. Have you forgotten the nearly billion dollar loss of his creditor's money that netted him 18 years worth of tax deductions? (Still don't get that.) It would've gotten him out of paying altogether if not for the alternative minimum tax he's do eager to do away with. We also know he's a craven opportunist. (I realize you were probably being sarcastic, but I thought I'd remind those who might actually think Trump wouldn't waste 30 mill of taxpayer money.)
Good press, spike in approval ratings, increase in popularity with Democrats, allied leaders and peoples, uniting much of GOP and ending any speculation that Trump is Putin's puppet and the need for further investigations into collusion. It also made Trump appear both tough and empathetic, a "good guy with missiles," and sent a message that he's not to be trifled with, especially to the Chinese president, who had a front row seat (according to some analysts, that was part of Trump's rationale). https://qz.com/952655/donal...
The retired military commentators said Tomahawks are incredibly accurate, able to target a specific set of windows on a building, so yeah, it's pretty suspicious that they almost missed the base entirely, and reports are that they didn't target the runways at all. I'd have thought this "heinous attack" that "choked beautiful babies" (Trump's words) would've at least warranted putting a few potholes in the runways so they wouldn't be able to fly the aircraft they had plenty of time to move for a few days. That seems appropriate for a war crime, especially if you're using that many missiles anyway, which I'm also beginning to doubt considering the minimal damage.
The Pentagon suspects Russia was trying to cover up evidence of a war crime for Assad by killing survivors and doctors who could testify that it was a chemical attack, because a Russian drone was spotted over the clinic about the time it was hit. I began to wonder if Russia was involved in the chemical attack too, because there's been reports that most of the aircraft at the base from where the attack was launched are Russian owned, and most of the military personnel is Russian.
Exactly. That's why the Russian operated Twitterbots were going after Rubio and Cruz, as well as Paul Ryan (in the days when he was actually critical of Trump). They even hacked Rubio, and the conspiracy theory Trump propagated that Cruz's father was involved in JKF's assassination was straight out of RT. Even in his "condemnation" of Trump, Russian PM Medvedev blamed "the establishment" for their corrupting influence on him.
According to some sources the congressional leaders weren't notified until long after the Russians, as the strikes were happening. http://www.washingtonexamin...
To avoid mid air collisions when fighting the same enemy is one thing. To warn those that several in the administration had accused of being complicit in the chemical attack, who are suspected by the Pentagon of trying to cover up said war crime because their drone was spotted over a hospital where the survivors were taken just before it was struck and who are allied with the military you are striking, thereby giving them the opportunity to move the aircraft your trying to hit, is another thing entirely.
Why not make the airfield unusable and make them perform the repairs necessary to be able to use it, especially if you're going to use that many missiles anyway? Seems an appropriate response for a war crime, what Trump called a "heinous attack" on "beautiful babies." This wasn't even a slap on the hand. It was more akin to a finger wagging.
You can see from satellite images that most of the missiles didn't actually hit anything except empty fields on the outer edges of the base, despite being described as having extremely precise and accurate targeting capable of striking a specific set of windows on a building. Some hardened hangars were damaged but not enough to damage the planes, as well as taking out a couple fuel trucks and a radar. And it took 60-70 Tomahawk missiles to do that? Right. It WAS an expensive fireworks show, whether to send a message (to Assad and the world, but especially the Chinese president), improve Trump's approval ratings/image, get good press, distract from Russia-gate or end that speculation altogether. Or all of the above. It was just like his reality TV performance where he put out stacks of folders that "proved" he was separating from his company, except with missiles.
Why are the commerce and treasury secretaries, an economic adviser and Prince Jared in the "war room" (with its gold wedding reception chairs)? That's not routine. And why, despite being there when it was happening, did Wilbur Ross think that 20% of the entire Syrian air force was destroyed?
This administration is such an amateur hour, totally bush league. Speaking of Bush, I'm actually missing George W., who I once thought of as one of our worst presidents, but who now seems pretty good by comparison.
How about disgust, detestation, revulsion, loathing, abhorrence or antipathy? They pretty much all sum up what I'm feeling. I suspected he might do something like this, use the military as a prop in his presidential reality show to improve his ratings or for some other despicable rationale, but I really hoped I was wrong, that I was being cynical. I should've known better.
The Examiner article doesn't have enough hard evidence to be sure one way or another. Something New to investigate!
But the strike has to be seen in terms of counting coup, not denying an asset. A first step in escalation.
Sadly, Assad has already reportedly used chlorine gas attacks post-strike, and just got word of white phosphorus drops. :(
Personally, I think it should be taken as proof that Assad is a war criminal and the Russians need to be held accountable. The entire Syrian regime listed as terrorists and anyone giving them money denied access to US dollars. Our monetary system is our real nuclear option.
Ok..the hypothetical....and why am I so jaded to ask if it is possible with votes?Did Trump and Putin arrange the gas attack so Trump could look so Presidential and then both sides could rattle their sabers to take the heat off the investigations into him being a Quisling? Just have to ask....can the Orange thing on his head be a Tribble from a parallel universe(which means pure evil)?
Every global wacko leader is going to push Tweeter in Chief's buttons to see what they can make him do. I think we have a Level One Achievement unlocked.
There was little damage done, and they didn't even target the runways, as retired military commentators expected (including a ret. colonel who'd been to that base). Considering they gave the Russians an hour's heads-up (reportedly notifying congressional leaders last), I'm betting they tipped off their allies the Syrians, and the aircraft were moved to one of the many other bases. I'm also really skeptical about the casualty numbers given the warning. This was a classic Trump reality TV, military-style WWE, designed to quash the Putin puppet theme. It also serves to make him look both like a tough guy, since dictators all over the world have been having a field day thinking they had a kindred spirit in the Oval Office, and an empathic good guy, in spite of banning those "beautiful babies" from coming into the US. A "good guy with a Tomahawk missile." Even conservatives in some forums are calling it "kabuki theater" (albeit for reasons other than Trump trying to end Russia-gate speculation). But the media, our European allies and some Democrats seem to be falling for it. SAD!
Trump's never had any problem with throwing around other people's money. Have you forgotten the nearly billion dollar loss of his creditor's money that netted him 18 years worth of tax deductions? (Still don't get that.) It would've gotten him out of paying altogether if not for the alternative minimum tax he's do eager to do away with. We also know he's a craven opportunist. (I realize you were probably being sarcastic, but I thought I'd remind those who might actually think Trump wouldn't waste 30 mill of taxpayer money.)
Right, where did this sudden concern for Syrian "beautiful babies" come from? Duplicitous and hypocritical.
Good press, spike in approval ratings, increase in popularity with Democrats, allied leaders and peoples, uniting much of GOP and ending any speculation that Trump is Putin's puppet and the need for further investigations into collusion. It also made Trump appear both tough and empathetic, a "good guy with missiles," and sent a message that he's not to be trifled with, especially to the Chinese president, who had a front row seat (according to some analysts, that was part of Trump's rationale). https://qz.com/952655/donal...
The retired military commentators said Tomahawks are incredibly accurate, able to target a specific set of windows on a building, so yeah, it's pretty suspicious that they almost missed the base entirely, and reports are that they didn't target the runways at all. I'd have thought this "heinous attack" that "choked beautiful babies" (Trump's words) would've at least warranted putting a few potholes in the runways so they wouldn't be able to fly the aircraft they had plenty of time to move for a few days. That seems appropriate for a war crime, especially if you're using that many missiles anyway, which I'm also beginning to doubt considering the minimal damage.
The Pentagon suspects Russia was trying to cover up evidence of a war crime for Assad by killing survivors and doctors who could testify that it was a chemical attack, because a Russian drone was spotted over the clinic about the time it was hit. I began to wonder if Russia was involved in the chemical attack too, because there's been reports that most of the aircraft at the base from where the attack was launched are Russian owned, and most of the military personnel is Russian.
Exactly. That's why the Russian operated Twitterbots were going after Rubio and Cruz, as well as Paul Ryan (in the days when he was actually critical of Trump). They even hacked Rubio, and the conspiracy theory Trump propagated that Cruz's father was involved in JKF's assassination was straight out of RT. Even in his "condemnation" of Trump, Russian PM Medvedev blamed "the establishment" for their corrupting influence on him.
Putin also really wants those lucrative Exxon oil deals that the sanctions put the kibosh on.
According to some sources the congressional leaders weren't notified until long after the Russians, as the strikes were happening. http://www.washingtonexamin...
To avoid mid air collisions when fighting the same enemy is one thing. To warn those that several in the administration had accused of being complicit in the chemical attack, who are suspected by the Pentagon of trying to cover up said war crime because their drone was spotted over a hospital where the survivors were taken just before it was struck and who are allied with the military you are striking, thereby giving them the opportunity to move the aircraft your trying to hit, is another thing entirely.
Why not make the airfield unusable and make them perform the repairs necessary to be able to use it, especially if you're going to use that many missiles anyway? Seems an appropriate response for a war crime, what Trump called a "heinous attack" on "beautiful babies." This wasn't even a slap on the hand. It was more akin to a finger wagging.
You can see from satellite images that most of the missiles didn't actually hit anything except empty fields on the outer edges of the base, despite being described as having extremely precise and accurate targeting capable of striking a specific set of windows on a building. Some hardened hangars were damaged but not enough to damage the planes, as well as taking out a couple fuel trucks and a radar. And it took 60-70 Tomahawk missiles to do that? Right. It WAS an expensive fireworks show, whether to send a message (to Assad and the world, but especially the Chinese president), improve Trump's approval ratings/image, get good press, distract from Russia-gate or end that speculation altogether. Or all of the above. It was just like his reality TV performance where he put out stacks of folders that "proved" he was separating from his company, except with missiles.
Why are the commerce and treasury secretaries, an economic adviser and Prince Jared in the "war room" (with its gold wedding reception chairs)? That's not routine. And why, despite being there when it was happening, did Wilbur Ross think that 20% of the entire Syrian air force was destroyed?
This administration is such an amateur hour, totally bush league. Speaking of Bush, I'm actually missing George W., who I once thought of as one of our worst presidents, but who now seems pretty good by comparison.
Idiomatic expressions are tricky. Thanks to you and A Changeling for sharing your views.
How about disgust, detestation, revulsion, loathing, abhorrence or antipathy? They pretty much all sum up what I'm feeling. I suspected he might do something like this, use the military as a prop in his presidential reality show to improve his ratings or for some other despicable rationale, but I really hoped I was wrong, that I was being cynical. I should've known better.
The Examiner article doesn't have enough hard evidence to be sure one way or another. Something New to investigate!
But the strike has to be seen in terms of counting coup, not denying an asset. A first step in escalation.
Sadly, Assad has already reportedly used chlorine gas attacks post-strike, and just got word of white phosphorus drops. :(
Personally, I think it should be taken as proof that Assad is a war criminal and the Russians need to be held accountable. The entire Syrian regime listed as terrorists and anyone giving them money denied access to US dollars. Our monetary system is our real nuclear option.
Ok..the hypothetical....and why am I so jaded to ask if it is possible with votes?Did Trump and Putin arrange the gas attack so Trump could look so Presidential and then both sides could rattle their sabers to take the heat off the investigations into him being a Quisling? Just have to ask....can the Orange thing on his head be a Tribble from a parallel universe(which means pure evil)?
Every global wacko leader is going to push Tweeter in Chief's buttons to see what they can make him do. I think we have a Level One Achievement unlocked.
Because the Russian trolls are really pushing the "Assad is the good guy here, FALSE FLAG FALSE FLAG" horseshit and idiots are still buying it.