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Tom Rinaldo

(22,912 posts)
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 10:53 AM Jul 2018

Master negotiator? MASTER NEGOTIATOR??? Is that what he calls himself? REALLY?

The Middle East: The crown jewel of the peace process in the Middle East is the ultimate status of Jerusalem. Everybody, and I mean everybody knows that. So Donald Trump decides to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move our embassy there. Of course there is no simultaneous acknowledgement of Jerusalem also being the capital of the Palestinian state. Trump followed the lead of the hard liners in Israel who see all of Palestine as a rightful part of Israel, starting with total control of Jerusalem. What was Israel forced to concede in return for being granted this ultimate wet dream by an American President, outside of the framework of a comprehensive Middle East peace treaty? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now the leverage is gone.

North Korea: Decades after the cessation of fighting on the Korea peninsular there still is no peace. Both sides remain armed to the teeth in a state that can be called deterrence through mutually assured destruction (for Koreans at the very least). Now North Korea has developed nuclear weaponry to the point where American territorial security can be threatened by it. North Korea seeks two major things. Recognition on the world stage as having a legitimate government with full acceptance and standing among the world's other nations, and iron clad assurances that the current regime inside North Korea will be left intact as a family run fiefdom. America wants North Korean denuclearization. What does Trump do? He agrees to the first time ever summit between an American President and North Korea's "Supreme Leader", elevating the latter to peer status on the world stage. Then he suspends American joint military exercises with South Korea designed to ensure a robust military countermeasure to North Korean provocations, meant to pose a credible threat to the existence of the North Korean regime should it ever pursue military aggression. What was North Korea forced to change in return? Nothing. Absolutely nothing (they promised to do better in the future). And now the leverage is gone.

And then there is Russia. Russia which invaded our election process. Russia which secretly helped pry the UK out of the European Union. Russia which seeks to undermine all Western Democracies through disinformation campaigns (among other means) that elevate Neo Nazi forces across the European continent. And Russia which invaded the neighboring state of The Ukraine and annexed the Crimea. The Crimea was legally once a part of Russia, and Putin wanted it back. It has a large Russian speaking population, and warm water ports. But in part because Russia seized it by force, Russia's economy now labors under significant economic sanctions that it wants to get out from under. Recognizing Russian sovereignty over The Crimea would be a massive gift to Putin, one that would potentially further destabilize the until recently recognized world order. Big stakes, high cost. A skilled negotiator might secretly dangle that possible concession as a reward at the end of a long process of negotiations in which Russia made significant verifiable and multiple positive changes in it's behavior on the world stage, and towards the United States specifically. Not to be determined now, to be evaluated later. But what is Trump now doing? Openly discussing United States recognition of Russia's annexation of The Crimea. And what will Russia be forced to do in return? Probably nothing, absolutely noting. And then the leverage would be gone.

Put the odds at 50/50 that Trump will offer to return Alaska to Russia as a goodwill gesture at the upcoming summit. Such is the skill of our nation's "master negotiator".

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Master negotiator? MASTER NEGOTIATOR??? Is that what he calls himself? REALLY? (Original Post) Tom Rinaldo Jul 2018 OP
He'll try to trade Alaska to Putin for a site for Trump Tower Moscow... Wounded Bear Jul 2018 #1
It would not surprise me either Bettie Jul 2018 #2
Yup, I almost forgot. In Trump's world he IS the State Tom Rinaldo Jul 2018 #5
Don't give him any ideas NewJeffCT Jul 2018 #7
Hmm..all I see in the headline is MASTER-#@%$&$#-ATER Wwcd Jul 2018 #3
He's not a master at anything. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2018 #4
Master-Liar? No, he deceives himself. Ilsa Jul 2018 #6
True Dat. He is a master at self love. n/t Tom Rinaldo Jul 2018 #13
Master Hater is how I see him nt csziggy Jul 2018 #14
But putin is paying him a ton of money. unblock Jul 2018 #8
Yes. Classic case of "follow the money". n/t Tom Rinaldo Jul 2018 #9
He calls himself a lot of things, and every one of them is fake. n/t Orsino Jul 2018 #10
The Emperor Has No Clothes. smirkymonkey Jul 2018 #11
delusions of grandeur are a symptom of late stage syphilis DBoon Jul 2018 #12

Bettie

(16,100 posts)
2. It would not surprise me either
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 10:57 AM
Jul 2018

the man is a living train wreck and we're the passengers.

I hope his minions and fans understand that when the inevitable crash comes.

Tom Rinaldo

(22,912 posts)
5. Yup, I almost forgot. In Trump's world he IS the State
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 11:10 AM
Jul 2018

So an arrangement like that would be totally proper.

 

Wwcd

(6,288 posts)
3. Hmm..all I see in the headline is MASTER-#@%$&$#-ATER
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 11:06 AM
Jul 2018
Master-%#$&$@#-Ater

Master-%$#-Ater

Master-@#-Ater


Something wrong with my screen..checking..

unblock

(52,208 posts)
8. But putin is paying him a ton of money.
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 11:27 AM
Jul 2018

He only ever negotiates for his own benefit, and he does it by burning everyone else.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
11. The Emperor Has No Clothes.
Mon Jul 2, 2018, 11:41 AM
Jul 2018

He's only a master negotiator or "deal-maker" in his head. He has never done anything but lie, cheat, con and bully his way into getting what he wants. He is a supreme idiot.

Thanks for your post!

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