Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia

[orangecrush]

"WASHINGTON — There are few things that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia desires more than the weakening of NATO, the military alliance among the United States, Europe and Canada that has deterred Soviet and Russian aggression for 70 years.

Last year, President Trump suggested a move tantamount to destroying NATO: the withdrawal of the United States.

Senior administration officials told The New York Times that several times over the course of 2018, Mr. Trump privately said he wanted to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Current and former officials who support the alliance said they feared Mr. Trump could return to his threat as allied military spending continued to lag behind the goals the president had set.

In the days around a tumultuous NATO summit meeting last summer, they said, Mr. Trump told his top national security officials that he did not see the point of the military alliance, which he presented as a drain on the United States."
.....
"Now, the president’s repeatedly stated desire to withdraw from NATO is raising new worries among national security officials amid growing concern about Mr. Trump’s efforts to keep his meetings with Mr. Putin secret from even his own aides, and an F.B.I. investigation into the administration’s Russia ties."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/us/politics/nato-president-trump.html

[octoberlib]

1. I told my husband as soon as Mattis left that Trump would withdraw from NATO.

[olegramps]

13. The Republican Party is a greater threat than the Russians or Chinese.

This is the culmination of a fifty year plus onslaught against liberty. The Republican Party aligned itself with religious fanatics who are intent on establishing a virtual theocracy and impose their religious dogma on society. They consists of the Pentecostals, evangelical fundamentalists, and End Timers and a large contingency o right wing Catholics. They are joined by the white supremist racists, national isolationists and the powerful block of ultra-wealthy oligarchs.

It is a formidable coalition that has control of the broadcast airwaves and a voice on national TV. Their hope is the transformation of the presidency into a authoritarian dictatorship with absolute control of every aspect of government. A major push was undertaken during the Bush presidency with the absurd claim of the Unitary Executive theory in which the president was the sole authority of the three branches of government in total constriction with the founders principles upon which the nation was founded.

[orangecrush]

17. looks like

you hit the nail on the head.

[Martin Eden]

2. Can there be any doubt?

Trump is Putin's tool.

[griloco]

7. A 2.4mm shortshaft flathead, no doubt...

[orangecrush]

15. ...

[tblue37]

3. K&R for visibility. nt

[Auggie]

4. K&R (visibility)

[BBG]

5. How so?

If NATO is a treaty that was ratified by Congress how can it be unilaterally nullified by that fucking guy? I thought treaties were the law of the land and must be upheld.

[orangecrush]

18. good question

my understanding is that a President has wide powers when it comes to foreign policy.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Yeah, no kidding.

He's only said as much in public dozens and dozens of times.

[PeeJ52]

8. I'm watching Morning Joe and they are questioning where is the GOP on these actions by tRump...

and I wonder, why don't they ask them? There they have Senator Joe Kennedy just shortly after. Why not ask him if he wants to pull the US out of NATO like tRump does? Why don't they ask these Senators if they believe we should leave our alliances with our NATO partners and join Russia and China, and if we shouldn't, then why should the pResident be threatening our allies? Why don't our press people ask these GOP what their views are on Trump positions like they ask the Dems? They wonder where the GOP position is, but they don't ask them. I never see them questioning the GOP congressmen or Senators any more. Are they all hiding?

[Farmer-Rick]

9. It's a treaty. The President needs 2/3 of the Senate to approve a treaty

The purpose of treaties is that they are put into US law and future presidents must follow them or they will be breaking the law.

But we have a bunch of fools in the Senate and supreme court so there is no telling how deep the stupid goes. They may just let the wannabe king do what he wants against the law. That rapist, Kavanaugh, on the court really owes the wannabe king.

[Fuzzpope]

10. Hey, Smart People in charge

Free dose of street wisdom coming ur way:

Walks like a duck, it's a duck.

Get rid of the frakking duck, already.

[orangecrush]

19. +1

[dalton99a]

11. Making Russia Great Again

He is actively working to weaken NATO and let Russia take over Europe

[milestogo]

12. He thinks of everything in terms of money.

[angrychair]

14. Yes it's serious that a sitting president says this stuff

But to be clear the notion of a president having the authority to unilaterally pull the US out of NATO is ridiculous and completely unattainable for him. He doesn’t have that much power.

The thing I’m interested to see is if republicans react this placidly when a Democrat President starts using all these executive powers that trump is using on things like gun control and climate change, healthcare and student loan debt.

My guess they will freak out and go back to saying king this and emperor that.

[highplainsdem]

16. K&R

[orangecrush]

20. Thanks!

[pecosbob]

21. Do this and we will come for you donald...

Last edited Tue Jan 15, 2019, 05:13 PM - Edit history (1)

RHETORICAL COMMENT

[orangecrush]

22. recommend you self delete this.

Even hinting at violence against elected officials is a very bad idea.

Trump will be removed lawfully by due process.