North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – established in 1958 and based at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, NORAD is a Canadian and U.S. bi-national organization ….
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The United States Army has approximately 36 military bases in Germany. …..
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WASHINGTON – Officials from the United States and United Kingdom gathered today at DOE headquarters to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the U.S.–U.K. Mutual Defense Agreement ….
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NATO's purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. POLITICAL - NATO promotes democratic values ..
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We here in the United States suffer from a self-obsession, a U.S.-centric view that veers well beyond “unhealthy” at times. No doubt, that is the primary reason we have focused on what the Trump administration has done to “us” and our nation.
But we are not “alone” in our concerns.
Of course, everyone here is well aware of the threat Putin plays to democracy, to American foreign interests,. Certainly, too, it’s been well-covered that — since Trump — the U.S. has spent more time punishing our northern neighbor’s Trudeau, than North Korea’s Kim.
One is known by the company one keeps. Trump seems to enjoy sucking up to Putin, MBS and Kim, while being annoyed by Trudeau, Merkel, and Macron. How do they feel about that?
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Obviously, “we” Americans are not the only ones able to read, nor the only ones who spent time reading the Mueller report. But “we” don’t have our own intelligence agencies, while some others most certainly do., Sometimes we forget that the Russians and Americans aren’t the only ones with an extensive spy-network and fancy computers.
Thus it is, that “some” — especially our NATO allies — are spending a great deal of time reviewing the Russian section, and are every bit as smart as we are to ignore Barr’s pronouncements.
Surely, they are no happier with what they have read than we are.
They are, however, able to tap into something we cannot, perhaps some “feedback” from the intel agencies we just referenced.
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We keep waiting for the hammer, “the leaks,” the evidence, crimes on paper. Most would likely come from patriotic Americans, tired of Trump pulling the wool over our eyes.
But maybe not all.
If you are Justin Trudeau, and you are deeply concerned about NORAD and the “ever-more-precious” resources disputed in the Arctic, how happy are you to hear that it’s quite possible that Trump may be controlled by Putin?
If you are the U.K., and you’re having plenty of issues with Europe through Brexit, do you want further divides with Europe coming through relations with Trump?
If you’re Merkel and Germany, aren’t you a bit nervous that the guy who controls 36 military installations within your own border might be asked some uncomfortable questions by Putin? Are you concerned that “Jared” would pass along anything for a buck?
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What to do?
Back to those “leaks.”
If you lead one of these nations, you’re sitting back, hoping the American public can come to its senses and get “right” by getting rid of this guy and electing another “Obama.”
But now you see that Trump is planning on blocking everything, and you’re worried that the American judiciary might well now be stacked a bit too cravenly. And you damn sure want this over with, and prefer that, whatever the U.S. chooses, we choose it knowing “everything.”
Sigh, what to do indeed ….
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If anyone here doubts that some of the most sophisticated intelligence people on Earth do not have the ability to get an untraceable zip drive to the editors of the Times and Post, you need to study up.
Soooo ….
Sure, these leaders would vastly prefer it if our process played out, and Trump was gone the old-fashioned way, through Congress and the courts acting as intended.
But if you are them, your allegiance is to your nation, and by god you ARE going to defend your nation.
So I wonder ….
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It is the duty of the American people to police ourselves, to determine what role we want as global citizens. It is the Democratic party’s responsibility to run Congress the best it can, with the biggest impact.
But what if we don’t know things we need to know? Taxes, financial statements, conflicts, “plans,” and relationships, Trump taxes, Trump financial statements, Trump conflicts ...
What if someone “else” does?
We — as Democrats — are not the only party that can bring Trump down. Hell, without some Republicans we surely can’t bring Trump down prior to the election. But not every party that can bring Trump down is American. Nor is any responsible party going to sit still.
So I wonder ….
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My novels again — HERE (LINK) — which are worth reading, because lots of nations have global interests, and not all of them are on the “globe” — at least not in my fictional world. Reviews.