A wonderful conversation, thank you, Steve. Like you, Rick Stengel, is an enlightened voice of reason.
However, may I please provide a slight, but significant, shift in emphasis regarding the relationship between Trump and Putin. It's not that Trump is looking to emulate Putin. Rather: Trump, who is wholly owned by Putin, is following out his orders. So all of Trump's bluster about seizing Canada, Panama, Greenland and Gaza are designed to make it seem acceptable for large nations to usurp lesser ones by force. In other words, Trump is acting under orders to give Putin cover for his criminal attempt to take Ukraine.
One of the immediate dangers of this is that in pretending to initiate peace talks with America, Putin would essentially be dictating his terms for the end of the war, without regard for the interests of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine and Europe must resist any such maneuvering.
“Here’s his observation on Trump’s mad talk of taking over Gaza, removing all the people and transforming it into a real-estate opportunity: “I mean, it's a complete violation of the groundwork, the foundation of international law, to move a people out of their homeland permanently,” Stengel said. “That's the definition of ethnic cleansing.”
Engaging Trump’s idea for a moment, he also noted, “As the cliche goes, it's a very tough neighborhood…Do you want to go surfing and, you know, have Syrian guns and Lebanese militias around you and the Egyptian armed forces?””
Lest some Americans forget, everyone in Israel does not belong to the far right and think the Orange Felon’s Gaza plan is great. And so it is here at home as Israel takes notice.
— Headline in Haaretz:
'No to Ethnic Cleansing' | Hundreds of U.S. Rabbis, Jewish Celebrities Condemn Trump Gaza Plan in NYT Ad
Signatories of the ad include rabbis from Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal movements working in congregations, campuses, hospitals, rabbinical seminaries, and community organizations in the U.S. and Israel —
Yes, please -- indeed! Incredibly helpful to get such intelligent and thoughtful input from you and your distinguished guests. I don't see how we can sit back and wait, however, for the train wreck. Too many real people being hurt in the meantime and long-term consequences that will be difficult to correct.
But let’s remember that Trump will not really try to “go it alone” — he thinks his dictator pals - Putin, Xi, Kim, Orban, MSB - will back him up. He *thinks* …
Thank you for the thoughtful discussion. With all the strands of news out there, I find it helpful to have those strands put into an organized framework.
What I don't understand is why everyone is saying that Trump is not doing what he promised he'd do during the run up to the election. If his lips are moving, he's lying.
I still believe Musk's meddling in the governmental systems is going to set us way back. Attrition with boomers is already bad; take away experienced people and, rather than stonewalling, you have no idea why things are running as they are. Trump's basic idea of Gaza would be interesting if they could rid the area of tunnels, rebuild affordable housing, schools and hospitals. But--Hamas is a wild card, as I do not believe they even control their own people. I think there is will to rehouse the people, and, really no one wants them due to the past terrorism of their leaders, so making it safe for them as well as the families seems wise.
Ah, like during Covid when governors (like mine) gave updates and on the impact, what was being done to reduce the harm & next steps with explanations.
Perhaps rotating governors since much of the craziness does not land in each state the same way or target the same groups of people. But like the pandemic it can be overwhelming and ever changing. Therefore states must have somewhat different strategies and reports.
Finally, no matter what we may agree upon, today’s Republican senators will back Trump’s every move … so it’s sit back and watch the terrible slo-mo train wreck. And turn the sound off.
A wonderful conversation, thank you, Steve. Like you, Rick Stengel, is an enlightened voice of reason.
However, may I please provide a slight, but significant, shift in emphasis regarding the relationship between Trump and Putin. It's not that Trump is looking to emulate Putin. Rather: Trump, who is wholly owned by Putin, is following out his orders. So all of Trump's bluster about seizing Canada, Panama, Greenland and Gaza are designed to make it seem acceptable for large nations to usurp lesser ones by force. In other words, Trump is acting under orders to give Putin cover for his criminal attempt to take Ukraine.
One of the immediate dangers of this is that in pretending to initiate peace talks with America, Putin would essentially be dictating his terms for the end of the war, without regard for the interests of the Ukrainian people. Ukraine and Europe must resist any such maneuvering.
I read somewhere that Trump's plans are for his piece of global influence, along with Putin's in Europe and Xi in Asia.
Yes, more of these please Steven!
Excerpt from your essay:
“Here’s his observation on Trump’s mad talk of taking over Gaza, removing all the people and transforming it into a real-estate opportunity: “I mean, it's a complete violation of the groundwork, the foundation of international law, to move a people out of their homeland permanently,” Stengel said. “That's the definition of ethnic cleansing.”
Engaging Trump’s idea for a moment, he also noted, “As the cliche goes, it's a very tough neighborhood…Do you want to go surfing and, you know, have Syrian guns and Lebanese militias around you and the Egyptian armed forces?””
Lest some Americans forget, everyone in Israel does not belong to the far right and think the Orange Felon’s Gaza plan is great. And so it is here at home as Israel takes notice.
— Headline in Haaretz:
'No to Ethnic Cleansing' | Hundreds of U.S. Rabbis, Jewish Celebrities Condemn Trump Gaza Plan in NYT Ad
Signatories of the ad include rabbis from Conservative, Orthodox, Reform, Reconstructionist, Renewal movements working in congregations, campuses, hospitals, rabbinical seminaries, and community organizations in the U.S. and Israel —
💙💙💙
Yes, please -- indeed! Incredibly helpful to get such intelligent and thoughtful input from you and your distinguished guests. I don't see how we can sit back and wait, however, for the train wreck. Too many real people being hurt in the meantime and long-term consequences that will be difficult to correct.
But let’s remember that Trump will not really try to “go it alone” — he thinks his dictator pals - Putin, Xi, Kim, Orban, MSB - will back him up. He *thinks* …
Thank you for the thoughtful discussion. With all the strands of news out there, I find it helpful to have those strands put into an organized framework.
Keep it up
What I don't understand is why everyone is saying that Trump is not doing what he promised he'd do during the run up to the election. If his lips are moving, he's lying.
I still believe Musk's meddling in the governmental systems is going to set us way back. Attrition with boomers is already bad; take away experienced people and, rather than stonewalling, you have no idea why things are running as they are. Trump's basic idea of Gaza would be interesting if they could rid the area of tunnels, rebuild affordable housing, schools and hospitals. But--Hamas is a wild card, as I do not believe they even control their own people. I think there is will to rehouse the people, and, really no one wants them due to the past terrorism of their leaders, so making it safe for them as well as the families seems wise.
Ah, like during Covid when governors (like mine) gave updates and on the impact, what was being done to reduce the harm & next steps with explanations.
Perhaps rotating governors since much of the craziness does not land in each state the same way or target the same groups of people. But like the pandemic it can be overwhelming and ever changing. Therefore states must have somewhat different strategies and reports.
Finally, no matter what we may agree upon, today’s Republican senators will back Trump’s every move … so it’s sit back and watch the terrible slo-mo train wreck. And turn the sound off.
Also remember—with Trump, it’s all hot air and little do.