I think President Trump has ceded a lot of authority to the military, a lot of decision-making power to the military, and he's quite happy to take credit for that when things go well, the question in my mind is whether he will be willing to share accountability when things go wrong, as, unfortunately, military affairs often do.

Derek Chollet

Categorized in : Politics

It's a brutal regime, in the Assad regime, that is willing to take any measure, no matter how immoral or war criminal acts, to persecute its goals.

goal matter war

U.S. commitment to NATO and our commitments our European partners is not an act of charity. It's not a gift that we give to our European partners. It's actually part of our security, as well, and their security is our security.

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Trump's rhetoric is undermining America's credibility, undermining America's leadership and strength in Europe, even without him being president. The rhetoric itself is very damaging. Obviously, if you were to try to implement any of that rhetoric as president, it would be catastrophic for America's interests.

trying europe america

A NATO ministerial is a good way to get to know key partners, kin... by Derek Chollet

A NATO ministerial is a good way to get to know key partners, kind of like diplomatic speed-dating.

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The fact is that U.S. bases are an essential part of protecting American interests in Europe, Asia, Africa or the Middle East, moreover, those countries that host our troops want to be our partners, and the message he (Trump) is sending is that we dont care. This is totally self-defeating.

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Perhaps Mattis feels as though he has to test the proposition for himself, but I don't hold out much hope that he's going to get anywhere. If anything, he could expose himself as out of step with his boss, if he sends a tough message to the Russians, and they say: 'that's very interesting but your boss doesn't agree,' - then that's going to be an interesting conversation.

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U.S. engagement with the A5 has been positive ... but can be easily overtaken by a larger effort to become closer to and accommodate Russia, which Trump seems intent on doing.

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They have spent a lot of their time trying to undo or explain away some of the images and the mood that came out of the last trip to Europe.

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I think that it is tempting always in hindsight to say Libya would be better somehow if we had not intervened, i think that is a highly dubious proposition. It is one where, had we not intervened, the conversation we would be having is thousands and thousands of people died and Libya looks like Syria.

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