I mean I guess that’s why we have to use judgement to make our decisions. When I watch Bloomberg and listen to their international analysts I get a different view about how they view Trump and American policy versus how the American media and Americans view our own policy and issues. I try to agregate opinions from different sources. I also can agree that the polling is completely accurate while at the same time look for further nuance and depth.
what cowboy escapade was our military involved in under the watch of no-drama Obama ? you do know that John Bolton is a hardcore Neocon, no?
As a marketer no, you wouldn't watch recorded videos in these kinds of clips to get an accurate read on anything. You do it by traveling over there and talking to people one on one. You have to listen to people unfiltered to get what they really think.
Libya, Syria, and Yemen. And yes I know Bolton is and he sucks. I don't think Trump has adopted any of his traditional neocon stances so far.
elaborate fwiw, this was trump's speech in April 2018 My fellow Americans, a short time ago, I ordered the United States Armed Forces to launch precision strikes on targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now underway. We thank them both. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/...statement-on-the-us-military-action-in-syria/
So the only way I can truly understand people from other parts of the world is by traveling there? Sure that is effective, but that seems to be an extremely limiting way to study foreign places especially in the age of the internet. It would mean I can't get an understanding of people and culture by reading books, taking college courses, watching and reading the news from their news networks, watching documentaries, reading autobiographies, talking to people who have lived there, or by watching interviews of people who have lived in those places. It would also seem to make studying history impossible if the only way I can do it is by going to somewhere and talking to the people currently alive and if you believe studying journals, newpapers, old books, old videos, etc have no true value in gaining insight into people and society. Were my African and Nigerian history classes worthless in college? I mean they seemed to be pretty spot on when I actually talked to people from Nigeria or my friend from Liberia who said that I understood things over there. I took other courses, but that was one that just popped into my head since I remembered talking with my Liberian buddy over a ridiculous number of beers back in college and he was amazed how well I understood things. It's been awhile since I've really studied much about various African nations and cultures though. My girlfriend is Venezuelan. I talk to her about what is going on in Venezuela after reading about it and it seems that I have a decent understanding of things thru reading and watching videos. I can speak somewhat decent Spanish, but not great. I don't know how much I can get out of going and talking to people there without the use of a translator but maybe I could get by. Either way I think video reporting of what is going on over there is pretty accurate. I don't see how you can simply dismiss it. It's kind of ridiculous to me. I mean I've been donating to help out this one kid of there who has leukemia and he couldn't get treatment in his own city because all the oncologists had left so he had to travel to Barcelona, VE as a last hope. I've never talked to him face to face, but I have tried to help. Are you saying I'm not gaining an understanding of how ****ed up the situation is down there because I haven't actually gone down there? I mean I guess you have to be saying that, but it makes absolutely no sense to me.
Should a foreigner judge American culture by a class they took in college? Or an American gf living abroad they had? Should someone who has never been to the US come to an online forum and think after reading the discussion they know how Americans think of Europeans? I'll tell you something, after traveling to over 40 countries, the one thing most people abroad like least about Americans is how arrogant they are - and you demonstrate that arrogance here by thinking you can understand an entire country from a college course or a gf. I'm not saying that you don't mean well, sounds like you do. But if you truly want to have knowledge and understand what people think, you need a big dose of humility to start with. Kudos for you for reading books and interacting with people from other countries, and learning some spanish. You still don't know jack. And I'll tell you this, I don't claim to be an expert either, you know why? Because I know how complex societies and cultures are. But I have also heard people who say they like America to my face and after a few drink talk about how much they hate it. Most people don't like the US fyi. And I'll tell you this, right now, they especially don't like the US. Trump represents everything people hate about the US, and nothing they love. You think people like America because of the culture or wealth - no, that's what people can't stand. What people like is that the US sometimes is a force of good in the world, a stabilizing influence that stops chaos around the world. That's what we promised and that's what we are judged by as a nation. They find us arrogant and simple for the amount of power we wield. They find us reckless and unappreciative. They see us, and especially people like you as ignorant and condescending - people who "understand them" because they took a class and dated someone from their culture. But they generally accept it if we live up to the principles we claim. And we have not. We have acted like a moronic petulant child. We have withdrawn from an agreement the whole world agreed to. We are starting trade wars. We are insulting ancient cultures. We are talking about putting America first as if we are some kind of victim! All of this run contrary to the values we have preached to the world for over 100 years. So now we're just a bunch of whiny spoiled hypocrits.
It really depends on where you are around the world. I spend 25% of my time in Europe and I can tell you that the vast majority of people there have a very low opinion of Donald Trump and are concerned about the power structure in the West with Trump as President. I have ran into some far right supporters of political parties that like Trump, but it isn't very many. In Germany, Ireland, England and Sweden I have often had to explain to people that not everyone in the USA agrees with Trump or his policies. I have not had any conversations with Russians in Russia, but many in England and they generally support Trump or understand why he does what he does. Every nation is different, some are more authoritarian than others and some are extremely liberal. In general, in authoritarian cultures I have noted more acceptance or understanding of Trump's policies or statements. I have had some dealings in China (unfortunately) and most people did not have a strong opinion. Some said that they did not understand why the US ever took in immigrants to begin with, and some others said that the USA under Trump was trying to sabotage the Asian economy. I don't think the response at the UN to Trump is surprising and the majority of nations that we traditionally align with are not happy. When in Israel the people I spoke to were quite content with Trump....... but that is not shocking at all.
Robbie, I think you've been unfairly treated in this thread for making what appears to be a genuine attempt to have a variety of news sources and an on-going effort to understand foreign policy, and posting about it here. I respect that, and I wish some of the far-right members (and I don't count you as one of them) had the same interest, but there is one thing I ardently disagree with (it amounts to several things, but I'll lump them together for brevity). I don't want to dissect your posts. What I want to do is tell you that the statement you made that I'm going to quote is wildly off the mark, in my opinion. Here it is: "We will see where things end up, but overall I see a positive trajectory with Trump’s foreign policy. Maybe I’m just a keg half full type of guy." Mr. trump has been a foreign policy disaster. Instead of stengthening America's standing in the world, he has gone out of his way to weaken the United States with his "foreign policy." I've said why numerous times in D&D. Do a search and check my opinions on the subject. I had and still have big disagreements with some of the foreign policy decisions President Obama made while in office. I posted about them here many times, again, while he was in office. Yet while his foreign policy also weakened the US internationally, he looks like a genius compared to trump. In my humble opinion.
Well I am glad someone got what I was doing with that quote. Look, Trump wants Russia to hack our voting system to fix the election for him. So he has every incentive to do absolutely nothing and not hinder their efforts.
I'm sorry - but you think robbie is being treated unfairly after he attacks people on here for being biased for NOT watching youtube videos on the internet? Sorry Deckard, that's one of the most ridiculous things you have ever written on this forum.
I have conference call with folks in Taiwan almost every week. When trump won, they were very curious with some laughter... you guys really elected him? I tried to explain and defend our electoral college system and stayed out of politic. Wasn’t going to bash Trump to people oversea but it was pretty uncomfortable defending us. They got the hint and didn’t ask anymore. Good thing cause if they ask me now...
Not expecting trump to do anything proactive but I did expect congress to. A dem control congress would. Hopefully they win the midterm with a big majority.
Why would a Republican Congress stop Russia from helping Republicans wins? You have more and more Republicans becoming pro-Russia. Heck you see it on this BBS where people defend Russia. To Republicans the enemy isn't Russia, it's liberals and Democrats. They would be happy with Trump becoming a right wing overlord and having him move blacks to ghettos and kickout all non-whites. Really, you need to understand the underlying racism or tolerance for racism that's going on here.
That is the saddest most unbelievable part. It makes my skin crawl to think of how misguided that kind of attitude is.
What am I missing here, the hundreds of people crying up a storm protesting outside of the Supreme Court this past week, those were Republicans huh? I for some reason don't believe you, in fact probably no one does. But that's ok, you do you, kid.
