Jack Lunsford intimates that Trump’s tweet stating the US must strengthen our nuclear capabilities and Putin follows with a comment saying that Russia was not looking for a new arms race, immediately determined that Putin was the adult in the room.
If one is to use 2/3 of the story, that may seem logical. In reality, Putin, earlier in the day during discussions with his military, advocated for the strengthening of Mother Russia’s nuclear capability.
Trump simply defended this country’s right to maintain parity with Russia. Parenthetically, it should be noted that Russia currently has more nukes than we do. So now that the initiating action by Putin is factored in, why is Putin the adult in the room?
To the contrary, Putin sent a message to the US, Trump responded by a tweet and Putin, quickly determining he was not dealing with a red line issuing American president, decided to assure everyone that they weren’t pursuing an arms race. The comment to his military people at any time during the last eight years, would have been met with either no statement by the administration, or an appeal to Russia to comply with the “New START” agreement.
Consider that when Trump identified NAFTA as a job killer that needed to be renegotiated, both Nieto of Mexico and Trudeau of Canada immediately made public their willingness to renegotiate. Does anyone see a pattern developing whereby other countries understand that “America First” is our renewed mantra?
There will be no more presidential mea culpas. Putin, Nieto and Trudeau are only the first wave to understand that America is on the way back. Handwringing by Mr. Lunsford and progressives, fortunately, cannot turn the clock back to 2008!
By the way, how does Putin’s announcement to his military, followed by a rapid attempt to tamp down his self-ignited flame, give credence to the Russia for Trump theory? Somewhat less than a resounding validation of Putin/Trump amity.
Pete Webber is a resident of Kailua-Kona