So the west is winning, is it? Only if you're a delusional Trump toady, Mr Pompeo

[dajoki]

So the west is winning, is it? Only if you’re a delusional Trump toady, Mr Pompeo
The special relationship has ended in tears for Britain and other allies have no reason to trust America
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/22/the-west-is-not-winning-and-donald-trump-america-first-is-to-blame?

<<snip>>

Imperious, bullying American behaviour, political arm-twisting and shameless economic blackmail over a post-Brexit trade deal pose big problems for Britain in a time of deep uncertainty. But other US partners are in the same boat.

If a reminder were needed, it came in the form of Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state and Trump’s most influential adviser, who pompously lectured fractious European leaders at last weekend’s Munich security conference.

Pompeo reassured mutinous allies that, despite unilateralist, isolationist appearances, America remained committed to global leadership. “The death of the transatlantic alliance is grossly over-exaggerated. The west is winning. We are collectively winning. We’re doing it together,” he declared.

This is utter hogwash. And almost everyone outside a dishonest, self-deceiving circle of Republican stooges and Trump toadies knows it. Together? In many respects, the US and Europe are further apart than at any time since 1941.

<<snip>>

And away from conflict zones, new technologies, far from bolstering free societies, deliver ever more pervasive, pernicious means of monitoring, controlling and censoring citizens.

Across the globe, the battlements of open governance are under attack while its defenders are betrayed from within. Authoritarian regimes are on the up. Intolerant rightwing populists and ultra-nationalist mini-Trumps are on the march.

No, Mr Pompeo. “America First” may work for some in your country. But “the west”, meaning a multinational, democratic alliance that champions shared principles, aims and laws, is not winning. If this were a movie, it would be called How The West Was Lost – with Trump as outlaw-in-chief.

[dawg day]

1. "Winning" What, anyway?

Why do these thugs all need enemies to feel macho?

[Newest Reality]

2. Exactly!

Last edited Sun Feb 23, 2020, 11:07 AM - Edit history (1)

The question of what is being won is important.

I would think that forming strong alliances and supporting freedom, democracy and other values for the people would be a matter of good diplomacy and an increased cooperation with dialog and actions that support it with more of a win/win rather than a projected idea of battle against something.

That helps to overlook or detract from an internal struggle and battle against the above, and so, once again, a boogie man is implied to distract us from the enemy within.

Of course, you could call it winning if it is about taking advantage of situations in order to further self-interests and, chaching, PROFIT, but that is more synonymous with exploration, which is what I get from it. Selling out can be winning in that respect and gosh, we are being sold.

[dawg day]

4. That's it exactly-

"Of course, you could call it winning if it is about taking advantage of situations in order to further self-interests and, chaching, PROFIT, but that is more synonymous with exploration, which is what I get from it."

Taking advantage-- even of friends and allies. Well, Trump has done that all his life. It's not what I hope is the American way.

[2naSalit]

3. Winning...

that's what anything is all about for them. Nothing else is of concern unless it's some obstacle to the winning.