As long as Donnie behaves, Uncle Vladdy will be very pleased.
“Rarely in recent history has a meeting of two heads of state generated so much excitement, anxiety and hope.”
I don’t think this meeting is generating any hope. Quite the opposite.
“Moscow responded angrily when Trump ordered a missile strike on a Syrian base in April after a chemical attack blamed on Assad’s forces” More like “crocodile tears were shed by Putin” as Trumpkin’s missile strike failed to take out the runways much less prevent Assd’s warplanes from using the base 2 hours later.
What controversy? They just want some time alone together; you know, privacy. It is too much to ask that Putin and Trump have a few hours of privacy to get to know each other better?
“Sheer abject terror” gets closer to the mark, at least for me. Meetings between leaders, especially leaders of powerful (and antagonistic) countries, especially at a time of tension between the sides, are generally very carefully prepared in advance. There are agendas, there has been work put in to sorting out the two sides’ goals, working drafts, briefings, etc.
All of this is for a very good reason.
The idea of Shoot-from-the-Hip Donald walking in there with no agenda, no prep, no idea what he is supposed to get out of the meeting except for a warm fuzzy feeling of being important and being liked, facing stone cold GB-shnik Putin (who will be prepped and will have an agenda), I mean my Gawd, the possibilities for fuckup are almost limitless.
The closest I can come by way of analogy is the Reagan-Gorbachev Reykjavik summit, where Ron went off script and almost torpedoed NATO strategy single-handed. But here’s the thing … Reagan was, in every conceivable aspect, a better President than Trump. (Sorry if this offends delicate sensibilities, but I will stand by that point.) And what he was trying to do in Reykjavik at least had a certain grounding in sense, if not strategy or diplomatic niceties.
This guy? Who knows. Give the Russians the keys to Cheyenne Mountain? Here, Vlad, if it makes you happy. A list of all of our allies’ covert operatives in Moscow? Gee, look at him smile, this is obviously improving our relations! Here, have our seat in the U.N. Security Council while you’re at it. We don’t understand what the U.N. is anyway, and we’re sure as Hell not acting like one of the world’s responsible major powers, so what the heck.
In his planned meeting with Putin, Trump is walking into a buzz saw. I don’t trust his instincts or judgment.
Putin, a KGB veteran who once described himself as an “expert in personal communications,” always focuses closely on trying to establish warm ties with his counterparts. Kremlin-watchers say Putin meticulously prepares for meetings with foreign leaders, studying their track records and personal habits.
This part is some scary shit.
Why would anyone think that Putin has to play Trump?
Trump has touted the Kremlin line since he first came down that escalator.
Meanwhile, Trump studies their plates. “Does he have more than me??”
