Bravo. The foreign policy establishment needs a thorough draining of the swamp. As for Afghanistan, no peace agreement with the Taliban is ever going to be worth anything. He should simply get us out of that pointless conflict and focus on ways to contain the jihad threat globally without committing our military around the world in endless Wilsonian misadventures.
Last night, in his State of the Union address, President Trump said this:
One of the most complex set of challenges we face and have for many years is in the Middle East. Our approach is based on principled realism — not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress. For this reason, my administration recognized the true capital of Israel — and proudly opened the American embassy in Jerusalem.
Our brave troops have now been fighting in the middle east for almost 19 years. In Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly 7,000 American heroes have given their lives. More than 52,000 Americans have been badly wounded. We have spent more than $7 trillion in the Middle East.
As a candidate for president, I loudly pledged a new approach. Great nations do not fight endless wars. When I took office, ISIS controlled more than 20,000 square miles in Iraq and Syria. Just two years ago. Today, we have liberated virtually all of that territory from the grip of these bloodthirsty killers.
Now, as we work with our allies to destroy the remnants of ISIS, it is time to give our brave warriors in Syria a warm welcome home. I have also accelerated our negotiations to reach a political settlement in Afghanistan. The opposing side is also very happy to be negotiating. Our troops have fought with unmatched valor — and thanks to their bravery, we are now able to pursue a political solution to this long and bloody conflict.
In Afghanistan, my administration is holding constructive talks with a number of Afghan groups, including the Taliban. As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement — but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace. And the other side would like to do the same thing. It is time.
Above all, friend and foe alike must never doubt this nation’s power and will to defend our people. Eighteen years ago, violent terrorists attacked the USS Cole — and last month American forces killed one of the leaders of the attack. We are honored to be joined tonight by Tom Wibberley, whose son, navy seaman Craig Wibberley, was one of the 17 sailors we tragically lost. Tom, we vow to always remember the heroes of the USS Cole.
My administration has acted decisively to confront the world’s leading state sponsor of terror — the radical regime in Iran. It is a radical regime. They do bad, bad things. To ensure this corrupt dictatorship never acquires nuclear weapons, I withdrew the United States from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal.
And last fall, we put in place the toughest sanctions ever imposed on a country. We will not avert our eyes from a regime that chants death to America and threatens genocide against the Jewish people. We must never ignore the vile poison of anti-Semitism, or those who spread its venomous creed. With one voice, we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs.
mortimer says
Principled realism based on tried-and-true traditions … the Golden Rule and critical thought … both of which are contradicted by Islam’s dualistic ethics and authoritarian thought.
Islam can never adapt or integrate into Western civilization, because it has different goals and different methods.
Real examples of Muslim societies exist in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Afghanistan. They are all dysfunctional countries based on mistrust, fear, nepotism, bribery and retribution. All of those dysfunctional traits are learned from the sacred Sunna-example of Mohammed. Because Mohammedans must imitate Mohammed, they cannot reform Islam.
christianblood says
Trump is no more! He is now a puppet for the warmongering “Deep State” neocons! Another Vietnam is just around the corner for the US in Venezuela, Iran and more regime-change wars to follow soon! May be even the 3WW! Hear it below:
https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/450780-bolton-wars-politics-trump/
Vicky says
You don’t understand how Trump thinks. Trump is not a war guy, he’s a business man, and his thing is economics and diplomacy through The Art of the Deal.
Today, Maduro fell in his trap by using the army to prevent necessary basic aid from reaching the Venezuelans. How do the soldiers feel about this? And how do the Venezuelans feel about this?
The idea here is to rally the Army with the civilians. And it will happen. No need for U.S. boots on the ground. The Venezuelan Army will handle it on their own.
christianblood says
Vicky
Trump campaigned as an anti-war guy but now he is surrounded himself with dangerous neocon deep staters, like Pompeo, Bolton and the war criminal, Eliot Abrams! These same people that hated and despised Trump and wanted Kilary to win now took over Trump’s foreign policy completely! The never-Trump neocons set a trap for him in Venezuela and Trump seems to be going right in their trap! The neocons have already set up an illegitimate coup in Venezuela and they are about to start a bloody regime-change war they cannot win in that country and then they will blame it all on Trump in the 2020 elections!
christianblood says
DonT
Don’t don’t forget the constant “Assad must go” mantra a number of years back and Assad is still here while his detractors are all gone, some like the warmonger John MCcain gone for good! Don’t under-estimate the resolve of the people fighting for their freedom, independence and dignity against the US and Western imperialists! Very likely Venezuela will become another Vietnam for the US and Western pro-Al-Qaeda imperialists!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSf3efRVIFo
gravenimage says
Of course, there is no freedom under Communism and Islam, as christianblood pretends.
I’m surprised he would even use the term–he has said before that he hates freedom, democracy, and human rights.
Mac-101 says
Trump has been walkin a very long tight rope. If you have been payin attention the entire Democrat Party and half the RePugs have been pushing him into these conflicts. So far he has avoided them as much as he possibly can. Remember what JFK said about external forces that control the government 2 weeks before he got wacked! Eisenhower and even Bill Clinton referred to his limited power over the unseen forces.
.
This is NOT to declare that Trump is NOT Controlled Opposition and is the NOT the Judas Goat appointed by THEM to lead us up the Slaughter Chute. As it is stands now, Trump is the only Earthly Hope we, Western Civilization, have to combat the Globalist. We gotta support him to the end! There is no other alternative.
Clive delmonte says
I agree.
LytchZam says
My mother-in-law, an “evangelist Christian,” said, before President Trump was elected: “The more they hate him, the more I like him.” Amen.
“Clowns to the Left of me; jokers to the Right…”
Trump IS the Resistance – Our Resistance to the status quo.
We need containment, not engagement. We will never bring “democracy” to any Islamic country – it’s not what they want, and they just continue to use us while they conspire against us. We cast pearls before swine when we try.
It’s probably better that Trump is President than I – I’d probably go to the UN, take my shoe off and bang it on the table and threaten that if any of these Islamic idiots sparks off a nuke anywhere in America, that I’d melt Mecca to a sea of glass.
If you’re going to depend on a nuclear deterrent, then you have to be perceived as actually crazy, or determined enough, to use it.
gravenimage says
christianblood is, as always, enraged if anyone says anything critical of the bloody horror of Shari’ah in Iran, or about the ugliness of Communism.
he certainly does love tyranny. This should not surprise, though–he has many times sneered at the ideas of freedom, democracy, and human rights.
christianblood says
gravenimage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f35TUFmCtYY
gravenimage says
christianblood has now posted this video scores of times here.
I have criticized every American president–including Trump–and every Western leader who foolishly believes that the ugly Saudis are any kind of ally of ours. Besides the hideous Shari’ah there, they were one of the major forces behind 9/11.
Note, though, that this is just distraction–christianblood does not actually deny anything that I said above. But how could he?
Wellington says
Yes, gravenimage, christianblood suffers from many ailments and one of them is massive redundancy. Another ailment is not being able WHATSOEVER to criticize Russia or Putin for ANYTHING even though you, I and so many others in the West regularly criticize the West when it screws up.
But, of course, Putin and Russia never screw up. And Iran is just a wonderful country and the only reason why it might do a terrible thing at times is because big, bad America has forced it to. Blah, blah, blah.
Russophiles seem to never learn. Christianblood serves as a prime example. What a bunch of clowns. No wonder the Russians lost the Cold War, adopting the pernicious nonsense of Marxism aside (huge aside I know).
N.B. To christianblood: The Cold War did not end in a tie; Russia and tyranny lost and America and freedom won. Deal with it.
christianblood says
Wellington
This is a major source of tension between Russia and the US:
Go to the brief video below, start it from mark 0:55.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLRvQ_-IQVs
mortimer says
The BloodthirstyPseudochristian, is an unread gasbag.and spontaneous expert on every topic. His acquaintances and family must find him insufferable. You find this sort of fascist gasbag all over Eastern Europe. Their political solution to almost every political issue is some form of genocidal extermination or ethnic cleansing to great a mythical irridentist empire … such as modern dysfunctional Russia ruled by a kleptocracy. This hypocrite would simply LOVE to have a US residency card.
christianblood says
Mortimer
(…Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…)
Eph 6:12
J D S says
Let’s think a minute…What IF,and I capitalized if, the U.S.. pulled every military unit from foreign lands? Recalled all our dignitaries? Stopped sending any financial or other aid, technical or otherwise, to help foreign lands? Protected all our borders using military and walls etc? Using monies saved from all the abkve, provide everyone the healthcare they need….WOULD WE AND THE WORLD BE BETTER OFF OR WORSE????
gravenimage says
christianblood has posted this ridiculous video before–claiming that Eastern Germany being freed from the Communist yoke meant that no other Eastern European nation could hope to be free.
And he is–again–in his reply to Mortimer implying that imposing Communist tyranny on people is–somehow–an indication of Christian spirituality. *Ugh*.
christianblood says
J D S posted
(…Let’s think a minute…What IF,and I capitalized if, the U.S.. pulled every military unit from foreign lands? Recalled all our dignitaries? Stopped sending any financial or other aid, technical or otherwise, to help foreign lands?…)
The whole world would be celebrating if the US withdraw its imperialist armies and rogue diplomats from around the world! The World does NOT need US bribes and manipulations, the nations of the world need to be left alone to manage their internal issues without US interference and
meddling!
christianblood says
Graven
What are you trying to hide? US is in bed with Saudi Arabia which basically NO different from ISIS! Shame on you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9O0uR03s7m4
gravenimage says
I have never denied that the US and the rest of the West has foolishly believed that the Saudis are any kind of ally. In fact–as christianblood well knows–I have criticized this many times here, including today.
J D S is right–but christianblood has many times condemned America for defeating the Fascists and standing against Communists. He has lauded *North Korea*–even their persecution of Christians–and has grotesquely claimed that they are freer than democratic South Korea. Ugly, ugly stuff.
christianblood says
Peter35
It is not just Trump, the whole West is pro-Islam and Anti-Christ!
christianblood says
Breaking News!
U$ is giving Billions of its tax-payer money to Saudi Arabian war on Yemen and U$-made weapons are directly being passed to Al-Qaeda in Yemen by Saudi Arabia! This is beyond outrageous! Please watch the latest report of how U$ is directly arming Al-Qaeda and its Saudi sponsors on the breaking news below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeIpNzJhuO0
gravenimage says
Actually, even this anti-American video does not claim that the US is directly arming Al Qaeda–what rot.
mortimer says
Only government-financed deprogramming of Muslims world-wide will bring world peace by eliminating Islam as a credible religion. Because Islam is so seriously flawed … it is unhistorical, amoral, opportunistic, irrational, absurd, backward, unscientific and self-referentially incoherent … Islam’s flaws are easily exposed unless the mass media and social media do not censor the truth about Islam … which they are actually doing at present. Once Islam is objectively seen by the majority of Muslims to be false, it cannot recover from this exposure. Islam will probably last no longer than another 20 years because for the first time in history massive numbers of Muslims (now FORMER Muslims) have discover that Islam is obscurantist and cannot be defended by any intellectual argument.
gravenimage says
Mortimer wrote:
Only government-financed deprogramming of Muslims world-wide will bring world peace by eliminating Islam as a credible religion….
…………………..
Where has this ever worked, Mortimer?
thebigW says
It works in Mortimer Land.
Rufolino says
“Obscurantism” and what is “intellectually indefensible” have never stopped people believing in something ! Believers in a religion are not often bothered by such matters.
Wellington says
Great speech last night by Trump while Democrats, especially those Democratic women in white who acted like petulant teen-age girls, demonstrated yet again that said party has lost its collective mind and has even become an enemy of America. Chuck Schumer menacingly grinning was just “icing on the cake” here in revealing just how awful the Democratic Party has become. And the Republican Party, to be sure, has many faults (e.g., a new RINO in the Senate, one Mitt Romney) but at least it has not lost its collective mind as have the Dems.
Nevertheless, the GREAT PROBLEM remains unaddressed even by Trump, to wit, that ALL of Islam is the enemy of America, of the West, of liberty, of equality under the law, of women’s rights (which AOC and her ilk remain in full insouciant ignorant mode of), of a true Golden Rule for all, et al.
Trump is most definitely a step, actually many steps, in the right direction. But eventually it is imperative that a new Evil Empire speech be given by a future American President whereby, a la Reagan with the USSR and Communism in general, Islam is asserted as iniquitous to its core because of opposition to real freedom, real equality under the law, still endorsing death for apostasy, still endorsing death for criticism of its warped religion, the Koran or Mohammed and still intent on making all the world into a gigantic dar al-Islam.
thebigW says
I get it that Trump “has to say” certain things ya da ya da, but man, couldn’t he have put this a little better?
“As we make progress in these negotiations, we will be able to reduce our troop presence and focus on counter-terrorism. And we will indeed focus on counterterrorism. We do not know whether we will achieve an agreement — but we do know that after two decades of war, the hour has come to at least try for peace. And the other side would like to do the same thing. It is time.”
What the fudge??? “And the other side would like to do the same thing. ”
Two things bass-ackwards about this:
1) does Trump even know who the “other side” is? It’s I-S-L-A-M. Which don’t mean nothing if it don’t mean A-L-L M-U-S-L-I-M-S.
2) No Mr. President, the “other side” does NOT want peace like we do. And they never will.
gravenimage says
Grimly true–the vicious Taliban has no interest in peace.
In fact, if it were not for them and other Jihadists, Afghanistan would have been at peace over the past 18 years.
Wellington says
thebigW: As I said to my wife as we both watched Trump’s SOTU address, Trump is merely the first step forward, contra Bush 43 who was one step or two backwards and Obama who was about half a dozen steps backward (I will accept a dozen here).
Many steps must follow until we get to the point where Islam is unambiguously characterized as another Evil Empire. Has been for some 1400 years now but it is deuce difficult for many to realize that mankind could eventually produce a religion that is simply awful.
But mankind did. Mankind produced Islam.
mgoldberg says
The post is quite sensible in proposing ending useless wars without any defined end. In this regard, there can’t actually be any ‘peace’ with any of those nations. The ideology of Jihad defines war and defies peace with non muslims. Parenthetically, there is no chance for a republican type of democracy, only one that suffers the assaults of jihadists, in nations that cannot forbid this jihadist mentality and set of beliefs since it is the penultimate practice and belief of Islam.
And for all the rest of humanity, until we allow ourselves the right to self protect, and to believe in that right to self protect, then there will only be endless conflict set upon us all by the religion of pieces, in all lands where muslims are invited to be equals, but who then demand special treatment, which we have not been allowed to point out, less we be seen as ‘bigots’.
Georg says
“Our approach is based on principled realism — not discredited theories that have failed for decades to yield progress.”
Applies equally well to socialism –> communism.
Cunuck says
Robert, Christine,
#2. Fear of livelhood, money. Job.
Opposite would be, conform, adapt.
How do you adapt to the Devil, or others who are such?
#3.
Come on watchers, you are all the same cowards.
gravenimage says
What *absolute rot*. In fact, Christine Douglas-Williams was fired from her position for writing for Jihad Watch, and Robert Spencer has lost numerous speaking and teaching opportunities for continuing to oppose Jihad:
“Christine Douglass-Williams fired from Canadian Race Relations Foundation for writing for Jihad Watch”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/12/christine-douglass-williams-fired-from-canadian-race-relations-foundation-for-writing-for-jihad-watch
Others here at Jihad Watch have faced similar persecution without backing down.
Wellington says
Great reply, gravenimage. And the doofus, Cunuck, is the real coward.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Wellington.
somehistory says
“we must confront this hatred anywhere and everywhere it occurs.”
Congress? At least four of the “reps”…three moslim and one moslim-friendly have shown their hatred of Israel and Jews as a people. ellison is out, but doing his deeds as a state AG.
Wherever moslims are, there is hatred of the Jews.
ronyvo says
Muslims know ONLY one language and that is FORCE. Muslims would sign any agreement, but to honor the agreement with the infidels is against their faith. To help any Islamic country will go without any appreciation.
Take and take from the infidels and do not give back. That is their FAITH. Negotiation with Muslims is a waste of time and energy. Any money given to them is lost money, actually it will be used to destroy us the infidels.
I lived with them for over 25 years. As a Christian I have suffered all kinds of genocide for no reason what so ever except my faith. I was forced to study their diabolical Koran. Egypt is MY birth country> Egypt was 96+% Christians when the barbaric Muslims invade it. Egypt was on the top of the known world then. Look at it now.
That what the cancerous Islam does.
gravenimage says
+1
WPM says
+1
Thank you for sticking to your Christian faith despite the consent Jihad living in a majority Islamic country. The trouble in the west is most people here do not realize the Islam is really like Nazism there is no peace if you are not a member of their” party of peace religion”. Islam is a failed system that turns any country that adopts Sharia law as the law of the land into a violent unstable sh*thole..
infidel says
As a neutral observer from a third person country. I can unreservedly vouch that Trump is the USA’s best option for times such as these. At least Trump does not betray his own and that in itself is a winner!! And I do not care about all that scandals that he seems to be embroiled in from time2time.
gravenimage says
Thanks, Infidel. And remember, most of these “scandals” derive from leftists trying to find *anything* they can to continue to harass the president.
WPM says
The scandals ,the Russians fix the American election is all BS ,the democrats back an unlikeable person who was running on keeping Obama plan of unlimited illegal immigration expanded Moslem refugee immigration to America..Americans do not favor OWG policy of former President Obama, or many present leaders of Western governments. Two years of looking for Russians under the bed who did a “brain melt” that made Americans vote for Trump has yielded nothing .MSM has been spinning everything so long and so fast to keep it front page news to the next election cycle for president in 2020.The gravest political sin Trump has made is publicly confessing his love of America ,and America,s value to western civilization both that drive progressive mad with fury. We as a nation according to progressives owe everyone else who is non-Christian ,non-Jewish ,non-White ,our wealth, our land, our government, we are solely responsible for all evils in the world by our beliefs and cultural. The equalization of wealth is more important to progressives then basic freedoms ,rights ,laws we live under in America. The law in capitalism is everyone has equal opportunity ,not everyone has equal outcome for their efforts. You do not make a society better by giving a worker in a fast food joint the same pay or benefits then a highly sill doctor , lawyer, engineer ,you can not have government say who would be a better doctor ,lawyer ,or engineer based on skin color, religious background, sexual orientation , in a quota system that everyone wins and gets an award.
gravenimage says
+1
Grizzly says
You know, I don’t agree with everything in his speech (or even some of its tone)… but it was a great speech. When Trump was first elected I thought I’d seen the worst thing in the world… I’ve changed my mind.
I’m Canadian & we made the mistake of electing Justin Trudeau as our Prime Minister. I can’t wait until we can de-elect that narcissistic Social Justice Warrior. If we live in a Global Village then I know where the village idiot is. Trump took us to the cleaners during the renegotiated NAFTA & he must have been laughing at the fool who runs Canada into the ground! Trudeau seems to have chosen his cabinet base primarily on what kind of sexual equipment they had, not on competence: especially since Trudeau seemed to be more interested in gender equity in NAFTA rather than actually striking a good deal. Trudeau made Trump’s job a LOT easier.
I never thought I’d hear myself say this but I’d trade Trudeau for Trump any day of the week & twice on Sundays. At least Trump has his country’s best interests at heart. I just hope that Trudeau doesn’t make things so bad on the US’s northern border that he begins to think that he must start to harden that as well.
Congratulations on choosing a good president, even with his faults.