I haven't been equivocal. It's really strange to me that you find my position difficult to discern. I'll say it very simply: I support President Trump’s efforts to bring the dynamics of the Panama Canal back to a point where China doesn't receive an advantage over the US. Is that clear? This thread is about the substance of the issue, whether it is good diplomacy to assert our interests in the Panama Canal. Yes. Yes it is. |
This. Can you MAGA dipshts even recognize that his insane threats are not at all helpful? |
Specifically, you think it’s okay for him to yell at and threaten to “take back” the canal? And you find nothing wrong with that threat, even though it’s impossible and we can’t at all do that? You think that’s intelligent diplomacy? |
We literally invaded Panama during the Bush administration, which wasnt that long ago. I'd say a threat of military invasion in Panama would be taken quite seriously. But, my cursory Google search doesn't return any military threats against Panama. Can you please link? |
Trump doesn’t “immediately notice this stuff.” Someone brings the topic up over dinner at Mar-a-lago and it gets o@in his radar. Expect to hear all kinds of random stuff coming out of his mouth in the next 4 years because someone told him about it. He is not a curious or well educated person, doesn’t read, and operates on instinct which he values over actual knowledge. |
Dear God, man. I've said yes endlessly here. Yes, yes. Also it's not impossible to invade Panama. We have a recent history of doing so. |
Interesting. The MAGAs on this board constantly told us that Trump was going to get us out of wars (ignoring of course that we’re not in any wars). But now threatening to invade another country is actually awesome. |
So rather than bring up the issue in normal bilateral trade talks, or even before considering economic sanctions, you think it’s perfectly fine to threaten to invade Panama and take back “take back” the canal. This approach has as much brains and credibility as Dimity Medvedev drunkenly threatening to nuke Europe. |
Neither party, thank goodness, takes an absolutist position on foreign interventions as a category. The parties differ only on which ones are necessary and how much resources should be devoted to each. The GOP is skeptical of our interventions in Syria and Ukraine (and not even universally, there is widespread disagreement in the GOP regarding these conflicts). The mainstream media has declared these 2 examples to be proof of "isolationism." And the left just accepts this, despite abundant evidence otherwise. Even this topic was presented as, is it okay to pressure other countries? Rather than issue-specific, should the US pressure Panama to change its policy toward China? Trump has his eyes on the economy and energy markets and the Panama Canal is key to that. So even if want to try to view foreign policy in a vacuum, reality doesn't work that way. It affects our economy. But no one on the left wants these real conversations. They want to say, "gosh all those right wingers sure are illiterate and dumb!" And then come on here with a total lack of curiosity about the issues and even our recent history of literally rolling our Marines into Panama and deposits its political leadership. Over, frankly, less than this Canal issue. |
He actually has a very good point here. We built it and paid for it, and now they’re charging us way more than just the cost of administration to use it. It’s insane that we’ve put up with it this long. These are the things that raise the cost of our goods, and I’m so glad we have someone in charge (or will have very soon) who can fix stuff like this. And the idea of them letting the Chinese build things there and make us pay more is also insane. I wasn’t aware of this issue but I’m so glad that Trump is dealing with it. |
They've been doing what you suggested since 2018 at least. Is 6 years not long enough? How long is long enough before we are allowed to increase pressure-- if ever? |
This is what I find so comical. That MAGA folks are so clueless about international hard and soft power, that they can’t see that the 3 international relations gaffes in recent weeks, where Trump basically Twitter yells at countries is what qualifies as diplomacy. Like they’re so fking stupid they think the world will quake, and ties won’t be frayed, when Trump makes outlandish nonsense claims like forcefully taking back the Panama Canal. They think it projects “strength”. Meanwhile, it’s just annoying static. You people are such absolute 5th grade level comprehension fkwits you can’t see that the emperor has no clothes. It’s beligerent bullsht. |
Canada is motivated to do what they can to address the border now, when they weren’t before. So yeah, I think it’s effective. Evidently. |
Sorry. I didn't notice you suggested sanctions. You think it's appropriate to do sanctions before verbally pressuring? That's insane. Sanctions are the most severe action we can take short of military intervention. No, I think your sanction proposal isn't a good idea. I think is Grade A bat sh!t. |
It's called realpolitik. MAGA didn't invent it. Also. You spend a lot of time hurling insults rather than debating substance. It surprises me that you don't find Trump more compelling since you favor his insulting communication style. |