[Express] DONALD TUSK has sent a jaw-dropping threat to US President Donald Trump, decrying the Americans lack of reliability in the face of a number of threats to global security and prosperity. The European Council President kicked off the latest European summit, held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, telling reporters Mr Trump had become a far from useful ally who acts with "capricious assertiveness".
I quite agree that he is certainly not useful to EU functionaries in the way that his predecessor was.
Washington and Brussels have been at loggerheads over a number of issues since Mr Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, most recently a trade war of aluminium and steel tariffs and the Iran nuclear deal.
Speaking to reporters in Sofia, Mr Tusk said the US President had "made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you all find one at the end of your arm".
That’s wisdom, that is.
The Council President urged Europe to ditch its American partnership and go alone as the EU faces up to global challenges because of Mr Trumps unreliability.Mr Tusk said: "Besides traditional political challenges, such as the rise of China or the aggressive stance of Russia, we are witnessing today a new phenomenon: the capricious assertiveness of the American administration.
Golly. I don’t think the European Council president likes an American president with ideas of his own. So many syllables!
"Looking at the latest decisions of President Trump, someone could even think: with friends like that, who needs enemies?
Someone might, indeed. But is it wise, let alone diplomatic, to say so where reporters moght hear?
"But frankly speaking, Europe should be grateful for President Trump because thanks to him we have got rid of all illusions.
"He has made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm."He added: "Europe must do everything in its power to protect, in spit of todays mood, the transatlantic bond, but at the same time we must be prepared for those scenarios where we have to act on our own.
"We have enough potential to rise to the challenge,
Absolutely.
. but what we need is more political unity and determination."
I quite agree. Good luck getting the Eastern European members on board.
European leaders will gather in Sofia to mainly discuss the EU’s commitment towards enlargement talks focused around Western Balkan regions, but the US President’s actions have seemingly hijacked the agenda.The bloc’s leaders will hope to present a united front against Mr Trump in response to his decision on the Iran nuclear deal and trade tariffs.
Theresa May will travel to the Bulgarian capital where she will join a working dinner with her fellow European leaders, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
There is likely to be little or no Brexit discussions as the British Prime Minster alongside Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron will "present their assessment of the situation" surrounding the Iran nuclear deal, according to Mr Tusk.
The reimposition of American sanctions is a bit of a pink elephant in the room, I fear.
#1
This sounds like Mr. Tusk is one f those bribe takers that the Iranian official threatened to oppose unless Trump and his sanctions are stopped.
Posted by: Daniel ||
05/17/2018 0:34 Comments ||
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#2
Bahaha. Europeans are good at talking. Let's see him take action.
He won't. He knows Europe (1) has no capability to defend itself (2) has a really good deal going with America where they rip us off on trade every year to the tune of $150 billion and (3) if Europe didn't get this free money and free defense, it would have to cut its welfare state. So they're not going anywhere. They're just throwing a temper tantrum like a 3 year old.
Posted by: Herb McCoy ||
05/17/2018 0:42 Comments ||
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#3
Good luck getting the Eastern European members on board.
Europeans have known full well that the Obama administration alone, not the US, ever committed itself to this agreement.
Also the agreement has never been in Europe's interest as it would have created an irrational, hostile, hyperaggressive nuclear power in its neighborhood.
Mr Tusk said the US President had "made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you all find one at the end of your arm".
#7
...If we had any sense, somebody would leak a paper detailing how much it would cost to move our military units from Germany out to either the UK or Poland.
Then sit back and watch the fun.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
05/17/2018 6:44 Comments ||
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#8
Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007-2014.
Cause relying upon Western Europeans for your defense didn't work out well the last time around, remember?
Just think of all the problems that could be solved by just moving all the Paleostinians from Israel's borders and giving them their own country carved out from between France and Germany.
#11
"Looking at the latest decisions of President Trump, someone could even think: with friends like that, who needs enemies? But frankly speaking, Europe should be grateful for President Trump because thanks to him we have got rid of all illusions." --Donald Tusk
How...quaint. How... supercilious Euro-Elitist snobbery in tone: "How DARE those colonials think they can dispute their betters! Harrumph, I say, Harrumph!"
#14
How much do our military installations in Europe cost the US.
How much of the total costs does Europe pay.
The.next war will use EMP technology so:
1. Let’s pull our military out of Europe or...
2. Make Europe pay 60% of the costs.
Posted by: CC Reader ||
05/17/2018 15:04 Comments ||
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#16
New text from indignant EU:
"You didn't dump me! I dumped you!
I'll stand strong, all alone...
And I'm setting the tone
By not stalking Great Britain. Boo-hoo."
h/t Instapundit
1. So a few important points on that new NYT "Hurricane Crossfire" piece. A story that, BTW, all of us following this knew had to be coming. This is DOJ/FBI leakers' attempt to get in front of the facts Nunes is forcing out, to make it not sound so bad. Don't buy it. It's bad.
2. Biggest takeaway: Govt "sources" admit that, indeed, the Obama DOJ and FBI spied on the Trump campaign. Spied. (Tho NYT kindly calls spy an "informant.") NYT slips in confirmation far down in story, and makes it out like it isn't a big deal. It is a very big deal.
3. In self-serving desire to get a sympathetic story about its actions, DOJ/FBI leakers are willing to provide yet more details about that "top secret" source (namely, that spying was aimed at Page/Papadopoulos)--making all more likely/certain source will be outed. That's on them
4. DOJ/FBI (and its leakers) have shredded what little credibility they have in claiming they cannot comply with subpoena. They are willing to provide details to friendly media, but not Congress? Willing to risk very source they claim to need to protect?
5. Back in Dec., NYT assured us it was the Papadopoulos-Downer convo that inspired FBI to launch official counterintelligence operation on July 31, 2016. Which was convenient, since it diminished the role of the dossier. However . . .
6. Now NYT tells us FBI didn't debrief downer until August 2nd. And Nunes says no "official intelligence" from allies was delivered to FBI about that convo prior to July 31. So how did FBI get Downer details? (Political actors?) And what really did inspire the CI investigation?
7. As for whether to believe line that FBI operated soberly/carefully/judiciously in 2016, a main source for this judgment is, um . . .uh . . . Sally Yates. Who was in middle of it all. A bit like asking Putin to reassure that Russia didn't meddle in our election.
8. On that, if u r wondering who narrated this story, note paragraphs that assure everybody that hardly anybody in DOJ knew about probe. Oh, and Comey also was given few details. Nobody knew nothin'! (Cuz when u require whole story saying u behaved, it means u know you didn't.)
#1
This is DOJ/FBI leakers' attempt to get in front of the facts Nunes is forcing out, to make it not sound so bad...Don't buy it. It's bad...NYT slips in confirmation far down in story, and makes it out like it isn't a big deal. It is a very big deal.
It'll be a BFD only if indictments and convictions result. Only then may the MSM change its tune. Only then, will the MSM begin to become aware that they are on the wrong side of history.
#3
Because the MSM is in this up to their necks running cover for all of the Obama crimes, the IG report should be used to discredit dozens of media types who were spewing the deep state crap right and left.
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