Trump: US might not defend NATO countries

[Hydra009]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36852805

Speaking to the New York Times, Mr Trump said the US would only come to the aid of allies if they have "fulfilled their obligations to us".

Asked about Russian aggression towards Nato countries in the Baltic region, Mr Trump suggested the US might abandon the longstanding protections offered by the US to such nations.

No wonder Putin loves this guy.

The divisive Republican candidate also said that, if elected, he would not pressure US allies over crackdowns on political opposition and civil liberties, arguing that the US had to "fix our own mess" before "lecturing" other nations.

He said: "Look at what is happening in our country. How are we going to lecture when people are shooting policemen in cold blood?"

While I sort of agree with him that we shouldn't be hypocritically lecturing countries about problems that we share with them, I do think the US should try to influence other countries to adopt/maintain the sort of democratic freedoms held by the West.

Asked about the failed coup in Turkey on Friday, the Republican candidate praised Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been criticised by some Western leaders over his increasingly authoritarian rule.

"I give great credit to him for being able to turn that around," Mr Trump said of the failed coup. "Some people say that it was staged, you know that," he said. "I don't think so."

Praising one of the most hated politicians in Europe and arguable tin-pot dictator just after his big purge.  Bravo.  How the hell does this guy still have support?  I'm not joking when I say that Obama's dog would be a better president than Trump.

[Nonsensei]

I think this guy might be genetically incapable of being on the correct side of any issue.

[Flanker1Six]

I'm not joking when I say that Obama's dog would be a better president than Trump.

It'd be a toss up for me..........................I guess which ever one sheds the least would get my vote.  .)

[drunkenshoe]

Oh ffs, what was that you guys say? Birds of a feather flock together?

Even if the coup attempt in Turkey was something for the better in time -but then it is a fucking coup attempt how is that good in any way!- which is getting obvious that it wasn't and that changes nothing because it is between two religious camps, how on earth a presidency candidate of a democratic country, esp. USA, CAN DEFEND an authoritarian rule in the making?!

And people think I am crazy when I say this guy would get along good with Erdogan. Can you imagine the global consequences of that relationship?

[AllPurposeAtheist]

If elected Trump won't have long. I predict impeachment before he really gets his shot at authoritarian. Then we have to deal with a really feeble president Pence..

[stromboli]

If elected Trump won't have long. I predict impeachment before he really gets his shot at authoritarian. Then we have to deal with a really feeble president Pence..

That occurred to me also. Worrisome thought. That one man can manipulate an entire political party into falling in behind him bodes for a big, loud and destructive crash somewhere in the future. Having a clueless idiot like Pence running the country is very scary indeed.

[Baruch]

Pence sounded more Presidential in person, when interviewed on the floor of the convention.  Trump's daughter is a wonderful speaker.  I would make her our ambassador to the UN.  Other than the speech was too long. I fairly liked Trump's acceptance speech ... the most presidential thing he as done so far (not that is much).

[AllPurposeAtheist]

Trump is a banana republic strong man in waiting.  I have little doubt that if elected he'll have all his political opponents jailed if not outright killed. I can see him doing such things as cutting off social security for anyone who voted against him among other really nasty things. I've stopped underestimating the things he might do as president.
Now I have no idea if enough elements of the government might go along with it, but it's not a stretch to believe certain republican politicians would be fine with political assassination of opponents.

[Poison Tree]

If elected Trump won't have long. I predict impeachment before he really gets his shot at authoritarian. 

If Trump wins the presidency then the Republicans will retain control of both the house (guaranteed) and the senate (almost certainly). I can't see Republicans impeaching Trump, not after they've all fallen in line and crowned him their own. That would put any impeachment off until at least after the off year election--and I doubt the democrats could take the house even then given their typical low voter turnout in off year elections and the favorable electoral maps Republicans drew themselves after the last census.

[baronvonrort]

The Russian's are no longer the threat they once were so I think Nato has reached its use by date.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

They'll need to put kiddie gates up in the White House to keep him from getting into anything important.

[Hydra009]

The Russian's are no longer the threat they once were

While that is true, Russia is still quite capable of menacing nearby countries.  Georgia and Ukraine are two big examples of that.

so I think Nato has reached its use by date.

the historical impetus behind NATO is gone, but military cooperation/coordination between the US, Canada, and Western Europe is just as relevant as ever, especially given the worrying security situation that Europe has been in lately.

[Baruch]

The Russian's are no longer the threat they once were so I think Nato has reached its use by date.

Ending Nato because Russia isn't a threat, would really piss Putin off.  Sounds good to me.  Without the evil Nato how can he keep his hegemony over the Russian government?  I think we threaten Russia, just to help him polish (not Polish) is patriotic bonifides.

[reasonist]

Ending Nato because Russia isn't a threat, would really piss Putin off.  Sounds good to me.  Without the evil Nato how can he keep his hegemony over the Russian government?  I think we threaten Russia, just to help him polish (not Polish) is patriotic bonifides.

...or to sell military hardware to the Baltic states.

[Baruch]

If Putin had put military into Mexico, like we put military into the Baltics ... we would already be dead and radioactive.