Friends, things are getting very, very interesting inside the Beltway, as Musk and DOGE take aim at entrenched bureaucrats and Deep State power centers. The sweeping nature of the personnel changes in the federal bureaucracy has already been astonishing, but now Musk is trying to abolish an entire agency: USAID. One wonders when a leftist federal judge will swoop in and slap an injunction on all things DOGE... I'm surprised it hasn't happened already, in fact. In the meantime, Musk is cutting a swath of destruction through the Deep State, and I couldn't be happier!
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjdmx12j9no
In other news, Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico have already been suspended for 30 days, as both countries have agreed to step up enforcement measures at the northern and southern border, respectively. This certainly signals a short-term win for Trump in these trade wars/negotiations, but we're not quite out of the woods yet...
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/03/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-china-sheinbaum-responds.html
Finally, Panama has agreed to uncouple itself from Chinese influence, at least to a degree. That's a positive sign, and another win for America via Trumpian bluster, but is it smoke and mirrors or can we finally breathe a sigh of relief?
https://www.foxnews.com/world/panama-pledges-end-key-canal-deal-china-work-us-after-rubio-visit
Dr. Waddy from Jack : I am relieved that DJT has the paused tariffs on Mexico and Canada. He appears to have garnered significant accomodations from both countries. His tariff tactic has been vindicated and is very much to his credit; he's one hell of a gutsy and canny hombre.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Now once PM Trudeau is out of office, lets mend fences with Canada. Please no more talk of 51st state. Lets honor Canadians who wish to seat a Parliamentary majority motivated to work with us. Though Trudeau may chafe at this present development, I am sure Canada will be as good as its word.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
DeleteDon't forget that our two territories of Guam and Puerto Rico take priority over Canada as possible 51st and 52nd states. Canada will have to wait in line.
RAY TO DR. WADDY
ReplyDeleteHow about we just declare war on Panama (again by the way), and just take the canal back, and the rest of that tropical paradise while we are at it. Everyone in the world would be pissed at us, but then they already are, so why not?
Ray from Jack: Apparently Rubio has gotten some concessions out Of Panama in having them agree to close the Darien Gap (although that may have little to do with the canal, it does have much to do with illegal immigration) and to allow no expanded Chinese control of the canal. If Rooseveltian Big Stick diplomacy is working so far, why not just stick with it for now. I think both Panama and China are on notice.
ReplyDeleteRAY TO JACK
ReplyDeleteSorry. Don't agree with your take on this. The United States of America needs to own and control The Panama Canal. No compromise, period. This area is a strategic, international choke point. The Panamanians and the f...ing Chinese can't be trusted to run the place. Never should have been turned over to Panama. The idea, in part, originated with the late President Numb Nuts 1, Jimmy "Jimbo" Carter.
Couldn't agree more Ray. For obvious reasons, the canal is strategically significant to both the US and China. Whoever controls this trade route has significant advantate.
DeleteWe need the type of control that can't be overturned by future executive order.
This may also partially explain Trumps expressed interest in Greenland and the alternate route bordering same.
Ray and Richie from Jack : You guys make some good points but consider this: the Chinese Navy is ten days away from Panama. I crossed the Pacific on a ship several times. Even then, they would be greeted much as the Russian force was when they sailed from the Baltic to the Sea of Japan in 1905. They had no chance.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree, the canal is tremendously important in war (as long as it lasts) and peace. But surely Panama can't hold it if we want it (?) Carter, for a career military officer, was much too trusting of the good intentions of other nations. He said it took the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan to "open his eyes" to what he had previously termed "inordinate fear of communism". That! ? After STALIN , the subjugation of Eastern Europe, the ravaging of Hungary and the '80s buildup of a world ranging Soviet fleet - that!? He may well have been equally naive in turning the canal over to whatever Panamanian El Jefe was in charge then ( who comically remarked after the transfer " if he hadn't done it the Panamanian army would have attacked" ). But he did it.
But already DJT has Panama closely considering on which side its bread is buttered. As for disingenuously innocent Chinese strong points near the canal, at the very least any expansion of them is toast and if it gets down to cases I'm sure some of our nukes are targeted thereupon. The Chinese cannot help but know it and if they are as wise as I think they are, they can tell that this U.S. President is an hombre who will not tolerate being played.
My personal opinion is that the concessions granted by Canada and Mexico were minor and don't go to the heart of our "beef" with them: unfair trade practices and the facilitation of illegal immigration. I would make it clear to them that 30 days means 30 days, and they better start groveling if they want a pause to become a stay of execution.
ReplyDeleteTalk of a union with Canada is not completely off the wall, but suggesting that all of Canada could become a single state is just plain insulting. I would like to see Trump improve his sales pitch, at the very least!
I agree with Jack that Panama is trying to accommodate us re: the Canal. If their concessions aren't adequate, we should make that plain so that they can concede more. I would be satisfied with the eviction of the Chinese from the Canal Zone post haste, plus the installation of some kind of U.S. base there. On the other hand, if Trump is serious about territorial expansion, the best and obvious place to do it is the Panama Canal. The world would hate it, but the world would hate it a lot less than many of Trump's other bright ideas. I'm not at all convinced that Trump has the stomach for military adventurism, however. If all he's going to do with that saber is rattle it, then we ought to be content with an Americanized Canal, rather than an American one.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: It appears to me that DJT is not lauding expansion simply for its own sake. In each case he advances rationales germane to the specific territory he muses on. T.Roosevelt saw the value in having a big stick but for the most part, talking about it. I don't think he would have refrained from using it if necessary to fulfill an ehh, "admonition". He urged Wilson to enter WWI in 1916.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, we have not seen a Pres. DJT at arms and we cannot be sure if he has the nerve. I do think it likely he does. He appears to foster "respect" among many leaders in this gangsterish world.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: If some of the common sense Western Canadian provinces wished to join us and it could be accomplished to the satisfaction of Canada , we would benefit from their addition. Genteel coastal BC might not be suitable for a U.S returned to doctrinal well being.
ReplyDeleteJack, as much as the world hates and fears Trump now, they would be mortified/apoplectic if he marched into Panama... Perhaps, purely from a negotiating standpoint, it would be a good idea?
ReplyDeleteI doubt Canada would consent to any of its provinces leaving their precious "union" to accept Trump's warm embrace instead. I doubt also whether any Canadian province would choose such a fate. The CBC is worse than CNN, no?