Watching the diametrically opposed way that Obama and Trump are handling Putin and Russia it reminds me of the old interrogation tactic referred to as "good cop, bad cop." In such a tri-fold relationship the one thing all three parties know is that the two cops are working with a "bad guy." Even the bad guy knows he is a bad guy.
Let's assume Russia hacked the DNC. Let's also assume Putin and also Trump know it, even though neither are admitting it. In the scheme of "good cop, bad cop," the only one talking tough on the "bad guy" is the "bad cop."
The only difference in this case the "Bad Cop," Obama, is either unaware of what the "Good Cop," Trump, is up to, OR, Obama should get the Oscar for how he is playing his bad cop role.
Putin and Trump both started with a mutual contempt for Obama and Hillary, and the desire to make their country great again. So it was pretty easy for Trump and Putin to get off to a great start with each man flattering the enormous ego of the other. But there are much deeper and significant forces and motives at play.
Obama and Kerry, as well as virtually everyone in congress regardless of party recognize that Putin is a KGB "bad guy" who operates in ways that make American leaders and National security professionals, let alone most Americans and Westerners around the world, very uncomfortable. So to think that Trump can not figure this out, even with the national security briefings that only the President receives is just absurd! If you can not understand and accept that Trump knows darn well, and better than you or me, what Putin is about says more about your bias hatred for Trump than it does about Trump's intellectual capacity.
So do not be fooled by Trump's "sweet talk" -- He is not oblivious to Putin's darker side. Trump is doing something that I believe not enough people are giving him credit for. He is very cleverly going about a complete reset of American and Russian relations. Something Bush II tried to do but failed at.
Is Trump stupid. NO! He is handling the situation brilliantly. It is just that most of Washington and most of America don't yet understand Trump, let alone what he doing. But rather that writing a much longer blog post trying to explain what I think Trump is up to, I'm going to simply tell you whose views about Russia I share and provide links to some articles in order to back up my view.
The individual to help make my case is one of the greatest foreign affairs geniuses in the past century, Henry Kissenger. Trump is doing something Henry Kissenger projected decades ago that we would need to do: Pivot sway from China and over to Russia.
Here are just three recent articles, but there are many more and Dr. Kissenger has been making his case for Russian relations for decades, we just have not listened.
Here are just three recent articles, but there are many more and Dr. Kissenger has been making his case for Russian relations for decades, we just have not listened.
Article Links:
What I find as fascinating as the case for why we should rebuild relations with Russia, is how Trump is going about developing rapport with Putin in order to do so. I can not call what they have "trust," because guys like Putin and Trump are not going to truly trust one another for a long time or maybe ever. They only need to both understand what the other is up to and be able to see it in their personal/National interests to play along with one another.- Kissinger, a longtime Putin confidant, sidles up to Trump
- Henry Kissinger has 'advised Donald Trump to accept' Crimea as part
- Moscow would welcome Henry Kissinger’s expertise in Russia-US relations
Putin and Trump both started with a mutual contempt for Obama and Hillary, and the desire to make their country great again. So it was pretty easy for Trump and Putin to get off to a great start with each man flattering the enormous ego of the other. But there are much deeper and significant forces and motives at play.
Trump is using the forces mounted against Putin, which in turn draw a counter force reaction by Putin, like a Jujitsu martial artist who manipulates his opponent's force against his him rather than confronting him with his own force. Trump is leading Putin to where Trump wants Putin to go, which is also to place where Putin wants to be. Let me try to explain as briefly as I can starting with listing each man's national objectives.
Putin wants three main motives/objectives:
This is what a "Russian Reset" looks like and most folks are failing to give either Trump or Putin credit for it. But they will once both economies are booming again. Because, as I explained in a previous blog post, "Prosperity is a Hate Spoiler." All of this is why I went on the record before with Prediction #7 about improved Russian and American relations.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is ending his Presidency having revived the Cold War and culminating with the largest expulsion of diplomats even during the cold war. To which Putin responded brilliantly with a checkmate move inviting US Diplomats to a party. The contrasts between the "Good Cop" and "Bad Cop" could not be any greater, and so will be the contrasts between their Presidencies!!
* During Hanukkah I have been focusing on Israel and what I envision to be the beginning of a new Era in the peace process. It may seem with a quick read of this article that I have gotten off that theme. NOT SO! In fact, I could say this is the most important post of all related to that theme because it is my opinion that Trump's actions with regard to Russia will play a crucial part in this. Russia, as well as the Ukraine, are going to be key to bringing about pressure on certain Middle Eastern factions in order for Israel to achieve its peace objectives in a new way with newly defined borders. While it is less evident in main stream media, I am noticing very constructive actions between Israel and Russia which have the potential for tremendous economic, technological, cultural, and political working relations!
Putin wants three main motives/objectives:
- Putin wants Russia to be respected on the world stage.
- Putin wants to rebuild the Russian economy.
- Putin wants to crush radical Islam and keep a tight lid on fundamentalist Muslim activity in his territory.
- Trump wants Russia to play a supporting role in guarding against Iranian domination mitigating threats to Israel. (See * at the end.)
- Trump wants Russia oil & gas interests to compete against OPEC in order to hold down prices and diminish Arab domination in both world politics.
- Trump wants Russia to act as a counter force with China and help to bring pressure on North Korea.
This is what a "Russian Reset" looks like and most folks are failing to give either Trump or Putin credit for it. But they will once both economies are booming again. Because, as I explained in a previous blog post, "Prosperity is a Hate Spoiler." All of this is why I went on the record before with Prediction #7 about improved Russian and American relations.
Meanwhile, the Obama Administration is ending his Presidency having revived the Cold War and culminating with the largest expulsion of diplomats even during the cold war. To which Putin responded brilliantly with a checkmate move inviting US Diplomats to a party. The contrasts between the "Good Cop" and "Bad Cop" could not be any greater, and so will be the contrasts between their Presidencies!!
* During Hanukkah I have been focusing on Israel and what I envision to be the beginning of a new Era in the peace process. It may seem with a quick read of this article that I have gotten off that theme. NOT SO! In fact, I could say this is the most important post of all related to that theme because it is my opinion that Trump's actions with regard to Russia will play a crucial part in this. Russia, as well as the Ukraine, are going to be key to bringing about pressure on certain Middle Eastern factions in order for Israel to achieve its peace objectives in a new way with newly defined borders. While it is less evident in main stream media, I am noticing very constructive actions between Israel and Russia which have the potential for tremendous economic, technological, cultural, and political working relations!