“There is at least one thing worse than fighting with allies – And that is to fight without them”
– Sir Winston S. Churchill.
 
Donald Trump won the presidency with a bunch of trash talking and chest thumping nationalism. But, This "America First" to hell with everybody else policy will leave the United States isolated and vulnerable.
Yea, we have a huge military, and a nuclear arsenal that would enable us to pretty much destroy the world.
But, when you think of it, very few situations call for destroying the world.


Tillerson, Visiting Europe, Gets Cold Shoulder

BRUSSELS — For decades, America’s chief diplomat has been greeted in Europe’s heart with broad smiles and open arms.

That tradition appeared to have been suspended on Tuesday.

Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson’s reception in Brussels was distinctly chilly, as disappointment among European diplomats in President Trump’s nationalistic tone and insulting messages on Twitter built into quiet fury on the eve of an expected announcement that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Such a move could infuriate the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem to be their capital in a future Palestinian state.

In a brief public appearance beside Mr. Tillerson, Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s top diplomat, gave the kind of stone-cold statement of facts that she would normally provide standing beside her Russian counterpart, not the American one.

She made clear that the European Union saw the Trump administration’s possible announcement on Jerusalem as a threat to peace in the Middle East.

“We believe that any action that would undermine these efforts must absolutely be avoided,” she said. “A way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as a future capital of both states.”

Ms. Mogherini also warned the United States not to walk away from the Iran nuclear deal, something President Trump has said he may do.

“The continued implementation of the Iran nuclear deal is a key strategic priority for European security but also for regional and global security,” she said.

Mr. Tillerson’s spokesman, R.C. Hammond, acknowledged the less-than-warm reception.

“Allies have been very frank today in sharing some of their views,” Mr. Hammond said.

Ms. Mogherini’s remarks came just hours after Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel of Germany declared at a foreign policy conference in Berlin that relations with the United States “will never be the same” and said that the Trump administration increasingly viewed Europe as a “competitor or economic rival” rather than an ally.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/world/europe/tillerson-europe-mogherini-jerusalem.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Last edited by Goose (12/06/2017 5:37 am)