US Erection 12 *AND* 16 *AND* 20 *AND* 22 *AND* 24 *AND* Beyond

[Per]

Btw, if you glance at the editorial to the right of Politiken's portrayal of Trump as Uncle Sam, you can get an idea of how damaging Trump's lack of understanding of diplomacy is to the USA and its standing in the World.



Here's my attempt at translating it:

A Cold Shoulder
Trump’s cancellation should lead to a new Danish foreign policy

When it was revealed last week that the president of the USA, Donald Trump, would like the USA to buy Greenland, most people saw it as a joke in bad taste. An absurdity that could not be taken seriously.

Today the jocularity is gone as Donald Trump on twitter last night officially called off his visit to Denmark with direct reference to Mette Frederiksen’s refusal to discuss the sale of Greenland. Thus Denmark by no fault of its own and completely unexpectedly has ended up in a major foreign policy crisis. For decades the USA has unquestionably been Denmark’s most important ally. It is the USA that has been the guarantor of our security and our relation to the USA has been the pivotal focus of the Danish foreign policy.
In return Denmark has been an extremely loyal ally to the USA. In 2003 we went against our EU-partners Germany and France to enter the Iraq war. We have lost more soldiers in Afghanistan than any other country in proportion to population size, and pretty much anywhere, where the USA has wanted, we have put boots on the ground.

Tonight the reward for this Danish loyalty was a public smacking by the US president for us having politely declined to sell off part of the kingdom. Something that simply cannot be done, and the suggestion of which is a deep insult to both Greenland and Denmark.

In the short term we should keep our heads cold and neither express the offence taken nor come crawling back to Trump. Denmark should stand to collect a lot of goodwill in both Europe and the sensible part of the USA after this bizarre episode if we just act with dignity and remain calm.
At the same time a fundamental and principal rethinking of Danish foreign policy and its priorities should be initiated. This episode shows that the Arctic has become a hot political battleground that Denmark and Greenland have become pulled into. This is a conflict that we must take very seriously and become better at handling.

But Trump’s actions show that there is no use for Denmark to rely on America.

The USA will of course remain a close and important ally. But the USA have embarked on an unpredictable course that could turn out to continue even beyond the presidential elections in 2020. Partly because Trump could get reelected, partly because he has served as a catalyst for forces in the USA that have turned the superpower more self centered and less willing to act as a stabilizing force on the global stage.

For a small nation like Denmark this is a dangerous situation which underscores the importance of the EU. Not as an alternative to Nato – for the present that is not realistic – but as a political community. It is within the EU we can best defend our interests and gain influence on the global stage. It is in Brussels we should prioritize to invest our resources in both security and diplomacy. With a firm anchor in Europe Denmark can ride the American storm out.

So basically, because of Trump rudely asking the equivalent of "how much for a BJ, honey?" to a long time ally, and then throwing a temper tantrum when they tell him that's not an option, Denmark is now contemplating shifting their allegiance to find more reliable partners that they can trust.

[2Fingers]

So basically, because of Trump rudely asking the equivalent of "how much for a BJ, honey?" to a long time ally, and then throwing a temper tantrum when they tell him that's not an option, Denmark is now contemplating shifting their allegiance to find more reliable partners that they can trust.

Or just wait until December 2020 when the world will be right again?

[Per]

So basically, because of Trump rudely asking the equivalent of "how much for a BJ, honey?" to a long time ally, and then throwing a temper tantrum when they tell him that's not an option, Denmark is now contemplating shifting their allegiance to find more reliable partners that they can trust.

Or just wait until December 2020 when the world will be right again?

Read the translated editorial:

”The USA will of course remain a close and important ally. But the USA have embarked on an unpredictable course that could turn out to continue even beyond the presidential elections in 2020. Partly because Trump could get reelected, partly because he has served as a catalyst for forces in the USA that have turned the superpower more self centered and less willing to act as a stabilizing force on the global stage.”

[Cousin Strawberry]

Its obviously a strategy and hes done the same to all his allies. The open mouthed shock at his antics is exactly the response his administration is looking for.

[Per]

Its obviously a strategy and hes done the same to all his allies. The open mouthed shock at his antics is exactly the response his administration is looking for.

I would expect that the bullying and ad hominem stuff could be effective short term, but long term I think it is devastating for the USA, as it reduces the level of trust between them and their allies.

[Cousin Strawberry]

Its obviously a strategy and hes done the same to all his allies. The open mouthed shock at his antics is exactly the response his administration is looking for.

I would expect that the bullying and ad hominem stuff could be effective short term, but long term I think it is devastating for the USA, as it reduces the level of trust between them and their allies.

USA spends enormous sums globally on aid and what not. I'd imagine this is the goal

Sit back and look past the childish crap. Its actually quite brilliant. Knock everyone off balance then renogiate better terms on everything.

While you and the rest of the world are detailing exactly how moronic his antics are his team is behind the scenes securing friendlier terms on trade deals, military spending, etc.

But keep focusing on the funny looking hairdo!

Theres actually a parallel here in canada with this idiot we have running the country. Everyone cant stand him and his socks or his effeminate leg crossings but his sleazebag policies are busy behind the scenes destroying the federation.

[Per]

USA spends enormous sums globally on aid and what not. I'd imagine this is the goal

Not very impressed by the aid given by the USA. Here's a list of how much aid compared to GNI different countries give:
(the UN recommends that developed countries should give at least 1%)

Country Aid as % of GNI
Sweden 1.40%
Qatar 1.24%
UAE 1.09%
Norway 1.05%
Luxembourg 0.93%
Denmark 0.85%
Netherlands 0.76%
UK 0.71%
Finland 0.56%
Turkey 0.54%
Switzerland 0.52%
Germany 0.52%
Belgium 0.42%
France 0.37%
Ireland 0.36%
China 0.348%
Austria 0.32%
Canada 0.28%
Zealand 0.27%
Australia 0.27%
Iceland 0.24%
Japan 0.22%
Italy 0.21%
USA 0.17%
Portugal 0.16%
Slovenia 0.15%
Malta 0.15%
Estonia 0.15%
Greece 0.14%
South Korea 0.14%
Spain 0.13%
Hungary 0.13%
Czech Republic 0.12%
Lithuania 0.11%
Slovakia 0.10%
Poland 0.10%
Latvia 0.09%
India 0.077%

At only 0.17% of GNI, the USA does seem does seem to give more niggardly than other OECD countries.
It's less than half the rate of China, and roughly on par with Portugal.

Guess the lion's share of spending is on the what not rather than aid.


Sure, some figure the spending relative to size is not the issue, but the total given. And per that criteria the USA has typically prided itself of being the biggest contributor. Let's take a look, shall we?

In 2015 the USA contributed USD 31.08 billion to aid.
But China has been increasing its international involvement, seeing as they are poised to take over as the leader of the world, and coughed up 38 billion.

Also, I think it's only fair to sum up what the EU gives as a total. I mean, you just have to add up the 18.7 billion of the UK with the 17.8 billion of Germany, to leave the USA in the dust. If you add up all EU countries, including the 13.85 billion in aid distributed by the EU institutions, you reach a whopping 91.9 billion, or almost three times the amount the USA had!

If you instead look at aid per capita, here's how generous the different OECD countries are:

Development aid per capita
 Norway $812.58
 Sweden $701.10
 Luxembourg $609.48
 Denmark $447.05
 Switzerland $421.37
 Netherlands $338.38
 United Kingdom $284.85
 Finland $234.13
 Germany $214.73
 Belgium $167.20
 Ireland $151.2
 Austria $137.59
 France $137.35
 Australia $129.92
 Canada $122.04
 Iceland $120.29
 United States $95.52
 New Zealand $90.75
 Japan $73.58
 Italy $63.38
 South Korea $37.13
 Spain $34.52
 Portugal $30.07
 Slovenia $29.04
 Greece $25.04
 Czech Republic $18.85
 Slovak Republic $16.56
 Poland $11.45


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_d ... try_donors

[Cousin Strawberry]

Why not include military aid in your stats.

[Mickey107]

Country Aid as % of GNI
Sweden 1.40%

Hope you got a receipt.

[Per]

Why not include military aid in your stats.

Military aid? Is that a euphemism for invasions?

[Per]

If you’re thinking of military expenditure, it looks like this:



What’s slightly bothersome imho is that Saudi Arabia, main sponsors of Al Qaida and IS, outspend both Russia and India.

[2Fingers]

If you’re thinking of military expenditure, it looks like this:


What’s slightly bothersome imho is that Saudi Arabia, main sponsors of Al Qaida and IS, outspend both Russia and India.

The USA economy is built on war, the president needs a good war to increase their popularity.

Not to mention the families/corporations than make billions every year off the typical tax payer in the country.

[Mickey107]

If you’re thinking of military expenditure, it looks like this:

..

[Topper]

USA spends enormous sums globally on aid and what not. I'd imagine this is the goal

Sit back and look past the childish crap. Its actually quite brilliant. Knock everyone off balance then renogiate better terms on everything.

While you and the rest of the world are detailing exactly how moronic his antics are his team is behind the scenes securing friendlier terms on trade deals, military spending, etc.

But keep focusing on the funny looking hairdo!

That is exactly what he is doing, and doing very effectively. His supporters see it, his detractors see bombastic tweets, but don't look at the actions.

He's seen the free ride others are getting on his taxpayers ticket and making those foreign governments pay more for joint services. They do so, because they need the US more than it needs them and they know they can and should be doing more.

He's attaching chains to foreign aid where only a mirage of string previously existed.

Theres actually a parallel here in canada with this idiot we have running the country. Everyone cant stand him and his socks or his effeminate leg crossings but his sleazebag policies are busy behind the scenes destroying the federation.

Less parallel, more like an opposite universe.

[Per]

USA spends enormous sums globally on aid and what not. I'd imagine this is the goal

Sit back and look past the childish crap. Its actually quite brilliant. Knock everyone off balance then renogiate better terms on everything.

While you and the rest of the world are detailing exactly how moronic his antics are his team is behind the scenes securing friendlier terms on trade deals, military spending, etc.

But keep focusing on the funny looking hairdo!

That is exactly what he is doing, and doing very effectively. His supporters see it, his detractors see bombastic tweets, but don't look at the actions.

He's seen the free ride others are getting on his taxpayers ticket and making those foreign governments pay more for joint services. They do so, because they need the US more than it needs them and they know they can and should be doing more.

He's attaching chains to foreign aid where only a mirage of string previously existed.

More like his supporters still see what they want to see.
The twitter distraction is rude obnoxious and not worthy of a sane adult. But I guess he isn't one.
But the real problem is his actions, which at present seem to be pushing the world towards a global recession.

His early tax cuts helped the US economy, but since they were not balanced with offsetting cost cuts in the budget they are increasing US national debt, which will have negative effects in the long term.

On the campaign trail, President Trump frequently criticized the level of government spending and in 2016 he vowed to eliminate the national debt over a period of eight years. Despite that, the deficit has continued to expand under Trump, primarily due to a $1.5 trillion tax cut bill and spending packages that have not been balanced by spending cuts.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccar ... 0143753a9e

And his whole "trade wars are good" philosophy is pure madness. Ask anyone who has a degree in economics. It's a road toward mutual destruction, and he is not only threatening to do this, he is actually doing it, raising tariffs haphazardly as he sees fit. The warning is already there on the wall for all to see, and more and more experts are now predicting a major recession within two years.

In a research note sent to investors Sunday evening, economists from the investment bank wrote that if President Trump goes through with his most recent promise to raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 25 percent for more than four months and China responds, "we believe that the global economy will be in recession in the next 6-9 months."

Because of additional tariffs on China, Morgan Stanley downgraded its growth outlook for the first quarter of 2020 from 2.8 to 2.6 percent, and believes that the deceleration will continue further into the year.

https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-t ... on-1456179

The US-China trade war is raging on, and the latest red flag for global growth shows no sign of abating. Those fears were gripping investors Wednesday as global stock markets dipped while US futures were set for a flattish open.
Yields on short-term government bonds rose, while those on long-term bonds plumbed new lows as investors bet on lower growth in the future.
The 30-year Treasury yield also fell to a record low of 1.906%.


"The trade dispute is now entering its second year, and the impact is being felt on the global economy," Jasper Lawler, the head of research at London Capital Group, said in a note on Wednesday morning. "Recession warning bells sounded once again in the bond market, which is likely to keep traders on edge across the session."
The spread between three-month and 10-year US Treasury yields grew to a "staggering" 47 basis points, Michael Every, the senior Asia-Pacific strategist at Rabobank, said in a research note, adding: "This is neither healthy nor normal."

https://markets.businessinsider.com/new ... 1028479835

Oh.... and attaching strings (or chains) to foreign aid means it is no longer aid - it's payment for services rendered.