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PJ London's avatar

It was not an 'implicit' threat, it was a promise.

Trump has gone full blown Al Capone, and while members of his 'MAGA' gang are rejoicing, the rest of the world sees them for what they are.

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”

― : D. Butler, War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier

The Orange moron (and his gang) will learn that the world is very different from 1902.

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Sky Q's avatar

If Trump is a moron, then what are you?

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PJ London's avatar

An educated intellectual giant by comparison.

I note that you have no comment on the words and thus reduced to ad hominem.

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Chris Wales's avatar

I am surprised to hear Lindsay Graham was opposed to not getting into another regional skirmish with US troops. He is a full blown NEO-CON 🚀🧨

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LBM's avatar

Short sighted evaluation of what's going on. Study Trump's history and realize this is a manuever to produce results for stability in the area - not necessarily by the U.S., but brokered by the U.S. It breaks open new possibilities for solutions involving neighboring countries in the region. He looks at a much bigger picture and future for the Middle East and its populations.

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

I hope you're right, frankly.

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Sky Q's avatar

Thank you Michael. Just like people dog on Trump, because he didn't insult Putin or Kim JongUn.. Are you more likely to make a deal with someone who's insulting you? Fraid not!

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Sky Q's avatar

Exactly. But liberals cannot ever think more than one move in advanceThey're the world's shittiest chess players.

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Nick Maier's avatar

Thank you Michael for laying out the most disgusting and disturbing visit by a head of State in years. Netanyahu is an international war criminal and the US is complicit in Genocide in violation fo the 1947 Genocide convention the US signed in Nuremberg. Trump views this as a "land Deal. This shows you what $100 million dollar donation from Miriam Adelson will get you. If Trump goes ahead with his plan to put US troops in Gaza, this could end his presidency when the body bags start coming home. Hamas isn't going anywhere. They have reconstituted and have used unexploded ordinance to place IED in every major throughfare. This is will a most bloody guerilla war.

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JDebattista's avatar

The depth of degradation in that spectacle was almost unbearable, bordering on the demonic. America is doomed, and its president serving as butler to a criminal psychopath is more than enough evidence of this. God help you Americans.

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Sky Q's avatar

Go away. Keep ruining your own country like you have.

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Sky Q's avatar

You are demonic . MAGA! So happy with EVERYTHING Trump does. Plus I feel sure that he is mentioning this to get hamas to agree to a more reasonable plan. Trump knows how to make deals the carrot or the stick?And this time, it's the stick for Hamas.

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JDebattista's avatar

Brainwashed Trump cultist. Demonic are people like you zionist shills, who support Israehell's ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians. You have blood on your conscience but you are too heartless and stupid to realise it. Trump is a crypto Chabad Lubavich zionist who is owned by Satanjahoo like you are.

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John Taylor Pullen's avatar

I'm going to enter this early, to having finished the article.

I usually parallel, or at least try to your premonitions; since reading your "Google Archipelago," outright without ever having known, or studied more about you.

I would like to know more about you in this case, on a personal level ⏤ maybe where people agree or disagree about certain things, in and as much as people do.

People always diversify on this issue (even though that's not a very diverse prospection, I know) ⏤ but I wonder where the line becomes more distinct when standing in Gaza, let's say; and you have to decide on which end of it you are directioned.

I know you ran a campaign for president, whether you were overtly intentioned or not, I'm not sure ⏤ I do always think though if it was me I would nominate you as secretary of the interior, or housing and development ⏤ or its interlocutor ⏤ respectfully.

Thanks for the work you do, again ⏤ and given speed and direction I hope you find your end.

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Sky Q's avatar

Like the other Hamas sympathizers, Rectenwald forget that Hamas themselves are to blame for this. Before they attacked israel on October seventh, there was a lot of support, including by Trump for a two state solution, but Hamas showed that that wasn't going to work. Palestinians have no 1 2 blame but themselves for voting for an extreme terrorist group.

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Dow Hurst's avatar

Personally, I like winning and more winning. Too much winning, right? I agree with the premise that this Gaza plan is humanitarian in nature and a reboot of the Abraham Accords. Arab money, US security, and Israeli and Jordanian construction possibly. We will have to see if Gaza could possibly be a financial hub if the Middle East. I got that interesting idea from an editorial in the Epoch Times today, 2/7/2025. It would be a duplicate of New York as a dollar based hub to strengthen the US world currency.

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Sky Q's avatar

Personally, I still support a two state solution, but the problem is Hamas and the mass propaganda the Palestinians engage in. I've spoken to a couple doctors that worked in Israel. And of course they care for palestinians as well. They have saved the lives of Palestinian children. Et cetera and still to parents hate them because they are Jewish. She showed me a textbook that after translating teaches children to hate Jews/ Israel.

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Debbie Beatty's avatar

If only the LP had come out strongly against genocide and pro human rights for all right after Oct. 7th, and made it a main plank of its platform, I think we could have had a libertarian in the Whitehouse. Of course that would hinge on them running an actual libertarian candidate, which they seem loathe to do. I have been appalled by the number of people who call themselves libertarians while supporting an apartheid and genocidal colonialist state. Has the movement been that incompetent at communicating libertarian values, or has it been infiltrated?

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

I did, more than anyone else, as an LP presidential candidate.

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Sky Q's avatar

Even if I disagree with you on some things you were by far the best l. P candidate, it was so sad the way it was taken over by progressives. I am happy though that Trump has kept his promise and put a libertarian into his cabinet.

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Sky Q's avatar

Libertarian values are not interfering with other countries by wars for example...

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Sky Q's avatar

That would be activist progressive not libertarian. That is what is wrong with the libertarian party is that it got taken over by progressives.

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Sky Q's avatar

No you're really a Democrat. Libertarians are anti war, period.

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

I am antithetical to the Democrats. I'm a far rightwing extremist.

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Sky Q's avatar

Libertarians are not activists!

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

I'm not an activist. But there is nothing about libertarianism that precludes activism.

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Sky Q's avatar

I disagree. Libertarians are live and let live. You can support your own values without getting involved in conflicts overseas for one example. Boycotting companies is a way libertarians can have their values felt. Also, meritocracy is a cornerstone of libertarianism, not quotas.

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Debbie Beatty's avatar

I think it is a major shortcoming of the movement that activism isn't taught and encouraged.

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Sky Q's avatar

You are not a libertarian then. For example, I am a right wing conservative libertarian, and I can tell that you are the opposite. It is your progressivism that has ruined the libertarian party and the candidacy of those who hold to more traditional libertarian values like Dr Rechtenwald. The last 2 candidates LP ran for President were not much different than any other left wing candidate. How do you feel about r f k junior being part of Trump's cabinet? Inquiring minds want to know, thx.

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Debbie Beatty's avatar

You obviously don't understand the meaning of the word libertarian, nor progressive. Try reading some Rothbard.

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Blake E. Vernon's avatar

Clutching his pearls again! As long as the Sun and Moon and stars are in the heavens there will be the state of Israel! Just sayin.😇

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

Who said otherwise? The criminal state of Israel, aka the Synagogue of Satan, will exist for as long as the world exists.

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Blake E. Vernon's avatar

Respectfully,

Israel/Jerusalem will/is to become a burdensome stone and a cup of trembling for the world. There is one who sits in the Heavens and laughs…. Professing themselves to be wise……broaden the true history of Gaza and the fake Arabs. Don’t be the one Gad is laughing at. Again respectfully sir.

P.S. I love you and Dr. Dave.

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Debbie Beatty's avatar

What? Why on Earth would you think so? I think it's days are numbered, as world opinion has turned and even young Jewish people are disgusted by what they see Israel doing in their name. Once enough gullible and heretical Christian Zionists open their eyes, Israel will be done.

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Sky Q's avatar

See how long you last in Palestine vs Israel. Geez the lack of reality...

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Michael Rectenwald's avatar

Hard to last long in Palestine with Israel's incessant bombing of the place.

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Debbie Beatty's avatar

Yet they endure. Every dead Palestinian creates many more freedom fighters. It is dismaying to me to see how many self-identified libertarians are siding with the occupiers and genociders I very much appreciate your stance opposing these violations of unalienable rights. Thank you for your moral consistency, Michael.

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