Our Friday News Analysis | What the World Reads Now!

This cartoon, created by a liberal cartoonist, illustrates what conservatives hope will make America great again. Will Trump’s wrecking-ball approach also heal the world’s broken humanity? Credits: The Friday Funnies – The Wreaking Ball Cometh, Robert W. Malone, MD

EDITORIAL | Some people use hammers to shatter glass, while others use theirs to forge steel.

By Abraham A. van Kempen
21 December 2024

Can Trump put Humpy Dumpty back together again?

People are still debating Mr. Trump’s unwavering wrecking-ball policy. For those in the cross fire, embracing change can be overwhelming. I sympathize with those depending on meager U.S. unemployment benefits while searching for new job opportunities. My heart aches for those who yearn to dream big in America but lack the right to exist as members of the human race. How can a nation treat the least of us with ‘zero empathy and zero shame?’

I celebrate and dance alongside the remarkable people of Ukraine, holding hands and singing, ‘free at last, free at last, thank God we’re free at last!’ as we embrace their newfound liberation from the grip of a junta in Kyiv that has aimed only to enrich itself. For far too long, their young men and women were forced to serve as cannon fodder for their Western masters. 

So many—too many—were slaughtered on the battlefields when it was unnecessary. All the while the clowns in Brussels and Strasbourg and their stooges in Washington, DC played Russian roulette with our lives. Their actions were morally reprehensible and politically suicidal. We reap what we sow.

Any Western journalist who meets their parents in the bustling markets of the Ukrainian countryside will likely find their perspective shifting, moving away from the usual talking points they've been fed. When a war is built on lies, making peace will hurt the liars.

I’m at home in Moscow, Kyiv, and Tel Aviv.

President Trump’s forceful approach towards Ukraine, the European Union, and Russia provides crucial insights into potential future scenarios for Jerusalem. For Netanyahu and the limited number of hardliners—whose actions frequently result in violence and pain—it's vital to understand that this context deeply impacts the majority who wish to coexist peacefully.

Change is on the horizon! The tinderbox in the Middle East will not explode. You’ll see soon enough. Maybe in my lifetime, lives will thrive without borders.

THE UKRAINE WAR IS COMING TO AN END - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Today, we’re excited to welcome Prof. Glenn Diesen to the show! He’ll share his insights on the Russia-Ukraine War and explore some thoughts on how it might be resolved.

What lies ahead for Russia and Ukraine? We’ll also broaden our conversation to include Trump and the implications of his presidency on the world stage.

We’ll also examine China's rise, the dynamic tech rivalry between the US and China, and the future of our increasingly multipolar world.

Click Here to Watch the Video (51 minutes, 08 seconds)

Glenn Diesen interviewed by Cyrus Janssen
Substack.com
17 February 2025

0:00 - Intro to Glenn Diesen, Ukraine and Russia
2:15 - What is Next for Russia, Ukraine War?
4:05 - Why the Peace Summits Failed
5:00 - How Will West Justify This Loss for Ukraine?
8:42 - Can Trump End the Ukraine War?
12:49 - How Will Ukraine War End?
15:15 - Will Taiwan Become the Next Ukraine?
18:00 - Why is Donald Trump Attacking Allies?
22:12 - Trump Expanding the US Empire?
24:53 - The Great Tech Battle Between US and China
30:00 - Why Europe is in Decline
34:01 - Why Containing China Will Fail
35:12 - What is Oligarch’s Role in Great Power Politics?
40:38 - The Importance of Our New Multipolar World
48:45 - Why We Must Study History to Avoid Mistakes

On January 30, 2025, I had a thoughtful discussion with Cyrus Jansson. We explored the conclusion of the war in Ukraine and what it might mean for the future. It’s important to understand that the media narratives we've seen over the past three years have often sought to encourage public support for a continued conflict.

Many individuals believe that recognizing Russia's power, the unfortunate casualty figures in Ukraine, and the restricted effectiveness of sanctions is viewed as 'anti-Ukrainian.’ This misperception could undermine Western support for Ukraine's initiatives.

• The reality is that the Ukrainian army has suffered huge losses and total collapse is now unavoidable.
• NATO is out of weapons
• Ukraine is out of manpower.
• The wider world is deepening ties with Russia; and,
• The Western political support for Ukraine is falling fast.

The conflict will conclude either with Russia triumphing in battle or with Ukraine and NATO facing harsh conditions in a negotiated agreement.

Zelensky's former allies in Ukraine anticipated his downfall, believing that when everything unraveled, the Ukrainian people would punish him and his “military recruiters.”

As the final weeks unfold, Zelensky may feel a rising sense of urgency that could lead to some hasty decisions. Meanwhile, the army might experience a dip in morale and begin exploring new options together.

J.D. VANCE'S SPEECH IN MUNICH

The Vice President excoriates Europe for suppressing electoral results, delegitimizing political constituencies, and censorship. The full decontextualized speech

Click Here to View the Video (19 minutes, 30 seconds)

By Matt Taibbi
Substack.com
16 February 2025

“Today, I want to discuss our shared values. It's wonderful to be back in Germany. As mentioned earlier, I visited last year as a United States senator. I had a lighthearted exchange with Foreign Secretary David Lammy about how our roles have changed since then. As leaders entrusted by our citizens, it's our responsibility to use our political power wisely to enhance their lives.

I feel fortunate to have spent some time outside the conference walls in the past 24 hours. Even amidst yesterday's terrible attack, I’ve been incredibly impressed by the people's hospitality. My first visit to Munich was during a personal trip with my wife, who is here today. I have always loved both the city and its people.

I want to express our deep concern for Munich and all those impacted by the tragedy that has struck this wonderful community. We are here, praying, and cheering for you in the days and weeks ahead.

Thank you. I hope that’s not the last bit of applause that I get.

We gather at this conference to discuss security, primarily emphasizing external threats. It's encouraging to witness the presence of many esteemed military leaders. The Trump administration prioritizes European security and is optimistic that Russia and Ukraine can achieve a fair resolution. Additionally, we emphasize that Europe must considerably bolster its defense capabilities in the years ahead.

My main concern about Europe doesn't come from Russia, China, or any external threat; rather, it stems from withdrawing from Europe's core values with the United States.

I was surprised to see a former European commissioner on television recently, expressing joy over the Romanian government's decision to annul an entire election. He cautioned that a similar fate could also befall Germany if matters don't proceed as expected.

Such bold claims shock American sensibilities. For years, we’ve been led to believe that our funding and support are rooted in shared democratic principles. From our approach to Ukraine to our stance on digital censorship, we present these actions as a defense of democracy. However, when we observe European courts annulling elections and high-ranking officials hinting at further cancellations, we must question if we are maintaining an appropriately high standard. I emphasize 'we' because I believe we are all on the same team.

We must go beyond discussing democratic values; we must embody them. Many of you here remember a time during the Cold War when those standing up for democracy faced far more brutal regimes on this continent. Think about the side in that conflict that silenced dissenters, shut down places of worship, and annulled elections. Can we call them the good guys? Not.

Thank goodness they didn't win the Cold War. Their defeat stemmed from a lack of appreciation for the remarkable blessings of liberty—the ability to innovate, take risks, create, and construct. Ultimately, innovation and creativity cannot be mandated, just as you cannot dictate what individuals should think, feel, or believe. We believe there is a strong connection between these concepts. Sadly, as I observe Europe today, what transpired for some Cold War victors is often unclear.

I turn to Brussels, where EU Commission officials have cautioned that they plan to suspend social media during civil unrest upon identifying what they consider “hateful content.” Similarly, in this country, police have conducted raids targeting individuals suspected of posting anti-feminist remarks online as part of efforts to address "misogyny” on the internet.

I look to Sweden, where two weeks ago, the government convicted a Christian activist …”

Please continue reading …

What is the Side of the Story that is Not Yet Decisive? Edited by Abraham A. van Kempen

EU ELITES ARE IN PANIC OVER THE US LEAVING UKRAINE AND EUROPE

While the United States is diligently pursuing the establishment of peace in Ukraine and striving to terminate the unnecessary violence, European Union officials are experiencing considerable distress in Munich regarding the recent discourse delivered by the new Vice President of the United States on appropriate democratic principles.

The European Union is grappling with the profound implications of these developments.

I’m having a great conversation about these significant changes with Professor Glenn Diesen, a valued faculty member at the University of Southeast Norway.

Click Here to Watch the Video (31 minutes, 57 seconds)

Glenn Diesen with Pascal Lottaz
Substack.com
17 February 2025

I discussed with Pascal Lottaz at Neutrality Studies the anxiety in the EU as the US signaled that Europe is no longer a priority.

For years, Europeans struggled to define their security and economic interests independently from the US, hindering their efforts to position the continent as a distinct power. Today, Europe is divided, facing war, experiencing economic decline, and losing relevance on the global stage.

The US is encouraged to embrace the new multipolar landscape by rebuilding a cooperative relationship with Russia and shifting its focus toward Asia. While the familiar ideological bubble has popped, it's understandable that confronting these challenging realities can feel daunting.

AFTER VANCE BLASTS EUROPE, THE MASK DROPS

An incredible event, followed by a more incredible reaction

By Matt Taibbi
Substack.com
16 February 2025

Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a Friday speech at the Munich Security Conference. I’ve posted the video and the complete text separately. I encourage everyone who hasn’t done so to listen to or read the speech, then return to this space, where I’ve compiled some efforts to provide context and fact-check the address.

I’ve lost the ability to be shocked. Propaganda imperatives have never been more apparent.

The Vance speech was historic, breaking with nearly eighty years of U.S.-European consensus. For nineteen minutes, he criticized European partners for abandoning “shared” democratic values. The most newsworthy part was what Vance termed an “offer.” He implied that the U.S. would no longer support Europe if it continues to suppress political constituencies, arrest citizens for speech offenses, and especially, cancel elections as was done recently in Romania. “If you’re running in fear of your voters,” Vance said, “there is nothing America can do for you.”

The New York Times described this as “support for far-right, anti-immigration parties,” in a speech that "appeared to target efforts to marginalize the hard-right party Alternative for Germany.”

Three headlines spoke for themselves:

• Vance Shocks Europe With a Message That He Has Long Promoted at Home,
• Vance Tells Europeans to Stop Shunning Parties Deemed Extreme
• Trump Officials Attack a German Consensus on Nazis and Speech (not on speech, but Nazis and speech!).

Not until today, Sunday, did the Times publish the more striking headline: “Trump Team Leaves Behind an Alliance in Crisis.” Instead, on Friday, a trio of standout Times reporters—Steven Erlanger, David Sanger, and Jim Tankersley—crafted an extraordinary lead for the paper’s top news story. I believed I heard an American Vice President state that continued support depended on recognition of elections and the end of censorship. Reporting from Munich, they expressed something different:

On Friday, Vice President JD Vance called on European leaders to stop isolating far-right parties throughout the continent. This marks a remarkable acceptance of a political movement that was previously considered fringe, which aligns closely with the Trump administration's views on migration, identity, and online speech.

The address astonished and left hundreds of attendees speechless at the Munich Security Conference. High-ranking politicians, diplomats, and analysts had assembled at the forum, expecting to hear President Trump’s strategy for concluding the war in Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s defense against an escalating Russian threat.

The Times team went on to criticize Vance for focusing on “what he termed [Europe’s] suppression of abortion protests and other forms of free speech” when he should be concerned about Russia. They stated that this indicated the administration’s priorities were “expanding the MAGA movement abroad rather than countering President Vladimir V. Putin’s aggression.”

They proceeded to characterize Vance’s views on speech and honoring election results not just as “MAGA,” but also aligned with Russian propaganda aimed at "destabilizing" the West:

Mr. Vance’s remarks echoed those of far-right leaders throughout Europe and the anti-establishment messages that Russia has disseminated on social media to destabilize democratic politics in the United States and Europe.

Vance raised a long list of issues, including German police raids on individuals suspected of “misogynistic hate speech,” a Swedish court conviction of a man who burned a Koran, U.K. “buffer zones” that ban even silent prayer near abortion clinics, and most notably, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton’s recent comments about potentially canceling elections. “We did it in Romania,” Breton said, “and if necessary, we’ll do it in Germany as well.”

Click Here to Watch Video (1 minute, 18 seconds)

The New York Times characterized these measures as necessary to suppress “right-wing” and possibly foreign-inspired opinions. The paper stated that “European intelligence agencies have raised alarms” about these movements and described voters as an opposition force, noting that “firewalls have fallen around Europe," including in “the Netherlands, Hungary, and Italy.”

Fellow Times writer Michael Bender’s analysis centered on how Vance exposed the ignoble motives of populists. Hard-line immigration policy, he argued, has “emerged as the thread tightly knitting together a global patchwork of populist movements.” (The United States is a pretty sizable “patch,” if we’re assessing metaphors.) Tankersley’s separate “Nazis and Speech” article revisited the notion that demanding acceptance of electoral results or ending censorship would strengthen the rightist AfD party. He casually noted how post-WWII Europe’s “Never Again” concept requires granting “intelligence” a veto over voters.

“[Germany] has an Office for the Protection of the Constitution that uses intelligence tools to monitor extremists, along with a constitutional court that can, in rare cases, entirely ban parties," he wrote.

Almost all American outlets followed the Times' lead in characterizing the speech as support for extremists. A quote from a European politician frequently accompanied this:

NPR: German chancellor slams Vance’s call for Europe to be inclusive of far-right parties

MSNBC: Vance cozies up to Germany's far-right, scolds E.U. leaders for not engaging with extremists

Washington Post: Scholz Blasts Vance’s Support for Germany’s Far Right

Other media reactions centered on Vance’s speech being “extreme” and from the “fringes.” The BBC called it a “very weird 20 minutes.” The Guardian characterized it as a “blistering attack on Europe’s leaders,” which was accurate, but described Vance’s address as “trying to downplay Moscow’s role in the rise of the populist right.” After Vance suggested that if the U.S. could tolerate listening to Elon Musk online, Europe could surely endure Greta Thunberg, The Independent referred to it as an “attempted joke” that “failed to raise a laugh.” (As a writer of many speeches, I understood this wasn’t a laugh line. The mute, horrified faces were meant to be the punchline.)

Others, like Bertelsmann Foundation analyst Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, suggested that Vance’s speech contained inaccuracies. “The first third of the speech was filled with conspiracy theories, misinformation, and the insistence that these misrepresentations be taken seriously,” she said. You’re going to hear a lot about what the BBC termed “dangerous” misinformation, particularly Vance’s suggestion that prayer in one’s own home could breach U.K. “buffer zone” laws regarding abortion clinics. The Beeb asserts it would only affect things that could be seen or heard from the zone, such as displaying posters or banners, or protesting in their garden.

I have many thoughts about Vance’s speech, which I believe will be remembered as a moment of significant importance. However, the most crucial immediate observation is how other previously influential American figures have received it. It’s no secret that postwar Europe has a different attitude toward speech and democracy. Yet, we’ve never seen so many prominent American voices so openly support overruled elections, censorship, and the use of intelligence mechanisms to undermine voter decisions. Everything is now fully transparent.

TRUMP ACCUSES ZELENSKY OVER RUSSIAN INVASION

“You should’ve ended it after three years. You should’ve never started it. You could’ve made a deal …”

Click Here to View the Video (0 minutes, 30 seconds)

By Humeyra Pamuk
The New Daily/AAP – Australia
19 February 2025

US President Donald Trump has brushed aside Ukraine’s worries about being excluded from discussions with Russia, seemingly blaming Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for initiating the deadly conflict.

“You ought to have concluded it after three years. You shouldn’t have initiated it at all. A deal could have been made," Trump stated on Tuesday (US time), addressing Ukraine's worries about being left out of the discussions in Saudi Arabia.

“I have a personal liking for him; he’s okay. However, my focus isn’t personal. I prioritize completing the task. Leadership today has permitted a conflict to continue—one that should have never occurred, even without the involvement of the United States.”

_________________________

Editor’s note | In February 2022, NATO, in collaboration with Ukraine's newly established Zelensky government, provoked Russia into launching a preemptive strike against NATO and Ukraine, nearly eight years after its contentious annexation of Crimea.
_________________________

Trump expressed he wouldn't oppose sending peacekeepers to Ukraine for security guarantees in a potential peace deal.

“Having troops over there would be fine; I wouldn’t object to it at all,” he said at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Tuesday (US time).

Trump spoke for the first time since a US delegation established a working dialogue with Russia about Ukraine during talks in Riyadh earlier on Tuesday.

He said he was more confident after the talks and would probably meet Russian President Vladimir Putin within a week.

“Russia wants to do something,” Trump said.

He criticized former US president Joe Biden for his approach to Ukraine, stating that Biden had sought to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons to resist the Russian invaders.

“I think I have the power to end this war,” Trump said.

Earlier, U.S. and Russian officials met for the first time since World War II to discuss ways to end the deadliest conflict in Europe during a 4½-hour meeting in the Saudi capital.

Ukraine has stated it will reject any agreement forced upon it without its approval.

You Might Like

 Ukraine and Europe will be in ‘real’ peace talks: Rubio.

During his visit to Riyadh, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz emphasized the necessity of achieving a lasting resolution to the war, which would require discussions regarding territorial matters.

"It's a practical fact that we'll be having some conversations about territory and the important topic of security guarantees,” he shared.

Senior-level teams will initiate discussions on resolving the conflict. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, they will individually focus on reinstating their countries' diplomatic missions in Washington and Moscow to facilitate future negotiations.

Rubio left the initial talks feeling that Russia was "ready to commence a serious negotiating process," yet he noted that achieving peace would require concessions from every party involved.

Rubio addressed concerns from Ukraine and Europe, stating that no one was excluded and that any solution should be acceptable to everyone involved.

Zelensky postponed his Wednesday visit to Saudi Arabia until next month to avoid legitimizing US-Russia talks.

“Decisions on ending the war in Ukraine require Ukraine's involvement, and no conditions can be imposed,” Zelensky stated during his Turkey visit.

“We were not invited to the Russian-American meeting in Saudi Arabia. This came as a surprise to us, and I believe to many others, too."

In a recent statement made in Riyadh, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed that Moscow is opposed to the deployment of NATO troops in Ukraine, regardless of the flag they may operate under.

“We certainly find this unacceptable,” he shared.

During their first meeting on Tuesday, Lavrov and Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov – both seasoned experts with a remarkable 34 years of experience between them – engaged in discussions with three officials from the Trump administration, just as they began their new roles.

Lavrov stated a genuine wish to remove the economic barriers between the US and Russia, following the [Ed. NATO-provoked] invasion of Ukraine, Washington, along with several other Western nations, imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Moscow.

Rubio stated that European nations had also enforced sanctions, which means they must participate in discussions about lifting these measures.

He mentioned that ending the conflict would "unlock" exciting opportunities for US-Russian cooperation, including “some truly unique and potentially historic economic partnerships.”

The discussions on Tuesday also raised some concerns in Washington. The U.S. has been proud to support Ukraine’s defense, contributing billions of dollars in military aid, thanks to bipartisan approval from Congress.

“Russia has won round one,” US Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat and co-chair of the House Ukraine caucus, told Reuters. "In bilateral diplomacy that sidelined Ukraine and NATO, the Kremlin has achieved normalization without conceding anything."

‘NO PLACE’ FOR EU ‘WARMONGERS’ AT UKRAINE TALKS – HUNGARIAN FM

Peter Szijjarto has said that US-Russian efforts are about peace, while the bloc’s politicians want the conflict to continue.

FILE PHOTO: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. © Global Look Press / Roman Naumov

HomeWorld News
8 February 2025

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated that Russia and the US were justified in not inviting the EU to discussions in Saudi Arabia. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he emphasized that initiatives aimed at achieving peace should exclude anyone who wishes to prolong the Ukraine conflict.

Bilateral negotiations between Russia and the US began Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. Led by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, these talks mark the first direct initiative by Moscow and Washington to mend relations after almost three years of tension. They are anticipated to set the stage for discussions on resolving the Ukraine conflict.

The discussions have caused anger within the EU, where members have expressed disappointment over Washington's lack of consultation before resuming dialogue with Moscow and not including them in the negotiations.

"As peace-loving Hungarians, we have awaited this moment for three years!" Szijjarto, whose government has consistently challenged the West’s handling of the Ukraine conflict while advocating for peace, posted on Facebook.

READ MORE: Russia and US Agree to continue Ukraine talks: As it happened.

“Pro-war Europeans are expressing regret over their exclusion from the discussions... but what is their relevance? These talks are focused on achieving peace; advocates of war have no place in this setting!” he remarked. Before the US-Russia discussions in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Szijjarto communicated his wish for results that would “return peace to Ukraine swiftly.”

Several EU officials have voiced concerns over Washington’s one-sided peace initiatives in recent weeks. This situation unfolded last Wednesday when US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin, subsequently stating that peace negotiations in Ukraine should begin "without delay."

Anger grew when Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, suggested that the bloc would not be part of US-Russia peace talks, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to call for an emergency meeting of European leaders.

On Monday, Macron hosted a summit in Paris with leaders from Germany, the UK, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark, along with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO chief Mark Rutte. Attendees noted discussions centered on possibly deploying European troops to Ukraine and increasing defense spending among European NATO members, yet no definitive decisions were reached.

READ MORE: Germany urges NATO unity following emergency meeting on Ukraine

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz noted that attendees unanimously agreed that "security and responsibility must not be divided between Europe and the US" regarding Ukraine. Following the meeting, Macron emphasized that sustainable peace can only be realized through cooperation among the EU, the US, and Ukraine.

TRUMP SPEAKS TO JOURNALISTS AFTER RUSSIA TALKS

The US president has said he is even more confident about brokering a deal to end the Ukraine conflict.

US President Donald Trump addresses reporters at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 12, 2025. © Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

HomeWorld News
19 Feb, 2025 00:34

President Donald Trump addressed reporters on Tuesday after the prominent US-Russia discussions to resolve the Ukraine conflict in Riyadh. He expressed optimism about his ability to facilitate a peace agreement and aimed at Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky.

Trump expressed that he feels "much more assured" about the chances for a lasting peace and emphasized that his top priority is to "preserve lives.”

On cash for Ukraine

Trump emphasized that NATO nations and Kiev need to ensure that the aid given to Ukraine is used effectively. “They must contribute and track where the funds are allocated," he stated.

Trump remarked,

               “President Zelensky mentioned last week that he is unaware of the whereabouts of half the funds we provided him. Where is that money going? I’ve yet to see any accounting for it.”

Last month, the president seemingly referred to Zelensky’s interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, stating that Kiev had "not received half" of the funds Washington had promised.

Read more: Shutting the EU and Ukraine from the talks is the only way to peace.

On negotiations

Trump said Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have no grounds to complain about their exclusion from the talks in Riyadh. He expressed his "very disappointed" with Kiev.

               “Today I heard, ‘We weren’t invited.’

               Well, you’ve been there for three years, you should’ve ended it… You should’ve never started it.

               You could’ve made a deal.”

On Zelensky

The US president characterized Zelensky as highly unpopular domestically.

               “The leader in Ukraine – I regret to say–holds only a 4% approval rating," Trump stated.

               “When they want a seat at the [negotiating] table, you could say – wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have to say, ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election.”

The New York Times reports that Zelensky’s approval rating has fallen to roughly 50%, down from the 90% he experienced in the early months of the 2022 conflict. His five-year presidential term ended in May 2024, but he has declined to initiate new elections, citing martial law as the reason.

On ‘European peacekeepers’

Trump expressed his support for an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine should a ceasefire occur between Moscow and Kiev.

               “If they want to do it, that’s wonderful. I’m fully supportive of it. I wouldn't mind at all," he said.

He emphasized that US troops would not participate in any peacekeeping efforts.

WATCH | USA IS DEFUNDING REGIME-CHANGE NGOS

Prof. Glenn Diesen on Neutrality Studies

Click Here to Watch the Video (32 minutes, 00 seconds)

Glenn Diesen with Pascal Lottaz
Substack.com
19 February 2025

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) have historically extended financial support to international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to engage local communities through media outreach and foster consensus within civil society.

Recently, President Donald Trump implemented the termination of funding for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and enacted measures against the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

This action is unprecedented in modern history. It significantly dismantled a state’s cognitive warfare apparatus and propaganda.

Why?

ANALYSIS | MISCALCULATION: AN AUTOPSY OF NATO'S FAILED STRATEGY FOR A LONG WAR

Prof. Glenn Diesen

Click Here to Watch the Video (20 minutes, 20 seconds)

Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
18 February 2025

To maintain the international system founded on US dominance, the US must hinder the emergence of other power centers.

The partnership between China and Russia has become a significant threat to US supremacy.

The Biden administration’s strategy involved utilizing Ukraine in a proxy conflict against Russia to weaken it among the great powers, allowing the US to concentrate on China.

After NATO failed in this proxy war, the US started adopting a new approach aimed at persuading Russia to align with its interests and sowing discord between Russia and China.

WATCH | TRUMP TO 'CLEAN OUT' AND OWN GAZA?

Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Alexander Mercouris and Glenn Diesen

Watch the Video Here (1 hour, 6 minutes, 17 seconds)

Host Professor Glenn Diesen
Substack.com
10 February 2025

I engaged in a discussion with Alexander Mercouris and Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi, who serves as an advisor to Iran’s nuclear negotiation team, concerning President Trump’s recent remarks on ethnically cleansing Gaza and the United States' assertion of ownership over the territory.

People often suggest that we shouldn’t take Trump’s words too literally, as much of what he says tends to be more of a negotiation tactic or just off-the-cuff improvisation.

His comments may encourage Israeli compliance with the ceasefire, support Netanyahu’s position, or fit into a broader strategy in which the US appears strong while adjusting its priorities and scaling back its presence.

COLONEL DOUGLAS MACGREGOR: END OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE?

Professor Glenn Diesen

Click Here to Watch the Video (34 minutes, 59 seconds)

Glenn Diesen with Colonel Douglas MacGregor
Substack.com
14 February 2025

I had an intriguing conversation with Colonel Douglas Macgregor regarding the present condition of the US empire and the measures Trump is implementing to counter the US’s relative decline.

Trump has been quite bold in challenging the deep state, which has become increasingly wasteful and ideological over the years. He is making significant strides to pull the US out of Ukraine, which will also help the US disengage from Europe.

However, Trump seems to struggle with foreign policy in the Middle East, where there is a real risk of igniting a major regional conflict.

His approach, filled with bold statements and dynamic actions to shake up the status quo, could lead to significant changes in the region that might be difficult to control.

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON | LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

By Heather Cox Richardson
Substack.com
20 February 2025

Last week marked a significant transformation in American and global history.

A week ago, on February 12, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels that President Trump intended to withdraw support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasions since 2014.

Hegseth stated that Trump aimed for peace with Russia by presenting three demands. He called it "unrealistic” for Ukraine to reclaim all its territory, implying Russia could keep Crimea. He also noted that the U.S. wouldn’t support Ukraine joining NATO, which has blocked Russian advances into Europe since 1949.

Hegseth’s main concession to Russia was his warning that “strategic realities prevent the U.S. from focusing on Europe’s security.

Following his Brussels speech at Thursday's press conference, Hegseth again claimed that the U.S. military lacks resources to operate in multiple arenas, prioritizing China over Europe—a claim deemed ludicrous by military observers.

At the sixty-first Munich Security Conference on Friday, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European allies for facing internal threats, not from Russia or China, but from right-wing ideologues who equate women and minorities with white Christian men. He urged Europe to change course but chose not to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, instead meeting with a leader of a far-right German party linked to neo-Nazis.

While the Munich conference was ongoing, the Trump administration announced sending a delegation to Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Russia. Ukrainian officials claimed they were unaware and were not planning to attend, nor were European negotiators invited. During a call between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, the Russian readout suggested Russia needs urgent relief from economic sanctions. The day before, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of both Putin and Trump, stated on Hungarian state radio that Russia will be “reintegrated” into the world economy and European energy system as soon as “the U.S. president creates peace.”

Talks began yesterday in Riyadh. In a four-and-a-half-hour meeting led by Rubio and Lavrov with national security advisor Mike Waltz, the U.S., and Russia agreed to restaff their embassies, a key Russian goal to end isolation. Lavrov blamed the Biden administration for past obstacles, asserting that Trump’s leadership led to a better understanding of their position.

Yesterday evening, Trump parroted Russian propaganda from his Florida residence, blaming Ukraine for the war that started with Russia's invasion. When asked about Ukraine's exclusion from the talks, Trump said: “You’ve been there for three years. You should have ended it or made a deal by now.” He inaccurately claimed Zelensky only has a 4% approval rating, when it's around 57%.

Trump called Zelensky a dictator who should hold elections, reflecting Russia's desire for a pro-Russian leader. Laura Rozen reported that former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had said, “If you’d told me three months ago that these were the words of the US President, I would have laughed.”

“Be clear about what’s happening,” stated Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark. “Trump’s administration is siding with Putin and Russia against a U.S. ally.”

To be even more explicit: under Trump, the United States is abandoning the post–World War II world it helped to build and then guaranteed for the past 80 years.

Ukraine's fight for sovereignty hinges on U.N. principles established after World War II, which aimed to prevent war and promote human rights. A core principle was the commitment not to attack any nation's territorial integrity or political independence. NATO was formed 1949 to counter Soviet aggression, asserting that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

National sovereignty is tested in Ukraine. After the Soviet Union's breakup in 1991, Ukraine gave up a third of the USSR’s nuclear weapons for payments and security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK to respect its sovereignty. However, as Ukraine leaned towards Europe, Putin sought to install puppets in the government to keep Ukraine's resources tethered to Russia.

In 2004, Russian-backed Viktor Yanukovych seemingly won the Ukrainian presidency. Still, widespread fraud and the poisoning of a rival seeking European alignment led the U.S. and international observers to reject the results, prompting Ukraine's government to annul the election and schedule a redo.

Yanukovych enlisted American consultant Paul Manafort, who also worked for Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska to rehabilitate his image. With Manafort’s assistance, Yanukovych won the presidency in 2010 and shifted Ukraine closer to Russia. Ukrainian students protested when he pivoted from cooperating with the EU to accepting a $3 billion loan from Russia. On February 18, 2014, after months of protests, Ukrainians ousted Yanukovych during the Maidan Revolution, or Revolution of Dignity, and he fled to Russia.

After Yanukovych’s ouster, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. The invasion led the U.S. and E.U. to impose economic sanctions on Russia, barring specific businesses and oligarchs from U.S. markets. E.U. sanctions froze assets, banned goods from Crimea, and restricted travel for certain Russians to Europe.

Yanukovych’s fall left Manafort without a patron and $17 million in debt to Deripaska. In 2016, Donald Trump was struggling in his presidential campaign. Manafort helped without a salary, contacting Deripaska through Ukrainian partner Konstantin Kilimnik: “How do we get whole? Has OVD seen?”

In 2016, journalist Jim Rutenberg reported that Russian operatives offered Manafort a plan for an autonomous republic in eastern Ukraine, giving Putin control over the industrial area. Their goal was to weaken NATO and U.S. support for Ukraine, overlook Russia’s actions in the east, and lift U.S. sanctions in return for helping Trump win the presidency. In 2020, the Republican Senate Intelligence Committee confirmed that Manafort’s associate Kilimnik, a Russian intelligence officer, acted as a liaison between Manafort and Deripaska during his campaign.

Government officials suspected ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. In July 2016, FBI director James Comey began investigating Russian election interference. After Trump’s victory, the FBI recorded Trump’s national security advisor, Michael Flynn, assuring Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak of policy changes. Shortly after taking office, Trump asked Comey to drop the Flynn investigation; when he refused, Trump fired him. The next day, at a meeting with a Russian delegation, Trump said, “I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job…. I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”

 Please continue reading …

JOHN BOLTON PREDICTS DONALD TRUMP WILL TRY AND WITHDRAW FROM NATO | LBC

“Trump is setting the ‘preconditions’ for leaving NATO” – Bolton.

Click Here to Watch the Video (8 minutes, 16 seconds)

Host: Tom Swarbrick
Leading Britain’s Conversation (LBC)
14 February 2025

John Bolton, former national security adviser, tells Tom Swarbrick it's "highly probable" Trump will try to withdraw from NATO. Trump has called for NATO members to raise their defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP, but Bolton doubts compliance, stating, "Almost no country will reach 5%." He adds Trump is setting the "preconditions" for leaving, wanting to claim NATO is "worthless." Bolton also critiques Trump's second term start, saying, "He has no philosophy or grand strategy."

BUILDING THE BRIDGE! | A WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE OTHER AND ONE ANOTHER

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Photo Credit: Abraham A. van Kempen, our home away from home on the Dead Sea

By Abraham A. van Kempen
Senior Editor
Updated 19 January 2024

Those who commit to 'healing our broken humanity' build intercultural bridges to learn to know and understand one another and others. Readers who thumb through the Building the Bridge (BTB) pages are not mindless sheep following other mindless sheep. They THINK. They want to be at the forefront of making a difference. They're in search of the bigger picture to expand their horizons. They don't need BTB or anyone else to confirm their biases.

Making a Difference – The Means, Methods, and Mechanism for Many to Move Mountains

Accurate knowledge promotes understanding, dispels prejudice, and awakens the desire to learn more. Words have an extraordinary power to bring people together, divide them, forge bonds of friendship, or provoke hostility. Modern technology offers unprecedented possibilities for good, fostering harmony and reconciliation. Yet its misuse can do untold harm, leading to misunderstanding, prejudice, and conflict.

Continue reading

A Free Trial for Life – SUBSCRIBE NOW!

• It's quick and straightforward.

• We won’t ask for your credit card number.

• Just enter your e-mail address to receive your complimentary free-for-life subscription to our newsletter.

• Please include your First and Last Name.

• We won’t share or sell your e-mail address.

_________________________

Related Articles Recently Posted on www.buildingthebridgefoundation.com:

OUR FRIDAY NEWS ANALYSIS

OUR WEDNESDAY NEWS ANALYSIS

OUR MONDAY EDITION

________________________

The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of the Building the Bridge Foundation