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First a short potted recap of relatively recent history.
At the end of WW2, following the defeat of Hitler and Nazi Germany, the three triumphant countries, USA, UK and the then USSR met, and over the course of two conferences, first at Yalta in February 1945, and then in July-August 1945 at Potsdam, drew up plans for the division of post-war Europe and subsequently, at the second conference, finalised them for implementation.
The result of these two meetings was the creation of Eastern and Western Europe, with the Russians gaining control of large tracts of Poland and Germany. The so-called 'Iron Curtain' descended across Europe with a divided Germany and a sectioned Berlin, with its infamous Berlin Wall creating an enclosed area of West Berlin where open Europe had control, while the rest of Berlin and vast tracts of land west of Berlin remained under Soviet control. . This situation lasted some 44 years, before there was the collapse of Soviet Europe, the destruction of the Berlin Wall and a re-united Germany and Poland.
Move to the present day, where USA's president has shown little respect for US allies, but huge admiration for Putin and his regime, culminating these last few days in the deal to buy Russian diesel, cancellation of US sanctions against Russia, and increased contempt for Yeltsin and Ukraine. Trump wants an end to the Ukraine war, and he doesn't care if that means Ukraine, the victim of the Russian attack, losing permanently Ukrainian land to Russia.
Now Trump is proposing a 3-way meenting next month, while at the APEC meeying in China, between himself, Putin and Xi, with the idea of divising a plan to settle the Ukraine conflict, inevitably involving sectioning or even totally allocating Ukraine to Russian ownership and control - effectively another Yalta. The subsequent G20 meeting that follows in the USA to which both Putin and Xi are invited would emulate the equivalent of Potsdam to see the plan finailsed and implemented.
It may sound like pure speculation and hyothesis, but the nature of Trump and the aspirations of Putin, that Trump somehow seems incapable of either appreciating or understanding, or both, would see such an arrangement precipitate the prospect of war in Europe, as Putin gains control of Ukraine, an outcome that would feed his desire to expand his influence and to re-establish the Soviet Union that was lost over 45 years ago
I'm not sure where this post now goes. Is it just a one-off piece that presents a fearsome scenario, period, or does it hit a nerve that encourages comment and ongoing debate?
Last edited by Cyclefrance-of-old (10/20/2026 10:37 am)
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We already know where Putin will probably attack next. He has been building for most of ten years what will be the next war - Latvia. He is even accidentally breaking fiber optic cables and pipelines. Searching for weak point. With drones flying every way out over Denmark. And sabotage ongoing even in Germany.
Trump has invaded Venezuela. He even stole the secret documents for the invasion of Iran. Hide them in Mara-Lago. Is conducting a three day war. He will next "Pearl Harbor" Cuba. The 82nd Airborne was reported planning / equipping for that invasion.
XI told the Chinese military to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan on or after 2027. So now the world's big three despots will meet to carve up the world?
Scary are the so many (even in the Cellar) who did not see what Trump is and has always been even before he had a TV show. But then only a minority also saw only facts to know that Saddam could not have WMDs.
Most only make decisions from their emotions. Confuse those emotions with knowledge from the prefrontal cortex. Then are easily duped by despots. As demonstrated in 1930 Germany and Italy.
Too many forget to learn why they do not learn lessons from history. A majority cannot tell the difference between emotion and logic. So many love the American despot for the same reasons so many in Germany loved Hitler. Once the legal system in Germany stopped obstructing Nazis, then Nazis performed ethnic cleansing and conquering other countries.
Only thing obstructing Trump is the legal system. He even endorses the ethnic cleansing ongoing in Gaza, West Bank, and southern Lebanon. History repeats when the majority refuse to see even why stagflation may be a real possibility again. Since Trump is doing to the economy what Nixon did.
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Cyclefrance-of-old wrote:
…I'm not sure where this post now goes. Is it just a one-off piece that presents a fearsome scenario, period,…
Not period; but, for the moment.
Europe was divvied up after Nazi Germany was defeated.
Ukraine isn’t yet defeated.
US midterm election results could markedly change Trump’s plans to do anything further out than just two weeks from now. He could be rendered a second string player on the world stage where at present he can be calling for a meeting.
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Seems likely the disinformation circuit might be stepping in here.
I read today that it was Putin who proposed the 3-way meenting, and that, initially, Trump had not decided to attend. Then he stated that the meeting was to discuss nuclear disarmament, with no mention that the meeting planned to discuss Ukraine.
I guess we shall have to wait and see, but I go along with Anon's point that, post the mid-terms, Trump's sphere of global influence could take a nose-dive. Although, I do also wonder whether, giving the scant attention he has given to congress to date, such an outcome would deter him from acting as he has always done - decisions of the senate and congress have no relevance whenever they might interfere with his ambitions .
Last edited by Cyclefrance-of-old (10/21/2026 4:37 am)
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What’s in it for Xi? He doesn’t need to negotiate with two failed states.
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Traditionally pollsters get it wrong when an electorate is inspired by hate. From those who are working for the Democrats is again this warning. There peers again only hear what they want to hear. Many are not addressing what many in the electorate see. Democrats do not even have a cognizant message.
More likely little will change in the Senate. Democrats may take the House only by a little margin. Nowhere near enough change to hinder a President who has no respect for the law or even traditions. He will put drones and artilitery on his "Arc D' Triumph" gate to Arlington National Cemetery. And nobody complains? Even the Supreme Court sides with him.
Why is it acceptable to "Pearl Harbor" another nation? Even Democrats remained silent. It is called "Wag the Dog". President can now invent any war he wants. And Congress, even in Democratic hands, cannot stop it. Even all Inspector Generals have been fired so that legal constraints (created because of Nixon) are gone.
What has hindered the invasion of Cuba? Everything is screwed up in Iran. And so Trump is blaming Ukraine for his problems. So that we have no idea how bad things have become. Facts that will become apparent many years later. Deja Vue Nam. Lessons found in history.
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griff wrote:
What’s in it for Xi?
The game is obvious. Putin needs to finish in Ukraine. To then attack Baltic states. Xi want Taiwan. Trump is a patsy easily played by XI (once in China then again in Washington). Manipulation works even better when both get Trump into their meeting.
Putin's latest Chess move was to get Trump to eliminate oil obstructions and to even buy diesel. What anyone with minimal knowledge knows. Russian diesel in America, a country that is a net exporter of fossil fuels, means other diesel will be shipped to other nations. World wide price remains mostly same as Russia can now charge more for same oil that were shipped during sanctions.
He played Trump - obviously.
Xi needs Trump to throw Taiwan under the bus. As Trump has constantly done to Ukraine. Putin recently got Trump to harm Ukraine even more. Xi needs a piece of that action. Since China will invade Taiwan. Especially since the 7th fleet is now short of missiles. Since major based such as Guam are not yet hardened. And all top leadership in the Western Pacific Navy is under investigation for massive corruption. NCIS had something like 23 corruption investigations halted by unknown parties in the Pentagon.
Ideal. Play Trump so that Russia can start moving again on Ukraine. Or start an invasion of Latvia. With a Trump who then says it is their problem. Then the US has little to obstruct China's invasion of Taiwan. Never see this picture in simplistic views. The chess game has targeted a patsy - Trump. Best done if both, who already played him as a patsy, get him in that room.
A reality that everyone (not in denial) knows. Reporter asked Trump if Putin tried to steal the election. All intelligence agencies (everyone) said his did. Dan Coates said he did. Facts stated by Trump. Then Trump said he believes only Putin. Because Putin said he did not. How obvious must a patsy be to be finally seen?
Kim took a rare train ride to Peking. Where Xi's people taught him how to play Trump. Notice that Trump stopped making any effort to hinder or obstruct Kim's nuclear program. Trump loves other despots (even in Brazil and Israel). Demonstrates contempt repeatedly for all Democratic allies. Even in Canada and Mexico.
Despots love having Trump in a room where he is easily duped.
Jack Welch got RCA's Bradshaw to sell RCA to GE for a tiny amount of its value. He promised Bradshaw a $2 million bonus if Bradsahw agreed to the sale. Bradshaw was an easy mark. Trump is routinely bamboozled by anything that enriches Trump. Trump is a patsy to despots.
Last edited by tw (10/21/2026 10:13 am)