Donald Trump on campaign for United States president.

Politics

Putins Trumpfkarte

Dec 30, 2015 Nina L. Khrushcheva

NEW YORK – Auf seiner alljährlichen Pressekonferenz zum Jahresende war der russische Präsident Wladimir Putin ebenso informell, dreist und beleidigend wie Donald Trump, sein bevorzugter amerikanischer Präsidentschaftskandidat. Eine Frage über den Zustand des Staates beantwortete er mit einem Witz:

„Wie ist dein Leben?“, fragt ein Mann einen anderen.

„Mein Leben besteht aus Streifen, schwarzen und weißen Streifen, immer abwechselnd“, antwortet der zweite Mann. „Im Moment bin ich im schwarzen Streifen.“

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0 Comments on this paragraph, 13 Comments on this article

Jacob L Hoover Jul 2, 2016

It is a very interesting new development in American politics that would not be interesting or novel in Russia... It is really a fascinating thing to see a Putin-style populist/strongman rising in my home. Horrifying and fascinating. But this is a very different country... and Donald Trump is not a master of subtlety like Putin seems to be. I actually do not think he quite has what it would take to become premier here.
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Robert O'Regan Jan 6, 2016

Project Syndicate has shown, by publication of this puerile crap, that it has a very broad spectrum, from intelligent reporting right down to this bottom feeder.
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Richard S. Stone Jan 4, 2016

Posts like this are interesting and important to read, whether "true" and accurate or not, because they reflect how some people see things, and some "reality." Putin is a difficult person to deal with and he has some historical aspirations and personal desires. He wants to be popular, and famous, and rich, and he wants Russia to be great, again. Of course it seems, at the bottom, mindless nonsense if he does a poor job of actually managing the Russian economy and Russian interests, and that is a severe risk. But maybe, if he can distract enough people, long enough, with his international adventures the Russian economy will survive the oil crisis (it almost certainly will anyway) and be seen as somewhat as a force for good in the Middle East (any force for good will be welcome...). Maybe Obama is a genius for providing an opening for Putin and Russia?

I want the USA out of the global policeman role, and into a realpolitik mode. If Russia is willing to prop up Syria, and maybe slow, if not stop, the migrants heading for the West, then bless the Russians. All I want the US to get from the Middle East is cheap oil. Let the terrorists go after Russia for a change. When the Middle East and Russia are ready for democracy (probably not in my lifetime), that will be a nice change. But really, who cares?
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joey jay Jan 3, 2016

I wonder how much money this so called "expert" is being paid to blurt out the neo-con garbage that has landed the world into the so called "security" mess we find ourselves in. It is very easy to have so called famous names from the past politic realms such as former German Joshcka Fischer, who is partially responsible for the bombing of Yugoslavia and other war like behaviour...In the end, Putin is no better or wrose than anyone other politician dealing with the so called ìnterest`of the economic class that paid them to be their face puppet.
If you live and work and reside in the US, why are you not writing about the incredible amount of destruction at every level of US situations, which the US government is not taking care off?
Instead you are concerned about Putin and Russia? Who benefits? From such irrelevant, crassly historicaless piece of non sense. The level of propaganda has become so entrenched and so brazen that one does not know where to start. For younger generation, accustomed to macdonald fast food, with fast sex, with infotainment, etc...your piece may find some response; however for people that has been around for most of cold war times and other events around the world, as opening of the Berlin Wall, promises made by Reagan to Gorbachev and broken, how China got out of the grips of communism, how Chiang Kay Check created an nightmare for Taiwan and Chine, how Mengele died in Brazil, how Argentina and Chile harboured Nazis, how the middle east became a nightmare because of the desire of a greater Israel by the zionists, how Qadafi was murdered by the reasons no one dare to speak of (Lybia`s assets, gold and water aquifer (he wanted to be build by Libyans for Lybians and now is being build by French companies at an utterly over priced costs (just like Siemens, Bombardier, etc did in Brazil) and SNC Lavalin has done all over the world, or Bechtell...
If your house is on fire, why would you bother with throwing gasoline over your neighbours house, instead of taking care of your own.
US is in a mess and you are part of the problem. Europe is in a mess and Joshcka Fischer is part of the problem too. I use to be German green party member, when he (from the realos`s wing got into power). I remember Eva Quistorp getting out of the European Parliament and having `literally only enough money to survive. Mr. Fischer...well this is another level, righ?
So the world is on fire and you are concerned about Putin (perhaps you are paid to blurt out this kind of crap)...US is in decline,,,after the basket of currencies, will come SDRs and I want to see how your so called Institute will manage...
There will be consequences and a price to pay for propagandists like yourself.
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Vidvuds Beldavs Jan 3, 2016

In Soviet times it was the kiss of death for a candidate to be praised by the Soviet leader. There is no Trump card being played. Putin does not expect Trump to be elected, but stuff happens. The comment creates buzz for Putin and forwards his agenda - to appear the strong leader resolving the crisis in Syria for which he expects payback in Ukraine. Fighting in Eastern Ukraine went into a lull after the UN speech but has resumed when the response from the West has proven to be much more difficult than assumed. Obama is much stronger as a leader than Putin had assumed and Europe is far more cohesive.
Putin sees more black lines to be sure but he has no capacity to undo them. For the sake of the Russian people he should apologize to the people of Ukraine and install Medvedev as the man in charge of Russia and go on a long vacation.
- Harald von Schlippenbach Jan 3, 2016
  
  What a load of Neocon rubbish. I am sorry i wasted my time reading it.
  Read more at https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/putin-press-conference-by-nina-l--khrushcheva-2015-12#cmhwQJSi5AwCXHqo.99
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Ian Kiddle Jan 2, 2016

What a load of Neocon rubbish. I am sorry i wasted my time reading it.
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M M Jan 1, 2016

Nina, The population at large have had to deal with the “two de-facto” choices for the last few decades, and that is making the choice between an “Authoritarian” regime and an “Authoritarian Regime but with a Democratic Face”. It has been established by now, that all forces to the left, right and center follow the same agenda, albeit under a different banner. Until the beloved leading academics come up with a viable and honest “Third Option”, the “Status Quo” is likely to remain in place and the “Clowns” from within the US and outside it shall continue to entertain the population at large and try effortlessly to distract them from the real issues at hand.
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Petey Bee Dec 31, 2015

Indeed, if Trump's epic shakedown of the Republican party backfires and he gets stuck being the President, anything could happen. The words "You're Fired" come to mind. More likely though, the Repub''s will cave and give Trump something valuable enough to satisfy his ego, and we will get another president Bush or Clinton, re-invade Iraq, and will be able to finally throw nation-building success in the face of critics of US foreign policy.
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j. von Hettlingen Dec 31, 2015

It is interesting that Nina L. Khrushcheva sees Donald Trump's election as Putin's "trump card" in mending fences with Washington. Who on earth wants Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2017? Obvious Putin does, as he plans to stay in power until 2024. If the Kremlin could vote in the presidential primaries, it would probably back Trump, who said he would "get along very well with Putin." Two weeks ago the Russian president gave the GOP presidential hopeful a ringing endorsement - “a very colorful, talented person” and the “absolute leader of the presidential race,” and he reciprocated Trump’s praise for Russia earlier this month.
There is a saying: "Bird of a feather, flock together." It's true that the two men are "consummate propagandists." While Trump is a choleric performer, Putin a "stone cold killer" - according to George W. Bush. And both show no mercy, when it comes to achieving their goals - "to bully, harangue, and lie." In his book How to Get Rich, Trump advises: “When somebody hurts you, just go after them as viciously and as violently as you can.” On "how to fight terrorists," Putin says: “We will hunt them down and kill them, even in a toilet.”
What is amazing is Trump's ability to build "his campaign on ignorance," while still being able to appeal to his supporters, who are smitten by his "simplistic slogan" – “Make America Great Again!” The author says Putin has a similar "playbook" on how to make "incompetence and weakness" appear "omnipotence and bold leadership."
What makes Trump popular in the Kremlin is that he believes Crimea is "Europe’s problem and that the US has no role to play.” Economic sanctions bite and have taken a toll on Russia, following its annexation of Crimea and "invasion of eastern Ukraine." Putin is an admirer of Catherine the Great, who "shed less blood, but amassed more land than Peter the Great.” The author believes Putin might try to emulate Catherine's strategy, who in 1772 sent a warship to Syria "to assist the locals in fending off the Ottoman Empire." She decided to leave and negotiated with the Ottoman Turks for Crimea, which she took over in 1783. Today, "Putin appears to want a similar outcome" in his reckless intervention in Syria, hoping to be able to gain leverage over Ukraine's "Western partners." The lifting of sanctions against Russia would be a "grand bargain" that will only boost his popularity at home.
No wonder Putin favours Trump over other Republican hopefuls, like Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who had urged Nato to consider adding Ukraine to its membership. On the Democratic ticket Putin will back anybody save Hillary Clinton. The Kremlin’s worst nightmare would be a Clinton-Rubio battle.
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Gunnar Eriksson Dec 30, 2015

Well, we recall that Hitler and Stalin camped together for a short time, but such things end rather soon.
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Jordan Dimov Dec 30, 2015

Let's ignore your questionable understanding of morals and ethics in politics for a moment. I challenge you to name a single politician from the past 10 years, anywhere in the world, who seems to you of stronger character, more competent, more consistent or more composed than Mr. Putin is today.
- Steve Hurst Dec 30, 2015
  
  That does not mean he is a leader even if those claims are correct
  
  Russia appears to be a giant gas pumping station, how is that going to work out then
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