Vladimir Putin confirmed last week at their Alaska summit that if Donald Trump had been president three years ago, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine.
It was probably an attempt at flattery (which Trump did not acknowledge) but, still, it’s probably true. Even if it’s pure flattery, I cannot imagine Putin bothering to bestow such flattery on Trump’s predecessor.
At this same summit, Trump ordered a flyby of a B2 bomber – the ones that recently made a significant impression on the world, on Iran, and on Iran’s desert nuke factories.
After the summit, the leaders of NATO rushed to the White House to meet with the President. Seems the tariff imbroglio is all forgiven. Ukrainian President Zelenski showed up wearing something suit-ish. Trump called out “Emmanuel!” to French President Emmanuel Macron, who answered “Mr. President?”
Speaking with one voice – Trump’s – the leaders of the free world declared a desire for peace but made clear that they would not toss Ukraine under the Russian tanks. In fact, they hinted at NATO membership for Ukraine.
Sure, Russia will get some potato farms in Eastern Ukraine, and Putin will save face with his people (after slaughtering a quarter million of them) but Ukraine will survive, NATO will thrive, Europe will be strong, and America . . .
Well, America is back.
the Aspen beat 
The president walking around in a complete daze, fooling the media while talking to invisible beings. He’s our best and mightiest leader of the free world. That other guy with the silly basic red dress tie, lined up like an actor in “The Usual Suspects”. Well, it just shows to go ya’ how far we’ve fallen!
You got things wrong on the Ed Sullivan show in the 50’s and 60’s, Jose, in the guise of humor. It’s something that your still at it half a century later.
I never thought Putin would invade had Trump been president. Nice to hear Putin confirm that. As for the picture. There are taller heads of state but no one upstages Trump, though I do like the blonde from Italy. I’ve often felt that Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary and Ukraine, Romania, etc. should band together and fix the situation with boots on the ground. Ukraine gets help and in return, the other states, most of which seem to be fairly well governed should clean up Ukraine. FELLUPS. Then they all leave NATO.
We should back them, but stay out of the area. If Putin threatens nukes, well, we have them, too.