 | Trump moves the Overton window again, and masterfully so. See below for a clinic on how he does it: |
In an explosive interview with German newspaper Bild and The Times of London, Trump unleashed a volley of verbal attacks on Europe, hailing Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and saying more countries were going to quit the bloc.
“I said a long time ago — that NATO had problems. Number one it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago,” he said. “Number two — the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay. I took such heat, when I said NATO was obsolete. It’s obsolete because it wasn’t taking care of terror.”
| Trump states the obvious -- the elephant in the room. He then points out that he took heat for saying it but that's he right. Not only is all that true, but it now sets up the argument. |
With fears growing in Europe over the US President-elect’s commitment to the transatlantic alliance and over signs he will pivot towards Russia, Merkel warned that the continent now had to take responsibility for itself.
| Bingo! That's the point that Trump wanted to deliver. If he had said that it wouldn't have worked, but he got Merkel to say it for him. |
“We Europeans have our fate in our own hands,” Merkel told reporters in Berlin when asked about Trump’s criticisms, adding that she will work towards getting the EU to strengthen the economy and fight terrorism.
| Why yes, Angela, that would be useful wouldn't it? Trump couldn't say it any better -- get your economy going again and stand up to the thugs invading your country. |
Germany’s foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Europe was stunned by Trump’s remarks on NATO, just five days ahead of the billionaire businessman’s inauguration as president.
| Europe was indeed stunned, as people are when you point out that the Emperor is buck-nekkid... |
“The interview statements of the American president-elect ... caused, indeed here in Brussels, astonishment and agitation,” Steinmeier said as he went from a meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to talks with EU counterparts.
| Precisely what Trump wanted. No need to pour oil on the water unless it's fuel grade and you intend to light it off... |
France’s top diplomat Jean-Marc Ayrault said “the best response” to Trump’s comments was “the unity of Europeans”.
| That would be nice, useful and absolutely novel... |
NATO said it was “absolutely confident” that the US would remain “committed” to the organisation.
| Until tomorrow's tweet... |
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