By Jeff Davidson
Although it seems hard to fathom, Joe Biden is still president. He thoroughly fears Vladimir Putin. As such, Ukraine and the world has suffered. Donald Trump did not fear Putin, and so Russia did not gain one square inch of Ukrainian territory from 2017 to 2020.
Recently, Putin announced that he preferred Harris in the coming election. What a surprise. Actually, Putin fears Trump, and why not? Trump was as tough on Russia and as any U.S. president as ever been. If you doubt this, let’s rewind the clock.
Leftist Pipe Dreams
In Trump’s fourth month in office, the supremely obnoxious TV show host Stephen Colbert delighted his millions of ignorant viewers by repugnantly remarking that, “The only thing [Trump’s] mouth is good for is being Vladimir Putin’s c–k holster.” Seven years later, Colbert is still preaching the same historical crap.
On occasion Trump has mentioned his admiration for Putin’s leadership style, and this has been completely misunderstood by Colbert, Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, and the mainstream media, who continue their nonstop lies about Donald Trump being soft on Russia. Apparently, none of these brilliant Lefties ever took a Management 101 course: “Praise in public, scold in private.”
One month after Colbert, Pelosi blabbed, “I don’t know what the Russians have on the president,” referring to the “Russian bounty”’ hoax that the Left spread in mid-2017.
The Record Reveals All
What did President Trump actually do in relation to Russia during his time in office? Here are a handful of examples:
* Imposed sanctions on Russian companies and Russian entities, blocking at least $3 billion worth of deals from going into Russian coffers.
* Placed harsh economic restrictions on a group of Russian oligarchs which effectively puts more pressure on Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader has illegally amassed enormous wealth – exceeding $25 billion – in the last two decades, but he can’t hold all that wealth in his own name, so he appointed oligarch cronies to be his trustees. Putting his oligarchs on sanctions hurts Putin big time.
* Levied considerable financial sanctions and travel restrictions on 50-plus individuals who have been accused of human rights abuses and corruption under both the Magnitsky Act and the Global Magnitsky Act.
* Criticized NATO allies for not spending enough on defense, and was accused by the lamestream media of encouraging Russia to test alliance resolve. NATO allies, however, have taken steps to pay more, and NATO appears stronger than before, which is decidedly not the outcome Putin wanted.
* Authorized the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the U.S. in the wake of nerve agent attack on British soil, allegedly at the hands of the Kremlin.
* Approved the export of lethal weapons, including American-made Javelin antitank missiles, to help Ukraine shore up its eastern defenses against separatists backed by Moscow. More defense cooperation with Ukraine, as well as weapons sales are on the near horizon.
* Killed more than 200 Russian soldiers in Syria – U.S. troops were present as in Syria as much to limit Russian and Iranian influence on the country’s future as to fight the remnants of the Islamic State.
* Facilitated U.S. sales of more coal to energy-strapped Ukraine, while weakening Russia’s hold on oil exports.
* Ramped up militarily to pressure the Russian Federation as then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Defense Secretary work to strengthen alliances and military cooperation with Baltic states that share borders with Russia.
* Offered a proposal to Poland to host a permanent contingent of U.S. troops, in the way that Germany and Italy have done since World War II, to help secure Poland’s 180-mile-long border with Russia.
* Discussed with Ukraine’s president the enhancement of cooperation in security and defense sectors, and the importance of keeping tight sanctions on Russia – to Putin a most unwelcome development.
* Pressured Germany over its status as the largest buyer of Russian natural gas, and as a huge buyer of Russia coal and mineral oil.
* Sanctioned four Russian entities and seven individuals in response to a 2018 attempt to interfere in U.S. midterm elections, including Russian financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, a wealthy loyalist nicknamed “Putin’s chef” who has his mitts in many pies.
* Suspended its obligations under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty because Russia was not complying with it.
Handcuffed by Trump
As a Brookings Institute study revealed, the Trump administration enacted more than 50 sanctions or policy actions on Russia, many quite severe, from May 15, 2017, to 2020. The New York Times, the Washington Post, and Leftists everywhere prefer that you remain ignorant about these actions. They make their living by keeping citizens ignorant.
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Jeff Davidson is “The Work-Life Balance Expert®” and the premier thought leader on work-life balance, effectiveness, integration, shift, blend, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Perfect Timing, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit BreathingSpace.com or call 919-932-1996 for more information on Jeff’s keynote speeches and seminars.
