I am not saying the US is a reliable ally: from my incomplete observations the USA has abandoned allies many times. Last Friday’s show down at the WH (see Al Jazeera English: Zelenskyy and Trump clash in Oval Office) once again shows that United States is no longer a reliable ally. I talked about this in my earlier post – The allies or partners America abandoned over the years, the post I wrote about a year ago – and have since updated it from time to time. I guess the difference is in the past, the USA at least pretend to be an ally for “human rights”, “democracy”, blah blah blah. Now it’s naked “whoever is the strongest in the room gets most of the things”. In a way that’s also a good thing, I know at least since the fall of Soviet Union in 1991, the USA is the sole super power in the world, and in the process of being the “world police”, the USA also caused a lot of shenanigans over the years too: Afghanistan and Iraq are are two places the US suffered bigly on military front, and there are other notable setbacks including the Black hawk down, to the Four Americans Killed at U.S. Embassy in Libya.
(YT) Malcolm Nance Has Reached His Limit on Ukraine
“To be enemy of the US is dangerous, to be the friend of the US is fatal“, Henry Kissinger via Jeff Sachs, LIVE | ‘Ukraine War is OVER’ – Jeffrey Sachs Stuns EU Parliament, Challenges US-Led Order! | CLRCUT
Why the US helped Ukraine in the 1st place?
Now I think about it, it seems to me it’s not just fulfill a treaty i.e., Budapest Memorandum. There are other motives. For example, the weaponry sold (or given to) the Ukraines are not the latest and greatest, in many cases they are going to be retired from the US military anyway, and the US military will get new weaponry after giving away the old ones. It also supports the employment and manufacturing of the US military industrial complex. Last but not least, to weaken the Russia at the cost of Ukraines.
Re: last point. Every life lost is not a number for families and friends. In the case of Ukraine, because they are a much smaller country compared to Russia, the loss of young people for them has even more severe blow to their country. The US had some experience on this in Vietnam (1965 to 1975?), and to less extent in the wars in Afghanistan (2001 to 2021) and in Iraq (2003 to 2011).
Again it seems to me the motivation for the US help is not always pure or noble.
Trump 2.0
With Trump back to the WH again, and keep in mind his 2.0 is quite different from 1.0 (back in year 2017).
He pulled out of the Paris Climate accord on day 1 (again).
He essentially dismantled the USAid: food, poverty alleviation, and health programs.
PS:
NPR: An abrupt departure as USAID workers return to clear their desks at DC headquarters.
NPR: USAID workers return to HQ to pick up their things
This is from the USAID website right now via Bluesky.
(CNN) USAID reinstates contracts for Georgia company that helps feed malnourished kids after Elon Musk responds to CNN reporting (Now, imagine all the essential and similar requests have to go through social media and get Musk’s attention to be re-instated, this seems like a not sustainable or efficient way to do business).
(Time) Her Small Business Helps Disabled Kids Learn. USAID Cuts Have Pushed It Toward Bankruptcy