What's Happening? Part 3

Donald Trump did everything except bestow a smooch

Right on Putin's Russian ass - completely screwed the pooch.

Dancing like a puppet to the tune that Russia sings...

Makes me wonder why Trump's letting Putin pull his strings.

Trump said that he couldn't understand why Russia would

Meddle in U.S. elections and that Mueller should

End the witch hunt... Never mind that everyone agrees

Presidents leave politics behind when overseas.

Presidents don't disregard the briefings from their staff,

Don't ignore indictments, then explain it as a gaff.

They trust their intelligence reports and don't agree

With the word of former members of the KGB. 

I don't know what's happening or how we reassure

NATO allies in the region, but one thing's for sure

Putin got the guy he wanted - Trump as president -

And he's proving more than worth the rubles Russia spent.

Even Tom Clancy Couldn't Make This Sh!t Up

 

Donald Trump's a thin-skinned bully who can dish it out

But can't take it; no clue what diplomacy's about.

He's attacking NATO and G7 (make that 6)

Allied nations - while excusing Russia's dirty tricks.

Trump's a raging bull inside a global China shop.

Now we're only waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He's flown off to meet with North Korea's Kim Jong-un...

Gee! What could go wrong with that?  I guess we'll find out soon.

Welcome to the new world order, a la Donald Trump;

One where the United States drops trou' and takes a dump

On the countries which have had our back for all these years.

Trump's A Clear and Present Danger - Sum of my worst fears.

The Shove Seen 'round the World

Donald Trump, the President of these United States,

On an - almost - daily basis, clearly demonstrates

He's unfit to lead this country... An embarrassment.

Yesterday, he shoved the Montenegrin President.

That's the newest NATO Member Donald Trump just shoved.

I'm sure that's a video that Putin must have loved.

Some believe it's only right our President went first...

I thought that it showed the world our country at its worst. 

A Friend In Need Is A Problem

President Obama has been trying to decide

If, by sending lethal aid to Ukraine, we will slide

Down the slope that leads to war with Russia.  In the end,

How far should the U.S. go to help support a friend?

Putin seeks a land bridge to Crimea and he'll kill

To get what he's after...  Then he'll stop.  But not until.

Putin's made that clear beyond the shadow of a doubt;

Proving sanctions on his country don't wield any clout.

He's content to wait those out - continuing to lie -

Gambling that NATO forces aren't prepared to die

In a bid to stop him from annexing more Ukraine,

Trying to rebuild the Russia of Joe Stalin's reign.

Since they aren't a NATO member, Putin may be right.

E.U. isn't rushing to join Kiev in its fight.

U.S. lethal aid will just add to the list of dead.

Let's not get involved in places Europe fears to tread.

Would You Trust This Man?

Russia has agreed to meet with Germany and France;

Putin's giving Merkel and Hollande another chance

To negotiate a peaceful ending in Ukraine -

Hoping to curtail the numbers of civilians slain. 

But, although I wish them luck on getting this resolved,

Putin, who's denying there are Russian troops involved,

(Even with the evidence from NATO that's a lie)

Doesn't seem like someone bent on giving peace a try...

Not unless Ukraine agrees that Russia play a role

In the Eastern provinces that separatists just stole.

Give him everything he wants and Putin's fine with peace.

Only then - and not before - will war in Ukraine cease.

Putin's Fairytales

 

Secretary Kerry's on a visit to Ukraine

Where he'll be a welcome guest when he gets off his plane,

Since Kiev is hoping that he'll promise lethal aid;

Weapons meant to counter recent gains that rebels made.

Eastern Ukraine's rebel forces, armed with Russian guns,

Plus an unknown number of poor Mother Russia's sons,

Started bombing towns - anticipating an attack -

Pushing forward in the knowledge Putin has their back.

Now that he controls what Russian media dares say,

Putin won't let little things like truth get in the way.

He's convinced his population that it's worth the pain

Sanctions are inflicting 'cause they're "rescuing" Ukraine.

Putin says that Russian aid is sent to help the poor;

That the big, bad West is slavering at Russia's door.

This time though, when Kerry's in the Russian news tonight

Putin's story that we're intervening might be right.

The Problem With Putin

 

Russia's ruble's plummeting because of cheaper oil.

Tensions there are simmering and could come to a boil

As we tighten sanctions further, turning up the heat,

Hoping Russia changes course; that they'll admit defeat.

Problem, as I see it, is that Putin's still in charge

And his cult of personality's grown rather large.

Thanks to Russian media, which Putin now controls,

Most of Russia stands by him, according to the polls.

NATO says that Putin's getting bolder by the day;

Economic sanctions don't appear to hold much sway.

Those may work on other countries and their leaders, but

I've begun to worry Putin really is a nut.

Sincerest Sympathies to NATO Leaders

 

 NATO member leaders, who are gathering in Wales,

Greeted news that France postponed 2 Russian warship sales.

France has been reluctant to give up the revenue

But, with Putin's actions, it's the safest thing to do.

NATO is unhappy about Russians in Ukraine;

Angry that their missiles killed a passenger airplane;

Skeptical of anything that Putin has to say;

Worried that they can't predict how far he plans to stray.

NATO also has to deal with the Islamic State;

(Savage terrorists whose ideology is hate)

Unsure about Syria and which guys they should shoot...

Crisis in Afghanistan - election's in dispute.

Certainly no shortage of the problems NATO faces.

They will be debating if there's need for forward bases.

NATO better start recruiting now to staff them all;

That's a lot of problem spots they're dealing with this Fall.

Dear E.U. - When Is Enough Enough?

Tell me that Putin isn't up to something...  Look at that smirk as he shakes hands with Ukraine's President. (Photo/ibtimes.co.uk)

Russia's new "incursion" into Southeastern Ukraine

(Something they're denying but reconnaissance makes plain)

May just be the straw to break the German camel's back;

Merkel called on Putin to demand he not attack.

Europe's been reluctant to impose a tough regime

Of the sanctions that might put a stop to Putin's scheme.

He supplies their energy and winter's coming soon...

And he has a reputation as a thuggish goon.

Ukraine's not a NATO member - thus, it's not our fight.

Troops won't be deployed to make sure Putin does what's right.

Sanctions seem to be the only weapons we can use.

His uncurbed aggression means the E.U. has to choose.

Will they simply sit and watch while Putin has his way;

Flouting diplomatic rules while sizing up new prey?

Do they take a stand against the Russians' latest move;

Or, by doing little, do they tacitly approve?

Food Fight!

 

Russian troops are massing on the border of Ukraine.

Putin says they won't invade; they're only there to train.

Recent incidents are making Putin hard to trust.

NATO fears his plans are more like; Sloviansk or bust.

Now we're in a food fight with him; Western imports banned.

Russians, used to fresh produce, will soon be eating canned.

Russia's also threatening its air space could be closed.

It's retaliation for the sanctions we imposed.

Some have called this Cold War II but, if you ask Ukraine

Or the people killed aboard a passenger airplane,

There is nothing cold about it... Stakes could not be higher

For the people standing in the line of Putin's fire.

The Putin Doctrine

(Photo/Courtesy of dailymail.co.uk)

Putin is preparing to invade Eastern Ukraine;

Calculating sanctions will be worth the land he'll gain.

Europe doesn't want the Russians cutting off their gas,

Making more effective sanctions difficult to pass.

John McCain believes Obama should send lethal aid;

Which, I fear, could be the worst mistake we've ever made.

That would only give Kiev false hope we'd joined their fight

And they could depend upon our military's might.

That's not gonna happen... Plus, our sending weapons there,

Still won't change the outcome.  It's a fight that's hardly fair.

Most of Russia sides with Putin...  Russia's pretty big;

Meaning Putin wields a club while Kiev waves a twig.

Short of using NATO forces, Putin's gonna win.

NATO doesn't want a war and won't send forces in.

Any lethal aid we sent could only make things worse;

Putin's actions aren't the kind our weapons would reverse.

Putin's Jedi Mind Tricks

Putin met with reporters to answer questions about Russian involvement in Ukraine.

Putin answered questions he'd collected on a list

And, though this is not a quote, what follows is the gist:

Troops in Russian uniforms, insignias torn off?

"Those are not the droids you're looking for."  We Russians scoff.

Clearly the Americans and NATO are at fault;

Caused these wounds between our countries, now they're adding salt.

Those are not our soldiers planting mine-fields in Ukraine.

'though we should invade, we didn't... That would be insane.

Tanks throughout Crimea and in cities farther East?

Russian speakers asked for help, and so we felt the least

That a caring, parent country is obliged to do

Is protect those people from the Fascists.  Wouldn't you?

Do not fall for Jedi mind tricks; Putin's not a knight.

True, he acts mediaeval and he's daring us to fight,

But he is delusional.  I think he finds this fun,

And there's nothing chivalrous in anything he's done.

Afghanistan - Zero Option Isn't One

Hamid Karzai is happy to point out the exit doors. (Photo/The Telegraph)

After all the blood and tears that NATO forces spilled,

After all the thousands of our soldiers who were killed,

After endless battles to suppress the Taliban,

Hamid Karzai says we're free to leave Afghanistan.

(We keep making empty threats that we will walk away.)

Held a Loya Jirga; elders wanted us to stay.

Karzai says he'll let us know; elections will decide,

'though the other candidates all want us by their side.

Don't know why he's stalling or what's going through his mind.

I don't understand why the agreement's not been signed.

We aren't going anywhere with Pakistan next door

(Even though, I'd think, we could launch drone strikes from off-shore.)

There's too much invested; Zero Option's really not...

Not a lot of choices; once we broke it, it was bought.

As we try to do our best to fix this failing state,

Karzai's still in charge, which means, all we can do is wait.

Across the Pond - Afghanistan: The Karzai Conspiracy Theory

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is pointing fingers. (Photo/Telegraph.Co.UK)

Karzai said the U.S. plays an underhanded role;

Working with the Taliban (behind the grassy knoll?)

Offering assistance to extremists 'cause our plan

Is to make them beg us to stay in Afghanistan.

Karzai thinks in areas (as much as 51?)

His men would already have the bad guys on the run

If it weren't for secret plans to make police look bad.

Recently he told the Afghans they were being had.

Maybe I am crazy but I don't believe a word.

It's the most ridiculous conspiracy I've heard.

They were, once, strategically important...  Times have changed.

Nowadays, 'most anywhere's more easily arranged.

Maybe if Chuck Hagel had been killed, the way they tried,

Karzai would believe that NATO leaders haven't lied.

Taliban is no-one's friend and, lest Karzai's forgot,

There's a lot of  U.S. forces out there getting shot.

Across the Pond - Afghanistan. Fool Me 21 Times?

Afghanistan.  (Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Fool me one time, shame on you... And two times? Shame on me.

In Afghanistan this week, they fooled NATO times three.

So much for us helping out.  We're target dummies now?

Someone has to stop this awful killing spree - somehow.

Forces we are training to step up as we draw down;

Teaching to defend the laws and streets of their own town,

Have a dreadful tendency to harbor in their midsts

Taliban extremists we do not have on our lists.

Men who open fire, killing everyone they can...

Seems to me the screening process hasn't gone to plan.

Maybe we should change the ammunition? Give them blanks.

When we have the chance to stand in front - decline, with thanks.

'though I know we plan to go and bring our people home,

Let's remember lessons learned as long ago as Rome;

When you deal with tribal customs things are slow to change.

Everyone's related and all families are strange.