My brother had a theory. When a new inexperienced officer took up his assignment, he sought out the most experienced non-com willing to work with him. My brother called the second man "the little sergeant." The little sergeant, if he was smart, stayed in the background but made sure his own interests were accommodated as well as giving the new officer some workable advice that the officer felt was a real help.
I believe that when he became President, Trump immediately chose Putin to be his "little sergeant.
Nearly every major foreign policy position Trump has taken has benefitted Putin. Abandoning NATO, undercutting the EU, pushing for Brexit, stopping the US/South Korea/Japan military exercises, ending the Iran and Paris deals, and ending our relationship with Cuba all are what Putin wants.
Even on domestic issues, Putin's agenda is visible. In terms of who Trump put on his cabinet, as Putin has oligarchs on his, Trump put millionaires and billionaires o
n his. Both are anti-free press, both replaced judges where they could, Intimidated opposing politicians, ignoring laws they do not like or that put limits on their authority. And Putin is a master at telling lies, describing how everything is going in glowing terms, trying to set the national dialogue on his own terms and having nothing to do with reality. Sound familiar?
So far, there has been one area that Trump has not followed Putin. Putin has no problem killing people he does not like. Trump has not intentionally tried to assassinate anyone yet.
Even on climate change, Trump has followed Putin almost like a puppy. Putin's reason? Russia's primary resources are oil and gas.
Maybe Trump is following Hitler's playbook but it is Putin that he can't wait to go see for private conversations . . . and Putin's suggestions about what to do next. Putin is Trump's "little sergeant."
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