Music To Putin's Ears

In a joint interview with German publication Bild and the Times of London, neo-fascist Putin puppy Donald "Rump" Trump called the alliance NATO "obsolete" and suggested that sanctions against Russia for its invasion and annexation of Crimea could be lifted in return for a "deal" on nuclear weapons. Rump's complaint about NATO seemed to center on its design "many, many years ago," and that some member nations were lagging in their defense contributions. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier indicated that the members of NATO were shaken by Rump's continued disparagement of the alliance, which has provided security for Europe for decades, first against the Soviet Union/Warsaw Pact, and recently against Russia's aggressive moves against Georgia, and Ukraine. He also suggested that Rump's position was in opposition to his own Defense Secretary nominee Gen. James Mattis.

Not surprisingly, siding with Rump's views was the Russian Federation. Russian autocrat Vladimir "Vlad the Invader" Putin's spokesperson claimed that the goal of NATO was "confrontation," something Russia doesn't appreciate when it's busy gobbling up other nations' territories. Russia has had a long history of opposing a unified free Europe, and has been funding nationalist/right wing parties in a number of NATO countries to undermine the alliance which stands in the way of their ambitions. In Rump, they appear to have a new ally in their effort.