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Trump's extension of [[Executive Order]] 13660 for another year means that the war will continue for another year, only without [[US]] assistance, and it remains to be seen what the "unfriendly" European powers can bring to the table to continue more suffering and death. Alternatively, the US encouraging Europe to beef up its defense spending and take responsibility for itself is in line with Trump (and even Putin's) desire for a dissolution, or withdrawal, of the United States from [[NATO]]. [[User:RobSmith|RobS]]<sup>[[User talk:RobSmith|''Zelensky Must Go!'']]</sup> 12:26, March 1, 2025 (EST)
Trump's extension of [[Executive Order]] 13660 for another year means that the war will continue for another year, only without [[US]] assistance, and it remains to be seen what the "unfriendly" European powers can bring to the table to continue more suffering and death. Alternatively, the US encouraging Europe to beef up its defense spending and take responsibility for itself is in line with Trump (and even Putin's) desire for a dissolution, or withdrawal, of the United States from [[NATO]]. [[User:RobSmith|RobS]]<sup>[[User talk:RobSmith|''Zelensky Must Go!'']]</sup> 12:26, March 1, 2025 (EST)
===Meetings between heads of state===
Meetings between [[heads of state]] are carefully crafted and carefully scripted. One off-script word by either party can throw the meeting into chaos (as just witnessed). At the [[Riyadh]] meeting last week, the US side was reported to have asked for a summit with Putin, and the Russian response was reported to be more time is needed for preparation.
In 1972 the Moscow Summit between [[Nixon]] & [[Brezhnev]] that ushered in the age of ''[[detente]]'' was nearly derailed at the last minute because of an off-the-cuff comment made by Brezhnev. As Nixon arrived in Moscow, a light mist was falling. As Nixon stepped off the plane Brezhnev greeted him with, "This is a mushroom rain". When the off-script comment was translated, it was interpreted as a threat. What did Brezhnev mean by that? a mushroom cloud? [[nuclear war]]? [[nuclear winter]]? etc. The translators had to sort things out and play diplomat for a few minutes.
In Russia, like [[baseball]] in the [[United States]], mushroom hunting in the woods in the national pastime. It's a big weekend family event for city dwellers, complete with instruction guides, where and when to hunt for what type of mushrooms, etc. The translators had only minutes to explain this cultural phenomenon and idiom to American State Department and White House officials, and that nothing was implied by the off-hand remark, and hope it would be received well in [[good faith]] by the American side.
But of course, when you have an undisciplined [[cocaine]] addict and [[popular culture]] figure like [[Volodymyr Zelensky]] representing your interests, it's a disaster waiting to happen. [[User:RobSmith|RobS]]<sup>[[User talk:RobSmith|''Zelensky Must Go!'']]</sup> 13:19, March 1, 2025 (EST)