Trump’s Greenland gambit finds
allies inside government
Politico,
by
Daniel Lippman
Original Article
Posted By: M2,
8/24/2019 7:31:09 AM
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Donald Trump’s left-field idea to buy Greenland has been mocked by everyone from cable pundits to Danish pols — but it’s also given an internal boost to a small network of advocates in and outside the administration who have struggled to get traction for their ideas for boosting America’s ties to the frozen island territory.
Yet just when they have the president’s ear, the odds of success for even their more limited agenda of closer partnership have suddenly plunged as Trump fulminates against the prime minister of Denmark and doubles down on a proposal that is as impractical as it
Reply 1 - Posted by:
Highlander 8/24/2019 7:54:28 AM (No. 160731)
The US cannot afford to let the Chinese nor the Russians have Greenland. If it ever comes down to it, to heck with the Danes; take it and give them the money.
13 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
normal user 8/24/2019 7:55:32 AM (No. 160734)
Obviously an unorthodox way about this, but the overall idea is fantastic. It is a strategic no brainer on so many levels.
16 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
MMC 8/24/2019 8:10:46 AM (No. 160762)
Dear Mr President-
I would like to be The Attaché for the new Office opening in Greenland.
Sincerely,
MMC
10 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
gone2pot 8/24/2019 8:12:14 AM (No. 160764)
If we buy Greenland, there'll only be six more states to go and Obama can say he knew how many states we had all along.
16 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
LesUNo 8/24/2019 8:17:35 AM (No. 160772)
Is this the same Prime Minister of Denmark who was caught taking highly inappropriate selfies with Obama and the Mandela Funeral while a scary looking Michelle seethed in the background?
25 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Judy W. 8/24/2019 8:24:11 AM (No. 160781)
Note how the author channels the State Department's line that Trump should have broached the subject through regular diplomatic channels over months. Trump knows perfectly well that if he had done that, (1) the idea would have immediately been leaked to the media and (2) the State Department would have made sure the idea died in its cradle.
18 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
bpl40 8/24/2019 8:36:34 AM (No. 160790)
The Louisiana Purchase and Alaska were also gambits at one time.
22 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Franz 8/24/2019 8:49:01 AM (No. 160815)
Greenland has been transitioning to being an independent territory with its own government and courts. At this time, it is questionable if Denmark has the right to sell it. The Greenlanders themselves may be the ones who would have the right to sell it.
15 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
The Remnants 8/24/2019 9:05:10 AM (No. 160839)
The great thing about Trump is that he keeps moving on. I am sure many of his ideas are his own, but I think he must have some pretty good people on staff who keep coming up with something new to think about, unlike the progressives/regressives who spend all their energies on old news and old plans.
I guess that is because The President is a businessman, and if you want to be successful in business you keep looking for something fresh.
18 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
worried 8/24/2019 9:39:15 AM (No. 160878)
Just a thought - if Greenland is melting so fast, why didn't people wait for it to thaw down to where those planes were embedded under 50 feet of ice since the 1940's? And when did it stop making ice and start melting? Oh, wait! It started melting around the year 800 or so, in order for the Vikings yo find a land that was green! So, does that mean the sun was closer during those tears, or just hotter? Or did the sun wax and wane like the moon does? Climate scientists are probing that mystery, too. /S
6 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
DVC 8/24/2019 10:00:06 AM (No. 160903)
As I understand it, this was NOT "Trump's left-field idea" - it was an offer by Denmark to try to attract Trump to visit them when he didn't think there was any reason to visit (irrelevant) Denmark.
2 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
Catfur27 8/24/2019 10:36:45 AM (No. 160955)
Denmark doesn't want to sell Greenland...??...fine...DJT will just buy Denmark !! ...and get Greenland in the package ....MAGA!!
4 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
bighambone 8/24/2019 11:12:38 AM (No. 161003)
President Trump always starts with an extreme negotiating position, thus giving him room to move towards a deal that the other side can except. That’s the way effective negotiations, according to Trump, should be initially structured, proceed, and eventually come to an amicable conclusion.
Greenland is in a important and ever increasingly strategic geographic location. If China or Russia gain a foothold in Greenland there is nothing that a very small country like Denmark that now owns Greenland on their own could do about it, and you can bet that the Danish Prime Minister would not think that it would be “absurd” for Trump and the USA to then come to Denmark’s assistance.
6 people like this.
Geographically isn't Greenland larger than Denmark? Perhaps Greenland could sell Denmark to us. ;-)
2 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Luandir 8/24/2019 12:57:58 PM (No. 161086)
This is an idea worth pursuing, but it should have been kept under wraps until things were ready to happen.
1 person likes this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
NotaBene 8/24/2019 1:01:01 PM (No. 161089)
Our President is a genius. Puts the EU in its place as a client of the USA.
1 person likes this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Strike3 8/24/2019 2:51:08 PM (No. 161164)
Cuba and Puerto Rico would be wise purchases as well, if somebody else would take the people.
0 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Strike3 8/24/2019 2:55:38 PM (No. 161168)
On a side note, strategic location no longer matters in modern warfare with nuclear submarines 3.1 miles off the coast. All of our major cities would be dead before the keeper of the football got the combination entered. (If they were permitted to get that close)
0 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Bohallx 8/24/2019 4:25:24 PM (No. 161226)
When Denmark went Nazi in elections before WWII, the USA moved into Greenland to occupy it to protect what became vital allied shipping lanes.
Denmark later on joined the EU/EC that has rules about colonies so they had to put Greenland on a course to self-rule.
So, the problem ~ WE HAD IT.
WE didn't need to give it back to Denmark, no more than we needed to give SW Africa back to Germany, nor Tanganyika in the aftermath of WWI (as examples), and the reasons why we gave it back to Denmark are specious at best.
What we need to do is reoccupy Greenland because it has vast stores of mineral wealth we need (including rare earths), and it continues to be strategic if otherwise inhospitable.
Oh, and because that territory was OURS as a result of valid conquest.
0 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
Omen55 8/24/2019 7:06:47 PM (No. 161328)
Just to be clear they will not be using white balls on the golf course.
0 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 8/24/2019 7:18:00 PM (No. 161341)
How cool would it be to spend a week or two in Nuuk and not need a passport or have to clear customs.
0 people like this.
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