Democrats should work to re-install International Military Tribunals when back in power.

[kentuck]

Some people need to stand trial, with due process, before an International Court, similar to the Nuremberg Trials.

It is not acceptable to say, "I was only following orders." There has to be personal responsibility in our leaders.

Putting people into gulags in El Salvador is an international crime. Threatening to invade sovereign countries' territories is a crime. Supporting dictators in violent aggression is a crime. Bribing and stealing from our citizens is a crime.

Standing by and doing nothing is inexcusable. We cannot accept that as Americans that defend and support our Constitution.

These accomplices in the Administration need to be held criminally accountable.

It is their "time for Jesus moment".

[DFW]

1. The list of necessary damage control by the next Democratic administration is very long.

I can only hope that..........

1.) there will BE a next Democratic administration, and
2.) their congressional majority is sufficient (and sufficiently well-led) to take their task seriously, and head-on without delay.

[kentuck]

2. I hear you.

But we have to maintain hope.

[DFW]

3. Agreed. Giving up is not an option.

Here in EU-land, there are only a very few that would disagree. Even the handful of AfD voters we know here share our views on the current administration, no matter how slimey his and Vance's gestures in their direction are.

[kentuck]

4. It is good to hear that we are not alone.

They understand that he is a world problem. But we are the only ones that can fix it. Or not fix it?

[DFW]

5. The EU countries are (officially, anyway) not interested in interfering in our internal politics.

The Germans on both sides all realize that Vance's visit with the far right AfD gave them a headline or two and a phot op, but he is not regarded as someone of substance here. It is not even much of a subject of discussion here that Brexit was nudged over the 50% mark by Russian interference. A reduced EU is a weakened EU. If I were at the inner core of the secret services of France, Germany, Canada, Mexico and the UK, I probably would be asking myself the question of whether or not it it would be in the vital inerests of the world to try to interfere in the next US elections. Would it even be possible to pull off without detection? Would any such effort encounter direct Russian opposition?

All that is dangerous territory, and I am glad I am nowhere near the circles capable of holding such discussions.

[kentuck]

7. Does the EU think Russia is intimately involved in the present political problems of America?

I know they are concerned about what is going on in the Ukraine. But, like everyone else, they do not wish to get involved in other people's politics.

The world is much smaller than it used to be.

[DFW]

10. The EU is trying to figure out whether or not to consider Russia a serious threat again

Just this past week a big article appeared in the German press speculating that the EU on its own couldn't repel a Russian attack. But I think the long term Russian view (as seen in Putin's eyes, anyway) is to neuter the EU as a military and political force. Putin has had to confront the weakness of his own military with his Ukrainian invasion. As far as the EU goes, I think that long term, he is facing the same question China is facing with Taiwan. China COULD invade Taiwan, and after some initial fierce resistance, conquer the island. But at what cost? Taiwan has a sopuisticated economy, tech industry and infrastructure. Beijing wants to own that intact, not destroy it and build it up again from the ground up. If they have the patience (and so far, they have), they'l just infiltrate and finance the politics to the point where re-unification will will a 50.2% vote, like Brexit, and not a shot will be fired.

The EU doesn't have one single opinion on the Russian manipulation, but we get the hint from a friend who was a years-long German news correspondent based in Moscow. He lived Putin's inner military adventures (Chechnya, eg) and his casual convenient murders (Anna Politovskaya--happened while we were visiting him there). Those people who have an opinion (far from all) tend to think that 2016 WAS a Russian coup of sorts, Putin knew Hillary, and was terrified of her. Trump owed Putin (via Deutsche Bank) money, and was far more susceptible to manipulation.

[kentuck]

11. I agree with your analysis of the China/Taiwan situation.

I think that is spot on. They have patience.

[DFW]

13. Their patience is scary

They are the only major power that takes such a long-term view that the currect ruler cares about long-term goals MORE than he cares about whether or not they are achieved during his own time in power. What other country has leaders with THAT kind of an outlook?

[kentuck]

14. Excellent point.

It is in their nature, I think?

[Chasstev365]

6. Who should be in the dock?

We would mostly agree who should be included, but I would make a case to include 3 individuals: John Roberts, for gving Trump unlimted immunity and Rupert Murdoch and Sean Hannity for their 25 years of lies and propaganda. Any Additions?

[kentuck]

8. We could start with those sitting around the large, oval table at the last Cabinet meeting...

As they went around the table and praised the good works of their Dear Leader. They are in positions of power, each and every one.

[Chasstev365]

9. I thought that was a given

I meant peripheral people who are to blame.

[kentuck]

12. I think those in the immediate circles of power...

...are the ones to hold accountable.

That would be the only logical way to proceed , in my opinion.

of course, criminals do not want a International Tribunal to exist.