The Lunatic Fringe - Political Chat

chieftain said:

Someone really cocked up there.

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Goldhedge said:

GROK
Summary of the 2025 National Security StrategyThe 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS), issued under President Trump's leadership, presents an "America First" framework aimed at restoring U.S. sovereignty, economic strength, and global preeminence. It critiques prior post-Cold War policies as overambitious and burdensome, advocating a pragmatic, restrained approach that prioritizes core national interests through "peace through strength." The document links clear objectives with available U.S. assets—like its innovative economy, military power, and alliances—to achieve a "new golden age," while rejecting globalism, non-reciprocal alliances, and mass migration.Executive Summary: Key Themes and ObjectivesThe NSS emphasizes protecting American independence, safety, and prosperity by focusing on vital interests: secure borders, a dominant military and economy, energy independence, reindustrialization, and fair alliances. Overarching themes include rejecting endless wars and economic exploitation, fostering hemispheric stability, and countering threats like adversarial dominance and cultural erosion. Objectives: Halt destabilizing migration, achieve technological leadership (e.g., AI, biotech), ensure burden-sharing (e.g., allies committing 5% of GDP to defense), and build prosperity for American workers. A key quote: "The survival and safety of the United States as an independent republic is the overriding end of American strategy."Main Sections

• Introduction – What Is American Strategy?
  Critiques vague, globalist strategies that offloaded U.S. costs. Praises Trump's first-term corrections (e.g., trade deals, peace accords). Purpose: Define clear ends (what the U.S. wants), means (assets), and a viable plan. Priority: Focus on core interests over peripheral ones.
• What Should the United States Want?
  Outlines domestic goals (e.g., resilient infrastructure, nuclear deterrent, cultural health) and global aims (e.g., stable hemisphere, open Indo-Pacific, secure Europe). Rejects imposing U.S. values abroad; prioritizes border control and economic reciprocity.
• What Are America’s Available Means?
  Highlights U.S. strengths: world's largest economy, advanced tech, geography, and patriotic populace. Domestic agenda: Deregulation, tax cuts, energy unleashing, and rooting out "DEI" inefficiencies. Strategy: Leverage these for economic warfare, diplomacy, and deterrence.
• The Strategy
  • Principles: Pragmatic realism, non-interventionism (high bar for military action), sovereignty respect, balance of power, and merit-based competence. Emphasizes "muscular restraint" and pro-worker policies.
  • Priorities: End mass migration; protect liberties; enforce burden-sharing (e.g., "Hague Commitment"); reindustrialize via tariffs and incentives; achieve energy dominance.
  • The Regions: Targeted, non-exhaustive focus.
    • Western Hemisphere: Enforce "Trump Corollary" to Monroe Doctrine; counter cartels and foreign influence; reward aligned partners with trade/investment.
    • Asia: Deter China (e.g., Taiwan, South China Sea); reverse trade imbalances; strengthen Quad alliances.
    • Europe: End Ukraine war; promote sovereignty and birthrates; support patriotic movements.
    • Middle East: Expand Abraham Accords; shift burdens to allies; avoid nation-building.
    • Africa: Shift to trade partnerships; resolve conflicts via negotiation; secure resources without long-term commitments.

Threats and ChallengesThe NSS identifies multifaceted risks: military aggression (e.g., from China, Iran); hostile influence (espionage, propaganda, fentanyl trafficking); mass uncontrolled migration destabilizing the hemisphere; economic sabotage (IP theft, supply chain vulnerabilities); nuclear proliferation; terrorism; and regional spillovers (e.g., Ukraine, Middle East conflicts). Broader challenges include ally free-riding, energy dependencies, civilizational decline in Europe (e.g., low birthrates), and transnational erosion of sovereignty. Risks from overextension and predatory adversaries controlling chokepoints (e.g., Strait of Hormuz) are highlighted, with a warning: "A world on fire is not in America's interest."Policy Pillars and FrameworksThe strategy rests on 11 pillars: (1) "America First" prioritization; (2) Peace through strength (economic/military deterrence); (3) Focused national interests; (4) Non-interventionist predisposition; (5) Flexible realism in relations; (6) Primacy of sovereign nations; (7) Sovereignty protection; (8) Balance of power to prevent hegemony; (9) Pro-worker prosperity; (10) Fairness in alliances/trade; (11) Competence via meritocracy. Frameworks include unconventional diplomacy (e.g., brokering eight peace deals in Trump's first term), economic tools (tariffs, export controls), and regional realignments without imposing regime change.Implementation and ConclusionImplementation relies on presidential leadership, interagency coordination (e.g., NSC for migration/threat monitoring), and tools like tariffs, alliances (e.g., 5% GDP defense pledges), military redeployments, and public-private investments (e.g., via Export-Import Bank). Resources: U.S. dollar dominance, capital markets, and conditional aid/weapons sales. The conclusion ties assets to action, asserting Trump's approach will deliver peace and greatness: "With focused strategy, connected ends and means, and the right leadership, America will be greater than ever." No new institutions are proposed; emphasis is on agility and merit.

https://x.com/i/grok/share/QVquf8Oc4AwDy7yZyGyX9xExO

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searcher said:

Update

Court seems likely to side with Trump on president’s power to fire FTC commissioner

Updated on Dec. 8 at 5:05 p.m. The Supreme Court on Monday morning signaled that it was likely to strike down a federal law that restricts the president’s ability to […]

www.scotusblog.com

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Michael Flynn Warns China’s “Unrestricted Warfare” Targets U.S. From Within, Lara Logan Reports​