

Trump’s complaints regarding the US Sanctions Bill, which it would have been futile to veto because the US Congress would have overridden it, show that he is Putin’s boy in a way that is shocking to even the most convinced that he is in bed with the Russian government and oligarchs. His objections are almost entirely about sanctions against Russia. They also show that he regrets the democratic process, strongly suggesting that he aspires to dictatorship. Even regarding energy, his comment on the sanctions shows that he favors Russia over the US. Frighteningly, his statements show a wish to approve Russia rolling over its neighbors. It is worth remembering that the Russian Empire included Alaska in the not very distant past (150 years ago).



Alaska Purchase

Trump already worked to further weaken the already weak sanctions bill. Almost immediately after becoming President, he undid important sanctions and this sanctions bill doesn’t appear to have restored them: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/us-grand-jury-indicted-officers-of-the-russian-security-service-fsb-for-cybercrimes-trump-relaxed-sanctions-against-fsb-re-it-cyber-products-trump-advisor-flynn-paid-to-speak-by-russias-kasper/

Donald J. Trump (August 2, 2017): “Still, the bill remains seriously flawed – particularly because it encroaches on the executive branch’s authority to negotiate… By limiting the Executive’s flexibility, this bill makes it harder for the United States to strike good deals for the American people,… I built a truly great company worth many billions of dollars. That is a big part of the reason I was elected. As President, I can make far better deals with foreign countries than Congress.” (Donald J. Trump, August 02, 2017 – His original statements may be seen at the bottom of this blog post.)

Trump has declared bankruptcy at least four times by his own admission!

If Trump hadn’t signed it the US Congress would have easily overridden his veto: https://www.c-span.org/congress/bills/bill/?115/hr3364

Trump complains: “sections 253 and 257, those provisions purport to displace the President’s exclusive constitutional authority to recognize foreign governments, including their territorial bounds,.. section 216 seeks to grant the Congress the ability to change the law outside the constitutionally required process.”

“certain provisions, such as sections 254 and 257, purport to direct my subordinates in the executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives, in contravention of the President’s exclusive constitutional authority to determine the time, scope, and objectives of international negotiations. And other provisions, such as sections 104, 107, 222, 224, 227, 228, and 234, would require me to deny certain individuals entry into the United States, without an exception for the President’s responsibility to receive ambassadors under Article II, section 3 of the Constitution.” (Donald J. Trump, August 02, 2017)

https://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm

From H.R. 3364:

“SEC. 216. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW OF CERTAIN ACTIONS RELATING TO SANCTIONS IMPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

SEC. 222. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

SEC. 224. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION UNDERMINING CYBERSECURITY.

SEC. 227. MANDATORY IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SIGNIFICANT CORRUPTION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

SEC. 228. MANDATORY IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH FOREIGN SANCTIONS EVADERS AND SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.

SEC. 234. SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSFER OF ARMS AND RELATED MATERIEL TO SYRIA.”

“SEC. 253. STATEMENT OF POLICY. The United States, consistent with the principle of ex injuria jus non oritur, supports the policy known as the ‘‘Stimson Doctrine” and thus does not recognize territorial changes effected by force, including the illegal invasions and occupations of Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, and Transnistria….

“SEC. 254. COORDINATING AID AND ASSISTANCE ACROSS EUROPE AND EURASIA.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated for the Countering Russian Influence Fund $250,000,000 for fiscal years 2018 and 2019….”

“SEC. 257. UKRANIAN ENERGY SECURITY.

(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States—

(1) to support the Government of Ukraine in restoring its sovereign and territorial integrity;

(2) to condemn and oppose all of the destabilizing efforts by the Government of the RussianFederation in Ukraine in violation of its obligations and international commitments;

(3) to never recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Government of the Russian Federation or the separation of any portion of Ukrainian territory through the use of military force;

(4) to deter the Government of the Russian Federation from further destabilizing and invading Ukraine and other independent countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucuses;

(5) to assist in promoting reform in regulatory oversight and operations in Ukraine’s energy sector, including the establishment and empowerment of an independent regulatory organization;

(6) to encourage and support fair competition, market liberalization, and reliability in Ukraine’s energy sector;

(7) to help Ukraine and United States allies and partners in Europe reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources, especially natural gas, which the Government of the Russian Federation uses as a weapon to coerce, intimidate, and influence other countries;

(8) to work with European Union member states and European Union institutions to promote energy security through developing diversified and liberalized energy markets that provide diversified sources, suppliers, and routes;

(9) to continue to oppose the NordStream 2 pipeline given its detrimental impacts on the European Union’s energy security, gas market development in Central and Eastern Europe, and energy reforms in Ukraine; and

(10) that the United States Government should prioritize the export of United States energy resources in order to create American jobs, help United States allies and partners, and strengthen United States foreign policy..” (H.R. 3364) https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr3364/BILLS-115hr3364ih.pdf

Note that this suggests export of US oil and/or gas to compete with Russia in Europe and the Ukraine. His opposition to item 10 is in stark contrast to his apparent push to promote the US oil and gas industry.

Trump already worked to weaken these already weak sanctions: “My Administration has attempted to work with Congress to make this bill better. We have made progress and improved the language to give the Treasury Department greater flexibility in granting routine licenses to American businesses, people, and companies. The improved language also reflects feedback from our European allies – who have been steadfast partners on Russia sanctions – regarding the energy sanctions provided for in the legislation. The new language also ensures our agencies can delay sanctions on the intelligence and defense sectors, because those sanctions could negatively affect American companies and those of our allies.”

He already undid important sanctions and this sanctions bill doesn’t appear to have restored them: https://miningawareness.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/us-grand-jury-indicted-officers-of-the-russian-security-service-fsb-for-cybercrimes-trump-relaxed-sanctions-against-fsb-re-it-cyber-products-trump-advisor-flynn-paid-to-speak-by-russias-kasper/



“German–Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Demarcation” map showing the agreed invasion-splitting of Poland by Germany and the Soviet Union signed by Joseph Stalin and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop 28 September 1939. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German–Soviet_Frontier_Treaty#/media/File:Mapa_2_paktu_Ribbentrop-Mołotow.gif Public domain via Wikimedia. The Molotov-Ribbentop Pact of 1939 led to the partitioning of Poland with the German Army invading from the west and the Soviet army from the east.

“8:58 PM

September 26 by Michelle Lee

Fact Check: Has Trump declared bankruptcy four or six times?

“You’ve taken business bankruptcies six times.” –Hillary Clinton

“On occasion – four times – we used certain laws that are there.”

–Donald Trump

THE FACT CHECKER | Clinton is correct….”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2016/live-updates/general-election/real-time-fact-checking-and-analysis-of-the-first-presidential-debate/fact-check-has-trump-declared-bankruptcy-four-or-six-times

Poland helped win the American Revolution, while the ancestors of most Putin bootlickers, including Trump, were still in Europe, often as serfs, and often as serfs of the Russian empire. And, Americans who value their freedom may need Poland’s help again, as Poland may need American protection against Russian imperialism. In fact, Children of the American Revolution have more in common with Poland than with those who call themselves Americans but who prostrate themselves before Putin.



World War I Poster featuring Pulaski and Kosciusko





“Aug 02 2017

STATEMENT BY SASC CHAIRMAN JOHN McCAIN ON PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNING INTO LAW RUSSIA, IRAN & NORTH KOREA SANCTIONS BILL Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on President Trump signing into law the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, legislation that strengthens and expands sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea:

“I welcome President Trump’s decision to sign legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The enactment of this legislation, which enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in both houses of Congress, sends a strong message to friend and foe alike that the United States will hold nations accountable for aggressive and destabilizing behavior that threatens our national interests and those of our allies and partners.

“The concerns expressed in the President’s signing statement are hardly surprising, though misplaced. The Framers of our Constitution made the Congress and the President coequal branches of government. This bill has already proven the wisdom of that choice.

“While the American people surely hope for better relations with Russia, what this legislation truly represents is their insistence that Vladimir Putin and his regime must pay a real price for attacking our democracy, violating human rights, occupying Crimea, and destabilizing Ukraine. On this critical issue of national security policy, it was the Congress that acted in the spirit of national unity to carry out the will of the American people. And that is why it is critical that the President comply with the letter and spirit of this legislation and fully implement all of its provisions. Going forward, I hope the President will be as vocal about Russia’s aggressive behavior as he was about his concerns with this legislation.” ###

Permalink: https://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/8/statement-by-sasc-chairman-john-mccain-on-president-trump-signing-into-law-russia-iran-north-korea-sanctions-bill