re: #64 Shiplord Kirel

Contrast with 1962 and the Cuban Missile Crisis. When nuclear missiles were first confirmed in Cuba, President Kennedy had US ambassadors brief allied leaders in person. The ambassador in France offered to provide the reconnaissance photos themselves to President DeGaulle so French experts could confirm them. DeGaulle, a most unlikely candidate for any kind of snow-job, responded, “No, the word of the President of the United States is good enough for me.” He immediately announced his public support for Kennedy.

I would suggest that historically this was nearly always the case, at least since 1900. Everyone recognized the USA had the best intel and the best minds available (with a few notable exceptions) and that no American president (with a certain exception) would knowingly make a demonstrably false statement of international importance.

We’ve gone from that to being the laughingstock of the world in just a few short months.

Trump rejects intel from the IC, because he doesn’t trust them. He has stripped the State Department of a large number of its experts. His SoS has no experience suitable for the job, and he’s basically only a figurehead, anyway. He even rejects the advice of his own military advisors.

I’m honestly afraid to return to the USA now.