Yep, and I expect the US to take a high dive off a short board, so I'm grateful to the rest of the world for holding civilization together while we pick up the pieces.
I like reading all of your columns Fred but this one is particularly earth shattering. Carney opened the door with his Davos speech but I didn't anticipate that Meloni would be the one to blow the doors right off of their hinges. Finally, someone comparing Trump’s actions to Putin's invasion of Ukraine reveals exactly what he is in no uncertain terms. He's Illegally violating another country's sovereignty. Trump should be removed from office for this gross violation of international law and his assault on humanity.
And more countries need to stop playing along to get along with the USA. I don’t like her politics (if I were Italian, I never would have voted for her), but she did the right thing. The USA has not ousted a pedophile nor will they oust a murderer. Somebody has to stand up and say this is wrong. One last note, Trump invaded Venezuela, same principle as Putin invading Ukraine. The rules do apply to Trump and Netanyahu as well as Putin. All three men have committed international war crimes. And I believe the US Congress has as well. Furthermore, The USA should have been held accountable when they overturned the Iranian regime in the 1950s.
Zoe, there’s a lot in that history, and it’s understandable why people feel strongly about it.
One thing that’s actually factual in your comment is that the U.S. did carry out a military operation in Venezuela in January 2026, capturing President Nicolás Maduro during a raid in Caracas.
The operation involved U.S. forces and triggered a major international debate about whether it violated international law and the sovereignty of another country.
But once discussions move into labeling entire governments or leaders as criminals, the conversation quickly becomes political rather than analytical.
The point I try to keep the discussion centered on is the larger geopolitical shift we’re seeing...
Allies beginning to openly question military actions that, in earlier decades, they might have quietly supported.
That change in how allies respond is the signal I find most interesting... because it tells us the global political landscape may be evolving.
Yes! US seems to have a very arrogant position when it comes to others - be it countries, or races, or religions. I’ve been hearing recently more that the worst world threat is white Christian evangelical nationalism.
I mean, the comparison is correct. We did unilaterally decide to attack another country, at Israel's behest apparently, with no clear objectives and no true demonstration of imminent danger. We truly are being led by the least serious and most stupid people in the world. To daily attack and then go on TV and crow about our 'lethality' and 'no quarter' style of warfare is indeed a blight that other free thinking countries cannot in good conscience support. Im genuinely afraid that stupid one and stupid two are going to start tossing around tactical nukes soon, then where will we be. Shaking my head in fear and despair.
What caught my attention wasn’t the rhetoric around the war... it was the reaction from allies.
When leaders in countries like Italy, Spain, and France start publicly questioning the legality of a military action, that’s a signal something unusual is happening diplomatically.
Meloni was a staunch fan of Trump and MAGA, there was even a rumour a while back that Musk was courting Meloni. Even Italy has had enough, and joins the team with France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Canada, and others.
Meloni’s relationship with Trump definitely made this moment more notable.
She was widely seen as one of the leaders who could bridge the gap between Washington and parts of Europe.
When someone in that position publicly questions the legality of a military action, it signals that the debate inside the alliance is getting more serious.
Relax. America is about to get all the ships and troops we could possibly want from our True Friends on the Bored of Peas!
We’re about to be deluged with committments to help. Shoulder to shoulder! We’ll show those NATO snowflakes the might of an Actual Global Military Alliance!
Any second now.
They must be making sure they’ve got the wording down on those Declarations of Unwavering Support. For posterity. Historic moment, birth of a new unbreakable alliance…
Another good one Fred! Well - after starting the bonfire, throwing gasoline on it, and as one of your commenters said “crowing about it,” trumps now insisting that it’s the world’s responsibility to come to US aid. Seriously - you really can’t make this stuff up.
I'm sure it's been Trump's expectation all along that if he went full throttle and made a huge mess we'd all have to come in and help him complete his war. Fortunately, we're sane and will have no part in this illegal aggression.
We sympathize with American families who will lose someone in this war but we aren't going to lose any of ours joining in on this atrocity. This is Trump's illegal war. He is turning the world upside down and creating conflict for profit. It's always been the American way but they're usually covert in their terrorism in the ME, but Trump does everything in the open because he thinks he's invincible. His invincible navy is nearly defenseless just two weeks in. It could lie at the bottom of the ocean within the next two weeks.
America will spend decades trying to live with this shame. We will be holding America responsible for the economic chaos for a very long time. This illegal war can destroy countries far away because they don't have sufficient capital to sustain themselves. The blood is on Trump's hands. The price is on the heads of Americans. For all of time.
I'm frustrated, not angry Fred. As you say, the people carry the consequences. Americans will feel the shame when they look in the mirror and especially when they travel. Smaller countries may starve while some may fail completely. The thing you note is the notable thing - that governments are more questioning now rather than going along to get along. That's what's going to deliver us to our goal. That's what is going to make strides toward peace. Carney and Zelensky are creating a future that I am so very pleased to see coming, where things are measured by their consequential value and human dignity is the ultimate commodity.
Good for Italy--and all the other countries wise enough to recognize what this is.
That’s what caught my attention too.
When criticism comes from opponents it’s politics.
When it comes from allies, it’s a signal something deeper is going on.
Yep, and I expect the US to take a high dive off a short board, so I'm grateful to the rest of the world for holding civilization together while we pick up the pieces.
I like reading all of your columns Fred but this one is particularly earth shattering. Carney opened the door with his Davos speech but I didn't anticipate that Meloni would be the one to blow the doors right off of their hinges. Finally, someone comparing Trump’s actions to Putin's invasion of Ukraine reveals exactly what he is in no uncertain terms. He's Illegally violating another country's sovereignty. Trump should be removed from office for this gross violation of international law and his assault on humanity.
Frank, what makes this moment so unusual is simple...
Meloni wasn’t supposed to be the critic.
She was supposed to be the bridge between Washington and Europe.
When the bridge starts sounding the alarm, it tells you the political ground underneath the alliance is shifting.
That’s the real story here.
And more countries need to stop playing along to get along with the USA. I don’t like her politics (if I were Italian, I never would have voted for her), but she did the right thing. The USA has not ousted a pedophile nor will they oust a murderer. Somebody has to stand up and say this is wrong. One last note, Trump invaded Venezuela, same principle as Putin invading Ukraine. The rules do apply to Trump and Netanyahu as well as Putin. All three men have committed international war crimes. And I believe the US Congress has as well. Furthermore, The USA should have been held accountable when they overturned the Iranian regime in the 1950s.
Zoe, there’s a lot in that history, and it’s understandable why people feel strongly about it.
One thing that’s actually factual in your comment is that the U.S. did carry out a military operation in Venezuela in January 2026, capturing President Nicolás Maduro during a raid in Caracas.
The operation involved U.S. forces and triggered a major international debate about whether it violated international law and the sovereignty of another country.
But once discussions move into labeling entire governments or leaders as criminals, the conversation quickly becomes political rather than analytical.
The point I try to keep the discussion centered on is the larger geopolitical shift we’re seeing...
Allies beginning to openly question military actions that, in earlier decades, they might have quietly supported.
That change in how allies respond is the signal I find most interesting... because it tells us the global political landscape may be evolving.
Yes! US seems to have a very arrogant position when it comes to others - be it countries, or races, or religions. I’ve been hearing recently more that the worst world threat is white Christian evangelical nationalism.
I mean, the comparison is correct. We did unilaterally decide to attack another country, at Israel's behest apparently, with no clear objectives and no true demonstration of imminent danger. We truly are being led by the least serious and most stupid people in the world. To daily attack and then go on TV and crow about our 'lethality' and 'no quarter' style of warfare is indeed a blight that other free thinking countries cannot in good conscience support. Im genuinely afraid that stupid one and stupid two are going to start tossing around tactical nukes soon, then where will we be. Shaking my head in fear and despair.
I understand the frustration.
What caught my attention wasn’t the rhetoric around the war... it was the reaction from allies.
When leaders in countries like Italy, Spain, and France start publicly questioning the legality of a military action, that’s a signal something unusual is happening diplomatically.
That’s the part I’m watching closely.
Meloni was a staunch fan of Trump and MAGA, there was even a rumour a while back that Musk was courting Meloni. Even Italy has had enough, and joins the team with France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Canada, and others.
Meloni’s relationship with Trump definitely made this moment more notable.
She was widely seen as one of the leaders who could bridge the gap between Washington and parts of Europe.
When someone in that position publicly questions the legality of a military action, it signals that the debate inside the alliance is getting more serious.
That’s the shift I’m watching.
Beware, she remains a fascist. Note: Michael Cohen is now trying to return to the Donnie.
Europe’s politics are never simple.
What made this moment interesting to me wasn’t the personalities involved...
it was the signal that even some leaders who were considered politically friendly to Washington are now questioning the direction of events.
That tells you something bigger may be moving under the surface.
Yay, finally
Another outstanding post again today Fred! Thank you so much!
Relax. America is about to get all the ships and troops we could possibly want from our True Friends on the Bored of Peas!
We’re about to be deluged with committments to help. Shoulder to shoulder! We’ll show those NATO snowflakes the might of an Actual Global Military Alliance!
Any second now.
They must be making sure they’ve got the wording down on those Declarations of Unwavering Support. For posterity. Historic moment, birth of a new unbreakable alliance…
Any…any time now…
Just need a little patience.
History has a way of testing alliances.
The moment when participation becomes optional is usually when governments quietly reveal what their real priorities are.
Another good one Fred! Well - after starting the bonfire, throwing gasoline on it, and as one of your commenters said “crowing about it,” trumps now insisting that it’s the world’s responsibility to come to US aid. Seriously - you really can’t make this stuff up.
Thanks Patricia.
What fascinates me about this moment is how quickly the alliance reactions started diverging.
When a situation moves from automatic support to open debate among allies, it usually means the geopolitical ground is shifting.
That’s the signal I’m watching.
I'm sure it's been Trump's expectation all along that if he went full throttle and made a huge mess we'd all have to come in and help him complete his war. Fortunately, we're sane and will have no part in this illegal aggression.
We sympathize with American families who will lose someone in this war but we aren't going to lose any of ours joining in on this atrocity. This is Trump's illegal war. He is turning the world upside down and creating conflict for profit. It's always been the American way but they're usually covert in their terrorism in the ME, but Trump does everything in the open because he thinks he's invincible. His invincible navy is nearly defenseless just two weeks in. It could lie at the bottom of the ocean within the next two weeks.
America will spend decades trying to live with this shame. We will be holding America responsible for the economic chaos for a very long time. This illegal war can destroy countries far away because they don't have sufficient capital to sustain themselves. The blood is on Trump's hands. The price is on the heads of Americans. For all of time.
Tiger, I understand the anger behind what you’re saying.
My focus in the article isn’t blaming entire countries or populations.
It’s highlighting the geopolitical shift we’re seeing... allies starting to question decisions that once would have been quietly accepted.
Governments make decisions.
Ordinary people often carry the consequences.
That’s true in every country.
Good. The people of America thank you.
I'm frustrated, not angry Fred. As you say, the people carry the consequences. Americans will feel the shame when they look in the mirror and especially when they travel. Smaller countries may starve while some may fail completely. The thing you note is the notable thing - that governments are more questioning now rather than going along to get along. That's what's going to deliver us to our goal. That's what is going to make strides toward peace. Carney and Zelensky are creating a future that I am so very pleased to see coming, where things are measured by their consequential value and human dignity is the ultimate commodity.