[Freefromwar] Critical of Trump for the Wrong Reasons & weekly meme

[John Carver]

I've noticed that nation leaders, state ministers, negotiators, rights 
organizations and anti-war protesters around the world and Hamas have 
all credited themselves with getting the ceasefire agreement done. Art I 
think you give Trump too much credit.

I do see it as significant and not just coincidence that the ceasefire 
was agreed to right after Steven Witkoff met with Netanyahu. But does 
that make Donald Trump a negotiator and peace maker? I doubt it. Here's why:
1. We don't really know what transpired in that meeting. I can imagine a 
tradeoff. Netanyahu gave Trump what he wanted - an illusion of having 
brought peace to the Middle East. Maybe he'll get one of those Nobel 
prizes that get handed out so freely. But what did Netanyahu get in return?
2. In public statements Trump has said he will support Israel with 
whatever it takes to continue the war and to "get the job done". It's 
clear from Netanyahu's statements what the "job" consists of and it 
doesn't include making peace.
3. Trump had also promised, and has already lifted sanctions on West 
Bank settlers, and now we see IDF moving ahead with the siege there.

As I write this I see Israel breaching the ceasefire terms just as they 
have with Lebanon. While the hostage exchange is good news we need to 
not become complacent. The crisis continues.
John

On 2025-01-24 11:35 p.m., Arthur Blomme via Freefromwar wrote:
(excerpt)...
> For me the greatest evil is war.  Donald Trump is the only US 
> president,as far as I know,  that ever stated in his inaugural speech 
> that he wanted to be remembered as a peace maker.  He has already 
> managed to force a tentative peace deal in Palestine.  He states  that 
> the loss of so many young lives on the battle field in Ukraine is a 
> horrible tragedy  and   he has requested a prompt meeting with  Putin 
> where he intends to diplomatically end the war.   No other president 
> in recent history has sought a diplomatic solution to war. This is 
> what the world needs now;   an end to the psychopathic wastefulness of 
> war, the greatest evil of all.  How can we not wish Trump well in this 
> endeavour.
>
> Trump seems to be taking steps to achieve the objectives that he 
> promised his MAGA base. Yet he has surrounded himself with the worst 
> of the techno oligarchs.  We have to in my opinion be wary of Trump 
> betraying his promise to the American people.   At this point it is to 
> early to tell if he sincerely wants to make our planet a more peaceful 
> and prosperous place to live. Calling him names will just blind us to 
> the reality and opportunities before us as his tenure unfolds.
>
...