Comments by "Harry Mills" (@harrymills2770) on "Mike Pompeo on Hong Kong protests, Iranian aggression" video.

  1. I'm ambivalent about Taiwan. I love Taiwan, but I don't see much difference between our selling them F-16s and the Chinese selling fighters to (or placing missiles in) Cuba. I get that freedom is better than not, and that we have some moral high ground wrt Taiwan on account of that. But it's still a small island off the coast of a superpower. Aside from the Cuban Missile Crisis, which according to many almost brought open warfare between the US and USSR, Cuba hasn't been near the thorn in our side that Taiwan has been in China's. The middle path appears to be pretty close to what Trump's doing. Aggressive rhetoric, but careful, considered, and generally restrained in our ACTIONS, because in the end, EVERYbody with half a brain knows Trump wants to MAKE A DEAL that's as good for the USA as possible. Until I really see otherwise, I'm pretty convinced that Pompeo is there to create a false opening position, so that Trump can get the deal (or a deal) that he wants (or we can live with) by appearing to make a major concession, or backing WAY off what he initially was asking for or claiming or threatening. This is something Asians understand especially well. The horse they're selling is a Kentucky Derby, but the horse Trump sees has a sway back and spavined hooves. Both sides are lying, and circling around The Deal. Both sides know where the fair deal is, before they even start, but if you don't start out asking for more than you need, you have no concessions to offer, or you come out behind when you compromise from your bottom-dollar offer. That's something other countries don't understand about America and most Americans don't understand about the rest of the world. America's in a hurry, so they don't want to waste time dickerin'. Give me your rock-bottom price, and I'll compare your price against all the other vendors' prices, and decide whether I'll buy from you at that price, or not. No negotiating. If I don't like your deal I go somewhere else. We needn't strike a bargain, because you're never the only vendor in town (unless you're Facebook or Google). I could definitely see the fighter sales as a bargaining chip to induce the Chinese to back off in South America.
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