I think the problem is not down to one person - it seems like it is a group-think - problem within the security establishment, which seemed reasonable at first, but it is now very apparent that it was wrong.

I’ve now updated the post with the full article

To those who downvote based on the title alone: I know you are still in election mode, and might assume this is some pro-Trump article., but it is not. A proper stock take of the response to the Russian invasion is very necessary

I think you need to inform yourself of your own country. The AfD is on 19% and already the 2nd largest party. They are a racist party and full of Putinites too. You have such a massive problem with racism in Germany, that it is astounding to see you here asking your protectors - the Americans - why they have racism.

I’m totally aware that there are still many racist people and even neo Nazis in Germany

This is what you need to focus on

He cant be feeling comfortable if his corruption is so publicly exposed. It. Is still worth it and necessary. His downfall may still happen.

I do understand those arguments, and the US has been a true ally to Ukraine - much more than the Europeans who generally didn’t spend as much as they should have, and sometimes added additional layers of caution (Olaf Scholz in particular).

But if you take a “don’t criticize us” attitude, you won’t be open to any lessons that might be learned. The lesson I hope the West, Europe in particular, would learn is that timidity and weakness invites aggression from someone like Putin.

Yes, it does add up to a lot, but it always came in just enough to keep Russia at bay. Also the permissions around where and how which weapons could be used.
When Russia invaded, Putin had no idea how corrupt, weak and inefficient his forces were.
This trickle allowed Russia enough time to turn around much of that, getting us to the point where they are now severely threatening Ukraine. If the military aid was more decisive, Russia could have been defeated early on, and the total spend could have been less than where it is now.

It is the Saudi royal family that is the cancer

Peter Thiel is not lined up for an appointment as far as I know, but he is also there in the background - supporting Trump

We know that Ukraine will be betrayed by the Trump government. A Russian victory will embolden Russia to further threaten Europe. This will also embolden China and other authoritarian states.

We also know a Trump government will stop climate action. Unfortunately, this will also signal to many other governments that they can do the same.

We also know that immense cruelties will be perpetrated such as the family separation policy of the 1st Trump presidency

But yes, if you are white, straight and middle class or rich, you’ll be able to think all is OK until such time as the authoritarian ascendancy led by China and Russia affects your own life, which might be a decade or more away.

We need to permanently boycott Tesla for Musk’s corrupt assistance in getting the fascist elected

C’mon. Like any politician, she had to try and be electable if she were to accomplish anything. How can it be that this is not obvious?

Defeatism leads to losing

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He is not an Afrikaner - as the child of immigrants he went to English schools, and has nothing to do with Afrikaans.

Your prejudice makes you dishonest.

While he grew up in SA, he has no loyalty to South Africa either. We don’t want him nor be associated with him

Reich did not suggest using a British alternative.
His words from the article: “The sooner the US government revokes his security clearance, terminates its contracts with him and the entities he controls, and builds its own alternatives to Starlink and SpaceX, the safer America will be”

Do you really need to be an expert to see a problem with Musk’s Russian sympathies?

Bezos owns the Washington Post, not the NYT