[jlkuester7]

> Unfortunately, there's a method to his pronouncements.

Am I missing some alternate definition of "method" which is actually explored by this article? I was hoping for some (even speculative) explanation for why territorial expansion has suddenly entered the American zeitgeist...

[janice1999]

Other than providing fodder to the media and distracting his citizens from broken promises? Threatening to invade and take territory from another founding member of NATO is a sure-fire way to delegitimise and destroy the alliance his administration clearly does not value.

[mindslight]

By throwing out the most outlandish inflammatory shit, the media gushes over it ("no such thing as bad press"), regular people who just want straightforward stability freak out about it, an army of edgelord simps go to work arguing how such a plan is straightforwardly reasonable xor is actually some 4d chess move, and ultimately the entire memetic sphere is filled with polarized spectator-sport trash - drowning out and neutralizing reasoned criticism of what is actually happening.

More than the inevitable national tragedies that will be openly shirked and just used as opportunities to divide, more than the overt destruction and corporate coup his cadre of anti-American enablers have had four years to plan, what I am really dreading is going back to being continually gaslit that any of it makes sense as a coherent political perspective beyond mere postmodern nihilism.

[e40]

My opinion is that it's trolling us all. Also, it's a feint to get us to look elsewhere while other deeds are done. We all only have so much attention to give and every news website is certainly filled with this "news".

Trump's goal is to get his nominees through congress. Some are fine, but there are about 5-7 who are deemed pretty unacceptable by most people. Perhaps the lack of light on those people will help get them through the process.

[piva00]

He's trolling while at the same time has the power to act on the trolling if it doesn't get push back.

That's the core issue with his "trolling", usually a troll doesn't have power so not feeding them the attention is all it's needed to defuse the situation, when the troll has the weight of the USA's government filled with sycophants behind to do their bidding then it isn't trolling anymore but much more a "testing the waters" situation.

[philk10]

flooding the zone with shit

[n4r9]

This is highly speculative (and more likely the brainchild of military intelligence than Trump himself) but it could be aimed at intimidating Russia prior to talks re Ukraine. Russia has strategic interests in the Arctic, and a US presence in those waters is probably a little alarming. Especially given that they are currently using old tankers registered to other flags to circumvent oil sanctions.

[jlkuester7]

The Russian angle is an interesting one I had not considered! Even the "threat" of an increased US presence in the Arctic would seem to apply some additional pressure on Russia.

It could also have interesting effects regarding Russia/Ukraine negotiations. Russia would be wise to consider if it really wants to open to door to a major powers territorial acquisition fire-sale....

[n4r9]

If this is the actual reasoning, it would be one of the few times where the West has actually gotten the tone roughly correct regarding Putin. Strongman leaders struggle to see strength in anything except other strongman leaders.

[tharmas]

This is exactly what it is.

Its to get leverage in Ukraine negotiation talks. And also it helps to make Trump look like a tough guy with his base.

I see at least one downside in that this approach must surely irritate the Danes and they're a NATO ally to boot.

[n4r9]

Maybe. In my experience Danes tend to be very practical and professional people. As long as it stays as just bluster, it probably won't ruffle too many feathers in their political sphere.