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© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.GOP senator tries to reassure Australia after Trump call
By RICHARD LARDNER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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CrazyJoe
Days without embarrassing the US = 0.
dcog9065
Trump's playing a very dangerous game by pushing Australia and Japan away. Without those 2 allies, the US will be blocked from the Pacific permanently
PTownsend
Does Trump have businesses in Australia that haven't been getting the preferential treatment he demands from governments? Or is this an opening position he's taking so he can build resorts in Australia.
His tactic suggests he was wearing his robber baron hat, certainly not the hat of a world leader. But maybe he was just being lighthearted. Perhaps one of his followers can interpret what he said. Was he being serious? Sarcastic? Just talking like guys in the locker room? Were his words taken out of context? Was the reporting of what he said a fake news story?
Why is damage control needed (e.g. senator tries to reassure Australia after Trump call) so often. Besides May, is Putin one of the only world leaders Trump will be respectful to? #Putinmaytrump
bass4funk
I think is 100% right on this issue, there is nothing that says, he has to follow a request by the previous president, I'm not blaming Australia at all for this, not their fault, they have every right to scrutinize or deny any entry into their country and the US has the same right. Not Australia's problem and not the US problem. There has to be another. Unlimited nation or maybe Canada that can deal with the burden and is willing to take the chances that come with taking people from countries that have Islam extremists that want to harm and or destroy the West.
I don't think so, leaders quibble and disagree, but if you think Trump could push Japan and Australia to the point where ties would be severed, highly and very unlikely, at the end of the day when tempers cool down, the relationship will be as solid as it has always been. Not worried at all.
dcog9065
I agree that's it's highly unlikely that it will reach the point of diplomatic relations being severely affected, I'm talking more about the image he is giving off to the world with his silly spats with allies. "Lightheartedly" targeting traditional supporters of the US like Japan and Australia won't turn the governments of those countries against America, but it will definitely turn the people against it
kurisupisu
So, America should take immigrants that the Australian government won't even allow onto the Australian mainland! And how many people commenting here and against Trump's position have ever helped an immigrant or welcomed one into their homes?
Strangerland
Ahh the old 'the other country is doing something unreasonable, so we're justified in it too!'
What does that have to do with anything? The question should be whether we've welcomed them into our countries.
theeastisred
And vice versa, as per the agreement.
An agreement is not merely a 'request'.
Clearly Trump was unaware of the agreement, because he is so 'smart' that he doesn't need to read up on anything. He was therefore taken by surprise by something he should have been on top of.
sybil30
Why would Obama, offer to take some other countries illegals? The mind boggles.
bass4funk
Easy answer, Australia doesn't need to and the US as well and that's that. We let in whomever we want and we are NOT obligated to let people in blindly because they think we should or have to. Japan doesn't, even Mexico has stringent laws. I'll say it again, let the other Muslim countries come in and take care of these people, they have the money, space and resources to do it.
Moderator: There is no "we." You may speak only for yourself on this discussion board, unless you are a part of the Trump administration. Please repost.
donkusai
I must admit, as an Australian, that I was surprised that the Obama administration decided to accept the refugees from Manus and Nauru. It did solve a really sticky problem that the Australian government created for itself. I also deeply respect the efforts that McCain is making to try to bring a little sanity to these first 2 weeks of the Trump administration. He really seems to be someone who understands what is going on. From the standpoint here, though, it is clear that a Trump U.S. is turning inward, and it is also clear that regional powers in the pacific are going to have to reorganise in a way where they can work together without the United States. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and with luck, Indonesia and other S.E.Asian countries are going to have to work together for our own security. Maybe it is time for a shift in political power... I sense that McCain realises that the U.S. becoming irrelevant is not a good outcome...
Strangerland
They're refugees, not illegals.
donkusai
@ kurisupisu: And how many people commenting here and against Trump's position have ever helped an immigrant or welcomed one into their homes?
Actually, volunteer teaching English to refugees and migrants in my own community lead me to change my career and eventually led me to a 4 year teaching job in a small village in Japan. It's more common than you think.
lostrune2
Australia hosts some US military on the northern Australian shores. If Trump wants to pressure China on the South China Sea, he needs those bases nearby. That's what's friends do - they help each other out
These theatrics may just be a cover to soften the blowback that Trump will still honor the deal and accept those people
But all these leaks of private correspondences from the White House may make other foreign leaders to become less frank and less open to Trump - being wary that what's talked about in the Oval Office may not stay in the Oval Office
SenseNotSoCommon
GOP'll need a heavy duty derailleur for all the backpedalling.
Serrano
This is interesting:
Malcolm Turnbull's net approval rating falls to zero in latest poll:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/28/malcolm-turnbulls-net-approval-rating-falls-to-zero-in-latest-poll
donkusai
@ Serrano
That seems a rather deceptive way of describing it (not a comment about you, but about the story itself). It is not saying that no one approves of Turnbull, but just that an equal number of people approve as disapprove. He still leads the leader of the opposition by 20% as preferred Prime Minister. I'm not sure what these statistics have to do with this story though...