As Trump Dithers on Invitation to Putin, the Russian President Steps in With His Own
The counter stroke by Putin
Donald Trump had a meeting with the Russian president in Helsinki on June 16, 2018. The two also met privately for two hours with only the interpreters present. The joint press conference following the summit raised the hackles of the opponents of Trump, many of who felt he had let the USA down. At the press conference, Trump seemed to agree with Putin, that the Intelligence agencies were to blame. When Putin handed a football to Trump it was evident to all that he expected something from the US leader. This was not to the liking of the hardcore of anti-Russia clientele in Amerilongr lonng fed on a diet of anti- Russianism from the days of the Soviet regime.
On return from Helsinki Trump decided to invite Putin to the White House. The news that he planned a visit to Washington for Putin further vitiated the atmosphere. The anti-Trump lobby was up in arms. Subsequently, Trump canceled the visit and said that he would, instead, invite Putin to come to Washington in 2019. It is reported that Trump added his own line of thought when he mentioned that he was open to a visit to Moscow if invited.
Putin invites
This was the opening that Putin was looking for. CBS News has reported that Putin has invited Trump to Moscow before he visits Washington. This is a shrewd move and Trump seems happy with it. Trump has postponed the Russian presidents visit till the completion of Muellars investigation into the Russian connection. Putin in another diplomatic move invited Mueller to Moscow, taking the special prosecutor by surprise. Trump has little regard for Mueller's investigation which he has time and again called a "witch hunt:" But it is evident that he wants to strike a new deal with Putin as he has realized that cooperation with Russia will be to the US advantage.
Putin Plays his cards
Putin has already indicated his preference for Trump. Putin has ruled Russia for nearly two decades and is fast reaching to the number of years ruled by the dictator Josef Stalin. Stalin ruled from 1924-53 and presided over a totalitarian state.
Putin has made his preference for Trump clear and in remarks at a meeting of leaders in South Africa during the recent BRICs summit has lauded Trump for his unique quality as a politician; as a man who keeps his promises.
Trump feels the Russian connection is a dead horse to flog. From his point of view, it is inconceivable that he could support Russian interference in the presidential election and create the scenario that he won because of Russia. His opponents, however, are unlikely to budge as this is the one chance they have to try and impeach him.
Trump
Trump has done more than any other president in terms of initiatives taken. He has realized that in case the USA continues to bankroll the Atlantic alliance and allows the trade deficit to stay where it is, there is a chance that America, in the long run, will suffer.
This is a reasoned view but many in the USA cannot see it that way. They are unable to get out of the jacket of the Soviet era and leading soldiers and politicians are thus uniting against Trump. They keep on harping on Russian threat like the old days when the Soviet Union was a strong adversary of America. They don't realize that the Soviet era is dead and gone and trying to resurrect it like old bogie will harm America more in the long run.
