US discussing options to get Greenland, incl use of military, says White House(www.bbc.co.uk)
44 pointsby mmariana day ago5 comments
  • garbawarba day ago
    I'm seriously trying to understand the long-term goals here. So the US goes to war with Canada and Europe, cutting off relations with them forever. Probably they try to take over Canada too and succeed. So now they have control over all of North America... How is it worth antagonizing their closest and strongest allies? They'll own more territory but cripple themselves in terms of global trade. A lot of Americans would surely be against their aggression too, not to mention the oeople in the territories they take over. A lot of that damage has already been done, since the US has always been fickle and unreliable but now we're seeing just how far they're willing to go. Is that just it? They want physical dominance over the Americas at the expense of economic gains?

    Any chessmasters here who can see into the future?

    • 20 hours ago
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  • michaelmrosea day ago
    Such a bizarre way to put it. Imagine if I said your house was a strategic requirement for my family because of proximity to my new job and extra room for my kids and I couldn't rule out murdering you.
    • csb6a day ago
      Especially when the U.S. has a military base there already and has full military cooperation with Denmark/Greenland. The real motivation is pretty clearly resource extraction.
      • ahazred8taa day ago
        Bear in mind, the US can't annex anything that the military occupies, unless both houses of Congress vote in favor. It remains foreign territory.
        • csb6a day ago
          What is stopping him from simply militarily occupying Greenland indefinitely? He could just fabricate a reason (“national security”, “drugs”, etc.) and send troops. Wouldn’t need to involve Congress for that kind of military action, and the Supreme Court has said that all other branches of government should defer to the executive’s judgment on foreign policy. And there is zero chance a Republican House would impeach him for doing that.
          • reverius4218 hours ago
            He won't be in office indefinitely.
        • CamperBob2a day ago
          Dogs can't play basketball either, but we're sure getting dunked on a lot by this one.
        • evan_a day ago
          Unless Emperor Trump just does it anyway.
      • a day ago
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      • adrianwaja day ago
        Being cold and close to Europe, as an AI and data server location too, just like Iceland. https://gemini.google.com/share/c6d7c4fa5f3d
      • A_Ducka day ago
        The real motivation isn't geopolitical, but signalling to domestic voters that Trump is truly 'America first' and will sabotage any other country if it gets American voters an extra dollar

        The resource question is a red herring: "Greenlandic ministers have also said their island is “open for business”. But US investors have been slow to show an interest in the nascent mining industry, officials say." (https://www.ft.com/content/c1c8abb1-5c09-46b0-a1d3-68341c4e5...)

        • evan_a day ago
          s/American voters/Republican Donors
        • olalondea day ago
          Funny considering Trump ran on policies nearly the opposite of what he's doing today. But his MAGA base seems driven more by feeling than policy.
          • A_Ducka day ago
            Yes, it's potentially a case of a country taken in by their own propaganda

            We do a lot of important and meaningful work around the world to support democracy, peace and stability. This isn't selfless — it's to create a market for goods and services, and maintain our sphere of influence.

            We're so good at shouting the first bit and whispering the latter that voters have come to fully believe it's all charity work, and feel like it's taking bread out of their mouths.

          • onemoresoop11 hours ago
            > Funny considering Trump ran on policies nearly the opposite of what he's doing today

            MAGA base and Trump supporters are not rational. It does not matter what Trump is doing or saying, they're "taking their country back" even if they're losing their jobs or benefits. This is downright a cult of personality.

            • spencerflem7 hours ago
              I have a new opinion that fits better imo: that they genuinely like it when other people suffer, even at their own expense.

              From this perspective Trumps policies are all mostly rational.

          • CamperBob2a day ago
            As long as he hurts other people more than he hurts the MAGA voters, they'll never abandon him. It's a cult.
    • tavavexa day ago
      That's the world of geopolitics for you - there's no police to prevent you from murdering someone. Someone could fight you directly, but it's never going to come to that, so everyone will just grumble in mild disapproval for now.

      One of the wealthiest guys in town had poked his head out of his mansion and is now holding you at gunpoint in your house. He feels poor and thinks the wealth in your house is enough to sate his needs, you see. Plus, it's much more conveniently-placed than his mega-mansion. Either you give the house to him, or he kills you on the spot and maybe some of the neighborhood potentially riles up against him. Just hope he doesn't want to make an example of you by crucifying you in the front yard, or something like that.

    • a day ago
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  • nephihahaa day ago
    It looks like he sees it as the next Alaska.
  • bigyabaia day ago
    I, for one, am delighted that Silicon Valley has sent their most-spineless, unprincipled wastes of executive power to kiss the ring. Never again will anyone argue with sincerity that Microsoft or Apple are conscientious of human rights. Nobody can refute that it was a lie for money, now.