Quote:Asked about Russia’s threatening activities, which have unnerved the small Baltic States that are among the more recent entrants into NATO, Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing if those nations have “fulfilled their obligations to us.”

 

“If they fulfill their obligations to us,” he added, “the answer is yes.”

 

Sounds good to me. No free rides on mutual agreements.

 

 

That's all very well and good.  But you have to work that out BEFORE the Russians attack.   Trump is saying he's going to check their accounts AFTER the Russians attack.   That is INVITING a Russian attack.  

 

The correct thing to do is to say, we are going to defend our allies and fulfill our treaty obligations, period.   But separate from that, we can and should go to our allies and say, if you want to be in NATO, you have to fulfill your obligations, too.  

 

But as long as these countries are NATO members, we have to say we will defend them, period.  

 

What Trump said was pure amateur hour, and very dangerous. 

---