Max Fisher

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Americans are oblivious to this. We wrongly remember European objections to Iraq as purely political, or see them thru our own partisan lens — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

In the UK, Iraq damaged not just the US alliance but Britain's global role, maybe permanently. Again, Trump is surfacing something deeper. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

The Iraq war comes up over and over in my conversations with Euro officials. A lingering doubt about US leadership, which Trump has surfaced — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Particularly among European allies and Australia, there is still a sense of distrust and skepticism toward the US over the Iraq invasion. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

One crucial piece of context getting lost in assessing Trump's damage to American alliances: the still-healing wounds from GW Bush's tenure. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

RT @IvoHDaalder: Important thread. FWIW, I heard much the same in my convos in Berlin following Merkel's White House visit last March. http… — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

All to say: Merkel's comment didn't come out of nowhere. Germans have spent months contemplating – and preparing for – a break with the US. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

This is why there's growing European discussion of an extreme option to replace US commitments: a Euro nukes program https://t.co/M9mA8gTRpS — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Europe's hard line against Russia, which Germany only barely held with US help, seems like the likeliest thing Berlin will have to give up. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

So something will have to give. A Europe that has to be self-sufficient, as Merkel said, will also have far narrower ambitions. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

No one was sure what Plan B would look like, but they know Germany can't maintain Europe – the EU, NATO, keeping out Russia – without the US — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

One told me: The day Trump becomes a threat to German interests, we'll have no choice but to respond. We have to protect ourselves. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

One sr German official really stressed this: Our closest ally is not just going away, but may turn its power against us. Think about that. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Their fear wasn't just that Trump would be an unreliable ally, but that his attacks on the EU and NATO would make the US a threat to Europe. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

The Germans really fear Europe will fall apart w/o the US. But they saw Trump as a potential threat to their most core national interests. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

They were quite open about their plan: appease Trump and proceed normally. But quietly prepare a Plan B in case that fails. We may be there. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

1/ When I met with German leaders in January, they were already preparing for the possibility of breakup with the US https://t.co/IhOLdOyZ9m — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Always be reading @JeremyCliffe https://t.co/XbsdBdSd3y — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

RT @AlyssaMastro44: I understand satire but there are bold inaccuracies - ex: Obama NEVER blew him off on the tarmac. They met on AF1 - i k… — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

New NATO motto: Keep the Americans out, the Russians in, and the Germans up https://t.co/lHpnmSsuMv — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

RT @mathieuvonrohr: She went on to say: "We Europeans really have to take our destiny into our own hands." https://t.co/ePCLulPJOu — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Great @amandataub explainer on why Brazil is falling into crisis https://t.co/ICzDo2ep6p — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

RT @JyShapiro: 7/ And that if you’re going to race one of the most influential geopolitical thinkers of our time up the stairs, make sure i… — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

@smsaideman Oh, yes actually they do reference this early on. It's a good detail that they do get basically right. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

I see why they did this – to play up the folly and hubris of McChrystal's mission – but it is historically dishonest and verges on racism. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Film also suggests that Afghans who oppose the Taliban are drug addicts or crooks. I wonder if the filmmakers met with even a single Afghan. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

@smsaideman What do you mean? You mean places where it's unavailable to view? — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

Troublingly, "War Machine" repeatedly implies that Afghanistan was not at war until the US invaded and that all Afghans support the Taliban. — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

RT @gofundme: Two good samaritans were killed while trying to protect two Muslim women on a Portland train. https://t.co/wCGlN1LqQs — PolitiTweet.org

Max Fisher @Max_Fisher

I really wanted to like "War Machine" but it is quite bad, as both a movie and a treatment of the Afghan War. — PolitiTweet.org