Latest news with #BridgetBrink
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - How many more useless deaths before we admit Trump was always right on Ukraine?
Two serious and literally life or death questions: Since when did trying to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people — including countless children — become something to be criticized? Conversely, when did sending hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers into the teeth of the Russian war machine with absolutely no plausible plan to win become the untouchable go-to policy of certain neoconservatives, many on the left and a fair number of editorial writers? I thought of these questions while reading two recent columns. The first is by Rich Lowry from the New York Post, titled 'Trump is getting the Ukraine-Russia war all wrong — and he's making it even harder on himself.' The other is by former diplomat Bridget Brink in the Detroit Free Press, titled 'I was U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. I resigned because of Trump's foreign policy.' There is much Lowry has written over the years that I believe to be spot on. That said, I have disagreed with much he has written about Ukraine since the start of the war — his latest column included. Some believe Lowry to be a megaphone for the neocon class, which always seems to be advocating for the U.S. military to engage in 'forever wars.' Lowry was also the former editor of National Review, a magazine that in March 2016 ran an editorial titled 'Never Trump' and that seemed to become the epicenter of the 'Never Trump' movement for certain neocons and entrenched, elitist Republicans. The constant theme for those criticizing Trump's consistent stance against the Ukraine war and a much-needed ceasefire is that Putin is evil and must be defeated at all costs. Fine. If using the people of Ukraine as cheap disposable pawns to fight a proxy war against Russia and Putin has been the end game from the start, simply admit it. Don't pretend you are trying to save the people of Ukraine or that nation's infrastructure. In the lead up to the Iraq War more than 20 years ago, there were a steady stream of neocons, pundits and 'experts' advocating for that invasion to overthrow the 'evil' Saddam Hussein, who were coldly and impassionedly viewing the process as some sort of board game or sporting event, with human pawns to be played with at will. 'Experts' eagerly pushed for war who had no skin in the game. Meaning they were not in the military, they would not be walking point in the coming combat, nor would any of their relatives or friends. How wise or 'courageous' is it to call for a war from luxurious offices thousands of miles from the pending horror? And what was the end result of that 'justified' war? Approximately 4,500 American soldiers killed; 32,000 wounded; between 100,000 and 400,000 Iraqi deaths, depending upon the study; and a Middle East that is still destabilized, spawning endless pockets of terrorism. Next, we have the column from Bridget Brink, a former professional diplomat who, to some, seems to be virtue signaling her disgust of Trump to the far-left echo chamber of Trump haters. That is most certainly her right. In her column, she describes what Putin and Russia have done in Ukraine as 'pure evil.' She further states that: 'Peace at any price is not peace at all — it is appeasement.' Okay. And just what is her plan for Ukraine to 'win' the war against the 'evil' Putin and Russia? As Trump has asked from day one, how many more lives must be sacrificed before enough is enough? The Pentagon and CIA have estimated that well over 1 million people have been killed or wounded in the war, with much of Ukraine's infrastructure turned into rubble. Since day one, President Trump has been calling for an end to this war. He has done so for two incredibly important reasons. First, to stop the senseless slaughter of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers as well as Ukrainian civilians. Next, to warn of the many tripwires littering the battlefield, which could be stepped on and trigger World War III — leading to the deaths of millions. Last week on Truth Social, the president posted in all caps, 'I WILL BE SPEAKING, BY TELEPHONE, TO PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA ON MONDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE 'BLOODBATH' THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK…I WILL THEN BE SPEAKING TO PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY OF UKRAINE AND THEN, WITH…VARIOUS MEMBERS OF NATO. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END. GOD BLESS US ALL!!!' Speaking of a ceasefire, last December I wrote a piece for this site titled, 'Were 750,000 additional lives wasted in Ukraine for less than nothing?' That number was extrapolated from a ceasefire reportedly offered to Putin now over 36 months ago, which was also reportedly 'scuttled' and 'sabotaged' by forces within the administrations of President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Now, three years later, to Trump's point, 'more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers' are being killed per week. For what? How many dead or wounded before those advocating that Ukraine fight to the last Ukrainian admit that an immediate ceasefire is the right and humane solution — and has always been? Haters are going to hate, but if Trump had been listened to three years ago, 1 million people would not have been killed or wounded. What is the worth of those lost and maimed lives? Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNN
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Reuters: Trump shows an image from Congo, not South Africa
Reuters: Trump shows an image from Congo, not South Africa President Donald Trump showed an image alleging the murder of white farmers in South Africa, but it was actually an image from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Reuters. The incident happened at Wednesday's Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. CNN's Larry Madowo reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN US ambassador to Israel 'can't imagine US would object' to Israel striking Iran CNN's Jim Sciutto spoke with US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee about whether Israel might decide to strike Iran and how the US would react. 00:58 - Source: CNN Aid reaches bakery in Gaza after 11 weeks CNN goes inside a bakery as humanitarian aid finally reaches Gaza for the first time in weeks. This week Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza, it says was imposed to force Hamas to release all remaining hostages and to bring about a ceasefire. The UN warns that Gaza's population of over 2.1 million people is at risk of famine. 00:50 - Source: CNN Mexican politician gunned down at event An attack on a political event in Mexico, where a mayoral candidate and three others were killed, is the latest in an uptick in political violence in the country. 01:52 - Source: CNN Former US Ambassador to Ukraine explains why she resigned Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour she resigned from her position because of the Trump administration's actions towards Russia. 00:57 - Source: CNN Vice President Vance meets Pope Leo XIV On May 19, Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Here, Vance passed on a letter from President Donald Trump, inviting the pope to the White House. 00:35 - Source: CNN Dior to pay $2M to help labor abuse victims Dior has agreed a number of remedies to settle an Italian competition authority investigation into whether the luxury brand and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers. CNN's Max Foster reports. 01:36 - Source: CNN Israeli strikes hit last hospital in Gaza's north Israel launched intense air and ground campaigns that health officials say killed hundreds over the last few days and shuttered the last functioning hospital in the enclave's north. The Israeli military's ground operation in northern and southern Gaza comes as international mediators push for progress in ceasefire talks. 00:55 - Source: CNN Daylight shows extent of damage to Mexican Navy ship The Mexican Navy training ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday was moving in the 'wrong direction,' according to a senior city official. CNN's Gloria Pazmino, reports from the East River where daylight shows the extent of the damage. 01:10 - Source: CNN Watch Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square Pope Leo XIV called for a 'united Church' in his inauguration homily from St. Peter's Square where approximately 100,000 people had gathered at the start of the Mass, according to authorities. 00:55 - Source: CNN Here are the deals Trump signed during his Middle East trip CNN's Betsy Klein breaks down the deals that President Donald Trump has brokered during his three-day trip to the Middle East. 01:17 - Source: CNN Cat caught smuggling drugs into prison Officers at a prison in Costa Rica captured a cat with two packages of marijuana and cocaine attached to its body. According to the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace, the officers confiscated the drugs and handed over the cat to National Animal Health Service for health evaluation. 00:31 - Source: CNN Seoul's biggest fish market CNN Travel's Lilit Marcus tastes her way through the many rows of Seoul's Noryangjin Fish Market, famous for its hundreds of vendors and its wide variety of fresh fish and live seafood. 01:32 - Source: CNN Zelensky says Putin was 'afraid' for talks Neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or Russian President Vladimir Putin are attending peace talks in Istanbul after days of confusion. In a meeting in Albania, Zelensky said Putin was 'afraid' to come to Turkey for talks and that Russian delegation in Istanbul is of a 'very low level.' 00:38 - Source: CNN Baby orangutans rescued in Thailand A man suspected of trafficking two infant orangutans has been arrested in Thailand, according to local authorities. Police conducted the raid as the suspect was about to hand over the infant primates to a customer at a Bangkok gas station. 00:49 - Source: CNN Fareed points out Trump's 'strange double standard' CNN's Fareed Zakaria explains why he thinks President Donald Trump's new foreign policy doctrine has a 'strange double standard.' 01:04 - Source: CNN Kremlin gambles with Trump's wrath over Ukraine CNN's Nick Paton Walsh analyzes the power dynamics and explains how Russia is driving the schedule in these latest negotiations. 01:39 - Source: CNN What is femicide and what's behind the rise in incidents? Mexican authorities are investigating the murder of 23 year old Valeria Márquez - which was caught on video during a livestream - as a femicide. CNN's Max Foster speaks with Jillian Peterson, Executive Director of The Violence Prevention Project, about femicide and why it is on the rise. 01:29 - Source: CNN TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream in Mexico Beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was shot dead during a TikTok livestream from her salon in Zapopan, Mexico. The case is being investigated as a suspected femicide, according to local authorities. Just days earlier, another woman – a mayoral candidate in the state of Veracruz – was also shot dead during a livestream, alongside three other people. 00:47 - Source: CNN Qatari PM defends offering plane to President Trump In an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson, Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed the significance of the luxury jet gifted to President Donald Trump, saying it was a "very simple government to government dealing." 01:07 - Source: CNN Zelensky warns 'no time for playing games' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will head to Turkey and wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin for potential ceasefire talks; but he set some minimal goals for the meeting. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:26 - Source: CNN
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Ambassador to Ukraine who resigned under Trump administration may run for Congress in Michigan
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is considering a run for Congress in her home state of Michigan, CBS News has learned. Brink, who served for 28 years as a diplomat, is mulling a bid in Michigan's 7th congressional district, which is currently represented by Republican Tom Barrett. The Lansing-area district is rated by the Cook Political Report as a tossup, and was represented by Democrat Elissa Slotkin until earlier this year, when she moved to the Senate. In a statement first given to the Detroit News, Brink said, "I've dedicated my life to public service — working under five Presidents, both Democratic and Republican, and am exploring my options and the best way to continue to serve my country and my great home state of Michigan." Brink resigned her post as envoy to Ukraine in April. In an op-ed last week in the Detroit Free Press, she said policy differences with the Trump administration prompted her to step down. President Trump has pressed Ukraine and Russia to strike a peace deal, sometimes lashing out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the process. On CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday, she told moderator Margaret Brennan, "I resigned from Ukraine and also from the Foreign Service, because the policy since the beginning of the administration was to put pressure on the victim Ukraine, rather than on the aggressor, Russia. I fully agree that the war needs to end, but I believe that peace at any price is not peace at all. It's appeasement and as we know from history, appeasement only leads to more war. A career diplomat, Brink was confirmed by the Senate as ambassador to Kyiv shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, and stayed on during the early months of the Trump administration. In April, CBS reported that Brink intended to resign her post as ambassador due to an unusual mix of personal and policy concerns, including USAID layoffs. Brink had been serving in a war zone far from her family since Kyiv is designated as an unaccompanied post, where officers serve without bringing their families with them.
CNN
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Aid reaches bakery in Gaza after 11 weeks
Aid reaches bakery in Gaza after 11 weeks CNN goes inside a bakery as humanitarian aid finally reaches Gaza for the first time in weeks. This week Israel lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza, it says was imposed to force Hamas to release all remaining hostages and to bring about a ceasefire. The UN warns that Gaza's population of over 2.1 million people is at risk of famine. 00:50 - Source: CNN Mexican politician gunned down at event An attack on a political event in Mexico, where a mayoral candidate and three others were killed, is the latest in an uptick in political violence in the country. 01:52 - Source: CNN Former US Ambassador to Ukraine explains why she resigned Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour she resigned from her position because of the Trump administration's actions towards Russia. 00:57 - Source: CNN Vice President Vance meets Pope Leo XIV On May 19, Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Here, Vance passed on a letter from President Donald Trump, inviting the pope to the White House. 00:35 - Source: CNN Dior to pay $2M to help labor abuse victims Dior has agreed a number of remedies to settle an Italian competition authority investigation into whether the luxury brand and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers. CNN's Max Foster reports. 01:36 - Source: CNN Israeli strikes hit last hospital in Gaza's north Israel launched intense air and ground campaigns that health officials say killed hundreds over the last few days and shuttered the last functioning hospital in the enclave's north. The Israeli military's ground operation in northern and southern Gaza comes as international mediators push for progress in ceasefire talks. 00:55 - Source: CNN Daylight shows extent of damage to Mexican Navy ship The Mexican Navy training ship that struck the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday was moving in the 'wrong direction,' according to a senior city official. CNN's Gloria Pazmino, reports from the East River where daylight shows the extent of the damage. 01:10 - Source: CNN Watch Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square Pope Leo XIV called for a 'united Church' in his inauguration homily from St. Peter's Square where approximately 100,000 people had gathered at the start of the Mass, according to authorities. 00:55 - Source: CNN Here are the deals Trump signed during his Middle East trip CNN's Betsy Klein breaks down the deals that President Donald Trump has brokered during his three-day trip to the Middle East. 01:17 - Source: CNN Cat caught smuggling drugs into prison Officers at a prison in Costa Rica captured a cat with two packages of marijuana and cocaine attached to its body. According to the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice and Peace, the officers confiscated the drugs and handed over the cat to National Animal Health Service for health evaluation. 00:31 - Source: CNN Seoul's biggest fish market CNN Travel's Lilit Marcus tastes her way through the many rows of Seoul's Noryangjin Fish Market, famous for its hundreds of vendors and its wide variety of fresh fish and live seafood. 01:32 - Source: CNN Zelensky says Putin was 'afraid' for talks Neither Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky or Russian President Vladimir Putin are attending peace talks in Istanbul after days of confusion. In a meeting in Albania, Zelensky said Putin was 'afraid' to come to Turkey for talks and that Russian delegation in Istanbul is of a 'very low level.' 00:38 - Source: CNN Baby orangutans rescued in Thailand A man suspected of trafficking two infant orangutans has been arrested in Thailand, according to local authorities. Police conducted the raid as the suspect was about to hand over the infant primates to a customer at a Bangkok gas station. 00:49 - Source: CNN Fareed points out Trump's 'strange double standard' CNN's Fareed Zakaria explains why he thinks President Donald Trump's new foreign policy doctrine has a 'strange double standard.' 01:04 - Source: CNN Kremlin gambles with Trump's wrath over Ukraine CNN's Nick Paton Walsh analyzes the power dynamics and explains how Russia is driving the schedule in these latest negotiations. 01:39 - Source: CNN What is femicide and what's behind the rise in incidents? Mexican authorities are investigating the murder of 23 year old Valeria Márquez - which was caught on video during a livestream - as a femicide. CNN's Max Foster speaks with Jillian Peterson, Executive Director of The Violence Prevention Project, about femicide and why it is on the rise. 01:29 - Source: CNN TikTok beauty influencer shot dead during live stream in Mexico Beauty influencer Valeria Marquez was shot dead during a TikTok livestream from her salon in Zapopan, Mexico. The case is being investigated as a suspected femicide, according to local authorities. Just days earlier, another woman – a mayoral candidate in the state of Veracruz – was also shot dead during a livestream, alongside three other people. 00:47 - Source: CNN Qatari PM defends offering plane to President Trump In an interview with CNN's Becky Anderson, Qatari Prime Minister and minister of foreign affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani downplayed the significance of the luxury jet gifted to President Donald Trump, saying it was a "very simple government to government dealing." 01:07 - Source: CNN Zelensky warns 'no time for playing games' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will head to Turkey and wait for Russian President Vladimir Putin for potential ceasefire talks; but he set some minimal goals for the meeting. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:26 - Source: CNN
CNN
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine explains why she resigned
Bridget Brink, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the administration's policy of placing pressure on Ukraine "rather than on Russia as the aggressor" led to her resignation.
