In view of some of the rogues and idiots who have occupied the White House, that is quite an accomplishment.
asserted
that → occupy → House
In February he started a futile war against Iran, offering a scattering of objectives from regime change to denying the country nuclear weapons, none of which he has so far achieved.
asserted
he → start → which
Instead we have a global economic crisis: soaring petrol and diesel prices, with no end in sight; higher inflation; a severe fertiliser shortage, which is bound to affect food prices; and a lack of certain common drugs.
asserted
which → have → drugs
Next month the American people will have the chance to punish Trump in the mid-term Congressional elections.
asserted
people → have → elections
This side of the Atlantic we can only wail impotently.
asserted
we → wail → Atlantic
Labour has done its damnedest to weaken our economy and now the President is threatening to push it over the edge.
asserted
President → do → edge
What does this ridiculous man then do?
asserted
man → do → What
In order to try to sweeten the US electorate, he does a deal with President Putin so that Russia will release supplies of diesel.
asserted
Russia → try → diesel
Needless to say, Trump omits to mention that he himself caused the shortage of diesel.
asserted
he → say → diesel
He seems also to have forgotten that only two months ago he signed a bill which penalises countries that import Russian oil and gas – which is precisely what the US is now doing.
asserted
US → seem → what
In fact, the amount of diesel President Vladimir Putin is able to supply over three months is vanishingly small – about one day’s US consumption.
asserted
Putin → supply → months
But that doesn’t diminish Trump’s self-serving hypocrisy.
asserted
that → diminish → hypocrisy
There isn’t a flicker of regret or shame on Trump’s part that he will be helping fund Putin’s war effort.
asserted
he → be → effort
He has opened fire on President Zelensky, suggesting that it is Ukraine’s bombing of Russian oil refineries that has caused the fuel shortage.
asserted
that → open → shortage
In order to try to sweeten the US electorate, Trump has done a deal with President Putin so that Russia will release supplies of diesel
Last night Trump caused further confusion by claiming that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure.
asserted
Russia → try → infrastructure
Zelensky initially said that the supposed truce was ‘news for me’ but then claimed to support it.
asserted
truce → say → it
Over the weekend Trump returned to a favourite hobby-horse – namely that ‘this is a war that should have never started’, which is his way of blaming Ukraine.
asserted
which → return → Ukraine
But it was Russia that invaded its smaller neighbour, and has committed countless war crimes against it.
asserted
that → invade → it
For good measure Trump again let fly against Zelensky, saying that it is ‘time for Ukraine to get a new President’
asserted
Ukraine → fly → President
Britain and other European countries have rallied to Zelensky’s defence, with Andy Burnham pledging solidarity with him.
asserted
Burnham → rally → him
This is all further evidence that US-UK relations are slowly fracturing, though Defence Secretary Wes Streeting was at pains yesterday on the BBC to offer Britain as a go-between in restoring amity between Trump and Zelensky.
asserted
Streeting → fracture → Trump
An emollient Streeting claimed that US support for Ukraine is greater than may appear, saying there is ‘often an understatement’ of how much help Trump has provided.
uncertain
Trump → claim → help
But no one could say that Ukraine is in a happy position.
uncertain
Ukraine → say → position
Of course Trump is so mercurial that it’s perfectly possible that this week or next he’ll say what a fine chap Zelensky is.
asserted
Zelensky → ’ → chap
The fact remains that American military aid to Ukraine has fallen off a cliff edge since Trump entered the White House.
asserted
Trump → remain → House
So long as he stays there, there won’t be any revival.
asserted
he → stay → ?
To a large extent European countries have made up the difference.
asserted
countries → make → difference
Nato allies, including Britain, have funded the transfer of American weapons.
asserted
allies → include → weapons
But Ukraine still doesn’t have what it needs – most notably Patriot air defence missiles, which only the US can supply.
asserted
US → have → which
The war between Russia and Ukraine has been raging for nearly five years. Pictured, a warehouse in Kyiv destroyed in a Russian drone strike
asserted
war → rag → strike
Now, let me ask a question which, given my criticisms of Trump, may be shocking to some.
uncertain
which → let → some
Is there a thread of truth in what the morally bankrupt American President says?
asserted
President → say → what
Should Ukraine be making more concerted efforts to bring an end to this terrible war?
asserted
Ukraine → make → war
It has lost a lot of American support, and it can’t count on Europe for ever.
asserted
it → lose → Europe
Andy Burnham delivers rousing declarations of solidarity but Britain’s pledge of £3billion a year in military aid means that we are committed to giving less than we have done.
asserted
we → deliver → less
Ukrainians have fought heroically.
asserted
Ukrainians → fight → ?
Most estimates suggest that they have suffered significantly fewer casualties than Russia, which has a population four or five times as great.
asserted
which → suggest → population
As far as one can tell, the ground war in Eastern Ukraine has reached a kind of stalemate, with neither side making significant advances.
asserted
side → tell → advances
Ukraine has had, as I’ve mentioned, considerable success in striking Russian oil refineries, leading to severe petrol shortages in parts of the country.
asserted
I → have → country
On the other side of the ledger, Putin has been increasing attacks on Ukrainian cities aimed at civilians.
asserted
Putin → increase → civilians
…and 26 more, not listed.
The Aporia
