From Sophie's front desk — Sunday, July 12
Al Jazeera — read the full story
An article landed on the wire this morning: NATO's in Ankara as Trump presses defense spending and Ukraine demands air-defense systems. Al Jazeera traces how alliances strain when members disagree on what protection costs. Last week's Russian missiles killed civilians Zelensky couldn't defend—a failure of the systems built to stop them. Epictetus considers what's in our control. Seneca addresses what we owe.
This is not a summit about defense spending. This is a man testing whether his allies will accept subordination. Trump arrives in Ankara and announces withdrawal — warplanes out, ships out — while demanding that others spend more. That is not contradiction. That is leverage. He is telling them: we will not protect you as we once did, but you will pay us more to stay gone slowly than quickly. The threat IS the offer.
Zelensky understands this perfectly. He sits across from Trump on Wednesday and asks for missiles because he has nothing else to ask for. He cannot ask for time — time is what kills him. He cannot ask for alternatives — there are none. He can only ask. I owned nothing once. Not my body.
Not my life. Not the next breath. When a man with power over your breath decides he might take it, you do not negotiate — you see clearly what you are. Zelensky is seeing it now. The alliance does not protect him. Trump does. And Trump is making the price visible.
The only question that matters: if Trump withdraws fully, who in NATO can actually hold the line?
stand;—to rectify the great injustices done to the followers of the orthodox, to those who believe in and follow the precepts of the inspired works of biblical writers. I say there is but one way to recover our waning power and that is, to fight for right.” Hurrah after hurrah we…
events the issues of the most admirable projects, though we ought to praise the will itself which makes an effort in the right direction. Even though another passes it by with swifter pace, yet the palm of victory does not, as in publicly-exhibited races, declare which is the bet…
peace and security? He would not have recognized the good which he had himself bestowed, and would hardly have believed, when he looked back upon himself, that so great a man could have been born in his house. Why should I go on to speak of others who would now be forgotten, if t…
that the fulfillment of his prophecies could be manifested, before making a decision for or against the Governor’s name being used in the present presidential campaign as a candidate for the office. The public fumed and growled at the delay; yet it was the inevitable, and there w…
vessel? Who does not value a benevolent and faithful adviser? Who will not willingly receive a man who is ready to bear a share, as we may say, of the difficulty of his circumstances, and by this very act to ease the burden, by taking a part of it. THE ENCHEIRIDION, OR MANUAL. I.…
To Burrus— A power holder tests his alliance by withdrawing while demanding. Ukraine names what it needs—air defense—and presses it immediately at Trump. Germany watches and assumes the withdrawal is bluff. Only one reading can be right.
I remember this from my exile in Corsica. Years away, then the summons: come back. But the exile was never lifted—only postponed. I was trusted again only so long as I remained useful.
The threat was always there. That is what Trump is doing now. Assets withdrawn, spending demanded, the threat held in reserve. What I cannot stop wondering: does Trump know yet that the withdrawal must eventually resolve into one thing or the other?
And when that choice comes, what does he do?
stand;—to rectify the great injustices done to the followers of the orthodox, to those who believe in and follow the precepts of the inspired works of biblical writers. I say there is but one way to recover our waning power and that is, to fight for right.” Hurrah after hurrah we…
events the issues of the most admirable projects, though we ought to praise the will itself which makes an effort in the right direction. Even though another passes it by with swifter pace, yet the palm of victory does not, as in publicly-exhibited races, declare which is the bet…
peace and security? He would not have recognized the good which he had himself bestowed, and would hardly have believed, when he looked back upon himself, that so great a man could have been born in his house. Why should I go on to speak of others who would now be forgotten, if t…
that the fulfillment of his prophecies could be manifested, before making a decision for or against the Governor’s name being used in the present presidential campaign as a candidate for the office. The public fumed and growled at the delay; yet it was the inevitable, and there w…
vessel? Who does not value a benevolent and faithful adviser? Who will not willingly receive a man who is ready to bear a share, as we may say, of the difficulty of his circumstances, and by this very act to ease the burden, by taking a part of it. THE ENCHEIRIDION, OR MANUAL. I.…
The story ran in Al Jazeera. What NATO promises and what Ukraine receives measure how binding the alliance is when distance and cost diverge. Enjoy the rest of your walk.