Let's talk about Trump needing Ukraine and Russia helping Iran.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump needing Ukraine as Russia helps Iran.

In news that surprises nobody except those who either work at the White House or those who fell for a Russian influence operation, the US needs Ukraine. And while Trump has been talking about his great relationship with Putin and carrying Putin's talking points and messaging the world over, reporting suggests that Russia provided intelligence to Iran that would help the country better target US ships, planes, and troops.

Hegseth said, "The American people can rest assured their commander-in-chief is well aware of who's talking to who, and anything that shouldn't be happening, whether it's in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly."

No, they can't because we've all watched Putin play Trump for well over a year as Trump undercut Ukraine at every opportunity and tried to sell Putin's talking points. We absolutely cannot rest assured that Trump will confront Putin because he never has before. The guy Trump desperately wants to be friends with apparently has his intelligence services providing information to Iranians that will help them hit US troops. Given comments about US deaths coming from the administration, I'm sure that's a sacrifice Trump is willing to make, but most of us aren't. The fact that the administration's response has been, "Don't worry about it." kind of proves the point.

While Trump is saying not to worry and stressing how he has everything well in hand here in the real world, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 has been in Ukraine trying to work out a deal for counter drone technology. The technology they're seeking could have been obtained a year ago, but it looks like Trump was too busy trying to humiliate Zelensky in front of the cameras, so Putin would like him.

The drone that killed six Americans was reportedly the same type Ukraine has been dealing with. In fact, the version Ukraine has been dealing with is reported to be more advanced. Had Trump been more interested in doing his job instead of trying to create some weird world leader version of The Apprentice, things might have gone down differently in Kuwait. In fact, the Merops system that is being sent to the region and being hailed as something that could help was battle tested and fielded in Ukraine.

An associate director with the Geo Strategy Initiative said, "We're not prepared for Iranian drones. I think we probably should have been. I don't think the challenge is so much can the United States and its Gulf allies innovate fast enough. It's more do we have enough technology, munitions, resources to spread this around for Ukraine, especially in exporting this technology. They're going to want to make sure they can still retain some of it for itself, right?”

Zelensky has made it clear Ukraine is willing to help. I hope Vance remembers to say thank you and to apologize for his earlier behavior. All of this could have been resolved a year ago if Trump had realized that Russia is a competitor nation and that Putin isn't his friend.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. MaddowBlog-Team Trump says (and does) all the wrong things as Russia helps Iran during the U.S. war

As Russia provides intelligence that could put Americans at risk, the White House responds by easing Russian oil sanctions.

Problem: Team Trump shrugging with indifference as Russia provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.

Bigger problem: Team Trump providing Russia with sanctions relief as it provides Iran with intelligence that could put Americans at risk.

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-03-09T19:13:44.138Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-says-and-does-all-the-wrong-things-as-russia-helps-iran-during-the-u-s-war

MS NOW reported over the weekend that Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Iranian forces strike American ships, aircraft and bases in the region, according two U.S. officials, one whom said point-blank, “Russia is providing intelligence help to Iran.”

The Associated Press and The Washington Post had related reports, with the latter noting, “The assistance … signals that the rapidly expanding conflict now features one of America’s chief nuclear-armed competitors with exquisite intelligence capabilities.” On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker pressed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on this, and he made no effort to deny the accuracy of the reporting, emphasizing that Iran’s “strategic partnership” with Russia is “not a secret.”.....

If we were to stop here, it would be a striking story about a Republican administration that has expressed little more than indifference to serious allegations. But as it turns out, Team Trump isn’t just shrugging its shoulders about Russia’s aid to Iran during the war, it’s also taking steps that would benefit Russia as it aids Iran during the war. Reuters reported:

Trump administration ​officials on Sunday defended a decision to temporarily lift some sanctions on Russian oil and predicted that a sharp increase in ‌gasoline prices resulting from the Iran war would last only weeks.

Appearing on multiple TV talk shows, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said a waiver issued last week to allow Indian purchases of Russian oil would alleviate pressure on the global market.

(It’s worth noting for context that Trump has publicly boasted about getting India to stop buying Russian oil, including at a White House press conference in late February. So much for that idea.)....

Around the same time, on “Meet the Press,” Welker asked the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations about why the Republican administration would choose to help Russia right now.

“I wouldn’t characterize it that way,” Waltz replied.

WELKER: Why is Trump helping Russia in this moment?

WALTZ:I wouldn't characterize it that way

WELKER: How else would you describe easing oil sanctions?

WALTZ: It's common sense to allow oil sitting on ships to go to India

WELKER: Russia will be getting that money as it wages its war in Ukraine

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-03-08T14:17:27.030Z

.....This hasn’t gone unnoticed on Capitol Hill.

“Russia is our adversary,” Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told MS NOW last week. “They hate us and what the U.S. stands for. The White House has had a moral blindness when it comes to Putin and Russia.”

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, a former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, added, “This is an intolerable escalation by the Kremlin — one they must come to deeply regret. I call on the administration to impose swift and severe consequences for this blatant attempt to endanger American lives.”

The White House appears to have come to the opposite conclusion.