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President Trump Just Located New Bases for the 25,000 to 40,000 U.S. Military Projected to Exit NATO in Europe

Toward Latin America there are multiple options, but it’s likely a significant U.S. military footprint is destined for Greenland.  If you read President Trump’s earlier announcement you might note:

…”We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction.”

This announcement comes directly after President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of NATO forces in Europe with the expressed intention of drawing down the U.S. footprint. The Pentagon announced a six-month review of US forces in Europe in June, directing US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, the head of US European Command, to assess future force requirements.

According to media, “The proposed reduction could involve around 25,000 troops, which is roughly one-third of the approximately 80,000 US service members currently stationed in Europe. Some officials involved in the discussions have indicated that the figure could be considerably higher, potentially reaching 40,000, or about half of the American military presence on the continent, according to NBC News.”

Germany is the largest American military hub on the continent, with around 36,000 US troops. Italy hosts about 12,000 US troops and several major air bases. Spain, meanwhile, provides important air and naval facilities in the country’s south.  These would be the bases most likely to see significant withdrawal.  All three nations are a hot mess of political manipulation, economic turmoil, internal friction and opposition to the U.S. national security framework.

Revisit President Trump and Marco Rubio’s National Security Strategy:

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President Trump Signs Russian Sanctions Bill that Grants Him Massive Tariff Authority Over U.S. Imports from Countries Doing Business With Russia

After a careful review of HR5334, the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Bill [pdf HERE], I can certainly see why President Trump would happily sign it.

The bill has several elements that are immensely useful for President Trump, beginning with the fact that the baseline of the bill sits upon the cornerstone of current U.S. sanctions against Russia.   This is a critical aspect to understand, because if you take away the originating Russian sanctions, HR5334 disappears.

Secondly, the bill grants President Trump the ability to place 100% tariffs on the top five trading partners of Russia, but the bill also grants wide latitude as to how those top five are determined.  Top five oil, top five gas, top five financial, top five sector specific (energy, grain, oil, minerals etc.) the actual parameters or definitions of the “top five” are undetermined except by monetary value.

Some have just realized what this bill empowers. Others have yet to catch on.  Additionally, The bill gives President Trump the ability to impose tariffs of up to 100% within 30 days on all goods imported into the US from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas as well as any country that knowingly made new purchases of oil or gas 30 days after the law was enacted or was among the top five countries helping Russia evade sanctions.

But there’s the key, again the authority is based on the pre-existing “sanctions.” So, who determines sanction relief? [interim, temporary, or strategic, in coordination with the policy objectives of the President] That would be U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent.

Remember the previous 30-day interim sanction relief that Bessent and Trump provided for Russian oil/gas “on the water’?  In that scenario, the legislatively authorized tariff authority becomes entirely subject to the application determination of President Trump.  Ex. give a 30-day waiver and suddenly oil/gas are no longer the largest monetary trade issues. Instead, it could be as simple as who buys the most Russian caviar; maybe it’s Italy or Spain, or even Canada. lol 😂

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President Trump Announces Permanent Security Deal with Denmark and Greenland

President Donald Trump announces a permanent security deal between the USA, Denmark and Greenland establishing U.S. military bases on the arctic region.  The government of Denmark confirms.

(Via Truth Social) – BREAKING NEWS: I am pleased to announce that the United States of America has entered into an Agreement with The Kingdom of Denmark, and Greenland, that gives the United States permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing ALL of our many U.S. concerns. There will be NO COST to the United States!

At my direction, we worked with representatives of Denmark and Greenland to guarantee that the United States will FOREVER have the complete ability to do what is necessary in Greenland in order to secure and defend the security of Greenland, and the United States of America. Additionally, from now on, no U.S. adversary can EVER have a base in Greenland, have a military presence in Greenland, or make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval.

For over 100 years, Presidents have known the strategic importance of Greenland, but NONE of them were able to do anything about it. I am proud to be the President that permanently and conclusively addressed this very important situation. This is an “Infinite Life” Agreement, there is no end!

We are very honored and proud of what has just taken place, and everything agreed to today will be cherished by the American People. We will immediately begin the process of developing a large Military presence in the appropriate part of Greenland, of which there are many. We will work with the people of Greenland in its development and construction.”

“This solution is a great one for the United States of America, Denmark, Greenland, and all of our Allies. We look forward to working with the wonderful people of Denmark and Greenland toward a magnificent future with respect to this large, and highly strategic, parcel of land. We will be very protective of it! This is a dream come true for the United States of America, one that is very important, historic, and special. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” ~ President Donald J Trump

The government of Denmark has confirmed the deal.

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September 18th – 2026 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 607

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

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Friday September 18th – Open Thread

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

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Prayer Requests – 29

  Please share any prayer requests you may have for friends or loved ones here….

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Two More British Commonwealth Countries Considering ‘Associate Member’ EU Status – That’s Four of The Five Eyes

Readers here have significant knowledge of how the overall western intelligence apparatus works to control the activity of their respective governments. Factually, the intelligence apparatus never really changes with each election within each of the respective nations that makes up the “Five Eyes” assembly.

The U.K, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States make up the intelligence control group.  Together with the U.K., four of the five eyes are British Commonwealth nations, so it doesn’t seem odd to see the intelligence assembly follow the geopolitical shift underway.

Great Britain has previously outlined how despite their Brexit the institutional intelligence remained connected to the European Union.  With Canada now taking on “Associate Member” status within the EU, Carney is just bringing them into alignment.  Now, reports are surfacing that Australia and New Zealand are also open to remaining attached to their British cousins.

(AUSTRALIA) – The Albanese government is open to considering associate member status with the European Union despite threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola put the idea on the table following an address by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney where he welcomed the possibility of becoming an “associate member” of the Union.

Ms Metsola said Australia and New Zealand were among the countries “with which we want to deepen our relationship”. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Matt Thistlethwaite told News24 the government would “consider” the proposal. (read more)

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British Military Intelligence Officer Killed in “Accident” in Ukraine

As the story is told, a 40-year-old British intelligence officer named Major Paul Wilks was killed in an “automobile accident” while traveling in Ukraine. The British media frame the incident as a car crash “away from the front lines” of the conflict.

One has to wonder how many British intelligence military officers are just innocuously traveling around Ukraine.  Who knows, maybe it’s just a great place for a holiday. However, common sense would seem to indicate that Major Wilks was probably not on vacation.

Sky News – […] Remembered as a “man of great intellect”, Major Wilks was deployed on multiple tours, including to Afghanistan, and was recognised with two Operational Service Medals. And he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in May.

He was commissioned from Sandhurst in 2012 and joined the Intelligence Corps, where he remained throughout his career. (source)

In related news:

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned on Thursday that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine, among them Poland.

Russia will pretend the attacks are “accidental” in order to “paralyze or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries” to rush to the defense of the member state coming under attack, Tusk said in a speech to the Polish parliament.

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Palantir CEO Frames AI Leaders Request as Effort to Avoid Lawsuits from Large Corporate Clients Over IP Theft

Palantir CEO Alex Karp is a little quirky but, on this issue, I tend to agree with him.

According to Karp in the interview below the request by OpenAI and Anthropic AI labs for government regulation is related to a legal issue within their business model.  Right now, massive multinational corporations are working with AI groups under contract. As part of those contracts the leaders of the corporations are discovering their individual business plans, what they call their intellectual property (IP) has been uploaded into the dataset of the AI models themselves.

These corporations have spent billions of dollars on their detailed business plans, marketing plans, logistics and revenue systems that are now part of the AI dataset.  These CEOs are not happy and talking about lawsuits against the AI developers for stealing their corporate intellectual property.  However, at the same time the CEOs are furious at the loss of proprietary information, they are simultaneously bound to the AI developers for forward revenue.  This is creating a problem.

Example: By some analyst’s estimations, Amazon’s forward revenue projection is approximately 51% dependent on further technological capability through the use of AI.  However, Jeff Bezos likely does not appreciate his business model, which includes a massive dataset that he makes money from, being taken and uploaded to the AI database.  Bezos could sue Anthropic for ip theft.

All of the AI labs are exposed to this litigation if it was to unfold.  Additionally, all of the investors into the AI frontier labs would be at risk if the AI developer were sued by these corporations.  Both the AI developers and their investors would/are demanding protection from these lawsuits.

Here’s where it gets complicated.

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Republican Rep Maria Salazar Attacks President Trump – Says ICE Deportations “Gone too Far”

Florida Representative María Elvira Salazar is well known to the CTH audience; she is a decepticon. Having secured President Trump’s endorsement in the primary, Salazar now moves to attack the position of President Trump, DHS and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the issue of deporting illegal aliens.

In a 30-second video ad Representative Salazar claims the ICE deportations have gone too far. WATCH:

DHS Responded:

“Under the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Mullin, there will be NO amnesty for illegal aliens. Not now, not ever. DHS is focused on delivering the most HISTORIC mass deportation campaign in American history—exactly as President Trump promised. Whether Congresswoman Salazar likes it or not, the men and women of ICE are enforcing the laws passed by Congress. To be clear: the only thing America should be giving illegal aliens is a one-way ticket home, or a generous $3,000 check for them to self-deport immediately. We will not ignore the rule of law.” –DHS spox.

CTH also interprets this ad to indicate Mrs. Salazar is likely aware of polling indicating she will lose her Miami area seat.  That said, Salazar has other allegiances (like Ukraine and WEF globalism) that are not aligned with making America great again.

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