Moscow is anxious to begin negotiations with Trump based on the recent statements of Russian officials. The expressed mood in Russia is one of mild frustration at what they sense is a slow pace to normalizing relations with America.
So that these concerns may be smoothed over before a lack of initiative turns them into more significant obstacles we recommend Putin simply discuss diplomatic relations directly with Trump.
The important thing to keep in mind about Trump is that he often does not know details about and is not firmly wedded to specifics related to his broad policy outlines.
What this means for diplomacy with Russia is that Trump needs to be prompted before he will dive substantively into topics that are priorities to Russia but that are either not high priorities for Trump or that he is not aware of. In the absence of the nudge a direct discussion with Putin would provide it is possible that Trump will not feel compelled to further focus on Russian-American ties since they have not become worse since he took office and, therefore, from his perspective do not require greater attention.
If the Russians get the ball rolling with direct communications, Trump, as an experienced negotiator, can begin to consult with his team and return to the negotiating table with what concessions America would like to see Russia make in return for American concessions to Russia.
With both America and Russia holding numerous cards to trade, direct negotiations between Trump and Putin stand a good chance of becoming productive rapidly when actual offers are made. But before any card can be traded Trump must be reminded to take a seat at the table.
Pragmatically Distributed 
Read this? https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2017/03/20/putin-is-bust-so-who-won-the-pot/
Maybe the Admin is playing the old hard to get ploy. The other reason is that because the Dems have kicked up so much dust, it is hard for Trump to communicate with Russia.
The other possibility, is that maybe Trump and his team was playing a deep game, and now has Putin where he wants him.
Thoughts on Turkey? There is a real problem there for Europe in the future.
What about North Korea, looking less good as the years go on?
Re: Fernandez
Too early to say if Russia will not benefit from a Trump presidency.
Maybe the Admin is playing the old hard to get ploy. The other reason is that because the Dems have kicked up so much dust, it is hard for Trump to communicate with Russia.
Trump could very well be waiting for Russia to make the first bid. On the other hand he may also not know where next to go with Russia policy now that tensions have cooled down a bit.
With him it is always hard to tell.
The Russia-hacking non-story makes for a further obstacle. But Trump has ignored them in the past and he may as well continue to do so since no one outside DC cares whether Russia was spying on John Podesta’s blood sacrifice parties, or whatever the hell it was Podesta was doing on weekends.
Thoughts on Turkey? There is a real problem there for Europe in the future.
And yet Europe doesn’t want to bailout the European country that will be on the front lines when the great Turkoman offensive into Central Europe begins: Greece.
There is a great opening for Britain to move in as the protector of the Hellenes. It will only cost England a few, meager, tens of billions of pounds worth of insolvent Greek bonds to purchase this shiny new satellite state.
But does May have the courage to spend other Briton’s money?
What about North Korea, looking less good as the years go on?
Those guys just don’t give up, do they?
They have not followed through with their threats of war in 60 years. There probably will not be one since Stalinist ideology, as an atheistic system, carries no promise of 72 virgins in the afterlife. But it is cold and weird over there.
Over enough expensive drinks smuggled from the West going down in a fireball may seem like the right idea to the leadership.
Saw this:
http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/politics/rex-tillerson-nato-meeting/
Very good.
Tillerson along with George Friedman has been reading my blog.
MOOCH the Cathedral from orbit:
https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2017/03/26/the-mental-reign-of-terror/
Step 1. Create a document detailing both the facts and the logic of why the universities must be defunded.
Step 2. Arrange meeting with Republican party strategists, staffers, think tankers and grass roots leaders.
Step 3. With the support of say a think tanker, grass root leader and a strategist, meet with wither a senior Party leader and pus the agenda.
Step 4: The Party big wig can then perform a “ring round” and inform other Party members, and state governors about the plan.
Step 5. Fire up the base.
Step 6. Execute cut.
Step 7. Be ready to document the violence etc that will come from the universities, in order to prove one’s point.
Step 8. Alternative. IF one could reach someone in the Trump Admin (Stephen Miller?) by contacting one of his staffers, or whatever, it could get passed down the chain.
MOOCH the Cathedral from orbit:
The acronym is actually MOOC. Or it was, I haven’t heard much about it for at least a year.
Anyway, yes, the university system is a high priority for us.