# Trump now wants to use military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691 "2025-01-07T20:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/281 "2025-01-27T17:53:24Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > There’s a difference between expressing to people overseas that we’re not all supportive of his policies and engaging in schadenfreude. **I understand the need for cathartic expressions of displeasure but let’s call them the tantrums they are, rather than dress them up as some sort of signal to external observers.** I’ve read this several times and still can’t figure out what you’re trying to say. What are the “tantrums”? How are they being “dressed up”? What “external observers” are being signaled? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/282 "2025-01-27T18:18:27Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I understand the need for cathartic expressions of displeasure but let’s call them the tantrums they are And I thought the tanTrumps **[were on the other side](https://youtu.be/lXgkuM2NhYI?t=153)**, silly me! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/283 "2025-01-27T18:23:47Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Every opportunity to express displeasure with this asshole should be taken. We can no longer rely on the Praetorian Guard. Agree. We can’t just throw up our hands and say, well, impeachement won’t pass, what or what can we do? Take the gloves off is what you do. Hammer away again and again at every illegal action of Trump and the GOP. > [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > I understand the need for cathartic expressions of displeasure but let’s call them the tantrums they are, Tantrums??? Explain. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/284 "2025-01-27T18:27:50Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > What are the “tantrums”? How are they being “dressed up”? What “external observers” are being signaled? So, there was a suggestion we needed to impeach Trump to show people overseas that we were not completely insane, which I did not really follow. That was followed up by a statement that we should simply take every opportunity to express displeasure. Those aren’t the same things. If the point is to signal to people elsewhere that there are still sane people in this country, another impeachment doesn’t really do much. But if the point is to simply signal displeasure, that has little to do with signalling our sanity. I guess my point is - pick one. If we’re signalling our sanity to people not in the US, impeachment is not an especially great way to go about that. It has a low probability of success and a high probability of a large portion of the country dismissing it, now that it’s the third time. But if we’re simply signalling displeasure, then that is more of a tantrum. “Let’s do anything and everything” isn’t a plan, per se. So, instead of that, what would be the best way to oppose military adventurism against our (erstwhile?) allies? ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/285 "2025-01-27T18:36:39Z")
Righteous indignation isn’t a tantrum. Reasons for impeachment don’t have to be contrived- they are right there and should be acted upon. Threats of war on allies and releasing his militia back into the populace are actions worthy of any kind of action that can be taken against him. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/286 "2025-01-27T18:51:41Z")
So, back to my original question - is this about indignation or showing we’re not all insane? Those aren’t the same thing, and an impeachment drive does little to nothing for the latter. If this is just about expressing indignation, go ahead and push for it if you want. But at least figure out what you really want to achieve first. I happen to think there are other ways of achieving the same end, if it’s about indignation, but that’s a separate matter and impeachment isn’t necessarily a bad idea. But as a way of getting foreign support or aid, it’s pretty low on the priority list. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/287 "2025-01-27T20:03:30Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > If the point is to signal to people elsewhere that there are still sane people in this country, another impeachment doesn’t really do much. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Reasons for impeachment don’t have to be contrived- they are right there and should be acted upon. I had a neighbor (died some years ago, unfortunately) who used to say “Should be ain’t is.” Another impeachment doesn’t even exist, at least unless the Republicans come to their senses. Republicans control the House. It’s “pretty low on the priority list” because currently impossible things should be low on the priority list. If it becomes possible while Trump’s in office, talk about it then. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/288 "2025-01-27T20:38:35Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > He should be impeached for threatening allies with military force. That would be a first step towards reassuring the world that we’re not completely insane. But he won’t be, because collectively we _are_ “completely insane”. Not all of us as individuals, no, but as a society the world can and should look at the US and say “This is a dangerously irrational and violently aggressive rogue state”. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/289 "2025-01-27T20:49:32Z")
How does the US being an outlaw nation make us great again? Seems like it can’t help but make everything more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/290 "2025-01-27T20:51:22Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Seems like it can’t help but make everything more expensive. Sure, for the peons. But who cares for them? /s ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister\_lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister_lord/32/17008_2.png) [@wolf\_meister\_lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister_lord)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/291 "2025-01-27T23:43:58Z")
Sure, donald dump will ALWAYS choose to use military force - as long as _HE_ doesn’t do any of the fighting!!! (Check out his Vietnam War participation.) … (or lack thereof). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/292 "2025-01-27T23:51:39Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I can’t believe I have to pay attention to this for the next four years. That’s optimistic of you. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/293 "2025-01-28T03:00:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “This is a dangerously irrational and violently aggressive rogue state”. I’ve been saying variations of that to my friends here in Canada. No-one has contradicted me. Only here, by the occasional US poster. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/294 "2025-01-28T03:46:41Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > He should be impeached for threatening allies with military force. That would be a first step towards reassuring the world that we’re not completely insane. When the Republicans are trying to write a new Constitutional Amendment to give Trump a third term, just who in the blazes is doing this impeaching? The Dems can’t even put the motion before the House to consider. I mean, if impeaching him were actually viable, it would have worked the first two times. (And I realize the silliness that if it worked the first, there wouldn’t have been a second.) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/295 "2025-02-12T02:59:09Z")
Over on the Fox News website, they are jizzing their pants over a “Nordic Takeover”. This is really what you see as their top story if you go to their website. [![](https://i.imgur.com/bwq7WFd.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/bwq7WFd.png) Apparently the right is now fully onboard with our Orange Conquistador. BTW, catchy new name is as stupid as you could imagine: “Red, White, and Blueland”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/296 "2025-02-12T03:07:51Z")
Would you mind reposting this in my “onion-proofing” thread over in The BBQ Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/297 "2025-02-12T03:08:16Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > BTW, catchy new name is as stupid as you could imagine: “Red, White, and Blueland”. If Google puts that into Maps then I’m giving up on civilization and vanishing into the woods. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/298 "2025-02-12T04:29:37Z")
You have your unabomber cabin picked out yet? I think we are about two weeks out from Google bowing down to their orange master. Again. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/299 "2025-02-12T05:05:28Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You have your unabomber cabin picked out yet? I’m currently reading a medieval grimoire which suggests becoming a hermit for a year and a half and spending all your time talking to your higher self so that you can learn how to command the kings of Hell to do your bidding. It sounds awfully tempting these days. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2025, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/300 "2025-02-12T05:22:09Z")
Why isn’t it obvious to those who thought the oh–he’d-be-safer president now that all American policies are getting blocked or diminished, and Gaza with Greenland are only real estate properties for Trump and rich supporters to add wealth to themselves? Not one thing in his first few weeks benefit US, everything else is a business opportunity. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=16)