System Update with Glenn Greenwald Trump Tries to End War in Ukraine; U.S. is Dangerously Low on Weapons and Munitions Former Trump DoD Official Warns
9 snips
Aug 19, 2025 
In this discussion, guest Dan Caldwell, a former senior policy advisor at the Pentagon and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, sheds light on Trump’s attempts to mediate the Ukraine conflict. He critiques the unrealistic expectations of U.S. foreign policy while detailing America’s critical munitions shortages compared to Russia. Caldwell emphasizes the complexities of military support, the human costs of the war, and urges a pragmatic approach to negotiations amidst dwindling resources. His insights reveal significant implications for U.S. defense strategies moving forward.
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Victory Defined Unreachably
- The Ukraine war was defined by NATO and the U.S. with maximalist goals that Russia could never accept.
- That mismatch guaranteed a long or unwinnable conflict unless aims were renegotiated.
Trump Drives Peace Push Amid Elite Backlash
- Trump is the only major Western leader actively pushing to end the Ukraine war and faces elite backlash.
- His diplomacy reframes the burden of compromise onto Zelensky and European leaders.
Munitions Shortfall Shapes Strategy
- The U.S. focused on high‑end systems, not mass munitions, leaving stockpiles thin for prolonged war.
- That production gap favors Russia and constrains U.S./NATO strategy in Ukraine and elsewhere.
