Comment by WinstonSmith84
8 months ago
There are other ways to "fake leak" information than having to look like an incompetent idiot at the end. Plus, what they said on Europe is not breaking news, they say pretty much the same on open channels - even when they face directly Europeans (e.g. last Munich conference)
Yeh, not quite the same level of frankness though. The trouble is this vaporises the veil of pretence that stern words on the surface were really backed by an unshakable relationship at it's foundation, and that leaves European leaders with nothing to hide behind to convince their electorate it's worth placating the US as they'll look pathetic. So, they're now left with no choice but to fight fire with fire.