The word itself sets limits on the words that came before it.
In my opinion, in reading the transcript on this blog days after it was released, that word transformed the discussion.
The first statement by President Zelenskyy was about the Javelins. He wanted the delivery of additional armaments. Straight forward and to the point.
The first statement by Trump was the favor he asked of Zelenskyy. The word "though" was about the sixth word he spoke. He never answered President Zelenskyy's question. NEVER. For the four pages of the transcript after the word "though" was spoken the conversation never returned to the Javelins. It ONLY discussed Barr and Guiliani and an investigation into the Bidens. The word "though" as in the definition of the word very much limited the words before.
Trump in that conversation estimated the Javelins were never going to be delivered. The time frame of this conversation was at a point when the unspent funding was approaching cancellation. That cancellation of funding weighed heavily on President Zelensky and why the call was undertaken in the first place. As far as Trump was concerned there was no reason for the discussion of the Javelins because the funding would cancel and the Javelins, in appreciation of Russia, would never be delivered.
"...though..." is huge in this conversation, it makes a change in the direction of the conversation that would never return to the priorities expressed by President Zelenskyy.
Trump, in appreciation of Russia, was sabotaging the Javelins to Ukraine in a timeline that would cancel the sale.
"...though..." is huge.
