By Stephen Kangal
July 18, 2018
No world leader today except perhaps Vladimir Putin can now feel safe and insulated from the egotistical decline, hubris, narcissistic compulsive obsessions and the tantrums of President Trump having now bequeathed a trail of destruction and diplomatic debris in the aftermath of his recently concluded European safari. Perhaps the baby blimp that overshadowed and distracted from his tour of Britain is sadly reflective of his immature modus operandi as the US President.
In fact in the face of his weak and embarrassing prostration and beholden before his friend Putin (former KGB operative) in Helsinki he would appear to be a threat to the peace, good order and indeed the security of the West given his NATO position and anti-EU policy. Putin has an undisclosed file on Trump that constricts his pronouncements on the ‘competitor’.
International diplomacy must be instituted to stem the tide of this contagion spreading further that can threaten and sully the bilateral relations of the USA because no leader in their sanity would ever feel safe and sound to invite President Trump to visit their country because of his established and well-documented Dr Jeckel and Dr Hyde unpredictability and shenanigans from a self-confessed deal maker and magician.
Helsinki well known for its neutrality, serenity and benign host to US-USSR leaders’ summitry was transformed into an epi-centre of a diplomatic seismic event that radiated and propelled shock waves across the Atlantic evoking wrath, widespread outrage and condemnation on Capitol Hill of a President who sacrificed Western liberal values, institutional integrity and the democratic ethic on a Kremlin altar with Putin officiating and his Foreign Minister nodding in agreement.
After the stability and strong foundational stones laid during the Obama presidency, rift valleys of conflicts are now obstructing international relations and turning the world up-side down by a zero – sum trade war, alienation of the EU as a foe and turning a blind eye on atrocities being perpetrated by Putin.
Trump’s ill-timed European safari was more notable for what it reveals of a maverick President than what it conceals. His credibility is all but non-existent for what he says in the morning is retracted in the evening at NATO and at Chequers. He claims in Helsinki to have changed and salvaged the whole tenour and tone of the deterioration of US-Russian relations in magical four hours.
This is not a political and diplomatic emergency for Washington/Congress exclusively to address. It is a matter for the free world- the very survival of democratic traditions and values that we all cherish after surmounting the military threat of Nazism and the stultification of the centrally planned economies of the USSR.
In Helsinki the conduct of American foreign policy has been so damaging to the image and integrity of the hallowed institutions and operating principles of the USA that it may take decades to repair. There is more than the proverbial mortar in this Trump-Putin pestle. It is going to get worse unless Congress intervenes surgically and pre-emptively to rein in this loose cannon of a President going wild and destructive.
In Helsinki with the world press in attendance, all hell broke loose when President Trump:
– Prostrated before high priest Putin to the extreme embarrassment of Democrats and Republicans in Washington and the Obama Presidency;
– Appeared to be beholden and submissive to Putin with a sword of Damocles held over him;
– Discredited the American system of justice, elections, governance, diplomacy and intelligence gathering agencies and officials;
– Gave credence to Putin rather than the investigations/revelations of the Robert Mueller Commission on proven Russian interference in the US 2016 Elections.
All what is stated in your submission is correct and undisputable especially in the eyes of some US allies. However the question arises, why is support amongst his Republicans so high (86%) than any other past Republican US President?
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/republicans-are-coming-home-to-trump/
According to the analysis this support is party loyalty driven because of Republican desire to solidify their position on Capitol Hill. Remember the adage of the Silver Fox that politics and might I add staying in governance has a morality of its own. This loyalty is not fueled by an objective assessment of the facts but by support for a President that keeps the Republican banner afloat. But time longer than twine and the truth will prevail and justice be it distributive or parliamentary will prevail. Protectionism is the new mantra of the Republicans to promote their inward looking philosophy when the free enterprise system no longer works in their interest. Have you ever heard of any other President evoking the tide of opposition when he goes abroad. His collusion with Putin and the KGB tells where his priorities lie. He is creating foes where there none and bulldozing his way even in Britain. He has alienated Europe and as I said no one will invite him to their homes.
They don’t friggin care. They just hate liberals, blacks, gays, democrats,hispanics. If trump marching them to hell they will follow. trump in his own words. “I could shoot a man down 5th ave. and nobody would care”.
Agree, and to the fact that protectionism is being advanced as tariffs are imposed left, right and the centre by the US and the Democrats appear to be helpless in their opposition to such. I hold another view relating to immigration policies. This is populism and in my view the need to keep America white. This reminds me of Enoch Powell in the 70s advancing similar policies in the UK. Mexicans growing in numbers in California and the southern states of the US, Guatemalans moving in droves to the US,Haitians using the US as a springboard in getting across to Montreal. Trump is the front who is listening to his followers and advancing their cause of making America great again.
http://time.com/time-person-of-the-year-populism/
The far right populist and anti-immigrant policies are firmly embedded in Italy, Bulgaria, Austria, Bavaria in Germany, Spain, Malta etc. To some extent the 2016 Brexit vote was also driven by the need to reduce immigration in Britain and that is why Brexit is geared to take control of UK’s borders, money and laws. The move to reduction of immigration is influenced by the need to reduce social unrest and clash of cultures. However the Eurozone countries need labour to keep the wheels of industry and agriculture lubricated and moving especially for the reaping seasons.The UK imports £2bn of food with 97% coming from the EU through the Single Market and Customs Union. The hard Brexiteers want immigration curbs an example of which is the Windrush imbroglio- sending home to the Caribbean undocumented immigrants living in the UK since 1948. The Trump policies on immigration are an aberration since the USA is essentially an immigrant country with wide diversity and ethnic minorities fully integrated and entrenched. Making America great again is white supremacist propaganda to erect immigration and Mexican walls. His protectionism will pauperise America if only China were to call in its loans and insist on no trade deficit. The problem is bigger than what Trump can address with his myopic visioneering.
Trump read Mein Kampf and so his ideas about nationhood is as Hitler who was a strong nationalist pro white supremist. He lectured Europe on inviting all these Muslims and even attack the mayor of London who is a Muslim.
Trump is using all means possible to get rid of illegal immigrants. Homeland Security has a huge budget and have taken over a lot of smaller departments. Homeland security was formed under George Bush and continued under Obama who deported more Latinos than any other President before him. Trump is simply continuing where Obama left off, although Obama did put in place laws to not deport parents of children born in America. Something Trump struck down.
The white supremist ideology is based on love for their own race. The thinking is that they don’t need other races but other races need them to survive. So one can assume that Trump is securing the interest of white folks above all others in the US.
Trump likes Putin because the caucus people fits into his description of true humanity. Unlike the backward nations that he called sh*tholes nations. Trump would prefer to have a stronger relationship with Putin. Trump’s Germanic roots dictates such.
The media has been relentless against Trump. CNN liberal views do not mesh with Trump’s conservative views. It is possible he will be impeached, but it will take a lot of courage to do such.