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TRUMP-STATESMANSHIP

STATESMANSHIP as defined by Wikipedia is the practice of a Statesman, usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term. Statesmanship also conveys a quality of leadership that organically brings people together a spirit of caring for others and for the whole.

Another essay in the NYTimes explores “His Incompetent Statesmanship” written by  Serge Schmemann saying: “For all the sound and fury, Trump’s foreign policy has few accomplishments.”

The essay begins with it a lesion on how not to bring people together.  Trump’s national security advisor abruptly announced that there would be a withdrawal of 2,500 troops by early next year rather than the 4,500 as previously decided.  Hours later,  the President tweeted that he wanted them all back by Christmas.  Gen. Mark Miley Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was caught by surprise and declared he would proceed with their plans they laid out and would proceed based on the conditions on the ground.  He also stated he does not respond to Trump’s commands over Twitter.  The military responded, an unplanned quick withdrawal would put soldiers at risk and undermines the Taliban peace deal.  Under Obama he railed at the discussion of any timetable for withdrawal as it would have the enemy just wait out until the withdrawal.  Double standard?  For the last four years the world has learned that this is how Trump conducts international business as a transactionalist.   A prime example is his perfect phone call to Ukraine   for which he was impeached. 

To his supporters, where is the troop withdrawals?  Why has the wall not been built?  These are some of the frustration his supporters must feel.  His diplomatic incompetence have his  supporters concerned.  There concern is due to his vandalism of alliances built throughout the world at the cost of many lives and treasure over generations.  

At his inaugural he said: “From this day forward it’s going to only be America first.”  Today it’s clear what he meant, the decline of American leadership in the world and the hallowed American brand.  This is all to the dismay of allies and the glee of strongmen, authoritarian leaders, and dictators.  Isolationism is the result of his policy and diplomacy is foreign to this administration.  Trump seems hell bent on the destruction of any foreign alliance.

Trump has “abandoned commitments litter the halls of Washington-The trans-Pacific Partnership, the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, the World Health Organization, UN-UNESCO.”

“He touts his illusionary successes-pulling troops out of the Middle East, a trade war with China, ripping up the Iran Nuclear deal, and going after Venezuela and Cuba.”  These are dubious successes at best.  His Middle-East peace plan turns out to be a gift to the Israeli right wing political party.  This action eliminates the United States as mediator for any future negotiations with the Palestinians. 

China is regularly putting pressure on Hong Kong, turning up the heat on Taiwan, and  China has made incursion into the South China Sea with impunity.  Sanctions against Iran are opposed by our allies and are being ignored.  Our sanctions on Iran have the potential of devastation humanitarian result.  It is fortunate the remainder of the sane world see they are in compliance with the Nuclear deal and are willing to ignore Trump’s bluster.  Nicolas Maduro remains in power despite Trump’s efforts to oust the dictator.  Trump’s bizarre efforts to coddle with the dictator of North Korea has only allowed Kim to continue to stock up on his arsenal of nuclear weapons, build new long range Nuclear Missiles rolled out in a military parade. 

Despite his rhetoric calling for withdrawal thousands of troops from around the globe we still have troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.  He has the power and rhetoric he has not yet withdrawn them.   

Trump’s ignorance of the world showed up prior to the Helsinki meeting with Putin when he asked an aide if Finland was part of Russia.  Trump has total  disdain for diplomacy, intelligence, and experience and in most cases has made international matters worse with his input.

Trump’s transactional nature was evident in the infamous Ukraine conversation where he said: “I would like you to do a favor though.”  This particular action illustrates Trump’s worldview.  When asked about advisors Trump said: “My primary consultant is myself and I have a good instinct for this stuff.”

The niceties of diplomacy escapes this Commander in Chief.  Trump called British Prime Minister Theresa May a “fool”, Chancellor Angelia Merkel of Germany “Stupid” in phone calls.  Trump also called the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “very dishonest and weak” in a tweet. These are/were all close allies. 

The myriad of books written about Trump along with his tweets and  declarations have defined his term in office.  All the  books  are  an exhausting chronicle of those close to the action.

The most curious is Trump’s reticence to discuss any of the four conservations Trump has had with Putin.  He of vociferous and has no qualms about sharing his prowess about all other calls he has with other world leaders, all put Putin.  Why?  He even had the written account of one meting with Putin torn up.  Trump also said he believed Putin’s denial when he said he had not interfered in the 2016 elections.   It is curious why he has muted all criticisms of Putin and Russia.

What would a Biden President foreign policy look like?  Many of the dominant currents in world affairs will not change, however, Biden will bring civility to foreign policy.  Biden’s term  will not be defined by Trump’s crude insults, shifts in direction, and self-serving views.  The United states will have an opportunity to reclaim the mantle of world leader.

Mr. Biden has already pledged to re-join the Paris accords and repair relationships with miffed allies.  If Trump is re-elected it will show the world who we really are.  Trump will continue to be a  dysfunctional statesmanship, and the world will have no choice but to conclude the last four years were not an aberration.

Georg Washington, first president and a great statesman once stated that the primary requirement to be a president was the individual must have “public virtue.”  Trump has absolutely no public virtue with well  over 20,000 known lies in his tenure.