Saturday, March 24, 2018

MONGER ME THIS

To say we are about to enter into a new era of US foreign policy is a huge understatement. To shift the former CIA chief hard liner Mike Pompeo into the Secretary of State role is disconcerting. But we could live with the pick. This is not as dangerous as is the appointment of form UN Ambassador John Bolton into the role of National Security Advisor.

This is a man who is historically against diplomacy. This is a man who wants to ramp up military spending, not a deterrent to others, but for its potential to be used throughout the world. This is a man who has advised for the military attacks on Iraq and North Korea as well. He is against the meeting between Trump and Kim as a waste of time, as well as is against a two party state for Israel. 

I should mention here that John Bolton is a right wing, dogmatic asshole who couldn't receive a Senate confirmation for the position of White House dog catcher. He couldn't as UN Ambassador, so they appointed him as a temp of sorts. Certainly he couldn't get Congressional approval as any member of the cabinet. Fortunately for him, the role of National Security Advisor requires only a Presidential appointment. 

He is certainly a war monger. What on earth he was doing in the UN is beyond me. Fortunately for us, the UN is a powerless, vapid organization that has little power or importance other than occasionally achieving column inches in the media. But with his appointment to be NSA, Trump's third in fourteen months, will give him the ear and attention of someone with little to no experience with foreign affairs. And given his naivete in diplomatic affairs on the world's stage, Trump will be seeking his advice on a daily basis. 

In many ways, Bolton is the perfect man for the job in the Trump administration, as his fiery, who gives a shit attitude, both in private and in the media matches that of President Trump. Bolton will certainly fire up our critics around the globe and further increase foreign alienation from our allies across the world. Certainly many will criticize the US for their future decisions as team Trump/Bolton go lockstep into the future of the world like bulls in china shops. 

Will they lead us to war? Will Trump lead us into a trade war? The world breathlessly awaits...hoping for the best, but aware of the catastrophe these appointments could signal.

There is one thing for certain...Trump's many cabinet changes (firings and resultive hirings) in no way simulate a coherent plan or policy. His moves seem to revolve around his daily whims and paranoid reactive movements regarding whomever he deems to have peed in his corn flakes the previous day....and this is no way to behave when you are the perceived "most powerful man on the planet." It is certainly not a confidence booster to our European allies who have in the past looked toward the United States as a protector and world leader. The world shutters in disbelief at the goings on and the dizzying directions (or lack thereof) of the clown car of an administration Trump is driving. 

And that is the world...the "World According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.