Last week I heard that Trump is likely to decertify the nuclear deal with Iran by the deadline of October 15. Being just two days from my birthday I immediately thought, 'if I could wish for one thing for my birthday, it would be that Trump would not make this dangerous move'.
These times have been pretty heavy... hurricanes, mass shootings, wild fires, etc. It would be nice not to have other anxiety producing factors in the world. Of course Trump does not understand this, which was clear by his statement he made last week while surrounded by his military advisors - that this is the 'calm before the storm'. He mad the point that he was surrounded by the worlds great military leaders and then made this statement. When asked what he meant, he only said 'you will find out!' Hearing him say this, really put butterflies in my stomach, even though I know he likes to say shocking things, this was beyond the pale.
Even thought, if Trump decertifies the deal, he is just handing the problem to congress, this action would be devastating to world peace for a number of reasons. First, the stability and trustworthiness of the United States is essential when making deals such as this. This deal with Iran was made with a number of nations, all of whom say Iran is in compliance. Bush's own administration says Iran is in compliance. Decertification on our part will only embolden the hardliners within Iran, and it will make it more difficult for us to solve similar situations diplomatically - think North Korea. There is a chance that Iran and the other countries keep up their end of the bargain, and a chance (however unlikely, that the Republican controlled congress will actually vote to stay in the deal. But wavering on our commitment to Iran sends a clear message to North Korea that we are not to be trusted.
This seems to be what Trump wants. When Secretary of State Tillerson tried to work his diplomacy with North Korea, Trump tweeted that he is wasting his time. Trump continues to call Kim Jung-un names. Trump also said last week something to the effect 'that the US has tried talking with North Korea for 25 years to no avail, so obviously there is only one thing that will work'. He also threatened to destroy the entire country while speaking the United Nations. All these things are likely to convince countries like North Korea that they need nukes to defend themselves against a hostile United States.
Trump is in way over his head. When he first took office, he came out of a ten minute meeting with the Chinese president to say that he learned a lot and that he did not realize how complicated the situation with North Korea is. His bullying tactics and pandering to his base at all costs is a dangerous gamble when nukes are involved. He has ordered a 30% reduction in the State Department, which basically means 30% less employees. This lack of diplomats has crippled our efforts around the world to communicate with allies and adversaries alike. At the same time, Trump has ordered an increase in military spending.
Of course, the bully Trump is, he naturally is drawn towards the military as a tool to get what he wants and he clearly does not understand diplomacy. Just look at any of his endless tweets - you could not be more undiplomatic if you tried. Just this week he tweeted to states like Texas and Florida that the federal government will not leave them until they have fully recovered from their hurricanes and then turned around to tweet that the US government can't stick around and help forever in Puerto Rico. Two starkly different messages, way to make Puerto Ricans feel like valued American Citizens. Never mind the fact that FEMA still has people in New Orleans working on recovery from Katrina! and still in New York after Sandy.
The list of people, from military leaders so Trumps' own advisors, to Israeli Prime ministers even, who say the US should stay in the Iran deal is a long long list. Trump says it is what he thinks that counts. My hope, is that he realizes what praise he will get if he certifies the deal and he certifies it so he can bask in the glory of people saying what a smart move it was.
We also know that Trump wants to undo everything that Obama did. Trump wants to keep his campaign 'promises'. It is easy to run a campaign that is against something. And he ran against everything Obama. He even campaigned against Obama's US citizenship long before he ran for president. He ran against Obamacare, against refugees, against the Paris Climate accord, against Obama's executive actions (Trump has signed twice as many as Obama at this point in his presidency), against restrictions of coal power, and the list goes on. So now if Obama did it, Trump is gonna undo it. What people like Trump fear more that an unsuccessful black leader - a successful one. And the worst part, is that behind the scenes, while we talk about North Korea, Russia, and Kapernick, government agencies and regulations are being dismantled, defunded, understaffed, and handed over to lobbyists and CEOs of the very corporations the agencies are meant to keep in check. From the EPA to the Office of Energy Efficiency to the Department of the Interior to Health and Human Services to the Department of Education. Deep damage is being done. The Republican claim that government is the problem is a self fulfilling prophecy. I am not even sure how much Trump understands what is happening and how much he is simply being taken advantage by all the opportunistic players who supported his rise to power so they could get in and cash out.
OK, my birthday wish has gone off on a bit of a tangent. Let me just end by saying I wish, Trump will stay in the Iran deal - certify it (unfortunately something he needs to do every 90 days - which kills him to do since each time he does he is admitting that Obama's deal is working). I did include an 'and...' it the blog title. There are so many ands, but I will stick with...and that his administrations' attempts to roll back environmental protections is thwarted by public outcry and by the next wave of politicians to be elected.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone!!
These times have been pretty heavy... hurricanes, mass shootings, wild fires, etc. It would be nice not to have other anxiety producing factors in the world. Of course Trump does not understand this, which was clear by his statement he made last week while surrounded by his military advisors - that this is the 'calm before the storm'. He mad the point that he was surrounded by the worlds great military leaders and then made this statement. When asked what he meant, he only said 'you will find out!' Hearing him say this, really put butterflies in my stomach, even though I know he likes to say shocking things, this was beyond the pale.
Even thought, if Trump decertifies the deal, he is just handing the problem to congress, this action would be devastating to world peace for a number of reasons. First, the stability and trustworthiness of the United States is essential when making deals such as this. This deal with Iran was made with a number of nations, all of whom say Iran is in compliance. Bush's own administration says Iran is in compliance. Decertification on our part will only embolden the hardliners within Iran, and it will make it more difficult for us to solve similar situations diplomatically - think North Korea. There is a chance that Iran and the other countries keep up their end of the bargain, and a chance (however unlikely, that the Republican controlled congress will actually vote to stay in the deal. But wavering on our commitment to Iran sends a clear message to North Korea that we are not to be trusted.
This seems to be what Trump wants. When Secretary of State Tillerson tried to work his diplomacy with North Korea, Trump tweeted that he is wasting his time. Trump continues to call Kim Jung-un names. Trump also said last week something to the effect 'that the US has tried talking with North Korea for 25 years to no avail, so obviously there is only one thing that will work'. He also threatened to destroy the entire country while speaking the United Nations. All these things are likely to convince countries like North Korea that they need nukes to defend themselves against a hostile United States.
Trump is in way over his head. When he first took office, he came out of a ten minute meeting with the Chinese president to say that he learned a lot and that he did not realize how complicated the situation with North Korea is. His bullying tactics and pandering to his base at all costs is a dangerous gamble when nukes are involved. He has ordered a 30% reduction in the State Department, which basically means 30% less employees. This lack of diplomats has crippled our efforts around the world to communicate with allies and adversaries alike. At the same time, Trump has ordered an increase in military spending.
Of course, the bully Trump is, he naturally is drawn towards the military as a tool to get what he wants and he clearly does not understand diplomacy. Just look at any of his endless tweets - you could not be more undiplomatic if you tried. Just this week he tweeted to states like Texas and Florida that the federal government will not leave them until they have fully recovered from their hurricanes and then turned around to tweet that the US government can't stick around and help forever in Puerto Rico. Two starkly different messages, way to make Puerto Ricans feel like valued American Citizens. Never mind the fact that FEMA still has people in New Orleans working on recovery from Katrina! and still in New York after Sandy.
The list of people, from military leaders so Trumps' own advisors, to Israeli Prime ministers even, who say the US should stay in the Iran deal is a long long list. Trump says it is what he thinks that counts. My hope, is that he realizes what praise he will get if he certifies the deal and he certifies it so he can bask in the glory of people saying what a smart move it was.
We also know that Trump wants to undo everything that Obama did. Trump wants to keep his campaign 'promises'. It is easy to run a campaign that is against something. And he ran against everything Obama. He even campaigned against Obama's US citizenship long before he ran for president. He ran against Obamacare, against refugees, against the Paris Climate accord, against Obama's executive actions (Trump has signed twice as many as Obama at this point in his presidency), against restrictions of coal power, and the list goes on. So now if Obama did it, Trump is gonna undo it. What people like Trump fear more that an unsuccessful black leader - a successful one. And the worst part, is that behind the scenes, while we talk about North Korea, Russia, and Kapernick, government agencies and regulations are being dismantled, defunded, understaffed, and handed over to lobbyists and CEOs of the very corporations the agencies are meant to keep in check. From the EPA to the Office of Energy Efficiency to the Department of the Interior to Health and Human Services to the Department of Education. Deep damage is being done. The Republican claim that government is the problem is a self fulfilling prophecy. I am not even sure how much Trump understands what is happening and how much he is simply being taken advantage by all the opportunistic players who supported his rise to power so they could get in and cash out.
OK, my birthday wish has gone off on a bit of a tangent. Let me just end by saying I wish, Trump will stay in the Iran deal - certify it (unfortunately something he needs to do every 90 days - which kills him to do since each time he does he is admitting that Obama's deal is working). I did include an 'and...' it the blog title. There are so many ands, but I will stick with...and that his administrations' attempts to roll back environmental protections is thwarted by public outcry and by the next wave of politicians to be elected.
Happy Friday the 13th everyone!!
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