New York Times: Donald Trump, Laying Out Foreign Policy, Promises Coherence
WASHINGTON — Donald J. Trump, fresh from a string of resounding primary victories in Eastern states, promised a foreign policy on Wednesday that he said would put “America first,” castigating President Obama and Hillary Clinton for what he described as Middle East missteps that disillusioned the nation’s allies and emboldened its rivals.
Mr. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, pledged a major buildup of the military, the swift destruction of the Islamic State and the rejection of trade deals and other agreements that he said tied the nation’s hands. He also pointedly rejected the nation-building of the George W. Bush administration, and reminded his audience that he had opposed the Iraq war.
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WNU Editor: So who to believe? The foreign policy experts and media pundits who are responsible for the U.S. being involved in messes like the Middle East and elsewhere .... or a non-politician like Donald Trump who says that their thinking has been a disaster. Not surprising .... everyone is panning Donald trump's foreign policy address. What's my take .... if Donald Trump wins the election, these same foreign policy experts/think tanks/and media pundits will be singing a different tune.
More News On Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Speech
Trump, pivoting to the general election, hones ‘America First’ foreign policy vision -- Washington Post
Trump goes for ‘presidential’ policy tone in big speech -- AP
Trump vows U.S. allies would pay more for their defense if he wins the White House -- Reuters
Trump vows 'America First' foreign policy -- AFP
US election 2016: Trump details 'America First' foreign plan -- BBC
Trump vows to make America strong again -- Politico
Donald Trump Calls for Dramatic Break With Current U.S. Foreign Policy -- WSJ
Trump calls for US foreign policy shake-up, no more 'nation-building' -- FOX News
Trump address gets mixed reaction from GOP -- The Hill
Donald Trump's foreign policy: 'America first' -- Jeremy Diamond and Stephen Collinson, CNN
Donald Trump Just Declared War on the Entire Foreign-Policy Establishment -- Eric Levitz, NYMag
Trump reveals unorthodox foreign policy views -- Anthony Zurcher, BBC
Trump's foreign policy: So crazy it just might work? -- Tara McKelvey, BBC
Donald Trump Offers Vague Vision for an Alternative Foreign Policy -- Mark Thompson, Time
Donald Trump’s big foreign policy speech, explained. -- Daniel W. Drezner, Washington Post
Here’s what was missing from Donald Trump’s foreign policy speech -- Chris Cillizza, Washington Post
Walid Phares: Trump lays out a new vision for American foreign policy leadership -- FOX News
Trump’s Incoherent Foreign-Policy Plans -- Russell Berman, The Atlantic
Pundits rip, ridicule Trump’s foreign policy speech -- Kelly Riddell, The Washington Times
3 comments:
"What's my take .... if Donald Trump wins the election, these same foreign policy experts/think tanks/and media pundits will be singing a different tune."
The very definition of yes men. They need to be unemployed.
Stalin was smart enough to realize he had yes men around him. So he had Zukhov inspect Moscow's defenses. That might have made all the difference.
These Yes men are a liability.
Aizino,
"Yes men" are definitely a liability. Two basic charactersitics of people who seek out leadership positions are as follows. 1.) They do NOT like to be told no. In fact, they can become downright vicious towards ANYONE who would dare tell them no even when it is for their own good and the good of the team. 2.) They can facilitate positive achievments from team members and those around them that neither the team members nor anyone but the leader would have dreamed possible. In other words, show me a successful team and I will show you an outstanding leader.
While characteristic 1 exists in all who seek leadership to an extent, in the private sector where Mr. Trump gained his hard earned wealth there is a need to actually make a profit. Faikure to do so means the loss of one's livelyhood, loss of respect, loss of home, and possible destitution, and in some cases jail time thus the tendency to react harshly to harshly to a team member or other stakeholder telling them "NO" is going to be held in check somewhat. In the government sector, the need to make a profit is nonexistent. As such, there exists little to hold this tendency in check. Hence there is little limiting the tendency of government officials from surrounding themselves with "yes" people.
As for characteristic 2, few can succeed in the private sector without adding value to customers, clients, and other stakeholders. As such, those who are for self and self only tend to either change course or are weeded out quickly. In the government sector, such value added considerations are unnecessary. As such, characteristic 2 will be less prevelant here.
There are many men and women who did not seek leadership. The circumstances of the situation forced it on them. Sometimes these people make excellent leaders. For them characteristic 1 may not apply as much as for those who actually seek leadership.
As for Donald Trump, this appears to be one who seeks leadership. Given his experiences, I think it will be highly likely he will not seek to surround himself with yes people and will find such people abhorrent. He is NOT my first choice for POTUS but I can understand the appeal.
Very respectfully my "take" is these people will not "sing a different tune." Instead they will double down on their opposition to Mr. Trump and anything he proposes much like they did in regards to George W. Bush.
Unlike George W. Bush Mr. Trump will actually fight back against such unfair and ridiculous demonization. Also, Mr. Trump will have a base of support that George W. Bush never had. As such, these people might not find the pure profit with minimal to no cost that they had in opposing George W. Bush.
If the deal maker could be elected POTUS, it could be rather entertaining to see such folks tie themselves in knots attacking him which they would do. Should he say "the sky is blue and the earth is round" they will say "the sky is yellow with purple polka dots and the earth is flat." Unfortunately no entertainment in such ridiculousness can be found.
America's survival is at stake and hangs by a thread. As such, there is no amusement in any of this nor is it a "game" as some try to suggest. The electotal choice by Americans is of vital importance in order to give the nation a fighting chance to survive. Ax stated previously, Mr. Trump is not my first choice but I can understand the appeal. As for me, I don't trust him given his prior positions and experience.b
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