The US can't pay its own debts or employ its own people, but Kristof thinks it should cure the world's tropical diseases.
The Liberal capacity for empathy knows no financial constraints.
The Liberal capacity for empathy knows no financial constraints.
4
Shaping the future of the world is a complex ( you know, like healthcare ) job requiring a deep understanding of history and a vision for the future. Throwing money at the military is a quick fix for those with no understanding of history and a simplistic view of the future.
Elections have consequences.
Elections have consequences.
23
But spending money on the military might go on jobs in armaments plants.
The only trouble is that then China and Russia will need to keep pace. This is insane. Trump is fighting the last century's war. It reminds me of the way the 18th century British thought they would fight the rebel Americans; line up a soldiers in red coats and march towards the woods.
Then those damn rebels cheated! Guess ISIS might do the same.
The only trouble is that then China and Russia will need to keep pace. This is insane. Trump is fighting the last century's war. It reminds me of the way the 18th century British thought they would fight the rebel Americans; line up a soldiers in red coats and march towards the woods.
Then those damn rebels cheated! Guess ISIS might do the same.
14
The answer to the question of why spend so much more on military hardware than on State Department growth and aid seems pretty obvious. The huge majority of military hardware purchases are made from corporations that supported Trump (or at least have jumped on the bandwagon) and the huge majority of military goods are manufactured in states Trump won in the election. State Department funds, on the other hand, benefit academic institutions, college graduates, and persons who are "different" - all groups that Trump openly despises. Perhaps this is what trickle down economics looks like to Trump.
17
I’m not sure how much outright success, either military or diplomatic, America has had to boast of in a while. In both cases, of course, it all depends on how we deploy those resources. So, I take the perennial popular discontent with foreign aid spending to mean that most Americans don’t think it has achieved results worth the cost (with the response to Ebola being a noteworthy exception), but people may be open to more effective spending.
3
No but we can quarantine anyone from Ebola stricken countries. When it comes to epidemics originating in third-world countries or areas which are terrorist havens just stop any migration to/from these areas. Just expand the list of banned countries and voila you will have resolved most of the threat.
6
Or Stalin's famous cynical statement, How many divisions does the Pope have, as he lost France and Italy after World War II even though the Communist resistance initially had the high ground. The idea of America is worth an entire corps, or at least from statements made by foreigners. Once that is destroyed America is simply another country. Ironically the best reinforcement of the idea of America was the election of Barack Obama, who the current occupant claimed was not even American.
11
It seems to me that when you argue, as Republicans do, that the only thing you as an American citizen are entitled to is the right to work for as much or little as your employer thinks you are worth, and whatever benefits they can afford to provide you, and that reliance on nanny gov't is the root of all evil, it is hard to justify giving money to foreign aid.
Effectiveness is completely besides the point. This isn't about effectiveness, it's about principle, and the principle is that the gov't is only meant to spend money on sticks, not carrots.
Effectiveness is completely besides the point. This isn't about effectiveness, it's about principle, and the principle is that the gov't is only meant to spend money on sticks, not carrots.
8
Isn't it simply amazing how many chicken hawks like Trump love the military long after Draft Age. Trump found Five separate occasions to avoid serving his country. He said he was too busy as a rich playboy on the Upper East Side nailing the latest model to serve in Vietnam. He joked he caught more fire from them then if he was fighting the VC.
Yeah Republicans, there's your fine leader. Puts the true heroics of Bob Dole, JFK, John "Not A Hero" McCain, Bob Kerrey, John Kerry to shame, doesn't he. What is this madness that has invaded the very souls of Republicans to nominate such a nincompoop? Why have they lost all sense of Duty Honor and Country to do this to America? The GOP is a deeply disturbed party. They use Patriotism and the Armed Forces as beards to hide their hideous lack of Courage. They are hypocrites in the truest sense, sending other people's sons and daughters off to foreign lands as cannon fire and to be brought home to Dover AFB in a box. Cowards all.
DD
Manhattan
Yeah Republicans, there's your fine leader. Puts the true heroics of Bob Dole, JFK, John "Not A Hero" McCain, Bob Kerrey, John Kerry to shame, doesn't he. What is this madness that has invaded the very souls of Republicans to nominate such a nincompoop? Why have they lost all sense of Duty Honor and Country to do this to America? The GOP is a deeply disturbed party. They use Patriotism and the Armed Forces as beards to hide their hideous lack of Courage. They are hypocrites in the truest sense, sending other people's sons and daughters off to foreign lands as cannon fire and to be brought home to Dover AFB in a box. Cowards all.
DD
Manhattan
18
Education is a key to so many of our problems, not the least of which is the sorry state of a large segment the U.S. electorate now susceptible to every silly pseudo-fact that comes over Twitter. Critical reading, analytical thinking and cultural competence must be taught much earlier in our curriculum. With so many Americans so unfamiliar with the rest of the world's people and dependent on charlatans for their information, our educators have their work cut out for them. Investment in education here and elsewhere should be priorities at every governmental level. But don't expect anything from this anti-intellectual, anti-public education administration. One need only listen to the paltry English---and ideation--- of our new President to know how low we've sunk in devaluing education and critical thinking.
7
trumps America first agenda is so completely lacking in an understanding of what really makes America first among nations that its going to drive us into last place.
12
The 1% don't need to fight climate change or ebola. They are not impacted in any way by those risks unless you count the tax deduction for the gala benefit concert they attended.
They do need to distract the masses while they pick their pockets. And nothing does that better than thrilling "bang bang' footage of ludicrously evil foreign terrorists laying waste or being wasted by overpriced hardware. All they need is an experienced conman to head the charge.
They do need to distract the masses while they pick their pockets. And nothing does that better than thrilling "bang bang' footage of ludicrously evil foreign terrorists laying waste or being wasted by overpriced hardware. All they need is an experienced conman to head the charge.
11
The true weakness of the Trump administration lies in its ignorance. Whether it's healthcare, foreign policy, diplomacy, immigration, no one seems to understand that the people who do the work are those who have spent a professional lifetime doing it. When ignorance is combined with greed, with willful disregard of rules, written and unwritten, and with an agenda that favors the rich and powerful at the expense of those who struggle to make ends meet, disaster is assured.
15
It is clear from the nice round 10% / 54 billion dollar increase that the goal was to look tough on defense with no particular thought to what the money would buy. In point of fact, the money will not do anything to help make us safer against Isis and other extremists. We have more than enough guns to deal with them. What we are short on is credibility and good will in the Muslim world which Trump is doing his best to destroy.
8
What those countries with pending or current hunger crises need most is birth control, which apparently our current administration is against. And I'm not talking condoms, I'm talking BCPs or IUDs. And if those don't work, sterilization. Populations in Africa and the Middle East along with much of the 3rd world are exploding, and have been for some time. There wouldn't be 20 million threatened with starvation if there reproduction rates looked anything like Western countries.
Humanitarian aid may be required, and is morally commendable. But it's not sustainable. The next crisis may involve 40 million, or 400 million. If population levels were stable there would be plenty of food for anyone. It's hard to benefit from schools and education when you're stomach is growling. Education is useful only as much as it leads to stable employment. If everyone got "educated" there wouldn't be enough jobs to go around for those with diplomas. Nothing in these countries will be solved until they get their birth rates stabilized. 7 billion and counting, we don't need any more homo sapiens on this planet. We certainly don't need any more starving ones either. If somehow the population had been stabilized half a century ago there'd be plenty of food for everyone, with no need to continue the ongoing deforestation as trees are chopped down for farmland. The rest of the planet's species would likewise be thankful.
(Stop eating meat, that does as much good as anything for sustainability.)
Humanitarian aid may be required, and is morally commendable. But it's not sustainable. The next crisis may involve 40 million, or 400 million. If population levels were stable there would be plenty of food for anyone. It's hard to benefit from schools and education when you're stomach is growling. Education is useful only as much as it leads to stable employment. If everyone got "educated" there wouldn't be enough jobs to go around for those with diplomas. Nothing in these countries will be solved until they get their birth rates stabilized. 7 billion and counting, we don't need any more homo sapiens on this planet. We certainly don't need any more starving ones either. If somehow the population had been stabilized half a century ago there'd be plenty of food for everyone, with no need to continue the ongoing deforestation as trees are chopped down for farmland. The rest of the planet's species would likewise be thankful.
(Stop eating meat, that does as much good as anything for sustainability.)
13
If asked, I could imagine Trump saying:" Ebola? Well, America needs to have the biggest, bestest Ebola in the world, and I'll make it happen!"
15
Give Trump points for consistency. For decades, Republicans have been decrying "nanny state" domestic measures designed to help people in this country, and have been describing taxes designed to subsidize programs that help those in need as a penalty for success. It was only a matter of time before that attitude impacted foreign aid as well. Why should Americans who have been told that the only thing they are entitled to is the "right to work", and that the only role of the federal gov't is self defense believe that foreign countries deserve their tax dollars? For too long, those in the know have been ignoring what Republicans say, and assuming they were cynical. They knew that plenty of Republicans understood the value of aid, even if they only were willing to do it for foreign countries. Trump, OTOH, like many of his voters have taken everything Republicans spout quite seriously, without cynicism.
How willing are we to invest in children and social services to reduce our crime rate/incarceration rate? We don't even want gov't to invest in birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies, something that would actually SAVE money for the healthcare system.
You can argue from today till tomorrow about the benefits of foreign aid, but effectiveness has stopped being a valid argument for gov't spending among Republicans for a while now.
How willing are we to invest in children and social services to reduce our crime rate/incarceration rate? We don't even want gov't to invest in birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies, something that would actually SAVE money for the healthcare system.
You can argue from today till tomorrow about the benefits of foreign aid, but effectiveness has stopped being a valid argument for gov't spending among Republicans for a while now.
9
I read Mem Fox' account of the terrible ordeal she experienced while being detained by US Customs at L.A. One sentence especially caught my eye. Mx. Fox said "I am all about inclusivity, humanity and the oneness of the humans of the world". That reminded me of the concentration camps maintained by the Australians to incarcerate refugees trying to enter their country on leaky boats. The concentration camps that were the source of 2.000 refugees that the previous American administration agreed to accept from the xenophobic Australian government.
Is Mx. Fox enraged by the exclusivity demanded by Australia since its inception. Does she advocate Australia's white's only immigration policies? Does she loathe her own country? When we hear her roar, to whom will her roar be directed?
Damnable glass houses.
Is Mx. Fox enraged by the exclusivity demanded by Australia since its inception. Does she advocate Australia's white's only immigration policies? Does she loathe her own country? When we hear her roar, to whom will her roar be directed?
Damnable glass houses.
4
doubt about the premise, bombing ain't the the answer to anything, it is the last resort when there are no answers and, maybe, no more questions.
however, the military money matter needs some parsing before it is judged and filed...if you're in uniform, the issues range form the quality of your weapon and kevlar, through the mobility of your backup and air support, rescue/evacuation, medical care, etc., all have to be as reliable as possible and, now, they are not....down the road the entire notion of training and deploying forces will change, smaller more nimble units, with lots of alternative measures immediately at hand (think commando-style units with their own drones, for example)...the comparison of state department and battalion numbers is specious (imagine the state department suits lining up for chow or nipping over to supply for socks).
for our "negotiator" the problem is as always, if you're known for a quick trigger, negotiation is tainted by the other guy's anxiety - if you don't get your way, he fears that it's only a matter of time before he gets bombed...
...and finally, maybe we can bomb ebola...make choices and "manhattan project" them...favorites here: 1. amends for founding crimes against native tribes (grant survivors relief and free us from the stain of habitual denial disorder; 2. elimination of inner cities and the blight on the spirit of americans confined therein; and 3. a total overhaul of education (learning per se, not its furniture).
however, the military money matter needs some parsing before it is judged and filed...if you're in uniform, the issues range form the quality of your weapon and kevlar, through the mobility of your backup and air support, rescue/evacuation, medical care, etc., all have to be as reliable as possible and, now, they are not....down the road the entire notion of training and deploying forces will change, smaller more nimble units, with lots of alternative measures immediately at hand (think commando-style units with their own drones, for example)...the comparison of state department and battalion numbers is specious (imagine the state department suits lining up for chow or nipping over to supply for socks).
for our "negotiator" the problem is as always, if you're known for a quick trigger, negotiation is tainted by the other guy's anxiety - if you don't get your way, he fears that it's only a matter of time before he gets bombed...
...and finally, maybe we can bomb ebola...make choices and "manhattan project" them...favorites here: 1. amends for founding crimes against native tribes (grant survivors relief and free us from the stain of habitual denial disorder; 2. elimination of inner cities and the blight on the spirit of americans confined therein; and 3. a total overhaul of education (learning per se, not its furniture).
1
I just read the article by Mem Fox in The Guardian for which you have provided a link. She's angry and now so am I. Trump and his minions are heartless and lack empathy for others. They barely qualify as human beings and they "lead" our country. I am disgusted by this violation of the values I was educated to revere. No wonder Trump loves the uneducated.
17
We are so far off track that I think we have forgotten there ever WAS one.
Security? Humanitarianism? Is there any such thing anymore?
Security? Humanitarianism? Is there any such thing anymore?
9
Donald Trump does not know how to make friends. His world consists of his immediate family who he trusts and believes can do no wrong, generals and billionaires who he thinks of as winners (and serve to prop up his insecurity-riddled self-image), sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear and live in fear of him, and enemies, who include most of the rest of humanity. He does not understand and appreciate the nuances of what it takes to have normal human relationships. His default and dominant interpersonal behavior is to bully, hence his fascination with the military and his ignorance about the value of diplomacy, kindness, and social justice. Expecting anything different from him is stupid and dangerous. Poor Rex Tlllerson. He must be pining for his good old CEO days.
9
Tanks also cannot stop the spread of highly contagious diseases as you point out, like Ebola. We are living under a rock the size of our nation to think that our shores are somehow immune from the next pandemic. Our investment should not only be in helping other nations with their societal tragedies, but protecting our own nation from Ebola-like outbreaks that will kill us by the thousands and potentially millions. We underfund the research groups and the government groups such as the NIH and the CDC that we will depend on to save us.
And if we are ill prepared for the next major medical threat to our country, no health insurance coverage in the world will be able to save us.
And if we are ill prepared for the next major medical threat to our country, no health insurance coverage in the world will be able to save us.
9
What Trump's "America First" program signals is an indifference to the values and norms of human rights abroad and a disregard for Constitutional rights in the US for swaths of the population.
That said, another aspect of Trump's showering of largesse upon the military and paramilitary homeland security and police forces comes into focus. The president is making an attempt to buy the loyalty of those forces he would call upon to enact the ethnonationalist political priorities reflected in the administration's military, immigration, police, and carcereal policies. Mr. Kristof's piece shows the downstream effects of policies consistent with Steve Brannon's designs for political order.
That said, another aspect of Trump's showering of largesse upon the military and paramilitary homeland security and police forces comes into focus. The president is making an attempt to buy the loyalty of those forces he would call upon to enact the ethnonationalist political priorities reflected in the administration's military, immigration, police, and carcereal policies. Mr. Kristof's piece shows the downstream effects of policies consistent with Steve Brannon's designs for political order.
8
How big our diplomatic corps or military are have nothing to do with effectively stopping many of the security threats discussed in this article. Rather the greed fueled mania of our 1% and their media propagandists at the NY Times for anything goes open border profits is the main cause of the looming global pandemic threat and the thousands of opiate deaths bemoaned by the author. Biologists are outraged by the moral horror of the leader of our CDC refusing to recommend the closing of the borders near the catastrophic Ebola outbreak that killed 10's of thousands - worrying that might "cost people some money" and a similar 'economic concerns matter more' response in regard to the zika virus threaten our security and lives the most. Our southern border is also an open door for heroin and meth poison manufactured by the 100's of tons often with the assistance of the murderous, hyper corrupt oligarchies in Latin America. This flood of poison continues despite the fact that we put a men on the moon a half century ago, and have the technology to literally read everyone's mail and shoot missiles at idiot child rapists 5000 miles away. Instead of simply keeping them and the rich and powerful sheiks who finance and direct them out of our country, and refusing to buy or help them pump their oil until they themselves hunt down and kill all their home grown terrorists. We simply need to act like adults instead of gluttonous children and use logic and technology to control our borders.
3
First, military spending needs to be restructured. Unfortunately, our current president wants more flashy war toys and bigger nukes. If he were concerned about living wages for our enlisted men, better medical coverage for them and our veterans, better training on the nuances of entering foreign countries with American ideals instead of more training on weapons, I might be able to see spending more money AFTER a review of revising current military budgets. But that is just wishful thinking.
Honey attracts more flies than vinegar. Simple.
Our Peace Corps (note the word peace) could do more to strengthen democracy than all the weapons in the worlds. But then I have to poke myself and remember that per person, our citizens own more guns per person than any other country in the world. And probably most of the voters who endorsed Trump (who, by the way is shortly going to speak on a warship - shades of GWB) fall into that category.
All this being said, we need more voices promoting peace. Bring back the 60s.
Honey attracts more flies than vinegar. Simple.
Our Peace Corps (note the word peace) could do more to strengthen democracy than all the weapons in the worlds. But then I have to poke myself and remember that per person, our citizens own more guns per person than any other country in the world. And probably most of the voters who endorsed Trump (who, by the way is shortly going to speak on a warship - shades of GWB) fall into that category.
All this being said, we need more voices promoting peace. Bring back the 60s.
3
The Bay of Pigs 60s or the Cuban Missile Crisis 60s or the VIetnam 60s or the East Berlin-West Berlin 60s.
1
Oh Ralphie...don't throw the baby away with the bathwater. If you will note, I was talking about the Peace Corp and Diplomacy and our attitudes vs. war. It seems to me that there was a very strong anti-war sentiment in the 60s that changed the way our government was working...and I hope that the current protests and "resistance" will prevail on the side of Peace.
Global leadership and influence mean education, good will, and cooperation. Bombs bring more bombs. The GOP and Trump prefer to use the Neanderthal approach to global affairs. Guess what? It doesn't work.
2
"We Can't Bomb Away Climate Change." I guess it is safe to think Trump is unaware of his power to cause a global "nuclear winter"?
"We Can’t Bomb Ebola." I bet Trump thinks he can, and supplement it with more walls to seal the border from the pathogen.
Does Gen. Mattis have the discretion to transfer some of the DOD financial windfall back to the State Dept. and USAID to reduce the number of bullets he buys?
I agree improved funding to State (For better security at facilities? Remember Benghazi?) and USAID will get obtain better results and friends. But under the current POTUS, I am afraid it is wasted money and effort when a single tweet can undo everything in a few seconds.
I also suspect that for every innocent civilian killed by a drone or our armed forces, we will get a dozen or more new terrorists to contend with that would never have become a terrorist otherwise. Existing hardcore terrorists benefit from innocent collateral damage too gaining new recruits.
Reduced education in our own country has resulted in the divisions and the POTUS we now have.
"We Can’t Bomb Ebola." I bet Trump thinks he can, and supplement it with more walls to seal the border from the pathogen.
Does Gen. Mattis have the discretion to transfer some of the DOD financial windfall back to the State Dept. and USAID to reduce the number of bullets he buys?
I agree improved funding to State (For better security at facilities? Remember Benghazi?) and USAID will get obtain better results and friends. But under the current POTUS, I am afraid it is wasted money and effort when a single tweet can undo everything in a few seconds.
I also suspect that for every innocent civilian killed by a drone or our armed forces, we will get a dozen or more new terrorists to contend with that would never have become a terrorist otherwise. Existing hardcore terrorists benefit from innocent collateral damage too gaining new recruits.
Reduced education in our own country has resulted in the divisions and the POTUS we now have.
4
I tend to agree that we spend more on defense than the next 20 countries combined.I don't think the Pentagon needs 84 billion more dollars.About military pay ,you have to add in all the benefits to arrive at the total pay package.Health benefits,retirement,BX,commissary,,housing allowance,tax free,recreation facilities,clubs,etc.
We spend more on education than almost any other country.We do not have failing schools,we have failing parents,not failing teachers.
Latest report on early childhood education,shows that by fourth grade,no difference between those that went to pre school and those that didn't.Another form of taxpayer funded free baby sitting.
Advice,get involved,with your representatives,your children's teachers,your local school board,your local community.
We spend more on education than almost any other country.We do not have failing schools,we have failing parents,not failing teachers.
Latest report on early childhood education,shows that by fourth grade,no difference between those that went to pre school and those that didn't.Another form of taxpayer funded free baby sitting.
Advice,get involved,with your representatives,your children's teachers,your local school board,your local community.
Before you denounce the reduced education that created the uninformed and uneducated deplorables who are responsible for the ascendency of Trump, you might want to examine the question you asked about Secretary of Defense Mattis dispensing Congressionally designated funding to whomever he feels needs it more than he does.
1
This would be a good time to remind people of Eisenhower's "The Chance for Peace" speech. Lots of "good stuff" in there but as a reminder ...
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.
The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities.
It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.
It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement.
We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat.
We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people."
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
This world in arms is not spending money alone.
It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.
The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities.
It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.
It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement.
We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat.
We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people."
6
If I may make a simple observation, we beat drug traffickers primarily by reducing the U.S. demand for drugs. We do this by educating people that when they buy illegal drugs, they are responsible for all the innocent deaths and violence that drug trafficking causes.
Stop blaming other countries for our gluttony. The United States is awash in guns and money; as long as there is demand, the drugs - and the violence they bring - will always get through.
Stop blaming other countries for our gluttony. The United States is awash in guns and money; as long as there is demand, the drugs - and the violence they bring - will always get through.
3
Trump does not understand how the world works. The Russians win at chess, while he loses at Tic-Tac-Toe. Cutting the State Department funds is par for the course.
1
Good column: much more positive then your recent run of silly let's-remove-Trump pieces. This column is a good first step in persuading a skeptical President that there are many dimensions to fighting a war against ignorance and evil.
1
There once was a king. One day his advisor came to him and spoke thusly: "Majesty, you have spent millions on the army and not one cent on easing the plight of the poor." And the king said "Yes. When the revolution comes, I will be ready."
2
There was another king who spent his days easing the plight of the poor all over the land but outside of his kingdom and spent not one cent on his army.
One of his advisers mouthed similar words just before the kingdom's borders were over-run and his people enslaved to pay for the new "citizens".
One of his advisers mouthed similar words just before the kingdom's borders were over-run and his people enslaved to pay for the new "citizens".
1
The US currently spends as much money on the military as the next 7 countries combined! How much more do we need? Even military folks say that more money for foreign relations means less needed for the military!
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
Trump is obviously not the first President to think this way. To have military muscle and be willing to use it can be a great aid to diplomatic action, a formula leading to quicker results and less military action. But you must actually have the muscle, and you must have demonstrated the willingness to use it, successfully and effectively.
So now Trump is building the muscle, and you can bet that he will use it when the right opportunity to do so arises.
If Obama had taken this approach to Syria and ISIS, what would the result have been? A quick end to ISIS? much less conflict and civilian loss of life in Syria? Fewer refugees?
Trump is obviously not the first President to think this way. To have military muscle and be willing to use it can be a great aid to diplomatic action, a formula leading to quicker results and less military action. But you must actually have the muscle, and you must have demonstrated the willingness to use it, successfully and effectively.
So now Trump is building the muscle, and you can bet that he will use it when the right opportunity to do so arises.
If Obama had taken this approach to Syria and ISIS, what would the result have been? A quick end to ISIS? much less conflict and civilian loss of life in Syria? Fewer refugees?
2
Donald Trump must have flunked Economics at Penn's Wharton School. Like any organization, there has to be balance. Economists prefer to is as "Guns versus Butter". Too much money spent on Domestic Needs makes a nation weak, rife for invasion. But, when too much is spent on Defense, short-changing Domestic Needs, insurrection, from among the populace, can result. The ideal government attempts to maintain a proper balance between guns and butter.
The lack of Balance--as Russia, and the Soviet Era before that--an over shift toward too much of either Guns or Butter--skews many segments of Society--education, technology, philosophy, the quality of life--just causes a society to implode.
Donald, it can all start with the won't of a nail!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The lack of Balance--as Russia, and the Soviet Era before that--an over shift toward too much of either Guns or Butter--skews many segments of Society--education, technology, philosophy, the quality of life--just causes a society to implode.
Donald, it can all start with the won't of a nail!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
2
And, as always, you critics blame Trump for all the bad things that he is going to cause, never for bad things he has already caused.
Of course, that's because he hasn't caused any. You just don't like that way he talks, the way he acts, and in one case, the ties he wears. It's all rather childish.
You'll just have to wait until he does something impeachable before you impeach him. That's so sad.
Of course, that's because he hasn't caused any. You just don't like that way he talks, the way he acts, and in one case, the ties he wears. It's all rather childish.
You'll just have to wait until he does something impeachable before you impeach him. That's so sad.
3
Great and timely comment!!
The power of persuasion is an art that requires intelligence, truthfulness and understanding of the facts. It is cost-effective and will create more wins. Military force is a backstop of last resort and needs to be exercised with great caution. Both are needed.
instead of watching TV, our president would do well to brush up on the lessons of history: it is the enlightenment and fact-based scientific endeavor that lead to unprecedented advancements for humankind -- after a dark millennium of senseless wars, suppression, fear, and ignorance.
The power of persuasion is an art that requires intelligence, truthfulness and understanding of the facts. It is cost-effective and will create more wins. Military force is a backstop of last resort and needs to be exercised with great caution. Both are needed.
instead of watching TV, our president would do well to brush up on the lessons of history: it is the enlightenment and fact-based scientific endeavor that lead to unprecedented advancements for humankind -- after a dark millennium of senseless wars, suppression, fear, and ignorance.
5
"On balance, terrorists are probably less threatened by drones overhead than by girls with books."
It's not only terrorists who are threatened by "girls with books". Best to keep them illiterate as children and pregnant as adults, right? Home school, and defund Planned Parenthood.
It's not only terrorists who are threatened by "girls with books". Best to keep them illiterate as children and pregnant as adults, right? Home school, and defund Planned Parenthood.
20
Well put - thanks. Where's the one person who can prioritize these budget allocations so that we and future generations are protected from threats to our democracy. Diplomacy is not Rex Tillerson and Wilbur Cox.
1
Somehow, the words "humanitarian" and "Trump"( Indeed almost all Republicans) seem mutually exclusive.
As evidence, the request by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R), head of the House Armed Services Committee, for 91 billion dollars more for defense spending. Now about that "bleeding heart caring for people" twaddle; not this bunch!
As evidence, the request by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R), head of the House Armed Services Committee, for 91 billion dollars more for defense spending. Now about that "bleeding heart caring for people" twaddle; not this bunch!
1
1. Ebola is caused by consuming bats. In order to eradicate ebola, farming practices must be evolved rather than hunting/gathering/herd tending. First place to start in order to eradicate ebola.
2.) The legalization of marijuana created the current drug epidemic. By keeping marijuana a drug for cancer patients and by enforcing the federal illegallity of recreational marijuana use/sales, we will begin to address this problem. The chemical imbalance of addiction needs to be treated as any other mental illness or physcal illness. Educating young people in the school system on the negative outcomes associated with marijuana use is paramount.
2.) The legalization of marijuana created the current drug epidemic. By keeping marijuana a drug for cancer patients and by enforcing the federal illegallity of recreational marijuana use/sales, we will begin to address this problem. The chemical imbalance of addiction needs to be treated as any other mental illness or physcal illness. Educating young people in the school system on the negative outcomes associated with marijuana use is paramount.
3
A few months ago you argued that academic institutions should hire more "conservatives" as tenured faculty. It's clear now that if you give "conservatives" an inch, they will take a mile. Forget Buckley and George Will, Trump has shown that "conservatives" have no intellectual foundation beyond the instinct for authoritarian power.
Just think how much more beneficial it would be to "carpet bomb" poor areas of Chicago, Baltimore, St. Louis, etc. with teachers, books, psychologists, nutritionists, doctors, etc. I wonder how many of the gang members would test for high levels of lead and other contaminants in their brains as well as lacking brain development due to poor childhood nutrition. How many would turn their lives around with job training and hope, drug addiction treatment etc. Instead we will throw away money on more police and for-profit prisons?
What if instead of trying to destroy NAFTA which has increased employment in Mexico and led to fewer Mexican citizens trying to cross to America we encouraged their wealthy like Carlos Slim to invest more in Mexico than he currently is in India?
What if we spent money treating heroin addicts both for their addiction and despair that drives them to addiction than in building a wall as an effort to keep out drugs and adding addicts to the prison population?
What if the powers that be actually really cared about helping those in need rather than punishing them, especially the children, for finding themselves in a bad situation that is not necessarily of their own making?
What if "Christians" actually asked themselves WWJD and acted accordingly?
What if instead of trying to destroy NAFTA which has increased employment in Mexico and led to fewer Mexican citizens trying to cross to America we encouraged their wealthy like Carlos Slim to invest more in Mexico than he currently is in India?
What if we spent money treating heroin addicts both for their addiction and despair that drives them to addiction than in building a wall as an effort to keep out drugs and adding addicts to the prison population?
What if the powers that be actually really cared about helping those in need rather than punishing them, especially the children, for finding themselves in a bad situation that is not necessarily of their own making?
What if "Christians" actually asked themselves WWJD and acted accordingly?
5
"Our security is advanced not just by being scary, but also by winning friends."
I don't believe Mr. Trump has EVER had a talent for (or interest in) winning friends. It is certainly not a criteria of his administration -- quite the contrary, by all measures so far. His diplomacy is much like his personality -- bully bully bully. And when bullying doesn't work, call them names. The only friend he's determined he needs internationally is Russia. And that is, clearly, well-covered by many in his administration...seemingly more than we initially thought.
I don't believe Mr. Trump has EVER had a talent for (or interest in) winning friends. It is certainly not a criteria of his administration -- quite the contrary, by all measures so far. His diplomacy is much like his personality -- bully bully bully. And when bullying doesn't work, call them names. The only friend he's determined he needs internationally is Russia. And that is, clearly, well-covered by many in his administration...seemingly more than we initially thought.
2
The short-sightedness of the war hungry always astounds me. I recall the brilliant film "Charlie Wilson's War," which showed a montage of a room full of gleeful Congressmen approving millions upon millions for more weapons, more war. Towards the end of the film, once the Russians had been defeated, Wilson asks an almost empty room for a pittance to purchase schools to educate the Afghani population and is essentially laughed out of the room.
How many billions of dollars could have been saved on the war against Al-Qaeda if we had had the foresight to invest in women's education instead of fighter jets, infrastructure instead of guns, and diplomacy instead of bribes. War has its place, yes, but it should always be a last resort.
How many billions of dollars could have been saved on the war against Al-Qaeda if we had had the foresight to invest in women's education instead of fighter jets, infrastructure instead of guns, and diplomacy instead of bribes. War has its place, yes, but it should always be a last resort.
5
The lamentable neglect of the State Department by this administration is clearly described in this article in The Atlantic
“I don’t think this administration thinks the State Department needs to exist. They think Jared [Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law] can do everything. It’s reminiscent of the developing countries where I’ve served. The family rules everything, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows nothing.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/03/state-departme....
“I don’t think this administration thinks the State Department needs to exist. They think Jared [Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law] can do everything. It’s reminiscent of the developing countries where I’ve served. The family rules everything, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs knows nothing.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/03/state-departme....
1
After 9/11 we heard much of the spread of madrassas sponsored by Saudi Arabia, teaching fundamentalism spreading throughout the Middle East & Pakistan. Parents sent their children there for lack of alternatives. If only we could invest in Sesame Street-style projects for children of all learning levels in those countries that are not providing free, broad -minded education for girls and boys.
2
Mister T is the most frightened, angry, insecure and self-oriented person I have ever observed. I truly believe his budget is an expression of these traits.
Frightened people buy guns and Hummers while living in gated communities or towers. Angry people lash out in knee-jerk reaction to the smallest perceived threat (to a nail, everything looks like a hammer). Insecure people are the most incessantly boastful. Self-oriented people are the least interested in how their actions affect others.
We must find a way to keep this child confined to his highchair until we can send him back to preschool. The stakes are too high to allow him to continue raging about.
Frightened people buy guns and Hummers while living in gated communities or towers. Angry people lash out in knee-jerk reaction to the smallest perceived threat (to a nail, everything looks like a hammer). Insecure people are the most incessantly boastful. Self-oriented people are the least interested in how their actions affect others.
We must find a way to keep this child confined to his highchair until we can send him back to preschool. The stakes are too high to allow him to continue raging about.
Winston Churchill "Jaw Jaw is better than War War".
Perhaps those two manly men Eric and Donald Jr. could lead the next charge?
Seen to be handy with firearms.
Sorry, I forgot, they only shoot at things that don't shoot back.
Perhaps those two manly men Eric and Donald Jr. could lead the next charge?
Seen to be handy with firearms.
Sorry, I forgot, they only shoot at things that don't shoot back.
2
Trump is President. This shows why we have to invest in education.
6
US foreign policy has been influenced and dictated by the elite “DONOR CLASS” and PAC (foreign and domestic) members who made campaign contributions sufficient to elect our “Established Mainstream Republican” and “Established Mainstream Democrat” officials who created all of the “Politically Correct” limited wars (to benefit the PAC’s) that the USA has fought, and then tied or lost since WWII.
These wars that the USA lost have cost the USA thousands of US lives, created thousands of disabled veterans, and spent trillions of US taxpayer dollars on these wars that BENEFITED NATIONS OTHER THAN THE USA.
Donald Trump's foreign policy could not possibly be any worse than the “Established Mainstream Republicans” and “Established Mainstream Democrats” foreign policy dictated by their elite “DONOR CLASS” campaign contributors plus the foreign and domestic PACs in return for campaign donations for the last 70 years.
These wars that the USA lost have cost the USA thousands of US lives, created thousands of disabled veterans, and spent trillions of US taxpayer dollars on these wars that BENEFITED NATIONS OTHER THAN THE USA.
Donald Trump's foreign policy could not possibly be any worse than the “Established Mainstream Republicans” and “Established Mainstream Democrats” foreign policy dictated by their elite “DONOR CLASS” campaign contributors plus the foreign and domestic PACs in return for campaign donations for the last 70 years.
3
Um...Benghazi? Underfunding? Didn't Clinton warn that taking money from State has potential negative consequences? So, who will be blamed when the next mission isn't sufficiently funded? Obama or Clinton. Or maybe they'll bring Kerry into the mix.
(This comment is in addition to everything Kristof said)
(This comment is in addition to everything Kristof said)
2
Will adding another $54 billion dollars worth of military hardware make us powerful enough that we will stop falling apart, quaking in our boots when faced with 20 - 30,000 ISIS fighters? If so it might be a good investment. But they [ISIS] have GOT to agree to fight on our terms....their tanks and planes and guns against ours! Otherwise it's not fair!
2
I forgot to mention that in addition to the possible $54 billion of military might, we've also unleashed the power of the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”....the ultimate weapon that could have turned this whole thing around years ago had we someone leading the nation who had the courage to deploy it. I expect a total and complete surrender from ISIS and Al Qaeda just any day now!
1
Long before Trump....the Republican Party developed a consistent response on all questions regarding Federal budgeting. Social programs are always "a waste" and in need of deep cuts, military spending is always appropriate no matter how enormous. For good measure, Republican always claim that the military has been "neglected" or "hollowed out" anytime a Democratic President is in office. They don't really care about the much discussed "deficit" or "national debt." Their proposals for ever higher "defense" spending proves it. Deficit scolding is just an over-used device for attacking social programs but making draconian cuts in foreign policy and international development spending takes this military obsession to a whole new, and extraordinarily dangerous, level!
4
In the early 1960's John Kennedy visited Bogotá, and then the "Alliance for Progress" provided funds to help build several thousand homes. In 1982 an alarming poll showed that 62% of the People supported a guerrilla group in Bogotá. However in "Ciudad Kennedy" the area where the American generosity sow a lot of love for the United States, only 15% of the surveyed supported anti-U.S. terrorists groups.
"Plan Colombia" funded by the United States helped to rescue Colombia from the hands of Pablo Escobar's years of extreme terror. George W Bush, and specially Barack Obama are very appreciated by the Colombian People. Just check the polls. The effort was based on cooperation between the governments. Some politicians there want to slap the face of the American tax-payers by trying to continue the war in spite of the fact that thousands of lives were saved during the last two years, thanks in part to American pressure and guidance. Long live America for that.
"Plan Colombia" funded by the United States helped to rescue Colombia from the hands of Pablo Escobar's years of extreme terror. George W Bush, and specially Barack Obama are very appreciated by the Colombian People. Just check the polls. The effort was based on cooperation between the governments. Some politicians there want to slap the face of the American tax-payers by trying to continue the war in spite of the fact that thousands of lives were saved during the last two years, thanks in part to American pressure and guidance. Long live America for that.
2
A wonderful article. And to take it one step further, that education should also start right here. Trump actually told the truth when he said "I love my uneducated supporters". They are often easily manipulated and vote against their own best interests. And also add to this list those who actually completed the education system but did not learn of compassion, generosity, sharing, and love.
Now back to this article; had our education system provided for better educated voters, we would not be talking about trump State Dept. cutbacks, and military actions vs humanitarian aid to battle adversaries.
Now back to this article; had our education system provided for better educated voters, we would not be talking about trump State Dept. cutbacks, and military actions vs humanitarian aid to battle adversaries.
2
As well intended as you often sometimes are, Nicholas, don't you think it's kind of late for these rational arguments? Even nostalgia gets old.
Nick, I suggest that YOU go to Africa and become an Ebola worker.
1
Donald doesn't appear to be scientifically literate. Or care much. Pictures of the photogenic First Daughter and grandchildren in the White House shilling the Trump Brand make it clear that their priority is profit. They don't expect their coastal holdings to be under water, their lungs to be effected by smog, their bodies susceptible to Ebola. The First Dad bragged that not picking up a disease during multiple casual carnal encounters was his personal Viet Nam era victory. DJT and the GOP have an agenda that is not driven by compassion, science, reason. The rest of us need to resist and oppose. And elect better human beings whenever we can.
1
Thanks to George W. Bush's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) there are millions of human beings who are still alive. Barack Obama continued PEPFAR. That stands against the many thousands gone in America's wars in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan. A single innocent lost life diminishes us all. Who, what and how they will be judged is not known. We are not able to cast any stone nor judge lest we be judged and found wanting.
5
Steve Bannon would sooner skip the talking and get straight to the fighting.
We can say 'Trump' this and 'Trump' that, but the truth of the matter is Bannon and his band of cronies are the ones setting both domestic and foreign policy.
The person we thought we elected to do that is just the mouthpiece.
We can say 'Trump' this and 'Trump' that, but the truth of the matter is Bannon and his band of cronies are the ones setting both domestic and foreign policy.
The person we thought we elected to do that is just the mouthpiece.
1
Ebola happens in Africa, so it can be ignored, no problem.
If you put your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and go "LALALA" very loudly, global warming, too.
The next pandemic, well, we'll deal with that when it happens, probably by running around wildly, squawking like chickens.
It's bound to be someone else's fault anyway.
Yemen, shmemen, where is Yemen anyway?
Mexico, well, we've dealt with Mexico plenty of times before, there's even a movie about it, "The Alamo", with a bunch of great actors, dead now, alas.
And if have ENOUGH bombs, you can make any problem go away.
Like Yemen, where they kill US SEALs!
(Who were sent to kill Yemeni's, but there must have been a really good reason to do that, for sure. And who do those jokers in dresses think they are anyway?!)
So, what the US needs is more bombs!
And delivery systems!
And guidance systems!
And loads of other really cool stuff!
54 billion seems on the paltry side, come to think about it...
You're really not making your point here, Mr. Kristof!
If you put your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and go "LALALA" very loudly, global warming, too.
The next pandemic, well, we'll deal with that when it happens, probably by running around wildly, squawking like chickens.
It's bound to be someone else's fault anyway.
Yemen, shmemen, where is Yemen anyway?
Mexico, well, we've dealt with Mexico plenty of times before, there's even a movie about it, "The Alamo", with a bunch of great actors, dead now, alas.
And if have ENOUGH bombs, you can make any problem go away.
Like Yemen, where they kill US SEALs!
(Who were sent to kill Yemeni's, but there must have been a really good reason to do that, for sure. And who do those jokers in dresses think they are anyway?!)
So, what the US needs is more bombs!
And delivery systems!
And guidance systems!
And loads of other really cool stuff!
54 billion seems on the paltry side, come to think about it...
You're really not making your point here, Mr. Kristof!
1
We already spend more money on our military than the next highest-spending countries. We have not won a war since WW II, the last "conventional" state-vs-state war. People the world over have learned that small groups can fight even the most powerful military to a standstill, and even defeat them, using tactics of what's called "asymmetrical warfare." Our military was created in a day when military planners believed that, short of nuclear holocaust, the next war was going to be a great tank battle with the USSR on the plains of central Europe. Shock & Awe, first described in the eponymous book from 1995 written at the War College hyped a strategy where the US could go into a recalcitrant country with overwhelming military power that would cause them to lose heart and immediately surrender. Then the dominos would fall and other nations, witnessing this, would immediately become sufficiently scared to start satisfying America's needs over their own. Examples in the S&A book included Hiroshima and the Blitzkrieg.
It didn't work, and, in the end, the US military might was resisted by small groups of untrained irregulars armed only with hand-held weapons. THAT was the lesson Bush taught our enemies - the US military power could not defeat asymmetrical warriors. Russia learned this in Afghanistan in the 1980's and we should have learned this in Vietnam, but the Generals still love their expensive toys and contractors love feeding at the public trough.
It didn't work, and, in the end, the US military might was resisted by small groups of untrained irregulars armed only with hand-held weapons. THAT was the lesson Bush taught our enemies - the US military power could not defeat asymmetrical warriors. Russia learned this in Afghanistan in the 1980's and we should have learned this in Vietnam, but the Generals still love their expensive toys and contractors love feeding at the public trough.
4
Trump probably believes Ebola is an Islamic state.
2
Oops. My first sentence in my previous post should have read:
We already spend more money on our military than the next seven highest-spending countries in the world. If that isn't enough, raising it is meaningless.
We already spend more money on our military than the next seven highest-spending countries in the world. If that isn't enough, raising it is meaningless.
1
Nick, you're cherry picking info to conform to your narrative, rather than the entire truth. You should let your readers lknow that the military budget has been on the decline and Trump's increase in the military budget still won't return the budget to where it was from 2008 to 2012 in absollute terms as well as a % of the total budget and GDP.
Yes, diplomacy is important in all its various forms. But without a strong military, diplomacy hasn't done much. How'd diplomacy do when it came to stopping Hitler? Or how about the cold war? Or how about the diplomatic failures that lead to World War 1.
You have to ask yourself -- is the world better off with the US being the one major super power? Or would it be better if countries like China and Russia all spent at the same level? Is it better that our NATO allies step up and spend their fare share or that we assume the entire burden? Is it better that we present a credible threat that can stop China if need be and destroy North Korea if they decide to do the unthinkable?
The UN's role is to provide a forum for diplonacy. How well is that working out?
Our military must be able to respond to multiple threats. Sure, if you consider Russia alone, or China, or North Korea, or Iran, or the entire ME, our military looks strong. But we have to be able to have a credible response for multiple theaters and multiple threat including cyber. That type of capability -- which provides our security -- isn't cheap.
Yes, diplomacy is important in all its various forms. But without a strong military, diplomacy hasn't done much. How'd diplomacy do when it came to stopping Hitler? Or how about the cold war? Or how about the diplomatic failures that lead to World War 1.
You have to ask yourself -- is the world better off with the US being the one major super power? Or would it be better if countries like China and Russia all spent at the same level? Is it better that our NATO allies step up and spend their fare share or that we assume the entire burden? Is it better that we present a credible threat that can stop China if need be and destroy North Korea if they decide to do the unthinkable?
The UN's role is to provide a forum for diplonacy. How well is that working out?
Our military must be able to respond to multiple threats. Sure, if you consider Russia alone, or China, or North Korea, or Iran, or the entire ME, our military looks strong. But we have to be able to have a credible response for multiple theaters and multiple threat including cyber. That type of capability -- which provides our security -- isn't cheap.
1
Yes the military budget has been on the decline. A nation at war spends much more on the military/defense budget, so the decline since 2012 arguably represents a logical decrease in spending based upon the war in Iraq ending, as well as a the winding down of major operations in Afghanistan and troop withdrawal. Also, even with the decrease, even at it's lowest point since 2012, ($610 billion in 2013) military spending is still very large and more than 2x as much as it was prior to 2001. Even adjusting for inflation, we are spending massive amounts on the military, to the detriment of much more urgent domestic issues. This increased spending will be a boon for defense contractors, weapons manufacturers, and places where defense sector jobs and military bases make up a significant portion of the state economy.
But what about the rest of us, who feel the real dangers lurk a lot closer to home? Broken bridges, faulty dams, polluted water, and climate change that presents increasing challenges to agriculture. Take heed to the last one, because all of us, but especially the army, marches on its stomach.
But what about the rest of us, who feel the real dangers lurk a lot closer to home? Broken bridges, faulty dams, polluted water, and climate change that presents increasing challenges to agriculture. Take heed to the last one, because all of us, but especially the army, marches on its stomach.
3
And warfare will actually intensify the effects of climate change and the spread of Ebola. Lose-lose. The USA's devotion to militarism did not start with Trump, but hurrah if anti-Trump sentiment makes us rethink militarism and its devastating effects on the world. This time, we must avoid the post-2001 mistake of hating Bush's wars but accepting Obama's. (And vice versa, of course.) War doesn't work, but textbooks, football games, movies, reinforce the myth. Wish the marching scientists would protest war, point out scientifically its failings, suggest and fund alternatives to war: without stopping our endless wars, all the work on climate change and Infectious disease will be for nothing.
2
sorry Kathy, don't be foolish. The US isn't militaristic, but it's a nasty world out there and sometimes you have a Hitler or an Imperial Japan that must be dealt with.
1
Ralphie, I am foolish about many things, but not about this. We are the most militaristic country that existed, spending more on weapons and arms than any other country. We have bases in almost We may not have soldiers marching in the streets, but we do have them preying for young people in all our public schools. We have over 800 military bases in over 70 countries. To much of the world, we are the bad guys.
1
Kathy, you clearly don't know history. How about Germany? How about Imperial Japan? Or how about the Brits who used their Navy and colonial forces to colonize much of the world?
You're just anti Trump. Fine, but you don't know what you are talking about.
You're just anti Trump. Fine, but you don't know what you are talking about.
With Don it's all about money and power. You know, Christian evangelical virtues. It's what Jesus would do. It's why they went for him wholeheartedly.
1
"Most [terrorists organizations] were absorbed by the political process or defeated by police work; only 7 percent were crushed by military force"
That quote is very deliberately used out of context. The terrorist organizations we've been fighting are in countries without effective police forces or political processes.
That quote is very deliberately used out of context. The terrorist organizations we've been fighting are in countries without effective police forces or political processes.
2
Trump's entire life has been about putting on the cloak of a big, powerful, successful person everyone should envy and bow down to and then fighting dirty. He is missing the genes for compassion, empathy and diplomacy. So he has to have the biggest most expensive army while our enemies win with box cutters, hand guns and car bombs.
2
Thanks for the Mem Fox link....
1
This is all about what the Republicans always do--raid the US treasury, pillage our resources--financial, natural and human--when they have the opportunity. No different under this lying, narcissistic incompetent and our bought and paid-for Republican Congress. I can almost hear it now--"Nobody knew" that more military spending at the cost of diplomacy would lead to death, destruction and the loss of vital alliances.
1
By all means, put as many of our top State Department officials on the front lines, fighting ISIS. And while you're at it, let's imbed Kristof with them. That will solve many problems.
1
Let's not forget antibiotic resistant bacteria with no pharmaceutical companies incentivized to develop new antibiotics.
I was in Baghdad in 2003, watched how instead of reconstruction and looking for war criminals, we switched gears to desperately looking for WMD. We kicked down doors, forcibly searched homes and took people's weapons (when there was no government in place to give stability and safety), imprisoned people "just in case". We declared ANYONE affiliated with the Saddam Hussein's Baath Party as permanent enemies that we could not work with. If you wanted a job in the government, you had to join the Baath party. Remember, even Oscar Schindler was officially a member of the Nazi party in order to do business.
How was this country going to function with all the technocrats and ordinary soldiers forbidden from participating? I said people would become enraged and start fighting us. I had military commanders tell me no one was going to challenge the U.S. military, that we had "won" the war.
*sigh* I am not a pacifist, but use of force must be last resort, used for protection and in conjunction with policies that promote hope, tolerance, and opportunity. When everything is taken from people, when young men have nothing to do and nothing to look forward to, and are humiliated by others in a culture where honor defines you, there will have never ending war.
I was in Baghdad in 2003, watched how instead of reconstruction and looking for war criminals, we switched gears to desperately looking for WMD. We kicked down doors, forcibly searched homes and took people's weapons (when there was no government in place to give stability and safety), imprisoned people "just in case". We declared ANYONE affiliated with the Saddam Hussein's Baath Party as permanent enemies that we could not work with. If you wanted a job in the government, you had to join the Baath party. Remember, even Oscar Schindler was officially a member of the Nazi party in order to do business.
How was this country going to function with all the technocrats and ordinary soldiers forbidden from participating? I said people would become enraged and start fighting us. I had military commanders tell me no one was going to challenge the U.S. military, that we had "won" the war.
*sigh* I am not a pacifist, but use of force must be last resort, used for protection and in conjunction with policies that promote hope, tolerance, and opportunity. When everything is taken from people, when young men have nothing to do and nothing to look forward to, and are humiliated by others in a culture where honor defines you, there will have never ending war.
2
Psychologists have shown repeatedly that humans are not good at risk evaluation--we are more afraid of the airplane flight than of the drive to the airport, even though we are in far more danger on the roads statistically speaking. But that big fear of falling out of the sky makes us over-fear the plane.
Likewise, the fear of exploding cars, pressure cookers or bomb vests makes us so afraid that we will go along with any scheme that is promised to stop such attacks. Another aircraft carrier won't prevent brothers in Boston from causing mayhem on race day. But the fear mongers feel more powerful with a big military and the frightened populace seems eager to give them those big weapons. To me, the scariest thing is that terrorists in France and elsewhere are now using trucks and cars to just drive into crowds and kill people the old-fashioned way. Awfully hard to stop someone from getting his hands on a truck or car.
The story Ms. Mem told in the article Mr. Kristof cited is awful. Haven't our border patrol and security people been trained to be professional? It was embarrassing and shocking that our representatives used the tactics of bad guys in old movies--aren't we better than that? I fear the answer for at least the next 4 years is "no".
Likewise, the fear of exploding cars, pressure cookers or bomb vests makes us so afraid that we will go along with any scheme that is promised to stop such attacks. Another aircraft carrier won't prevent brothers in Boston from causing mayhem on race day. But the fear mongers feel more powerful with a big military and the frightened populace seems eager to give them those big weapons. To me, the scariest thing is that terrorists in France and elsewhere are now using trucks and cars to just drive into crowds and kill people the old-fashioned way. Awfully hard to stop someone from getting his hands on a truck or car.
The story Ms. Mem told in the article Mr. Kristof cited is awful. Haven't our border patrol and security people been trained to be professional? It was embarrassing and shocking that our representatives used the tactics of bad guys in old movies--aren't we better than that? I fear the answer for at least the next 4 years is "no".
3
This article is a must read, not just for the current administration, but all the ones to follow. Great article Mr. Kristof.
3
Reporters seem to have a lapses in memory. To combat EBOLA in West Africa, President Obama deployed a ship of the coast of Liberia and some 3000 US soldiers, army engineers and medical personnel to bomb Ebola epidemic at its epicenter. Also in the aftermath of the Haiti earth quake, the US defense forces and its naval sip were deployed for humanitarian assistance. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the DoD is involved in many humanitarian missions and not just in useless wasteful wars that were started by president Bush and continued by and expanded in more countries by President Obama. That is why I find it absurd that the democrats are trying to prevent Trump and his aides from developing a decent working relation with Russia and rekindling the cold war hostilities. As far as the alleged hacking into the presidential elections. It is a wasteful trivial pursuit.
2
If we do not support aid to education at home or health care for our citizens how will we do so any place else in the world?
4
It is an enduring truth of our political system that no one ever was re-elected to any public office by taking money from the Pentagon and giving it to the Department of State.
3
Indeed, China has a renewed full grasp of this practical concept. We are laggards.
4
Since Trump has never exhibited the slightest aptitude for diplomacy, why would he want the State Department to do what it is effective at doing? Trump's in your face confrontation model has already shown its limits. The question is when will Trump realize that diplomacy is an important part of both foreign and domestic relations?
1
Maybe he just doesn't know how complicated the world really is. Let him play with his GI joes in the west wing, its cheaper than 54 bil. But he can read so we have that.
This is an informative, depressing column. Trump has shown us he is a narcissistic buffoon who has chosen (In Mr. Bannon.) a cynical nihilist as his top advisor.
With Trump's "election", the "American Century" is totally over. The only questions are how fast and how far we will fall.
H.L. Mencken is no doubt chortling over this, as it proves him right in so many ways. He can afford to laugh - he's been dead for 61 years.
With Trump's "election", the "American Century" is totally over. The only questions are how fast and how far we will fall.
H.L. Mencken is no doubt chortling over this, as it proves him right in so many ways. He can afford to laugh - he's been dead for 61 years.
Donald probably thinks Ebola is a young supermodel of Eastern European descent that he should most definitely try to meet in the near future.
1
Bullies don't WANT friends. They want underlings, and victims.
1
"...Or when immigration officials detain and humiliate to tears a beloved 70-year-old Australian children’s author on her 117th visit to America...
Nick, I'd wager that the DHS has detained and humiliated to tears more than a thousand 70-year-old US citizens, during domestic air travel...
Putting aside the efficacy and very-real affront to dignity - none of those anecdotes likely made it into your column...
Because they don't fit your - and more importantly, Dean Baquet's - narrative...
#AmericanLivesDontMatter
Nick, I'd wager that the DHS has detained and humiliated to tears more than a thousand 70-year-old US citizens, during domestic air travel...
Putting aside the efficacy and very-real affront to dignity - none of those anecdotes likely made it into your column...
Because they don't fit your - and more importantly, Dean Baquet's - narrative...
#AmericanLivesDontMatter
Donald Trump is not experienced as a politician and diplomat. His vocation, real estate, requires an aggressive, abrasive, and somewhat less than totally honest personality and appeoach. So, how can we expect more from him than he is able to give? Thjs should demonstrate fhat draining one swamp ofteneads to the creation of another.
Powerful words of wisdom, suggesting that 'honey catches more flies than vinegar' but in a good way, by following the basic tenets of the Golden Rule (treat others as we would like others treat us!). But then, go tell that to crooked lying Trump, a willfully deaf and blind brute, that we, as human beings, are co-responsible of the fate of the least among us, and must contribute rather than destroy our bonds...if we want to look in the mirror (conscience) and recognize ourselves as true...or false. The dictum of 'to each according to his/her needs. from each according to his/her talents' holds true; this, not even considering 'compassion' in the equation, strict justice instead. That Trump's America is becoming so selfish is a shame indeed. To our loss.
1
There's reality, and then there's Reality TV Reality. Our so-called president occasionally glimpses reality (No one knew health care was so complicated!), but only Reality TV Reality matters to him, and only Americans blowing things up is suitable for Reality TV. Diplomacy is barely suitable for CSPAN, which, when you think about it, is just about the only real reality tv. Having trump as president provides a lot of laughs, but the damage he's likely to do is not funny.
Resist. Persist.
Resist. Persist.
1
Thank you for this column.
In the same way that spending money for better schools can have better outcomes than spending money for prisons, spending money to help countries improve can have better outcomes than spending money to arm and fight battles in them.
Wars are "negative sum games". They do not enrich the countries where they are fought, and can come at enormous financial and social costs. The Marshall Plan after World War II did more to ensure peace in Western Europe than did the US army's presence along the Iron Curtain.
It is school boy thinking to assume that strength comes from military power. History shows time and again that strength is economic and social, with military power necessary only to keep away other school boy thinkers.
In the same way that spending money for better schools can have better outcomes than spending money for prisons, spending money to help countries improve can have better outcomes than spending money to arm and fight battles in them.
Wars are "negative sum games". They do not enrich the countries where they are fought, and can come at enormous financial and social costs. The Marshall Plan after World War II did more to ensure peace in Western Europe than did the US army's presence along the Iron Curtain.
It is school boy thinking to assume that strength comes from military power. History shows time and again that strength is economic and social, with military power necessary only to keep away other school boy thinkers.
2
Another effort facilitated by the State Department is the Fulbright program, which is a long-standing exchange of professors and students between the U.S. and 160 countries. Fulbright has fortified America’s image abroad and created goodwill among opinion leaders and the general public around the world. This public diplomacy program costs around $200M--less than the cost of two F-35 fighter jets--and yet the spinoff benefits for the United States are extraordinary. Fulbright, along with so many other programs at the State Department are on the block. These cuts are foolish.
3
Oh dear NK: how can you go on treating Trump as a rational being? He's a slippery con man and pick-pocket. He is truly ignorant, and knows nothing unless one of his female relatives or advisors sees fit to advise him. He might not say what's a leppo, but he'd have to ask what's a bola?
3
Can somebody please show this column to the president?
2
There is but one reason why Trump invests into the military:
He wants to become a war president like his two predecessors.
It is a tradition in most countries, even more so in the US, that the people stand behind a government in tough times and that is what being a war president is all about.
Just look at Bush II.
Before Trump one of the worst and least educated idiots in the Oval Office but because he went to war after 9/11, regardless of the reasons or against which country, the people in US stood behind him.
Mark my words, this what Trump will do ( Remember 'Why do we have these nukes when we don't use them?') when his ratings will fall through the floor and an impeachment is likely.
Trump will go to war and hope that the American people will stand behind him.
No Ebola solution or global education programme will ever top that.
It's the ratings, Mr. Kristof.
He wants to become a war president like his two predecessors.
It is a tradition in most countries, even more so in the US, that the people stand behind a government in tough times and that is what being a war president is all about.
Just look at Bush II.
Before Trump one of the worst and least educated idiots in the Oval Office but because he went to war after 9/11, regardless of the reasons or against which country, the people in US stood behind him.
Mark my words, this what Trump will do ( Remember 'Why do we have these nukes when we don't use them?') when his ratings will fall through the floor and an impeachment is likely.
Trump will go to war and hope that the American people will stand behind him.
No Ebola solution or global education programme will ever top that.
It's the ratings, Mr. Kristof.
2
We are more than justified in asking "What in the world is happening here?"
The Trump administration is crippling the State Department. Appointed ambassadorial personnel from the Obama administration were all dismissed as of 12:01 PM on Inauguration Day. All around the world, the leaders of our foreign service were told to stand down. "Embassy closed indefinitely. Change in management. Have a nice day." Journalists noted that this was definitely not a normal transition from one administration to another.
Shortly thereafter, nearly all of the second tier of State Department leadership in D.C. "resigned." While Secretary of State Tillerson was one of the first Trump appointees to be confirmed, he is presiding over a cabinet department that arguably has been gutted. A high profile nominee due to his CV at Exxon-Mobile, Tillerson then disappeared from the D.C. stage, sent off to chat with Russians and Mexicans-- low, low profile. Meanwhile in D.C., Trump welcomed heads of state from Britain as well as Japan with no Tillerson in sight. Now the Trump administration announces plans to cut State Department funding drastically-- by more than a third. At the same time they announce that they are going to pump $54B into the Pentagon.
I conclude that the Trump administration has little use for diplomacy and intends to run foreign policy out of Bannon's office in the White House. Its motto? "Stomp around and carry a battle ax."
The Trump administration is crippling the State Department. Appointed ambassadorial personnel from the Obama administration were all dismissed as of 12:01 PM on Inauguration Day. All around the world, the leaders of our foreign service were told to stand down. "Embassy closed indefinitely. Change in management. Have a nice day." Journalists noted that this was definitely not a normal transition from one administration to another.
Shortly thereafter, nearly all of the second tier of State Department leadership in D.C. "resigned." While Secretary of State Tillerson was one of the first Trump appointees to be confirmed, he is presiding over a cabinet department that arguably has been gutted. A high profile nominee due to his CV at Exxon-Mobile, Tillerson then disappeared from the D.C. stage, sent off to chat with Russians and Mexicans-- low, low profile. Meanwhile in D.C., Trump welcomed heads of state from Britain as well as Japan with no Tillerson in sight. Now the Trump administration announces plans to cut State Department funding drastically-- by more than a third. At the same time they announce that they are going to pump $54B into the Pentagon.
I conclude that the Trump administration has little use for diplomacy and intends to run foreign policy out of Bannon's office in the White House. Its motto? "Stomp around and carry a battle ax."
3
The military threat from China's intensifying nationalism and expansion is very real and growing and we must be prepared and we are there in South East Asia still looking for missing "Flight 370". Just a side note there is not even one logical scientific examination that that Ebola even exists as a disease much less the reality of the big media show and the great microbial threat, so what was that all about.
1
But Steve Bannon, who basically is running the West Wing at this point, loves to watch things go bang. Compassion and even rational thought is not something mr.trump cares about.
7
Ebola was a threat in Africa, where family members handle the bodies of the dead. Not so much in developed nations. SARS, on the other hand, was one plane flight away from destroying the world. We got very lucky- China, big on pretending everything is fine even when it isn't, as authoritarians do- actually did the right thing.
From that same womb will be born the destroyer of worlds, and bullets won't stop it. Watch Steven King's The Stand or read the book about SARS- China Syndrome- written by a WSJ reporter.
From that same womb will be born the destroyer of worlds, and bullets won't stop it. Watch Steven King's The Stand or read the book about SARS- China Syndrome- written by a WSJ reporter.
2
Great peice Mr. Kristof. Thank you
1
Good one Nick. Another good reason to limit immigration!
4
Curiously one of the groups investing the most in alternative and sustainable energy is the Department of Defense. Biofuels tor jets, better insulation for structures to reduce need for generators for A/C, all reduce the footprint and need for risky transport of gasoline and JP5. They also have assisted in tamping down Ebola outbreaks and conflicts by removing trapped non-combatants from areas of conflict (Kurds from northern Iraq, Cubans and Haitians from the waters around those islands,e tc.).
Nevertheless, the DoD's core mission is too far off-center for many conflicts and USAID and DoS are better things to have in the toolbox.
Nevertheless, the DoD's core mission is too far off-center for many conflicts and USAID and DoS are better things to have in the toolbox.
1
This article is misleading. Fortunately, not all defense spending goes for military hardware and personnel. The Department of Defense (DoD) also has a well funded Small business innovation program for civilian entrepreneurs. It also runs billions of dollars agency called the Defense Threat Reduction agency (DTRA) that employs several civilians and does research on diverse issues like biodefense, infectious diseases and noncommunicable diseases. DTRA funded research on EBOLA vaccine and funds research projects against ZIKA and other emerging viruses. We can argue about the quality or quantity of the research in DoD labs. but the tasks assigned to the DoD are multiple and they are not just for the purposes of war fare. Nicholas Kristof, if they let you inside the main DTRA campus, you will find an answer to where ELSE the defense spending occurs within the DoD. The interior of DTRA building in N. Virginia is like a Taj Mahal of cutting edge modern technologically advanced federal buildings that was built after 911 to combat future threats from biological and chemical threats of mass destruction for diverse research admin. and monitoring chemical and biological agents (including EBOLA) to our nation and the world. The entire highly secured complex of DTRA is funded with billions of $s to build and maintain. In addition the DoD runs Naval Med. Hospital in Bethesda, MD, 1 of the hospitals where presidents go for check ups and care. Walter Reed Army Med. Ctr is another example.
4
How much of the 'surge" in spending is directed to the enumerated institutions/programs and how much towards fancy and expensive toys? Trump supports neither research or knowledge gained therefrom. He likes to blow things up. He's not curious, he's already sure. Knows more than the generals. Respects the dead only as symbols of his toughness, not people, as he clearly demonstrated in his treatment of the Seal's widow.
I dearly wish I could trust him to do the right thing. I too am an American. What is he really? A millionaire with bad hair.?
I'm sorry, I neither respect or trust him. And I am sorry for that.
I dearly wish I could trust him to do the right thing. I too am an American. What is he really? A millionaire with bad hair.?
I'm sorry, I neither respect or trust him. And I am sorry for that.
"Education is no panacea, but it is a bargain: For the cost of deploying one soldier abroad for a year, we can start about 40 schools." It is painful to read how much we spend on war and so little on helping our sisters and brothers around the world grow, develop and become citizens of the world with hope.
7
So how well did the diplomacy from the Obama Administration work out with Syria?
Didn't President Obama decide to sell arms to the so-called Syrian rebels, which Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard recently reported that the so-called rebels really did not exist but were other factions aligned with ISIS (or ISIL depending on how you want to brand these terrorists).
If the "carefully cultivated" good will of 8 years from the Obama Administration has lead US to where we are now, perhaps the shifting towards more military spending is long overdue for many reasons.
Didn't President Obama decide to sell arms to the so-called Syrian rebels, which Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard recently reported that the so-called rebels really did not exist but were other factions aligned with ISIS (or ISIL depending on how you want to brand these terrorists).
If the "carefully cultivated" good will of 8 years from the Obama Administration has lead US to where we are now, perhaps the shifting towards more military spending is long overdue for many reasons.
2
I think it takes a culture change. We need for intelligence and subtly to look cool, to resonate strength. We need more heroes who talk their way out of a corner rather than shoot.
But I would have expected Trump to know about publicity and marketing, though perhaps not partnerships.
But I would have expected Trump to know about publicity and marketing, though perhaps not partnerships.
I have no disagreement with Mr Kristof arguments, I am puzzled though by the responses from some of Trump supporters. Suggesting that a strong military buys us respect, flies right in the face of evidence from recent Republican wars. It is amazing how soon we forget the debacle in Iraq and Vietnam. It is even more bizarre to comment that foreign aid to Saudi Arabia end in Swiss Banks?
I have yet to see a supporter of the current president articulate a coherent rationale reason for supporting policies that failed miserably in the past and threatens permanent harm to the standing of this country in the world.
I have yet to see a supporter of the current president articulate a coherent rationale reason for supporting policies that failed miserably in the past and threatens permanent harm to the standing of this country in the world.
6
Can't blow up climate change either.
2
An emphasis on education must start at home in the US because without an informed and educated electorate in the US, those elected reflect the same backward views which further fuels less education funding overseas.
6
You have to convince Steve Bannon. Trump doesn't make decisions. Bannon knows how to use Trump and it isn't by letting him make decisions. He's too crazy for that even for Bannon and now the Russians are finding out the same thing.
1
It's well known America has the largest military in the world by far. Larger than the next 8 countries combined. Building it further is an exercise in wasteful spending cutting desperately needed programs as well as the State Department.
Having this enormous military only ensures it will be used by an unstable POTUS.
Having this enormous military only ensures it will be used by an unstable POTUS.
1
And exactly what is it that education does? Mostly everyone in the United States of American has "education". Crime rate in some parts of some cities in the United States is high. Deaths from drug overdose is also incredibly high. Almost half of the voting public actually voted for Trump. I could go on and on, but I think I have made my point. Tell me again how exactly education has worked in the United States????
1
Build walls, not bridges.
Initiate wars, not trade.
Make enemies, not friends.
Kick the downtrodden, pat the rich.
These are a few of his favorite things!
[Sung to the tune of "My favorite things.]
Initiate wars, not trade.
Make enemies, not friends.
Kick the downtrodden, pat the rich.
These are a few of his favorite things!
[Sung to the tune of "My favorite things.]
1
Six days into Trump's presidency, an American soldier died for no reason, apparently the victim of one of Trump's endless whims, ordered up like an extra order of french fries.
Now naturally he wants to expand the idiocy. Republicans are quick to denounce "throwing money" at problems, EXCEPT for the Pentagon.
The only issue will be how many more will die.
Now naturally he wants to expand the idiocy. Republicans are quick to denounce "throwing money" at problems, EXCEPT for the Pentagon.
The only issue will be how many more will die.
Well spoken. To garner votes, You need to give average Americans what they really want: shock and awe, death and destruction, violence over peace. None of this wimpy diplomacy stuff. Don't worry Trump will give you all you can handle and then some. It will be such a fantastic show of force. Until the flagged draped coffins start coming home. Only then will the people start asking why we are involved in the war. And then diplomacy isn't so bad after all. Then impatience with the process sets in. And you look for that quick fix from what's at the end of a gun all over again.
Actually, you can. Fuel-Air-Explosive-Bombs would probably be extremely effective at killing the virus and would by far be a more humane death for those beyond saving. Might even destroy an airborne mutation of the virus, given the bomb uses the air around it to generate the massive explosion.
1
If the problem is money, we could tax very rich people more. It's been done, it works, and rich people always get richer anyway.
2
Building up our military is essential after the community organizer, Obama, decimated it. We must be proactive. Isn't it amusing the socialistic democrats had no problem financing Obama's travel around the world (unnecessarily) with his wife, family and all assistants Back to judicious spending and reality.
1
Mem Fox' s Report of her entry into the US just made me cry. The inhuman stupidity of the new border control "law" and its power-hungry untrained employees remind me of the former East German border crossings--a failed dictatorship.
1
My turn to play "Nick Kristof logic": I note that this op-ed was longer than the US Bill of Rights.
1
We have "normalized" Abnormality in our present time and President President. Leadership...is not Directorship...is not Control. As a simple, average, old Observer, I hope you Voices are also "discussing" the present
Dynamics of our state of Being. We still have an "Unvetted" man occupying the Throne. He has displayed, with candor, his rotating personality-traits.
So far, he hasn't Had to know enough to Care....or care enough to Know.
I'm not sure if we have any viable "Leadership" in the Democratic side, or
If they have, indeed, gone Soft. Those in Control seem to be enjoying
the Power as if that is the Goal. "Service" is not in the vocabulary, I fear,
of the "elected" Force. "Winning" is the operative Purpose. Meanwhile, our national CEO has thoroughly enjoyed being the daily COA...
Center Of Attention.
Dynamics of our state of Being. We still have an "Unvetted" man occupying the Throne. He has displayed, with candor, his rotating personality-traits.
So far, he hasn't Had to know enough to Care....or care enough to Know.
I'm not sure if we have any viable "Leadership" in the Democratic side, or
If they have, indeed, gone Soft. Those in Control seem to be enjoying
the Power as if that is the Goal. "Service" is not in the vocabulary, I fear,
of the "elected" Force. "Winning" is the operative Purpose. Meanwhile, our national CEO has thoroughly enjoyed being the daily COA...
Center Of Attention.
Trump plays to his base, and the base wants to bash those who disagree with us, not listen and seek to understand what's going on. The "shock and awe" of our hard power is intoxicating. It's manly, like our action heroes, not the girly talk, talk, talk that takes so much time and doesn't provide instant gratification. True, as Viet Nam, Afghanistan, and Iraq have shown, military might alone doesn't get the results we say we want, but darn, it felt so good to see our tanks blasting Saddam's and our laser-guided bombs lighting up Baghdad.
2
I heard Terry Gross interview the New Yorker guys on NPR yesterday about Trump and Russia. It's clear, as this article points out also, that Trump is not just nuts, but incompetent and inept too.
His handlers have figured out they need to keep him on a tight leash when speaking- and never off the cuff.
When I add all of this up I think about Benghazi, and the years of hearings about nothing. Trump broke more laws on his first day in office and the people behind that faux outrage are whistling Dixie. Where are the Democrats? They are what Trump grabs.
His handlers have figured out they need to keep him on a tight leash when speaking- and never off the cuff.
When I add all of this up I think about Benghazi, and the years of hearings about nothing. Trump broke more laws on his first day in office and the people behind that faux outrage are whistling Dixie. Where are the Democrats? They are what Trump grabs.
2
Ah ... deja vu all over again.
Remember when George W. Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld basically tossed out a substantial study of Iraq, organized by the State Department, and then marched US troops into the country with guns a blazin'? Shock and awe. That State Department study was called the "Future of Iraq" project, it was approximately 2,000 pages long, and had been put together by a number of working groups, many of which included experienced, knowledgeable Iraqis. The "Future of Iraq" papers forewarned our government of the chaos that might arise (looting, civic disorder) if the US blundered in and simply tore down the Sunni power structure.
But that's what we did, and chaos followed, and it gave birth to ISIS, a Sunni insurgency, a rebel group, dedicated to reclaiming power and challenging the new Shia regime in Iraq.
Now Trump apparently wants to march in, guns a blazin', and bomb ISIS.
I'm shocked, but not awed. And somehow not surprised.
What is it about Republican presidents? They just don't like to read? They think words like "culture" and "cooperation" are girly words?
Time to search for that old bumper sticker: "It Will Be a Great Day When Our Schools Get All the Money They Need And the Air Force Has to Hold a Bake sale to Buy a Bomber."
Remember when George W. Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld basically tossed out a substantial study of Iraq, organized by the State Department, and then marched US troops into the country with guns a blazin'? Shock and awe. That State Department study was called the "Future of Iraq" project, it was approximately 2,000 pages long, and had been put together by a number of working groups, many of which included experienced, knowledgeable Iraqis. The "Future of Iraq" papers forewarned our government of the chaos that might arise (looting, civic disorder) if the US blundered in and simply tore down the Sunni power structure.
But that's what we did, and chaos followed, and it gave birth to ISIS, a Sunni insurgency, a rebel group, dedicated to reclaiming power and challenging the new Shia regime in Iraq.
Now Trump apparently wants to march in, guns a blazin', and bomb ISIS.
I'm shocked, but not awed. And somehow not surprised.
What is it about Republican presidents? They just don't like to read? They think words like "culture" and "cooperation" are girly words?
Time to search for that old bumper sticker: "It Will Be a Great Day When Our Schools Get All the Money They Need And the Air Force Has to Hold a Bake sale to Buy a Bomber."
2
The top five opinion pieces today were about Donald Trump. It was much the same the day before and it will probably be tomorrow. Having the foremost newspaper in the country fixated on Donald Trump and immigration is like having a paper in New York City which covered only Brooklyn. Brooklyn is interesting, Brooklyn is important, but it isn't all there is to New York. The Times needs to remember there is also more to the world than Donald Trump.
Trump is a finger stuck in the eye to many people's political views. He is a bizarre culture phenomenon. An incompetent flake. And his election has tilted the political landscape. But Trump is not an emperor, most likely has lied to the political right about his intentions, and his signature position is essentially that we enforce immigration regulations which have existed for thirty years.
Trump appears to be living rent free in the heads of every Times writer. Some from sincere concern. Others probably because another column about Trump is a cheap way to fill space and get patted on the head by people who share the grand obsession. But like a football team that took a tough loss it is time to get their heads up and go back to be journalists. To write persuasive columns. To lay aside invective. To tell people things they don't know about things that matter beyond Trump Tower and the Mexican border.
Trump is president. It's a rotten turn. Get over it.
Trump is a finger stuck in the eye to many people's political views. He is a bizarre culture phenomenon. An incompetent flake. And his election has tilted the political landscape. But Trump is not an emperor, most likely has lied to the political right about his intentions, and his signature position is essentially that we enforce immigration regulations which have existed for thirty years.
Trump appears to be living rent free in the heads of every Times writer. Some from sincere concern. Others probably because another column about Trump is a cheap way to fill space and get patted on the head by people who share the grand obsession. But like a football team that took a tough loss it is time to get their heads up and go back to be journalists. To write persuasive columns. To lay aside invective. To tell people things they don't know about things that matter beyond Trump Tower and the Mexican border.
Trump is president. It's a rotten turn. Get over it.
3
Protecting people from scary threats is important to public officials. Too often, they will do crazy things to make people think they are taking effective action.
Both the governors of NY and NJ, Cuomo and Christie, detained a nurse in a tent to show their resolve against Ebola. It might serve as a metaphor for defeating terrorists.
Both the governors of NY and NJ, Cuomo and Christie, detained a nurse in a tent to show their resolve against Ebola. It might serve as a metaphor for defeating terrorists.
2
For everyone who thinks that Trump will certainly be a 1 term president, don't be so sure. The parallels to 2000 are disturbing. And the Bush/Gore election was even closer than Trump and Clinton. But then comes 9/11, the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, followed by Iraq in 2003. By the time the 2004 election came around, we were a nation fighting the "War on Terror", and historically, during times of war people want continuity and stability in government leadership.
Trump made a meal out of Bush's handling of Iraq and Clinton's 'hawkish' tendencies on foreign policy, but then just a week into his presidency he authorizes a raid in Yemen. Trump is no fool and he, as well as some of his closest advisers have an almost maniacal obsession with power. War is one of the most effective ways to consolidate that power. Any detractors are automatically branded as being weak, or even worse, accused of not being 'patriots.'
Trump made a meal out of Bush's handling of Iraq and Clinton's 'hawkish' tendencies on foreign policy, but then just a week into his presidency he authorizes a raid in Yemen. Trump is no fool and he, as well as some of his closest advisers have an almost maniacal obsession with power. War is one of the most effective ways to consolidate that power. Any detractors are automatically branded as being weak, or even worse, accused of not being 'patriots.'
14
Dear WCDessert Girl,
Nauseatingly, you're right. Trump could easily get re-elected, considering a massive terrorist strike is inevitable, he will use it to rush to war with some non-nuclear Muslim nation, the average and thus idiotic American will get all hyper-patriotic again, and Trump will sail to victory against a feckless, whiny Democrat in 2020. And of course by 2024 the war he started will be clearly unwinnable, the economy will be in tatters, and the well connected rich in the U.S. will be much richer.
I can see it now, that's how it's going to go. Trump is an incompetent liar, but most Americans are incredibly unintelligent, and our Democracy is hogtied by corruption and the influence of the rich.
So for myself, when Trump gets re-elected in 2020, I will move out, remove all my investments, and get as far from America as I can. I will grimly give up on this moronic country, grieving for what it might have been.
Nauseatingly, you're right. Trump could easily get re-elected, considering a massive terrorist strike is inevitable, he will use it to rush to war with some non-nuclear Muslim nation, the average and thus idiotic American will get all hyper-patriotic again, and Trump will sail to victory against a feckless, whiny Democrat in 2020. And of course by 2024 the war he started will be clearly unwinnable, the economy will be in tatters, and the well connected rich in the U.S. will be much richer.
I can see it now, that's how it's going to go. Trump is an incompetent liar, but most Americans are incredibly unintelligent, and our Democracy is hogtied by corruption and the influence of the rich.
So for myself, when Trump gets re-elected in 2020, I will move out, remove all my investments, and get as far from America as I can. I will grimly give up on this moronic country, grieving for what it might have been.
1
Not only is Trump failing to actively invest in women, education, and diplomacy, he is actively dismantling them:
One of the most powerful tools a woman has to secure her future is the right to control when and how she bears children. Yet Trump is determined to take away reproductive rights.
His appointment of Betsy DeVoss as education secretary is a direct assault on public education, which is the most effective path out of poverty.
And by slamming our doors to immigrants, he has betrayed thousands of Iraqi and Afghan translators who risked their lives to help American soldiers. In doing so, he has made all American soldiers fighting overseas much less safe. Our veterans know that, and are speaking up. But Trump does not listen or care.
And he is humiliating us as country: “In that moment, I loathed America,” Mem Fox, the author, wrote. She is not alone.
One of the most powerful tools a woman has to secure her future is the right to control when and how she bears children. Yet Trump is determined to take away reproductive rights.
His appointment of Betsy DeVoss as education secretary is a direct assault on public education, which is the most effective path out of poverty.
And by slamming our doors to immigrants, he has betrayed thousands of Iraqi and Afghan translators who risked their lives to help American soldiers. In doing so, he has made all American soldiers fighting overseas much less safe. Our veterans know that, and are speaking up. But Trump does not listen or care.
And he is humiliating us as country: “In that moment, I loathed America,” Mem Fox, the author, wrote. She is not alone.
15
Abstinence, not abortion, is the most effective method to control when and how children are conceived.
43,000,000 Americans live in poverty. Thanks, public education.
Veterans are not fighting overseas.
Loathers pledged to emigrate if Trump won. Trump won. So?
43,000,000 Americans live in poverty. Thanks, public education.
Veterans are not fighting overseas.
Loathers pledged to emigrate if Trump won. Trump won. So?
2
Ebola is an apt example of why Trumpian isolationism is so wrong in this century. Whether a disease, a destructive ideology, or simply effective global trade, we can't wall it out, bomb it, or ignore it.
Sadly, with this erratic administration, nobody can predict what strange developments are likely. Astonishingly, we may have to trust the intelligence and restraint of the military to keep us out of terminal warfare. (Never thought that I'd say this!)
We also need to have faith that thousands of government administrative drones and lifers will, for self-preservation if not higher purpose, damp out the destructive oscillations of an unstable cabinet.
Sometimes, the vast inertia of a bloated government can be a good thing. I look optimistically forward to several years of creative foot-dragging.
Sadly, with this erratic administration, nobody can predict what strange developments are likely. Astonishingly, we may have to trust the intelligence and restraint of the military to keep us out of terminal warfare. (Never thought that I'd say this!)
We also need to have faith that thousands of government administrative drones and lifers will, for self-preservation if not higher purpose, damp out the destructive oscillations of an unstable cabinet.
Sometimes, the vast inertia of a bloated government can be a good thing. I look optimistically forward to several years of creative foot-dragging.
8
It is just like this president to focus on the simple (or simple-minded) response to a dangerous world: Buy more guns! Buy bigger guns! If our action heroes (from John Wayne to John McClane) can solve their problems with guns, then certainly the country can solve its problems the same way. Simple, easy to understand solution.
Unfortunately, the real world is a bit more complicated than Hollywood would have us believe, as any veteran will tell you. Everyone suffers in war, whether 'winner' or 'loser', including most especially innocent civilians.
As you state, soft power is much more effective in certain situations. Diplomacy, foreign aid, support for schools, even digging wells to provide clean water can often do more to settle or even prevent conflicts. Anyone with an educated and open mind would agree with that.
Unfortunately, our president does not have an educated and open mind. In my humble opinion, he has a very unstable mind. He proves it every time he goes on one of his rants. The fact that he can read someone else's speech off a teleprompter and appear presidential doesn't change who he is. Unless the Democrats can find and work with some rational Republicans, this president will have us in another war before the 2018 mid-term elections.
Unfortunately, the real world is a bit more complicated than Hollywood would have us believe, as any veteran will tell you. Everyone suffers in war, whether 'winner' or 'loser', including most especially innocent civilians.
As you state, soft power is much more effective in certain situations. Diplomacy, foreign aid, support for schools, even digging wells to provide clean water can often do more to settle or even prevent conflicts. Anyone with an educated and open mind would agree with that.
Unfortunately, our president does not have an educated and open mind. In my humble opinion, he has a very unstable mind. He proves it every time he goes on one of his rants. The fact that he can read someone else's speech off a teleprompter and appear presidential doesn't change who he is. Unless the Democrats can find and work with some rational Republicans, this president will have us in another war before the 2018 mid-term elections.
6
These are all great points, so I'm sure Trump won't understand them or do anything about them. Keep in mind that he has below average intelligence, a poor attention span, no wisdom, and entirely too much infatuation with himself.
So it's unfortunate that this good analysis and advice will go unheeded, because the damage resulting from Trump's military aggression combined with less foreign aid and trade will be anywhere from widespread to cataclysmic.
Our economy is not going to rebound from what's ahead with ease, because every long term ally we lose is going to take a long time to ally themselves with us again. Every trade agreement that Trump tears up is not going to be signed again right after he's gone. The world is going to pull away from us and deal more with each other, and while that's probably a good thing overall, it won't be good for America.
Terrorism is going to increase, of course, Trump's shouting face is a huge billboard advertising for new terrorist recruits. The aid we don't give the regions embroiled by terrorism will result in worse poverty, thus more terrorists. And every botched raid we do, killing children in Yemen and so on, produces instant suicide bombers among those kids' families.
There is one aside though, you can actually bomb Ebola. It was the planned cure in "Outbreak", quarantining the infected area then using a daisy-cutter bomb on it, igniting the atmosphere. Vicious but effective, unlike Trump, who is vicious but incompetent.
So it's unfortunate that this good analysis and advice will go unheeded, because the damage resulting from Trump's military aggression combined with less foreign aid and trade will be anywhere from widespread to cataclysmic.
Our economy is not going to rebound from what's ahead with ease, because every long term ally we lose is going to take a long time to ally themselves with us again. Every trade agreement that Trump tears up is not going to be signed again right after he's gone. The world is going to pull away from us and deal more with each other, and while that's probably a good thing overall, it won't be good for America.
Terrorism is going to increase, of course, Trump's shouting face is a huge billboard advertising for new terrorist recruits. The aid we don't give the regions embroiled by terrorism will result in worse poverty, thus more terrorists. And every botched raid we do, killing children in Yemen and so on, produces instant suicide bombers among those kids' families.
There is one aside though, you can actually bomb Ebola. It was the planned cure in "Outbreak", quarantining the infected area then using a daisy-cutter bomb on it, igniting the atmosphere. Vicious but effective, unlike Trump, who is vicious but incompetent.
4
Dan, I'm almost certain, based on your typical comment, that Trump's IQ is significantly higher than yours. He is probably brighter than Al Gore, HRC & BIll (combined?) and Obama. With 100% confidence I can assure you Trump is brighter than Pelosi and Schumer (I admit, my dog is brighter than those two lumps of protoplasm).
Just remember. Trump was a highly successful businessman before becoming president. You don't become a billionaire by being stupid. He ran a brilliant campaign while the combined wisdom of the dems added up to --- a HUGE loss.
So, I'd be careful about impugning Trump's cognitive ability. I doubt if you have the credentials or the smarts to assess Trump's IQ
Just remember. Trump was a highly successful businessman before becoming president. You don't become a billionaire by being stupid. He ran a brilliant campaign while the combined wisdom of the dems added up to --- a HUGE loss.
So, I'd be careful about impugning Trump's cognitive ability. I doubt if you have the credentials or the smarts to assess Trump's IQ
2
Dear Ralphie,
I have no idea why you think Trump is intelligent. Nothing he writes, nothing he says, and nothing he does speaks to high intelligence. He often seems to have no idea what he's talking about, stating things that are the absolute opposite of reality.
Trump was a successful businessman by 1) inheriting most of what he has from his dad, 2) refusing to pay contractors, 3) declaring bankruptcy at least 6 times and letting the investors take the hit, 4) relentless promotion of the name Trump connected to inferior products.
So get real, Trump is a chump, if he was intelligent he would write intelligent tweets rather than the third grade reading level stuff he puts out constantly.
I have no idea why you think Trump is intelligent. Nothing he writes, nothing he says, and nothing he does speaks to high intelligence. He often seems to have no idea what he's talking about, stating things that are the absolute opposite of reality.
Trump was a successful businessman by 1) inheriting most of what he has from his dad, 2) refusing to pay contractors, 3) declaring bankruptcy at least 6 times and letting the investors take the hit, 4) relentless promotion of the name Trump connected to inferior products.
So get real, Trump is a chump, if he was intelligent he would write intelligent tweets rather than the third grade reading level stuff he puts out constantly.
1
The width of your ignorance is breathtaking.
Ebola is not an epidemic disease. There was no recent epidemic; a few thousand deaths may be tragic, but it was no epidemic. And there has never been an Ebola epidemic in all the centuries before US involvement. The 3800 people and $500,000,000 we sent to Africa were all a total waste.
Diplomacy is meaningless and treaties just "pieces of paper" without the backing of a strong military and the will to use it if necessary. That was Obama's flaw - he used diplomacy without force, and it always failed. The catastrophe of the Middle East is a perfect object lesson.
And the purpose of a strong military isn't war. We have all those planes and tanks and ships to make sure our enemies are never deluded into thinking they could beat us, and thus attack. Obama clearly didn't know that, and cut them all back. That weakened us and increased enemy actions like Chinese expansion into the South China Sea, North Korean Atomic missile testing, and the same with Iran.
Our new leader seems to understand.
It's important to fear the real dangers, not the imaginary ones.
Ebola is not an epidemic disease. There was no recent epidemic; a few thousand deaths may be tragic, but it was no epidemic. And there has never been an Ebola epidemic in all the centuries before US involvement. The 3800 people and $500,000,000 we sent to Africa were all a total waste.
Diplomacy is meaningless and treaties just "pieces of paper" without the backing of a strong military and the will to use it if necessary. That was Obama's flaw - he used diplomacy without force, and it always failed. The catastrophe of the Middle East is a perfect object lesson.
And the purpose of a strong military isn't war. We have all those planes and tanks and ships to make sure our enemies are never deluded into thinking they could beat us, and thus attack. Obama clearly didn't know that, and cut them all back. That weakened us and increased enemy actions like Chinese expansion into the South China Sea, North Korean Atomic missile testing, and the same with Iran.
Our new leader seems to understand.
It's important to fear the real dangers, not the imaginary ones.
6
Diogenes, your counterpoints are not credible. First, naturally, you're just another anonymous blogger, you cite to no references, you mention no statistics, you just posit a batch of pro-Trump stuff. Second, of course, you're pro-Trump, thus you must be delusional or lying. The only way to support Trump by now is to be delusional and/or lying.
The Ebola epidemic was, naturally, an epidemic. In case you don't know anything about it, here's a CDC breakdown:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/
So yeah, your pro-Trump rant is basically meaningless, sorry about that.
The Ebola epidemic was, naturally, an epidemic. In case you don't know anything about it, here's a CDC breakdown:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/
So yeah, your pro-Trump rant is basically meaningless, sorry about that.
1
Oh hey, now I know where I've seen this style of highbrow lies. "Diogenes", you're also "DC Barrister", "Aristotle Gluteus Maximus", "George Orwell" (with extreme irony), and probably others right? You're the very same trump-pumping provocateur with no cites, no facts, and tons of hatred for Obama and the Libruls.
Well as always your comment is well written and has no relation to reality.
Well as always your comment is well written and has no relation to reality.
1
Yes, your thinking and philosophy worked out quite well during the Bush-Cheney years, right? The depth of your thinking.....shoal-like....breathtaking!!!
1
If only 10% of Mem Fox's description of her experience with American immigration is accurately presented, it is beneath disgusting. But brace yourselves for more of the same and worse. This administration simply does not care. (I would prefer to use a pungent idiom in place of "care" but my submission would be immediately digitally trash-canned with nary a human eye laid on it.)
The government of Trump has only begun its campaign to drive allies and friends into the enemy's camp. What Trump doesn't do on the highest levels, his representatives at the lowest but most personal level do on an individual, person-by-person basis. They are merely mimicking the boss. And he is pleased; imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Congress is the American Citizen's first line of defense against the excesses of Donald Trump. But our Republican-dominated House and Senate, elated at the chance to erase the progress of the past eight years, are partying so hearty the are asleep at the wheel with accelerator stomped to the floorboards. The are deserving of the same forbidden idiom previously mentioned.
To make matters worse, it appears the vast majority of Trump's voters wholeheartedly applaud his every action. Pardon me while I repeat myself and drag that idiom out one last time.
Nick, Ms. Fox is exactly right, it only takes one, no matter how low the station in the governmental pecking order, to turn a foreign friendship into a fearful hatred of all Americans.
The government of Trump has only begun its campaign to drive allies and friends into the enemy's camp. What Trump doesn't do on the highest levels, his representatives at the lowest but most personal level do on an individual, person-by-person basis. They are merely mimicking the boss. And he is pleased; imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Congress is the American Citizen's first line of defense against the excesses of Donald Trump. But our Republican-dominated House and Senate, elated at the chance to erase the progress of the past eight years, are partying so hearty the are asleep at the wheel with accelerator stomped to the floorboards. The are deserving of the same forbidden idiom previously mentioned.
To make matters worse, it appears the vast majority of Trump's voters wholeheartedly applaud his every action. Pardon me while I repeat myself and drag that idiom out one last time.
Nick, Ms. Fox is exactly right, it only takes one, no matter how low the station in the governmental pecking order, to turn a foreign friendship into a fearful hatred of all Americans.
2
It is truly frightening that Trump plans to explode the budget – and give excuse to cut back on domestic spending vital for millions of Americans and cut the budgets for the State Department and USAID and EPA – by expanding an already bloated defense budget which reasonably should have been cut back with the end of the major campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and instead increasing it by 9%, $54 billion on top of $600 billion. We already spend more on Defense than the next 7 countries combined, a list that includes Russia and China. In theater when you show a gun in the first act, it will absolutely be used by the third act. But let’s examine why: this gives Trump the big shiny, flashy, muscular objects that feed his narcissism. But also, it expands his virtually unlimited power as Commander-in-Chief (a function he has already proved completely inept at), while domestic programs are much more controlled by Congress. But by expanding the military in the way he intends, he continues to show that his “vision” is based on the world of the 1950s and 1960s. Hence his renewed interest in expanding, not reducing nuclear weapons. Our main enemy now consists of some tens of thousands of militant terrorists, including lone wolves that could pop up anywhere. The next war that will be fought in cyberspace and the next battlefield will be the electric grid and utility plant.
1
So do you suppose that also applies to diplomacy here at home? Do you think maybe that close cooperation with the Muslim community in the U.S. is the best way to uncover and expose lone wolf attacks? How much does it hels to have a President that openly attacks Muslims, wanting to ban them from the country? Do you suppose this might tend to encourage hate crimes against Muslims and force U.S. Muslims to hunker down? Nah, probably not, the guy in Kansas just shot two Indian immigrants thinking they were from the Middle East. Way to go Trump followers.
8
Let's see - the moslem nations will not admit Jews or allow them and Christians to worship there, are autocracies or theocracies, hate the 'other' type of moslem, and WE should think well of them. Just remember 9/11!
2
While I would agree that under funding the State Department is the wrong way to go, I would also suggest that many of State's policies are based on a Judeo-Christian interpretation of morality and responsibility that don't necessarily work in a terrorist world. It should be possible to do more with less, as so many small businesses are forced to do. Unfortunately that often requires careful vetting and hiring, and searching out smart dedicated people. My guess is Mr. Trump doesn't have the patience for that.
5
"It should be possible to do more with less, as so many small businesses are forced to do."....I wonder, do you think maybe that should also apply to the U.S. military?
14
Perhaps they could start by finding out where all the money they currently get has been going. Just before 9/11 an investigation into about a trillion unaccounted dollars was about to be started. Haven't heard much about that since. Recently I believe I read that it's more like 3 trillion now.
1
The largest contributor to the multi-national defense corporations, by far, is the taxpayer. These companies do not compete in a free market, building and selling products to those who choose to buy them. They get "cost-plus" contracts whereby they massively overcharge the government - and, therefore, the American taxpayers - for everything they do. Eisenhower's "Military Industrial Complex" is a gigantic example of Socialism for the biggest corporations in the world.
1
Another piece of useful data: the USAID budget for Africa last year is about equal to the annual budget for Fairfax County, Virginia's school system. With those relatively modest resources, millions of kids are learning to read, child mortality rates have plummeted across the continent and agriculture production has been raised. Success in these areas does much to stabilize countries and turn them into trading partners. Not a bad investment.
59
IF it's such a great investment, then open your wallet and make it a private investment. Don't take from the US taxpayer to fund your hopes, dreams and liberal desires. Give to charity and fund more missionaries.
2
State never suffered from lack of diplomats. State suffered from poor direction, policy and leadership. Now state is run by someone who understands the roll of the department is for the benefit of the USA and not to serve as advocate for USAs enemies.
Finally, we can relax knowing state is in good hands.
Finally, we can relax knowing state is in good hands.
7
?seriously? where are your facts?
1
State rebuilt America's reputation in the world after Bush 43 ruined it. State couldn't get Congress to fund requested safety improvements at embassies.
1
I hope you are right but I have my doubts. As they say time will tell.
I wish this op-ed could be read with an open mind by all. Unfortunately the comments appear to be pre-recorded. State Department is bad and corrupt. Military hardware, especially high-tech hardware, will make us strong. We have had the hardware to win every war fought in my lifetime. But we lost, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Hey we won in Grenada! With a "President" who avoided military service and who thinks a military prep school gives him a superior understanding of warfare, how can we expect him to listen to the men who led those losing wars and who knew we were frequently fighting the wrong battles and serving as recruiters for our enemy. That $54 billion is not about giving us more soldiers or improving the pay of existing ones. It won't help fund the VA. After all soldiers are just cannon fodder to the chicken-hawks who are too "clever" to enlist. This expansion is about buying bigger, shinier toys for a man concerned about the size of his hands.
147
nice job not mentioning his name, he thrives on his name being said as you know
Remember that Trump holds a bachelor's degree from Penn's Wharton School in Economics/Real Estate. [It has been rumored on Wall Street for decades that this degree cost his father some $25 million in "contributions" to the university.
Yet, this President with a degree in economics recently woke up his first National Security Advisor, General Flynn, who has spent his life in the Army, to ask him whether a strong dollar was good or bad for America! Flynn answered he had no idea and suggested Trump call an economist.
If THAT doesn't scare the bejesus out of you, nothing will. It also explains why Trump's top billionaire supporters (including Peter Thiel, part of the Trump advisors and transition team & GOP convention speaker) are scrambling to buy massive mansions in New Zealand (as far as you can get from the U.S.) to use as bolt-holes once the administration is finished looting and destroying the American Economy - all while Trump is tossing a coin "Heads-Strong Dollar /Tails-Weak Dollar" as he watches Fox News and tweets out nasti-tweets against anybody who says anything negative about him. Grover Norquist (who favors destruction of the government) recently said that the GOP plan was to get majorities in both Houses and then elect a President who has enough fingers to hold a pen and sign what they put in front of him. He finally got his wish.
Yet, this President with a degree in economics recently woke up his first National Security Advisor, General Flynn, who has spent his life in the Army, to ask him whether a strong dollar was good or bad for America! Flynn answered he had no idea and suggested Trump call an economist.
If THAT doesn't scare the bejesus out of you, nothing will. It also explains why Trump's top billionaire supporters (including Peter Thiel, part of the Trump advisors and transition team & GOP convention speaker) are scrambling to buy massive mansions in New Zealand (as far as you can get from the U.S.) to use as bolt-holes once the administration is finished looting and destroying the American Economy - all while Trump is tossing a coin "Heads-Strong Dollar /Tails-Weak Dollar" as he watches Fox News and tweets out nasti-tweets against anybody who says anything negative about him. Grover Norquist (who favors destruction of the government) recently said that the GOP plan was to get majorities in both Houses and then elect a President who has enough fingers to hold a pen and sign what they put in front of him. He finally got his wish.
1
"One can’t help wondering: If U.S. aid programs had invested in education in Yemen, might we have reduced today’s terrorism and violence? One study found that a doubling of primary school enrollment in a poor country halves the risk of civil war.
Education is no panacea, but it is a bargain: For the cost of deploying one soldier abroad for a year, we can start about 40 schools.
Imagine those words said about some of the poorest school districts in America? How many less police would we need if our education systems in Chicago, LA, Philly and NYC worked?
Education is no panacea, but it is a bargain: For the cost of deploying one soldier abroad for a year, we can start about 40 schools.
Imagine those words said about some of the poorest school districts in America? How many less police would we need if our education systems in Chicago, LA, Philly and NYC worked?
22
we are the richest country in the world....we can do both.....we can make education better in this country and we can help w education/diplomacy in foreign countries.
our President and his republican congress want to spend $25 Billion dollars on a meaningless wasteful insulting wall. instead we should spend that money on education and diplomacy. by the way, the republicans refused to spend $1.5 Billion dollars on Zika and Ebola research.
our President and his republican congress want to spend $25 Billion dollars on a meaningless wasteful insulting wall. instead we should spend that money on education and diplomacy. by the way, the republicans refused to spend $1.5 Billion dollars on Zika and Ebola research.
1
I agree with the arguments here, but they still stem from a faulty premise. There is no logical reason to spend more on the military or to continue so many foreign deployments.
A careful review of the forces of other nations, including Russia and China shows that their militaries are basically defensive in design and capability. Russia has practically exhausted its forces with their limited Syrian deployment. The Chinese army and navy have no capability to operate world wide. Only the United States has forces and a doctrine to wage wars on two continents at the same time.
The question that our press forgets to ask is WHY? We have somewhere between 800 and 1,000 based around the world. Why? We have begun a one trillion dollar program to miniaturize nuclear weapons. Why? We have no plans to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and are increasing our forces in the Pacific. Why?
Our own CIA reports that in the coming years the greatest threat to world stability and security will come from the effects of global warming---not terrorism. When droughts wipe out 40% of the grain harvest of nations, which has already happened, instability and the prospects of more failed states increases. The Syrian conflict began as a food riot. More nuclear weapons can't address those problems.
Yet we continue to spend and prepare for war. The madness of King Donald is only exceeded by his minions in congress and the silent voices of reason in the press. God help us.
A careful review of the forces of other nations, including Russia and China shows that their militaries are basically defensive in design and capability. Russia has practically exhausted its forces with their limited Syrian deployment. The Chinese army and navy have no capability to operate world wide. Only the United States has forces and a doctrine to wage wars on two continents at the same time.
The question that our press forgets to ask is WHY? We have somewhere between 800 and 1,000 based around the world. Why? We have begun a one trillion dollar program to miniaturize nuclear weapons. Why? We have no plans to withdraw from Iraq and Afghanistan and are increasing our forces in the Pacific. Why?
Our own CIA reports that in the coming years the greatest threat to world stability and security will come from the effects of global warming---not terrorism. When droughts wipe out 40% of the grain harvest of nations, which has already happened, instability and the prospects of more failed states increases. The Syrian conflict began as a food riot. More nuclear weapons can't address those problems.
Yet we continue to spend and prepare for war. The madness of King Donald is only exceeded by his minions in congress and the silent voices of reason in the press. God help us.
89
Good point. The Constitutuion calls for a common defense, not a national offense. And the US projects power wherever it's corporate owners need assistance stealing some poor nation's resources without compensation. Isn't that the reason for the American Revolution? England taking our resources and taxing us heavily for "protection"? What goes around comes around.
1
The Pentagon’s open warfare against the State Department intensified during Cheney’s reign as Secretary of Defense. Neo-con civilians at the Pentagon, few of whom ever served in the military, were convinced that the United States stood on the verge of complete world domination all that was required was military strength. The invasion of Iraq was their idea and terrorism their excuse.
Now, with the failure in Iraq, the warmongers bang a hollow drum claiming the US defense budget is far too small and that is the reason for their failure. Similar words spew out of Trump’s mouth. The US cannot purchase enough bullets to replace solid diplomates doing the difficult work of building peace and avoiding war. Military force can secure a society but it can never rebuild one or build a better one.
The Cold War was won by ever growing and developing Western societies. While the failed Soviet Union hunkered down behind walls and massive military budgets, we in the military provided the shield against military attack. Free, rambunctious, sometimes disturbing masses provided the successful Western response to Eastern totalitarianism.
Now, with the failure in Iraq, the warmongers bang a hollow drum claiming the US defense budget is far too small and that is the reason for their failure. Similar words spew out of Trump’s mouth. The US cannot purchase enough bullets to replace solid diplomates doing the difficult work of building peace and avoiding war. Military force can secure a society but it can never rebuild one or build a better one.
The Cold War was won by ever growing and developing Western societies. While the failed Soviet Union hunkered down behind walls and massive military budgets, we in the military provided the shield against military attack. Free, rambunctious, sometimes disturbing masses provided the successful Western response to Eastern totalitarianism.
19
The big ticket instruments of military power, aircraft carriers, submarines, fighter jets, bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear bombs, are hardly effective against small groups and lone wolf suicidal fanatics, home grown or foreign. The Military Industrial Complex knows this. They need an enemy, real or imagined, that is capable of modern warfare to justify a huge increase in military spending. That's where exaggerating the threat of Russia, China and Iran come in.
We should remember that diplomacy which includes a recognition of the national interests of our adversaries actually works and leads to a more peaceful world. It worked with the very countries we are now so eager to demonize.
Money spent on diplomacy, foreign aid and building bridges is money well spent. Terrorism is more a police matter than a military one and it will die a slow death of its own ruthless ineffectiveness.
We should remember that diplomacy which includes a recognition of the national interests of our adversaries actually works and leads to a more peaceful world. It worked with the very countries we are now so eager to demonize.
Money spent on diplomacy, foreign aid and building bridges is money well spent. Terrorism is more a police matter than a military one and it will die a slow death of its own ruthless ineffectiveness.
27
We should be paying attention. Trump's campaign was not about reaching out to welcome people into his election bid; his campaign was about belittling others, insulting, threatening and intimidating others; his campaign was about releasing anger, resentments, hatreds. So what does this have to do with further building up the already biggest military in the history of the world?
Trump's plan is to insult, threaten and intimidate other countries. He intends to show anger, resentment and hatred to other countries. And smile at some who bow down and say nice things about him.
Trump is not posturing; his thinking is simplistic (remember, he asked why do we have nuclear weapons if we don't use them?) and he would not back down from starting a war. In fact, starting a war is very likely his intention.
A war would serve to rally "patriotic" (foolish, blind nationalistic) Americans and give him the cover to suspend civil rights, suppress the media, squash opposition and tighten his grip on power. A war economy would also generate jobs to fill the vacuum left from goods no longer imported. Workers would stop looking for wage increases; Americans would accept further losses in their standard of living as a patriotic sacrifice.
Patriotic Americans can be persuaded that a Muslim ban is needed. American Muslims can be required to wear a bright orange "M". Perhaps a roundup and interment camps are their future.
Trump's America will become a reflection of Putin's Russia.
Trump's plan is to insult, threaten and intimidate other countries. He intends to show anger, resentment and hatred to other countries. And smile at some who bow down and say nice things about him.
Trump is not posturing; his thinking is simplistic (remember, he asked why do we have nuclear weapons if we don't use them?) and he would not back down from starting a war. In fact, starting a war is very likely his intention.
A war would serve to rally "patriotic" (foolish, blind nationalistic) Americans and give him the cover to suspend civil rights, suppress the media, squash opposition and tighten his grip on power. A war economy would also generate jobs to fill the vacuum left from goods no longer imported. Workers would stop looking for wage increases; Americans would accept further losses in their standard of living as a patriotic sacrifice.
Patriotic Americans can be persuaded that a Muslim ban is needed. American Muslims can be required to wear a bright orange "M". Perhaps a roundup and interment camps are their future.
Trump's America will become a reflection of Putin's Russia.
42
Bravo.
2
Can a foreigner point out that America's greatest failures have come from bluster and massive military overloads? Vietnam, the post-combat politically dominated fiascoes in Iraq and Afghanistan, were expensive, didn't achieve their political goals, and did nothing for America except to put thousands of ex-service people rotting on the streets.
The raging hypocrisy and pure cynicism of a mindset which uses military power so ineptly and with such disregard of its own service people is an atrocity of itself. The US military's main problem is its imbecilic usage, not its size or relative power. Since the Revolutionary War, America's victories have come from defense, and the disasters from over-weighted aggression.
The gigantic expense and corruption of the military industrial complex, so loathed by the last real vertebrate Republican, Eisenhower, is well known. This budget boost is a gift to them. This is a payoff, not a policy. The lapdogs have fetched the money.
Contrary to theory, the bluster of "might is right" is deeply and sincerely despised. Nobody respects such a primitive mindset, particularly when promoted by pathological liars who rarely make any sort of coherent sense. American allies aren't impressed by thoughtless, self-enriching fools making endless mistakes with the US military for decades, either. It's a case of the brave and the competent being directed by the absurd and the obsolete. Invest in intelligence, not imbecility.
The raging hypocrisy and pure cynicism of a mindset which uses military power so ineptly and with such disregard of its own service people is an atrocity of itself. The US military's main problem is its imbecilic usage, not its size or relative power. Since the Revolutionary War, America's victories have come from defense, and the disasters from over-weighted aggression.
The gigantic expense and corruption of the military industrial complex, so loathed by the last real vertebrate Republican, Eisenhower, is well known. This budget boost is a gift to them. This is a payoff, not a policy. The lapdogs have fetched the money.
Contrary to theory, the bluster of "might is right" is deeply and sincerely despised. Nobody respects such a primitive mindset, particularly when promoted by pathological liars who rarely make any sort of coherent sense. American allies aren't impressed by thoughtless, self-enriching fools making endless mistakes with the US military for decades, either. It's a case of the brave and the competent being directed by the absurd and the obsolete. Invest in intelligence, not imbecility.
67
Thank you, Mr. Wallis. Of course a foreigner may point out America's greatest failures and their causes. That is helpful. Just now in the States the thunderous racket of splenetic nonsense, vulgarity and falsehood makes steady thought almost impossible. Thus, too many of us, overwhelmed, clap hands over ears while seeking calm sanctuary, intellectual or actual.
1
Military power is designed to capture and hold territory. Insurgent groups are incredibly mobile and highly distributed around the world. With the exception of ISIS, which was trying to build a state (a new caliphate), they can keep so spread out that even our closest allies end up acting unwittingly as their bases. Hamburg, Germany and several American cities were the staging grounds for 9/11. Military power was notably ineffective against the National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) in Vietnam. It succeeded in Granada, where 15,000 US troops took a "mere" 3 days to defeat a tiny and ineffective Grenadian military, 600 Cuban airport laborers and 60 Cuban soldiers sent to defend the laborers. We could have done that with an ROTC class. Reagan only invaded Grenada because it was the day the Marines killed in the barracks bombing in Lebanon were being laid to rest at Arlington, and he wanted something positive to edge that story out and be the lead story that night on the news.
Witness the fact that the Trump plans to ban immigration from 7 countries does not include a single country that has ever been caught sneaking a terrorist into the US. OTOH, a number of countries, most notably Saudi Arabia (which spends at least 4 times as much as Iran funding terrorism) that have sent or tried to send terrorists to this country are peculiarly left off of Trump's list.
Witness the fact that the Trump plans to ban immigration from 7 countries does not include a single country that has ever been caught sneaking a terrorist into the US. OTOH, a number of countries, most notably Saudi Arabia (which spends at least 4 times as much as Iran funding terrorism) that have sent or tried to send terrorists to this country are peculiarly left off of Trump's list.
1
A despot needs an army to defend his weakness. The "can't bomb Ebola" analogy is frightful and very, very true. As we create more drug resistant pathogens, expose our population to bacteria in unregulated food and water, destabilize health care so that those without may create local epidemics (think recent measles) will there be any action taken, or a weak, gutless reaction? Remember how unprepared certain hospitals were in dealing with those Ebola cases? Will a military build up help keep a family safe from disease, or will government sponsored public health measures? Does a despot care about the population that he serves, or simply maintaining his own power and wealth?
77
And recall the Republican response to Ebola. And their insistence that we not allow people into the U.S. from countries that have had Ebola (when experts said that they would only enter from other countries and be harder to track). Or recall the Republican response to the need for emergency disaster relief. Don't give it unless you can pay for it elsewhere. We are dealing with a poorly informed and short-sighted group here.
2
Diplomacy? A subtle brain
Is needed again and again,
No bully draft dodger
Hairpiece topped old codger,
A chess playing mind in the main.
A tweeting twerp won't fill the bill
Trump's thumb o'er a bomb leaves a chill,
Right wing Cabinet
Of rich cronies yet
With terrible choices did fill.
Is needed again and again,
No bully draft dodger
Hairpiece topped old codger,
A chess playing mind in the main.
A tweeting twerp won't fill the bill
Trump's thumb o'er a bomb leaves a chill,
Right wing Cabinet
Of rich cronies yet
With terrible choices did fill.
52
So glad you're back, Eisenberg! You were missed.
3
Mr. Beard is quite right, and well said as always Mr. Eisenberg.
"Terrorists understand what most threatens them, but I’m not sure we do."
Nick, this is one of your finest columns. Well reasoned, well argued. Which is why it won't be on DT's reading list, or even on his radar.
You see, you can't prance and preen by starting schools in the Middle East or working reasonably with neighbors and allies to sustain the good will to galvanize support in the face of a crisis. Solutions like more diplomats, more foreign aid (not less), and great investment in cultivating current and future friends for future health crises just aren't sexy.
This president only appears to appreciate the flashy, the symbols of strength. Not the hard, behind-the-scenes investments that can help him rally major support for handling life and death problems like health outbreaks.
The next time Trump rails at how America's image in the world has worsened, I hope somebody (other than Bannon) pulls him aside and explains why.
Nick, this is one of your finest columns. Well reasoned, well argued. Which is why it won't be on DT's reading list, or even on his radar.
You see, you can't prance and preen by starting schools in the Middle East or working reasonably with neighbors and allies to sustain the good will to galvanize support in the face of a crisis. Solutions like more diplomats, more foreign aid (not less), and great investment in cultivating current and future friends for future health crises just aren't sexy.
This president only appears to appreciate the flashy, the symbols of strength. Not the hard, behind-the-scenes investments that can help him rally major support for handling life and death problems like health outbreaks.
The next time Trump rails at how America's image in the world has worsened, I hope somebody (other than Bannon) pulls him aside and explains why.
131
Could “deconstruction of the administrative state” Bannon have something to do with cutting State Department funding and increasing funding for even more fire-power that the military says isn't needed?
The GOP, especially the hard right, spent the last 8 years mocking diplomacy as weakness. As Mr. Obama worked to build relationships they viewed that as sissy behavior. Of course, they believe that more weapons and teeth baring is the way to go - they have even elected "strongman" to the White House. We will get bluster, threats, and quite possibly skirmishes, if not all out wars because that is the main way Trump knows how to relate.
65
The republican party is a hammer. Which is why for the last 50 years they have treated every one else as a nail.
1
"The military is one of the strongest advocates for nonmilitary investments — because generals know that they need diplomacy and aid to buttress their hard power. That’s why 120 generals and admirals recently signed a letter pleading with Congress to fund the State Department and foreign aid."
What do the president's men plan to do with all that military might at the expense of diplomacy? It can't be good. If the Republicans support this proposed budget, they are pretty much signing us up to be the world's biggest bully ever.
When Roosevelt said "Speak softly and carry a big stick -- you will go far," there's a reason he put the speaking softly first.
What do the president's men plan to do with all that military might at the expense of diplomacy? It can't be good. If the Republicans support this proposed budget, they are pretty much signing us up to be the world's biggest bully ever.
When Roosevelt said "Speak softly and carry a big stick -- you will go far," there's a reason he put the speaking softly first.
86
"Diplomacy without arms is like an orchestra without instruments"
Count Otto von Bismark.
Count Otto von Bismark.
2
It is always amusing to note the by now typical response of liberals to any hint of reductions in government departments not housed at the five-sided chamber of dark secrets. The fact that much "foreign aid", especially that which is funneled out of Foggy Bottom's well of incompetence, finds its way into the Swiss bank accounts of notable individuals in countries the US seeks to influence is of course not up for discussion. Leaving aside this columnist's focus on any particular tear-jerking expose, who would suggest that foreign aid to, for instance, the Saudis, the Egyptians, or the Pakistanis cannot be reduced? And since we apparantly choose not to defend our embassies here and there, such as in Libya, why not close several missions we have no use for?
The world is a ghetto. Stop pretending it's a flower garden only in need of watering.
The world is a ghetto. Stop pretending it's a flower garden only in need of watering.
4
Someone should explain how spending 54 bn more on defense per year at the expense of everything else is supposed to keep us safer or save the American middle class. Are we going to land an aircraft carrier on top of ISIS? The disruption in societies attendant to events like the Ebola outbreak foment political instability and the rise of terrorism. If we abdicate our role in these areas, we will see more terrorism not less, and I don't care how many weapon systems we have and how many troops we train. We can't take over the world by force. And the US government's cynical political relationships with terrorism-exporting countries, including lots of military aid, which finds its way into the wrong hands, doesn't help matters. Somebody mentioned the corruption of "Foggy Bottom" and international aid programs. Sure, there needs to be more accountability. But, please. The best way to skim money is to do it off of military appropriations and weapons deals, where there's sooo much more money involved. We spend more to build a single naval destroyer than we have on fighting Ebola, and the potential payoff in stabilizing countries and stimulating medical research in other areas is so much greater. Adding another turret or two to "Fortress America" isn't going to keep us safe from non-state actors, and it isn't going to save the American middle class. Please have some imagination.
18
I, for one, would suggest that foreign aid to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt cannot be reduced! Efficiencies can always be found and management can always be improved to produce intended outcomes.
It is arrogant and indefensibly irresponsible to suggest it is a "choice" to under-fund our embassies! That failure can only be laid at the feet of conservatives/republicans. You know, the ones who've spent the last 8 years illegally obstructing the legitimate work of the federal government by following Grover Norquist's directions to reduce it until it can be drowned i the bathtub!?!?
To imply that liberals/democrats put no value in the defense of our country & have some secret desire to starve the pentagon is inexcusably obtuse! The Trumpian world view sees no value in anything that can't be reduced to the bullying 45 enjoys so dearly. The threats & problems the US faces today are vastly more complex than bullies can comprehend. They've learned that violence and the threat of violence are the ONLY valid solutions to problems. There are other methods of dealing with problems!
Research continues to illustrate the nature of the conservative brain. It essentially operates from fear, rather from logic, acceptance and complex thought. That might be why we can SEE the flowers among the rubble!
It is arrogant and indefensibly irresponsible to suggest it is a "choice" to under-fund our embassies! That failure can only be laid at the feet of conservatives/republicans. You know, the ones who've spent the last 8 years illegally obstructing the legitimate work of the federal government by following Grover Norquist's directions to reduce it until it can be drowned i the bathtub!?!?
To imply that liberals/democrats put no value in the defense of our country & have some secret desire to starve the pentagon is inexcusably obtuse! The Trumpian world view sees no value in anything that can't be reduced to the bullying 45 enjoys so dearly. The threats & problems the US faces today are vastly more complex than bullies can comprehend. They've learned that violence and the threat of violence are the ONLY valid solutions to problems. There are other methods of dealing with problems!
Research continues to illustrate the nature of the conservative brain. It essentially operates from fear, rather from logic, acceptance and complex thought. That might be why we can SEE the flowers among the rubble!
1
Do you know what "ghetto" means? Or is that just a word that implies something bad?
1
You can't bomb poverty, which is the core reason for extremism;not religion.
Sure, militant extremism has the cloak of religion ( a pretext if you will ) but the majority of followers are outcasts with nowhere else to go. Their countries are impoverished and a majority ( if not all ) of their governments are corrup offering no hope to their citizens.
A prime example is China. If there wasn't a solid and burgeoning middle class, then there is no way Communism ( debatable ) would have lasted this long. Russia is to a lesser extent. There is a certain detente, that if people has at least the illusion of upward mobility, safety and are marginally well fed\clothed\housed , then overthrow is not in the cards.
Flood the middle east with cheeseburgers, not drone strikes.
Sure, militant extremism has the cloak of religion ( a pretext if you will ) but the majority of followers are outcasts with nowhere else to go. Their countries are impoverished and a majority ( if not all ) of their governments are corrup offering no hope to their citizens.
A prime example is China. If there wasn't a solid and burgeoning middle class, then there is no way Communism ( debatable ) would have lasted this long. Russia is to a lesser extent. There is a certain detente, that if people has at least the illusion of upward mobility, safety and are marginally well fed\clothed\housed , then overthrow is not in the cards.
Flood the middle east with cheeseburgers, not drone strikes.
59
Amen. State religion, and to a lesser extent all religion is a con. The intent is to promise goods that never have to be delivered. Your life is lousy today but will be better when you die. The perfect con. You never have to deliver anything. It's a way to hide poor governance.
Education that teaches people God is a Stone Age construct meant to help those in charge stay there would save the world.
All we need to do to overturn the North Korean government is air drop iPods with videos of South Korean grocery stores produce and meat counters en masse into North Korea.
Education that teaches people God is a Stone Age construct meant to help those in charge stay there would save the world.
All we need to do to overturn the North Korean government is air drop iPods with videos of South Korean grocery stores produce and meat counters en masse into North Korea.
8
@Garret - "State religion, and to a lesser extent all religion is a con. The intent is to promise goods that never have to be delivered. Your life is lousy today but will be better when you die. The perfect con. You never have to deliver anything. It's a way to hide poor governance."
This statement applies perfectly to the GOP since the time of Saint Ronnie. Promises, are: abortion, gays, "other people", same sex marriage, trickle down economics, etc.
This statement applies perfectly to the GOP since the time of Saint Ronnie. Promises, are: abortion, gays, "other people", same sex marriage, trickle down economics, etc.
4
Get with the program, Mr. Kristof.
A strong nation is a respected nation. If you are strong, people will listen when you talk. Trump is just beginning... America has been weakened under young President Obama, who learned on the job, starting out as a junior senator. He did not know how to take the upper hand in negotiations with world leaders, and look at the results of the world he left us: it certainly shows.
Give Trump the military money. Let us start out strong, building back a big stick. Then, we will not have to use it so much, directing drones like video games from safely here at home. President Obama was weak, as a military strategist and as a diplomat. You might like him, but the results are in: America as a whole, and the world too, fared poorly with his leadership.
A strong nation is a respected nation. If you are strong, people will listen when you talk. Trump is just beginning... America has been weakened under young President Obama, who learned on the job, starting out as a junior senator. He did not know how to take the upper hand in negotiations with world leaders, and look at the results of the world he left us: it certainly shows.
Give Trump the military money. Let us start out strong, building back a big stick. Then, we will not have to use it so much, directing drones like video games from safely here at home. President Obama was weak, as a military strategist and as a diplomat. You might like him, but the results are in: America as a whole, and the world too, fared poorly with his leadership.
4
Respectfully, I think you missed the point of the op-ed. Perhaps a more thorough read?
2
Reality check: he is not trusted, nor respected, and has zero moral authority. At best, he will be endured. You already have enough military crap to wipe us all off the face of the earth probably 100 times over. An additional $54 billion on top of the existing obscene budget isn't going raise trump's or America's status, in any way, so long as he remains in the WHouse.
2
Midway,
President Obama increased the development and use of drone warfare, President Obama directed the search for and capture of Osama bin Laden. Part of that 'big stick', most of it, is big brains and good character. Obama has that, Trump does not.
President Obama increased the development and use of drone warfare, President Obama directed the search for and capture of Osama bin Laden. Part of that 'big stick', most of it, is big brains and good character. Obama has that, Trump does not.
3
No, we can’t bomb Ebola. But with a rapidly destabilizing world and a U.S. economy that sees the steady evisceration of our middle classes, we can’t invest in developing cures for odd diseases or even afford substantial foreign aid, either. So, we’d better have a military capable of leading a RE-stabilization of that world that effectively protects the West and that creates a high-performing U.S. economy – two very important Trump priorities but not, apparently, high on the list of those who think only of Ebola, at least for the purposes of this column.
As far as the State Dept. goes, Trump probably figures that the world BECAME destabilized with this State Dept., so maybe we need a DIFFERENT one to better support re-stabilization. And it’s been awhile, outside of that disaster called Afghanistan, that we’ve bombed ANYTHING other than with drones, which are relatively cheap yet quite targeted. A good purpose of our military is that it be SO intimidating again that the need to actually bomb something is avoided.
Nick has his priorities and others not only have theirs, but also have necessary prerequisites, before attending directly to Ebola, climate change and mind-opening and civilizing education in parts of the world without open minds and without real civilization.
As far as the State Dept. goes, Trump probably figures that the world BECAME destabilized with this State Dept., so maybe we need a DIFFERENT one to better support re-stabilization. And it’s been awhile, outside of that disaster called Afghanistan, that we’ve bombed ANYTHING other than with drones, which are relatively cheap yet quite targeted. A good purpose of our military is that it be SO intimidating again that the need to actually bomb something is avoided.
Nick has his priorities and others not only have theirs, but also have necessary prerequisites, before attending directly to Ebola, climate change and mind-opening and civilizing education in parts of the world without open minds and without real civilization.
5
Another Luettgen diatribe. Why is it that republicans think that democracy or stabilization needs to come out of the end of weapon? And by Richards logic cut foreign aid to justify the weapons. If you wouldn't mind Richard can you explain how while already spending more than the next seven countries combined that spending even more will be more intimidating? While you are at it you may also explain how this has intimidated ISIS.
3
Desden:
I rarely offer diatribes: I offer arguments. It's my responders who prefer diatribes.
But historically the world has tended naturally to a pronounced chaos, as strident ideologies, strong-men and buccaneers have sought to impose their will on parts or all of it. The peace and prosperity the West has enjoyed for most of the past 70 years is an historical bubble, an exception. What has made that bubble possible, in the absence of the willingness of our allies to contribute effectively to maintaining it has been an overwhelming U.S. military.
Over the past eight years, we've persistently sought to disengage -- not so successfully in the end but we've tried. That attempted disengagement hasn't brought about, yet, material improvements in what our allies are willing to spend to defend themselves and the West. If SOMEONE doesn't do it, that strongly suggests continued indeed growing chaos and destabilization. And it simply can't be done without a restored military. The fact that our military is larger than the seven next-largest militaries combined isn't really relevant: those seven others aren't charged with walking the walls at night so that your children in Canada and elsewhere, and ours here, can sleep safely. To do THAT takes what it takes.
Now, see? No "diatribe", an argument, as always. Mind that you don't fashion one of your diatribes in further response.
I rarely offer diatribes: I offer arguments. It's my responders who prefer diatribes.
But historically the world has tended naturally to a pronounced chaos, as strident ideologies, strong-men and buccaneers have sought to impose their will on parts or all of it. The peace and prosperity the West has enjoyed for most of the past 70 years is an historical bubble, an exception. What has made that bubble possible, in the absence of the willingness of our allies to contribute effectively to maintaining it has been an overwhelming U.S. military.
Over the past eight years, we've persistently sought to disengage -- not so successfully in the end but we've tried. That attempted disengagement hasn't brought about, yet, material improvements in what our allies are willing to spend to defend themselves and the West. If SOMEONE doesn't do it, that strongly suggests continued indeed growing chaos and destabilization. And it simply can't be done without a restored military. The fact that our military is larger than the seven next-largest militaries combined isn't really relevant: those seven others aren't charged with walking the walls at night so that your children in Canada and elsewhere, and ours here, can sleep safely. To do THAT takes what it takes.
Now, see? No "diatribe", an argument, as always. Mind that you don't fashion one of your diatribes in further response.
1
Carefully cultivated goodwill is not a hallmark of this president's approach to global affairs or even domestic issues, in spite of his so-called presidential pivot Tuesday night. Remember, the president knows more about ISIS than his generals. And how would a 37% budget cut for the state department possibly help a novice statesman who has no experience at the top diplomatic level? The new National Security Advisor advised the Commander-in-Chief to avoid using the politically incorrect and offensive term "radical Islamic terrorism" but the president is not one to heed sage counsel, save for Stephen Bannon.
American military know-how and cutting edge weapons weren't the answer in Viet Nam and our young men returned home bitter and disillusioned. That bitter lesson shouldn't be lost today, and with terrorism a global threat to all countries and governments, bread and butter and foreign aid for poor nations would be better than guns and bullets. In a troubled world, this president needs all the allies he can muster, and goodwill is a major first step.
American military know-how and cutting edge weapons weren't the answer in Viet Nam and our young men returned home bitter and disillusioned. That bitter lesson shouldn't be lost today, and with terrorism a global threat to all countries and governments, bread and butter and foreign aid for poor nations would be better than guns and bullets. In a troubled world, this president needs all the allies he can muster, and goodwill is a major first step.
100
Speaking of fostering good-will, or not, BBC reporting today that the Tibetan women's football team has been denied visas to attend a tournament in Texas.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39137290?ocid=global_bbccom_email_020...
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39137290?ocid=global_bbccom_email_020...
2
Obama to Russia: "Oh, you want to annex Crimea? Well, we and our European allies don't need to buy your oil"
China to N Korea: "Oh, you want to fire missiles toward Japan? Well, we don't need to purchase any more of your coal this year"
Soft power rules. Instead of justifying their xenophobia, it quietly emphasizes the advantage of civil behavior. But that kind of subtlety requires foreign expertise to be effective.
China to N Korea: "Oh, you want to fire missiles toward Japan? Well, we don't need to purchase any more of your coal this year"
Soft power rules. Instead of justifying their xenophobia, it quietly emphasizes the advantage of civil behavior. But that kind of subtlety requires foreign expertise to be effective.
49
"One of the biggest security threats the world faced in recent years was Ebola — and the next pandemic may be much worse — and the only effective response was to work with other countries to tackle the problems collectively."
And who did President Obama send to West Africa to set up logistics and treatment units (and exposing them to the disease)? 3,000 troops. You can't perhaps bomb Ebola, but you pay for steps taken to fight it through, inter alia, the military budget.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?324305-1/president-obama-remarks-combating...
"Or when immigration officials detain and humiliate to tears a beloved 70-year-old Australian children’s author on her 117th visit to America. 'In that moment, I loathed America,' Mem Fox, the author, wrote."
My son-in-law the Israeli surgeon often gets stopped on visits or trips to the US, apparently his rather common last name, and albeit less common first name, is a name that appears on some immigration list for something. He does not know. He gets held up, his wife and children, if they are travelling with him and who have US citizenship have to sit around and wait and do not know where he is, but eventually the issue gets cleared up and all is well. Until the next time.
No ill feelings, no loathing, no tears, no feeling of humiliation.
In 1995 I arrived at the UK for a year sabbatical. Immigration, it was the middle of the night, gave me a hard time, why? Who knows. I got over it. I enjoyed the year.
And who did President Obama send to West Africa to set up logistics and treatment units (and exposing them to the disease)? 3,000 troops. You can't perhaps bomb Ebola, but you pay for steps taken to fight it through, inter alia, the military budget.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?324305-1/president-obama-remarks-combating...
"Or when immigration officials detain and humiliate to tears a beloved 70-year-old Australian children’s author on her 117th visit to America. 'In that moment, I loathed America,' Mem Fox, the author, wrote."
My son-in-law the Israeli surgeon often gets stopped on visits or trips to the US, apparently his rather common last name, and albeit less common first name, is a name that appears on some immigration list for something. He does not know. He gets held up, his wife and children, if they are travelling with him and who have US citizenship have to sit around and wait and do not know where he is, but eventually the issue gets cleared up and all is well. Until the next time.
No ill feelings, no loathing, no tears, no feeling of humiliation.
In 1995 I arrived at the UK for a year sabbatical. Immigration, it was the middle of the night, gave me a hard time, why? Who knows. I got over it. I enjoyed the year.
2
He sent medical personnel who happened to be in the military, not guys with rifles. Yes they are soldiers, but their skill set included rapid deployment and caring for injured, not killing people. Calling that "the Army" is disingenuous.
2
To Garrett Clay:
Did you read the article in C-Span? I quote President Obama:
"Thanks to the hard work of our nearly 3,000 troops who deployed to West Africa, logistics have been set up,..."
They were not all medical personal and in any case, go know. I quote the (former) president. You seem to know better than he.
Did you read the article in C-Span? I quote President Obama:
"Thanks to the hard work of our nearly 3,000 troops who deployed to West Africa, logistics have been set up,..."
They were not all medical personal and in any case, go know. I quote the (former) president. You seem to know better than he.
2
Our country has yielded to authoritarianism, and the "strong man" is neither rational nor empathetic. The American voter had eight years of "soft power," and a president who presented America's "best face" and deep concerns for how we might win hearts and minds. OUr strong man, our Trump, won the argument that he, alone, can solve America's foreign and domestic complexities by being America's first modern day bully to occupy the bully pulpit.
39
The American voter had eight years of "soft power," and a president who presented America's "best face" and deep concerns for how we might win hearts and minds.
---------------------
How'd that work out for us? For all of US? For the rest of the world?
Obama's legacy are those refugees flooding Europe and trying to escape, by all means possible. Some help.
---------------------
How'd that work out for us? For all of US? For the rest of the world?
Obama's legacy are those refugees flooding Europe and trying to escape, by all means possible. Some help.
Donald Trump wants to build walls, Mr. Kristof, not bridges to other countries so as to earn--yes, that means working at it--their cooperation, respect and, perhaps genuine friendship.
This current president is extremely ignorant, not to mention short-sighted. He is of a (so-called) mind to see terrorism as hordes of khaki-clad men (and women and, yes, children) rushing out of tanks wearing gas masks with all manner of repeating assault weapons slung from both shoulders, firing as they come. That's not how terrorists prosecute wars, Mr. Kristof. They seek first to undermine the logic behind a society they wish to overthrow. "That’s why extremists shot Malala, threw acid in the faces of Afghan schoolgirls and kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. Terrorists understand what most threatens them." It's knowledge and thought and discipline and the freedom that they attack: the very virtues that the poor of every nation want: a better day.
The current president is embarrassingly unschooled in the hard and unforgiving landscape of life in other countries. Living in a gilded prison, he sees drugs and guns and a hatred of the West. Neither he (nor Stephen Bannon, Reince Priebus and his scores of sycophants) have the intelligence and insight to see that the poor of other nations want desperately to copy our way of life. For all of its warts, it has worked remarkably well. The Lady's torch can be seen from the ends of the Earth.
All No. 45 wants to do is dim the light. Sad.
This current president is extremely ignorant, not to mention short-sighted. He is of a (so-called) mind to see terrorism as hordes of khaki-clad men (and women and, yes, children) rushing out of tanks wearing gas masks with all manner of repeating assault weapons slung from both shoulders, firing as they come. That's not how terrorists prosecute wars, Mr. Kristof. They seek first to undermine the logic behind a society they wish to overthrow. "That’s why extremists shot Malala, threw acid in the faces of Afghan schoolgirls and kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. Terrorists understand what most threatens them." It's knowledge and thought and discipline and the freedom that they attack: the very virtues that the poor of every nation want: a better day.
The current president is embarrassingly unschooled in the hard and unforgiving landscape of life in other countries. Living in a gilded prison, he sees drugs and guns and a hatred of the West. Neither he (nor Stephen Bannon, Reince Priebus and his scores of sycophants) have the intelligence and insight to see that the poor of other nations want desperately to copy our way of life. For all of its warts, it has worked remarkably well. The Lady's torch can be seen from the ends of the Earth.
All No. 45 wants to do is dim the light. Sad.
171
Terrorists "...seek first to undermine the logic behind a society they wish to overthrow." I agree and suggest that Trump, Bannon and their enablers in Congress are terrorists. Their attacks on voting rights, journalists, the judiciary and the norms of acceptable political behavior all work to undermine the logic of our democratic society.
4
No, not sad. Frankly, it's criminal.
2
He does not want to dim the light, he wants to replace it with a sign that says Trump, do it my way.
We need to get him on an all cheeseburger and milkshake diet, that seems our only hope until 2018. And everyone crying now had better buy and lace up walking shoes then change the House.
We survived Bush, who did incalculable damage in office, this clown will do much more damage before he is gone, he is a world worse.
We need to get him on an all cheeseburger and milkshake diet, that seems our only hope until 2018. And everyone crying now had better buy and lace up walking shoes then change the House.
We survived Bush, who did incalculable damage in office, this clown will do much more damage before he is gone, he is a world worse.
2
Trump is a bully and bullies don't see the need for diplomacy. They lie, manipulate, and terrorize to get what they want. All Trump cares about is having the biggest stick.
Already reports are in that the state department is being left out of important policy meetings. They are being given nothing meaningful to do. The staff fears that they will be fired at any moment. So much talent being lost.
America is no longer the shining city. The constant theme is decay and unwelcoming. We're going to have a lot of cleaning up to do.
Already reports are in that the state department is being left out of important policy meetings. They are being given nothing meaningful to do. The staff fears that they will be fired at any moment. So much talent being lost.
America is no longer the shining city. The constant theme is decay and unwelcoming. We're going to have a lot of cleaning up to do.
121
Why fund diplomacy, when threatening with very large weaponry is so much more manly, not to mention fun. The generals may understand that flaunting might is not as effective as using the brainpower of seasoned diplomats. Our commander in Chief however knows more than the generals. Just ask him, he told us so.
113
[quote] As you and your colleagues address the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018, we write as retired three and four star flag and general officers from all branches of the armed services to share our strong conviction that elevating and strengthening diplomacy and development alongside defense are critical to keeping America safe. [end quote]
Read: "The State Department Is Already Running on Fumes" 2/28/17, by Ilan Goldenberg [Politico]:
[quote] I worked at the Pentagon and in Foggy Bottom. And let me tell you: Slashing the budget for diplomacy is insane. [...] Time and again, America’s politicians find it easy to fund a popular military but much more difficult to support diplomacy and foreign aid. Over time, this has led to the following amazing fact:
Trump’s proposed 10 percent defense bump is equivalent to nearly the entire budget for the State Department and USAID. [But]
a State Department authorization bill has not passed in years
because [...] the leaders of both parties will not waste valuable congressional floor time on a political loser. [So]
the NDAA becomes the primary legislative tool through which Congress weighs in on all foreign policy issues [and] negotiated primarily with the Pentagon,
the military aspects of American foreign policy receive the most attention while diplomacy and aid are an afterthought. […]
**Congress, DO YOUR JOB!**