I think the problem with this column is not that it's pro-Trump. It's not. But it does take Trump seriously, and it presupposes that there is some coherent foreign policy, however misconceived, animating his administration. But there really isn't. The only common threads - "Yay, Russia!" and "Everyone is laughing at us" - do not a foreign policy make. Most of the time, even when it's scripted, it's more or less random.
70
The battle for western civilization comes from Bannon. Joshua Green discusses this on his Fresh Air podcast. Bannon has viewed the world as a clash of civilizations for years . Trump adopts whatever is most expedient for him and does not engage with things that are complicated.
30
It's so odd to read an analysis treating Donald Trump as a foreign policy thinker. He is a totally ridiculous person who knows nothing about Western civilization, let alone what diplomatic means might serve it. But I am long past wondering what kind of surreal public discussion we have entered.
61
Trump - Plan – it's an oxymoron.
48
Posturing like this is a lie on its face. How can the President 'save Western civilization' while holding its foundations in repugnance? Ideas like scientific inquiry, representative government, the dignity of the individual, and critical thinking, just for a few.
But there's an upside in strutting around like this. It costs little. Might involve some investment in places around the globe where America might press for human rights. It was clear from the G-20 that none of these guys take him seriously, anyway. Here, these claims might distract us for a few moments from his regime's endemic kleptocracy, ignorance, and incompetence.
But there's an upside in strutting around like this. It costs little. Might involve some investment in places around the globe where America might press for human rights. It was clear from the G-20 that none of these guys take him seriously, anyway. Here, these claims might distract us for a few moments from his regime's endemic kleptocracy, ignorance, and incompetence.
32
Donald Trump is a dolt of a man without any principles. His commitment to Western civilization has as much conviction and depth as his commitment to Sean Spicer--that is to say not very much. Trump's lack of intelligence, his ignorance of history and global affairs, his willingness to believe whatever is expedient and self-serving have been unparalleled in the history of American presidency. He doesn't even know that Kim Jung Un's family name is "Kim" (he alternatively calls him "Un" or "gentleman"). It's taking this idiot all of his "intellectual" energy to save his hide--let alone Western civilization!
41
A conventional foreign policy ? Time will tell , but simply put a leopard does not change it's spots . Pretty sure his speech was given to impress the poles who are easily impressed .Somehow don't think he will really come to the defense of civilization or really cares , but more in line to suit his very changeable agenda , sort of like flavor of the day . Amazing , people still trying to grab at the brass ring , sort of hoping against hope.
10
this article is wishful thinking, and that's putting it kindly. trump is not that deep.
23
I spent the entire time reading this column trying to decide if it was intended to be serious or if it was merely very clever and subtle satire. I remain undecided on the issue. Poe's law, anyone?
25
Three words into the title is where the piece is already off to a wrong start. Donald Trump has no plan and never has. Strategy is not something he does-he simply reacts, and throughout his years, he's survived not because of his tactical skillset, but despite his lack of it.
The only skill he has ever possessed is a knack for self-promotion and no moral compass to inhibit himself. In this, he is wildly successful, but that is not any quality one can associate with leadership.
Any insights gleaned from his international dealings should be viewed through the lens of his motivating factors-his own self-interest. To ascribe any sort of patriotic interest, or heaven forbid- a coherent strategy is folly. Any sober analysis of Trumpian policy is like art critics posturing about the genius behind a 3 year old's random crayon scribblings.
The only skill he has ever possessed is a knack for self-promotion and no moral compass to inhibit himself. In this, he is wildly successful, but that is not any quality one can associate with leadership.
Any insights gleaned from his international dealings should be viewed through the lens of his motivating factors-his own self-interest. To ascribe any sort of patriotic interest, or heaven forbid- a coherent strategy is folly. Any sober analysis of Trumpian policy is like art critics posturing about the genius behind a 3 year old's random crayon scribblings.
29
I was wondering, is this satire? I fear it is not.
19
Perhaps the true purpose of NATO was to keep an eye on Germany. "...keep your enemies closer."
2
Right wing authoritarianism is the antithesis of post-Enlightenment Western Civilization. Let's not forget that as the Nazi leadership hunkered down in the bunker, even as their barbarism was being revealed with the discovery of their death factories, they declared themselves the bulwark of Western Civilization and sought the western allies to join them to stop the approaching Red Army.
14
Judging from the headline, I thought this column would be a snarky joke. That turned out not to be the case, unfortunately.
19
July 23, 2017
Western Civilization great again.
He's a guy who hasn't understood the health care legislation and let alone the historic Washington bureaucracy with career established professionals and has on and on fantasies to indulge his cause for power concentration to his inflated design for authority to lead the world or at least Western whatsoever drives the its redefinition by the authority for the Trump commander - Napoleonic complex or what?
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
Western Civilization great again.
He's a guy who hasn't understood the health care legislation and let alone the historic Washington bureaucracy with career established professionals and has on and on fantasies to indulge his cause for power concentration to his inflated design for authority to lead the world or at least Western whatsoever drives the its redefinition by the authority for the Trump commander - Napoleonic complex or what?
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
7
The guy who wrote this is not seeing the POTUS many of us are seeing, a disorganized, uninformed, petulant old fool, who will NEVER be "normalized."
If the book this guy is writing is every bit as good as this opinion piece, I will save my money.
If the book this guy is writing is every bit as good as this opinion piece, I will save my money.
22
Since when is Iran "non-white"?
11
When I read the title to this piece I thought a parody was coming. But, wow! This is the kind of stuff that gives academia a bad name. It seems to be written about some "Mr Trump" in an alternate universe -- certainly not this one. Wertheim --
ponderous, weighty, serious, analytical -- is himself a parody of the academic with his head in the clouds.
ponderous, weighty, serious, analytical -- is himself a parody of the academic with his head in the clouds.
29
I have a feeling Trump is reading speeches penned by none other than Newt Gingrich. I also have a sickening feeling that Trump is a loose cannon in a teetering world order who does not understand or care what he is reading or who he is reading to. He only cares that he is on top, captain of this ship of state. Unlike a good captain though he will not go down with the ship until everyone of us has gone down before him.
14
I am reminded of a movie trailer for a bad movie. No matter how cleverly constructed to portray excitement, superior craft and intelligence, we immediately see through the spin and know that the movie is truly terrible.
Mr. Werthheim, you cannot be serious. Those cherry picked, ghost written, teleprompter delivered platitudes from Trump's speeches are not representative of his presidency. He contradicted himself before, after and even during those same speeches. For a more accurate look at his platform, just look at his actions and more importantly, his non-actions.
Love the selection of the Stetson photo. Reminds me of a line used to describe George W. Bush... "All hat and no horse."
Mr. Werthheim, you cannot be serious. Those cherry picked, ghost written, teleprompter delivered platitudes from Trump's speeches are not representative of his presidency. He contradicted himself before, after and even during those same speeches. For a more accurate look at his platform, just look at his actions and more importantly, his non-actions.
Love the selection of the Stetson photo. Reminds me of a line used to describe George W. Bush... "All hat and no horse."
25
Stephen Wertheim, you make President Trump seem to be thoughtful. I am not convinced. Others around him, more like it.
3
Ah, this from Dr. Wertheim's page (http://www.hist.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-stephen-wertheim) at the University of Cambridge might throw some light on his article:
"In his spare time, Stephen thinks up comedy ideas, talks about them, and fails to carry them out."
"In his spare time, Stephen thinks up comedy ideas, talks about them, and fails to carry them out."
14
Never mind that The Donald is quickly taking on the aura of a neocon militarist anxious to overcome his own lack of combat experience by sending the sons and daughters of less well-to-do Americans into unnecessary wars and vicariously "experiencing" something of their own heroism. And never mind that he's an unethical businessman who inherited a fortune and is so used to getting his own way as to leave him without sufficient patience to heed the feedback of those who are more rational and experienced than he. But to suggest that this is the man to lead the West away from the alleged dangers of secular decadence...??!! Trump is nothing less than a living textbook of the seven deadly sins as well as an exponent of more character flaws than the biblical prophets of old could have ever identified. Hatred, racism, bitterness, self-indulgence, narcissism, hedonism, licentiousness, iconoclasm, intemperance, neglect, dishonesty: is the man to define, let alone stand up, for the values of Western civilization? The late emperors of Rome were certainly corrupt and undisciplined but at the very least they didn't actually extend an invitation to barbaric tribes to ride in and take over the empire.
93
The significance of Trump's speech is not that he gave it, but rather those who wrote it: the neo-cons who are still looking for their aircraft carrier in the deserts of Iraq.
13
The square cornered gray jacket you have sewn for Donald Trump doesn't suit the man. Get out the silk and the harlequin, an old set of Gen. Patton's jodhpurs and boots, a gaudy pair of Prussian epaulettes and a handful of bells, a vintage Fascist blouse and a Borscht Belt toupee...and get started!
8
You're kidding, right? Trump isn't thinking about any of this. He is either reading speeches others wrote, which he might not understand (he is ignorant of foreign policy and history), or tweeting with major paranoia in the night.
15
What do you know! Our Donald might just blunder his way into doing a fair job.
Will miracles never cease????
Will miracles never cease????
don't hold your breath.
President Trump has clearly demonstrated he is a person who believes in nothing and therefore will say anything, even things he does not believe, or are in conflict with what he has said before, or that he does not understand, or that have been handed to him by someone else.
stop trying to make sense of him; it's a fool's errand.
just help get rid of him before it's too late.
President Trump has clearly demonstrated he is a person who believes in nothing and therefore will say anything, even things he does not believe, or are in conflict with what he has said before, or that he does not understand, or that have been handed to him by someone else.
stop trying to make sense of him; it's a fool's errand.
just help get rid of him before it's too late.
7
I disagree with the majority of commenters who seem to feel Professor Wertheim is giving credibility to Donald Trump by putting forth a reasoned and coherent view of Mr. Trump's goals and vision: He does an excellent job of analyzing the philosophy behind Mr. Trump's actions and comments to date, although the professor is hardly supportive--he actually seems to be issuing a warning. Nevertheless, I appreciated his analysis very much. Obviously a majority of "never-Trumpers" vastly underestimated the President's intelligence and political instincts and continue to do so, merely dismissing him as impulsive and boorish.
Mr. Obama's view was diametrically opposed to Mr. Trump's: America has exploited certain minorities, been exploitative in its world policy, pushed policies that damaged the environment, etc., while failing to see anything positive or good in what the US has accomplished both in the country and for the world. As a result, the US "owes" the world. Why should we be better off or come before any other nation? We should take more refugees than any other country, especially because our exploitative actions contributed so much to the instability in these troubled parts. Of course we should lead by cutting our emissions more than anyone else. The list goes on. President Trump seeks to reverse this and he was elected!
Mr. Obama's view was diametrically opposed to Mr. Trump's: America has exploited certain minorities, been exploitative in its world policy, pushed policies that damaged the environment, etc., while failing to see anything positive or good in what the US has accomplished both in the country and for the world. As a result, the US "owes" the world. Why should we be better off or come before any other nation? We should take more refugees than any other country, especially because our exploitative actions contributed so much to the instability in these troubled parts. Of course we should lead by cutting our emissions more than anyone else. The list goes on. President Trump seeks to reverse this and he was elected!
4
It's not possible to underestimate the intelligence of the person inhabiting the oval right now.
And no country, especially this one, deserves the disproportionate share we help ourselves to. The choices are cooperation and sharing resources vs selfishness and greed. The former offers a world of peace and plenty; the latter a self-destructive path that may well take the rest of the world down with it.
And no country, especially this one, deserves the disproportionate share we help ourselves to. The choices are cooperation and sharing resources vs selfishness and greed. The former offers a world of peace and plenty; the latter a self-destructive path that may well take the rest of the world down with it.
5
Obama praised America's exceptionalism all the time. I disagree very much with the assessment seeing the country more as an outlier rather than as unique or exceptional but how folks like you never heard or saw it is extraordinary. You simply repeat the narrative you hear on your hermetically sealed "news" outlets. Start paying attention to reality and perhaps we can move the country in a positive direction.
4
There may be something of the Neocons in Trump's moves, but the effort here to fit his embrace of diverse authoritarian rulers (Duterte, Putin, and - most unlikely of all - the Saudis) doesn't fit any grand scheme. Moreover, his populist base may expect a more isolationist and self-sufficient "America First" policy, like its ill-fated namesake in the 30s. Three and a half years and counting...
2
This says more about the power of the human mind to divine messages in static and make up stories to explain random events than it does about any coherent viewpoint or series of actions by the Trump administration. America's enemies are no doubt inspired, America's allies continue to move away, and Americans remain embarrassed, angry, and lost in their own country.
12
"How did Donald Trump come to speak for Western Civilization"
Objection: this sentence assumes facts not in evidence. And no real evidence is presented in the article either.
Objection: this sentence assumes facts not in evidence. And no real evidence is presented in the article either.
22
Another article in the mainstream media where the writer pretends that Donald Trump is a normal president and a normal human being. Wake up.
23
"Mr. Trump appears to be evolving into a kind of neoconservative." This suggests a kind of rational process of adjustment and adaptation--by a man who basically seems to know nothing and to shoot from the hip, as his emotions dictate.
10
Where did you come up with this, attributing a well thought out doctrine to Trump after reading a few speeches he gave that I will bet even you do not think he wrote? You are a Historian writing a book on American leadership. Ok, when you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
15
If the American right hopes to win a struggle against "demographic decline and cultural pluralism", it is engaged in a fool's errand. Bigoted appeals to the fears of whites who believe their way of life is threatened may win votes and even elections, but their hope of a turning the clock back to a world of unchallenged white privilege and domination over other races is a pipe dream. Inexorably, year by year, America is getting browner and browner, and there's nothing Trump and his army of white supremacists can do to stop it.
13
The cleverness, thoughtfulness and strategic thinking described here bears no relationship to the actual nature of the president. Mr. Trump is profoundly ignorant and incurious, and altogether uninterested in the welfare of America or Americans. He does not even know what Western civilization is. My goodness! Where in the world does this kind of wishful thinking come from?
20
England.
where they don't have to worry about their healthcare.
where they don't have to worry about their healthcare.
6
This is just another effort to find coherence in Trumpian chaos. Give it up. The only thing you can do is watch the monkeys fight over the steering wheel.
14
The truly epochal news is breaking. Scaramouche is on TV promising to "fix" the one defect of Civilization that TrumpFox thinks needs fixing: those durned Leaks-- from the White House to the American press. Trump shall own Secrecy. Meanwhile, as Scaramouche rants, I just saw the ex-Soviet/Russian ambassador leaking his way out of the country, unnoticed.
4
If you accept that Donald Trump somehow formulated a thoughtful foreign policy that is a defense of Western civilization, a monumentally ludicrous proposition, then in fairness to the author, we must examine what Western civilization has embraced during its tortured development since the Magna Carta.
The rights asserted at that time were only for the elites and remained so for centuries, perhaps even today, but at least on their face, our laws have opposed repression and supported individual liberty for all. England never stopped being a society of classes until the 20th century and became the world leader in colonialism to extract resources and riches of other countries with little regard for the natives.
America opposed the repression of England and formed a representative government. However, we embraced slavery. It took 89 years to end slavery here and another 100 years to establish equal rights for black people. We killed and displaced the native Americans to take their land and resources.
We made a safe place for white Christians. Trump’s views align with those most awful flaws of Western civilization: most wealth should flow to elites, “other” people matter less and are to be feared or used. So, in that narrow sense, Trump is protecting Western civilization. The twist that Trump adds is his tendency towards authoritarianism rarely seen and not well tolerated in the West. The goal of civilization is to progress. Donald Trump’s vision is regressive and dangerous.
The rights asserted at that time were only for the elites and remained so for centuries, perhaps even today, but at least on their face, our laws have opposed repression and supported individual liberty for all. England never stopped being a society of classes until the 20th century and became the world leader in colonialism to extract resources and riches of other countries with little regard for the natives.
America opposed the repression of England and formed a representative government. However, we embraced slavery. It took 89 years to end slavery here and another 100 years to establish equal rights for black people. We killed and displaced the native Americans to take their land and resources.
We made a safe place for white Christians. Trump’s views align with those most awful flaws of Western civilization: most wealth should flow to elites, “other” people matter less and are to be feared or used. So, in that narrow sense, Trump is protecting Western civilization. The twist that Trump adds is his tendency towards authoritarianism rarely seen and not well tolerated in the West. The goal of civilization is to progress. Donald Trump’s vision is regressive and dangerous.
7
Just to clarify and to highlight the 1500-character limit we all work with, yes, I am very aware of all the good things that have come with Western civilization and only want to keep the best and correct the flaws...once and for all.
2
"The administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord was pure America First ..."
Actually, that particular stance is purely big oil first.
And even overall economically for the country, it is anything but America first, in any time frame longer than about five years..
Other countries will continue to lead in alt energy development and usage, which is obviously the way of the future.
Actually, that particular stance is purely big oil first.
And even overall economically for the country, it is anything but America first, in any time frame longer than about five years..
Other countries will continue to lead in alt energy development and usage, which is obviously the way of the future.
10
Dear Stephen Wertheim:
Donald Trump has clearly erred in his choice of Communications Director. Fear not, statistics show that the tenure is as that of a moth before a flame, so I would suggest you put in your Resume now and you will most likely begin work before the snow flies.
Donald Trump has clearly erred in his choice of Communications Director. Fear not, statistics show that the tenure is as that of a moth before a flame, so I would suggest you put in your Resume now and you will most likely begin work before the snow flies.
7
What??? trump saving western civilization!! Please do not be ridiculous in giving trump such a high intellectual attribute of being able to promulgate a foreign doctrine. He is an opportunistic ignorant that does not even know what civilization is. He just reads whatever is given to him in writing because he has no brain to think what to say or articulate something that makes sense. When he is not given something to read, he starts going in circles with his usual five-word vocabulary (‘beautiful’, ‘terrific’, ‘disgrace’, and ‘fake news’) and doing his ‘deals’ without even knowing what it means to be a respectable president. The worst thing is that he is so ignorant that he does not know that the western world detests him and keeps laughing at him. He is only a real state pundit taking advantage of everyone else but now at the government level. The real pundit trying to do what you think trump is doing is Bannon with his accomplices. So, please, stop giving trump qualities, attributes and ideologies he does not have, and be careful about the dangerous side of speculating and fueling ideologies and beliefs about foreign policy and politics of civilization that people from the far-right-wing would happily die for.
8
I am curious just what it is about Western Civilization Trump and his people are talking about defending.
It is not science.
It is not logic or rational thinking. (pick pretty much any three of Trump’s consecutive utterances and search for consistency among them)
It is not democracy (see all of the Republican attempts to restrict the voting ability of citizens and see Trump’s happiness with foreign espionage and election interference if it benefits him )
It is not western art and freedom of thought.
It is not equal rights.
It is not separation of Church and State (see attempts to enforce a religious belief about the status of a fetus upon those who do not agree with it)
It is not a healthy physical environment for the flourishing of such a civilization
It is not healthy people who could continue Western Civilization
It is not educating people in the history of the Civilization and the critical thinking it has invented and used to amazing benefit in the arts, sciences and in practical life.
It is not about recognizing the importance of Islam in preserving, creating, and expanding upon the intellectual and cultural heritage while Europe was stagnating in a slough of ignorance, hate and poverty.
Finally it is not about the empathy for others that one finds in its greatest writer, William Shakespeare, who also said what Trumpism is about:
"It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
It is not science.
It is not logic or rational thinking. (pick pretty much any three of Trump’s consecutive utterances and search for consistency among them)
It is not democracy (see all of the Republican attempts to restrict the voting ability of citizens and see Trump’s happiness with foreign espionage and election interference if it benefits him )
It is not western art and freedom of thought.
It is not equal rights.
It is not separation of Church and State (see attempts to enforce a religious belief about the status of a fetus upon those who do not agree with it)
It is not a healthy physical environment for the flourishing of such a civilization
It is not healthy people who could continue Western Civilization
It is not educating people in the history of the Civilization and the critical thinking it has invented and used to amazing benefit in the arts, sciences and in practical life.
It is not about recognizing the importance of Islam in preserving, creating, and expanding upon the intellectual and cultural heritage while Europe was stagnating in a slough of ignorance, hate and poverty.
Finally it is not about the empathy for others that one finds in its greatest writer, William Shakespeare, who also said what Trumpism is about:
"It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
27
Some phrases used here should be elaborated, whether they were used to make a point or to be sarcastic:
"the United States has morphed into the proud leader of the West" -- The whole notion of "the West" is too loose to be useful. Its use has a long history, and so its meaning has changed greatly over time, and it was never very precise or clarifying. Somehow an ancient religion from the Middle East is seen as a center-piece of this West, while a more recent Middle Eastern religion stands for its opposite. We share a common linguistic and cultural background with South Asia. These only scratch the surface of the problems with this term.
“community of nations” sharing a common “way of life” -- This did not stop Europeans from nearly wiping each other out between 1914 and 1945. Either theirs beliefs were not shared or they were not very healthy ones. And American exceptionalism has insisted on our uniqueness. So common or not?
"stamping out savagery" -- Some in the US revere their slave-owning ancestors. Seems like some people's savagery is honorable and understandable, while others' is disgusting. Let's agree it is all disgusting and heal thyself first.
"forward march of liberal democracy" --- Why is it marching, why forward? How did this come about? On whose back? What is it? Seems Trump does not have a clue.
So what does it mean for Trump to be following these traditional beliefs and instincts? Nothing much.
"the United States has morphed into the proud leader of the West" -- The whole notion of "the West" is too loose to be useful. Its use has a long history, and so its meaning has changed greatly over time, and it was never very precise or clarifying. Somehow an ancient religion from the Middle East is seen as a center-piece of this West, while a more recent Middle Eastern religion stands for its opposite. We share a common linguistic and cultural background with South Asia. These only scratch the surface of the problems with this term.
“community of nations” sharing a common “way of life” -- This did not stop Europeans from nearly wiping each other out between 1914 and 1945. Either theirs beliefs were not shared or they were not very healthy ones. And American exceptionalism has insisted on our uniqueness. So common or not?
"stamping out savagery" -- Some in the US revere their slave-owning ancestors. Seems like some people's savagery is honorable and understandable, while others' is disgusting. Let's agree it is all disgusting and heal thyself first.
"forward march of liberal democracy" --- Why is it marching, why forward? How did this come about? On whose back? What is it? Seems Trump does not have a clue.
So what does it mean for Trump to be following these traditional beliefs and instincts? Nothing much.
4
If one is a hammer, one looks for a nail. If one is a scholar, one looks for order...even where there is none.
12
Donald Trump, "Reaganesque," initiator of a new U.S. foreign policy doctrine with his Warsaw speech? I caution everyone on the use of controlled substances. Trump's Warsaw speech was a hackneyed rant about saving Christian civilization and other archaic ideas. Trump and his alt right advisers are for the most part right wing nationalists, Islamophobic racists who don't deserve a serious thought.
2
Trump is going to "save" western civilization, like the fox is going to save the hens in the henhouse.
Trump is a would-be dictator. He is trying to stack the courts. He is trying to de-register voters. He is trying to undermine the press.
These are all things typical dictators do.
If western civilization is going to be saved, it must be saved from small-minded dictators like Trump.
Trump is a would-be dictator. He is trying to stack the courts. He is trying to de-register voters. He is trying to undermine the press.
These are all things typical dictators do.
If western civilization is going to be saved, it must be saved from small-minded dictators like Trump.
5
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zillionaire thieves and murderers from around the world looking for a safe place to stash their loot... just as Trump & Co. are looking for "investors" (eg, money laundering customers) to bail them out of their overextended real estate shenanigans.
2
Mr. Trump does not speak for western civilization. The man has no attention span, no core values and no moral compass.
Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American people and their governments have consistently embraced Democracy as the cornerstone of western civilization. The only thing in which Trump is not wildly inconsistent is his support of world leaders who clearly hate democracy, even as they sometimes claim to defend it.
The list seems endless: Putin, Duterte, Xi Jinping, Jaroslaw Kaczynski (neither President nor Prime Minister of Poland, but still its de-facto dictator), Orban, Erdogan... newly-appointed Clown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia... help me out here, I know I'm forgetting some.
There is in fact a Trump Doctrine.
It is:
'All Glory and Honor to Donald John Trump and his family'.
I have to believe that some day the so-called, self-styled 'conservatives' who today begin to offer praise to Mr. Trump will come to their senses. Not only does this emperor have no clothes, he doesn't seem to have any skin (or it's so thin as to be invisible).
Dan Kravitz
Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American people and their governments have consistently embraced Democracy as the cornerstone of western civilization. The only thing in which Trump is not wildly inconsistent is his support of world leaders who clearly hate democracy, even as they sometimes claim to defend it.
The list seems endless: Putin, Duterte, Xi Jinping, Jaroslaw Kaczynski (neither President nor Prime Minister of Poland, but still its de-facto dictator), Orban, Erdogan... newly-appointed Clown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia... help me out here, I know I'm forgetting some.
There is in fact a Trump Doctrine.
It is:
'All Glory and Honor to Donald John Trump and his family'.
I have to believe that some day the so-called, self-styled 'conservatives' who today begin to offer praise to Mr. Trump will come to their senses. Not only does this emperor have no clothes, he doesn't seem to have any skin (or it's so thin as to be invisible).
Dan Kravitz
4
Yeah, his Warsaw speech about so-called "Western civilization" went over big with the fascist-loving crowd who booed Lech Walesa.
Not My President. Not My Western Civilization.
Not My President. Not My Western Civilization.
7
... ya maybe... sort of.. fanciful.. but truth is that he cant. He would have to read some books and have a deeper sense of recent global history and international relations to have any acuity at this... foreign policy thinkers spend lifetimes honing their trade. trump cannot guide western civ by listening to wacky proto christian fascist ideas from bannon or watching Hannity. right now, any educated person or leadership in the world is having a hard time taking him seriously. so he personally - and the office he occupies - has much diminished capital to use.
1
Mr. Trump, devoid of ideas reads the speeches written for him and that does not make him a neocon, a traditionalist or anything. He is an insecure, angry empty suit who seeks daily affirmation and applause.
The great danger to this country comes from the other two branches of government who will use the occupant of the executive branch to wreck our freedoms, our environment and our standing in the world.
The great danger to this country comes from the other two branches of government who will use the occupant of the executive branch to wreck our freedoms, our environment and our standing in the world.
3
Prof. Wertheim ignores the mounting evidence that the Trump Crime Family (the Donald, his immediate family, and his hangers-on) have been bought and paid for by Russian money. The disorder he is wreaking in the west, speeches written by others notwithstanding, is exactly what Putin paid for.
3
Glad its mere your Opinion on this laughable president and doubt that he even knows the meaning of 'civilization' or he cares!? He is shooting darts hoping to hit bullseye somehow by helping your kind of people, fox&friends, and congressional leaders. Unless you have your own agenda, please use your intelligence with a critical mind.
1
This is all a little too nuanced and cognitive for a Trumpist concept. Unless you mean he thinks of Western Civilization in a way similar to a 1930's Fascist.
1
Donald Trump as the champion of Western Civilization! Is that a joke? Did the Civilization that produced a Mozart, Newton, Einstein, Rembrandt, to name a few, just take a nose dive. Maybe Trump, with his history of insults and lies. bankruptcies and cheating, pandering to low information voters, rejecting science with alternative facts, finally saw the truth about himself. No, I don't think so. He remains a champion alright, a champion for himself and nothing more.
5
This is pure idiocy, wrapped in pseudo-sophisticated analysis. To anyone who has been paying the slightest amount of attention it would be blindingly obvious that Trump has no ideology, no fixed views on any subject whatsoever. His thinking is therefore not "evolving" in any direction; there simply is no thinking in the first place.
The only more or less fixed element of the Trumpian mindset--an element too primitive to rise to the level of an "ideology" or a "world view"-- is his racism. As is, again, obvious, Trump's defense of "civilization" has to be understood in these terms. Far from an articulation of some semi-respectable view like that of a neocon, he is coming down in favor of of white (inter)nationalism.
This was plain to many people and spelled out by a number of commentators. Somehow our "sophisticated" analyst missed it?
The only more or less fixed element of the Trumpian mindset--an element too primitive to rise to the level of an "ideology" or a "world view"-- is his racism. As is, again, obvious, Trump's defense of "civilization" has to be understood in these terms. Far from an articulation of some semi-respectable view like that of a neocon, he is coming down in favor of of white (inter)nationalism.
This was plain to many people and spelled out by a number of commentators. Somehow our "sophisticated" analyst missed it?
3
For the first couple paragraphs I thought this had to be satire.
5
It's called "fake history!"
Who is this article written about? I don't recognize this Donald Trump.
6
It's the fantasy of a pseudo-intellectual.
2
While Western civilization is certainly our best bet for the survival of universal human values, it has a lot of "discontents", of which Trump seems to have gathered an inordinate amount in his unique dysfunctional persona: arrogance, racism, self-congratulation, political expediency, hypocrisy, greed and, yes, stupidity in the pursuit of ridiculous ideologies (not only from the Right). To have such a buffoon represent Western civilization is at once a trauma and an opportunity to celebrate the institutions and the innumerable people who are resisting this unexpected onslaught on values painfully acquired through history.
2
Hd didn't write those speeches! Who says he even understands them?
And who supposes he could add a little historical context to something
therein?
Please. this isn't even worth a joke or a smirk. Maybe do something
on con artistry, though he's not even good at that.
And who supposes he could add a little historical context to something
therein?
Please. this isn't even worth a joke or a smirk. Maybe do something
on con artistry, though he's not even good at that.
1
I'm afraid Mr. Wertheim, like many in our country, has been conned by the Don. Trump isn't going to be able to save his presidency, much less Western Civilization.
3
Come on! Do you think he even knows what the word policy means?
1
The President does not seem to possess or understand "Western" values. For example he apparently does not understand, know much of or support our U. S. Constitution. He lives in a netherworld of his own. My fear is that once he attempts to tackle the enemies without, he will start on the enemies within, as Duterte, Erdogan, el-Sisi, the Saudi royal family and Putin. MAGA was a ruse to get elected, installed in the Oval Office. Saving Western Civilization, about which the President knows little, is another ruse. The goal is to see himself atop the world leaders above. It's not about his constituents, it's about what it has been his entire life, the kingdom, and the power, and the glory of Donald J. Trump.
This article reminds me of the importance of keeping basic facts in view when writing. One of the most important and well established facts is that Trump is a chronic, unrepentant liar. A random sample of his fact checked statements and tweets is enough to establish this. There is simply no way to get from "chronic liar" to "the saving of western civilization" without a huge amount of sophistic hand waving.
3
Yes, yes, Professor Wertheim, the Donald is at long last listening to his aides and in the end he will be a decent leader who will help the world move forward. One thing though, you forgot climate change. In the long run the Donald is helping the world to move forward to oblivion for many species including the two legged, walking, talking human.
1
Don't you need to have some clue as to what 'Western Civilization' consists of before you frame a plan for 'defending it'?
2
The only plan Donald Trump is engaged in is the one that enriches Donald Trump. The rest of us are simply don't matter or are lambs to be fleeced
Incredibly over-thought analysis.
Here's one just like it.
One of Shakespeare's all-time favorite plays that people perform is "Much Ado About Nothing." However, if we look at the original pronunciation that Elizabeth English speakers would have used, it would be pronounced "Much Ado About Noting." Shakespeare loved the double-entendre. Everyone in this play is "noting" how Beatrice and Benedick love each other but won't kiss. We learn how Claudio "notes" Hero's apparent betrayal, and when she re-appears after a faked death, he "notes" that it can't be the original Hero, because that one died, along with the accusations of betrayal. We also have the bad "noting" of the town Sheriff, who cannot put two words together without making a definitional mistake.
How is this relevant?
Exactly.
The author took a tiny crust of an idea thrown down from the table of a mediocre brunch at Appleby's and tried to swirl it around in a half-drunk coffee cup until it looked like tea leaves. Then he took three more swigs from a stale Sunday sangria, looked passionately at his check-out line horoscope, then read those tea leaves.
NYTimes, this is a clear example of "I'm able to write a bizarre piece that will rile up the comments section and drag in clicks" without ever having any basis in the actual subject of the piece, NOTABLY, one Donald J. Trump, whom the world has already taken the correct measure. This author has not.
Here's one just like it.
One of Shakespeare's all-time favorite plays that people perform is "Much Ado About Nothing." However, if we look at the original pronunciation that Elizabeth English speakers would have used, it would be pronounced "Much Ado About Noting." Shakespeare loved the double-entendre. Everyone in this play is "noting" how Beatrice and Benedick love each other but won't kiss. We learn how Claudio "notes" Hero's apparent betrayal, and when she re-appears after a faked death, he "notes" that it can't be the original Hero, because that one died, along with the accusations of betrayal. We also have the bad "noting" of the town Sheriff, who cannot put two words together without making a definitional mistake.
How is this relevant?
Exactly.
The author took a tiny crust of an idea thrown down from the table of a mediocre brunch at Appleby's and tried to swirl it around in a half-drunk coffee cup until it looked like tea leaves. Then he took three more swigs from a stale Sunday sangria, looked passionately at his check-out line horoscope, then read those tea leaves.
NYTimes, this is a clear example of "I'm able to write a bizarre piece that will rile up the comments section and drag in clicks" without ever having any basis in the actual subject of the piece, NOTABLY, one Donald J. Trump, whom the world has already taken the correct measure. This author has not.
2
In this regard, Trump is simply parroting the rhetoric of the highly-deluded Steve Bannon. If you haven't already, Google Bannon's 2014 speech at The Vatican. (It was actually a videoconference.) In it, Bannon lays out his paranoid version of "the west against the rest." It's terrifying.
These men are at best egotists who imagine that they have been anointed to play major roles in history. Those who believe them would do well to study the lives of similar men who have come before them. (Hint: it never turns out well.)
These men are at best egotists who imagine that they have been anointed to play major roles in history. Those who believe them would do well to study the lives of similar men who have come before them. (Hint: it never turns out well.)
professor? Can students sue for malpractice over there?
1
Western civilization? As Gandhi said, I sounds like a nice idea. We have been spreading it in Iraq, in Syria, in Libya with our bombs and our proxy terrorists - maybe we should give Eastern civilization a chance. China is building infrastructure, not bombing it.
The scatterbrained platitudes that Mr. Trump dispersed in Warsaw were nothing more than a repurposing of the reactionary vision inculcated by Steve Bannon during his Benedictine military prep school days. That's a Crusader view of the world that, in its original form, styled the Catholic Church as the defender of Christianity (and the "Western World") against Muslims. These people see their timeline as beginning in the year 711 with the conquest of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors. Seriously.
Is Donald Trump really committed to anything larger than himself? No. His vision of the world is as flexible as his perception of short-term opportunity. The only grands that concerns this man are the ones he can stuff in his pockets. Money is good and more money is better. That's as expansive as it gets for 45. Everything else is made up as self-serving narrative, moment by moment.
Yesterday's pals (the Clintons, for example) are today's punching bags. It just all depends. With Lord Palmerston the perspective was that of Empire (Britain has no permanent allies only permanent interests). With Trump it's been pared down to the strictly personal.
Any grand-eloquence is superficial. It's an appeal to mutual greed, leavened by cultivating feelings of outrage and simmering grievance. It's Palmerston as a redneck.
That, of course, explains the peculiar dynamic between Trump and folks like Bannon or, now, Scaramucci, et al. They are all backward men on the make. And nothing more.
Is Donald Trump really committed to anything larger than himself? No. His vision of the world is as flexible as his perception of short-term opportunity. The only grands that concerns this man are the ones he can stuff in his pockets. Money is good and more money is better. That's as expansive as it gets for 45. Everything else is made up as self-serving narrative, moment by moment.
Yesterday's pals (the Clintons, for example) are today's punching bags. It just all depends. With Lord Palmerston the perspective was that of Empire (Britain has no permanent allies only permanent interests). With Trump it's been pared down to the strictly personal.
Any grand-eloquence is superficial. It's an appeal to mutual greed, leavened by cultivating feelings of outrage and simmering grievance. It's Palmerston as a redneck.
That, of course, explains the peculiar dynamic between Trump and folks like Bannon or, now, Scaramucci, et al. They are all backward men on the make. And nothing more.
1
I guess the professor hasn't been following the president's tweets or that he didn't bother to read the transcript of last weeks Times interview. If he did, he might realize why it's impossible to take columns like this seriously.
2
Why is it that I don't find any of this comforting? Is it because, at the end of the day, "America First" is actually "Trump First?" Is it because the Alt Right, which rules the Republican Party, sees Trump's boorishness as acceptable behavior? Or is it because he has anointed himself savior of a civilization his henchmen (Bannon et al.) have sworn to destroy?
It doesn't really matter. The idea of Donald J. Trump as savior of something with which he has no experience would be laughable if it weren't so frightening.
It doesn't really matter. The idea of Donald J. Trump as savior of something with which he has no experience would be laughable if it weren't so frightening.
1
Trump didn't withdraw from the Paris accord out of a sense of nationalism. His only (ego-driven goal) is to undo anything Obama did. He has no foreign policy strategy, and is driven only by ego and greed. This far-fetched article is transparently nothing more than an effort to sell a new book.
Read so many comments here bashing President Trump and know what the common denominator is. Do a personal and HONEST inventory of yourselves and you will too!
"United States has morphed into the proud leader of the West, embedded in a 'community of nations' sharing a common 'way of life.'"
What??? Professor Wertheim, were you sleeping when the UK's Sky News called the recent G20 meeting in Hamburg "the G19 plus 1. America versus the rest"? How can the U.S. be the leader in anything under this sorry excuse for a president when it proudly withdraws from an painstakingly worked out agreement to tackle the single biggest threat facing all humankind, not just "western civilization." You're as bad as he is in creating an alternate reality, professor at a respected college or not.
What??? Professor Wertheim, were you sleeping when the UK's Sky News called the recent G20 meeting in Hamburg "the G19 plus 1. America versus the rest"? How can the U.S. be the leader in anything under this sorry excuse for a president when it proudly withdraws from an painstakingly worked out agreement to tackle the single biggest threat facing all humankind, not just "western civilization." You're as bad as he is in creating an alternate reality, professor at a respected college or not.
2
Donald Trump does not have a grand plan to save western civilization. He is merely in a position where the constraints on the Presidency and those arising from natural alliances have forced him back onto the path that America has been on since WW2.
Now Trump needs to learn that Russia is not a natural ally as it has no tradition of democracy nor has Russia experienced golden eras such as the Renaisance or the Enlightenment which have been very influential in the West.
Now Trump needs to learn that Russia is not a natural ally as it has no tradition of democracy nor has Russia experienced golden eras such as the Renaisance or the Enlightenment which have been very influential in the West.
1
What would Trump know about Western Civilization and its core values? He reads no books, and I don't he even has a passing acquaintance with the names of those thinkers and authors who have shaped and defined our sense of what constitutes our "civilization" over the millennia.
His libido is heavily invested in Eastern Europe, whose ways have long been at variance with Western Europe...
"Western Civilization" is code for white people, that's all he knows, that he is (he believes) a superior human being because he is white and that puts him into opposition to all who are not.
His libido is heavily invested in Eastern Europe, whose ways have long been at variance with Western Europe...
"Western Civilization" is code for white people, that's all he knows, that he is (he believes) a superior human being because he is white and that puts him into opposition to all who are not.
2
I am not sure the president would recognize western civilization when he saw it, so saving it may be difficult for him.
1
Kinda like someone else here said, Trump is the West's savior because no one on the left has decided to step up to the plate and take that mantle themselves. If you don't want more Donald Trumps, then maybe the left should get over this self-loathing "We're bad because we're white/American/European/Western" thing. You don't have to be an imperialist or a white supremacist to recognize that the West is objectively superior to the rest of the world. I'm also including South Korea and Japan in that definition of "the West", even though I suppose those countries would technically be a part of "the East". The West is beautiful, and it's worth fighting for - embrace it!
What you call the Trump doctrine is actually the Bannon doctrine... Maybe do a little more background research next time...
I hope the unanimous derision heaped upon his essay by the entire NYT comments section causes Professor Wertheim to reflect deeply on his thinking — though not so deeply he reaches for the Luger his grandfather handed down to him...
1
I have no idea whether Mr Tump understood his speech. But suppose, for a moment, that he did. The key point is that if, as the good professor writes, Mr Trump (and his advisers) view "radical Islamic terrorism, white demographic decline and cultural pluralism as threats to Western civilization - and autocrats as its foremost defenders", then the US will find that its allies in this new crusade are contemporary Hungary, Poland and Russia. WeGood luck.
I wish that all the living U.S. presidents would write a NYT editorial denouncing Trump and calling for his impeachment. Only then do I think Americans might understand the gravity of our situation. Please ask them all to participate and provide a free space for them to voice their opinions and expertise. It would be helpful if their wives signed the editorial as well. Thank you.
1
Surely this is satire.
1
Stephen Wertheim seems to have forgotten that he isn't writing about some dimly remembered patch of history but the awful reality that is the shallow cruel and uniformed Donald Trump. After this piece of grasping sophistry there is no chance that I will ever believe anything written by Wertheim about any subject. Nice work.
We love you President Trump. We realize you and your family are standing on the front line, fighting the war for not only America, but Western Civilization. Your family is being decimated in the media, they have been damaged and hurt, even your your son is not immune from their barbs. Your business has been maligned, and all this for what...but to serve our country.
Thank you President Trump!
Thank you President Trump!
Before you could "save" Western Civilization, you'd have to understand in depth what "Western Civilization" truly means. Donald Trump is not an educated man.
1
"The West" or "Western Civilization" is not a thing. It is an idea based on looking forward, not backward. It is based on scientific curiosity and fearless faith in the ability of humanity to meet and embrace an ever-changing environment. It is the "Enlightenment" that, as a true defender of The West once said, "Gods work on earth must truly be our own."
This guy is the equivalent of the Taliban, or any other static culture, defending its tribal claims on humans, territory, money and ego.
This guy is the equivalent of the Taliban, or any other static culture, defending its tribal claims on humans, territory, money and ego.
The problem with Western Civilization is that it considers itself the only civilization, superior or of any consequence in the world. They forget that there are civilizations which are way older and still functioning very well. It's when the West start interfering and destroying the status quo that cruel, terrible things start happening, snowballing dangerously, totally out of control.Trying to change their own civilization into Western ways results in chaos and uncertainty, the innocent and the poor worst affected. The West simply does'nt get that! Live and let live. Leave the tribal wars to the local tribes and chieftains. At least, the wars would be local and we would'nt have had the likes of the murderous ISIS or Al Qaeda. And Trump as the face of Western Civilization? Lord, please help the rest of the world.
Since when has Donald Trump had any plan?
How do you analyze the lack of a coherent foreign policy? With trump, there's no "there" there, only whims and impulses that will change tomorrow.
To save western civilization, it might be useful to acknowledge the realities of climate change and spiraling habitat-destruction caused by human over-population of the planet.
1
Another attempt to normalize a Presidency that is not, never was and never will be normal.
2
"Donald Trump's Plan to Save Western Civilization"?
I thought my computer had gone mad when I saw this header, and when I then read the article, I thought, well, maybe the NYT feels it should be "fair" and print something positive about the Orange one.
While I appreciate the effort, NYT, the fact is that Trump could not successfully plan a Western two-car funeral.
I thought my computer had gone mad when I saw this header, and when I then read the article, I thought, well, maybe the NYT feels it should be "fair" and print something positive about the Orange one.
While I appreciate the effort, NYT, the fact is that Trump could not successfully plan a Western two-car funeral.
3
I'm not going for it. You are trying to normalize a greed addled despot.
10
A far more sensible goal might be to limit our military commitments and desire for dominance to that quadrant of the globe in which our country is located. With less than 5% of the world’s population, it might be quite adequate to limit our military dominance to no more than 25% of its surface. That need include no parts of Europe, Asia or Africa.
There are practical limits to what we can or need to do in order to protect our own national independence. There is also much else that needs to be done at home that — with our exaggerated sense of world leadership — remains underfunded and neglected.
There are practical limits to what we can or need to do in order to protect our own national independence. There is also much else that needs to be done at home that — with our exaggerated sense of world leadership — remains underfunded and neglected.
1
Trump may be several things but with regard to America he is basically a traitor.
Well, maybe that is a bit too strong. But not much. With regard to America, he basically not interested unless he can make a buck. And all of this talk of America First is merely the cover that Trump creates to cover his actions.
I see no point to talk of ideology with regard to Trump. His only ideology is can he make a buck off it. He'd sell the whole country to putin if he could.
Well, maybe that is a bit too strong. But not much. With regard to America, he basically not interested unless he can make a buck. And all of this talk of America First is merely the cover that Trump creates to cover his actions.
I see no point to talk of ideology with regard to Trump. His only ideology is can he make a buck off it. He'd sell the whole country to putin if he could.
4
This column rests entirely on the assumption that Donald Trump actually sat down, thought deeply and wrote the speech.
There's no doubt that someone conceived of and wrote the speech for him. Trump just read it.
Here's what he said in an April speech:
“I will work with our allies to reinvigorate Western values and institutions. Instead of trying to spread universal values that not everybody shares or wants, we should understand that strengthening and promoting Western civilization and its accomplishments will do more to inspire positive reforms around the world than military interventions.”
Can Trump intelligently elaborate on this?
What, for him, distinguishes Western values from universal values?
I would be astonished to hear him articulate the differences and similarities.
The author falls into the trap of many erudite persons who somehow hang on to the notion that there's something profound and meaningful going on in Trump's head.
The president is, to be it mildly, not a learned man or even capable of advancing a coherent world view.
Let's stop pretending otherwise.
There's no doubt that someone conceived of and wrote the speech for him. Trump just read it.
Here's what he said in an April speech:
“I will work with our allies to reinvigorate Western values and institutions. Instead of trying to spread universal values that not everybody shares or wants, we should understand that strengthening and promoting Western civilization and its accomplishments will do more to inspire positive reforms around the world than military interventions.”
Can Trump intelligently elaborate on this?
What, for him, distinguishes Western values from universal values?
I would be astonished to hear him articulate the differences and similarities.
The author falls into the trap of many erudite persons who somehow hang on to the notion that there's something profound and meaningful going on in Trump's head.
The president is, to be it mildly, not a learned man or even capable of advancing a coherent world view.
Let's stop pretending otherwise.
8
It is actually very easy to tell when he means what he says or he's just reading something his speech writer came up with. The inflection, gestures, the voice even. Also if its higher than 4th grade level vocabulary it was written for him.
2
President Trump might work in the 'old-fashioned' role of First Lady in the Rose Garden, taking visitors on tours of The White House, inspecting the drapes and China, and occasionally having a temper tantrum behind closed doors.
While Our Foreign Policy is necessary, and perhaps a 'Plan to Save Western Civilization' is commendable, it might be wise to get Our Act together here first because our Allies have doubts about the competence of Trump, and attempting to reassure them is a losing proposition, another important item, and burden, that has been placed on our Country where some of Us have doubts as well.
America could become The Last Frontier, where we welcome tourists and they can visit 'Our Wall'. All apparel would be 'Made in America' and luxury food items like corn-on-the cob and iceberg lettuce could be sold at a price to foreign countries. We have the best selection of ice-cream, and we are not going to run out of food, or oil.
Apparently the Dollar is taking a dip, but then we can use credit cards. Our Military has never been so strong, our Police Force is protecting honest citizens and to sum it up, America appears to be re-inventing itself by becoming an Insular Superpower.
We will always have the best football games and Disney Land. Hollywood is doing just fine, and singular as it sounds, this was my perception of America when I was seven living abroad. Civilization to be termed as 'New Horizons' where Pride did Us in.
While Our Foreign Policy is necessary, and perhaps a 'Plan to Save Western Civilization' is commendable, it might be wise to get Our Act together here first because our Allies have doubts about the competence of Trump, and attempting to reassure them is a losing proposition, another important item, and burden, that has been placed on our Country where some of Us have doubts as well.
America could become The Last Frontier, where we welcome tourists and they can visit 'Our Wall'. All apparel would be 'Made in America' and luxury food items like corn-on-the cob and iceberg lettuce could be sold at a price to foreign countries. We have the best selection of ice-cream, and we are not going to run out of food, or oil.
Apparently the Dollar is taking a dip, but then we can use credit cards. Our Military has never been so strong, our Police Force is protecting honest citizens and to sum it up, America appears to be re-inventing itself by becoming an Insular Superpower.
We will always have the best football games and Disney Land. Hollywood is doing just fine, and singular as it sounds, this was my perception of America when I was seven living abroad. Civilization to be termed as 'New Horizons' where Pride did Us in.
4
Trump isn't "doing" anything that others aren't telling him to do, Professor. He's not "organizing" his foreign policy, others are doing that for him, pulled between the Bannon-Miller faction and the McMaster-Mattis-Tillerson faction. Trump is simply putting his signature on whichever faction gains the upper hand in his distracted mind.
There's no 'maturation' of this presidency; no 'acid test' that indicates any resolve or commitment toward a policy or future action based on principle. They're simply tactical moments reflecting the state of play among his advisors and cabinet. It is those people, including you, Professor, who want to imagine a more whole persona occupying the Oval office, beyond the litany of self-indulgence evident every day.
But when push comes to shove, notwithstanding your thesis to the contrary, Professor, the only thing we can say about this administration and its foreign policy with any certainty, is that even a broken clock tells the correct time once per day.
There's no 'maturation' of this presidency; no 'acid test' that indicates any resolve or commitment toward a policy or future action based on principle. They're simply tactical moments reflecting the state of play among his advisors and cabinet. It is those people, including you, Professor, who want to imagine a more whole persona occupying the Oval office, beyond the litany of self-indulgence evident every day.
But when push comes to shove, notwithstanding your thesis to the contrary, Professor, the only thing we can say about this administration and its foreign policy with any certainty, is that even a broken clock tells the correct time once per day.
11
When criticizing Donald Trump, its wise to be accurate. A broken clock is correct twice a day.
3
Exactly!!!
Noted. I consciously didn't go there because I expected a response from those that don't understand military time. Perhaps I was overthinking it...
The American system was introduced at the end of World War II and it included establishing international alliances and institutions which unlike anything previously insisted that small nations need not join with stronger nations to establish factions which ultimately would go to war with other factions as had occurred consistently for the previous 500 years. Instead, rules of conduct, respect for the boundaries and independence of all states, and a priority to interact economically were to guide the relations between nations. For Western Europe, especially Germany, and Japan this new order provided a half century of peace and economic prosperity, and transformed both regions permanently. Unfortunately, Russia would not cooperate and considered this system and the U.S. as existential enemies but that nation failed to prosper and ultimately fell apart as a great and divided dysfunctional state. It was so disintegrated that what arose is a state run by criminals who could not manage a modern state and have instituted a militaristic feudal entity that cannot prosper in the modern world.
Trump's vision is to return the conditions which produced wars for 500 hundred years without his actually understanding that that is what his doctrine will produce. He just does not know enough to understand the consequences of his ideas.
Trump's vision is to return the conditions which produced wars for 500 hundred years without his actually understanding that that is what his doctrine will produce. He just does not know enough to understand the consequences of his ideas.
7
You may be attributing far too much organized thought, deliberate intention and depth of vision to the man. From my observation, this man is as empty as a deflated balloon. His speechwriters may supply the prose, but the content is probably based on their wishful thinking of what a thoughtful man might say. I doubt Trump is capable of such complex thought.
17
Unlike most of you, I view this article as being a dire warning about Trump.
Those of you disputing the notion that Trump is trying to “Save Western Civilization”, may be misinterpreting Professor Wertheim’s main point in this article. I think Wertheim is trying to say that Trump DOES believe that he is trying to save Western civilization, but his version of “saving” is to follow the tactics of a military dictator to achieve that goal – saving the “West” from itself, if you will.
Certainly Trump’s version of “America First” appears to be that the rest of the World has been taking advantage of the US, and not taking the US’s overwhelming military superiority seriously – and this applies both to nations that are traditional friends and traditional enemies.
Steve Bannon has not been shy about viewing the world as “the west against the rest” – a clash of civilizations - and that the US should be using its military might to deal with “the rest”. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Trump shares Bannon’s world-view, which is a profoundly disturbing characteristic for a POTUS.
Trump has been using not-so-veiled military threats against North Korea, and appears to be setting the stage for a similar campaign against Iran. In my view, this is a “Bush 43 neo-con” agenda on steroids.
Please don’t underestimate the recklessness of this administration in “saving” Western civilization.
Those of you disputing the notion that Trump is trying to “Save Western Civilization”, may be misinterpreting Professor Wertheim’s main point in this article. I think Wertheim is trying to say that Trump DOES believe that he is trying to save Western civilization, but his version of “saving” is to follow the tactics of a military dictator to achieve that goal – saving the “West” from itself, if you will.
Certainly Trump’s version of “America First” appears to be that the rest of the World has been taking advantage of the US, and not taking the US’s overwhelming military superiority seriously – and this applies both to nations that are traditional friends and traditional enemies.
Steve Bannon has not been shy about viewing the world as “the west against the rest” – a clash of civilizations - and that the US should be using its military might to deal with “the rest”. It is not unreasonable to suggest that Trump shares Bannon’s world-view, which is a profoundly disturbing characteristic for a POTUS.
Trump has been using not-so-veiled military threats against North Korea, and appears to be setting the stage for a similar campaign against Iran. In my view, this is a “Bush 43 neo-con” agenda on steroids.
Please don’t underestimate the recklessness of this administration in “saving” Western civilization.
14
Both you and Prof. Wertheim give Trump far too much credit for being capable of coherent thought. If the whole point of the piece is that Trump 's plan for "saving" western civilization (as for everything else) is that might makes right, it's not telling us anything that is not already very obvious. Given the puerile level of Trump's thinking, this hardly even rises to the level of the ironic.
1
This essay is a splendid example of the human mind's determination to find patterns in chaos. Sometimes that desire finds truly useful information. Other times ... well, sometimes chaos is just chaos.
Prof. Wertheim, if you look beyond Trump's foreign policy activities, you will discover that he lacks the mental discipline to adhere to any policy, even inadvertently -- except the policies of self-aggrandizement and self-defense.
Prof. Wertheim, if you look beyond Trump's foreign policy activities, you will discover that he lacks the mental discipline to adhere to any policy, even inadvertently -- except the policies of self-aggrandizement and self-defense.
31
Wow. That must have been some pretty good weed. Written in Denver?
37
Since "plan" and "trump" are completely unrelated terms that are
impossible to coexist, the professor does seem to be
looking under the wrong rock. The problem is that
there is no plan, there is only the rhetoric of a variety of different plans,
each chosen depending upon mood, context, twitter character limitations,
the need for an unexpected zinger, what F-x suggests might be
useful quick bait for their site, etc.
We are watching a tv show not a presidency. The current
cabal with power has no strategy, no coherence, no idea
how to use power intelligently. It knows only what force can do.
Macron will only be the latest example of one who expects a degree
of seriousness or coherent purpose from the leadership of
this country but will find merely posturing, meaningless
emotion, and posing for cameras. Our so-called leader
is not Merkel after all.
This is all he is capable of or interested in. This is all that the dwindling base cares for or knows how to process.
One wonders how a professor from England managed not
to notice any of this after the last six+ months ...all this
has plainly been staring at him in the face with that staged
look of pseudo determination and permanent mussoliniesque frown that
is an effort of transmitting authoritarian gravitas but merely
says "look at me, i'm 'a your boss!".
impossible to coexist, the professor does seem to be
looking under the wrong rock. The problem is that
there is no plan, there is only the rhetoric of a variety of different plans,
each chosen depending upon mood, context, twitter character limitations,
the need for an unexpected zinger, what F-x suggests might be
useful quick bait for their site, etc.
We are watching a tv show not a presidency. The current
cabal with power has no strategy, no coherence, no idea
how to use power intelligently. It knows only what force can do.
Macron will only be the latest example of one who expects a degree
of seriousness or coherent purpose from the leadership of
this country but will find merely posturing, meaningless
emotion, and posing for cameras. Our so-called leader
is not Merkel after all.
This is all he is capable of or interested in. This is all that the dwindling base cares for or knows how to process.
One wonders how a professor from England managed not
to notice any of this after the last six+ months ...all this
has plainly been staring at him in the face with that staged
look of pseudo determination and permanent mussoliniesque frown that
is an effort of transmitting authoritarian gravitas but merely
says "look at me, i'm 'a your boss!".
14
It is astonishing that in this rather lengthy essay Dr. Wertheim makes no mention of Samuel P. Huntington's book The Clash of Civilizations which is the fountainhead of contemporary debates about the role Western civilization plays in relation to other civilizations around the world.
Huntington identified seven major world civilizations (the West, the Slavic-Orthodox world, the Hindu civilization, Japan, Latin America, the Confucian civilization, and Islam) among which he predicted most future international conflict (as opposed past conflicts which Huntington claimed were ideological or economic in nature).
Debates over Huntington's thesis have raged since Huntington's book was published in 1996. Some people saw it as one of the most prescient works of scholarship of the twentieth century, others saw it as a dangerous call to arms which was more a work of advocacy than dispassionate analysis.
Someone in President Trump's inner circle obviously is well versed in Huntington's thesis. The question is whether Trump has thought about it seriously or, as is often the case, possesses only a superficial understanding of its complexity.
Huntington identified seven major world civilizations (the West, the Slavic-Orthodox world, the Hindu civilization, Japan, Latin America, the Confucian civilization, and Islam) among which he predicted most future international conflict (as opposed past conflicts which Huntington claimed were ideological or economic in nature).
Debates over Huntington's thesis have raged since Huntington's book was published in 1996. Some people saw it as one of the most prescient works of scholarship of the twentieth century, others saw it as a dangerous call to arms which was more a work of advocacy than dispassionate analysis.
Someone in President Trump's inner circle obviously is well versed in Huntington's thesis. The question is whether Trump has thought about it seriously or, as is often the case, possesses only a superficial understanding of its complexity.
4
Well, the fact that Trump has been in office for a mere six months and that Trump had no evidence of any geopolitical policy beforehand allows Stephen Wertheim to speculate on Trump geopolitical philosophy. Another problem is that Mr. Wertheim needs to expose the intellect that drives Trumpism; he needs to answer who Trump's educated (and experienced) policy advisors are. Is it Stephen Bannon or Roger Stone? They aren't geopolitical researchers.
Trying to explain Trump is an easy job because he allows any sort of explanation. Now it's "culturalism". I think that what Mr. Wertheim has exposed is the Trumpian geopolitical dart board. All of the possible approaches are on it, and he throws a dart at it, aiming at a bulls-eye that most closely matches Trump's emotional condition. Trump once backed Hillary Clinton, but today it looks like those policies won't be near the center; that is, if they are directly attributable to her. If they aren't, he might adopt them. Trump once backed separation from NATO. He once backed unquestioned relations with Moscow (a work in progress).
The problem with Trump's support of malfeasant dictators is related to our history. In the past we sent in the CIA to back those folks. Some of that effort failed, some of it was litigated. We don't know how far Trump has pushed that activity; it's just something on which Mr. Wertheim can speculate as an indication of Trump's philosophy.
The Trump presidency is an exceedingly unsteady work.
Trying to explain Trump is an easy job because he allows any sort of explanation. Now it's "culturalism". I think that what Mr. Wertheim has exposed is the Trumpian geopolitical dart board. All of the possible approaches are on it, and he throws a dart at it, aiming at a bulls-eye that most closely matches Trump's emotional condition. Trump once backed Hillary Clinton, but today it looks like those policies won't be near the center; that is, if they are directly attributable to her. If they aren't, he might adopt them. Trump once backed separation from NATO. He once backed unquestioned relations with Moscow (a work in progress).
The problem with Trump's support of malfeasant dictators is related to our history. In the past we sent in the CIA to back those folks. Some of that effort failed, some of it was litigated. We don't know how far Trump has pushed that activity; it's just something on which Mr. Wertheim can speculate as an indication of Trump's philosophy.
The Trump presidency is an exceedingly unsteady work.
30
Autocrats can't be "defenders of western civilization" if the definition includes democracy and basic freedoms.
The only thing these people will "defend" is their cut.
Also, Mr. Wertheim makes way too much of Trump's Syria "raid" which was completely stage managed in conjunction with Moscow.
The only thing these people will "defend" is their cut.
Also, Mr. Wertheim makes way too much of Trump's Syria "raid" which was completely stage managed in conjunction with Moscow.
13
The person who tweeted the now infamous "covfefe" has zero plans to save Western Civilization, and couldn't do it even if he tried for the full five minutes of his attention span.
20
You are giving Trump far too much credit for thinking at all. I honestly don't believe he can be credited with a vision of anything except what he perceives works for him, certainly nothing as complicated as geopolitics. If he espouses a position or policy, it's been fed to him by others. Face it, the guy is just not that bright.
23
Remember when, during the Vietnam War, a major in the US military said "we had to destroy the village to save it." Looks as though The Don is bent on the same strategy: "We have to destroy Western Civilization in order to save it."
5
'' How did Donald Trump come to speak for Western civilization? '' HE speaks for a subset of a subset group that is based in misogyny, racism and nationalism ; ~
older, white men,
His support continues to be around the mid to high 30's and it probably will not move one way or the other from that benchmark. That is essentially the last vestiges of the group from above.
They are in a backlash to others ( especially women and minorities ) getting some attention and some equal rights ( not all they deserve ).
This group that supports this administration, no matter what it says or does is a ever shrinking minority that is losing its grip on power. One more election or generation should do it.
Then we can get down to work for true equality for all.
older, white men,
His support continues to be around the mid to high 30's and it probably will not move one way or the other from that benchmark. That is essentially the last vestiges of the group from above.
They are in a backlash to others ( especially women and minorities ) getting some attention and some equal rights ( not all they deserve ).
This group that supports this administration, no matter what it says or does is a ever shrinking minority that is losing its grip on power. One more election or generation should do it.
Then we can get down to work for true equality for all.
11
This just might be the most ridiculous article I've ever read in the NY Times. Trump has absolutely no idea what "Western Civilization" is. I'd love to hear him tell us what he thinks it is. He can't. If anyone pins their hopes on Trump to "save us" from anything is delusional. We need to be saved FROM Trump, not saved by Trump.
41
Really and truly---Did Donald Trump write, edit or in any significant way participate in the creation of the Warsaw Speech? The man is an intellectual goon and incapable of putting into policy and practice the values he articulated.
This speec came from some part of the administration not associated with Steve Bannon.
It is so odd that we give him so much credit for one good moment when he has done so many destructive things.
This speec came from some part of the administration not associated with Steve Bannon.
It is so odd that we give him so much credit for one good moment when he has done so many destructive things.
5
Lets start with 45 being unable or unwilling to staff his cabinet.
5
The "Trump Doctrine" is do whatever enriches Trump. Period. His public utterances, when seemingly coherent, are almost certainly penned by one of his underlings, and he reads them from paper or a teleprompter (remember how he derided Obama for the use of a teleprompter) like a 6th grader standing in front of his class reading something for the first time. His only contributions to theses "speeches" is his of script remarks, like "fanTAStic," or "really, really fanTAStic." Bottom line, this opinion piece is little more than wishful thinking about a narcissistic con man who knows the prioce of everything and the value of nothing.
14
Judaism and Christianity are more middle-eastern than western. The true western religions would be what we now call paganism, the Olympic gods, the native American religions, eh?
1
Interesting thoughts and perspective. Oh if only the President was/is capable of that type of multidimensional thinking. He has proven that he is not. Rather, he has proven that he lives in the moment and has no capability of thinking things through. Nice article, though.
Re Trump; A sound and fury signifying nothing. By the time his GOP apologists realize he has seized the levers of power with iron fists it will be too late.
See von Papen and the rest.
See von Papen and the rest.
Really? This administration has no coherent policy or plan on any level. A plan that involves analysis of the problem or opportunity, strategy for fixing or capitalizing, plan B if that doesn't work. With a team of expert players lined up to get it done. None. This is amateur hour in it's highest form, theoretically lead by a man who is so narcissistically driven that he is willfully ignorant of history and geopolitical truisms and cares not take up the slack by learning from his experts in government. Shameful for us shameful for a pedigreed scholar to claim otherwise.
3
How can Trump think he can save Western Civilization by ignoring everything it is to be civilized?
Oh, there I go again using the words "Trump" and "think" together. Any time we try to analyze anything that Trump says or does in terms other then a child throwing a tantrum we are acting as idiotic as he is.
Oh, there I go again using the words "Trump" and "think" together. Any time we try to analyze anything that Trump says or does in terms other then a child throwing a tantrum we are acting as idiotic as he is.
6
Mr. Wertheim, I feel sorry for your students at Cambridge. If they believe 1/10th of what you've written here, they'll have a sorry notion indeed of America and what's really going on with Trump here and internationally.
Trump has zero policies that will help the U.S. or anyone else, and indeed every single "initiative" he's undertaken thus far has been idiotic and/or disastrous (e.g., the Muslim Ban, pulling out of the Paris accords on climate change, supporting the hideous changes to the ACA proposed by the Republicans, etc). He isn't going to define anything. He isn't going to put any meaningful policies into place. He isn't going to think any great thoughts. He is incapable of doing so, and so is his "administration." And, most certainly, the trouble is not merely what Trump is, but what he has done; the two cannot be separated in any rational way.
If there is any modicum of truth and justice in this world, Trump is going to be kicked out of office as soon as the results of Mueller's investigation are made known, and they're going to heavily fumigate the White House once he and his corrupt cronies and sycophants are out the door. Hopefully they'll be able to eradicate the stain of his "legacy."
Trump has zero policies that will help the U.S. or anyone else, and indeed every single "initiative" he's undertaken thus far has been idiotic and/or disastrous (e.g., the Muslim Ban, pulling out of the Paris accords on climate change, supporting the hideous changes to the ACA proposed by the Republicans, etc). He isn't going to define anything. He isn't going to put any meaningful policies into place. He isn't going to think any great thoughts. He is incapable of doing so, and so is his "administration." And, most certainly, the trouble is not merely what Trump is, but what he has done; the two cannot be separated in any rational way.
If there is any modicum of truth and justice in this world, Trump is going to be kicked out of office as soon as the results of Mueller's investigation are made known, and they're going to heavily fumigate the White House once he and his corrupt cronies and sycophants are out the door. Hopefully they'll be able to eradicate the stain of his "legacy."
9
I'm all for saving western civilization, but I couldn't be more against expanding it. It's called Western Civilization because it belongs in the west. It is this ideological, expansionist American Jihad that has led to terrorism and polarization is in eastern Europe and the Middle East. Too bad the media has made it difficult if not impossible for Trump to deliver on his promise of non-intervention and improved relations with Russia. It's not the deep state, the media and gullible so called liberals to blame for this situation. What a pity, what a wasted opportunity.
1
What a shrill piece based on a false premise?
Where in Drumpf corrosive history of 70+ years did we ever heard him speak-let alone have any knowledge- about history, culture, or morals?
A self-promoting, self-centered, adulterer, litigious, schemer, vindictive, and flowed man is billed as "saviour" of western civilization?
Trump ain't no Churchill pal.
Where in Drumpf corrosive history of 70+ years did we ever heard him speak-let alone have any knowledge- about history, culture, or morals?
A self-promoting, self-centered, adulterer, litigious, schemer, vindictive, and flowed man is billed as "saviour" of western civilization?
Trump ain't no Churchill pal.
8
I really object to taking anything this degenerate says seriously -- much less subjecting it to academic scrutiny. A total waste of newsprint and column inches. This man has no principles, no loyalty, not even a coherent sense that other human beings have a reality distinct from his own. How would you expect such a despicable person to have a coherent ideology? To have a world view, you have to care about the world and what happens to it. Trump does not and never has. In addition to which, he can't reason. Don't take my word for it. Try to read your way through the transcript of his recent NYT interview. Very scary. Not the utterings of a sane person.
5
From the gitgo I've considered it all to be just razzmatazz to keep the pot in a constant state of stirdom. I mean, that is what's happening, nothing to skim off the top of this kettle of soup. And once again I'd like to remind everyone that the office is not that of "emperor" but of "president"; as in "(he) who presides". Toastmasters and game show hosts also preside, to try and put it in some context. Even Alex Trebek has to consult those off camera judges for rulings on certain answers, y'know.
1
As I read this, I had to keep asking myself, "What on earth are you talking about?" You finally answered my question in the last paragraph: Trump is fighting "white demographic decline and cultural pluralism". He's a bigot; you said it.
10
Well written... almost Shakespearean,
but is this satire,
a farce,
or simply comic relief.
but is this satire,
a farce,
or simply comic relief.
5
Plan: step # 1 thru 100
Resign, immediately.
Resign, immediately.
4
Bloviation! The man is a criminal and a charlatan selling snake oil to gullible masses. Period. Do not normalize him with over-intellectualized excuses for his consolidation of fascism in the USA.
13
Regarding this opinion piece, did I sleep through to April 1st again?
9
Silly stuff, that.
7
If Trump represents Western civilization, count me out. #calexit
3
This is a joke. Right?
8
Umm, is this satire??
8
"Shared faith, heritage, and culture" is a dog-whistle phrase for the destructive, racist, misogynist right wing ilk, the Steve Bannon type. The United States is E Plurbus Unum. We are a nation of ALL faiths, ALL heritages, ALL cultures. Western civilization is democracy, and our "Predisent" is enamored (and possibly indebted to) with Putin and the Russian kleptocrats, who want to destroy democracy across the world.
9
Horse manure. I know when it's being shoveled on me whether in speech or written, as in this article. And I sure recognize it constantly being flung out of this White House like monkeys in a zoo.
6
Satire, right? This is a British attempt at satire, right? If not, the author forget his medication.
17
So Donnie is going to fix everything everywhere and get all these foreigners in line by strutting into every room with his big American cowboy hat and telling them that it's "America First" and all of you clowns better get in line. Right.
3
Who really wrote this?? Are they available for standup gigs? or do they just write comedy for others?
6
Predictably, in this paper, this oped would go over like a lead balloon. Kudos for making the attempt, now give us the bloody red meat we're paying our subscription for.
2
If Donald Trump has evolved into a staunch defender of Western Civilization, it's because he's sharp as a trained dog in sniffing out profits.
He has simply somehow begun to realize that colonialism can make a lot of money.
The Dutch quietly know this. They sucked resources out of Indonesia for more than a century and are still quite comfortable thanks, in part, to those forceful extractions. France commanded Vietnam and big pieces of Northern Africa. Britain, the small island that governed an empire on which "the sun never set"? British imperialists promised themselves that they were bringing "civilization" to the Muslims and Hindus in South Asia ... India. This was their mission. To civilize pagans ... and to profit. Spain? Portugal? They gorged on Central and South America.
Ah, Western Christian Civilization. It gives Christian soldiers a lot of jobs to do, and provides Christian Countries with stolen lumber, gold, sap from rubber trees, spices, and plenty of other resources extracted from regions occupied by "savages."
Donald Trump is not an original thinker. He's following a broad old path and repeating old, self-righteous imperial slogans. Western Civ slogans.
Europe still has lots to teach us. Thanks.
He has simply somehow begun to realize that colonialism can make a lot of money.
The Dutch quietly know this. They sucked resources out of Indonesia for more than a century and are still quite comfortable thanks, in part, to those forceful extractions. France commanded Vietnam and big pieces of Northern Africa. Britain, the small island that governed an empire on which "the sun never set"? British imperialists promised themselves that they were bringing "civilization" to the Muslims and Hindus in South Asia ... India. This was their mission. To civilize pagans ... and to profit. Spain? Portugal? They gorged on Central and South America.
Ah, Western Christian Civilization. It gives Christian soldiers a lot of jobs to do, and provides Christian Countries with stolen lumber, gold, sap from rubber trees, spices, and plenty of other resources extracted from regions occupied by "savages."
Donald Trump is not an original thinker. He's following a broad old path and repeating old, self-righteous imperial slogans. Western Civ slogans.
Europe still has lots to teach us. Thanks.
3
Please do not try to normalize this aberration.
Bannon is the author of his speeches.
Bannon is the author of his speeches.
5
Are you thinking of a different Donald Trump?
5
I sincerely have no idea what the author is talking about ...
4
This is a most incoherent piece, coming from a Prof. of History at Cambridge. Really!
It seems that he hasn't taken time to visit all those museums in England, full of stolen goods from India. Isn't that part of Western Civilization?
It seems that he hasn't taken time to visit all those museums in England, full of stolen goods from India. Isn't that part of Western Civilization?
Times readers are rightly confused since the Times basically ignored Trump's Warsaw speech, assuming, one can only conclude, that it was not "fit to print". Thankfully, Dr. Wertheim disagrees.
Is this Donald Trump's "Plan" or Steve Bannon's "Plan"? As Joshua Green makes clear in his book "The Devil's Bargain - Steve Bannon, Donald Trump and the Storming of the Presidency", Bannon draws a direct link from the 1979 seizure of American hostages in Iran to September 11th. Bannon is apparently convinced that "Western civilisation" is under attack by Islam. For him, Russia is the natural ally of the US and the rest of the West in this "war".
2
"Trumpian civilization" - now there's an oxymoron for you. Trumpian license to do what he and Bannon wants is closer to it.
1
That phrase makes me cringe...
1
I am neither an expert in foreign policy nor on human psychology, so I wonder how a terminally uncivilized figure can save any civilization, western or otherwise.
3
All this verbage ,,, gee sounds like Britexit ... Bigger guns, bigger ships, meanwhile China and Africa have an economic alliance ... the BEST kind
and we are busy macmansions for them to live in.
and we are busy macmansions for them to live in.
2
Bigger guns and warships won't do much in getting rid idea of ISIS. President General Eisenhower warned us of Military/Industrial Complex.
What happens when "this war" is over?
We removed Soviets from Afghanistan, but that strategy led to 9/11 -> Iraq -> Libia -> Syria, ...
What happens when "this war" is over?
We removed Soviets from Afghanistan, but that strategy led to 9/11 -> Iraq -> Libia -> Syria, ...
You criticize Obama for a "surgical strike" approach to the Middle East, then in the next paragraph praise Trump for a - Surgical strike? One that warned the Russians and their Syian friends in advance, and that did no meaningful damage to the airstrip or aircraft involved- all back in operation the next day -- yes check the facts
Trump has only one foreign policy objective - protect his Russian investments and not push Putin to the point he'll hand out the dirt he's got on this Con Artist. Trump
Trump has only one foreign policy objective - protect his Russian investments and not push Putin to the point he'll hand out the dirt he's got on this Con Artist. Trump
6
What are you talking about? Maybe the writer of this piece is smart beyond my capacity to understand his point. But then again I have a PhD, so maybe it is just pretty naive, inventive, misguided, and apologetic...
4
Y'all realize this entire essay is a great example of propaganda. These speeches don't represent a single thought of the American president. This is Steve Bannon. Someone forgot to do their homework or else is in the wallet of Trump himself.
4
Oh please. Trump and his SoS drop the ball, say that Assad is no longer a target and Assad then gasses his own people, embarrassing Trump.
Well, never let a good crisis go to waster, right?
Get rid of the charge of coddling he Soviets - oops, Russians and the Syrian error by launching a few cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase!
Of course, not before warning the Russians (wouldn't want to hurt those fine fellows who help run the base) who then warn the Syrians. We blow up some runway, a few buildings without impacting Syria and Trump is a new foreign policy man! How Presidential!
If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. It's huge!
Well, never let a good crisis go to waster, right?
Get rid of the charge of coddling he Soviets - oops, Russians and the Syrian error by launching a few cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase!
Of course, not before warning the Russians (wouldn't want to hurt those fine fellows who help run the base) who then warn the Syrians. We blow up some runway, a few buildings without impacting Syria and Trump is a new foreign policy man! How Presidential!
If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you. It's huge!
6
This reads like a fair and balanced op-ed piece. Congratulations
3
Wrong. Neocons drag us into wars that have nothing to do with our national interest and primarily benefit Israel. Trump sees the existential danger to the West from Third World immigration and recognizes that the liberal Quislings who dominate Western European and North American societies are the enemy within who make this all possible.
1
So, since his King of America thing is not going so well, he has triangulated toward being King of the Western World? LOL, he is better suited to be King of the criminally insane section of a prison.
1
"Donald Trump’s Plan to Save Western Civilization"
Trump's finally realized the job is far bigger than he is and will shortly resign!
There IS a God.....
Trump's finally realized the job is far bigger than he is and will shortly resign!
There IS a God.....
1
huh? really? so the answer to a changing world in which Asia and Africa are numerically dominant is to make up stuff about the "judeo-christian west". Weirdly, enough "the Mexicans" who are all christian are not part of this entity. Nor are our own African-American peoples or the 100s of millions of African christians, it appears.
So what are we really talking about here, Professor Wertheim?
So what are we really talking about here, Professor Wertheim?
1
wow Prof, suggest you rent the movie "Being There" as this op-ed is a perfect example of imbuing a know-nothing politician with skills and planning extremely beyond his abilities. But he can throw a tight spiral through a tire...not.
3
Nice try, but no, Trump is not in the best traditions of the US with his "defense of Western Civilization" foreign policy agenda. His clear intent is to preserve White Judeo-Christian culture. This is as old as the KKK, the Red Scare, the Know Nothing Movement. I live in the South where much of this Xenophobia is pervasive. After all, it was in the South where the culture was created of purchasing cheap labor on the slave auction block, then stand back and watch in horror at the thought that these human beings may one day vote and exact retribution. Masagination was made criminal so as not dilute the white race and cause the South to fall behind. That sort of thing. When I hear Trump, this is what I hear, home and abroad. He is George Wallace the segregationist with wallet. The worst of America's past, and you guys are trying to normalize that?
2
Does the writer actually take Trump seriously? Does he read the newspaper? He should know better by now.
3
A fellow of no mark nor likelihood.
By being seldom seen, I could not stir
But like a comet I was wonder'd at;
That men would tell their children 'This is he;'
Others would say 'Where, which is Bolingbroke?'
And then I stole all courtesy from heaven,
And dress'd myself in such humility
That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts,
Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
Even in the presence of the crowned king.
Thus did I keep my person fresh and new;
My presence, like a robe pontifical,
Ne'er seen but wonder'd at: and so my state,
Seldom but sumptuous, showed like a feast
And won by rareness such solemnity.
The skipping king, he ambled up and down
With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits,
Soon kindled and soon burnt; carded his state,
Mingled his royalty with capering fools,
Had his great name profaned with their scorns
And gave his countenance, against his name,
To laugh at gibing boys and stand the push
Of every beardless vain comparative,
Grew a companion to the common streets,
Enfeoff'd himself to popularity;
That, being daily swallow'd by men's eyes,
They surfeited with honey and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much.
So when he had occasion to be seen,
He was but as the cuckoo is in June,
Heard, not regarded; seen, but with such eyes
As, sick and blunted with community,
Afford no extraordinary gaze,
Such as is bent on sun-like majesty
When it shines seldom in admiring eyes;
....
Henry IV - Act 3, Scene 2
By being seldom seen, I could not stir
But like a comet I was wonder'd at;
That men would tell their children 'This is he;'
Others would say 'Where, which is Bolingbroke?'
And then I stole all courtesy from heaven,
And dress'd myself in such humility
That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts,
Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
Even in the presence of the crowned king.
Thus did I keep my person fresh and new;
My presence, like a robe pontifical,
Ne'er seen but wonder'd at: and so my state,
Seldom but sumptuous, showed like a feast
And won by rareness such solemnity.
The skipping king, he ambled up and down
With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits,
Soon kindled and soon burnt; carded his state,
Mingled his royalty with capering fools,
Had his great name profaned with their scorns
And gave his countenance, against his name,
To laugh at gibing boys and stand the push
Of every beardless vain comparative,
Grew a companion to the common streets,
Enfeoff'd himself to popularity;
That, being daily swallow'd by men's eyes,
They surfeited with honey and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much.
So when he had occasion to be seen,
He was but as the cuckoo is in June,
Heard, not regarded; seen, but with such eyes
As, sick and blunted with community,
Afford no extraordinary gaze,
Such as is bent on sun-like majesty
When it shines seldom in admiring eyes;
....
Henry IV - Act 3, Scene 2
Biologists know that humans are excellent at pattern-recognition; even when no pattern exists. This editorial is a good example of this principle.
5
Trump's "foreign policy" , if there is one , doesn't really matter. Western civilization has no interest in being saved by him or even in him being part of it.
Most of the world, like the majority of Americans,is eagerly waiting for his early departure.
Most of the world, like the majority of Americans,is eagerly waiting for his early departure.
4
He can save the western world by resigning.
8
Trump himself doesn't have a policy. He surely doesn't understand what his advisors are doing.
3
How does a man who understands next to nothing about history, culture, government, economics, anthropology, biology, mathematics, and logic save a civilization? Easy, such a man is living in his own imagination and could never save any real civilization. Trump is a man who wants to appear to be a decisive leader who masters the world like any really top alpha personality type, but he's incapable of admitting when he just has no idea about that which he is talking. In addition, Trump has no sense that when he says something he is responsible if what he says is nonsense. He will defend himself regardless to display certainty and infallibility evident when people just give up challenging him on any incident -- not knowing that recalcitrant insistence that an obvious falsehood is true bring silence because further discussion if futile. Trump is not intelligent, he's willful and prideful with a mediocre mind.
5
This commentary by Mr. Wertheim is the most egregious example of self-delusion the world has seen. At least until the next Trump tweet.
18
As someone who is presumably a citizen of the much vaunted "western civilization", I really do not want Donald Trump speaking on my behalf, thank you very much. He knows nothing of any depth about western civilization apart from what he sees in the mirror. He knows nothing of history, I have a hunch his knowledge of geopolitics is about as deep as a paper cut, and his only priority appears to be himself and his family. Western civilization would be in a much better state if he quit trying to talk about it, and if his enablers stepped up to ensure he has no influence over it whatsoever.
6
Western (European) civilization might indeed need to be saved one day, but Trump isn't the man to do it.
The European world is politically divided between three poles: the USA, the EU, and what we can call the Neo-Russian Empire. They are all vying for political dominance, too needlessly, I'd argue. Russia is the weakest of the three, but neither the USA nor the EU are strong enough to fully dominate each other, and so this chess game between the respective powers (and their oligarchical economic interests) continues unabated. My guess is that Russia would like to carve a greater slice of the pie out for itself by playing kingmaker to the USA-EU contest for primacy. In that sense, Trump is probably on to something when he talks about the importance of having better relations with Russia.
Meanwhile, Chinese civilization does not face the same internal struggle. Indian civilization is politically united, though still internally relatively fractious, but, who knows, perhaps they will get there act together there as well. Both are the two greatest potential rivals to European civilization in the 21st century.
By 2040-50 China's economy will be roughly equal to that of the combined economies of the USA and EU. Either the USA, EU, and (perhaps) the Russians will be forced to merge into one political entity or they will be facing the prospect of ceding world leadership to the Chinese. Someone is going to have to do it, I just doubt it will be Trump.
The European world is politically divided between three poles: the USA, the EU, and what we can call the Neo-Russian Empire. They are all vying for political dominance, too needlessly, I'd argue. Russia is the weakest of the three, but neither the USA nor the EU are strong enough to fully dominate each other, and so this chess game between the respective powers (and their oligarchical economic interests) continues unabated. My guess is that Russia would like to carve a greater slice of the pie out for itself by playing kingmaker to the USA-EU contest for primacy. In that sense, Trump is probably on to something when he talks about the importance of having better relations with Russia.
Meanwhile, Chinese civilization does not face the same internal struggle. Indian civilization is politically united, though still internally relatively fractious, but, who knows, perhaps they will get there act together there as well. Both are the two greatest potential rivals to European civilization in the 21st century.
By 2040-50 China's economy will be roughly equal to that of the combined economies of the USA and EU. Either the USA, EU, and (perhaps) the Russians will be forced to merge into one political entity or they will be facing the prospect of ceding world leadership to the Chinese. Someone is going to have to do it, I just doubt it will be Trump.
1
Is this *Donald* Trump we are talking about here? *Our* Donald Trump? The president, Donald Trump? Surely there has been some yuge error.
6
A narcissist finds a bigger cause to make himself appear bigger -- and a savior.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, can't wait for this guy to fall.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, can't wait for this guy to fall.
1
The "America" which Trump and the GOP old timers are so nostalgic and pine for is gone- It pretty much disappeared after Vietnam and the Civil Rights era. Today- open boarders, unfettered immigration, the internet and liberal cultural sensitivity changed the fabric of American culture forever. Simply compare turn of the century immigrants [who changed their names and wanted to become AMERICANS] to today's immigrants. They demand we respect their countries and cultures above anything and if we don't, we are xenophobe racists. Liberal Democrats sold our national identity: Got Nothing? Welcome to America! While the GOP collected the money: Got $500K? Welcome to America! Both parties a responsible for the demise of this nation.
Since when did saving "Western Civilization" come to be about fighting "secular decadence"? What about democracy? Somehow that's no longer a central value for "the West"?
2
Or rational inquiry, tolerance, and the concept the general intellect, for that matter.
1
I love deadpan humor. Very funny, Mr. Wertheim.
6
President Trump evolves into something different daily depending on how much TV he watched last night (and what channel), and his moods when he picks up his phone at 3am to tweet his ideas without running them past anyone else.
If you think that this "evolution" is towards something resembling a "policy" I think you are mistaken (euphemism).
Donald Trump is a man who insists on telling everyone exactly what he thinks - no matter how much it might harm him. He has hoards of terrified shifting groups of shifting allegiances behind him trying to control or influence him. Terrified that they will be the target of his next twitter-fueled bus-throwing campaign, constantly jockeying for influence and the ear of the maniac at the helm. Some of them are members of his own family, over whom you have little influence (legal, or otherwise).
You are trying to fit a pattern to the tempest. It's a futile exercise.
If you think that this "evolution" is towards something resembling a "policy" I think you are mistaken (euphemism).
Donald Trump is a man who insists on telling everyone exactly what he thinks - no matter how much it might harm him. He has hoards of terrified shifting groups of shifting allegiances behind him trying to control or influence him. Terrified that they will be the target of his next twitter-fueled bus-throwing campaign, constantly jockeying for influence and the ear of the maniac at the helm. Some of them are members of his own family, over whom you have little influence (legal, or otherwise).
You are trying to fit a pattern to the tempest. It's a futile exercise.
3
Well, the "civilization" that Trump represents does not deserve to be served. Unfortunately for so many Trump supporters, the best of Western civilization is exactly at the opposite of what they advocate. Of course, since Trump does not read, he would not know this. The civilization he wants to preserve is what made Western Civilization the most destructive in history.
2
Come on. Trying to portray Trump as having any coherence or set of principles, such as would be implied by describing him as a neocon, is just more denial of the fact that we've installed a blowhard huckster devoid of any real ideas or principles in the presidency. There are a few plausible ways of understanding and describing what Western Civilization is and where it came from--my favorite would be the principles of the Enlightenment and the resulting transformation of society through largely private technological advancement--but Trump has neither the patience nor the intellectual wherewithal to understand any of them. Fortunately, Western Civilization is a lot less top-down than most, so having this clown in charge is a lot less damaging than it might have been.
2
Mr. Trump's definition of "western civilization" replaces the Enlightenment values of republican democracy with those of pre-Enlightenment personal rule by tribal "big men" and their families and cronies. If that is western civilization, it is certainly already lost.
1
Normalizing Trump with any claim of "saving western civilization" tacitly endorses his not-so-thinly veiled racism. Who are we kidding?
1
I don't know that Trump's efforts are counter to his America First vision. I mean, yeah, it counter's how you may interpret what he is saying but, come on people, this globalization is an America first plan that took route over 200 years ago when we were Brits. Maybe it would help to recognize that this is a man with two agendas - making money at any cost and watching people suffer - anyone other than him. It's fun. And you know what? I believe that the instinct of this particular man will risk profit for that feeling - however fleeting - of dominance over others. Winning isn't always profitable, but it still feels good to a guy like this.
What a piece of fiction. Trump is like a rotten potato, everything he touches stinks.
1
If Trump's ideals are the savior of Western Civilization, then it deserves to die. Dream on, dear philosopher. There is nothing in his policy but greed and mindless self-promotion.
2
The speech in Warsaw was surely written by someone else. President Trump probably doesn't even know what he was saying. For him it always comes down to the personal. This person treats him nicely and receives Trump praise. That person treats him badly and is slammed in tweets or an interview here or there. This Op-Ed only makes sense if one thinks that an individual with a fifth-grade level of thinking can develop a U.S. foreign policy.
1
Interesting. I think unpopular Trump's ideas are coming from unelected Steve Bannon and Steven Miller though. He's just all about that money he can make from a Trump Hotel in Moscow and the thrill of his name being plastered all over the world.
Maybe I'm being unfair, but I don't know when I've ever seen a serious interview with him about policy. Usually he's there to defend his outrageous abusive unlawful behavior or he offers sloganeering indicating he knows nothing substantive about the issue being discussed.
I do know Ukraine better greenlight a Trump Hotel if they want to stay autonomous.
Maybe I'm being unfair, but I don't know when I've ever seen a serious interview with him about policy. Usually he's there to defend his outrageous abusive unlawful behavior or he offers sloganeering indicating he knows nothing substantive about the issue being discussed.
I do know Ukraine better greenlight a Trump Hotel if they want to stay autonomous.
1
A stunningly naive essay by someone who, given his specialty, really should know better. Professor Wertheim seems to think that Trump actually:
a. had substantive input into those formal foreign policy speeches
b. reviewed or approved the material before reading it off a teleprompter
c. appreciated what he was saying and/or understood its impact
d. remembered a day later what positions he had taken for the US.
If you want to know what he really thinks and believes read his tweets. His formal speeches are the stuff of others.
a. had substantive input into those formal foreign policy speeches
b. reviewed or approved the material before reading it off a teleprompter
c. appreciated what he was saying and/or understood its impact
d. remembered a day later what positions he had taken for the US.
If you want to know what he really thinks and believes read his tweets. His formal speeches are the stuff of others.
6
In other words, politics isn't about what you do, it's about what you say you're doing.
Do you really think that Donald Trump knows what he is doing?
1
He's taken up the mantle of the West? Really? With not a word about Poland's authoritarian shift to stifle juridical independence? With a go ahead to Saudi self-interest? No, sorry, this is a president who understands absolutely zero about the consequences of his ignorant words and actions.
"Bonds of culture"? Trump actually said this? This culture has not been so divided since the civil war--because that's what conservatives reactionaries--and especially Trump--want! That's their catspaw!
What total rubbish. Trump and leadership don't belong in the same sentence. All he's done is walked away from U.S. leadership in the world, made us a laughingstock everywhere, and abdicated technology development to China and Europe. He has no knowledge of the past and no vision of the future, only self-serving egotism - what could possibly go wrong?
This is a piece of satire in the tradition of Jonathan Swift, is that right, professor? If not, then it's time to descend from your ivory tower and take a good hard look at the real world out there.
This is a piece of satire in the tradition of Jonathan Swift, is that right, professor? If not, then it's time to descend from your ivory tower and take a good hard look at the real world out there.
3
Any plan to save Western Civilization should start with Trump resigning the Presidency.
3
I read this honestly thinking this was a humorous The Onion type article and I kept waiting for the punch line. I finally realized that it was NOT satire but deadly serious. So I am now wondering in what alternate universe Stephen Wertheim resides. A truly disturbing piece of unreality.
4
What a bunch of baloney!
A leader of the free world? Only in Trump's own mind, every other leader who has met this utter twit of a president has seen Trump's weaknesses and flaws. Trump is oblivious (and apparently Wertheim is too) to the mockery he is making of the presidency and the debasing of America he is perpetuating.
You, Wertheim, suggest that I have no proof? ... Just wait for the tell-all books, the historians, and the analyses that will soon be following the mayhem Trump is capable of igniting (it's about the only "talent" he may have).
A leader of the free world? Only in Trump's own mind, every other leader who has met this utter twit of a president has seen Trump's weaknesses and flaws. Trump is oblivious (and apparently Wertheim is too) to the mockery he is making of the presidency and the debasing of America he is perpetuating.
You, Wertheim, suggest that I have no proof? ... Just wait for the tell-all books, the historians, and the analyses that will soon be following the mayhem Trump is capable of igniting (it's about the only "talent" he may have).
2
Trump read a speech in Poland no doubt penned by Steve Bannon. Trump could no longer recall the points from that speech from memory than recall the articles of the Bill of Rights.
1
Gore Vidal, where are you when we need you?!
Can't wait for America to save Western civilization... right after they complete their own postwar reconstruction.
This has got to be among the most ridiculous articles written by someone with an academic degree who should know better than to attribute a meaningful policy or philosophy to Donald Trump. Trump says anything that pops into his head, anything to get a ratings blip, whether or not it means anything or even contradicts something he said the day before. He is a liar and a fraud, proven in court.
5
Trump advisers may have tried to develop coherent policy along the lines suggested here. The author seems to have cherry picked evidence of this in this article. But as we all have seen, Trump is too undisciplined and when he moves off script, sets his own course. No matter what his "handlers" may devise, it will always be one step forward, a thousand steps back.
3
If Trump could put together two coherent paragraphs describing what he thinks "Western civilization" is, these pronouncements would have more meaning. But he's incapable of doing that, and I'm pretty sure Trump's vision of "Western civilization" is most fully articulated in that desert city with all the blinking lights located in Clark County, Nevada.
17
I think that it's totally useless to try to make sense of anything Trump has done. I can recall no interview or public statement of Trump's--when there is no teleprompter--in which Trump said anything whatsoever to indicate that he has coherent, considered thinking about foreign policy (or anything else) based on any knowledge whatsoever of history and the geopolitical world. If one were, arbitrarily, to divide his foreign policy decisions into globalism on the one hand (consider it like the head of a penny) and mindless America First nationalism on the other the penny's tail), the sequence of one type of decision versus the other would be as random and unpredictable as the results of tossing real pennies.
32
If Professor Wertheim is correct in thinking that Mr Trump has a plan to save civilization, I'm surprised that he doesn't note that Trump's plans haven't mentioned the British Empire, surely an essential ingredient of Western Civilization. Perhaps the professor should propose a diplomatic mission consisting Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Steve Bannon to visit India and former colonies to bang some sense into the natives about rethinking independence. The Brexiters talk about Empire 2.0, but why not aim for Restoration, or Empire 3.0?
13
Trump doesn't speak for western civilization. He speaks solely for greed.
35
If the "Jerry Springer Show" speaks for western civilization, the Trump speaks for western civilization.
What a load of hooey! The Trump State Department is a shambles, his administration is in chaos, and Dr Wertheim imagines Trump has a coherent foreign policy? Sad! When is Dr Wertheim applying for a position in Trump's communication department? He must be looking to get out of Britain after the mess his ilk created thru Brexit.
92
Absurd cherry picking only reveals propaganda. Trump is not civilized.
28
This is a great piece of satire, Herr Wertheim!
42
Trump is bad. but let's not overlook the snide British schadenfreude in this piece
7
Wow. Do you really believe the silliness you spew in this piece? Trump's doesn't have an iota of a foreign policy. He has a set of incoherent policy pronouncements. And he certainly couldn't care less about any traditional definition of Western Civilization.
51
It's the Trump family first (and last and always) as it is for the Clinton family. What a choice!
4
If Donald Trump truly wants to save Western Civilization he should resign immediately.
439
Well that cuts right to the chase! Bravo for such clarity of vision.
And Hillary would have a better shot at it? Obtuse
What nonsense. Abandoning our allies, sucking up to Russia, ignoring the plight of Syria, and walking back our treaty obligations does not constitute a conventional foreign policy.
28
Western civilization took the lead in abolishing slavery (not officially abolished in much of the rest of the world)), ensuring and enshrining equal treatment under the law for women and minorities (ditto), and humane treatment of children and animals (ditto). Western Civ. fought and defeated fascism and communism -- both anathema to liberty and decency. Western Civ. gave us Democracy and the Mosaic code which prohibits murder, rape, theft, cruelty to animals, etc. and requires charity and treating kindly the stranger/foreigner. Antipathy to Western Civ. is stupid.
4
Yup.
And it's been a constant battle to live up to it.
And it's been a constant battle to live up to it.
Can I correct a typo in the comment I just wrote? It should read:
Donald Trump is far and away the most ignorant person every to occupy the White House. It's not just that he doesn't know what he doesn't know; he compounds his doltishness by not even wanting to know it.
The concept of a blockhead like Trump understanding, much less defining, the ideals of Western culture reminds me of a line often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. When asked what he thought of Western civilization, he is supposed to have replied, "I think it might be a good idea."
Donald Trump is far and away the most ignorant person every to occupy the White House. It's not just that he doesn't know what he doesn't know; he compounds his doltishness by not even wanting to know it.
The concept of a blockhead like Trump understanding, much less defining, the ideals of Western culture reminds me of a line often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. When asked what he thought of Western civilization, he is supposed to have replied, "I think it might be a good idea."
18
When you publish satire, you should label it as such.
35
LOL! Spot on!
Speaking for Western Civilization wasn’t what his campaign promised? Donald typed like a monkey and every once in a while, out of the ejection stream, a line of Shakespeare came out.
Donald repeated things that got applause and rejected things that didn't float.
And now, people say, he's only doing what he promised. Why doesn't he make his ties in America? or Ivanka's shoes?
Donald repeated things that got applause and rejected things that didn't float.
And now, people say, he's only doing what he promised. Why doesn't he make his ties in America? or Ivanka's shoes?
6
This mortal man, armed with the lightening bolts of his office, with which he can rain down his judgments against the unlike acrss the world, is the same mortal man who still claims the Central Parl Five kids guilty.
6
You are giving him altogether too much credit.
6
The likes of a Donald Trump can attempt to save Western Civilization only because the Left has abandoned any desire to maintain it.
2
The reality is that Trump is not the leader of the free world and certainly not the leader of western civilization. Although the US because of its size and power would be the natural leader of the free world. it has abandoned that role. Few countries would accept the US as the leader of western civilization. Being surrounded by its own massive media and belief in exceptionalism Americans usually fail to realize they are not the exemplar of civilization in general or that of western civilization in particular it is far too complex than that and most countries regard the american constitution as nothing more than a historical step in the advancement of civilization. Most countries regard the primacy of law, human rights and democracy as core values which still are not simply Western values. Realistically Islam is a minor problem that is guaranteed to fail unless countries behave like the body overreacting to an irritant with an allergic reaction. Muslim countries are weak and they have not the innate ability to become stronger. Russia is the old nationalist dictatorship that has bedeviled the west before and even it pretends to follow civil rules. China is a different order it does have the potential of setting a new world order but even it at least pays lip service to many civilized values. The current leadership for world civilization values contains by far the most powerful countries in the world except two and it can only lose due internal ignorance and stupidity.
2
"The fundamental crisis of our time" is not the "will to survive "ironically proclaimed by Donald Trump, it's surviving his presidency. Steve Wertheim's naïveté is stunning. Donald Trump has no plan to save "Western Civilization" he has no capacity to conceptualize, outside of his own narcissistic needs. All he did in Warsaw was read words written on the page by somebody else. Five minutes before the speech he couldn't have told you what was in it. Any conservative pundit who saw it as "Reaganesque" is having a delusional episode. The "maturation" to which Wertheim refers, was simply the apparent success H.R. McMaster and James Mattis had in convincing him to stick to a script and avoid his moronic, spontaneous statements. At least his "frosty"relationship with Angela Merkel precludes a sexist shoulder massage. The Bastille Day ceremony reminded me of the original "The Day of the Jackal" with Donald Trump as the jackal and the NATO alliance as Charles DeGaulle. Donald Trump's "civilization framework" extends no further than his own solipsistic world view. The "lawless savages " he refers to could well include some of his inner circle of alt-right advisors and the Republicans who want to throw tens of millions off Medicaid.
5
A speechwriter wrote the words. Trump spoke the words. He didn't really understand what he said or what it meant, just that people cheered after he spoke them, and this made him happy. He quickly forgot what he said. To ascribe to this man the ability to formulate some grand vision for our country's role in the world is off-the-charts farce. If he was even capable of a vision beyond the insatiable hour-by-hour demands of his ego, it would be one of destruction and domination.
23
Reading this column, ascribing ideas and policies to a man who has led a life devoid of reading, thinking or any intellectual pursuit, must be discarded with a hearty laugh. Like the character in the hilarious Jerzy Kosinski film, "Being There", the central character, a simpleton, is elevated into political stardom. His references to gardening are interpreted by the media as profoundly meaningful pronouncements on the economy. Similarly, trump, whose real self is revealed by his nasty, lying tweets, is somehow elevated by this writer to have complex views on foreign relations. Giving speeches written by others must be put aside when listening to trump in interviews and reading his own words. The disgust that many of us feel with trump in charge of our security is a daily feeling which can only be managed with hope that the Mueller investigation will end our national nightmare.
23
Hhhhhhhmmmm.
Trump for billionaires like himself?
Trump's proposed "tax reform" plan eliminates the estate tax.
Trump's family could save as much as $4 billion in taxes.
That's not a serious conflict of interest?
That's not Trump caring for himself more than he cares for America?
Trump's plan is "wealth care for billionaires".
Trump's plan is no healthcare for millions.
Which do you think Americans really want and need?
Trump for billionaires like himself?
Trump's proposed "tax reform" plan eliminates the estate tax.
Trump's family could save as much as $4 billion in taxes.
That's not a serious conflict of interest?
That's not Trump caring for himself more than he cares for America?
Trump's plan is "wealth care for billionaires".
Trump's plan is no healthcare for millions.
Which do you think Americans really want and need?
2
Are you kidding me? Trump speaks for Western Civilization? Come on! He just read a speech written by Stephen Miller off a teleprompter. It signals nothing. Trump doesn't even remember what he said.
8
Thoughtful and well-written piece. "He is one of you." The truth stings, so let's just attack the messenger.
1
The "emerging Trump Doctrine" is to succumb to flattery (Like the five-story image of his face projected on a building in Saudi Arabia.), insult our allies (Like his refusal to visit Masada because he'd have to ride in a cable car.), be overly impressed by leaders who suck up to him (Like at Macron's Bastille Day Parade.), to flip-flop like mad (Like saying that on "Day One" he'd label China a currency manipulator, only to fail to do so, saying "China stopped doing that.), and to make such an objectionable fool of himself that even countries desperate to be our allies tell him to stay home (As in his postponed/canceled trip to the U.K. because the general population doesn't want him anywhere near the Queen.).
There is no "Trump Doctrine", Mr. Wertheim. There is only Trump.
There is no "Trump Doctrine", Mr. Wertheim. There is only Trump.
3
Donald Trump is far and away the most ignorant person every to occupy the White House. It's not just that he doesn't know what he doesn't know; he compounds his doltishness by not even wanting to know it.
The concept of a blockhead like understanding, much less defining, the ideals of Western culture reminds me of a line often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. When asked what he thought of Western civilization, he is supposed to have replied, "I think it might be a good idea."
The concept of a blockhead like understanding, much less defining, the ideals of Western culture reminds me of a line often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. When asked what he thought of Western civilization, he is supposed to have replied, "I think it might be a good idea."
2
Trump has lots of big plans, as long as they are just matters of advocacy and involve no real effort or consistent thinking. The silence you hear is Trump waiting for someone to carry out his ideas.
1
There's no real Trump doctrine. His guiding light is profit, publicity (positive or negative, as long as it's there), power, and white supremacy. "Defense of Western Civilization" is nothing but a euphemism for wanting to stop the natural progression/evolution of culture through exchanges. There's no way to stop it.
"Western Civilization" also projects the erroneous beliefs held by the American alt-right that white Europeans came up with everything first, everything. That's why we have a member of Congress saying that non-Whites having contributed anything to civilization (the buffoon from Iowa).
I don't see this article as the "finally balanced" article, long sought from the NYT, or nothing but "spin." I see it as a warning.
Some say the dying cow kicks the hardest. Well, the cow is dying and kicking, trying to hold on to white supremacy in the U.S., greatly angered by the eight years in the White House of an educated, intelligent Black man. Well, if the cow keeps kicking, it'll attempt for a more over apartheid in the U.S.
Hopefully, women who are reportedly getting more interested in politics and in running for office will save us.
"Western Civilization" also projects the erroneous beliefs held by the American alt-right that white Europeans came up with everything first, everything. That's why we have a member of Congress saying that non-Whites having contributed anything to civilization (the buffoon from Iowa).
I don't see this article as the "finally balanced" article, long sought from the NYT, or nothing but "spin." I see it as a warning.
Some say the dying cow kicks the hardest. Well, the cow is dying and kicking, trying to hold on to white supremacy in the U.S., greatly angered by the eight years in the White House of an educated, intelligent Black man. Well, if the cow keeps kicking, it'll attempt for a more over apartheid in the U.S.
Hopefully, women who are reportedly getting more interested in politics and in running for office will save us.
American Presidents are normally happy to be seen as puppets of the Russian President? Every US intelligence agency agrees that Russia interfered in our 2016 Presidential elections - and Trump constantly denies it - that's normal? W and Obama tried to work with Putin; Putin outmaneuvered both of them, but Russian war crimes/human rights violations in Chechnya, aggression in Georgia/South Ossetia, Ukraine, annexation of Crimea, support for Assad were challenged, sanctions imposed. Having Russia join the democratic free world is a worthy goal. Having Russia join because it's white and Christian and authoritarian is not normal US foreign policy. The common enemy that Trump wants to ally with Putin to fight is Radical Islamic terrorism - a enemy that lacks clear definition. If the target is AQ and ISIS, why do we back Saudi Wahhabism, the ideological foundation of AQ and ISIS. Why back Egypt's Sisi and other Sunni autocrats, whose oppression breeds AQ and ISIS? If our goal is to form a Saudi, Sunni, Israeli alliance to take on Iran, Assad and Hezbollah, then how can we ally with Putin, who sponsors and protects these groups? Which Radical Islam are we fighting? And our farcical Sunni alliance almost instantly fractured with Saudi Arabia/UAE/Egypt vs. Qatar/Iran/Turkey. Also, mercantile trade policy rants that no US President has followed post-WWII. A complete, incoherent mess.
Just say defending Western civilization, and some "scholar" will give you cover. Embarrassing.
Just say defending Western civilization, and some "scholar" will give you cover. Embarrassing.
3
It amuses me that anyone would even consider that an extremely well documented narcissist can 'save' Western Civilization or is even capable of knowing now to do so. Pulling out of the Paris Agreement, gutting the EPA and removing tens of millions of Americans from access to health care is NOT an example of how that's going to occur. In fact, it's absolute PROOF that the opposite is true. Donald Trump is a sociopath and is not interested in anything other than himself.
3
Maybe the author is trying to make sense of Trump? Or maybe he's trying to distract us or provide Trump supporters with a false narrative that they can parrot by way of thinking.
1
Some humanists need more to do.
How Wertheim can discern a plan from the incoherent utterings of our President is a mystery to me. Rather than a condensed version of the President's policies, this opinion piece is a expression of hope by the author that our President could adopt the author's policy outline. Sadly for Wertheim, our President's attention span is so short that he will not finish reading Werthiem's opinion piece much less adopt it.
235
Rather than respond intelligently, this commentary prefers to poke fun a man's character rather than discuss the realities of his decisions as president.
Simple answer to the lead question "How did Donald Trump come to speak for Western civilization?": he hasn't. This whole piece is a rather spectacular example of what can go wrong when an academic, giddily inspired by the vision of applying his particular academic expertise (in this case the history of "American leadership") to provide a definitive answer on a matter of topical interest.
Prof. Wertheim takes way too seriously Trump's pronouncements, which are full of sound and fury and signify nothing. Trump no more speaks for American thought (either on the left or the right) than Nigel Farage speaks for British thought with his "Europe of freedom and direct democracy".
If we need any evidence of this consider whether a plan to "save" Western Civilization is possible, let alone credible, coming from a man who despises and rejects the crowning acheivement of Western Civilization, namely, Science and the scientific method.
Prof. Wertheim takes way too seriously Trump's pronouncements, which are full of sound and fury and signify nothing. Trump no more speaks for American thought (either on the left or the right) than Nigel Farage speaks for British thought with his "Europe of freedom and direct democracy".
If we need any evidence of this consider whether a plan to "save" Western Civilization is possible, let alone credible, coming from a man who despises and rejects the crowning acheivement of Western Civilization, namely, Science and the scientific method.
272
Not to mention has very poor taste in interior decoration.
1
Yes, and don't forget the rule of law which he also despises.
1
What a difference in politicians. Bernie Sanders is laser focused on balancing the common man's interests with those of the wealthy. Trump seems to be the opposite. It appears Trump's ambitions are to represent the billionaire class. Not only in America but the rest of the world as well.
Where as Sanders champions the little guy, Trump champions the billionaire class of which he is member. Though he ranks low among them in dollar terms, his influence as President of the United States amplifies his rank.
Where as Sanders champions the little guy, Trump champions the billionaire class of which he is member. Though he ranks low among them in dollar terms, his influence as President of the United States amplifies his rank.
3
The social fabric of western civilization has been devastated by Supreme Court decisions in abortion, gay marriage, and health care. The progressive changes have less to do with legislative democracy than with liberal jurists and liberal news media. It seems that every rock of conservative western civilization has been undermined to the point where the pursuit of private wealth remains as the only great endeavor.
It is here that Mr. Trump is the undisputed world’s leader. He is the richest of them all and respects other leaders according to their wealth and deal making ability. Saudi Arabia and China are run by billionaires with extensive family ties. Others like Mr. Putin have the golden touch and can turn political power into personal wealth for himself and favored associates. Ruthless men respect one another more than any political agenda.
One need go no further than Trump’s proposed health care and tax reforms, to understand that he is a snake oil salesman. At last, the “Mooch”, his new Director of Communications shares his important lifestyle priorities. Mr. Trump has made it clear to world leaders that wealth is more important that old agreements or pleasing words. The new world must buy its peace from the U.S. - the great merchant of arms. Competition from North Korea will not be tolerated.
It is here that Mr. Trump is the undisputed world’s leader. He is the richest of them all and respects other leaders according to their wealth and deal making ability. Saudi Arabia and China are run by billionaires with extensive family ties. Others like Mr. Putin have the golden touch and can turn political power into personal wealth for himself and favored associates. Ruthless men respect one another more than any political agenda.
One need go no further than Trump’s proposed health care and tax reforms, to understand that he is a snake oil salesman. At last, the “Mooch”, his new Director of Communications shares his important lifestyle priorities. Mr. Trump has made it clear to world leaders that wealth is more important that old agreements or pleasing words. The new world must buy its peace from the U.S. - the great merchant of arms. Competition from North Korea will not be tolerated.
12
Shades of Chauncy Gardner.
And when Trump sneezes, some commentator will, in tortured prose, discern a new twist to Trump's foreign policy, in which he expels the "deadly bacteria" of barbaric, anti-Western actors on the world scene.
And when Trump sneezes, some commentator will, in tortured prose, discern a new twist to Trump's foreign policy, in which he expels the "deadly bacteria" of barbaric, anti-Western actors on the world scene.
11
What a bunch of tripe. Until this article, I did not realize that with a Mixmaster (at high speed), it was almost possible to claim that Trump had a coherent policy. My bad.
One question. Does our willingness to turn away from such important international agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Agreement, spurning important allies, along with our bromance of Putin and other strongmen really constitute a policy that will save Western Civilization?
One question. Does our willingness to turn away from such important international agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Agreement, spurning important allies, along with our bromance of Putin and other strongmen really constitute a policy that will save Western Civilization?
46
Nice try, but not true. The major threat to "western civilization" (and all of civilization) is climate change; T. doesn't even recognize it as a reality, much less provide leadership to combat it. And then there is Russia. Sorry, this is sloppy thinking.
29
Trump's close advisors, Rebekah Mercer, Bannon, and other bonkers billionaires, are isolationists, intent mainly on keeping the world out of the USA and dismantling the Republic. So Trump has a freer hand abroad to exercise his fantasies and imaginings.
While the Oligarchs implement their plan to dismantle our government to improve the USA for billionaires, Trump has no plan in his outside engagements other than to have a clubhouse get-together with the World's maniacal despots and shake a few hands in luxurious settings.
Can the World get along without Trump? You betcha!
While the Oligarchs implement their plan to dismantle our government to improve the USA for billionaires, Trump has no plan in his outside engagements other than to have a clubhouse get-together with the World's maniacal despots and shake a few hands in luxurious settings.
Can the World get along without Trump? You betcha!
13
As a retired political science professor I find this article an embarrassing example of just how deluded and fatuous academics can be. Professor Wertheim would like to see Trump as an avatar of Sam Huntington or Niall Ferguson--a shining knight in defense of the West against the barbarians. The only evidence for this view is one speech he read in Poland. He had to be talked into a half-hearted endorsement of NATO. He clearly loves Putin more than Merkel. He thinks Xi Jinping is a great guy. And as for Western civilization, it is unlikely he knows what it is.
63
ijsch, oh he knows what western civilization is. It's gold-plating anything that he owns, golf and lunch at Mar A Lago and the adulation of a (not very) large number of his base to whom he can spout nonsense and they yell back, "Lock her up!"
Life is good for our Louis XIV wannabe. "L'etat c'est moi" indeed.
Life is good for our Louis XIV wannabe. "L'etat c'est moi" indeed.
The ignorant Trump uttered those words in his Warsaw speech, reading from the TelePrompTer, written by someone else, but does he understood what he was reading aloud? For a man whose deepest thoughts are only skin deep and probably has never read anything more than couple of pages long, does he really know what "Western Civilization" means? He probably thinks the term is "beautiful" but that's all he knows about these words. So sad.
9
Wait, he does read. It's all those Time magazines that have his face on the cover: not!?
Say what? The crude, ignorant barbarian who occupies the Oval Office not only speaks for Western Civilization but has a "plan" to "save" it? SERIOUSLY? Good Lord, Mr. Wertheim, what have you been putting in your coffee? It might not be the non-dairy creamer you think it is.
Trump doesn't have a PLAN to do ANYTHING, except perhaps to enjoy another beautiful piece of chocolate cake after a round of golf and lunch at Mar-a-Lago. His incoherent rambling during his recent Times interview makes a mockery of claims he's formulating any sort of coherent policies.
The statement the US has "morphed into the proud leader of the West" is one of the most absurd pro-Trump claims ever written. Trump's behavior and utterances at the G20 summit and in Paris were non-stop embarrassing. Yes, he finally voiced support for NATO, but the man's word is worthless. World leaders everywhere are understandably skeptical of whether nor not the US will stand by its commitments. That's some kind of leadership.
The author cites Trump's speech in Warsaw as evidence of an "increasingly organized" foreign policy and of a maturing President. Okay, he stuck to the script for once, but many analysts believe the content was 99% Steve Bannon. More important, a mere two weeks since, the Polish government has moved to put its judiciary under the thumb of its increasingly autocratic president. If Poland reflects Trump’s thinking about what a “saved” Western civilization should look like, we’re all in big trouble.
Trump doesn't have a PLAN to do ANYTHING, except perhaps to enjoy another beautiful piece of chocolate cake after a round of golf and lunch at Mar-a-Lago. His incoherent rambling during his recent Times interview makes a mockery of claims he's formulating any sort of coherent policies.
The statement the US has "morphed into the proud leader of the West" is one of the most absurd pro-Trump claims ever written. Trump's behavior and utterances at the G20 summit and in Paris were non-stop embarrassing. Yes, he finally voiced support for NATO, but the man's word is worthless. World leaders everywhere are understandably skeptical of whether nor not the US will stand by its commitments. That's some kind of leadership.
The author cites Trump's speech in Warsaw as evidence of an "increasingly organized" foreign policy and of a maturing President. Okay, he stuck to the script for once, but many analysts believe the content was 99% Steve Bannon. More important, a mere two weeks since, the Polish government has moved to put its judiciary under the thumb of its increasingly autocratic president. If Poland reflects Trump’s thinking about what a “saved” Western civilization should look like, we’re all in big trouble.
67
This article in its entirety is pure nonsense in trying to mold trump from some type of clay model of Presidents past. The only rationale behind the donald's behavior is basically whatever suits his mood. I would liken him to the Neilson song, 'Everybody's Talking' from the movie 'Military Cowboy'. The crucial line is, "I'm going where the weather suits my clothes." Trump basically does whatever he wants, whenever he wants which gets us to another popular tune by the Eagles, 'Life in the Fast Lane': "Everything All the Time."
No, no, and no to any semblance of trump having anything more than his own pockets to line, his ego to stroke, and pure nonsensical behaviors to, as he famously loves to say, "I like being unpredictable." All this actually has become the trump personality de jour. We do know that his foreign policy is purposefully manipulated to please Putin. Has anyone heard or read anything critical (that has any backbone) when it comes to Russia, their Oligarchs, Putin's authoritarianism? Ever? Everything else is ego, super ego, and pure id. He has little use for convention, but occasionally resorts to it for dangling (teasing) purposes.
Of course he now thinks he can pardon himself at will, most likely more than once if needs be.
No, no, and no to any semblance of trump having anything more than his own pockets to line, his ego to stroke, and pure nonsensical behaviors to, as he famously loves to say, "I like being unpredictable." All this actually has become the trump personality de jour. We do know that his foreign policy is purposefully manipulated to please Putin. Has anyone heard or read anything critical (that has any backbone) when it comes to Russia, their Oligarchs, Putin's authoritarianism? Ever? Everything else is ego, super ego, and pure id. He has little use for convention, but occasionally resorts to it for dangling (teasing) purposes.
Of course he now thinks he can pardon himself at will, most likely more than once if needs be.
7
My defense of western civilization behooves me to make a slight correction. It's (Harry) Nilsson, and it's "Urban Cowboy".
Spell check correction: 'Midnight Cowboy' which actually describes the donald who is living 'Life in the Fast Lane', "running up and down the highway.... doctor says he's coming but you got to pay in cash."
Haha, no that song is from Midnight Cowboy. Maybe you're thinking of "Looking for love in all the wrong places".
I read about 2/3 of this nonsense but couldn't finish it. (There's a "Trump Doctrine"? Oh please.)
Yes there's overlap between some of Trump's words and neocons, but there's no coherence to anything Trump says. During the campaign he claimed he was always against the Iraq War despite proof to the contrary.
The author has clearly misunderstood Trump by claiming there's anything to understand.
Yes there's overlap between some of Trump's words and neocons, but there's no coherence to anything Trump says. During the campaign he claimed he was always against the Iraq War despite proof to the contrary.
The author has clearly misunderstood Trump by claiming there's anything to understand.
24
No, he'd rather have a war with Irannow.
Trump doctrine? You mean Trump First. I don't believe he has any policy thoughts that don't revolve around himself. Policy is used loosely. Thoughts too. You give Dishonest Don much too much credit as someone who understands diplomacy, policy, the Constitution, or any sort of caring of American working lives. In fact he doesn't think about anything outside of selling his brand and increasing his revenue. And who wouldn't when you owe so much to Russian banks and investors.
Please stop normalizing an obvious treasonous and crooked administration.
Please stop normalizing an obvious treasonous and crooked administration.
9
I doubt that uneducated, ignorant Donald Trump, who proudly claims he never reads book, is even aware of what Western civilization is. Certainly, his conduct of the presidency to date reveals a striking disregard of the normative methodologies that is traditional to a president. In short, he has no reverence for American political tradition. Why would he then rever the cultural, moral and political traditions than comprise Western civilization?
8
Trump Doctrine?
That would be 'looking good' and getting his ego fed.
That would be 'looking good' and getting his ego fed.
7
Apparently the author doesn't realize that Brannon's speeches, read by the president, has absolutely no connection to the president. Too funny if he thinks these are Trump's thoughts. Or sad. Wow.
10
If Donald J. Trump is planning to save Western civilization the
first and most important goal is to be sure to save
Western civilization from Donald J. Trump and his family.
first and most important goal is to be sure to save
Western civilization from Donald J. Trump and his family.
5
It's dangerous to attribute some deep doctrinal thinking to this empty-headed narcissist. This is worse than selfish Republicans standing by to get their agenda through fully knowing they have a loose cannon liability on their hands. Of course, Trump would have been incapable of writing the speech he gave. Steve Bannon and Steve Miller no doubt wrote it and if you know their backgrounds, you know all of this is code for white supremacy and islamaphobia. It's not some new great neocon doctrine. And by the way, Trump is the worse TelePrompTer speaker I've ever heard--droning and monotonous. When he's being extemporaneous, as offensive and bombastic and untruthful as what he says is, at least he then has some energy. Don't try to intellectualize this mess we're in. If you do, you have been conned worse by this huckster than the poor voters who actually thought he might help them.
7
Why do journalists continue to refer to "Trumpism" or "The Trump Doctrine"? The terms imply a coherent, coordinated, well-thought-out-and-implemented strategy to something that is anything but. It also sounds pretentious, as if the writer is engaged in serious analysis.
10
Let's stop pretending Trump is evolving. Theories seeking to normalize Trump are evolving. That's all.
17
Is "Save Western Civilization" just a phase within Trump's master plan?
From within his brain, there be murmurings:
"I'm flexible. . . very flexible foreign policy. Take pride in my flexibility. My greatest strength. . . a great inspiration to American supporters and my fans throughout the world. I'm unpredictable . . . I feed on the hazy. I'm experienced in these matters. More experienced than anyone--than the generals. . . . the diplomats. You name it.
"An unpredictable world I can deal with. Consistency? Overrated. Credibility? Overrated. Push emotional buttons. Throw the world a 180 degree curve ball. Focus their attention. Get great press. Adulation even.
"Some say I have no unified foreign policy . . . flexibility--greatest policy ever. Never telegraph your response. Keep the world hanging. People love it. A bit of spice. A bit of suspense.
"And they love me. All those people in the streets at the G-19? Who was that for? Reminds me . . . . Did you see that yuuugist crowd ever at my inauguration? National Mall, wall to wall people. And all those thousands who climbed trees? Just to get a glimpse--a glimpse!
"Be flexible. Tell the foreign leaders whatever you want 'em to hear . . . Except Putin, gotta’ be straight with Vlad. Otherwise it's repeat, delete, repeat. People get the message, unget it, get it again. Sells most of the people most of the time. Keep 'em off balance. The key to success. In real estate development! In politics! In diplomacy! Flexibility!"
From within his brain, there be murmurings:
"I'm flexible. . . very flexible foreign policy. Take pride in my flexibility. My greatest strength. . . a great inspiration to American supporters and my fans throughout the world. I'm unpredictable . . . I feed on the hazy. I'm experienced in these matters. More experienced than anyone--than the generals. . . . the diplomats. You name it.
"An unpredictable world I can deal with. Consistency? Overrated. Credibility? Overrated. Push emotional buttons. Throw the world a 180 degree curve ball. Focus their attention. Get great press. Adulation even.
"Some say I have no unified foreign policy . . . flexibility--greatest policy ever. Never telegraph your response. Keep the world hanging. People love it. A bit of spice. A bit of suspense.
"And they love me. All those people in the streets at the G-19? Who was that for? Reminds me . . . . Did you see that yuuugist crowd ever at my inauguration? National Mall, wall to wall people. And all those thousands who climbed trees? Just to get a glimpse--a glimpse!
"Be flexible. Tell the foreign leaders whatever you want 'em to hear . . . Except Putin, gotta’ be straight with Vlad. Otherwise it's repeat, delete, repeat. People get the message, unget it, get it again. Sells most of the people most of the time. Keep 'em off balance. The key to success. In real estate development! In politics! In diplomacy! Flexibility!"
3
Trump as Horatius at the Bridge just put me off my brunch.
Trump's world is whites inside of walls and walls and walls.
As Robert Frost advises
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.
Trump's world is whites inside of walls and walls and walls.
As Robert Frost advises
Before I built a wall I’d ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,
That wants it down.
6
Trump's Warsaw speech is so far removed from "a conventional foreign policy" as to be considered an anti-policy statement. Trump, with his America First theme, coupled with Bannon's "deconstruction of the administrative state" has the goal of withdrawing the US from the international community, trade-wise, as well as in the national security realm.
The professor ought to have read the NYT op-ed piece in June by Cohn and McMaster that sought to explain Trump's foreign policy, where Trump and company see international relations as national contests for power and riches, and where allies are no more than temporarily convenient arrangements.
The professor ought to have read the NYT op-ed piece in June by Cohn and McMaster that sought to explain Trump's foreign policy, where Trump and company see international relations as national contests for power and riches, and where allies are no more than temporarily convenient arrangements.
3
Professor Wertheim's essay starts with a fundamental assumption that has no basis in reality. That assumption is that Trump has or is capable of developing any kind of coherent governmental policy, philosophy or paradigm. The writer is ascribing to Trump motivations and capacities that Trump clearly lacks and will never be able to develop.
In fact this writer's error is similar to the error a child might make regarding the actions of a pet lizard. Said pet lizard may at times rest contentedly in a child's hand. The child typically interprets this behavior as showing affection. This is a biological impossibility. Reptiles are incapable of affection. They are motivated by hunger, self preservation, the need to reproduce, and the need to regulate internal temperature. The most likely explanation for the lizard's behavior is the child's hand is warm so the lizard is content to absorb the warmth.
Similarly Trump's actions are the result of only a few motivating factors, the need for adulation, the desire for revenge, and desire for money. All one needs to do is examine Trump's tweets and the many hours of video in the public record. None of this available data supports the writer's assertions about Trump. The only way to make sense of Trump's behavior is to analyze it in a way similar to how one would analyze the behavior of a reptile, because Trump has at no time demonstrated motivations other than those of protecting self and immediate family.
In fact this writer's error is similar to the error a child might make regarding the actions of a pet lizard. Said pet lizard may at times rest contentedly in a child's hand. The child typically interprets this behavior as showing affection. This is a biological impossibility. Reptiles are incapable of affection. They are motivated by hunger, self preservation, the need to reproduce, and the need to regulate internal temperature. The most likely explanation for the lizard's behavior is the child's hand is warm so the lizard is content to absorb the warmth.
Similarly Trump's actions are the result of only a few motivating factors, the need for adulation, the desire for revenge, and desire for money. All one needs to do is examine Trump's tweets and the many hours of video in the public record. None of this available data supports the writer's assertions about Trump. The only way to make sense of Trump's behavior is to analyze it in a way similar to how one would analyze the behavior of a reptile, because Trump has at no time demonstrated motivations other than those of protecting self and immediate family.
35
Not a error but apologetic cherry picking common to all propaganda.
Good lord. Really? Ascribing serious doctrine to Trump's words and actions is like interpreting which art movements influenced a 3-year old's finger painting. I seriously wonder whether this is a practical joke, and the writer is laughing it up with his colleagues right now. If not, this poor fellow surely has too much time on his hands. Perhaps he can next write on Sean Spicer's use of Shakespearean rhetorical devises.
37
I am sorry Professor, but one speech does not a foreign policy make. That fact that Trump was able to read a speech written by - well we dont know who - without staying from the text, is NOT a foreign policy paper. Mere hours later Trump contradicted the very same argument. Trump consistently contradicts himself on issues sometimes in the same sentence. He has no foreign policy philosophy that is coherent, he has inclinations, he has anger and he has spit and he has petulance, but philosophy and coherence? No!
Now Bannon, McMaster and Tillerson among others , do indeed have a philosophy and plan for Western Civilization, they are not in agreement with each other , but the three have a world view.
We did not elect them, but one of those three will be directing the 'plan' , or parts of it. That is , until Trump is either removed from office or neutered by Congress.
Now Bannon, McMaster and Tillerson among others , do indeed have a philosophy and plan for Western Civilization, they are not in agreement with each other , but the three have a world view.
We did not elect them, but one of those three will be directing the 'plan' , or parts of it. That is , until Trump is either removed from office or neutered by Congress.
11
I'm not quite sure The Donald even knows what constitutes Western Civilization, let alone how to save anything but himself or a extension thereof.
10
“The fundamental question of our time is whether the West has the will to survive.”
Is this a line from Independence Day? Bill Pullman made a better speech, anyway.
Is this a line from Independence Day? Bill Pullman made a better speech, anyway.
5
A well written article, but my own observation would be that it is more a reflection of his speech writers than of Trump. In any case this isn’t the forum to drop such items as Trump is pretty much viewed as the Anti-Christ himself, he might as well tattoo '666' on his forehead. Even conservative columnists in these pages are treated as people whose ship burned down to the waterline and have taken aboard by the liberal captains, and all sing songs against the evil among them. In part this is because subscriptions have increased by an order of magnitude, and Trump, Trump, Trump needs to be in the paper for everyone to hate.
Another worthy article would be about the focus on Trump being similar to moths attracted to a flame, where Democrats and others will incinerate themselves while any viable political opposition continues to languish. The irony is that getting Trump out of office will require less attention to Trump, but the future of the Western world is less important than hissing at Trump.
Another worthy article would be about the focus on Trump being similar to moths attracted to a flame, where Democrats and others will incinerate themselves while any viable political opposition continues to languish. The irony is that getting Trump out of office will require less attention to Trump, but the future of the Western world is less important than hissing at Trump.
" The irony is that getting Trump out of office will require less attention to Trump...."
Yep.
"know your opponent" is one part of flushing this guy, but watching him careen across the world stage is painful. His disdain for his office and the laws that organize our country are becoming clearer every day. His statements on foreign policy hold as much weight as anything else he says. What he says - scripted or not - carries no weight at all, except in the media's reactions and the cheers from his supporters..
We really need to understand the people rallying (or hiding) behind him, and the issues that drive their support. They are the opponents who matter and they seem to tolerate enormous shovel-loads of this guy's malarkey while they wait for their issues to be resolved.
There's an illusion that the president and his associates, these captains of wealth acquisition, are successful brawlers in the global business arena. Their supporters are betting that they will rescue the economy, that they will generate jobs and restore Americans' self-reliance.
They won't. The acquisition of wealth these days is not tied to people working to produce good things for other people to use. These days, wealth acquisition is tied to flashy illusions and entertainment. It's tied to automation, lowering labor costs and to the manipulation of abstract financial markets.
And it's Really tied to preserving this emerging, rigid economic class structure we're experiencing - on a global scale.
Yep.
"know your opponent" is one part of flushing this guy, but watching him careen across the world stage is painful. His disdain for his office and the laws that organize our country are becoming clearer every day. His statements on foreign policy hold as much weight as anything else he says. What he says - scripted or not - carries no weight at all, except in the media's reactions and the cheers from his supporters..
We really need to understand the people rallying (or hiding) behind him, and the issues that drive their support. They are the opponents who matter and they seem to tolerate enormous shovel-loads of this guy's malarkey while they wait for their issues to be resolved.
There's an illusion that the president and his associates, these captains of wealth acquisition, are successful brawlers in the global business arena. Their supporters are betting that they will rescue the economy, that they will generate jobs and restore Americans' self-reliance.
They won't. The acquisition of wealth these days is not tied to people working to produce good things for other people to use. These days, wealth acquisition is tied to flashy illusions and entertainment. It's tied to automation, lowering labor costs and to the manipulation of abstract financial markets.
And it's Really tied to preserving this emerging, rigid economic class structure we're experiencing - on a global scale.
In the immortal words of that scion of knowledge, Bugs Bunny:
"What a maroon!"
We need Donald Trump to defend Western Values like we each need to experience Trepanation. Let's be frank about it, ask the leaders of the western world if they believe Mr. Trump's views to be reflective of their own take on the ideal. What would they say?
Before folks start screaming MAGA, remember that there were solid concepts of Western Values long before there was a USA.
Many historic examples of literature and a couple of little documents like the US Constitution and the Magna Carta kind of help to frame the ideal. Of course Mr. Trump doesn't read, so he might not be aware of the true origins and the meaning of Western Values.
In sum, it'd be a real stretch to cast him as the "Defender of Western Values". At least from the perspective of the ones I'd like to embrace.
"What a maroon!"
We need Donald Trump to defend Western Values like we each need to experience Trepanation. Let's be frank about it, ask the leaders of the western world if they believe Mr. Trump's views to be reflective of their own take on the ideal. What would they say?
Before folks start screaming MAGA, remember that there were solid concepts of Western Values long before there was a USA.
Many historic examples of literature and a couple of little documents like the US Constitution and the Magna Carta kind of help to frame the ideal. Of course Mr. Trump doesn't read, so he might not be aware of the true origins and the meaning of Western Values.
In sum, it'd be a real stretch to cast him as the "Defender of Western Values". At least from the perspective of the ones I'd like to embrace.
6
Whew, thank you RT.
"Mr. Trump’s is beginning to sound like a conventional foreign policy."
You are confusing the speech with the man. If you asked him today what were the principal ideas of his speech in Poland, he would not be able to recall a single one. Want to bet?
You are confusing the speech with the man. If you asked him today what were the principal ideas of his speech in Poland, he would not be able to recall a single one. Want to bet?
3
Very informative report, and essentially known to most of the world, with respect to Mr. Trumps thinking.
So, the question is, is Trump and his policies, actually the polices of the neoconservative in both parties, good for America and the world at large.
The answer is, as the report states, yes somewhat, but mostly a resounding no.
Trump is first and last a self-serving mogul, an authoritarian, and guided by his own specific beliefs, mostly mirroring that of his neoconservative handlers, he will not countenance anything that limits his ability to formulate, limit, and control, the outcome.
Given these indisputable facts, insofar as the masses are concerned, Trump cares not one iota whether they benefit, and if there is some unintentional fallout benefit, well then, great, as such gives credence to the lies he and his handlers capitalized on to gain control.
No wonder he received such welcome in Poland; his authoritarianism is not unlike the communism of old, which in Poland imprinted on its people, making this recent attempt at control of the Judiciary possible.
Here in America, our neoconservative masters are so incredibly well versed in managing perception, fully 50% of the people cannot see reality.
So, the question is, is Trump and his policies, actually the polices of the neoconservative in both parties, good for America and the world at large.
The answer is, as the report states, yes somewhat, but mostly a resounding no.
Trump is first and last a self-serving mogul, an authoritarian, and guided by his own specific beliefs, mostly mirroring that of his neoconservative handlers, he will not countenance anything that limits his ability to formulate, limit, and control, the outcome.
Given these indisputable facts, insofar as the masses are concerned, Trump cares not one iota whether they benefit, and if there is some unintentional fallout benefit, well then, great, as such gives credence to the lies he and his handlers capitalized on to gain control.
No wonder he received such welcome in Poland; his authoritarianism is not unlike the communism of old, which in Poland imprinted on its people, making this recent attempt at control of the Judiciary possible.
Here in America, our neoconservative masters are so incredibly well versed in managing perception, fully 50% of the people cannot see reality.
3
Nonsense. Yes, Stephen Miller can turn a good phrase and Trump can occasionally read one of his speeches adequately, without too many petulant asides.
But before we compare the raging carnival barker to Hobbes and Locke, or Churchill and FDR, remember:
Western Civilization isn't just about blood, soil and Cross. It's also about the rule of law -- something that the President and his henchmen try every day to erode.
But before we compare the raging carnival barker to Hobbes and Locke, or Churchill and FDR, remember:
Western Civilization isn't just about blood, soil and Cross. It's also about the rule of law -- something that the President and his henchmen try every day to erode.
8
I supposed it is somewhat heartening to know that an educated Brit can make some sense of the international policy inconsistencies that we see this side of the pond. I remain concerned that the president himself has NO integrity (and I mean this from an intellectual and policy standpoint, although others can happily argue it from a moral standpoint) and therefore is likely to be swayed by his advisor-du-jour. There was very little reassurance to Americans that the Warsaw speech indicated a more moderate stance and a realignment with American leadership in international relations. It appeared more in line with a herky-jerky, "tweet" style unsteadiness that has burdened this administration from day one. . . and now we are aligned with Russia on Syria.
1
If I put myself in the shoes of "them", I would definitely take the same approach and share the same views. I understand why they need to defend the Judeo-Christian (White) West and why they feel threatened by the progressive/liberal doctrines. In fact, the Judeo-Christian West had been very generous to the rest of the world and to me too. Can anybody from the third world countries demand equal rights in any Asian country?! I don't think so. Asian countries are very xenophobic.
However, I must remind "them" this simple truth. America was founded by this core principle of American dream. People from all walks of life come to this country to pursue and build their American dreams. Now, after all these years of preaching, embracing and celebrating American dreams, it is simply impossible to turn the table and send us home. We are part of American fabrics already.
I actually don't disagree much with Pat Buchanan especially when I put myself in "their" shoes. To me, he was ahead of his time. Trump was an oppotunitist and he got the timing right. Also to me, what is happening is unavoidable and totally predictable. It is the very reason that I always propose unpopular ideas (which can provide real solutions). Unfortunately, truths usually are unpleasant and quite often hurt. In any way, America must stop the current craziness of uncontrolled immigration. Immigration should be based on merit and cultural fitness. we must find a way moving forward. The internal division must stop!
However, I must remind "them" this simple truth. America was founded by this core principle of American dream. People from all walks of life come to this country to pursue and build their American dreams. Now, after all these years of preaching, embracing and celebrating American dreams, it is simply impossible to turn the table and send us home. We are part of American fabrics already.
I actually don't disagree much with Pat Buchanan especially when I put myself in "their" shoes. To me, he was ahead of his time. Trump was an oppotunitist and he got the timing right. Also to me, what is happening is unavoidable and totally predictable. It is the very reason that I always propose unpopular ideas (which can provide real solutions). Unfortunately, truths usually are unpleasant and quite often hurt. In any way, America must stop the current craziness of uncontrolled immigration. Immigration should be based on merit and cultural fitness. we must find a way moving forward. The internal division must stop!
I think Mr. Wertheim is overthinking this. Mr. Trump says and does what feels good to him in the moment. What he reads from prepared speeches is far less indicative of what passes for policy than what Mr. Trump tweets or exposes in interviews. It's a pretty pointless exercise to try and discern some lucid pattern behind that. Mr. Wertheim suffers from being an adult, being rational and being knowledgeable. Mr. Trump is unburdened by any of these things. Attempting to fit his behavior into some larger scheme that goes outside the bounds of immediate self-gratification will simply mislead you.
3
Domestically the "Trump agenda" is not his, but the words whispered in his ear by Rebekah and her associated band of bonkers billionaires. But abroad these folks are less focused and Trump has freer reign. Inasmuch as Trump can't plan, can't focus, can't stay on script, can't read bills, but instead acts on impulse and Fox news reports, we have no idea what will happen outside our borders. It seems unlikely that his generals or his Secy of State will be able to keep him out if trouble. All we can do is scream at the GOP Congress to wake up, and cross our fingers.
5
My reaction to this piece is similar to that of Sasha Cooke and other earlier commenters. The writer is giving Trump far, FAR more political and intellectual attribution than he deserves. This is closely analogous to the paintings created by an elephant "art". Any beauty or coherence found in them are purely products of the viewer's minds, not of the creator's.
2
To speak for Western Civilization requires that the speaker know something about Western Civilization.
To save Western Civilization, trump's plan to save it must include the following:
Purge his entire cabinet, replace with qualified professionals.
Rescind and apologize for all his lies, idiotic utterances and tweets.
Resign the presidency.
Trump might be aware of a few things that exist only in the tiny bubble of privilege he has lived in his entire life, but is extremely far short of Western Civilization.
To save Western Civilization, trump's plan to save it must include the following:
Purge his entire cabinet, replace with qualified professionals.
Rescind and apologize for all his lies, idiotic utterances and tweets.
Resign the presidency.
Trump might be aware of a few things that exist only in the tiny bubble of privilege he has lived in his entire life, but is extremely far short of Western Civilization.
4
Okay, everyone, set up your streaming devices and watch the Coen brothers "Hard Bodies!" The soap opera we face in these United States today was soooo accurately portrayed all those years ago...Brad was just a kid! George Clooney, too! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
I think you mean "Burn After Reading"?
I am a European (Dutch) and a historian. I can hardly believe that any sane historian would write such an article about Trump.
Let’s summarize my opinion in a couple of words: Trump and Civilization are two words that do not belong in the same sentence.
Trump is the most uncivilized, value-less know-nothing that ever occupied the office of POTUS. That he would be the defender of our civilization is just ridiculous.
He truly knows nothing of our civilization and history, and does not even know what our values are, let alone he would live by them or defend them.
Let’s summarize my opinion in a couple of words: Trump and Civilization are two words that do not belong in the same sentence.
Trump is the most uncivilized, value-less know-nothing that ever occupied the office of POTUS. That he would be the defender of our civilization is just ridiculous.
He truly knows nothing of our civilization and history, and does not even know what our values are, let alone he would live by them or defend them.
7
This analysis of Trump's foreign policy borders on the surreal. You really think Trump has a policy? He has phrases he has borrowed from Fox News that he spits out, often in an incoherent sequence. He has half-baked ideas that spouts one day and contradicts the next.
That wonderful missile strike on a Syrian airbase that was supposedly in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack? It was so effective that planes were taking off from that airbase the next day.
Trump stumbles along from one fiasco to the next, perhaps replicating the attitudes of some past presidents, but mostly like a drunk man in the dark. Maybe part of it looks like it has a place in a consistent "policy" but that's probably because so much of the world is in chaos that almost anything might be seen to fit in.
And if Bush's Iraq war set back the "freedom agenda for a generation," I can hardly wait to see what the blow back from Trump will be.
That wonderful missile strike on a Syrian airbase that was supposedly in retaliation for a chemical weapons attack? It was so effective that planes were taking off from that airbase the next day.
Trump stumbles along from one fiasco to the next, perhaps replicating the attitudes of some past presidents, but mostly like a drunk man in the dark. Maybe part of it looks like it has a place in a consistent "policy" but that's probably because so much of the world is in chaos that almost anything might be seen to fit in.
And if Bush's Iraq war set back the "freedom agenda for a generation," I can hardly wait to see what the blow back from Trump will be.
5
Trump's always been a one-man show, an autocrat in action. Trump doesn't play well with others who aren't of a like-mind. Trump doesn't have a "foreign policy", it's simply that Bannon and his bunions have latched onto to trump's perverted little personality and boundless narcissism to impose their "vision": they got lucky that trump is such an excellent conman. Nonetheless, if the US is going to follow trump in his love of dictators and liberal democracies become suspect, the quasi-enemy...well, what else would one expect in the land of trump where up is down and down is up.
2
America did not always define itself through it's adversaries, but through it's pursuit of higher minded goals. Much of the rot we see today in our society comes from that turn inward and need to find enemies. Not to say it hasn't always been there, but it didn't rule us like our fears do now.
From Lincoln, to FDR, to Kennedy they found better agents to aspire to. We used to look to the stars and an expansive view of humanity's potential. Now it seems we can only look down and stroke our latest toy.
From Lincoln, to FDR, to Kennedy they found better agents to aspire to. We used to look to the stars and an expansive view of humanity's potential. Now it seems we can only look down and stroke our latest toy.
2
This article attempts to transform irrational behavior into some form of normal behavior. Trump's foreign policy is a minute-by-minute construction, with no coherence, continuity, or clarity between minute one and minute two.
12
What the writer takes as evidence is mere foam being blown around, clearly public relations fluff. If "defending civilization" is the popular buzz phrase, Trump will use it. It is code word for policies that protect wealthy vested interests, and conveniently appeals to those seeking a heroic dimension to their lives. And they've made a correction: they don't call it a Crusade anymore.
7
With all due respect, Professor Wertheim is misguided and chasing an imaginary theme. Donald Trump does not possess a tenth of the clarity or purpose attributed to him by this essay. He has no experience and no education for the job, and has been consistently guided solely by self-interest and profit - even now. One should not mistake demagogic rhetoric for meaningful policy.
12
I wish this thesis was correct. I fear it is not. Trump is so random anybody can find material that supports the idea of a coherent Trump policy on this or that.
8
It is ridiculous, and dangerous, to attribute to Trump any semblance of a foreign policy strategy or doctrine.
Trump is a performance artist, responding the feelings he gets from his adoring rally crowds, Twitter, and watching a lot of TV. He is being played by an inner circle of advisers, some family, some latching on to him during his rise to power. Every decision, every action is suspect. The public interest is something Trump never thought about and he is rightfully ostracized by the other leaders of the the G20 nations.
This column finally reveals itself, and the key to Trump, near the very end: ''white demographic decline.'' How far will Trump, his administration and his enablers in the Congress go to fight the inevitability of demographic change in the US and around the world?
Trump is a performance artist, responding the feelings he gets from his adoring rally crowds, Twitter, and watching a lot of TV. He is being played by an inner circle of advisers, some family, some latching on to him during his rise to power. Every decision, every action is suspect. The public interest is something Trump never thought about and he is rightfully ostracized by the other leaders of the the G20 nations.
This column finally reveals itself, and the key to Trump, near the very end: ''white demographic decline.'' How far will Trump, his administration and his enablers in the Congress go to fight the inevitability of demographic change in the US and around the world?
245
I agree. This is a perfect example of the normalization of Trump.
Trump's inconsistencies challenge Professor Wertheim's thesis. A man who, in the middle of the G-20 summit, continued to tweet obsessively about the election and Hillary Clinton, cannot qualify as a serious architect of foreign policy. The comments about the value of the West and NATO, moreover, occurred at the tail end of a rambling speech about Poland, giving them the appearance of an afterthought.
And his advisers, some of whom wrote that speech, seem to disagree amongst themselves over the proper direction of foreign policy , as indicated by the social Darwinist outlook expressed in an op-ed piece written by two of them shortly before the G-20 summit. But Trump, himself, stated his default position on America's world role during the campaign, when he painted a surreal picture of the US beset by moochers masquerading as allies.
The image of the US as international sucker rather than leader of NATO resonated with many voters who had never shared the governing elite's deep commitment to America's prominent role, especially after the collapse of the SU. The widespread resentment of our responsibilities, reflected in the consistent popular exaggeration of the level of foreign aid, found expression in Trump's disdain for unreliable allies. From this perspective, the Great Wall, not the belated embrace of NATO, represents the essence of what passes for Trump's foreign policy.
And his advisers, some of whom wrote that speech, seem to disagree amongst themselves over the proper direction of foreign policy , as indicated by the social Darwinist outlook expressed in an op-ed piece written by two of them shortly before the G-20 summit. But Trump, himself, stated his default position on America's world role during the campaign, when he painted a surreal picture of the US beset by moochers masquerading as allies.
The image of the US as international sucker rather than leader of NATO resonated with many voters who had never shared the governing elite's deep commitment to America's prominent role, especially after the collapse of the SU. The widespread resentment of our responsibilities, reflected in the consistent popular exaggeration of the level of foreign aid, found expression in Trump's disdain for unreliable allies. From this perspective, the Great Wall, not the belated embrace of NATO, represents the essence of what passes for Trump's foreign policy.
14
None of the post war presidents has done a credible job of defining what the West stands for. Nearly all have espoused freedom or human rights as if they were enough. They are not. Concretely, the West is about Rule of Law, Transparent Markets, constantly improving infrastructure and open communications, and Scientific Rationalism. All are under attack due to generations of mushiness. This has made Trump and it made him or someone like him inevitable. The hope of the people is that congress and the judiciary take these four objectives seriously and that they step up to their jobs in the scheme of checks and balances.
11
Too late, the philanthrope.
Not only this piece but ALL commentaries that attempt to elucidate Trump "policies" or "doctrines" are falling into the by now obvious trap of imagining that Trump is a reasonable man. Trump is not capable of "forging a foreign policy", particularly one based on an idea of Western civilization, because he has no sense or knowledge of history, or, for that matter, of civilization. I hear commentaries like this every day,"Trump is moving in a new direction..." as if he were considering the next step in the light of his understanding of the world, or of people, or of the mood in Congress. Sure, Trump has speechwriters who are presumably working with more organized minds than his, but he is capable of undermining any principle or policy in a 5:00 a.m. tweet, or another garbled answer to an interviewer. Even the most anti-Trump writers too often show him the respect of "analyzing" his "ideas" or thoughts", when it should be clear by now that all this guy has are momentary impulses, which are not subject to rational analysis or discussion. Stop it.
108
You picked the words right out of my mouth. Thank you :-)
4
McMaster contributed another brilliant piece of propaganda in the same vein last week in regards to dt's foreign policy "plans". As if there is one.
"I hear commentaries like this every day,"Trump is moving in a new direction..." as if he were considering the next step in the light of his understanding of the world, or of people, or of the mood in Congress."
Sasha, "he is moving in a new direction" they way Hitler moved in a new direction, his warped sense of where the world (Germany) had to go. It was based on his damaged mind, and while Trump may not be Hitler, he has a damaged mind and it will be interesting the direction he will go and take us.
Anyone who is not brain dead should be very worried.
Sasha, "he is moving in a new direction" they way Hitler moved in a new direction, his warped sense of where the world (Germany) had to go. It was based on his damaged mind, and while Trump may not be Hitler, he has a damaged mind and it will be interesting the direction he will go and take us.
Anyone who is not brain dead should be very worried.
As Francis Fukuyama's "end of history" or Samuel Huntington's "clash of civilisations" formulations were far removed from the reality, and turned the accepted meaning of the concepts of history and civilisation topsy-turvy to serve the cause of the neocon ideologues and their political patrons, Trump's rhetoric in defense of the Western civilisation too is not more than a farce, with a desperate desire to project himself as the world leader that's again his wishful thinking as with his disastrous actions and bizarre behaviour he has already made himself a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.
28
It's far, far worse; the electorate here in the far from united, United States of America, have exposed themselves, to the people of the world, as seriously flawed, possessing joyously, with abandon, hatred of any, and all, who do not share their ignorance and bigotry, and bereft of any smidgen of empathy.
The United States of America, during the last few decades, has turned itself upside down, negating the genuine concern we used to have for the wellbeing of humanity, and the welfare of the planet.
The engineered inequality, at the hands of our corporate/ military / industrial owned government, our heartless masters, is the engine that drove us to this sad end.
The United States of America, during the last few decades, has turned itself upside down, negating the genuine concern we used to have for the wellbeing of humanity, and the welfare of the planet.
The engineered inequality, at the hands of our corporate/ military / industrial owned government, our heartless masters, is the engine that drove us to this sad end.
6
The good professor has done an excellent job of analyzing Mr. Trump's recent speeches. But I think he is overlooking an obvious question. Who is writing those speeches? It certainly is not the present occupant of the oval office.
Our president is famous for adopting the opinion of the last person he talked to. When he comes upon someone else, will change his mind. I don't think it's likely that he'll develop a persistent, integrated, and well thought out foreign doctrine for his administration. His history has been quite the opposite.: jumping from one thing to another in a rather incoherent way
So let's wait a little while before we write long tomes about the Trump doctrine. It will probably be different tomorrow.
Our president is famous for adopting the opinion of the last person he talked to. When he comes upon someone else, will change his mind. I don't think it's likely that he'll develop a persistent, integrated, and well thought out foreign doctrine for his administration. His history has been quite the opposite.: jumping from one thing to another in a rather incoherent way
So let's wait a little while before we write long tomes about the Trump doctrine. It will probably be different tomorrow.
302
True about Trump's speech written by others, and so on - but this is true to some extent of all presidents - when we say Bush did this or Kennedy did that, we using the names of individuals, but we are referring to administrations - inner circles of advisors and manipulators, and even larger groups of supporters and power brokers. Some specific moves might be purely individual choices, but generally we are looking at collective behavior.
That said, the Trump administration itself seems pretty chaotic, and we may never see a coherent doctrine of any sort emerging.
That said, the Trump administration itself seems pretty chaotic, and we may never see a coherent doctrine of any sort emerging.
1
The author like President Trump is having difficulty in making sense of The World and America's place in it. This is mainly because America's relative power to determine its own place is waining: less than 5% of the global population and at best 15% of global GNP.
The American people understand this and hence, as compared to his predecessors, Obama's non interventions and Trump's "America First" posture.
The Rest of the World is coming to realize that America is indeed "A Paper Tiger." Can anyone imagine America to-day waging a war akin to those in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan (all not won) with the commitment of several hundred thousands of troops and trillions of dollars in defense of "Western Civilization"? Mr Bannon perhaps but few others: there is none of the wallet, the will or the wit to do so.
The American people understand this and hence, as compared to his predecessors, Obama's non interventions and Trump's "America First" posture.
The Rest of the World is coming to realize that America is indeed "A Paper Tiger." Can anyone imagine America to-day waging a war akin to those in Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan (all not won) with the commitment of several hundred thousands of troops and trillions of dollars in defense of "Western Civilization"? Mr Bannon perhaps but few others: there is none of the wallet, the will or the wit to do so.
67
LOL US GDP is 18.5 trillion. China about 11, UK 2.6 and the big bad Russians 1.2. I call that winning, not waining (or in your case, whining)
Trump has smart people around the world trying to explain the method to his madness with the hopes of normalizing him. No one wants to admit that the American people lost their minds and elected a madman to the presidency but we did and trying to normalize him won't change that sad fact. There is no method to Trump's madness, there's just madness.
After WWII Europe needed our support both militarily and financially while they rebuilt. US support provided the stability that the war torn continent needed. Yes perhaps Europe became complacent and didn't do enough to protect themselves once they were in a position to do so but perhaps after thousands of years of senseless wars they were smart enough to recognize that a strong social safety net would prevent unwanted and unnecessary wars to flair up again.
We live in a changing world. Globalisation, inequality aggravated by the 2008 recession, and global warming are all much bigger threats that need to be addressed. Trump is a symptom of how unhealthy we are. Rather than focusing on normalizing his insanity try focusing on what caused him and give us solutions to those very real problems that he represents.
After WWII Europe needed our support both militarily and financially while they rebuilt. US support provided the stability that the war torn continent needed. Yes perhaps Europe became complacent and didn't do enough to protect themselves once they were in a position to do so but perhaps after thousands of years of senseless wars they were smart enough to recognize that a strong social safety net would prevent unwanted and unnecessary wars to flair up again.
We live in a changing world. Globalisation, inequality aggravated by the 2008 recession, and global warming are all much bigger threats that need to be addressed. Trump is a symptom of how unhealthy we are. Rather than focusing on normalizing his insanity try focusing on what caused him and give us solutions to those very real problems that he represents.
127
You are correct.
It will be a very, very, long time before the damage can be limited, if ever.
The "Masters of Mankind", (Google Noam Chomsky; watch his report on Netflix); you will begin to understand that change for the better will only occur through worldwide rebellion, which has begun, but is being put down everywhere.
Orwell was a visionary; his 1984 novel is almost an accurate description of our world today, war and conflict everywhere, economic slavery for the masses rampant, terrorist activity occurring anywhere and everywhere, including state sanctioned coups, manipulation of reality and truth, and a mainstream media managing perception on behalf of the ruling elites.
And "We the unbelievably stupid People", let it occur, and enabled it.
It will be a very, very, long time before the damage can be limited, if ever.
The "Masters of Mankind", (Google Noam Chomsky; watch his report on Netflix); you will begin to understand that change for the better will only occur through worldwide rebellion, which has begun, but is being put down everywhere.
Orwell was a visionary; his 1984 novel is almost an accurate description of our world today, war and conflict everywhere, economic slavery for the masses rampant, terrorist activity occurring anywhere and everywhere, including state sanctioned coups, manipulation of reality and truth, and a mainstream media managing perception on behalf of the ruling elites.
And "We the unbelievably stupid People", let it occur, and enabled it.
2
Stephen Wertheim, as a Cambridge historian, qualifies as an "intellectual," the lowest form of life for more than a few Trump supporters.
His imagination may be impressive, but his defense of Trump's non-existent policies/ideas amounts to little more than specious rationalization: there is, indeed, NO there there, other than whatever captures Trump's attention for a fleeting moment.
Wertheim's hyper-rationalized "explanation" of Trump's supposed ideas undeservedly elevates Trump's behavior to a rational plane that ignores where Trump truly functions: what just happened or was said? does it fortify my self image and my personal interests?
His imagination may be impressive, but his defense of Trump's non-existent policies/ideas amounts to little more than specious rationalization: there is, indeed, NO there there, other than whatever captures Trump's attention for a fleeting moment.
Wertheim's hyper-rationalized "explanation" of Trump's supposed ideas undeservedly elevates Trump's behavior to a rational plane that ignores where Trump truly functions: what just happened or was said? does it fortify my self image and my personal interests?
157
Mr. Weiswasser is spot on. Hyper-rationalization of something that does not exist extends a level of seriousness to something that history has shown to be dangerous, and in this specific case incoherent.
15
Agreed.
There's something about Trump, like some weird shape-shifter. Everyone sees whatever it is that they want to see. Today Mr. Wertheim imagines he's a neo-con. By Christmas no one will even remember why.
I suspect that his wife is the only one with a realistic opinion.
There's something about Trump, like some weird shape-shifter. Everyone sees whatever it is that they want to see. Today Mr. Wertheim imagines he's a neo-con. By Christmas no one will even remember why.
I suspect that his wife is the only one with a realistic opinion.
2
That's quite a headline!
"Plan" - seriously?
"Save" - not likely
"Civilization" - no such luck
The unholy trinity of grift, ignorance, and arrogance is ugly enough, and encouraging people to reach for their inner hatred is evil.
"Plan" - seriously?
"Save" - not likely
"Civilization" - no such luck
The unholy trinity of grift, ignorance, and arrogance is ugly enough, and encouraging people to reach for their inner hatred is evil.
457
Mr. Wertheim's assertion that Mr Trump intends to save Western civilization by embracing autocrats as its defenders reminds me of the Vietnam War cliché: "we had to destroy the village in order to save it." I'm also assuming that juxtaposing Mr. Trump's support for the rule of law with his endorsement of Philippines President Duterte's death squad approach to the drug problem was satire rather than serious analysis.
Mr. Wertheim's mention of the neocons' "Team B" analysis of Soviet capabilities neglects to note that Team B (led by Doug Feith) gave a wildly overstated but politically convenient assessment of the Soviet's military capabilities. Doug Feith later led a team which generated similar dubious (but convenient) intelligence estimates of Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction" capabilities.
It seems obvious that Mr. Wertheim equates neocon miltarism and love of authoritarianism with the values of Western civilization. Using military force to crush democracies and replace them with authoritarian governments is hardly what we typically believe to be the goal of Western civilization - even if far too often we've done just that. It is disquieting that a historian could so profoundly misstate our values and approve of Mr. Trump's seeking to replace those lofty goals with with the phrase "might makes right."
Mr. Wertheim's mention of the neocons' "Team B" analysis of Soviet capabilities neglects to note that Team B (led by Doug Feith) gave a wildly overstated but politically convenient assessment of the Soviet's military capabilities. Doug Feith later led a team which generated similar dubious (but convenient) intelligence estimates of Iraq's "weapons of mass destruction" capabilities.
It seems obvious that Mr. Wertheim equates neocon miltarism and love of authoritarianism with the values of Western civilization. Using military force to crush democracies and replace them with authoritarian governments is hardly what we typically believe to be the goal of Western civilization - even if far too often we've done just that. It is disquieting that a historian could so profoundly misstate our values and approve of Mr. Trump's seeking to replace those lofty goals with with the phrase "might makes right."
118
"To be precise, Mr. Trump appears to be evolving into a kind of neoconservative."
I don't seem to get that impression reading David Brooks, Bret Stephens, Arthur Brooks in the NYT. et al. in other newspapers. One positive comment by Dr. Charles Krauthammer in the WP does not turn one into a neoconservative, unless one wants to re-define both neo and conservative.
Sometimes geographic distance adds objective perspective. In the case of Dr. Wertheim, albeit educated at Columbia and Harvard, this does not seem to be the case.
I don't seem to get that impression reading David Brooks, Bret Stephens, Arthur Brooks in the NYT. et al. in other newspapers. One positive comment by Dr. Charles Krauthammer in the WP does not turn one into a neoconservative, unless one wants to re-define both neo and conservative.
Sometimes geographic distance adds objective perspective. In the case of Dr. Wertheim, albeit educated at Columbia and Harvard, this does not seem to be the case.
24
Neoconservatives, the original real ones, were very clear. They abandoned Trump. They went to Hillary. She welcomed them. They still attack Trump constantly.
No, he is not the neoconservative.
No, he is not the neoconservative.
10
I doubt that "President" Trump paid any attention to what was going on in class when Western Civilization was the topic. However, given his unbounded admiration for Putin, Duterte and heaven only knows what other strongmen we don't yet know about, I'd bet anything he remembers what Stalin, Mao, and other despots did to "keep the country safe". And for those who think that Stalin and Mao were true Communists have another think. They were anything but Communists. They murdered thousands of their countrymen, destroyed the environment, and drove out many of their most intelligent citizens if they didn't murder them first. This is what Trump admires. Not the messy processes of democracy, the questions involved, the cooperation needed. No, he and the GOP want a combination theocracy, oligarchy, and dynastic state in America. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are turning in their graves at what America is becoming.
156
If Mr. Trump intends to represent "Western civilization", he will have to cease speaking, reacting, and being Mr. Trump. Everything he does weaken "Western values": he has no shown any respect for liberal democracy, balance of power, freedom of the press or the rule of law and does not display any concern for the public good. And he certainly does not embody "civilization" (nor culture, as a matter of fact). This kind of discourse is not going to work in Europe. In fact, Mr. Trump discredits the very idea of Western civilization. And frankly, he is certainly not able to i lead the West", especially if he includes Mr. Putin in it. On the contrary, the election of Mr Trump (forever overshadowed by the murky links with Russia and Russian involvement to help his campaign) marks the end of the West. Thanks to Mr. Trump and that part of the right he speaks for, one can doubt whether America still belongs to the West. At any rate, the "Western civilization" phrase now seems phony and fake.
354
Quite frankly, it is not easy to understand what is meant by "Western Civilization." Is it the 18th century "Enlightenment," with its presumption of rationality, perhaps tempered by 19th century romanticism with its emphasis on emotions. Is it the tradition of "life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness," at least for white males, or the Nazi appeal to race and ethnic nationalism?
Western civilization, that is, the sort of way people in the West have chosen to live in the past 200 years, is a mixture of religiosity and crass materialism. This is not any worse that any other civilization that one can point to over the same time period.
As for "Judeo-Christian," when did the latter decide that the Judeo part was part of the Christian? Of course, since Vatican II. Actually, as Mohammad also referenced Moses and Jesus, why isn't the concept extended to "Abrahamic" or some such designation. Moreover, if all these religious movements that give alleged moral and spiritual authority to their adherents originated in the Middle East, what is specifically "Western" about them?
A better case can be made that with the Reformation, all basis of authority was incorporated in the individual, not in ecclesiastical or secular power structures. Private property rights, by implication, limit the powers of the State. The perceptions of one's conscience limit the spiritual power of the Church. Etc. Is this what is meant by "Western Civilization? What does Trump have to do with it?
Western civilization, that is, the sort of way people in the West have chosen to live in the past 200 years, is a mixture of religiosity and crass materialism. This is not any worse that any other civilization that one can point to over the same time period.
As for "Judeo-Christian," when did the latter decide that the Judeo part was part of the Christian? Of course, since Vatican II. Actually, as Mohammad also referenced Moses and Jesus, why isn't the concept extended to "Abrahamic" or some such designation. Moreover, if all these religious movements that give alleged moral and spiritual authority to their adherents originated in the Middle East, what is specifically "Western" about them?
A better case can be made that with the Reformation, all basis of authority was incorporated in the individual, not in ecclesiastical or secular power structures. Private property rights, by implication, limit the powers of the State. The perceptions of one's conscience limit the spiritual power of the Church. Etc. Is this what is meant by "Western Civilization? What does Trump have to do with it?
20
I'm sorry, Professor Wertheim, but I do not recognize Donald Trump in anything you wrote here.
He is a man without ideology beyond assuming that of the last person he speaks to. He is a man with no sense of history or historical context, and thus, can't see his purpose abroad. And as for the Warsaw speech, well: he clearly didn't write it, and very little he's done to date is advancing its goals.
He's erratic and all over the place. Snubbing Macron when he won over Mr. Trump's choice, Marine Le Pen, he goes to Paris for the pomp and circumstance, or maybe just for another few days of iron hand contest.
And his love of and admiration for the world's despots--from Putin to Erdogan to Duterte of the Philippines--is very much the antithesis of "protecting western civilization" as he boldly proclaimed in Warsaw. (By the way, Poland is on its way to ceding democracy to totalitarianism with its abrupt takeover of the judicial system).
He's paying the price for his inordinate "Russia crush" which many here believe is less a crush than the fear Putin will out him in some way. Clearly Russia has some hold over him, very likely financial. And his one-time strike against chemical weapons in Syria was more of an attention getter, than proof of his commitment to stand up to Assad (particularly when he just cancelled anti-Assad CIA actions)
So, as for the likelihood that Donald Trump is going to "save" western civilization, if you really believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
He is a man without ideology beyond assuming that of the last person he speaks to. He is a man with no sense of history or historical context, and thus, can't see his purpose abroad. And as for the Warsaw speech, well: he clearly didn't write it, and very little he's done to date is advancing its goals.
He's erratic and all over the place. Snubbing Macron when he won over Mr. Trump's choice, Marine Le Pen, he goes to Paris for the pomp and circumstance, or maybe just for another few days of iron hand contest.
And his love of and admiration for the world's despots--from Putin to Erdogan to Duterte of the Philippines--is very much the antithesis of "protecting western civilization" as he boldly proclaimed in Warsaw. (By the way, Poland is on its way to ceding democracy to totalitarianism with its abrupt takeover of the judicial system).
He's paying the price for his inordinate "Russia crush" which many here believe is less a crush than the fear Putin will out him in some way. Clearly Russia has some hold over him, very likely financial. And his one-time strike against chemical weapons in Syria was more of an attention getter, than proof of his commitment to stand up to Assad (particularly when he just cancelled anti-Assad CIA actions)
So, as for the likelihood that Donald Trump is going to "save" western civilization, if you really believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.
900
This article is actually a brilliant piece of satire, deserving of the Mark Twain humour award.
4
My God, what did you have for breakfast this morning? I think you assume too much and ascribe too many thoughts and motives to Mr. Trump, (All of them in the negative). If someone were to "save" Western Civilization, a lofty goal that is doubtful to succeed, that would be a very good thing. It is just that .. a lofty goal, and nothing wrong with it. Many presidents have proposed lofty goals such as to "make the world safe for democracy."
Trump operates (rightly or wrongly) like a business man. There are individuals and powers that we have to interact with and deal with. If we can achieve worthwhile goals and advance the interests of the United States without creating unnecessary conflict, so much the better.
Trump operates (rightly or wrongly) like a business man. There are individuals and powers that we have to interact with and deal with. If we can achieve worthwhile goals and advance the interests of the United States without creating unnecessary conflict, so much the better.
Trump has a foreign policy?
1
In this, as in other things, Trump's solution for present problems and template for policies to guide the future is a faux version of something that was real and valid in the past but does not apply today they way it once did. His 'clash of civilizations' model is comfortingly familiar and reassuringly simplistic, but it's not equal to the task of meeting the challenges the US faces in the world.
Obama understood the dangers of the us vs them, good vs. evil approach. While he was, as you say, not shy about confronting our enemies, he sought to dispel the notion that the appearance of militant Islamic fundamentalism represents a 'clash of civilizations' and poses an existential threat to the West. While decimating their ranks to the best of his ability, Obama also sought to deny militant Islamic fundamentalists their propaganda game. Wisdom instead of posturing and bluster.
Obama understood the dangers of the us vs them, good vs. evil approach. While he was, as you say, not shy about confronting our enemies, he sought to dispel the notion that the appearance of militant Islamic fundamentalism represents a 'clash of civilizations' and poses an existential threat to the West. While decimating their ranks to the best of his ability, Obama also sought to deny militant Islamic fundamentalists their propaganda game. Wisdom instead of posturing and bluster.
53
Well, when you consider the extent to which McDonald's has conquered the world, it can't be too surprising that an American president would confuse American culture with Western "civilization". If the French demur, they should make a better effort to evangelize fricasseed frog's legs.
If Western civilization truly is attacked or even seriously threatened by an external, existential force, it's outrageous that the left believes that Trump wouldn't defend it with America's might. Of course he would. But when you're trying to get a meaningful level of participation in our common defense out of Euros so focused on Band-Aids and free cheese, you don't do what every president since Truman has done and simply provide the skirts behind which others hide while they build social safety networks that we could never afford while we defended ourselves -- and them. You put the fear of Trump in them.
And to what results? Europe's constituent powers, Germany most notably, finally are making noises about understanding that they need to beef up their militaries; that is, unless you're Emmanuel Macron, who is cutting French budgets across the board and ticking off his generals. But at least he's also cutting the entitlement state, which someday may throw off the cash necessary to keep the French from being forced to adopt Russian or Arabic as cradle languages. Clearly, Trump has more work to do in aid of this future.
I guess I generally agree with Prof. Wertheim. Imagine that.
If Western civilization truly is attacked or even seriously threatened by an external, existential force, it's outrageous that the left believes that Trump wouldn't defend it with America's might. Of course he would. But when you're trying to get a meaningful level of participation in our common defense out of Euros so focused on Band-Aids and free cheese, you don't do what every president since Truman has done and simply provide the skirts behind which others hide while they build social safety networks that we could never afford while we defended ourselves -- and them. You put the fear of Trump in them.
And to what results? Europe's constituent powers, Germany most notably, finally are making noises about understanding that they need to beef up their militaries; that is, unless you're Emmanuel Macron, who is cutting French budgets across the board and ticking off his generals. But at least he's also cutting the entitlement state, which someday may throw off the cash necessary to keep the French from being forced to adopt Russian or Arabic as cradle languages. Clearly, Trump has more work to do in aid of this future.
I guess I generally agree with Prof. Wertheim. Imagine that.
9
You seem to have missed the point most of the others who have commented were making: with no meaningful connection to anything that might be considered a pillar of our civilization--reason, Judeo- Christian religion, the arts, tolerance, respect for democratic institutions, charity, science--he is not a credible spokesman for Western Civilization. Indeed, whatever he might be interested in defending seems to be something else entirely.
11
David:
And you seem to have missed my point, which is that it's understandable that a philistine president might mistake American culture for Western "civilization" when he consumes so many Big Macs and knows that as he swallows, so does much of the world.
And you seem to have missed my point, which is that it's understandable that a philistine president might mistake American culture for Western "civilization" when he consumes so many Big Macs and knows that as he swallows, so does much of the world.
1
"while they build social safety networks that we could never afford while we defended ourselves -- and them."
We CAN afford the social safety networks. So go ahead and agree with the professor but 'more guns' is not the answer. I know, I know, all those Americans with Obama phones. Just not right! If it wasn't for all those poors.....
We CAN afford the social safety networks. So go ahead and agree with the professor but 'more guns' is not the answer. I know, I know, all those Americans with Obama phones. Just not right! If it wasn't for all those poors.....
5
This piece is a dangerous example of the kind of normalization that can be produced by foreign policy intellectuals with nothing to do during an unpredictable administration but muse on what generic formulas of a doctrine *might* fit and allow for the application of stock critiques of those formulas.
In such a situation, one has two options: attempt to strech a generic formula over a wide field of inconsistent examples, or harp largely on a single, yet unrepresentative example, as somehow more significant than others.
This piece chooses the latter and overplays the Warsaw speech relative to the administration's other foreign policy commitments. In doing so, it passes up an opportunity to probe deeper into who is steering various aspects of the Trump foreign policy agenda. This speech was clearly Bannon's work, not the hallmark of a global Trump policy - and other aspects of the admin's foreign policy have the stamps of Kushner, Tillerson, etc.
No doubt it's much more dramatic - and make foreign policy intellectuals, particularly those trained in intellectual history - feel a bit more useful to claim that there's a Trump doctrine that's "civilizational," though, and use this to trot out eventual analysis invoking Samuel Huntington and other lodestars of the tradition of such thinking. Unfortunately, there's rarely the degree of intellectual coherence in administrations to make such claims viable - and even less so in this case.
In such a situation, one has two options: attempt to strech a generic formula over a wide field of inconsistent examples, or harp largely on a single, yet unrepresentative example, as somehow more significant than others.
This piece chooses the latter and overplays the Warsaw speech relative to the administration's other foreign policy commitments. In doing so, it passes up an opportunity to probe deeper into who is steering various aspects of the Trump foreign policy agenda. This speech was clearly Bannon's work, not the hallmark of a global Trump policy - and other aspects of the admin's foreign policy have the stamps of Kushner, Tillerson, etc.
No doubt it's much more dramatic - and make foreign policy intellectuals, particularly those trained in intellectual history - feel a bit more useful to claim that there's a Trump doctrine that's "civilizational," though, and use this to trot out eventual analysis invoking Samuel Huntington and other lodestars of the tradition of such thinking. Unfortunately, there's rarely the degree of intellectual coherence in administrations to make such claims viable - and even less so in this case.
65
"We’ve got this perverse situation in which the vast analytic powers of the entire world are being spent trying to understand a guy whose thoughts are often just six fireflies beeping randomly in a jar." -- David Brooks
I would suggest that rather than thinking there was any substance to Trump's speech he might have been just enjoying making a rousing speech in front of an appreciative crowd. He's like that. There is likely no policy behind it whatsoever.
I would suggest that rather than thinking there was any substance to Trump's speech he might have been just enjoying making a rousing speech in front of an appreciative crowd. He's like that. There is likely no policy behind it whatsoever.
389
Yes, David brooks said it best. Fireflies in a jar.
1
Its frighting if you truly believed that, and politically demonizing.
There is nothing like a coherent foreign policy from the Trump White House.
Nikki Haley kicks off her ambassadorship to the UN with a threat that the US is keeping score on who does America's bidding. Then, earlier this month, Ms. Haley asked for an emergency Security Council meeting because of fears over North Korea. You can't bully other countries, then expect them to be at your side when you get threatened.
Donald Trump famously picked on NATO, then Mike Pence had to run behind him with assurances that the US is dedicated to the alliance. Trump has since modified his tone, but still throws out gratuitous charges of cheapness.
Trump spoke of western society while in Poland, but that followed his visit to Saudi Arabia, a place as far possible from western culture and democratic values, and said that our countries share much in common and that he would not lecture them.
The only consistency is that Trump and his mouthpieces say whatever seems expedient at a given moment.
Nikki Haley kicks off her ambassadorship to the UN with a threat that the US is keeping score on who does America's bidding. Then, earlier this month, Ms. Haley asked for an emergency Security Council meeting because of fears over North Korea. You can't bully other countries, then expect them to be at your side when you get threatened.
Donald Trump famously picked on NATO, then Mike Pence had to run behind him with assurances that the US is dedicated to the alliance. Trump has since modified his tone, but still throws out gratuitous charges of cheapness.
Trump spoke of western society while in Poland, but that followed his visit to Saudi Arabia, a place as far possible from western culture and democratic values, and said that our countries share much in common and that he would not lecture them.
The only consistency is that Trump and his mouthpieces say whatever seems expedient at a given moment.
76
In the past, Presidents used the term Western civilization to mean democracy, freedom from persecution and the freedom of self-determination. It was an ideal that all could aspire to.
In his Warsaw speech, Trump's Western civilization meant Europe (remember he said we write symphonies)....... therefore a much narrower focus.
Also, Mr Trump portrayed the peoples of the South and East as the enemies.
What is in the South of the Europe? Africa and the Middle East.
What is in the East? Asians
So in short, Trump proclaimed People of color to be the enemies of the "West".
Just because his speech writers were clever enough to put traditional USA verbiage around that main concept does not negate the fact that the speech was a White nationalist speech.
This was not a speech to admire nor should we embrace it as a high-minded policy.
In his Warsaw speech, Trump's Western civilization meant Europe (remember he said we write symphonies)....... therefore a much narrower focus.
Also, Mr Trump portrayed the peoples of the South and East as the enemies.
What is in the South of the Europe? Africa and the Middle East.
What is in the East? Asians
So in short, Trump proclaimed People of color to be the enemies of the "West".
Just because his speech writers were clever enough to put traditional USA verbiage around that main concept does not negate the fact that the speech was a White nationalist speech.
This was not a speech to admire nor should we embrace it as a high-minded policy.
303
Claiming that Trump has a foreign policy doctrine is akin to claiming that McConnell is a humanitarian.
If this opinion piece contained any more spin it would fly off the planet at the speed of light.
It's as tethered to reality as a Paul Ryan budget.
If this opinion piece contained any more spin it would fly off the planet at the speed of light.
It's as tethered to reality as a Paul Ryan budget.
533
I think he's being ironic with an underlying truth that defense of civilization is a pretty good refuge for scoundrels.
Is Mr. Wertheim applying for a job in Trump administration? One speech and suddenly "a Trump doctrine is emerging." So the Trump 2012 election logo becomes: "Make Civilization Great Again."
1
When I was in elementary school in the 1930's, the decade of the Great Depression, one memorable quote by the nuns teaching us catechism was this:
"What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul." That stayed with me for nearly 80 years. So I retrieved it from memory, dusted it off and offer this question. How can one save all the souls in Western Civilization when he is losing his own?
"What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul." That stayed with me for nearly 80 years. So I retrieved it from memory, dusted it off and offer this question. How can one save all the souls in Western Civilization when he is losing his own?
121
You assume that Trump has a soul to begin with, which he doesn't, so nothing to lose there. Nor does he have compassion, empathy, a sense of fairness or concern about his fellow humans as Jesus wanted us to do. He is also a fake Christian.
7
"The trouble, plainly, isn’t what Mr. Trump has done; it is who he is." Say what?
24
Remarkably well written article with a through, objective analysis and a balanced viewpoint. This is the kind of writing that once made me love reading the New York Times. If this were to become the norm again, I might even subscribe again. Well done.
13
And just what was so wonderful about this article that you are so taken with? Your critical analysis is breath-taking
6
Absolutely ridiculous.
5