Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

[vt]

It's different from Obama and Bush:

From todays Wall Street Journal-

"In a separate passage, one in which Mr. Trump clearly was following a script rather than freelancing, he said: “We will stop looking to topple regimes and overthrow governments, folks.”

After wasting “$6 trillion” in Middle East fights, he said, “our goal is stability not chaos.”
He added: “We will partner with any nation that is willing to join us in the effort to defeat ISIS and radical Islamic terrorism…In our dealings with other countries, we will seek shared interest wherever possible and pursue a new era of peace, understanding and goodwill.”

And

"On their face, these statements suggest:
-- An end to the effort to oust Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad, for the effort to throw out Mr. Assad is nothing if not an effort to topple a regime.
-- A partnership with Russia in the region, for Russian President Vladimir Putin certainly has demonstrated he is “willing to join in the effort” to defeat Islamic State in Syria.
-- A warmer relationship with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, a strongman who has demonstrated an unmistakable ferocity in his own fight against Islamic extremism, while also being largely shunned by the Obama administration for shredding civil liberties in Egypt.
-- A policy toward Iran that doubtless will be hostile and include an attempt to dissolve the Obama-negotiated deal on nuclear arms, but one that won’t include regime change in Tehran as an explicit goal."

[Mega]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

[GRG55]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

Wasn't Jim Rickards the chief counsel for Long Term Capital Management? Now there's a guy that should know a thing or two about "currency shocks" LOL.

[GRG55]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

It's different from Obama and Bush:

From todays Wall Street Journal-

"In a separate passage, one in which Mr. Trump clearly was following a script rather than freelancing, he said: “We will stop looking to topple regimes and overthrow governments, folks.”

After wasting “$6 trillion” in Middle East fights, he said, “our goal is stability not chaos.”
He added: “We will partner with any nation that is willing to join us in the effort to defeat ISIS and radical Islamic terrorism…In our dealings with other countries, we will seek shared interest wherever possible and pursue a new era of peace, understanding and goodwill.”

And

"On their face, these statements suggest:
-- An end to the effort to oust Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad, for the effort to throw out Mr. Assad is nothing if not an effort to topple a regime.
-- A partnership with Russia in the region, for Russian President Vladimir Putin certainly has demonstrated he is “willing to join in the effort” to defeat Islamic State in Syria.
-- A warmer relationship with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, a strongman who has demonstrated an unmistakable ferocity in his own fight against Islamic extremism, while also being largely shunned by the Obama administration for shredding civil liberties in Egypt.
-- A policy toward Iran that doubtless will be hostile and include an attempt to dissolve the Obama-negotiated deal on nuclear arms, but one that won’t include regime change in Tehran as an explicit goal."

Not everything sounds all that much different from the Obama Administration. Just one example:

During a March 2, 2009 interview with the Arab television network Al Arabiya in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked about the State Deparment’s annual human rights report, which is perennially critical of Egypt’s record, and whether it was tied to an invitation for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to visit the United States.

She replied, in part:
“No. It’s an annual report. It is not in any way connected. We look forward to President Mubarak coming as soon as his schedule would permit. I had a wonderful time with him this morning. I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States."

Al Sisi has nothing on Mubarak when it comes to playing the strong man role in Egypt. Check his record.

btw, item 1 and item 4 in the list above are incompatible objectives. If indeed this report is accurate, and this is what the new Administration tries to do, it will be yet another typical bit of incoherent US Middle East policy. Sigh...

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

Not everything sounds all that much different from the Obama Administration. Just one example:

During a March 2, 2009 interview with the Arab television network Al Arabiya in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked about the State Deparment’s annual human rights report, which is perennially critical of Egypt’s record, and whether it was tied to an invitation for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to visit the United States.

She replied, in part:
“No. It’s an annual report. It is not in any way connected. We look forward to President Mubarak coming as soon as his schedule would permit. I had a wonderful time with him this morning. I really consider President and Mrs. Mubarak to be friends of my family. So I hope to see him often here in Egypt and in the United States."

Al Sisi has nothing on Mubarak when it comes to playing the strong man role in Egypt. Check his record.

btw, item 1 and item 4 in the list above are incompatible objectives. If indeed this report is accurate, and this is what the new Administration tries to do, it will be yet another typical bit of incoherent US Middle East policy. Sigh...

GRG55 any thoughts on Exxon CEO Reg Tillerson?

What's his industry reputation like and do you think he would be suitable as SecState?

The only nominee I'm genuinely happy with is Retired General Mattis, that guy has a very solid reputation across the spectrum in the military.

The usual suspects from Goldman Sachs is troubling.

[GRG55]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

GRG55 any thoughts on Exxon CEO Reg Tillerson?

What's his industry reputation like and do you think he would be suitable as SecState?

The only nominee I'm genuinely happy with is Retired General Mattis, that guy has a very solid reputation across the spectrum in the military.

The usual suspects from Goldman Sachs is troubling.

What we've been doing politically isn't working well enough. At least it isn't working well enough for the majority of working people it seems.

If we step back and look at the situation that the next Secretary of State is taking on it seems large parts of the popular meme are false beliefs. And the nonsense promulgated by both the Bush II and Obama Administrations helped set the stage for that. Everything from Colin Powell, the good and loyal soldier, visibly unconvinced of his own testimony to the UN to justify regime change in Iraq, to the idiotic French-led, US supported bombing of Libya. Critical thinking seems to elude us still.

For example, Russia is not a current threat to the USA, nor is it "beating" the USA on the world stage. Fergawdsake, Russia's economy is a complete shambles once again. It was a one trick, resource extraction, pony, and commodities are now in the toilet. And will stay that way as long as the US$ remains on a tear. Russia can barely afford the adventure it has undertaken in Syria, and seems to me is now looking for a graceful way to bow out. Certainly it has no appetite for a dust up in Ukraine either, unless it is forced into that position by the USA and NATO.

If Tillerson can achieve some sensible rapprochement with Russia and with Iran he will do a great service to his country, and the world imo. He has a lot better chance of accomplishing that than Mrs. Clinton or anyone else associated too closely with past Administrations.

He has the opportunity, stature and reputation to arguably be the best Secretary of State since James Baker. Let's hope he seizes it.

[vt]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

Has Merkel intentionally allowed ISIS to infiltrate Europe in order to set up the EU army and have Germany control it?

https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/...evidence_that/

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

He has the opportunity, stature and reputation to arguably be the best Secretary of State since James Baker. Let's hope he seizes it.

Cheers! Thanks for that. And happy holidays!

[touchring]

Re: Trumps Mideast Policy Shift

Russia is not a threat to the US, but a combined EU and Russia is more than a threat to the US. The Ukraine sabotage is designed to throw a spanner into the improving relations between Russia and Europe. The plan in theory works, but neglects the existence of:

1. ISIS, which thrives in chaos that the US creates and which as a non-state player is impossible for the Americans to control politically.

2. China, which benefits tremendously from the isolation of Russia since China gets access to cheap resources and military technology.

The plan is idiotic to begin with, even a layman can see this.

In a multi-polar world, the one who makes a mistake first is the biggest loser. So all players will avoid any risky moves.

What we've been doing politically isn't working well enough. At least it isn't working well enough for the majority of working people it seems.

If we step back and look at the situation that the next Secretary of State is taking on it seems large parts of the popular meme are false beliefs. And the nonsense promulgated by both the Bush II and Obama Administrations helped set the stage for that. Everything from Colin Powell, the good and loyal soldier, visibly unconvinced of his own testimony to the UN to justify regime change in Iraq, to the idiotic French-led, US supported bombing of Libya. Critical thinking seems to elude us still.

For example, Russia is not a current threat to the USA, nor is it "beating" the USA on the world stage. Fergawdsake, Russia's economy is a complete shambles once again. It was a one trick, resource extraction, pony, and commodities are now in the toilet. And will stay that way as long as the US$ remains on a tear. Russia can barely afford the adventure it has undertaken in Syria, and seems to me is now looking for a graceful way to bow out. Certainly it has no appetite for a dust up in Ukraine either, unless it is forced into that position by the USA and NATO.