US Foreign Policy: Off the Rails

September 18th, 2016

A recent commentary opined that, if elected, President Trump must find 'qualified' people for key positions; that only a few on his team have the necessary credentials.

Another article lauded Mrs. Clinton’s foreign policy acumen, experience and inside knowledge. This was compared to Mr. Trump’s inexperience and lack of inside knowledge, concluding that Mrs. Clinton was the only possible choice for those serious about US national security policy.

So… let's begin with several simple assertions:

Mrs. Clinton is at least part-author of current US foreign and security policy.

Mrs. Clinton will, on the whole, maintain current US foreign policy and national security policy.

Mrs. Clinton will draw from the ‘established’ policy experts.

So how has US foreign policy and national security policy developed after 7 years of these experts?

Iraq was recovering in 2009, declared a great success by VP Biden in 2011, but now wars with ISIS, and drifts further into the Iran – Russia camp everyday.

Egypt has been through two non-constitutional changes in government and is fighting a nasty shadow war with Islamic extremists.

Libya, not a friend in 2009, but being helpful, was turned into a failed state and a breeding ground for radical Islamists. This is arguably Mrs. Clinton’s particular achievement.

Syria’s civil war emerged from the ‘Arab Spring,’ an event misunderstood by the Mrs. Clinton and the Administration. 5 years later 300,000 Syrians are dead, the war continues, and a refugee crisis threatens Europe.

Russia rises, despite Clinton’s ‘Reset.’ Putin seized Crimea, is slowly seizing eastern Ukraine, has applied heavy-handed pressure on Georgia, and has successfully exploited the vacuum in the Middle East - caused by the partial US withdrawal - to keep Assad in place in Syria, and stake out a new power position for Russia.

Iran exploited the same power vacuum and helped to undermine the government of Yemen, leading to civil war in that country - now 5 years in duration. Now, flush with cash, Iran ‘flexes its muscles’ in the Persian Gulf and North Arabian Sea.

North Korea transitioned into the 3^rd generation of the Kim dynasty, has conducted scores of missile tests, and accelerated nuclear weapon development; the US has done nothing to slow that nuclear weapons program. Within a couple of years the North will probably have nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them regionally. Within 3 or 4 years they may be able to reach the US.

China continues expanding, with Chinese naval forces now on patrol in the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, Chinese bases built or building in Pakistan and Djibouti, and seeking a naval port in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

The Philippines’ new president is bowing to Chinese presence, and, recognizing American fecklessness and the situation in the South China Sea, it’s looking increasingly that he will cede de facto control of key Philippine islands to China.

Cuba’s leaders mocks us; Mexico builds a border wall to keep out those crossing its southern border (really); Chinese commercial interests have moved into Panama, and want to move into Nicaragua; Venezuela has collapsed; and Brazil and Argentina are facing economic and political crises.

Many US policies are diametrically opposite to that which came before. From Israel to Japan, Great Britain to the Philippines, the US has retreated from longtime friends, and courted new friends (e.g. Cuba and Iran) who’ve turned around and mocked the US even as the White House chases more agreements.

These political and economic situations, if not caused by the US, have all been seriously exacerbated by US policies in the last 7 years, many of which were first implemented by Mrs. Clinton.

Meanwhile, the US economy remains stagnant; and our military, according to those across the political spectrum, has grown weaker; investments are needed in a host of capabilities, and it will require years to recover.

Yet, those who created this mess wish to remain in power. These are the people the intelligentsia insists President Trump must have on his team.

As this disaster unfolds in slow motion we’re told that Mrs. Clinton can fix it. But Mrs. Clinton helped create this catastrophe. Can we really afford to give her another chance?

Perhaps Mr. Trump can’t fix it. But if ever there were an argument for Donald Trump, this is it.