What they feared has come to pass. The election of the maverick businessman, Donald Trump, two years ago as US President was a cause of concern to the larger world community with a stake in a peaceful and democratic world order. But from the word go, Trump began to prove those fears justified.
There is a lot he has done to make the most powerful executive office in the world a butt of public ridicule. Aside from his apolitical and inward-looking base, ordinary Americans have become weary of his conduct, afraid what he may do next. His early morning tweets often seek to change the course of well-established international relations, riling allies and giving comfort to America’s enemies.
The most unpredictable commodity in the White House has shunned saner counsels to act on his whims and reflexes, reneging on treaties with the allies and praising enemies like Russia and China. Even the North Korean dictator has been showered with fulsome praise, with Trump certifying his peaceful intentions and willingness to dismantle his considerable nuclear arsenal which specifically targets America and its long-term allies such as South Korea and Japan.
The permanent executive and the vast army of experts which together frame foreign policy were virtually excluded from the inner counsels so that the President could make foreign policy as per his own lights. But given the total lack of grey matter in the presidential upper floor, and his propensity to divert attention from his own misdoings as they come out bit by bit courtesy the Mueller and other ongoing probes, Trump has relied on springing surprises by announcing sharp departures from established policy.
Last week, he took the world community by surprise by announcing the withdrawal of US troops from Syria, claiming that with the elimination of the Islamic State threat, the US mission was complete. The western alliance was aghast at the decision, especially when their troops were still present in the Syrian sector in order to accomplish the as-yet unfinished task. So wrong was the decision to pull out of Syria that the security community in the US was left aghast. There was bipartisan protest in the Congress and outside. So much so Defence Secretary, one of the well-respected members of the Trump cabinet who still retained his job, quit in utter disgust. Jim Mattis rebuked Trump in his resignation letter.
Wrote Mattis: “…the US is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships… while the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Further, Mattis warned that ‘China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model — gaining veto authority over nations’ economic, diplomatic, and security decisions – to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbours.
That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.’ Small wonder, then, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin praised Trump for the pull-out decision, a decision which will allow Russia and Bashar-al-Assad to have a free run of the country. The alliance of Russia, Syria and Iran will now receive a shot in the arm. The NATO allies too will now be under pressure to quit while the IS regroups and poses a renewed threat to peace in the democratic world. No less repugnant was the Trump announcement to pull out half of the US troops from Afghanistan. This can only aid and abet the Taliban to spread its wings further.
Seventeen years after entering Afghanistan, the US mission remains unfinished. But after spending trillions of dollars and losing hundreds of men, Trump has no compunction to abandon the mission and invite the Taliban to take over the godforsaken country. The security establishment in Washington still cannot get over the twin blows an impulsive and highly erratic Trump has delivered to the vital national interest.
Now that both the Democrats and Republicans share anger over Trump’s unhinged behavior, it may be time for them to together curb his capacity to inflict further damage. The Congress should henceforth vet more closely the next pick of Trump for filling the slot vacated by Mattis. Otherwise, America will remain in real danger of weakening the global alliance against authoritarian powers and of allowing malign forces to usurp its place for purely hegemonic reasons. The peaceful and democratic world needs to be rescued from Trump.
