#15 - Foreign Policy

It’s the role of the President to set foreign policy.  It’s the role of Congress to debate and fund those policies.  Neither has occurred.   With Trump, it is his tweet of the night.  With Carter, it is his silence.  Both inactions make us look weak and clueless to the world. Diplomacy is key to setting relations with other countries around the world, friend or foe.  Effective diplomacy gives us beneficial trade that helps our economy and strong defenses to help keep us safe.  It is the deputies of the State Department that coordinate the critical grunt work on foreign policy.  Together with their counter parts in the Department of Defense, they play the critical role of getting things done behind the scenes.  Neither department has those deputy roles filled. That makes us extremely vulnerable.

Trump had a unique opportunity with North Korea’s nuclear program when he took office by using the strategies and partners from the Iran nuclear deal.  However, his ego has not only undermined those efforts, but his war rants and tweets have only added to the insecurity and threats that North Korea possesses.  Meanwhile, Carter remains silent.  Carter’s silence condones those actions by Trump. Having ZERO foreign policy goals on Syria has only exacerbated an ongoing human tragedy in that area. Our NATO allies, who once looked at us as rock solid, now question the long-term support from a reliable friend.
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Trump blames Congress for making things worse in our country with the Russia inquires.  Republicans and Democrats disagree on much, but fight to make our country better, even if they disagree on how.  It’s no secret that Russia wants to divide Americans.  Their purpose is quite clear: to reduce our influence around the world.  Trump’s tweets and rants only seek to further divide Congress and the nation.   Despite what Trump says, it’s not Congress to blame.  Russia wants to divide the U.S. and 45 keeps promoting this divide like an ignorant child. Russia and Trump only win if they can divide us. Authoritarians only rule when citizens do not stand united and only when our representatives, like Carter, look the other way