One qualification for seeking the presidency must be the ability to use diplomacy before all other efforts in dealing with the nations of the world. There is no question about Hillary Clinton’s talents in this area. Her likely opponent believes that discussion with other nations is comparable to a business deal. This demonstrates Donald Trump’s first indicator of why he must not be allowed to become the ‘leader of the free world.’
Trump’s foreign policy is to isolate the United States from the rest of the world. His first statement regarding his philosophy was offered in 1990.
In a 1990 interview with Playboy, Donald Trump said “we Americans are laughed at around the world for losing a hundred and fifty billion dollars year after year, for defending wealthy nations for nothing, nations that would be wiped off the face of the Earth in about 15 minutes if it weren’t for us. Our ‘allies’ are making billions screwing us.”
Trump is not entirely wrong. The United States military continues to support military bases in nations throughout the world; nations who no longer require our presence. America maintains bases in countries such as England, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, among others. However, the cost of dismantling these bases may be prohibitive. Military experts believe that they are necessary to insure that NATO is a viable organization.
Here’s the overall truth, which is undeniable. National security and foreign relations cannot be an issue of ‘on the job training.’ The last time America found itself with a president who had no federal government experience, there was an attack on our nation, and the result was the invasion of two sovereign nations. After thousands of lives were lost, and trillions of dollars spent, we continue to have a presence in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Recently Trump offered a foreign policy statement. Listening to his theories encouraged one of two things; laughter or fear. Former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates was speaking in Washington this week, saying that “contrary to the views of some politicians, continuing American global leadership is in our own economic, political, and security interest, not simply and only an altruistic act.” He did not name Mr. Trump but had a stark warning, saying “America turning inward not only will make the world more dangerous for others, but also for us.”
This is not a time for an inexperienced individual to sit in the Oval Office. Our nation must find a way to encourage the nations of the Middle East to join together and destroy ISIS once and for all. The situation between Israel and the people of Palestine remains volatile. North Korea is the greatest threat to world peace since the end of the cold war.
2017 will not be a year when our newly elected president can ‘ease into his or her job;’ there is no time for education regarding the serious problems facing our nation internationally and domestically. The President of the United States has a serious position in the future not only of our nation, but the entire world.
Many nations have already expressed concerns about a Trump presidency. America’s media downplays his lack of qualifications; but I won’t. Trump talks a ‘big game,’ when in reality he knows absolutely nothing about leading our nation.
Dump Trump.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 