Trump’s Reported Flaws Translate into Middle East Pandemonium

If Trump, according to Michael Wolff, the author of “Fire and Fury” had to be coaxed by his daughter Ivanka and former NSC staffer Dina Powell, by showing him gruesome photos of dying kids, in order to retaliate against Assad’s chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017, then we’re in serious trouble. Moreover, if the only voice in the Trump administration that was convinced of the nefarious role of Iran throughout the region, was that of Retired (and now fired) Gen. Michael Flynn, then we are in a bigger trouble than we thought. Finally, if the Arab-Israeli peace process, or what is left of it, has been entrusted by the Trump administration solely to Jared Kushner, his thirty-something, wet-behind-the-ears son-in law, who takes his cues from Rupert Murdoch and Henry Kissinger, then we are totally lost.

These are no minor flaws and those are not hypothetical situations. The author Wolff maintains that such attitudes, state of mind, and whims of the current US President are true as supplied by an army of close advisers both on and off, the record.

Those in the Middle East who had hoped for a reverse-pivot onto the region with the US taking the lead in clearing the wreckage left by the Obama administration, might be up for a rude awakening. The Obama presidency brought nothing but disasters onto the US and its long-term allies in the region.  Starting with the non-interventionist stand on Syria including the refusal to establish safe zones and avert the refugee crisis that has affected Europe, and finishing with the crossing of the red lines for the use by Assad of chemical weapons. Another calamitous masterpiece was the Iran Nuclear deal, whereby the Mullahs were given plane loads of cash and a free rein to wreak havoc onto the region as long as they agreed not to push that nuclear button, for the time being at least. In that same vein of damaging policies, one would enlist the not-so-subtle support by the Obama-Clinton-Kerry axis of the Muslim Brotherhood in their takeover of Egypt, and the blank check issued to Turkey (aka Erdogan), a NATO member country, to purge and revamp the country into a 21st century Islamic Sultanate.

One had reasons to hope that a semi-Republican in the White House, who felt that America’s standing in the world has been tarnished, would bring back assurances to long-term allies and fear onto enemies. But it seems laughter is more likely to be the result, just after one year. A roaring laughter from Assad in Syria, who survived the civil war and got the Russians and Iranians to fight the serious battles on behalf of his army. Giggling in Iran must be common in the high circles of power, with a US President unenthusiastic to confront Iran militarily (and now that Flynn is out, not even confront Iran verbally), unwilling to rescind the Iran Nuclear Deal by passing the bucket sheepishly to Congress, and uncomfortable with international affairs, in general, as long as they do not involve the building of a resort or the licensing of a casino. Finally, on the Arab-Israeli front, the US administration paid a check in advance to PM Netanyahu, with the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, without getting a paper receipt back. The Palestinians for their sake, have delved into a combination of mass depression, mass shouting, and a barrage of empty threats.

Waking up and adjusting quickly to the reality of Trump, as depicted in the Wolff accounts provided they are accurate by a modest margin, bring us to ponder on the thought that stupefaction, if it persists, becomes stupidity.

If Trump, according to Michael Wolff, the author of “Fire and Fury” had to be coaxed by his daughter Ivanka and former NSC staffer Dina Powell, by showing him gruesome photos of dying kids, in order to retaliate against Assad’s chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun in April 2017, then we’re in serious trouble. Moreover, if the only voice in the Trump administration that was convinced of the nefarious role of Iran throughout the region, was that of Retired (and now fired) Gen. Michael Flynn, then we are in a bigger trouble than we thought. Finally, if the Arab-Israeli peace process, or what is left of it, has been entrusted by the Trump administration solely to Jared Kushner, his thirty-something, wet-behind-the-ears son-in law, who takes his cues from Rupert Murdoch and Henry Kissinger, then we are totally lost.

These are no minor flaws and those are not hypothetical situations. The author Wolff maintains that such attitudes, state of mind, and whims of the current US President are true as supplied by an army of close advisers both on and off, the record.

Those in the Middle East who had hoped for a reverse-pivot onto the region with the US taking the lead in clearing the wreckage left by the Obama administration, might be up for a rude awakening. The Obama presidency brought nothing but disasters onto the US and its long-term allies in the region.  Starting with the non-interventionist stand on Syria including the refusal to establish safe zones and avert the refugee crisis that has affected Europe, and finishing with the crossing of the red lines for the use by Assad of chemical weapons. Another calamitous masterpiece was the Iran Nuclear deal, whereby the Mullahs were given plane loads of cash and a free rein to wreak havoc onto the region as long as they agreed not to push that nuclear button, for the time being at least. In that same vein of damaging policies, one would enlist the not-so-subtle support by the Obama-Clinton-Kerry axis of the Muslim Brotherhood in their takeover of Egypt, and the blank check issued to Turkey (aka Erdogan), a NATO member country, to purge and revamp the country into a 21st century Islamic Sultanate.

One had reasons to hope that a semi-Republican in the White House, who felt that America’s standing in the world has been tarnished, would bring back assurances to long-term allies and fear onto enemies. But it seems laughter is more likely to be the result, just after one year. A roaring laughter from Assad in Syria, who survived the civil war and got the Russians and Iranians to fight the serious battles on behalf of his army. Giggling in Iran must be common in the high circles of power, with a US President unenthusiastic to confront Iran militarily (and now that Flynn is out, not even confront Iran verbally), unwilling to rescind the Iran Nuclear Deal by passing the bucket sheepishly to Congress, and uncomfortable with international affairs, in general, as long as they do not involve the building of a resort or the licensing of a casino. Finally, on the Arab-Israeli front, the US administration paid a check in advance to PM Netanyahu, with the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, without getting a paper receipt back. The Palestinians for their sake, have delved into a combination of mass depression, mass shouting, and a barrage of empty threats.

Waking up and adjusting quickly to the reality of Trump, as depicted in the Wolff accounts provided they are accurate by a modest margin, bring us to ponder on the thought that stupefaction, if it persists, becomes stupidity.