A Word From The Swamp

The people in the State Department, in Washington DC, were once said to be working in a place called "Foggy Bottom."  They felt they were brighter than the average American.  Of course, there never was any evidence to support this contention.  The Dulles brothers had their theory of falling dominos and why America simply had to take over from the French in Vietnam.  The brothers had always been hostile to Israel and were not happy when Truman caste America's vote for Israeli statehood in the UN.

Foggy Bottom has become more overt in matters of American politics, going so far as to work actively against the President's policies.  They are no longer "Foggy Bottom"; they have now become denizens of the Swamp.  On Friday, 8/21/20, they ran an ad under the heading, "Statement by Former Republican National Security Officials."  I won't list all their names; just three, to show the type of official signing off on this ad.

Adm Steve Abbot, Fmr Dep Homeland Securtiry Advisor . . . .  Mary Catherine Andrews, Fmr Special  Asst to the President . . . . . .Richard Armitage,  Fmr. Deputy Secretary of State . . . . . . . .

The ad listed 10 points as follows (presented in abreviated form):

1. Donald Trump has damaged America's role as a world leader.
Really!  Because he told Germany if they didn't pick up their fair share of the costs of their defense, the U.S. would reduce it's support.  Or was it Trump seeking to end China's predatory trade practices.  He supported the UK's Brexit. He left the ridiculous agreement our previous president had signed with Iran in concert with other European countries, but which was violated by the Iranians).  What a terrible president, to bring hope for peace in the Mideast.

2.  Donald Trump's failure in dealing with the coronavirus.  Really?  He cut off movement between the US and China before anyone took this Chinese virus seriously.  He marshaled the resources of the states and of major American industries  to take appropriate actions to produce needed supplies and gave full throated support for them to produce medicines faster than had ever been done before.

3.  He is claimed to have solicited foreign influence to promote his election.  This was a smear begun even before Trump had been sworn into office.  That the swamp would try to resurrect this lie when it's been so thoroughly discredited is beyond belief.

4. They charge Trump with having aligned himself with dictators at the expense of American values. I've got to ask: Aren't the people who raise this point supposed to be experts in foreign affairs?  Neither Iran nor Saudi Arabia have democratic leaders.  Are we to leave them to fight this out among themselves?  Shouldn't we help an ally?  What does it even mean to align oneself with a nondemocratic power?  Is Egypt democratic?

5.  Yes, in the heat of the campaign for the presidency in 1916, Trump made some foolish statements.  One example that springs to mind is him saying McCain was no war hero.  Of course he was.  Trump should never have said that about McCain.  But in the heat of a campaign one can hear some pretty stupid stuff.  Trump not knowing all the players meant he had to engage in some trial and error.  He chose Tillerson from a major oil company to fill the post of Secretary of State.  He soon realized it was a mistake.  But, he got rid of him and ultimately appointed Pompeo, who proved to be a brilliant choice.

6.  Trump is accused of undermining the rule of law.  Ridiculous.  I think it fair to say, most journalists lean to the left.  If you work for the NYTimes you'd better lean to the left.  Recently a young writer who didn't follow the party line was forced out.  As for the pardons he has issued, such as, perhaps, one for Flynn, is one that was truly warranted.

7.  Elections in America tend to be rough and tumble affairs.  Trump didn't create the rules.  Calling Elizebeth Warren "Pocahontas" was Trump's way of pointing out that Ms. Warren had once ensured her admission to a prestigious college by seeking to be seen as a minority and  claiming lineage to a distant native American.  I, for one, do not see Trump's remark as inappropriate.  Referring to Joe Bidan as "sleepy Joe" simply underscores the lack of energy in Bidens we all see in Biden when he gets up to speak.

8. Has Trump divided Americans?  No, for my money,  it's been the Democrats.  Generally, when a new person is elected president, he gets to enjoy a honeymoon period.  With Trump, the Democrats sought to  shoot him down even before he entered office.  First, it was the Russian investigation.  When that didn't stick they called him a racist.  Americans understand the need to have secure borders.  That requires appropriate fencing.  The Democrats fought him on this as they've fought him on everything else.  If we have a divided nation, let's put the blame where it belongs; namely, on the Democrats.

9. As regards immigrants:  Trump loves immigrants, but immigrants who come in legally.  It should be noted that most immigrants, including Latinos do come to America legally.  They're a terrific people and a great asset to America.  We also have Black immigrants who have arrived legally.  But someone jumping a fence willy nilly is quite another matter.  There is one other point that really deserves to be mentioned; namely, the Sharia that Islamic immigrants on occasion wish to impose on our culture.  Is this a bugaboo?  I think not.  Take a look at Europe, where Islamists have defaced synagogues, and where Jews have been beaten and killed.  Churches too have been defaced.  And, local girls are expected to observe Islamic dress codes.  Why?

10. Trump's dismissing and replacing members from various national security positions is really what occasioned this ad.  The  73 signers of the ad, people, who at one time held nice position in the government, were found to be wanting.  If not themselves the holders of such positions, then otheres who held elected positions and who now found that time had passed them by.  Names I did not see listed were Clapper, Brennan and Comey.   They really should have been on the ad too.