Discussion of America’s national security interests and well as rights and responsibility in the world community
Over the Memorial Day weekend I spent a lot of time contemplating the history and future of our country. Reflecting on the current reality left me feeling very uneasy. The world order seems to be breaking down. Radical populists are gaining strength on both extremes but especially on the right side of the political spectrum. And just when American leadership is needed most, the US is withdrawing from the stabilizing role it has played since World War II.
I was distressed to hear Senator Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader in the Senate, encourage President Trump to continue his trade war with China. I had thought Schumer was smart and sincere. It makes me wonder if the Democrats are any more fit to govern than the Republicans. I share his and Trump’s desire to hold China accountable for unfair trade practices. But in his heart-of-hearts Schumer must know that Trump’s is an insane strategy for achieving that objective.
Sadly, it seems the US is preparing for yet another war, this time with Iran. The Trump Administration has turned up the rhetoric in the past couple of weeks about a developing military threat from Iran, has ordered State Department people out of Iraq, and dispatched a carrier group and air wing to the Middle-East.
A rogue nation launches a program to build nuclear weapons. A Democratic US President with the participation of allies and the blessing of the United Nations enters negotiations to end that program.
Trump and Netanyahu celebrated the United States moving its embassy from Tele Aviv to Jerusalem with Israeli solders killing Palestinians protesting the loss of their future capital city. That made for great optics!!
One of my readers has challenged me to comment on the upcoming meeting between Trump and the North Korean dictator, Kim. So here goes:
During most of my life I have been proud that the United State is the strongest, most democratic, and politically stable nation on earth. That strength spanned the entire spectrum of civilized achievement from economics, technology, and innovation to human rights, social justice, and the rule of law.
Several of my Democratic friends are absolutely confident they will take back the US Senate and House of Representatives in the November election. Some Republican friends I know are equally depressed over fear of the same thing. I desperately hope the Democrats are right and the Republicans’ fears are realized.
Following is a letter drafted late in 2016 by a group of citizens expressing concerns about governance under the new Trump Administration. The letters were all identical, signed by eight citizens, and hand delivered to the offices of Senators Brown and Portman as well as Congressman Stivers. The goal was to outline our areas of concern and encourage our legislative representatives to exercise the authority of their co-equal branch of our national government.
Following is a Letter to the Editor of the Columbus Dispatch I wrote in late December of 2016. It was written to express the concerns many of my neighbors and I felt about the reality of a Trump Presidency. The letter was published in the Dispatch in its entirety at that time.
