On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump disparaged past Republican administrations that got the United States into nation-building, democracy-promoting foreign wars. No more of that, he promised his supporters. And who could doubt him, given how little he cares about democracy or dark-skinned poor people in far-off lands?
That is why it was a shock to hear him declare his intention to get deeply involved in what may be the world’s thorniest problem: Gaza. At a White House news conference on Tuesday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, Trump outlined his scheme for an American takeover of Gaza that would involve expelling the Palestinians living there and turning the contentious place into “the Riviera” of the Middle East.
In other words, he wants to do a real estate deal (although there was no mention of buying the land, only of unilateral acquisition enforced by U.S. troops — something akin to what was done to Native Americans).
This announcement was not some random, Trumpian riff; the president had a prepared script in hand. He also claimed to have talked to many people who think American ownership of Gaza is a great idea. Apparently, that did not include the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Egypt, who quickly denounced the plan.
What is most alarming about the Gaza grab is how ridiculously stupid it is. Rather than bringing peace, it would further inflame the region, promote terrorism directed at Americans and get the U.S. into another deep geopolitical hole. That Trump and his advisers went public with such an incendiary idea without considering the dangerous ramifications is yet more proof that American foreign policy is now in the hands of an ignorant fool and a supporting team of toadies who have no grasp of the complexities of international relations.
No comments:
Post a Comment