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OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 Trump’s Miss Universe foreign policy By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN New York Times News Service Founded in 1873 STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager CARL EARL, Systems Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager Capital Press For the farm sector, it’s hard to know which presidential candidate is the friend. Who’s the farmer’s friend? Valuable trade deal is scorned by Trump and Clinton K, it’s easy to pick on Donald Trump’s foreign policy. But just because he recently referred to the attack on the World Trade Center as hap- pening on “7/11” — which is a convenience store — instead of 9/11, and just because he claimed that “I know Russia well” because he held a “major event in Russia two or three years ago — (the) Miss Universe contest, which was a big, big, incredible event” — doesn’t make him unqualifi ed. O I’m sure you can learn a lot schmooz- ing with Miss Argentina. You can also learn a lot eating at the International House of Thomas L. Pancakes. I Friedman never fully understood Arab politics until I ate hummus — or was it Hamas? And, by the way, just because Trump’s big foreign policy speech was salted with falsehoods — like “ISIS is making millions and millions of dollars a week selling Libyan oil” — it doesn’t make him unqualifi ed. The New York Times Magazine just profi led one of the president’s deputy national security advisers, Ben Rhodes, reporting how he and his aides boasted of using social media, what the writer called a “largely man- ufactured” narrative, and a pliant press to, in essence, dupe the country into supporting the Iran nuclear deal. The Donald is not the only one given to knuckleheaded bluster and misrep- resentation on foreign policy. Life is imitating Twitter every- where now. Indeed, criticizing Trump for inconsistency when it comes to for- eign policy is a bit rich when you consider that both Democrats and Republicans have treated Pakistan as an ally, knowing full well that its secret service has trucked with ter- rorists and coddled the Taliban — the people killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan; they’ve both treated Saudi Arabia as an ally because we needed its oil, knowing full well that its export of Salafi st Islam has fueled jihadis; they both supported decap- itating Libya and then not staying around to support a new security order, thus opening a gaping hole on the African coast for migrants to fl ow into Europe; they’ve both sup- ported NATO expansion into Rus- sia’s face and then wondered aloud why the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is so truculent. No, if I were critiquing Trump’s foreign policy views it would not be on inconsistency, hypocrisy or lying. It would be that he shows no sign of having asked the most import- ant question: What are the real for- eign policy challenges the next pres- ident will face? I don’t think he has a clue, because if he did, he wouldn’t want the job. This is one of the worst times to be conducting U.S. foreign policy. Consider some of the questions AP Photo/Saurabh Das Activists of right-wing Hindu Sena or Hindu Army make offerings to the fire god while conducting Hindu rituals to ensure a win for U.S. pres- idential candidate Donald Trump in New Delhi, India, on Wednesday. While Trump has dominated the Republican primary race to decide the party’s candidate for the November election, his calls for temporarily banning Muslims from America and cracking down on terrorist groups abroad have earned him some fans in faraway India. There’s also the question of that will greet the Oval Offi ce’s next occupant. For starters, what does the what you should do about the net- new president do when the neces- worked nihilists? Ever since the rise sary is impossible but the impossi- of Osama bin Laden, super-empow- ble is necessary? Yes, we’ve proved ered angry men have challenged us. in Iraq and Afghanistan that we don’t But at least bin Laden had an iden- know how to do nation-building in tifi able cause and set of demands: other people’s countries. But just cleansing the Arabian Peninsula of leaving Libya, Syria and parts of Iraq Western infl uence. But now we are and Yemen ungoverned, and spew- seeing a mutation. Can anyone tell ing out refugees, has led to a fl ood of me what the terrorists who killed all migrants hitting Europe and stress- those people in Brussels, Paris or San Bernardino wanted? ing the cohesion of They didn’t even the European Union; This is one leave a note; their act that refugee fl ood was their note. These could very well lead suicidal jihadi-nihil- to Britain’s exit from of the worst are not trying to the EU. times to be ists win; they just want to President Barack Obama has been pat- conducting make us lose. That’s a tough foe. They ting himself on the can’t destroy us — back a lot lately for U.S. foreign now — but they will not intervening in policy. ratchet up the pain if Syria. I truly sym- they get the ammo. pathized with how hard that call was — until I heard Curbing them while maintaining an the president and his aides boast- open society, with personal privacy ing about how smart their decision on your cellphone and the Internet, was and how stupid all their crit- will be a challenge. And then there are Russia and ics are. The human and geopolitical spillover from Syria is not over. It’s China. They’re back in the game of destabilizing the EU, Lebanon, Iraq, traditional sphere-of-infl uence geo- Kurdistan and Jordan. The choices politics. But both Russia and China are hellish. I would not want the face huge economic strains that will responsibility for making them. But tempt their leaders to distract atten- nobody has a monopoly on genius tion at home with nationalist adven- here, and neither Obama’s victory tures abroad. The days of clear-cut, satisfy- lap around this smoldering ruin nor Trump’s bombastic and simplistic ing victories overseas, like opening up China or tearing down the Ber- solutions are pretty to watch. And there are more of these stress- lin Wall, are over. U.S. foreign policy ors coming: Falling oil prices, cli- now is all about containing disorder mate change and population bombs and messes. It is the exact opposite of are going to blow up more weak running a beauty pageant. There’s no states, hemorrhaging refugees in all winner, and each contestant is uglier than the last. directions. nless establishment Republicans pull some convention shenanigans, Donald Trump will likely be the GOP nom- inee for president. Bernie Sanders remains a contender, but it is still unlikely he will upset Hillary Clinton to be the Democrat’s standard-bearer. But what either think about negotiations and the prospects the concerns for farmers and for a deal. She once referred to ranchers is, and will probably the TPP as the “gold standard” remain, a mystery in the short for fair, transparent trade. But once the deal was fi nalized, run. There was a time when c andidate Clinton dropped her presidential candidates pur- support. Her online campaign mate- sued the farm vote. But farm- ers and ranchers have gotten rial doesn’t say what she wants short shrift from presidential in future trade deals. As always, Trump is blunt. candidates in the 21st c entury. That is at odds with a certain “The TPP is horrible deal,” reality. Everyone in America Trump said of the pact. How eats, and eats quite well. Food he thinks it could be improved, is so abundant that it doesn’t we don’t know. His positions register as a concern, and food on trade are fairly general — it producers are so few that they will “fl ourish,” he says. Clinton supports the use of no longer constitute a viable genetically modifi ed crops, interest group. Trump’s website doesn’t and mandatory labeling on mention agriculture specifi - food products. Trump, who cally. Sam Clovis, Trump’s eats organic at home, told the national campaign co-chair- Iowa Farm Bureau that he sup- man and chief policy adviser, ports the use of biotechnology told our sister newspaper the in food products and opposes Capital Press the campaign mandatory labeling. On immi- “looks at agriculture from a gration — a matter hugely security issue as every bit as important to farmers — the important as energy and bor- candidates occupy opposite Barforama were granted this contract April 22, “The Committee a campaign contribution. udge Philip Nelson’s a month after the Port had to Elect Dawn McIntosh” However, as the adage poles. der security.” decision to remove entered into an agreement (to Clatsop Circuit Court goes, just because one can, Clinton supports a path for William Clinton’s campaign didn’t Orr and Ches- with another company, is judge) received generous doesn’t mean one should. This election will deter- respond to the CP’s request citizenship for illegals now in ter Trabucco as co-defen- the essence of the “good contributions of between mine will replace dants in the lawsuit over old boy” network that has $500 and $1,000 from each for information. Her website the country, Trump does not. the Astoria Riverwalk Inn ruled Astoria, and espe- of fi ve local lawyers who retiring who Judge Philip Nel- offers the vague promise to Clinton supports “humane, (“Riverwalk Inn hoteliers cially the Port of Astoria, might plead cases in her son for District 18, Posi- court if she is elected. Those tion 2 Circuit Court. Judge “increase funding to support targeted immigration enforce- off the hook,” The Daily for so long. Astorian, May 4, 2016) JOSEPH WEBB are conspicuous contribu- Nelson fulfi lled the duties the next generation of farm- ment.” Trump wants to stinks worse than a simul- Astoria tion amounts for an election of that offi ce with dignity, professionalism, scrupu- in our small county. ers and ranchers, invest in hire 10,000 more U.S. taneous barforama by all lous ethics and impeccable the sea lions in the boat I realize our court sys- expanding local food markets Immigration and Customs basin. Doubtful tem allows attorneys to impartiality. When we vote and regional food systems, Enforcement offi cers and s an election nears, I use all legally-permit- for who will replace him, The fact that Mr. Orr is fi nd it informative to ted methods to win their I hope we choose some- the brother-in-law of Port and provide a focused safety repatriate all criminal aliens Commissioner Stephen visit Orestar at the Oregon cases, and handing over one we expect to demon- net to assist family operations as well as everyone caught Fulton, and friend of Port Secretary of State website, even conspicuously large strate those same qualities where campaign fi nance amounts of money is not — without doubts. crossing the border. Clinton Commissioner ...” SHEL CANTOR Bill Hunsinger, and information is compiled. deemed bribery, as long as Here’s what we know based supports the president’s plan that he and his partner Astoria For example, as of the money is reported as on what the candidates have to give work permits to as many as fi ve million illegal said or published: Where to write Neither Clinton or Trump immigrants. Trump supports • U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici Washington, D.C. 20510. Phone: Phone: 503-986-1431. Web: www. like the Trans-Pacifi c mandatory E -V erify screen- (D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing- 202-224-3753. Web: www.merkley. leg.state.or.us/witt/ Email: rep. Partnership, the big 12-party ing to prevent non eligible ton, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225- senate.gov bradwitt@state.or.us trade deal now pending before applicants from getting jobs. 0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District • State Rep. Deborah Boone • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): (D): 900 Court St. N.E., H-481, offi ce: 12725 SW Millikan Way, 221 Dirksen Senate Offi ce Build- Trump has promised to Congress and important to Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005. ing, Washington, D.C., 20510. Salem, OR 97301. Phone: 503-986- reduce federal regulation, Phone: 503-469-6010. Fax 503- Phone: 202-224-5244. Web: www. 1432. Email: rep.deborah boone@ agriculture. state.or.us District offi ce: P.O. Box 326-5066. Web: bonamici.house. wyden.senate.gov Clinton was for the pact Clinton has not. • State Rep. Brad Witt (D): 928, Cannon Beach, OR 97110. gov/ For the farm sector, it’s hard before she was against it. As • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): State Capitol, 900 Court Street Phone: 503-986-1432. Web: www. 313 Hart Senate Offi ce Building, N.E., H-373, Salem, OR 97301. leg.state.or.us/ boone/ secretary of state she touted the to know which is the friend. U Open forum J A
