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
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