Donald Trump Stumbles Into a Foreign-Policy Triumph

The Atlantic ^ | JANUARY 17, 2020 | TOM MCTAGUE

[edwinland]

A year and a half into Donald Trump’s presidency, Henry Kissinger set out a theory. “I think Trump may be one of those figures in history who appears from time to time to mark the end of an era and to force it to give up its old pretences,” he told the Financial Times. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that he knows this, or that he is considering any great alternative. It could just be an accident.” A term has been coined to describe this notion: Ryan Evans of War on the Rocks calls them “Trumportunities.” It is the idea that, whether by accident or design, Trump creates chances to solve long-running international problems that a conventional leader would not. His bellicose isolationist agenda, for instance, might already be forcing Europe to confront its geopolitical weakness; China, its need for a lasting economic settlement with the U.S.; and countries throughout the Middle East, the limits of their power. The president’s erratic behavior might be doing something else as well, something even more fundamental. Through a combination of instinct, temperament, and capriciousness, Trump may be reminding the world of the reality of international relations: Raw military and economic power still matter more than anything else—so long as those who hold them are prepared to use them.

[M. Thatcher]

Good read, despite the ridiculous headline and some shortsighted analysis. Thanks for posting, your assessment is spot-on.

[samtheman]

It’s truly uncanny how lucky he is.
—
Yeah, really.

It’s truly amazing how clueless the media is. Could find a clue if it was hanging out their nose like a booger.

[Don Corleone]

Trumportunities.

What a great word! Remember it. Use it. Relish it!

MAGA

[House Atreides]

Yes, President Trump stumbles into triumph after triumph every day.
****************************************************
Yep, it’s funny how he’s CONSISTENTLY & REPEATEDLY LUCKY! ... /SARC

[M. Thatcher]

Although Trump’s foreign-policy strategy (if one even accepts that there is such a thing) has many limits, his unpredictability and, most crucially, his willingness to escalate a crisis using the United States’ military and economic strength have turned the tables

Author didn't pay attention to Trump's 2016 stump speeches, but Trump specifically campaigned on his consistent use of "unpredictability" as a purposeful strategy. He explained over and over that his business competitors noted his unpredictability - to which Trump would add: "that's a good thing."

I heard him discuss this dozens of times, and he applied it to how he would operate internationally - he PROMISED to be unpredictable.

It's not his fault that all the vaunted political and foreign policy geniuses didn't (and don't) listen to his repeated clear declarations of his m.o.

[HamiltonJay]

It’s not accident... it’s summed up in this one statement right in the article...

“Raw military and economic power still matter more than anything else—so long as those who hold them are prepared to use them.”

Trump, isn’t worried about cowtowing leftist silliness. He understands this reality and unlike other Presidents in the Post Cold War Era, is prepared to use them.

[cabbieguy]

I think we should keep him because he’s so damn clumsy.

[libertylover]

Kind of like LSU stumbled into victory after victory.

[genghis]

He has only done 10000 smart things in a row

[LS]

Just like Reagan, who “stumbled” into victory after victory, success after success.

[karnage]

Funny how Trump keeps stumbling into success after success.

Luckiest sumbitch since that “amiable dunce” Reagan was President.

[njmaugbill]

‘“President Trump stumbles into triumph after triumph every day.’
I know. It’s truly uncanny how lucky he is.”

Luck is the residue of design. (Branch Rickey)
Luck is the clash of opportunity with destiny-(General Patton)

Bill

[xp38]

[Guenevere]

It’s not luck

It’s by higher design!.....power!
God is directing his path

[olesigh]

the ouse should impeach him every month. He’s on a roll

[Savage Beast]

Studies have shown a direct correlation between luckiness and high intelligence.

[VideoDoctor]

Trump stumbles and bumbles into everything, like Forrest Gump. Always the right place at the right time. Pure luck and happenstance.

ALL CONTROLLED by GOD.

Trump is under the Good Lord's "Hedge of Protection."

[Savage Beast]

Yes, Trump cut through the Gordian Knot all right.

The anti-Trump yahoos cannot understand the mediocrity of their intelligence and morality in comparison to those of Donald Trump. Trump's tower over theirs.

[KC Burke]

Remember 40 years back when there was a well written periodical called The Atlantic?

[Fightin Whitey]

Remember 40 years back when there was a well written periodical called The Atlantic?

A little more than fifteen years ago the true Atlantic Mag was resurrected by the conservative Michael Kelly, who turned out a sharp, wise, honest publication for a very short while, at the end of which time he was killed by an IED in Iraq. A very good man, Mr. Kelly, and a great if short-lived Atlantic.