Posted on 07/24/2016 7:17:01 AM PDT by Kaslin
If there has been any constant in the Republican worldview over decades, it's that American strength, resolve and credibility are essential in foreign affairs, and weakness and uncertainty lead straight to disaster. The GOP legions regard Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as failures because they have been insufficiently willing to challenge our adversaries and stand with our friends.
"Our allies don't trust us, and our enemies don't fear us" is a claim made by one Republican after another. But the Cleveland convention was a study in dissonance between the bedrock convictions of just about every loyal Republican and the opinions of the presidential nominee.
People who denounce Obama for "leading from behind," appeasing Vladimir Putin, failing to go to war against Bashar Assad and criticizing America lined up in support of Donald Trump -- whose policies are subject to exactly the same criticisms. There is much to fault in the GOP's past approach, but Republicans are in a strange position: They unquestionably affirm their long-standing policies without seeming to realize their candidate doesn't.
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn proclaimed to the delegates, "There is no substitute for American leadership and exceptionalism." Trump, however, affects nonchalance on such matters.
Exceptionalism? "I don't know that we have a right to lecture (other countries)," Trump said in an interview with The New York Times. "How are we going to lecture when people are shooting our policemen in cold blood?" Imagine what Chris Christie would say if those words had come out of Obama's mouth.
How about leadership? Trump indicated it's no sure thing that we'd honor our treaty obligation to defend any NATO member attacked by, say, Russia. "If we cannot be properly reimbursed for the tremendous cost of our military protecting other countries," he said, "I would be absolutely prepared to tell those countries, 'Congratulations, you will be defending yourself.'"
Hmm. It's almost as though under President Trump our allies wouldn't be able to trust us. Asked about the value of our presence in South Korea, which has coincided with 60 years of peace, he scoffed. Without it, he speculated, "maybe you would have had a unified Korea."
Japan? "Well, what are we getting out of this?" All of these allies, he suggested, should never be completely sure of our commitments. "In a deal, you always have to be prepared to walk," he explained.
Compare Trump's comments about NATO with Ronald Reagan's in 1988: "We often say that if the bomb is dropped in Amsterdam, it is the equivalent of dropping a bomb on Chicago." Reagan would have said the same about Seoul and Tokyo. Trump apparently thinks a bomb dropped on Amsterdam is a bomb dropped on Amsterdam, nothing more.
What about making sure our enemies fear us? Christie excoriated Clinton for once expressing hope that Assad would be better than his father, who preceded him as ruler of Syria. Trump, however, is not itching to go after the regime. "I think that ISIS is a threat that's much more important for us right now than Assad," he said.
Russia? "I think Putin and I will get along very well," he said. "It would be wonderful if we had good relationships with Russia so that we don't have to go through all of the drama."
Republicans have denounced Obama for denying lethal defensive military aid to Ukraine after its invasion by Russia. But Trump blocked an endorsement of such help in the platform -- which pledges only "appropriate assistance." Do the delegates think that will make the Kremlin quake in fear?
The GOP standard-bearer manages to distract attention from these violations of Republican security orthodoxy with his ostentatiously macho talk -- about bombing the Islamic State and vowing that Iran will "never, ever be allowed to have" nuclear weapons. But behind the rhetoric are ignorance and confusion.
Never has the GOP nominated someone whose intentions are so unpredictable. The conservative principles for ensuring our security and spreading our values have been turned over to someone who doesn't seem to understand them, much less champion them. In effect, he has emasculated the party's foreign policy.
In his acceptance speech, Trump drew lusty cheers as he blamed Clinton for all the trouble in the world. The stark irony is that if anyone in the race is likely to uphold the traditional Republican strategy, it's Clinton.
The delegates, like our enemies and allies, have no real idea how President Trump would operate in a perilous world. The difference is that our enemies and allies actually give a damn.
Passing out the barf bags! LOL!
Articles like this are the reason I never travel to Townhall anymore. Townhall and this author belong in hell.
NEOCON Alert Bags!
Hey Steve. The status quo is over.
How did this rot get past the editor?
Townhall stock just went down.
Conrad Black is more perceptive in his article than this Townhall/Salem Media clown Steve Chapman.
Conrad Black:
“Now that Trump is the nominee, having come from the political wilderness and paid for his own campaign, he will drastically scale back the stylistic infelicities (which are as disagreeable to me as to most serious people, but are just part of his shtick). He is not ideological and will make the system work — he is, as he never tires of telling us, a deal-maker. In foreign policy, he will be neither trigger-happy like George W., nor an other-worldly pacifist like Obama.”
http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/the-genius-of-trump
Townhall will become a footnote in history after Trump becomes president.
Poor frustrated neocon chickenhawks.
If I were the OP, my day could be much easier by publishing a link to Townhall and being done with it instead of slowly releasing this spew sporadically. This article is just one of many.
For a conservative he’s very free with other people’s money.
Jeez TownHall, get behind the Republican nominee to beat Hilary you slugs!
NATO has been an organization without a mission since 1989.
Western Europe has been allowed, for far too long, to expand and pay for its social programs due to living under the US nuclear umbrella and not having to adequately defend themselves.
I’ve seen horrible estimates that, for example, that due to how their military is structured, deployed or whatever that Italy would have only been able to bring 500 soldiers to bear at any given spot to defend their nation. I found that incredible to believe but also, not surprised.
The West is weak. Hell the Royal Navy’s current flagship is an amphibious assault ship.
Meanwhile, have a few million more refugees, America indirectly takes on more indirect costs and liabilities to cover their asses.
“Townhall will become a footnote in history after Trump becomes president.”
Maybe sooner! From Tne Treehouse!
“Here’s where it gets even more interesting. Mercer taking such an aggressive position also thwacks the financial teams behind all the pro-Cruz, anti-Trump web sites.
If that ripple builds, and there’s no reason to think it won’t, Erick Erickson (Resurgent), Ben Shapiro (Daily Wire), NRO, the entire Salem Media Network (Human Event, Hot Air, Twitchy, Red State), and all the affiliated punditry (Hugh Hewitt, Jonah Goldberg) could be left high-and-dry.
The entire media Cruz Crew watching their career$ flu$hed down the toilet.”
Fool: I’m thirsty.
God: Here’s a river.
Fool: What do you mean, God, “DRINK”? I’m thirsty!
Republicans were united in opposing Communism. Other than that they have not been united on foreign policy.
GHW Bush invaded Iraq. But he left Sadam in place and opposed nation building. Dubya campaigned in 2000 against nation building.
The big government neo-cons (xDems) favored nation building.
The GOP has been split on nation building at least since isolatonists who opposed entering WWI. It is still split on that topic.
Complicating the issue is the Evangelical view (including mine) of the special place of Israel. This view transcends politics and party and even patriotism for many Evangelicals.
“The GOP legions regard Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as failures because they have been insufficiently willing to challenge our adversaries and stand with our friends. “Our allies don’t trust us, and our enemies don’t fear us” is a claim made by one Republican after another. “
Well, at least someone is paying attention. As a world traveler, I find the above comment 100% accurate.
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