Posted on 12/13/2016 7:08:25 AM PST by mandaladon
The incoming Trump administration is looking to get rid of the No. 2 official at NATO, an American nominated by President Obama whom most Republicans don’t trust. But NATO’s Brussels leadership may not play along, setting up an early confrontation with President Trump.
Two Trump transition sources told me that a representative of the transition team met late last month with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels and delivered a private but deliberate message: The incoming administration would like Stoltenberg to replace Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller. Gottemoeller, who was nominated for the post by Obama this past March, started her job in Brussels only in October and has a multi-year contract. She works for NATO, not the U.S. government.
If NATO leadership agreed to remove Gottemoeller, it would set a new precedent for U.S. government control over American officials in top NATO positions. If the NATO leadership doesn’t agree, the incoming Trump administration could work to marginalize Gottemoeller and render her ineffective. Either way, her role is set to change when the new U.S. president comes into office.
Kurt Volker, who served as U.S. ambassador to NATO at the end of the George W. Bush administration, said that though a U.S. president pushing for a NATO official to be removed is unusual, it’s part and parcel of Donald Trump’s style and a good indicator of how Trump will deal with international organizations as president.
“I’m not surprised. Their style is to push for what they believe their interests to be and not just be passive about it,” he said. “Trump wants a person at NATO that reflects the administration’s views, and that’s a good sign because it shows he actually cares about the organization.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
That Russian guy, on the other hand, looks like he had to fight a 10 round death match to get the post.
Easy solution: Tell NATO a new appointment is coming. If they say NO, let them know the current appointment has no standing with the US government and does not speak for us. Working with NATO would be “difficult” if she stays.
The Trump approach is to get some wins in the pocket, and to serve everyone notice, that there’s a new kid in town.
Its called the power of the purse.
Unlike the current weenie,
Trump will repeat what Ronald Reagan said. Hey, i paid for this.
With the “power of the purse”, Trump can cutoff any funding necessary to be rid of the problem.
About 68 percent of the entire federal gub mint is teat suckers and should be eliminated.
Let them eat dirt.
THAT’S a hard man.Look at his eyes.
Putin must be terrified.
The chicks in post 15 look like they are planning to decorate the school gym for a dance
The dude in #18 looks like he’s planning to kill a whole bunch of people
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