U.S. President Donald Trump sits for an exclusive interview with Reuters journalists in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 11, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Washington Post: Trump’s erratic policy moves put national security at risk, experts warn
Three policy turnarounds by President Trump this month have underscored his freewheeling governing style, an approach that some experts warn sends mixed messages and puts U.S. national security at risk.
Trump’s approach on three issues — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, Mexican tariffs and Iran — is politically risky for the president, who is increasingly employing brinkmanship in an effort to achieve key policy goals.
On Sunday, Trump’s defenders, including Vice President Pence, argued that the president showed admirable caution in refusing to move forward with a military strike on Iran in light of the potential casualties.
“The president demonstrated the restraint that the American people, I know, admire and are grateful for,” Pence said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
He added: “Iran should not mistake restraint for a lack of resolve. All options remain on the table.”
But the president’s critics are trying to turn his often erratic approach into an issue for voters.
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WNU Editor: These are the same "experts" who got America involved in numerous wars and conflicts, massive trade deficits, millions of manufacturing jobs lost because they went overseas, a broken border that is facing an unprecedented migration crisis, and a defense and security environment where many U.S. allies did not feel the need to allocate resources because they felt that the U.S, would cover for them. And now they are telling us that President Trump's method of pursuing his agenda has put national security at risk?!?!?!?
There are many policies that I disagree with President Trump .... arming Ukraine, missile buildups in eastern Europe, keeping U.S. forces in Syria, Yemen, the Afghan war, budget deficits, his lack of focus to nominate quality officials to run the government, etc. etc. etc., but his style is not one of them. Critics say he is erratic .... I say that he purposely projects unpredictability, and behind this behaviour there is always a deep strategic purpose behind it. This is how he won the Republican primaries. The U.S. election. Overcome a special console probe. Numerous personal attacks. And more importantly .... having his agenda move forward and court picks accepted. And I know that he will continue to succeed because his opponents and critics fail to take the time and effort to understand the man, his mannerisms, philosophy, views, and personal history. But I will leave the best to the last in describing President Trump with a quote from Don Corleone in The Godfather ....
.... There is no greater natural advantage in life than having a friend underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.
