Trump an Embarrassment as President, a Threat to World Peace

Few other presidents have been in the habit of displaying "proof" of what they have just done, "honoring" some putative campaign promise, or just to brag about something they believe is "great". By doing this Trump actually shows an inherent insecurity about his character, a compulsion to prove he's for "real", a trait of mountebanks to keep their marks in the corral, and that's not psychobabble.  (Trump displaying a presidential memorandum after announcing his intention to withdraw from the Iran deal [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters]

He matched Star Trek, going beyond where earlier administrations went before, exceeding the ruthlessness and indifference to the general welfare of his predecessors. Instead of draining the swamp, he filled it with neocon warmakers, crooked billionaires, Wall Street predators, corporate scoundrels, and others hostile to governance serving everyone equitably. His making America great again scam is only for the privileged few, no others. He broke every lofty promise made, showing contempt for world peace, rule of law principles, democratic values and ordinary people everywhere. 

The myth of an anti-establishment candidate vanished straightaway after he took office. As commander-in-chief of the nation’s military, he continued US wars of aggression he inherited, escalated them with likely new countries in mind to attack. Instead of improving relations with Russia, China, Iran and other sovereign independent countries, they’re more dismal than ever.

At 2:00 PM Tuesday in Washington, he’s expected to announce US withdrawal from Iran nuclear, according to the NYT, citing unnamed European diplomats. (He did it already, of course).

One said there’s a “very small” chance for America remaining in the JCPOA. It’s “pretty obvious” he’ll reimpose nuclear-related sanctions, an attempt to kill it. Replacing Tillerson at State with Pompeo and McMaster as national security advisor with Bolton (two militant Iranophobes) signaled his imminent move – the latest black mark on his deplorable record. Washington targets Venezuela for regime change because of its sovereign independent social democracy, anathema to US policymakers. On Monday, Mike Pence announced new (illegal) US sanctions on three more Venezuelans – turning truth on its head calling them “narcotics kingpins.”  Twenty companies associated with the targeted individuals in Venezuela and Panama were also sanctioned. Washington uses illegally imposed sanctions as weapons of economic war – against nations and individuals refusing to bow to its will.

Right-wing extremist Pence also called for postponing Venezuela’s May 20 presidential election, outrageously saying “(t)here will be no real election in Venezuela on May 20, and the world knows it,” adding:  

“It will be a fake election with a fake outcome. Suspend this sham election. Hold real elections. Give the people of Venezuela real choices – because the Venezuelan people deserve to live in democracy once again.”

Democracy in America is pure fantasy. Venezuelans have the real thing, the world’s most open, free and fair process, shaming US money-controlled elections – one party rule with two right wings, at war on humanity, including against its own citizens. Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying Washington “launched erratic maneuvers, typical of the arrogance and despair of imperialist politics, after having failed once and again in the face of the will of a free and independent people.”

Last week during a pre-election rally, Maduro said “(s)o they’re not going to recognize” him as Venezuela’s legitimate president if reelected as expected, adding “(w)hat the hell do I care what Europe and Washington say?” He’s running against Chavista turncoat Henri Falcon and businessman/evangelical pastor Javier Bertucci – linked to the Panama Papers tax haven  scandal by an International Consortium of Investigative Journalists probe into his affairs. 

The Trump administration vowed not to recognize election results if Maduro wins as expected – maybe planning another coup d’etat attempt to depose him with neocon extremists Bolton and Pompeo in charge of geopolitical policymaking.

APPENDIX

BELOW Trump's speech, crammed with pathetic, almost childish mendacity,  one big lie after another,  but the whole package delivered with the fake sincerity of a sociopath or a total ignoramus, or both, in one word, made for Trump.  Warning: Very strong stomach recommended. 

TRANSCRIPT BY ALJAZEERA
Here is US President Donald Trump's speech on Tuesday on the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal in full:

"My fellow Americans: Today, I want to update the world on our efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"The Iranian regime is the leading state sponsor of terror. It exports dangerous missiles, fuels conflicts across the Middle East, and supports terrorist proxies and militias such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

"Over the years, Iran and its proxies have bombed American embassies and military installations, murdered hundreds of American service members, and kidnapped, imprisoned, and tortured American citizens.  The Iranian regime has funded its long reign of chaos and terror by plundering the wealth of its own people.

"No action taken by the regime has been more dangerous than its pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means of delivering them.

"In 2015, the previous administration joined with other nations in a deal regarding Iran's nuclear programme.  This agreement was known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.

"In theory, the so-called Iran deal was supposed to protect the United States and our allies from the lunacy of an Iranian nuclear bomb, a weapon that will only endanger the survival of the Iranian regime. In fact, the deal allowed Iran to continue enriching uranium and, over time, reach the brink of a nuclear breakout.

"The deal lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for very weak limits on the regime's nuclear activity and no limits at all on its other malign behaviour, including its sinister activities in Syria, Yemen and other places all around the world.

"In other words, at the point when the United States had maximum leverage, this disastrous deal gave this regime - and it's a regime of great terror - many billions of dollars, some of it in actual cash - a great embarrassment to me as a citizen and to all citizens of the United States.

"A constructive deal could easily have been struck at the time, but it wasn't. At the heart of the Iran deal was a giant fiction that a murderous regime desired only a peaceful nuclear energy programme.

"Today, we have definitive proof that this Iranian promise was a lie. Last week, Israel published intelligence documents long concealed by Iran, conclusively showing the Iranian regime and its history of pursuing nuclear weapons.

"The fact is this was a horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.  It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will.

"In the years since the deal was reached, Iran's military budget has grown by almost 40 percent, while its economy is doing very badly. After the sanctions were lifted, the dictatorship used its new funds to build nuclear-capable missiles, support terrorism, and cause havoc throughout the Middle East and beyond.

"The agreement was so poorly negotiated that even if Iran fully complies, the regime can still be on the verge of a nuclear breakout in just a short period of time. The deal's sunset provisions are totally unacceptable. If I allowed this deal to stand, there would soon be a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.  Everyone would want their weapons ready by the time Iran had theirs.

"Making matters worse, the deal’s inspection provisions lack adequate mechanisms to prevent, detect, and punish cheating, and don't even have the unqualified right to inspect many important locations, including military facilities.

"Not only does the deal fail to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but it also fails to address the regime’s development of ballistic missiles that could deliver nuclear warheads.

"Finally, the deal does nothing to constrain Iran’s destabilizing activities, including its support for terrorism.  Since the agreement, Iran’s bloody ambitions have grown only more brazen.

"In light of these glaring flaws, I announced last October that the Iran deal must either be renegotiated or terminated.

"Three months later, on January 12, I repeated these conditions. I made clear that if the deal could not be fixed, the United States would no longer be a party to the agreement.

"Over the past few months, we have engaged extensively with our allies and partners around the world, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.  We have also consulted with our friends from across the Middle East.  We are unified in our understanding of the threat and in our conviction that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.

"After these consultations, it is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement.

"The Iran deal is defective at its core.  If we do nothing, we know exactly what will happen.  In just a short period of time, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror will be on the cusp of acquiring the world’s most dangerous weapons.

"Therefore, I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal.

"In a few moments, I will sign a presidential memorandum to begin reinstating US nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime.  We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction. Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States.

"America will not be held hostage to nuclear blackmail.  We will not allow American cities to be threatened with destruction. And we will not allow a regime that chants 'Death to America' to gain access to the most deadly weapons on Earth.

"Today's action sends a critical message: The United States no longer makes empty threats. When I make promises, I keep them.  In fact, at this very moment, Secretary Pompeo is on his way to North Korea in preparation for my upcoming meeting with Kim Jong-un. Plans are being made. Relationships are building.  Hopefully, a deal will happen and, with the help of China, South Korea, and Japan, a future of great prosperity and security can be achieved for everyone.

"As we exit the Iran deal, we will be working with our allies to find a real, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear threat. This will include efforts to eliminate the threat of Iran’s ballistic missile programme; to stop its terrorist activities worldwide; and to block its menacing activity across the Middle East.  In the meantime, powerful sanctions will go into full effect. If the regime continues its nuclear aspirations, it will have bigger problems than it has ever had before.

"Finally, I want to deliver a message to the long-suffering people of Iran: The people of America stand with you. It has now been almost 40 years since this dictatorship seized power and took a proud nation hostage. Most of Iran's 80 million citizens have sadly never known an Iran that prospered in peace with its neighbours and commanded the admiration of the world.

"But the future of Iran belongs to its people. They are the rightful heirs to a rich culture and an ancient land.  And they deserve a nation that does justice to their dreams, honor to their history and glory to God.

"Iran's leaders will naturally say that they refuse to negotiate a new deal; they refuse.  And that's fine.  I'd probably say the same thing if I was in their position. But the fact is they are going to want to make a new and lasting deal, one that benefits all of Iran and the Iranian people.  When they do, I am ready, willing, and able.

"Great things can happen for Iran, and great things can happen for the peace and stability that we all want in the Middle East.

"There has been enough suffering, death, and destruction.  Let it end now.

"Thank you. God bless you. Thank you."