Lying, deception, corruption and obstruction are becoming the tools of an administration that has become so corrupt that we are losing the respect and admiration of the world. We are no longer looked at as the example to follow for democracy. Our allies are denigrated and attacked by the words and actions of the administration. Dictators are embraced and respected. Human rights around the world are insignificant now to us for reasons that should shame us.
Saudi Arabia had a reporter who was a resident of the United States murdered, his body cut into pieces and disposed of, just because he wrote critically of the regime. Sorry, but they spend too much money with us to have it make a difference to this administration according to Trump. Russia murders dissidents on foreign soil, Putin says they didn’t do it. Trump says I believe him. Russia interferes with our 2016 election, Putin denies and live on television Trump accepts his word over all of our intelligence agencies, Trump tells them it is okay, I really don’t care and since I fired the head of the FBI maybe it will take the heat off. His son, campaign manager (who is now serving seven years in prison for working secretly for a foreign government and lying about it) and son in law meet with a Russian agent looking to get dirt on his opponent, he says it is not a crime to listen. He told George Stephanopoulos recently in an interview that if a foreign government called wanting to give him dirt on an opponent he would listen. And now he not only is listening, he is actively trying to deal to get other governments to investigate his opponents.
With Ukraine, you need antitank missiles to defend against the Russians? I need a favor though, investigate the Bidens. With China, I’ll stay out of the oppression you are inflicting upon Hong Kong. By the way, you should investigate Biden and his son. And when Congress opens an impeachment inquiry for these things against Trump, the answer from the administration is attack the investigators, refuse to comply with subpoenas, obstruct by using false claims of executive privilege, order officials not to testify and lie to the reporters asking the questions. The Attorney General, who is supposed to represent the interests of the American people, has now become what appears to be the personal lawyer of Trump. He has become a co-conspirator in these obstructions by refusing to investigate and defending Trump instead of the United States and the rule of law.
If Vice President Biden’s son is fair game, then how about Trump’s children? Shouldn’t they be investigated also? How about the time Jared Kushner went to Qatar asking for money to bail him out on a terrible investment he made for a building at 666 Fifth Ave.? Seems the people he was meeting with turned him down and soon after Trump bragged about how he was responsible for sanctions levied against Qatar by Saudi Arabia. How about his family traveling to China to promote their real estate business by using his name and promises of special visas for anyone investing with them. What about all the patents that have been given to Ivanka from China since he took office, three of which were granted on the day she had dinner at Mar a Lago with the president of China? How about the $82 million dollars that Jared and Ivanka made in 2017 while being employed in the White House even though they supposedly gave up any control of their businesses when they entered the administration? Don Jr. and Eric have been flying around the world doing business after saying they would no longer be pursuing international business while Trump was president. And though Trump swears that he has given complete control of his business to the boys, Eric admitted on “Good Morning America” that he shows his dad the profit statements regularly and now that Trump is president, he is exempt from any conflict of interest rules.
Even in foreign policy Trump is looking for a financial bottom line. Not what is best for the world and the United States, but what is best for Donald Trump. After a phone call where it is reported that Trump was steamrolled by Turkey’s Erdogen, Trump ordered the withdrawal of all American forces from the Kurdish held territory near the Syrian – Turkey border. This is to allow Turkey to attack the forces who have been our allies in the fight against ISIS, who Turkey calls terrorists because they want to be free from Turkish oppression. The same forces that gave over 11,000 lives taking back the territory that ISIS had conquered. The same forces that saved countless American lives by doing the fighting for us. And now we will no longer be trusted by any ally to keep our word since we abandoned the Kurds to be slaughtered by the Turks. His response about supporting them, “Well we did give them lots of money for fighting the battles.”
Even Trump’s staunchest allies in Congress are decrying this move. And as for the money aspect of this policy, who knows what was said on the call since he hides everything, he did say in a 2015 interview with Breitbart News in December of 2015, “I have a little conflict of interest ‘cause I have a major, major building in Istanbul,” Trump boasted. “It’s a tremendously successful job. It’s called Trump Towers — two towers, instead of one, not the usual one; it’s two. And I’ve gotten to know Turkey very well. They’re amazing people, they’re incredible people. They have a strong leader.”
Possibly Erdogan threatened his business deals in Turkey? We don’t know but since it all comes down to money, it is a possibility.
“Every time we turn our heads the other way when we see the law flouted, when we tolerate what we know to be wrong, when we close our eyes and ears to the corrupt because we are too busy or too frightened, when we fail to speak up and speak out, we strike a blow against freedom, decency and justice.” Robert F Kennedy
Will we speak up or turn our heads?
Steve Creed is a local resident who contributes columns to the Record-Herald.
