Since US President Donald Trump came into office, he has been causing damage to America and its image among both its allies and adversaries.
Even before his term began and thanks to his hardline speeches, there has been an alarming rise in racism, xenophobia and hate attacks across the USA. Anti-Muslim hate groups have increased by 197% since 2015, with 917 hate groups active inside the US. A 34% increase in anti-Semitic incidents was witnessed in 2016, with the total jumping to 86% in the first quarter of 2017.
By the end of 2017, Trump made a decision that delivered a stinging rebuke at the UN General assembly; his unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as capital of the Israeli apartheid regime. European leaders not only slammed Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of the Israeli regime, but also criticized his disavowal of the Iranian deal and his decision to decertify it. His bellicose rhetoric towards North Korea and Iran has also been a major issue of concern for many.
Of course, many think that the sudden switch from State Department head Rex Tillerson to CIA director Mike Pompeo is a destabilizing move towards allowing Trump to bring about his madness to the world.
Amid all this comes a major development that has been described by media reports as ‘dangerous’; the appointment of John Bolton as Trump’s national security advisor.
Bolton’s appointment is the talk of the town today. Who does not remember John Bolton? The champion of George W. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq who in recent years has also endorsed military action and regime change in Iran, Syria and Libya. As recently as March 4, Trump called the invasion of Iraq “the single worst decision ever made.”
Trump and Bolton do not match in terms of foreign policy; an “America First” policy versus a “military power first” policy.
One of the main topics of the US foreign policy that keeps the world busy is Iran. Bolton had said that "America’s declared policy should be ending Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution before its 40th anniversary."
Bolton, who is dismissive of international diplomacy, has also called for bombing Iran and North Korea. He has been, for the past three years, calling for the ripping-up of the nuclear deal with Iran. This comes at a time when Iran has time and again assured that it seeks no nuclear arms and that its nuclear energy program is for peaceful purposes while the US and its ally, the Israeli regime own large number of nuclear warheads.
For a moment, one would think that Trump’s appointment of Bolton might be to appease the Saudis in the Middle East region, but there must be something more to it.
All eyes will be on Trump in mid-May, if he does not sign the next sanctions waver on Iran, in violation of the nuclear deal JCPOA, this will possibly trigger the anger of European allies who have already been sounding their support for an ongoing deal with Iran. This means that if Trump and Bolton decide to turn to an all-clash relation with Iran, they will only cause more isolation to the United States.
So far, Iran has been sticking to its side of the deal, has been in compliance with it and has not even breached its spirit.
The new appointment of Bolton surely raises questions on the real foreign policy of the incumbent US president, and leaves an open question to whether Bolton will be able to manage his relationship with Trump and the so-called “make America great again” approach.
Whether appointing Bolton is worrisome, surprising or dangerous as described during the two past days, he is part of the Trump advisory team and his job will come into effect on April 9, and the world will have to wait and see how he approaches talks with North Korea, the Iran Nuclear agreement as well as Moscow and Beijing.
Trump’s appointment of Bolton is dangerous; but maybe more dangerous on the United States itself rather than the world especially if it decides to walk away from the historic deal with Iran. The world order has changed and is still rapidly changing; historic allies can turn their backs and walk away when the US decides to continue to antagonize the whole world. This might be the straw that will break the camel’s back, ending any American hopes of being “great again”.
WRITER
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