A New Era of Peace Under Trump? by Stephen Lendman
On December 1, Trump began a thank you tour of states aiding his electoral triumph, stopping first in Cincinnati - pledging a new era of peace, saying:
On defense, we will begin a major national effort to rebuild our badly depleted military. We have no choice. The world is a tinder box.
We want a strong military that ideally we dont have to use. Although, we will destroy ISIS. We will pursue a new foreign policy that finally learns from the mistakes of the past.
We will stop looking to topple regimes and overthrow governments. Six trillion dollars (wasted) in the Middle East. Our goal is stability, not chaos.
We want to rebuild our country. We will partner with any nation that is willing to join us in the effort to defeat ISIS and radical Islamic terrorism.
In our dealings with other countries, we will seek shared interests wherever possible and pursue a new era of peace, understanding, and good will.
Quite a mouthful. Heres what Trump should have said but didnt. Americas only enemies are ones it invents. Its military is hugely bloated.
It should be reduced to a small fraction of its current size, the defense (aka war) budget significantly slashed.
Americas global empire of bases should be closed once and for all, many domestic ones with them. US policy bears full responsibility for a tinder box world.
Washington created ISIS and virtually all other terrorist groups, CIA dirty hands involved. Choosing hawkish Mike Pompeo as director suggests continued support for this scourge. Announcing General James (Mad Dog) Mattis as his defense secretary isnt encouraging.
Saying he wont topple other governments is reassuring if he means it, fulfilling his pledge despite enormous pressure to continue Americas permanent war agenda.
Pursuing a new era of peace, understanding and good will would dramatically change longstanding US imperial policy.
Lofty promises are one thing, fulfilling them another.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
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