Sadly, Donald Trump has modelled himself on a Mafia Don. His boorish behaviour and loudmouthed bullying has intimidated some. His absurd and untrue claim that US allies never helped (The US triggered NATO article 5) and that NATO troops stayed out of harms way has been condemned by many US servicemen, who call Trump a Draft Dodger. Certainly, for a man who refused to serve in his countries military, he's grown a massive pair now he's too old to get called up.
Delcy Rodríguez now anointed by him President of Venezuela has been a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) target for years on suspicion of connections to drug trafficking, money laundering and gold smuggling. The investigations give Trump leverage over her, as, reportedly, he has threatened her with indictment if she doesn't comply with U.S. demands. Apparently she and her husband made a deal with Trump after talking to the CIA, It was that they'd not stand in the way of Maduro's removal if they could take over. Of course, using Venezuela's oil wealth to pay the protection money. According to Politico, By January 22nd the US had lifted and sold $500 million of oil and the funds are in a Qatari bank and that the account is controlled by Secretary of State, Rubio. Why it's deposited with Qatar is unclear. Venezuela says it's had $300M of it. There seem to be no plans for helping ordinary people or restoring democracy. What's the Don going to do with his $200M share?
Are talks underway with Iran's Revolutionary Guard? A similar deal to that Trump's made with Venezuela would be tempting to them. The next week will reveal the truth. So far, the Dons bluster and swagger has only resulted in the deaths of thousands of unarmed protesters.
Those who think that Trump is an aberration need to look at history. James K. Polk US president had offered to buy Mexican territory on the Pacific seaboard. No agreement was made, and the US invaded Mexico, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the war. The treaty gave the U.S. undisputed control of Texas, established the U.S. Mexican border along the Rio Grande, and ceded to the United States the present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah, most of New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. In return, Mexico received $15 million, less than half the amount the U.S. had attempted to offer Mexico for the land before the opening of hostilities. The justification for all this was to deny the British a Pacific port. Geography, it seems has never been a strong point of US administrations. Canada has a west coast. Of course, the US wanted that country too. It's attempts to cajole and even at times to invade were unsuccessful. Trump trying again is par for the course.
In WW1 the UK financed Europe until by 1917 it had to borrow money from the US. The US stayed out of the fight long enough to get rich. The US excuse that it didn't need the rest of the world is ridiculous. The US finally supported Britain in 1917, because of trade. The US has always been a trading nation, and by staying out long enough their exports grew from $2.4 billion in 1913 to $6.2 billion in 1917. The importance of Britain is shown clearly by the fact that in 1937 27.4% of US Imports came from the Britain and the Empire and 31.2% of its exports were to it. By contrast, imports from Germany were sub 01.0% and exports counted for 3.8%. Because of that, Britain was heavily invested in the US and the US in Britain. Given the economic importance, it seems strange that the US decided to sit out WW2. Strange, but hugely profitable. Britain sent its entire gold reserves to Canada and used it to buy weapons from the US. When the money ran out, the US demanded rent-free bases in the Caribbean in return for 50 ships. In an attempt to encourage the Americans, Sir Henry Tizard was sent to Washington with a bag of secrets. Given without charge were the cavity magnetron for use in radar, Proximity fuses for bombs, details of nuclear research, submarine detection and plastic explosives. The design of Whittle's jet engine, which was far in advance of American research, was provided too. Finally, there was lend-lease. Britain repaid every penny. Russia and Germany were excused.
It took Peal Harbour to get the US into the war. It was not just a question of money. Roosevelt favoured Stalin. According to William Bullitt, US Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Roosevelt told him: "I just have a hunch that Stalin is not that kind of a man.... I think that if I give him everything I possibly can and ask for nothing from him in return, 'noblesse oblige', he won't try to annex anything and will work with me for a world of democracy and peace". Stalin wanted a second front in France. Churchill pushed for one in Italy, and at first succeeded.
His plan was to advance through Italy, invade Austria and deny the Balkans to the Russians, perhaps even Hungary and Ukraine, Siding with Stalin the Americans insisted on France and pulled men and equipment out of Italy to prepare for its invasion. Roosevelt and Stalin ganged up against Churchill, and the result was the Cold War. When Truman became President he too trusted Stalin remarking, "I can deal with Stalin. He is honest — but smart as hell". The scales fell from his eyes too late to save the world from the Cold War and the subjugation of so many in the USSR and China. In March 1947 he announced the Truman Doctrine, "The policy of the United States to support free people who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures". This was the policy that the US followed until Trump.
Trump is the result of failure. Failure by the US to understand that electing a King does not necessarily mean he'll be a democrat. Very few US Presidents have actually deserved their office or the thanks of the people. It is a mystery why a great nation often chooses third rate politicians as leaders. Failure by the UK is the result of the Uni-Party determination to create a Social Welfare state and to pay for it by ignoring all else. Most of the modern world, microchips, computers, jet engines, nuclear fusion were invented here and either given away or squandered. The military has been hollowed out to pay for dubious sick notes. The political class has determinedly undermined societies values.
Trump is a boorish thug, and his support of Putin is history repeatings itself. But, he is the invention of those who for years have ignored their duty and allowed this country to stand almost naked on the world's stage, That the same has happened throughout free Europe is of no comfort. Faced with a bully, one either gives in and abases oneself, or you fight. Trump is an ignorant man whose grasp of history is limited. The military and economic midgets of Vietnam won its war with the US. Mighty Empires fall, nothing is forever, but at least while one has the power it should be used for good.
Something good can come out of bad. Britain and other Countries need to wake up to the fact that the US has always had a policy of America First. Beggar thy neighbour has made it rich. That it has, is because of the stupidity of others. We've become worms, and it is time to turn.
