re: #135 A Cranky One

In reality, foreign policy is extremely complex and while it may have “useful fictions” (or as you call it, diplomatic BS), those fictions are often critically important to the powers in charge.

The fact that Trump doesn’t understand the nuances isn’t in itself disturbing. What’s disturbing and in fact outright frightening is that Trump doesn’t appear to be interested in consulting others who do understand the nuances and our country’s long-standing, bi-partisan policies. His willingness to blindly stumble around, stepping on land mines which could result in wars, when folks have maps showing where the land mines are, is terrifying.

This is why foreign policy experience and knowledge is critical for the SOS. But has Trump considered that important in his selection process? Obviously not. Of course, this is the same guy who claims to know more about military strategy than the generals, who feels no need to get the daily classified intelligence briefings and who prefers unsourced conspiracy theories to actual facts. People are likely to die because of Trump’s inability to understand the real world and his apparent lack of interest in learning all the things the POTUS should understand.

When you are POTUS, there is no such thing as a simple phone call with foreign leaders. Which is one of many reasons why the idea that we should elect business-people as political leaders is such a crock.

The “One China Policy” serves as a useful fiction because our cordial relations with China are a side-benefit to the major benefit, which is that China hasn’t made any serious effort to overthrow the Taipei gov’t since we broke direct relations with them. Right now, China maintains peaceful relations with Taiwan under the desire to one day reunify them with the mainland proper. If Trump does anything to convince Beijing that Taiwan may consider a serious bid for independence, then they may decide that peaceful reunification is impossible.