On November 28, 2016, Jon Rainwater, Peace Action's executive director, published an assessment of then-presidential-elect Donald Trump's developing foreign policy. Following are selected excerpts:
#A militarist strain of anti-Islam views is the thread that ties much of Trump's positions together.
Three key picks, Steve Bannor as chief White House advisor, Mike Flynn for National Security Advisor -- now pushed out of office-- and Mike Pompeo as CIA chief all share apocalyptic views about Muslims. Flynn called Islam "a vicious cancer inside the body of 1.7 billion people on this planet and it has to be excised." Even with moderate picks sprinkled through the cabinet, this toxic ideology is likely to drive key policies.
The fear is that, as the New York Times put it, Flynn and Pompeo "will thrust the charged phrase 'radical Islamic terrorism' to the center of American foreign policy in a way that blurs the lines between a war on terrorism and a war on Islam."
In this expanded war, the Trump team openly admits it sees torture and increased civilian casualties as a price worth paying. We need to oppose this divisive worldview.
#We should believe Trump when he says he's "much more militaristic" than George W. Bush.
Trump put Clinton on the defensive by critiquing "regime change wars" like in Iraq. But let's be clear: Trump and his advisors have explicitly said they will not shy away from using U.S. military power. Trump promised to escalate the air war in Syria and Iraq, saying he'll "bomb the [expletive] out of them... I'd blow up every single inch, there would be nothing left."
You and I will need to mobilize to oppose that unbridled militarism. Trump has plans to send as many as 30,000 U.S. troops to Iraq and Syria to battle ISIS so we'll need to build opposition to a large-scale ground war.
#The Trump's team cagey mix of white nationalism and "America First" principles is a threat to international peace and cooperation.
There's a lot of uncertainty about how Trump will handle agreements like the Iran deal, the Arms Trade Treaty and the Paris Climate Accords. But it's clear that unilateralism and a suspicion of the rest of the world are likely to drive Trump's policies.
One of the first things Trump and Bannon have done is reach out to other white nationalist political lenders like Nigel Farage in the U.K. and Marine Le Pen in France to create what some call a "global ultra-right coalition." Trump's opposition to alliances, his white nationalist leanings, and his fondness for authoritarians could dramatically transform U.S. foreign policy and global relations.
#War is already on the table.
ISIS may be central to Trump's foreign policy, but Trump and his bellicose advisors have threatened to use U.S. force against targets like Iran and North Korea as well.
Iran is enemy number one for the new Trump administration. It's not only that Trump called the nuclear deal "the worst deal ever negotiated" and plans to "restructure" it." If that's not scary enough, Trump advisors from John Bolton to Mike Flynn have said war with Iran is necessary. They prefer war over diplomacy when it comes to the Iranian nuclear program.
Trump once called for strikes on North Korea, saying: "I don't think anybody is going to accuse me of tiptoeing trough the issues or tap-dancing around them either. Who else in public life has called for a pre-emptive strike on North Korea?" This was way back in 2000. Today, tensions with North Korea are at a fever pitch over North Korea's advancing missile program.
#Trump is planning an expensive Pentagon build-up that would make Reagan blush.
Trump's plans include bulking up what is far and away the largest and most expensive military in world history. Trump has promised to grow the Army to 540,000 soldiers, who are expected to be deployed in Asia and Europe. He wants the biggest navy build-up since the Reagan administration.
He also plans a major investment in destabilizing missile defense and space weapons systems. This outsized spending is likely to be "balanced" by huge cuts in spending on domestic programs.
#Trump has particularly dangerous views on nuclear weapons.
Many were shocked when Trump entertained the use of nuclear weapons both against ISIS and in Europe. Trump's finger on the button is the most terrifying aspect of his soon-to-be presidency. This is a man who, as he was briefed on national security issues before the election, asked repeatedly why nuclear weapons should never be used and suggested more nations should possess their own nukes.
After the election, the Trump transition team announced that the administration plans to make spending on developing new nuclear weapons and delivery systems a top priority. Trump has made the wild claim that President Obama had allowed the large U.S. nuclear arsenal to "atrophy." Never mind Obama's $1 trillion plan for new nuclear weapons spending, Trump wants more.
#We need to promote a positive vision of foreign policy that favors peace and human rights while we fight Trump's dystopian agenda.
You and I share a vision of a more peaceful foreign policy. It's a vision of a world where human rights, diplomatic cooperation and international law are the foundations of global relations.
ADDENDUMS:
*Two changes from what Jon Rainwater has written are: 1. Mike Flynn is out as national security adviser, because he lied about his contacts with the Russian ambassador; and 2. to my knowledge, John Bolton has not been given a high position in the Trump administration.
*As of at least a week ago, 30 under-secretary positions in the Department of State have not been filled nor nominations made.
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