Excerpts from Washington Times
By: Robert B. Charles
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
"President Trump’s first foreign trip was path-breaking. Remarkably, he created buy-in from Muslim, Jewish and Christian leaders for a unified front against an 'evil' that threatens every religion, radical Islamic terrorism. The moment was akin to Ronald Reagan’s 1983 identification of Soviet Communism as 'evil,' delegitimized it and setting in motion his 'roll-back' doctrine.
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"… On one hand, Mr. Trump’s trip reset the geopolitical chess board, as Reagan’s calm and confidence did, unifying allies, deterring adversaries, delegitimizing those who support evil. Manchester’s tragedy punctuated the depth of his message, and timeliness of delivery.
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"… Four elements would appear to underpin the emerging Trump Doctrine of pressing for increased global predictability. First, his administration favors bilateral over multilateral trade agreements … As the world’s strongest economy, negotiating one on one — rather than in large groups — assures that America’s economic advantages, our own labor, capital, infrastructure and abilities, are not diluted …
"Second, the president is making clear that America’s word is again good when it comes to using kinetic or military force for moral ends … No more use of sarin gas; jet fighters were destroyed that delivered it. No more Syrian assaults on allied positions; a convoy was destroyed that approached them.
"In the South China Sea, North Korea is on notice with repositioned carrier battle group options, and international waters are transited by American destroyers. No provocations, but no more backing away …
"Third, American economic advantage — by nature longer term, incrementally gained and lost, not life and death — will be traded for concrete, sustained and verifiable security advantage, which can be sudden and game-changing. Thus, China will not be declared a currency manipulator for now, in exchange for Chinese pressure on North Korea, which is occurring. Saudi Arabia will get a major, bilateral trade deal in exchange for new commitments to regional security …
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"… Call it the Trump Doctrine, a reassertion of American economic, military and moral authority. The world is disorderly. The president is putting those who foment disorder on notice — this will not stand."
Read the full op-ed here.
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