The Foreign Policy War Within

For John, BLUF:  Is this not the "Deep State" at work?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Secret Message in Trump’s National Security Strategy

This is from World Politics Review and Ms Frida Ghitis, on 21 December 21, 2017.

Here is the lede plus one:

This week, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his National Security Strategy in a speech that touted the new agenda while at the same time contradicting key elements of the very strategy he was outlining.  Among many policy professionals, the document produced an array of opinions, from alarm by those who pointed to sharp departures from traditional positions, to relief that it proposes a rather traditional conservative philosophy on national security.  There is an explanation for the conflicting views by observers and the verbal self-punching by the president:  The National Security Strategy thinly conceals an important secret about foreign policy in the age of Trump.

If you read it carefully, you’ll find the message the authors—people who have distinguished careers in national security—slipped into the pages.  It says, “We’re still here.  We still know what matters.  We understand the country’s security risks and strategic priorities. And we know how to operate under this president.”

This reminds me of the line from Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds, the InstaPundit.  “If you want more Trump, this is how you get more Trump.”

If the National Security Advisor H R McMaster was hoping to use the NSS to guide the President in certain directions, then this exposes him as a manipulator, and that is not good.  It will make “guiding” that much harder.

If this was just the “Deep State" showing how smart they are, then this makes them look like they have overreached.

Writing an article like this makes the Reporter, Ms Frida Ghitis, look very bright and well connected, but it just sets us up for more conflict between the President and those who are resisting his agenda.  Unless the writer expects the President to fall from office before Teresa May, this is poor form.

Then there is this final paragraph:

While the Trump administration is decidedly sui generis, unlike any administration in recent memory, its National Security Strategy is far from a departure.  That, however, does not mean that Trump’s strategy will hew close to what the document actually outlines.  Instead, it suggests that there are two main streams of thought within the administration.  Of course, it is the president himself who espouses views out of the mainstream and ultimately sets policy.  But the authors of this new strategy, and the people who work for them, have reminded us that they did not subsume their principles and their ideals to their current boss.  They are still there, they have whispered in this document, doing what they can to keep the ship of state afloat.

I always thought the idea was that if you couldn’t support your boss you resigned, rather than trying to undermine him. If these folks really had principles they would be gone. I guess that is just quaint in this day and age.

Regards  —  Cliff