Never before had an American president used the United Nations as a forum to give a very menacing speech, going as far as to essentially threaten an entire nation's very existence. However, we have Donald Trump in the White House these days, and that means that things are different than before. He did this just two days before International Peace Day.
That changed, however, with Trump's speech at the United Nations earlier this week, when he basically threatened to level North Korea. He also lambasted the United Nations itself, suggesting that it has failed to live up to the ideals of what it was supposed to represent and be when it was first formed, when the smoke began to clear after World War II, and when the streets of many cities in Europe and Asia lay in rubble.
In a mocking tone that sounded almost casual at times, like a schoolyard bully threatening his next victim with a beat down on the playground later in the day for recess, President Trump (still cannot get used to those two words combined like this) addressed the entire world, for all intents and purposes, as if he were still campaigning to be president. For all intents and purposes, he threatened North Korea with nuclear annihilation.
Here is what Trump said, specifically:
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That’s what the United Nations is all about; that’s what the United Nations is for. Let’s see how they do."
Wow. Really, what can any thinking person get from this, other than that these are the rantings of an undisciplined, overgrown brat, a manchild who really does not see the potential dangers of careless words. He threatened the very existence of a country that happens to border China, and both North Korea and China have nuclear weapons. China has suggested that it will remain neutral in this recent spat between the United States and North Korea, assuming that the United States does not invade or attack North Korea. But if the United States, under President Trump, decides to wipe North Korea off the map, literally? Not only would he (and his supporters) rightly be labeled as a modern version of Nazis, but he would likely have instigated an out and out world war involving China. And frankly, I have no confidence that Trump is not capable of outright launching an attack of that sort, all the while completely blissfully aware of how horrendous and apocalyptic that decision might be.
Indeed, perhaps the old description of Trump, which we heard during the presidential campaign, rings true, that we should not take his words literally, but we should supposedly take him seriously. The fact that he, in his official capacity as president now, should go before the entire world and issue such a threat is almost unimaginable, and a definite sign of the tragedy of America's collective decision to have this man elected president in November.
Here is what Trump said, specifically:
"The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary. That’s what the United Nations is all about; that’s what the United Nations is for. Let’s see how they do."
Wow. Really, what can any thinking person get from this, other than that these are the rantings of an undisciplined, overgrown brat, a manchild who really does not see the potential dangers of careless words. He threatened the very existence of a country that happens to border China, and both North Korea and China have nuclear weapons. China has suggested that it will remain neutral in this recent spat between the United States and North Korea, assuming that the United States does not invade or attack North Korea. But if the United States, under President Trump, decides to wipe North Korea off the map, literally? Not only would he (and his supporters) rightly be labeled as a modern version of Nazis, but he would likely have instigated an out and out world war involving China. And frankly, I have no confidence that Trump is not capable of outright launching an attack of that sort, all the while completely blissfully aware of how horrendous and apocalyptic that decision might be.
Indeed, perhaps the old description of Trump, which we heard during the presidential campaign, rings true, that we should not take his words literally, but we should supposedly take him seriously. The fact that he, in his official capacity as president now, should go before the entire world and issue such a threat is almost unimaginable, and a definite sign of the tragedy of America's collective decision to have this man elected president in November.
Predictably, North Korea's equally unstable leader made grandiose threats as well, essentially promising that Trump would face fire from his own country, and he suggested that Trump was a nutcase.
Frankly, it seems that there are two nutcases trying to outdo one another with their immature shows of bluster and bravado, playing for the highest stakes. The only problem is that both men actually have the power to make something truly catastrophic become a reality.
Of course, Trump discussed other subject matter, as well. The main points that he tried to pound home was his "America First" policy. He suggested, essentially, that all leaders put the interests of their countries first, and that this was essentially the meaning of his own "America First" policy.
Perhaps, but Trump's version of "America First" tends to be so Americentrist as to exclude any cooperation with the rest of the world, as this seemingly is somehow seen as some kind of weakness. This appears to be the message, never outright stated, which the rest of the world is understandably worried about with Trump at the helm. Growing ever more insular and inward looking, the United States keeps lowering the bar with it's leaders and, thus, with just about everything else. And what President Trump suggests is simply looking out for our own interests first, seems to many others to be an aloof standoff-ishness and presumption of superiority.
Somehow, Trump managed to make people forget his idiotic and, frankly, dangerous speech on Tuesday with another obvious mishap the very next day. During a lunch meeting with African leaders, Trump talked about the improving healthcare system of Nambia.
The only problem? No such nation exists!
Did he mean Namibia? Zambia, perhaps? Maybe even the Gambia? No one can say for sure. It remains unclear.
What is clear, however, is that this man really is the most ill prepared man ever to hold such a high office in American history. Other than his consistent golf outings on extended weekends, he rarely takes any breaks in finding new and innovative ways to humiliate himself and his country before the entire world.
The tragedy, also, is that he makes other mediocre presidents, most notably George W. Bush, look very good and distinguished by way of comparison. Remember that Bush also sometimes seemed intent on humiliating himself and his nation as well, particularly with the faulty "facts" that he and his administration used liberally in order to justify the invasion of Iraq that they clearly wanted so badly. Yes, Bush (and Cheney and Rumsfeld) were bad, but this administration is just far, far worse. The most amazing thing to come out of the Trump administration thus far is that he makes everyone else, including George W. Bush, look incredibly bright and even enlightened by way of comparison.
Trump’s menacing United Nations speech, annotated By Aaron Blake September 19, 2017:
Of course, Trump discussed other subject matter, as well. The main points that he tried to pound home was his "America First" policy. He suggested, essentially, that all leaders put the interests of their countries first, and that this was essentially the meaning of his own "America First" policy.
Perhaps, but Trump's version of "America First" tends to be so Americentrist as to exclude any cooperation with the rest of the world, as this seemingly is somehow seen as some kind of weakness. This appears to be the message, never outright stated, which the rest of the world is understandably worried about with Trump at the helm. Growing ever more insular and inward looking, the United States keeps lowering the bar with it's leaders and, thus, with just about everything else. And what President Trump suggests is simply looking out for our own interests first, seems to many others to be an aloof standoff-ishness and presumption of superiority.
Somehow, Trump managed to make people forget his idiotic and, frankly, dangerous speech on Tuesday with another obvious mishap the very next day. During a lunch meeting with African leaders, Trump talked about the improving healthcare system of Nambia.
The only problem? No such nation exists!
Did he mean Namibia? Zambia, perhaps? Maybe even the Gambia? No one can say for sure. It remains unclear.
What is clear, however, is that this man really is the most ill prepared man ever to hold such a high office in American history. Other than his consistent golf outings on extended weekends, he rarely takes any breaks in finding new and innovative ways to humiliate himself and his country before the entire world.
The tragedy, also, is that he makes other mediocre presidents, most notably George W. Bush, look very good and distinguished by way of comparison. Remember that Bush also sometimes seemed intent on humiliating himself and his nation as well, particularly with the faulty "facts" that he and his administration used liberally in order to justify the invasion of Iraq that they clearly wanted so badly. Yes, Bush (and Cheney and Rumsfeld) were bad, but this administration is just far, far worse. The most amazing thing to come out of the Trump administration thus far is that he makes everyone else, including George W. Bush, look incredibly bright and even enlightened by way of comparison.
Trump’s menacing United Nations speech, annotated By Aaron Blake September 19, 2017:
Where is 'Nambia'? President Trump 'invents' African country 21 September 2017 From the BBC section on Africa:
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