ODDLY little is known about President Donald Trump’s readiness to use massive force against adversaries. An isolationist on the campaign trail, at times Mr Trump has sounded quite the hawk. What is known is his desire to bargain from a position of strength, whether calling for more defence spending or a new nuclear arsenal that is “so strong and powerful”.
The same model applies to Team Trump’s approach to human rights and corruption. The president has sent mixed signals about global torturers and kleptocrats, chiding some while praising others as “tremendous” allies. Yet with little fanfare, he signed Executive Order 13818 a few days before Christmas last year. A remarkably broad sanctions instrument, one human rights expert calls it a cross between a scalpel and “a tactical nuclear weapon”.
Critics call Mr Trump an appeaser of despots. They were loud after his administration said on January 29th that there was no need to rush new sanctions on Russia demanded by Congress in near-unanimous House and Senate votes...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/2FA987B
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