Congress Doubts Trump Foreign Policy
D. S. Mitchell
Calamity Politics is a progressive leaning political blog where we attempt to offer relevant and engaging political analysis and commentary, sprinkled with a bit of sarcasm and cynicism. So, if you are ready, please join me as I examine the good, the bad, the planned and the unplanned on the U.S. political scene. Some call it Mud Wrestling, I call it Russian Roulette.
Mieke Eoyang, a National Security Analyst at the Third Way, said, “I think it is setting in, especially in the Republican members of Congress, that they are not getting the kind of adult leadership out of the White House that would allow them to give deference to the White House”.
Congress does seem to be showing an awakening as the chaos in the White House becomes more and more evident. Signals of that awakening can be seen as the Congress steps up and takes a more aggressive role on national security.
Examples of this Congressional move to shrink presidential powers in the foreign policy field can be seen in several recent actions. These actions are unlikely to become law, but the intent is clear; a stronger Congress will emerge, as this Executive shows less interest in foreign affairs than he does in whatever ‘Tweet War” he is engaged in.
Donald Trump Is More Interested In His Latest Twitter War Than Real Foreign Policy
1.) A House panel approved by Amendment, to repeal the 2001 Authorization For Use Of Military Force. This Authorization for the “use of military forces” is the “legal authority for U.S. wars in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan”. The vote to repeal the 2001 War Authorization is not likely to become law, however, it is an implicit rebuke of Trump and the growing dissatisfaction with the unchecked war on terror.
2.) The Senate passed a significant Russia sanctions package by a 98-2 margin. The bill gives Congress the ability to review any Trump Administration attempts to roll back sanctions against Russia. That Senate bill is currently slowed down in the House, but Senators are exerting pressure to pass the bill intact, without Amendment. Another message to the Trump Administration that someone is watching, and they are not very happy.
3.) Both the House and the Senate reaffirmed the NATO Article 5 principles. “An attack on one is an attack on all.” This action was taken when Trump refused to confirm the principle during a speech at the new NATO headquarters last month in Europe.
4.) Congressional Committees have approved 3 defense bills to increase Pentagon spending by 30 billion dollars. Senators complain the Trump budget is a joke, and did too little to rebuild our failing military.
Whether about Russia or the military, the Congress has begun to curb the White House power, and in some cases totally disregarding Trump desires as related to foreign policy and national security. Initially, there were hopes that NSA, McMaster and Defense Secretary, Mattis would be able to direct Trump in the correct path toward acceptance of long established United States foreign policy and goals.
But in a very short time Trump has shown that he will over rule his national security team, and through his actions and his statements, or by his lack of action–has elicited a robust response from Capital Hill. Many legislators have quietly concluded that Trump’s ability and willingness to grasp the complexities of key national security problems and his unique responsibilities as Commander in Chief do not exist.
Individual Senators have begun to interject themselves into foreign policy arguments. When Trump sided with Saudi Arabia and four other Persian Gulf states against Qatar there was outrage from many fronts, including the State Department. The State Department was asking for calm and condemned the blockade against Qatar by Saudi Arabia and its supporters. The U.S. maintains thousands of troops and equipment in Qatar and that issue alone brings Trump’s speech and actions into serious question.
Bob Corker got involved, saying “I will use my authority as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and block any new foreign arms sales to all countries involved, until a path to resolution is found.”
Senator John McCain slashed out at the Administration for failing to define an Afghanistan Plan as more and more U.S. troops were being committed to the war zone. In harsh remarks the Senator said, “The president has two choices. Either give us a strategy, or we will put a strategy that we develop into the defense authorization bill.
Loren Schulman a defense analyst at Center For A New American Society, stated, “I’ll be willing to say Congress is offering a real check on the Trump Administration when it refuses to fund one of its initiatives, or halts war funding until a clear strategy is provided.”
I think I’m with Loren Schulman on this one.
Have a great rest of the weekend. Don’t Drink or Smoke and Drive.
Join the Resistance
Dar
