AMERICA'S COMPASSION BY-PASS ...
The one thing Donald Trump has been successful in eliminating from America’s international relations has been the very characteristic that set it apart from other great powers, compassion.
There have been many proud examples of American compassion on the international stage: the Lend-Lease deal with Britain in WWII described by Churchill as “the most unsordid act in the whole of recorded history”; the Marshall Plan after WWII to help rebuild Europe; the Berlin Airlift to break the Soviet blockade in 1948-9; and the Peace Corps created by JFK in 1961.
In recent years, America has continued in this vein: its humanitarian aid, especially in natural disasters; its acceptance of refugees, especially those fleeing violence, like Syria and Afghanistan; its global health programs, especially to combat AIDS and malaria; its educational exchange programs, like the Fulbright scholars; and its disaster relief programs (eg Ebola, tsunamis, etc).
Then came Trump reading from the Project 2025 manifesto.
In just a few months, Trump – supported by his tech thugs and his doctrinaire back-up singers - has worked tirelessly to eliminate compassion from all levels of his administration.
Sadly, it seems that it’s the one area of Trump 2.0 where he’s succeeded, both at home and abroad.
The resulting damage will be long-lasting and widespread and it will place America in the same category as Russia and China in dealing with its own citizens and with other nations.