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KAHNTENTIONS

KAHNTENTIONS is a blog post written by Gilbert N. Kahn, Professor of Political Science at Kean University in Union, New Jersey. Beginning in 2011 KAHNTENTIONS was hosted by the New Jersey Jewish News which recently ceased written publication. KAHNTENTIONS presents an open and intellectually honest analysis of issues facing the United States, Israel, as well as Jews world-wide.

BY GILBERT N. KAHN

"These are the times that try men's souls."

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Leaving Chaos in His Wake


The mental instability and the pathological sickness that is so obvious in President Trump’s behavior even now during his final days in office is affecting his entire Administration. All the remaining functioning Department heads are driving their own Trumpian busses to promote and create as much chaos for the incoming Biden Administration as possible. It is as if Steve Bannon has suddenly re-emerged and been given a green light to do anything and everything he can to destroy the ability of the next president to make the transition to a more normal government.


With the issuance of destructive environmental regulations, reduction of social benefit packages, and confused vaccine deliverance, Trump’s lackeys are doing everything they can to cause pain to Americans at home and encumber the incoming Biden Administration. While departing Administrations frequently have sought to insure continuation wherever possible of their created programs, the slashing approach being employed by the Trump Administration is unprecedented.

In the field of foreign and national security policy the departing Trump acolytes are creating havoc for the incoming Biden team, for no reason other than to be reckless and self-serving. Much has been discussed about the mismanagement at the Pentagon, but as long as the military brass remains committed to upholding the Constitution, the civilian place holders now running the Defense Department can make more noise than do damage. Having tolerated the Trump Administration’s failings to anticipate and prepare for the January 6 rioting and Capitol takeover, the DOD will not permit itself to be disgraced again during the Inauguration period. It is very unlikely at this point that that there will be any military crisis precipitated by the U.S. in the Gulf and/or with Iran, despite the pressure that Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may still try to squeeze out of Donald Trump/Jared Kushner together with Ambassador David Friedman at the last minute.


It is, however, in foreign policy that matters are out of hand. Secretary Mike Pompeo has been moving like greased lightening since the end of last week to create a new reality in Yemen by designating the Houthi rebels as a foreign terrorist organization. As if the humanitarian situation there is not dire enough, this pro-Saudi gesture only will complicate any Biden effort to reset the six-year-old war in the Gulf.


With a week to go in Foggy Bottom, Pompeo also chose to reset U.S. relations with Taiwan. As if there are not already sufficient problems to be addressed in the U.S.- China relationship, Pompeo opted to lift the formal restrictions which exist between the U.S. and Taiwan. Here too the Trump Administration will force Biden to offer another sweetener to China to reset this relationship.

On Monday, Secretary Pompeo announced that the Trump Administration was designating Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. The blatant transparency of this move now seeks to solidify Cuban-Americans support for Trump. It will not, however, facilitate any effort by the incoming Administration to move constructively to further open up relations with Cuba. Once again, Trump is forcing Biden to establish his own relationship with a foreign government by playing an unnecessary chit.


After Pompeo had a very public dinner on Monday with the head of the Israeli Mossad, Israel attacked pro-Iranian militia sites close to the Syrian-Iraqi border. On Tuesday, Pompeo followed this up with a statement declaring that Iran was the main base for Al Qaeda operatives. While these actions independently may well be warranted, the timing of Pompeo’s actions, days before leaving town, are only a further effort by the Trump Administration to stymie Biden’s efforts to rejoin or re-negotiate favorable terms for the U.S. in the JCPOA with Iran.


What Trump and Pompeo are doing has been called by Foreign Policy magazine “fire-sale diplomacy.” The Trump team is obviously enjoying searching for what other roadblocks they can establish during Trump’s waning days.

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