To the chagrin of his political foes, President Trump continues to keep his promises. His selection of John Bolton as his next national security adviser sends a clear message globally that the U.S. plans to stand strong in furtherance of our own interests.
It sends an equally clear message to the anti-Trump media and political establishment, that unabashed, pro-American talk — and action— are the new normal.
American pride is back.
Bolton’s appointment is an important step in the second phase of President Trump’s foreign policy. During his first year, the president surrounded himself with strong, experienced advisers whose views overlapped with — but often differed from — his own. Secretaries Rex Tillerson and James Mattis, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and Vice President Mike Pence all helped the president flesh out a foreign policy worthy of Mr. Trump's insistence on putting America First.
The result was the brilliant "National Security Strategy" released last December.
Replacing, as it did, the weak-kneed and apologetic surrender "strategy" of President Obama. It was a breath of fresh air for all who believe in America.
Though all of the president’s cabinet members and advisers signed on, not all seemed equally comfortable with the result. For some, the adopted strategy ran counter to their own past statements — and perhaps to their own current beliefs.
With the internal debates concluded and an official strategy mirroring the president’s own instincts and beliefs in place, the remaining challenge was to make it a reality. That required a team as fully committed to the strategy as was the president. Not all of the advisers who served the president well as he crafted his strategy were ideal fits for its implementation.
Bolton, on the other hand, seems tailor made to enforce the Trump national security strategy. Like the president, Bolton has never shied from putting American interests first. Like the president, Bolton has been a steadfast advocate for American exceptionalism. Like the president, Bolton takes great pride in American values, American achievement, and American leadership.
As President Bush’s Acting U.N. Ambassador — acting because his Democratic opponents denied him a confirmation vote — Bolton tried to drain the swamp at Turtle Bay. Though smaller than Washington, D.C., the infestation of the U.N. is even worse.
Bolton was strong enough to stare down some of the world’s worst players, calling them out on their hypocrisy and their corruption. Nikki Haley — President Trump’s superb pick to inject American interests into our dealings with the U.N. — has often cited Bolton as one of the predecessors whose work she most admired.
Ambassador Haley will undoubtedly relish working with Bolton on turning Trump’s National Security Strategy into the national security reality.
Perhaps more importantly, Bolton has long called—clearly and consistently—for America to stand up for itself in the world. Bolton’s longstanding hard line against North Korea will be a genuine asset heading into President Trump’s planned summit with Kim Jong-un. Bolton’s well-known antipathy for Vladimir Putin irrefutably puts the lie to those who claim that President Trump has been insufficiently firm in dealing with Russia. (Though those who contend that the generous Obama/Clinton/Kerry accommodation of Russia was somehow stronger than the Trump moves against Russian interests are clearly beyond listening to reason).
Bolton has been clearest, however, in his views of the Mideast.
He rightly saw the Obama/Iran deal for what it was — an American surrender.
He has never fallen prey to the Palestinian farce that has led so many foreign policy "experts" to reward terrorism and corruption. He appreciates Israel as a staunch and committed American ally. He is far more interested in getting our Arab allies to promote American interests — including President Trump’s directive that they drive the Islamists out — than in injecting Democratic norms for which their societies are ill-prepared. He supports the Kurds, is wary of Erdogan’s Turkey, and seeks regime change in Iran. With Bolton now on board, positive forward movement in the Mideast may finally become possible.
President Trump’s Make America Great team is coming together. In an unplanned bit of symbolism, the Bolton announcement came the same day that longstanding U.S. ally Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to a commercial flight (on India airways) heading to longstanding U.S. ally Israel — an unheard of accommodation, but just a mild foretaste of how Trump’s vision of a strong America will serve the cause of world peace.
The United States of America is an exceptional nation — both great and good. Putting America first — keeping America great — means being unapologetically dedicated to American interests. Understanding the greatness of America is to know that an ascendant, unapologetic America benefits the entire world. President Trump left an enviable private life to make America great again because he believes in America’s essential goodness.
In John Bolton, he has added an exceptional adviser to his team.
Bruce Abramson is the President of Informationism, Inc., Vice President and Director of Policy at the Iron Dome Alliance, and a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research. Jeff Ballabon is CEO of B2 Strategic, a Senior Fellow at the American Conservative Union's Center for Statesmanship and Diplomacy, and an advisor to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. To read more of their reports — Click Here Now.
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