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ABC News Interviews Trump |
By
Stephen Lendman |
| Trump took time off from authorizing executive actions and justifiable
scoundrel media bashing to sit down with ABC News’ David Muir at the White
House. Admitting the enormity of his job, he said his responsibility is clear when “talking to the generals about problems in the world.” They earned stars by being warriors, the more belligerent in multiple conflict theaters, the more they got, the more they want. They advise Trump on wars, lots of them, not peacemaking - not a formula for advancing in rank. Trump stressed “bring(ing) jobs back to America, like I promised on the campaign trail,” he said. What’s gone isn’t likely coming back. His job ahead is changing the practice of offshoring by working with companies to create more good ones domestically, especially in manufacturing. Asked about his ill-conceived great wall, he said Mexico will pay for it “in a form…which I will say…(W)e’ll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico.” Not according to Mexican President Pena Nieto - in a nationally televised address, saying “I've said time and again; Mexico won’t pay for any wall.” "I regret and condemn the decision of the United States to continue construction of a wall that, for years, has divided us instead of uniting us.” He instructed all 50 Mexican consulates in America to aid his country’s immigrants in the US as needed. On Thursday, he cancelled his scheduled Washington visit next week, tweeting “(t)his morning we informed the White House that I will not attend scheduled work meeting for next Tuesday with @POTUS.” Separately, he called Trump’s great wall “an offense to Mexico, (a) slap in the face, (a) monument of lies.” Strong stuff! Opposition leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged Nieto’s government to sue Washington at the UN for “human rights and racial discrimination” violations. Trump: “We have to build the wall. We have to stop drugs from pouring in. We have to stop people from just pouring into our country. We have no idea where they're from. And I campaigned on the wall. And it’s very important. But that wall will cost us nothing.” Fact: Great walls or other barriers won’t stop illicit drugs or people from “pouring into” America. Fact: US taxpayers will be stuck with the cost of building a monument to Trump along the 2,000-long mile border with Mexico - wasting billions of dollars vitally needed for healthcare, education and other social services. Trump: “(W)hat I’m doing is good for the United States. It’s also going to be good for Mexico.” Fact: Walls repressively divide. Sound policies unite, what’s sorely lacking from Washington. According to Trump, planning on wall construction began, work to begin in months. “We’re gonna have a very solid border,” he stressed. He claimed three to five million undocumented immigrants voted illegally, offering no evidence proving it. Plenty of evidence proves longstanding electoral fraud in America - dating at least from the 1824 “Corrupt Bargain,” depriving Andrew Jackson of the office he won, handed to John Quincy Adams. Jackson got a second chance, becoming America’s seventh president in 1828, defeating Adams decisively, winning a second term in 1832. It’s likely considerable electoral fraud occurred last November, not enough to deprive Trump from the office he won. Lots of evidence showed Hillary stole the Democrat party nomination from Sanders. He knew it, yet yielded without a whimper, supporting Hillary, instead of forthrightly denouncing her. Trump plans an investigation to determine if electoral fraud occurred. “(W)e’re gonna find out,” he said. Throughout the interview, Muir badgered him relentlessly, asking too many of the wrong questions. Nothing about Washington’s permanent war agenda. Nothing about its bloated military budget Trump wants increased. Nothing about Washington serving its privileged class at the expense of most others. Nothing about protracted Main Street Depression conditions. Nothing about repressive police state laws. Trump accused Muir and US media of “demeaning” him, noting they have a low approval rating among Americans. At CIA headquarters, he said “(t)hey are among the most dishonest human beings on earth.” True indeed! He suggested he’ll authorize torture as an interrogation method. Earlier he said he’d OK waterboarding and much worse. Yesterday, he said “we have to fight fire with fire,” claiming torture works, despite clear evidence showing otherwise. If war secretary Mattis and CIA director Pompeo want torture, “it’s 100% OK with me,” he said. “Do I think it works? Absolutely” - a disturbing indication of what lies ahead, perhaps back to the future, repeating horrific Bush/Cheney/Obama abuses. Trump denied his refugee policy constitutes a Muslim ban. Claiming it’s only for countries with a terrorist problem ignores its US creation. Resolving it requires ending support, no longer supplying these fighters with weapons, munitions, funding, training and direction. Stop importing them from scores of countries. Stop using them as imperial foot soldiers. Fully cooperate with Russia in combating them. “I’ll absolutely do safe zones in Syria” and surrounding areas, he said, with little further elaboration - a disturbing revelation, risking direct confrontation with Russia, depending on what he has in mind. Days after his inauguration, policies he authorized by executive orders and memoranda give pause for concern - after a good start, straightaway pulling out of TPP, the right thing thing to do, an array of deplorable actions following, a troublesome sign to watch to see what comes next. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |
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