Charles P. Pierce: What an Absolute Disaster

[babylonsister]

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a14108154/trump-israel-jerusalem-capital/

What an Absolute Disaster
President* Trump plots to bring the opposite of peace to the Middle East.
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By Charles P. Pierce
Dec 5, 2017
855


The president* has decided to play with matches again. There are very few things that would touch off the situation in the Middle East. Moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, thereby implicitly acknowledging the, ahem, controversial notion that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, is almost universally recognized as being one of these. So, the president* has found a lovely pool of shiny gasoline into which he can’t resist tossing a match—or a Tiki torch, for all that. From The New York Times:

President Trump told Israeli and Arab leaders on Tuesday that he plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a symbolically fraught move that would upend decades of American policy and upset efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Mr. Trump is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday, two days after the expiration of a deadline for him to decide whether to keep the American Embassy in Tel Aviv. Palestinian officials said Mr. Trump told the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that the United States would move the embassy to Jerusalem. Jordan said the president gave a similar message to King Abdullah II. American officials, however, said such a move could not occur immediately for logistical reasons, given the lack of facilities to house the embassy staff. As a result, Mr. Trump is expected to sign a national security waiver that would authorize the administration to keep it in Tel Aviv for an additional six months.

People who believe that the president* is a dealmaking genius—or, more precisely, the people who are paid to tell him they believe it—likely will see this move as a clever ploy to shock both sides into serious negotiations. Sensible people, however, will see this move as a man who fingerpaints with botulism. World leaders, of course, are basically aghast. Even Jared Kushner’s new pals, the Saudis, consider this a reckless idea. From Haaretz:

"Any U.S. announcement on the status of Jerusalem prior to a final settlement would have a detrimental impact on the peace process and would heighten tensions in the region," Saudi Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman said in a statement. "The kingdom's policy - has been - and remains in support of the Palestinian people, and this has been communicated to the U.S. administration."

This announcement came on the same Tuesday on which the Republican Party joined its leader in the White House in getting behind Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race. Moore demonstrated his gratitude by going on the radio and attacking George Soros. Wonder why. Again, from Haaretz:

“He is pushing an agenda and his agenda is sexual in nature, his agenda is liberal, and not what Americans need. It’s not our American culture. Soros comes from another world that I don’t identify with. No matter how much money he’s got, he’s still going to the same place that people who don’t recognize God and morality and accept his salvation are going. And that’s not a good place.”

None of this is in any way normal.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Title of this OP could describe every day of the dump "presidency"

[babylonsister]

2. Ha! So true!!

[CrispyQ]

3. It has become normalized enough, that my friends who were not very political,

but were totally engaged after the inauguration, are now disengaged again. They are sick of hearing about Trump & the daily outrage. I think most of them will vote in 2018, but I could see a few not getting around to it. There are multiple threads on DU about the far left & outrage at them & Susan Sarandon & Jill Stein. That's not who people should be worried about. They should be worried about the voters who are not generally political & who are suffering outrage fatigue.