Speaking by phone today with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders, 70-year-old President Donald Trump answered his critics about stepping into the role of the nation’s top diplomat. Trump spoke to Putin about committing themselves to improving U.S.-Russian relations, something sorely missing during former President Barack Obama’s eight years in office. Whatever happened in world events, including Russian’s March 1, 2014 annexation of Crimea, Ukraine, it’s essential for world leaders to maintain working relationships. Obama let U.S.-Russian relations plummet to Cold War lows, taking suggestions from Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) and other war hawks to set up a dangerous no-fly zone in Syria. While Obama didn’t follow McCain’s advice, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was ready-and-willing to pit the U.S. against Russia militarily.
Obama, Hillary and McCain stubbornly backed the Saudi proxy war against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, arming-and-giving cash to terror groups to topple al-Assad’s Shiite government. Trump questioned Hillary foreign policy blunders in Iraq and Libya, calling her out on backing terrorists to topple al-Assad in Syria. Putin, together with Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia, is al-Assad’s biggest ally. Obama spent six years backing the Saudi proxy war, only to have it blow up in his face when Aleppo fell to Syria Dec. 23, 2016. “The Presidents have spoken in favor of establishing a real coordination between the U.S. and Russia actions in order to defeat ISIS and other terrorist organizations in Syria,” said a Kremlin statement. Putin’s been waiting for years to hear the U.S. will no longer back terror groups seeking to topple al-Assad, something Obama never did.
Returning from a fact-finding mission in Syria and Lebanon, 35-year-old Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hi.) urged Trump to stop Obama’s policy of funding Saudi-backed terror groups in Syria. ”Major aspects of the Ukrainian crisis have been also touched upon,” said the Kremlin. While there are many touchy global topics, including the Palestinian-Israel conflict and Iranian Nuke deal, Putin and Trump put the cards on the table. Putin’s looking to find common ground with Trump, something that didn’t happen in Obama’s two terms. Obama sold out U.S.-Russian relations for his ties to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, both backing regime change in Damascus. Once Putin announced he would actively defend al-Assad with air power Sept. 30, 2015, Obama should have shifted U.S. foreign policy. Instead, Barack doubled down on backing the Saudi proxy war against al-Assad.
In the wake of today’s travel ban against certain Mideast and North African countries, Trump’s received more criticism from the mainstream press than from Moscow. Promising to “work out possible dates and venue of their personal meeting,” Trump’s phone call to Putin accomplished everything possible for a first contact. While the press talked about Trump dealing with Russian sanctions, especially those imposed on Russia recently by Obama Dec. 30, Trump got no credit. “They have sanctions on Russia—let’s see if we can make some good deals with Russia. For one thing, I think nuclear weapons should be way down and reduced substantially, that’s part of it,” Trump said, hinting he’s open to an arm’s deal to consider ending Russian sanctions. Trump’s been accused by the media and certain members of Congress, like Rep. Maxine Watters (D-Calif.), of having close ties to Russia.
Responding to today’s travel ban, Iran announced it would no longer accept U.S. citizens traveling to Iran. “The restrictions against travel by Muslims to America . . . are an open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation in particular and will be known as the great gift to extremists,” said President Hassan Rouhani. “Nationals of the following countries: Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Iran, Iraq Yemen . . . may travel to the U.S. only if they are in possession of a permanent resident card [green card] or any the below-listed visa, including foreign governments, United Nations, international organization and NATO visa,” said the State Department. Iran’s tit-for-tat reaction hopes to rally Muslim nations against the U.S. Iran was especially irked because Saudi Arabia was not included on the list. Trump’s infuriated the mainstream press, still expecting Obama and Hillary’s open border policy.
Touching base for the first time since becoming president, Trump also spoke today with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Australian Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull and British Prime Minster Theresa May, whom he hosted at the White House. By far, Trump’s conversation with Putin got the most attention, with foreign and domestic leaders not knowing what to expect. From all U.S. and foreign press reports, the two Superpower leaders agreed to set a summit date where both can get on the same page. Obama’s anti-Kremlin policy mirrored that of Capitol Hill war hawks looking to blame Putin for tampering with the 2016 election. Whether or not Trump’s liked by the media, Republicans or Democrats, he’s hit the ground running delivering his campaign promises to voters that put him in office.
