Last Squawk of a Lame Duck

Betrayal of an Ally———————————————-

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

                The United States, in abstaining from a vote on United Nations Resolution 2334 calling Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, rather than casting its usual veto on such anti-Israeli measures, broke decades of firm U.S. foreign policy and exposed our only democratic  ally in the turbulent Middle East, whose values most closely resemble ours,  to potentially harmful economic sanctions. This is no way to treat an ally but then, as  some of our other allies have sadly learned in recent years, the U.S. has not always been a reliable ally and they now have reason to not depend too heavily on its support.

 

The abstention was followed by a lengthy lecture from outgoing Secretary of State, John Kerry claiming, among other things, that the resolution broke no new ground.  But it did and in a major way. In referring to the Israeli settlements as illegally being in Palestinian territory, it referred to international law that doesn’t actually exist in any enforceable form and it denies any Israeli claim to the territory it won in 1967 as a result of a just war it fought to defend itself against another attack by invading Arab armies. There is no language in any subsequent armistice agreement between Israel and those aggressor Arab nations assigning any specific rights to the land in question.

 

There is ample precedent for nations retaining sovereignty over lands seized in wars. For examples, recall our own actions in seizing vast amounts of land from Spain and Mexico in wars we largely initiated. Does anyone now suggest that we return these lands? Having been repeatedly attacked by hostile Arab nations, Israel is justified by historical precedent in retaining enough land in the West Bank to at least provide for defensible borders in their tiny country which at one point is less than ten miles wide.

 

This last desperate attempt by a lame duck U. S. administration to promote the long-sought two-state solution will more likely prove a death knell for it. After decades of offering land for peace and repeated, fruitless pursuit of the so-called peace process, a process that existed mostly in the dreams of foreign diplomats and legacy-seeking politicians, there is little remaining sentiment for it among Israelis, given the continuing hostility of so many Palestinians toward them and the refusal of Palestinian leaders to fully acknowledge, even to this day, Israel’s right to exist in peace anywhere in the Middle East. This intolerance, not the settlements, is the real reason why the peace process failed. Palestinian leaders had multiple opportunities to win an independent state consisting of the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip but rebuffed every offer. Those offers have now been overtaken by events and are probably off the table for good. An independent Palestine would not be economically viable and would be dependent on aid from others. It could quickly become another haven for terrorists and a base for attacks on Israel, just as Gaza became after Israel voluntarily withdrew, exacerbating security problems both for Israel and possibly even for the United States which is committed to the preservation of the Jewish state.

 

The UN resolution will only further harden sentiment against a two-state solution and Israel would be justified in claiming permanent sovereignty over as much of the West Bank as it deems necessary to provide for defensible borders. Any remaining land could be ceded to neighboring Jordan which at least is a viable state.

 

`The incoming Trump administration has signaled Israel that things will be different after Jan. 20. On that day Mr. Trump should declare strong U. S. support for Israel and firm opposition to any effort to force a two-state solution on it. He should instruct our ambassador to the UN to propose a repeal of the resolution which, of course, China and Russia would oppose and veto. In that case, he should reduce or suspend U.S. financial support of the UN which amounts to a quarter of its bloated budget. He should further advise the UN to seek a headquarters in another country, perhaps Senegal or one of the other nations that sponsored this odious amendment.

 

The UN has become a feckless bureaucracy consisting of career diplomats capable of little else than composing speeches  and resolutions. It has increasingly become a forum for anti-American and anti-Israeli tirades and has failed repeatedly in its primary mission of peacekeeping and the resolution of conflicts. The land its headquarters occupies in New York could be put to far better use.

 

December 31, 2016

Suggested New Year’s Resolutions

 

Resolutions for the New Year————————————-

A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

Another year is upon us and with it another chance to improve on the last. As has been my custom, herewith are some suggested resolutions for the new year, especially for the ruling classes. 2017 will bring many changes because of an administration that will be very different from what we’re used to. Not all Americans are happy with the election results and they probably won’t be happy with the changes either, but let’s now resolve as fellow Americans to give the new administration and the changes a chance for the sake of national unity.

 

For those who, nevertheless, still refuse to accept the results of our democratic election and insist that “Trump won’t be my president”, resolve to try harder to get over it. He will be. It’s the law. You don’t have to like him but we all must respect the office and accept the democratic process that got him elected that has served our nation since its founding, unless it is changed by a constitutional process that is unlikely to succeed.

 

For those diehards who plan to disrupt the inauguration ceremony, resolve to reconsider. Reflect a bit on how your actions could tarnish the nation’s reputation for fair elections and peaceful transfers of power. Consider how easily demonstrations that start out peacefully often turn violent, for which organizers and participants must share in the responsibility.

 

For all those celebrities who vowed to move to Canada if Donald Trump won, I notice you’re still here in America. Resolve this year not to make any more stupid promises. However, if you do decide to keep this particular promise, remember to pack warm clothing and do come back and visit now and then. Bring money and don’t forget your passport.

 

For all the pundits who wrote columns about children being traumatized by the election results, resolve this year to take your craft a little more seriously and write about real issues. No, I’m not talking about children of illegal immigrants who may have justifiable fear of a parent being deported. I have in mind a liberal columnist for the Washington Post who devoted an entire column to an open letter to his seventh grade daughter who was supposedly frightened because of Trump’s election. How pathetic. Who fills their little minds with such nonsense, their parents? Teachers? Resolve this year to let kids be kids. They’ll grow up soon enough and have plenty of time to develop their own political biases.

 

To some of those liberal professors at our richly endowed universities who spend time organizing or participating in student demonstrations on campus, resolve to put your spare time to better use. Try actually teaching a few more classes for a change. And keep your political biases out of the classroom. You’re paid to teach, not indoctrinate.

 

To all the members of the incoming administration, 2017 will be a year for making good on those promises that got you elected. No more excuses about divided government. Get busy.

 

To President-elect Donald Trump and his administration, resolve to govern wisely, humbly and humanely. Forget about some of the crazy promises you made in the heat of the campaign like locking up Hillary Clinton. And no one but a nut job wants you to have 11 million illegal immigrants rounded up and deported, just the violent criminals, drug dealers and gang bangers. They do expect you to stop illegal immigration quickly, by whatever means it takes. They also expect careful vetting of who is allowed to enter this country and why. And they do expect immigration and asylum policies that put America’s interests and security first.

 

For all of us, let’s resolve to at least listen to each other’s views and to make a greater effort to get along. Many of us live in bubbles, surrounded by friends whose views on politics and social issues closely resemble ours. We need to get out more and listen to others.

 

Happy New Year to all.

December 28, 2016

 

 

Merry Christmas

Christmas in America—————————————–

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

The year is winding down and Christians everywhere are preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ, except, of course, in countries where it isn’t permitted. The world is still wracked by violence and intolerance, so peace on earth remains elusive, especially in the Middle East where millions have been displaced by war.

 

Americans have much to be thankful for, not least because we have for so long been spared the horrors of war being fought on our lands. But our safety has been paid for dearly by the sacrifices of our military heroes who have fought, died and been wounded in distant lands so that we would be spared those horrors.  We must remember their sacrifices while we, in the safety of our homes, celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.

 

All, to be sure, is not entirely peaceful in America. Many of our major cities are plagued by violence, dangerous neighborhoods and drug addiction. We are a rich and favored nation but many do not share in that bounty. The homeless sleep in the streets, lack medical attention and nourishment. Homeless encampments and trash litter the streets in many areas and people often seem oblivious. This should not happen in a nation as wealthy as the United States.

 

While the causes of homelessness are many and complex, I doubt that many of the homeless are enduring winter weather on the streets by choice. We are a generous people, quick to come to the aid of people in distress throughout the world including those seeking to immigrate. Perhaps more of that effort should be focused on helping our own people in distress. We cannot possibly take care of all the world’s displaced people but surely we can do more to help our own. In the meantime, let’s remember them this Christmas season and donate what we can to help the homeless.

Let us also remember the sick and the elderly, many of whom are alone, without friends or family members nearby. Help to brighten their holiday season and spread a little Christmas cheer in any way you can.

 

We are also a very powerful nation but we seem powerless to stop the carnage in the Middle East. We cannot always act as the world’s policeman, but neither can we stand idly by while innocent civilians are bombed and caught up in barbaric wars. If world organizations or coalitions refuse or are unable to broker or impose peace, the helpless look to the only nation strong enough to. That would be us, like it or not.

 

Finally, America itself is a divided nation. It’s not the first time and we will survive. A contentious and ugly election has left millions of Americans disappointed and angry. But in America, we accept election results and we live by the constitution that has served us well since our founding. We don’t clamor to change the rules because we lost. Attempts to de-legitimize the election are divisive. We all have an interest in hoping the new leader succeeds. A failed presidency benefits no one. This is a time to come together as Americans, put the rancor of the election campaign behind us, rally around the new president and ask God to endow him with the wisdom to govern justly.

 

Christmas in America is still as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Enjoy it. Merry Christmas to all.

December 22, 2016

 

 

 

He’ll Do It His Way

A Different Kind of President——————

A commentary
By J. F. Kelly, Jr.
It was widely noted during the election campaign season that nobody knew what a Trump presidency would look like. We are just now beginning to get some idea. It will be a very different kind of presidency, not the politics-as-usual we have become accustomed to but which most Americans are tired of. Unlike his predecessors, Donald Trump is a businessman, not a lawyer/politician, and he will probably continue to think and act as one.

 
Expect the new president to communicate directly with his customers, i.e., the people. To those advisors who would prefer to restrict his use of social media on grounds that it is risky and not presidential, I say forget about it. It would be like trying to separate millenials from their mobile devices. It just isn’t going to happen. Mr. Trump will continue to use the communications methods that won him the nomination and the presidency over highly-favored opponents.

 
Instead of relying on conventional, extensive campaign organizations and massive fundraising, he held vast rallies drawing huge crowds to whom he spoke directly, not in politically-correct, bureaucratic doublespeak, but in plain, unpolished language that everyone could understand and most could relate to. Critics may find this un-presidential, but Mr. Trump just isn’t like past presidents and will set his own standards. He will rely more on popular appeal and less on favorable press coverage because the latter has become less important. The mainstream media will hate this because their impact will be diminished but most of the ordinary people will love it or learn to. Just image; a president who actually talks directly to the people and says he will be their voice. His popularity rate is already growing and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet.

 
The author of “The Art of the Deal” will not hesitate to reach out directly to business and world leaders as he already has, speaking by phone to dozens of heads of state. He has persuaded Carrier to keep a factory and 1100 jobs from moving to Mexico. Of course, it helped in the persuasion process that Carrier’s parent company happens to be a major U.S. defense contractor. This deal, by itself, won’t necessarily stop the export of manufacturing jobs, but it sends a huge signal that Trump meant what he said when he warned that there would be a price for companies to pay if they continued the practice of relocating factories and jobs out of the country. Critics might say that it was only a small gesture but tell that to those 1100 employees and their families.

 
This is a man not constrained by political past practice. He is supremely confident in his ability to make deals that will favor the nation’s interests, rather than some ideological principle. He is also confident enough in his judgment and ability to manage and lead that he is not afraid to surround himself with advisors and cabinet officials who will offer advice that may conflict with his own views. He has reached out to others who have harshly criticized him such as Mitt Romney. Nor does he put personal loyalty above all else. Even the supremely loyal Chris Christie isn’t guaranteed a plum cabinet job as a reward. This, after all, is business and Mr. Trump is skilled at picking winners as well as making deals.

 

Take, as another example, Mr. Trump’s selection of Steven Mnuchin as Treasury Secretary. Mr. Mnuchin is a banker, a former Goldman Sachs partner and a hedge fund manager who made millions by, among other deals, rescuing a failed bank. The conservative Wall Street Journal described Goldman Sachs as a “hothouse of Democratic donors and Keynesian economists,” not exactly high praise for a Republican. Mnuchin contributed to many Democratic candidates including Hillary Clinton and his background would seem very much at odds with Mr. Trump’s campaign rhetoric, but the president-elect clearly was impressed with his ability and deal-making and obviously confident that he can harness his skills and abilities to further the Trump economic agenda.

 
In spite of an impressive start even before his inauguration and even with control of both houses of congress, it will not all be smooth sailing for this administration. Progressives will grow to hate him even more for his successes and for the damage they may inflict on the Obama legacy. The mainstream media will never forgive him for the harm done to their credibility and pride by his election. Their influence, however, will be greatly diminished by the simple fact that Mr. Trump really doesn’t need to rely exclusively on them to get his message to the people and neither he nor his supporters care much anymore about what the mainstream media have to say about them.

 
December 15, 2016

Losers Don’t Get a Trophy

Winners and Losers———————————–

                A commentary

                By J. F. Kelly, Jr.

Donald Trump was excoriated during the campaign for his habit of branding people as winners or losers. But, as we know, life isn’t always fair and we can’t always be winners nor can every issue be resolved with a win/win solution, no matter what the parents and teachers of today tell their children. Sometimes we, or those we support, lose and, in the real world, there is no trophy for losing.

 

Among the losers in the recent election, along with the pollsters and the party establishments, were the mainstream media. The quality of journalism has, in my view, declined over the past decades but I believe it hit a new low in this election. The mainstream media not only clearly wanted Hillary Clinton to win, but in reporting the news they often abandoned any pretense of objectivity. Moreover, they so expected Mrs. Clinton to win that they are still having trouble accepting the result.

 

The mainstream media demonized Mr. Trump during the campaign and they are demonizing him still as president-elect. Initially, it was “news” of disarray within his transition team. There was nothing of the sort. Instead, his selection of cabinet members and other key positions appears to be on track and running about as smoothly as can be expected, given that Mr. Trump is new to this business. Are some of his choices controversial? Haven’t most past presidents made some controversial choices? Are liberals in a tizzy over the selection of Steven Bannon as an advisor? I don’t recall them expressing much concern when Al Sharpton had the ear of President Barrack Obama.

 

Trump is reaching out to persons who opposed and criticized him during the campaign. This is viewed by many in the media as proof of his inconsistency. Would they rather he just surrounded himself with yes men? Trump said during the campaign that, as president, he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Mrs. Clinton. As President-elect, he now says he has no wish to harm the Clintons and that they are good people who served the nation. Rather than praising him for this mature and magnanimous gesture, reporters and commentators portrayed it as reneging on campaign promises. Would they rather he kept that promise, made in the heat of an ugly campaign, during which Mrs. Clinton described Trump supporters as a basket of deplorables? If he had kept that promise, reporters would, of course, have described his actions as extracting revenge on a political opponent.

 

Continuing its campaign against the man who had the audacity to defeat its own highly-favored candidate, the mainstream media turned its collective attention to possible conflict of interest issues that could arise from Trump’s business interests, even though he planned to turn over the running of his businesses to his children. But there are no conflict of interest issues for the simple fact that the president, by virtue of his office, is not subject to them. He is, of course, subject to laws pertaining to bribery like every other public servant. In any event, all of this was known before and during the campaign. Why is the liberal press only now deciding that it is a serious issue? As Mr. Trump himself has said, his business interests are “peanuts” compared to running the world’s most powerful nation and largest economy. Does anyone really believe that he is trading a life of pampered luxury for the rigors, awesome responsibilities and frequent 18-hour work days of the presidency to further enrich himself? As he reminded us many times during the election, he is very rich and doesn’t need anybody’s money. Nor does he need the presidency to make him any richer.

 

I just finished glancing at a front page headline in a newspaper that endorsed Mrs. Clinton that read “Trump Backing Off His Campaign Vows.” The accompanying news story discussed his promise to jail Mrs. Clinton, his new doubts about the value of waterboarding, his pledge to maintain an open mind about climate change and his promise to treat illegal immigrants humanely. I view this softening of positions as something to be applauded, not cited as evidence of inconsistency. Flexibility in leaders can be a good thing and effective leaders should be receptive to changing their positions. Mr. Trump said many things during the campaign that bordered on the outrageous. He is, after all new to the business of politics and has not yet been neutered by political correctness

 

Candidates can say things that that office-holders, especially presidents, quickly learn they should not. But whatever Mr. Trump says or does, the mainstream media probably will continue to criticize him for it because they just can’t seem to accept that he won and their candidate lost.

December 1, 2016