Trump vs. Putin

So, in 2014 Trump called Russia a threat, but now if we got along with Russia “it wouldn’t be so bad”.  I sort of agree with that.  It would be great if the US and Russia were to work together towards the furtherance of world peace and stability.  It would be an absolute nightmare if the two countries where to work together to nefarious self-serving ends, such as colonizing countries and “taking their oil”.   However, I strongly suspect that the reality will be very different.

I don’t think either Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin trust each other very much.  I think there is the hope that they will get along, but I’d be very surprised if Russia’s interests are found to align with those of the United States in most cases.  Consequently, with Donald Trump pursuing an aggressive isolationist philosophy, I expect “America First” to ultimately fly in the face of any proposed long term alliance with Russia. 

Does Vladimir Putin hope to profit from the Presidency of Donald Trump?  I’m quite sure that he does. Will he do so?  Maybe for a while, maybe for no period of time at all.  Once the dust clears, words turn into action, speeches turn into policy and Twitter diplomacy gives way to real substantive conversations, I expect both sides to have a rude awakening; and that awakening will probably be ruder on Putin’s side.  Donald Trump remains unpredictable on the world stage and if Russia banks on his support and friendship, they’d better have a good back-up plan.

Alternative Facts – The New United States of America

I have lived under several governments in 3 continents and am sad to say that the present U.S. one already reminds me of a third world dictatorship.  Am I being overly dramatic?  Probably.  However, when I hear things like Kellyanne Conway’s defence of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s bold-faced lie, I can’t help but draw strong comparisons in my head to what I've seen before.  Think about everything we’ve heard through the campaign, on inauguration day and now: bombastic rhetoric, over blown promises, overt and covert bullying (allegedly), brazen untruths that not only insult the viewer’s intelligence but takes said intelligence round the back shed and gives it a solid beating …  I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.   Is this the United States of America? Is this real?  It all sounds disturbingly similar to what we’re accustomed to seeing from African and Middle-Eastern despots (among others.)

Kellyanne Conway is a bad liar.  She visibly flinched as she talked about “alternative facts” and clearly didn’t believe what she was saying.  Even Sean Spicer looked unconvincing in his speech.  Why can’t any of these folks positively influence the President when he sets off on one of his tours of alternate reality? His loose relationship with the truth was on full display during the elections, and didn’t seem to stop him from ultimately winning the race.  Perhaps that’s why he thinks he can keep going in the same direction.

Arguably, all politicians lie.  Certainly, all politicians present the facts in a way that favors them most.  However, most credible politicians do not make bold-faced lies which are easily controverted by a simple google search, a publicly available video recording or listening to an audio archive.

As a man of faith, I believe God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes on the earth.  And yes, God can use Donald Trump.  Some days however, it’s easier to believe than others.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.