Donald Trump seems to be having a love affair with brutal, autocratic dictators. It isn’t just his lavish praise of Turkey’s Recep Erdogan, who rigged an election to dismantle democracy in his country, or The Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte, who used death squads to execute thousands of his own citizens without trial (and even boasted about personally murdering some of them himself).
We all know about his effusive praise for Vladimir Putin, who has had dozens of journalists and dissidents murdered.
And just this week, Trump called North Korean dictator-for-life Kim Jong Un as a “smart cookie” and said he would “be honored” to meet him. Trump also praised Kim for his consolidation of power, which was done by executing hundreds of relatives and political opponents with flamethrowers and anti-aircraft guns.
Trump has also met personally with Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who took power in a military coup, killed more than 800 protestors in a single day, and imprisoned journalists and aid workers.
Trump not only praises strongmen and dictators who destroy the rule of law, he has been particularly unfriendly with actual democratic leaders of other countries, including the leaders of Germany, Australia, and even Canada.
Once upon a time, America’s greatness was based on our love of democracy and the rule of law. Trump stands against those ideals. He would be happy to become a dictator. Very sad.
5 Comments
Won’t it be harder to depose him the longer time goes on?
Only Fox News on TV at the government agencies. Can’t be listening to the truth.
Fox News := Russia Today. I have no doubt about this equation.
“Turkey’s Recep Erdogan, who rigged an election”
Any non-biased source of proof for this rigging?
Hassan:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_fraud_and_violence_during_the_Turkish_general_election,_June_2015
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/was-the-turkish-election-rigged-a6724226.html
http://www.newsweek.com/how-erdogan-rigged-election-makes-him-dictator-586108
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/turkey-what-council-of-europe-decision-indicates.html
Want more? There are plenty.
I can understand the pragmatism of trying to work with leaders like erdogan,duterte etc. After all whats the alternative? These nations will become more introverted and more dictatorial and that wont have a positive outcome for anyone. That said what troubles me is Trumps bullying attitude towards our allies such as Australia, Mexico, South Korea, Europe, Canada etc.
This type of behavior seems to fit that of a bully whose behavior is brave towards those who defer to him . The same bully is less brave with those who stand up to him.
The message Trump seems to be sending to dictators and those alike seems to be that if they stand up to him then he will behave more respectfully. I wonder how Trump will behave with Canada, Australia, South Korea if those countries actually stand up to him and ignore him for a few days.
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