The Good, the Bad, and the Critical: A Measured Take on President Trump’s Strike Against Syria
Jonathan Azor — Junior — Majoring in political science and minoring in philosophy. His passion for politics is mostly directed towards international politics and foreign policy. His passion for philosophy informs the frameworks for inquiry into pertinent and relevant matters. He also serves as the representative for the College of Liberal Arts in Temple Student Government Parliament in the 2017-’18 term. Follow him on twitter at: @clancys89.
Trump’s Syria retaliation, whether intended or not, gained him political capital all over the world. While reports seem to indicate the action being materially non destructive, it seems to have been very politically strategic and beneficial on a number of fronts. Now, whether its so far fetched that such a figure could be so Machiavellian as to conduct a foreign policy towards those ends is up for debate. Nevertheless, he benefited domestically and internationally.
The administration undertook a list of concurrent diplomatic efforts shortly afterwards. Many allies in the Middle East were assured and encouraged by the attack against their Shia foe. European allies lauded, and expressed support for the action. Although Italy put a damper on United States Secretary of State Tillerson’s agenda by leading the chorus against more sanctions on Russia at a side discussion at the G7 (the organization of the world’ economic superpowers and their leaders, calling for an independent investigation into the chemical attacks first. Tensions heightened between the two foremost nuclear powers over Syria, to Trump’s benefit at home. Domestically, American mainstream news media lauded the President for his action, giving him “good coverage”, being called presidential by some for a uncharacteristic period. The action seemed to restore confidence in the foreign policy establishment at home, with even the former democrat Sec. Kerry signaling approval. After much talk (joking or not) of German Chancellor Angela Merkel succeeding President Obama as leader of the “free world”, Trump projects American power with that familiar exceptionalism.
Meanwhile mainstream news media has been covering the developing narrative of tension between Russia and the U.S., replacing the narrative of a Putin-Trump “bromance” and the embarrassing depiction of Trump as Putin’s puppet. This comes amidst a heightening of information connecting the Kremlin and the Trump administration which is inconclusive as of yet. Intelligence agencies obtained Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or “FISA” permission for surveillance on trump affiliates, partially vindicating his tweets about being “wiretapped by Obama”. The retaliation serves to distance Trump from the Russians politically at home and diplomatically abroad. Presumably, in future talks the U.S. will have a more even footing in negotiations with Russia, Syria, and the other relative actors with believably “all options on the table” if not at least ostensibly in Nixonian style foreign policy. This is in stark opposition to the previous administration’s very embarrassingly being omitted from the Astana peace talks among other diplomatic and military gaffes and red lines crossed. The previous administration has been seen as very weak in their policies, and handling of the Syria situation.
During the strike, Trump hosted President Xi Jingping of China at his mar-largo estates in Florida. Among the areas of agreement on which the two countries sought closer cooperation were trade, and the North Korean issue. The navy sent a carrier fleet towards the Korean Peninsula signaling another possible bellicose response to whatever the President deems a red line. Trump’s actions didn’t seem to go unnoticed and the talks with President Xi Jingping seemed to be politically fruitful. China halted coal shipments from North Korea shortly after the meeting and has been increasing their purchase of U.S. Coal. Merely speculation, but this may serve to appease some of his pro energy voters at home if all goes well. President Trump even later remarked his pleasant surprise at China’s abstention regarding the anti-Assad United Nations Security Council resolution sponsored by the U.S. All in all very positive developments for the President for now.
