Sometimes you feel like lecturing, sometimes you don’t
The Trump Doctrine. Selective Indignation
The Cuban government continues to repress dissent and discourage public criticism. It now relies less on long-term prison sentences to punish its critics, but short-term arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders, independent journalists, and others have increased dramatically in recent years. Other repressive tactics employed by the government include beatings, public acts of shaming, and the termination of employment.
Saudi Arabia carried out at least 157 executions in 2015, with beheadings reaching their highest level in the kingdom in two decades, according to several advocacy groups that monitor the death penalty worldwide.
And Trump responded with his usual laser-like focus on geopolitical nuance.
On Cuba, last week, he demanded the country’s leaders “end the abuse of dissidents, release political prisoners, stop jailing innocent people, open yourselves up to political and economic freedoms” right before announcing he was rolling back Obama’s 2016 opening to the island.”
America’s back, baby.
In Saudi Arabia, last month, he told its leaders to their faces, “We are not here to lecture — we are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship” right before crowing about a 11o-billion arms package.
That’s what a strong leader does. He —
Wait … what?
He’s selling the Saudis arms while hocking Americans who want to cruise to Havana? It’s a wonder he didn’t strain his temporomandibular joints.
If only Cuba had hydrocarbons and knew how to make a man feel like a king.
