Tag Archives: Mike Pompeo

Democracy for Them but Not Us

For decades, the United States has pushed dictatorships to change. We have encouraged nations to accept a democratic form of government—our form, the best kind, we say.

Read a recent U.S. foreign policy statement concerning the country of Belarus. The people there are demonstrating against a dictator who has ruled the country for 26 years. Declares Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, in an official statement (August 10, 2020): “The United States is deeply concerned about the conduct of the August 9 presidential election in Belarus, which was not free and fair. . . . the Government of Belarus must prove through action its commitment to democratic processes and respect for human rights.”

Yet Pompeo used a U.S. government sponsored trip to Israel as the backdrop for a political speech for Donald Trump at the Republican nominating convention. This action was in direct violation of the Hatch Act, which forbids politically appointed government employees from engaging in political activity while on duty.

But, one official said, with surprising honesty: “No one cares about that.”

In times of deep political divisions, temptations to forgo democracy increase. Write Suzanne Mettler and Robert C. Lieberman: “. . . those who favor a return to earlier boundaries of civic membership and status may be convinced that they must pursue their goals even if democracy is curtailed in the process.” (“The Fragile Republic,” Foreign Affairs, September/October 2020)

Of course, such fraying of democratic institutions leads those with power to seek to retain that power. Write Mettler and Lieberman: “When government responds primarily to the rich, it transforms itself into an oligarchy, which better protects the interests of the wealthy few.”

That’s a good description of what Belarus and Russia and other countries, momentarily freed from the old Soviet Union, have become.

To have democracy, you have to play by the rules of democracy, even when the temptation is to do otherwise. Even in the United States.

Delay Vote: Hong Kong and US?

Recently, President Donald Trump has suggested delaying the November election in the United States. He tweeted: “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???”

Trump claims to be concerned about mail-in voting. Could it actually be that he is just afraid he might lose the election if more people vote?

Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, recently faulted the Hong Kong government for postponing legislative elections scheduled there for September 6. Apparently, China, who influences the government, is afraid the election might not go the way it wishes.

On August 1, Pompeo stated: “The United States condemns the Hong Kong government’s decision to postpone by one year upcoming Legislative Council elections originally scheduled for September 6.”

Something about the pot calling the kettle black?

Why Are the Inspectors Being Fired?

Steve Linick, an inspector general for the U.S. State Department, was recently fired by President Donald Trump, apparently as requested by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

It seems Linick was investigating allegations against Pompeo. One related to Pompeo’s use of staff for personal errands.

However, the more serious investigation apparently related to Trump’s overriding the vote of Congress to deny selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. In the past, Saudi Arabia has used such weapons to bomb civilians in its war against Yemen.

Pompeo apparently persuaded Trump to use emergency powers to sell the weapons anyway. Linick was investigating whether this was, in fact, justified.

The larger question is why the inspector was fired when he was attempting to do his job. Pompeo has said he lost confidence in Linick.

Since Pompeo provided no evidence of why he lost confidence, it’s tempting to assume that the firing was political to protect Pompeo’s job.

Inspectors are set up in government departments to keep the departments accountable. They promote integrity and efficiency.

In fact, Linick is only one of several inspectors fired in recent months by the Trump administration.

Why this war on those who would keep the government accountable and honest?

The Folly of Disdaining the Experts

President Trump’s cabinet of department secretaries and advisors lurches from tweeted firings to unprecedented numbers of new appointments.

Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, a good man humiliated for trying to do his job, is only one of many caught in the flood of incoming and outgoing.

The State Department he headed is one of the original three U.S. government departments begun under George Washington.

The purpose of more recently created departments may be a bit fuzzy, but the purpose of the State Department is clear and always has been. The State Department’s purpose is to handle U.S. relations with other countries.

The State Department’s Foreign Service Officers, otherwise known as diplomats, train to carry out their mission to the rest of the world, like members of the military for their assignments.

They learn foreign languages, study the history and culture of the countries where they will serve, and train for managing outposts of the U.S. in foreign countries. On average, they spend two-thirds of their careers in those countries.

Their duty is to use their skills and on-the-ground experience to serve the various presidents and their administrations. “Serve” is the operative word.

Yet presidents sometimes disdain their diplomatic servants. Roger Grant Harrison (“Will the State Department Rise Under Pompeo?” American Interest, April 4, 2018) suggests why this might be so.

Wrote Harrison: “The problem with career Foreign Service Officers is that they know too much. They know why your simple-minded plan to invade Iraq and install a democracy won’t work. They understand the tribal, ethnic, and familial loyalties that will frustrate your efforts to consolidate the opposition to the Assad regime in Syria, and why the endlessly trained Afghan military will never win the victory that American generals endlessly promise.”

Ah, well, they try. And will try again, under Mike Pompeo or whoever finally takes over from Rex Tillerson.