Trump has sidelined Rex Tillerson just when the US most needs a strong secretary of state

[Panich52]

From Vox

A picture is beginning to emerge of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s first three weeks as America’s top diplomat. It isn’t pretty.

On Thursday, a pair of devastating articles in Politico and the Washington Post described how the former Exxon Mobil CEO has been cut out of the loop on major foreign policy shifts, slapped down by the White House on personnel choices, and given virtually no opportunities to make public appearances with President Trump. Per the Post:

The Trump administration in its first month has largely benched the State Department from its long-standing role as the pre­eminent voice of U.S. foreign policy, curtailing public engagement and official travel and relegating Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to a mostly offstage role.

The day-to-day chaos of the Trump White House and mini controversies the new president regularly stirs up on Twitter make it difficult to track what’s going on in individual parts of the government, even ones as important as the State Department. And that’s why understanding what Tillerson has — and has not — been able to do is so important.

Here’s one thing Tillerson hasn’t been able to do: choose his own deputy. Tillerson, who has never worked in government, wanted State Department veteran and longtime Republican foreign policy hand Elliott Abrams. Trump personally rejected Abrams after learning that the former Bush administration official had criticized him during the campaign. Tillerson hasn’t found a replacement, and it’s not clear if, or when, he’ll be able to fill the post.

“The Elliott Abrams example is pretty horrifying,” Eliot Cohen, a top to aide to former Republican Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, told the Post.

Tillerson also doesn’t seem to be much of a player on key foreign policy decisions, even though the job of the secretary of state normally is to help make them.


More:

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/2/23/14712408/secretary-of-state-rex-tillerson-trump-israel-russia-nato

[Paladin]

1. Tillerson ought to leave immediately.

Salvage what dignity he still has, go home to Texas and count his money. The situation isn't going to get any better for him, that's for sure.

[asiliveandbreathe]

2. The oil, the oil, exxon, the oil...I'm not buying it - Russias little

awards man..nope - they need those sanctions on Russia lifted..did I read legislation coming to thwart that adventure...we'll see....

[Else You Are Mad]

4. Also...

Tillerson needs to help expedite the $500 billion oil deal between Exxon and Russia. Once that happens, then he can, and probably will, step down.

[enough]

3. Tillerson represents only one thing. It's not the United States of America. NT

[AgadorSparticus]

5. I can't understand why anyone like Tillerson would give up his cushy spot

To get in the middle of (as Hayward puts it...) a shit sandwich. Whyyy? He is going to be a putz for a putz now. Serves them right, I suppose.

[Lucinda]

7. Maybe he has a share in that Russian oil company...

[okieinpain]

6. I thought trump had a open door policy. N/t.

[Azathoth]

8. This works to our advantage

The so-called deep state at Foggy Bottom already despises this clown car presidency. With a disillusioned and estranged Secretary of State at the helm, they will likely have plenty of latitude to maneuver against Bannon's foreign policy.

If we are lucky, we may end up with an ongoing silent coup by the agencies, who will work to counter and nullify an increasingly isolated, bunkered down White House.

[edhopper]

9. Well Tillerson

was never going to be a strong Sec. of State.

He was going to be a Strong representative of Exxon.