Trumps change of heart on Syria isnt reassuring, its profoundly disturbing
Obviously written before the tomahawks flew...
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/donald-trump-conscience-syria-terrifying?CMP=fb_gu
Trump’s change of heart on Syria isn’t reassuring, it’s profoundly disturbing
David Shariatmadari
The response to a horrific crime is too important to be dictated by the president’s vanity, as seems to be the case – and the consequences could spin out of control
Thursday 6 April 2017 09.06 EDT
Last modified on Thursday 6 April 2017 22.22 EDT
snip//
Those celebrating the possibility of a shift should ask how it may have come about. If there’s one thing we do know, it’s that Trump wants us to see that he cares. This is a president who is obsessed with how he is perceived, griping about unflattering photos and the size of the crowd at his inauguration.
It’s not even clear that he has any ideological aims, other than to win, and to be liked. He has, after all, donated to both Republicans and Democrats. He supported the Iraq war, then didn’t, then claimed that he never had. When Americans become conscious of an atrocity – despite the fact that it might be the latest in a long line of atrocities, many of which didn’t make the morning news – he can’t help but respond.
One theory about the demotion of Steve Bannon from the National Security Council on Wednesday is that the president disliked the amount of attention his adviser was getting. The Washington Post’s columnist Paul Waldman dubbed him “the most powerful person in the Trump White House”. Time magazine put him on the cover with the headline “the Great Manipulator”. The problem is, his boss doesn’t like to be outshone.
Perhaps the instant praise won by his UN ambassador prodded him into action. Regardless, the conclusion must be that any Syria “pivot” has its roots in Trump’s approval-seeking personality, his proneness to being thrown off course by media coverage, his shallowness of purpose.
This is why, rather than being reassuring, his sudden discovery of his conscience on Syria is profoundly disturbing. Major strategic decisions should not be made like this. Of course, Trump may simply sabre-rattle for a bit, then quieten down. But he might instead want a show of force. That could involve cratering a few runways, or something far more muscular. But these are decisions with consequences that would last far longer than the president’s attention span.
Whatever you think of the merits of western intervention in Syria, the idea of Trump directing it is, frankly, terrifying. And even though you may despise the current murky detente, so is the idea of this chaotic, underqualified White House being at loggerheads with Russia. The international order may be vulnerable, and dictators emboldened. But so long as this man is in charge, we must pray that the promise of an isolationist America is fulfilled.
= new reply since forum marked as read
might trigger in the White House. 
