Post #90: Memorandum from President Trump

TOP SECRET

January 21, 2017

To: All Intelligence and Diplomatic Personnel

From: The President

We are about to embark on a new era in the conduct of US foreign policy.  Forget your previous sensitivity training; forget previous commitments made in the name of the United States. We’re going to do business differently—in fact, operate like a business—so get on board.  Following are some of our new principles and practices.  Learn them.

• No more “Mr. Nice Guy.” We are the strongest country in the world; it’s time to act like it. We want peace, but we don’t fear war. That’s our new mantra; that’s how we recover the respect of our power that has been frittered away.

• We have no permanent allies, only governments that either serve our interests or must be shoved aside.
• The military and intelligence communities will be getting more money, the State Department less.  We’ll cut State’s budget by reducing staffs abroad and in Washington, particularly those positions (such as visa officers and translators) that do routine work of no great urgency.  But we will increase the number of military attachés.
• We will secure our borders with additional personnel, better weapons, and more formidable barriers.  This will occur at the same time that we deport all individuals illegally in the US.  And yes, that includes children born here.  Unfortunate, but necessary.
• In the Middle East, our main enemies are Iran and ISIS.  At the first sign that Iran may be violating the nuclear agreement concluded by the previous administration, we will terminate the agreement and issue a one-time warning to Iran to stop what it’s doing.  We will deploy military forces in the region to reinforce the warning, and we will work with Israel on the most effective enforcement action.  (Same goes for North Korea: No more “strategic patience.”)  As for ISIS, we will begin amassing appropriate military forces, including US ground forces, to destroy it.
• China and Russia are our principal rivals; we must and will reduce their influence and their power.  We don’t need China; it must be put in its proper place as a second-rate dictatorship. For example, instead of telling the Chinese how much we wish them “peace and prosperity,” let’s keep prodding them to act lawfully toward their citizens and neighboring countries—and punish them if they don’t! We will confront China in the South China Sea and anywhere else in East Asia where it challenges us and our friends.  And we will put obstacles in the way of its investments here and elsewhere.  Same with Russia; we will show by forceful demonstration that it cannot get its way with Ukraine or any other European country.  In short, we must be tough both in language and policy.
• We will stop giving multinational companies advantages that our other businesses don’t have. If multinationals want to put assets abroad, and export US jobs, they’re going to have to pay a price for it—no more tax advantages, in other words.
• Enough speculation about climate change. The science is uncertain, and there is plenty of time to do something about it if necessary.  But we must not let fear of climate change hinder our search for new sources of energy.  We need all the oil we can get, whether from the Saudis, the Arctic, or Alberta.
• Last point, but perhaps the most important: Loyalty to me is the key to effective foreign policy.  If you cannot accept that, and doubt what we’re doing, leave now.