Is Trump any worse than many of his predecessors?
In my opinion Trump has invited severe criticism against him by his irresponsible rhetoric. Only future will say whether this rhetoric was his political gimmick to attract public attention
Abdul Gaffar Choudhury
There is a proverb-History repeats itself, but does it reverse its own record at different times? A western historian raised this question after Americas allegation against Russia that they had interfered with the presidential election of America in favour of Donald Trump. A similar allegation was heard against America in the latter part of the last century when Gorbachev was ousted from power in the former Soviet Union and Yeltsin was put into power. That time America was accused of interfering in the internal affairs of Russia and help Yeltsin to become the leader of the fallen super power. Even it was rumoured that the Red Army of Moscow was then controlled by American money and with Washingtons encouragement Yeltsin sent the Red Army to attack the Russian Duma (Parliament) and seized it so that the Parliament members could not go against Yeltsins dictation.
Now history has repeated in the opposite way! Russia is now being accused of interfering with American Presidential election and helping Donald Trump to occupy White House. This historian compared Trump with Russian Yeltsin. Donald Trump is now under attack in his own country not only by his opponents but a large number of ordinary people also.
Last Friday when he officially became the President of the United States, thousands of people protested in Washington DC against him. Hundreds of celebrities joined in that protest. In Americas political history it is an unheard of event.
Last week a document was published in which Donald Trumps personal character was criticized. It was alleged in the document that when he visited Russia, Trump was exploring lucrative business in the country and cavorting with beautiful prostitutes in Moscow. In a reply Trump wrote in his Twitter, This is the last attack on me. Are we living in Nazi Germany? Trump did not deny his association with Russia directly and has praised Putin. It enraged a powerful section of American establishment and they are publicly criticizing Trump. The outgoing chief of CIA, John Brennan said The newly elected President Donald has no idea about the threat of Russia and he is writing in Twitter all sorts of irresponsible comments. This is true that no other American President had entered the White House under such criticism and faced opposition from such a large number of people, even from a section of the establishment. Donald Trump not only divided his people but divided the American establishment also.
During the Presidential election FBI accused democratic candidate Hillary Clinton of misdeeds during her career as foreign secretary. Taking the advantage of the FBIs accusation Trump threatened to put Hillary into prison. Even, on the eve of voting FBI repeated the allegation and when that accusation was withdrawn the tide had already gone in favour of Trump .Some American observers said that it was a sabotage against Hillary by a part of American establishment. Now the American Intelligence is accusing Trump for his Russian connection. Trump is facing real problem with this criticism as it proves that a powerful section of American establishment is not in favour of Trump. If Trump Presidency cannot heal this division among people and administration in time, America will face a great danger in near future. Trumps Russian connection has, perhaps, alarmed the entire western establishment and they are not sure about his intention.
In my opinion Trump has invited severe criticism against him by his irresponsible rhetoric. Only future will say whether this rhetoric was his political gimmick to attract public attention. The criticism against him by the immigrants and women rights leaders are genuine. But other criticisms are somewhat exaggerated, perhaps by media. Womanizing is not new in White House. What about George Washington, Jefferson and John F Kennedy? With a few exceptions all the American Presidents indulged in violating human rights and endangering world peace. Now it is proved that a President like Franklin Roosevelt manipulated Japan to attack Pearl Harbour so that he could have an excuse to join the Second World War. It was President Truman who had attacked Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atom bomb and massacred millions of innocent people. This barbarity was not necessary because Japan had already declared their intention to surrender to the allied forces.
It was President John F. Kennedy who initiated Vietnam War and started genocide in that country. It was Nixon-Kissinger presidency who helped the military junta of Pakistan to oppress Bangladesh and killed 3 million people there. Kissinger the foreign secretary of the Nixon administration was held responsible for conspiring to kill national leaders of many third world countries including Alande and Sheikh Mujib. President Clinton, was known for his extra marital affair and he also ordered the illegal bombing in Libya killing the 6 year old daughter of Gaddafi. His wife Hillary Clinton who was democrats presidential candidate this time was the patron creator of IS in the middle-east when she was the Secretary of State.
The period of the presidency of George Bush Junior has already been recorded as the blackest period in the history. Bush was labelled as the worst President in the American history by his own countrymen. He was responsible for illegal Gulf war. His lies started the genocide in the Middle East and the present turmoil all over the world. Then how can one differentiate Donald Trump from his many predecessors? Criminals may disturb society but it is the society who creates the criminals.
Long ago America lost its role as the vanguard for democracy, equality and independence. After replacing the British Empire, American empire in the modern times has surpassed the record of torture, annihilation and destruction. American white society and the establishment will not allow another Abraham Lincoln to enter the White house. Obama did enter the White House but did not dare to disobey the dictation of the White establishment. He left White House in tears and boasted vainly that he fulfilled some of his promises. If American society cannot rectify itself, it will only produce presidents like George Bush and Donald Trump, not another Abraham Lincoln any more. After George Bush Obama was only a respite. Then came Donald Trump. If he sticks to his rhetorics he may harm the world but actually he will destroy America as a world leader.
London, Friday 20 January 2017
