patrick.net

All countries, even and especially democratic ones, do what's in their own best interests. Or at least, they should. We can't afford to "crack down" on whatever naughtiness happens within the borders of other sovereign nations simply because it offends our sense of propriety. I'm the past, Presidents have dealt very strategically with dictators and kings, attempting to secure deals to make America great, often at the expense of the people of an oppressed nation. When we give "foreign aid" to such a country, we enable its leaders to remain in power regardless of their performance. They might be indifferent to the plight of their citizens or even antagonistic, but our money enables them to pay their supporters and their armies to maintain a grip on the populace.
Why do we do it then? Simple! Dictators may give us contracts or UN votes that make USA corporations happy, and those corporations make large donations to our leaders and their political parties. This means that our leaders who vote for giving foreign aid may have more money to buy influence at home and keep themselves in power!

The most humanitarian thing we could do for the people of a dictatorship is cut off all foreign aid to their leaders, and let their policies decide whether they will be able to maintain their grasp on their people or be swept away in the inevitable revolution.

Fucking dictators! Always invading other countries, engineering regime change, deposing elected governments.

Quigley says

Presidents have dealt very strategically with dictators and kings, attempting to secure deals to make America great, often at the expense of the people of an oppressed nation.

I generally agree with this. But agreeing to meet with Duterte presumably as a means to an end is a stretch on this theme. I'm not saying it's going to fail and am not lambasting him for it. However, I don't have much faith that Trump has a definitive strategy thought out, much less one that's been vetted by any experts.

The Philippines also has the ASEAN chair right now. And he was elected. Another elected President whose honeymoon stage was eliminated by the Media.

Does anyone think that Trump wants to make Filipinos happy with the thought of living exquisitely, and spilling their seed all over their sheets while dreaming of Ivanka?

Umm, we talk to dictators all the time. Since when are China, Saudi Arabia and a whole bunch of middle eastern "allies" considered to be democracies??

Many are saying that dictatorship isn't the problem because of the question if he wants to be a dictator, remains unanswered. I wonder what will Congress and the courts will do if ever he'll become one.

anonymous says

supporting the world’s worst despots has been a central plank of U.S. foreign policy, arguably its defining attribute.

True true. What is interesting about Trump's actions is his selection of dictators/strongmen. Duterte was elected, so the thread title is certainly misleading. IMO, this is really about Trump's style more than anything. I am expecting that people will report on how his actions in the Philippines may or may not affect his tower revenue. Don't expect him to do anything to piss off the wealthy Filipinos.

There's a conflict of interest with this because the Office of Government Ethics insists that he must sell off his business in order to prove that he is an ethical President. Most of the buyers in his Tower are investors or expats.

Many of those who bitch about Trump offering to talk to Kim, will turn around and say how horrible it was that so many US Presidents wouldn't even talk to Fidel Castro.

I think talking with dictators is his strategy.
It's way to shore up shaky alliances and to unlock conflicts that have been long-standing.

YesYNot says

Anton explained that Trump is trying to “balance” interests. He said the decision to invite Duterte to the White House — a symbolic gesture that gives credibility to the autocrat’s rule — was agreed to by most of Trump’s advisers.

Nothing wrong with talking to Duterte. So what if he assassinated criminals? We execute criminals all the time.
Duterte said he would eat a terrorists liver. He should be given a medal.

I actually agree with that. I don't see anything wrong with talking to Duterte. Criminals should be given what they deserve. I appreciate his efforts to promote peace and safety.

Strategist says

So what if he assassinated criminals? We execute criminals all the time.

We give them a trial first - that's a pretty big difference. But that said, Obama was going to meet with him too. He only cancelled it after Duterte called Obama a son of a whore.

Trump reportedly wished Duterte success in his campaign against drug users. Imagine if Trump started just shooting opioid users in the the face without a trial. Would you want congress to impeach him, or would you want congressional leaders to wish him luck in his war on drug abuse?

It's funny watching Trump. He seems to be either kissing someone's ass (usually other foreign leaders) or he's being a class A asshole (campaign opponents and the media).