KT edit: President Trump must understand bullies come last

If he fails, he returns to Twitter to rake up some old issue in the wee hours.

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Published: Tue 20 Nov 2018, 9:00 PM

Last updated: Tue 20 Nov 2018, 11:25 PM

When will Donald Trump grow into his role as president? Perhaps two years isn't enough. Maybe he doesn't intend to as he makes it his express mission to turn friends into enemies while multiplying America's global problems. Allies cannot be trusted and partners be 'damned', appears to be his motto. That's what he said of Pakistan, which fought the War on Terror on America's side when George W. Bush was at the helm some two decades ago. Coming from a president with little perspective of history, Trump is keen to make the bad worse for the United States as he rants on about his political opponents, media and world leaders. When things are not going right for the president at home, like the recent setback in midterm elections for the Republican party, Trump trains his guns on his friends and make-believe foes outside the country. And the Donald only seems to be enjoying it - provoking and prodding both ally and enemy, trying to make them as spiteful as he is. If he fails, he returns to Twitter to rake up some old issue in the wee hours.
His outburst against Pakistan was met with a counter from Prime Minister Imran Khan, who reminded Washington about the 'sacrifices' his country has made and the lives lost in the fight against militancy in what is known as the AfPak region - the porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So Khan put the record straight and relations are now at a nadir, which makes the task of quelling terror even more difficult in the AfPak zone. The US is fighting its longest war next door in Afghanistan and needs Pakistan on its side for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, with all parties on board. Trump's Twitter diplomacy reeks of duplicity and is resulting in self-inflicted diplomatic wounds. The president is in dire need of tact, and judgement in a brave new world where bullies come last. But first, he will have to shut up and listen to what other leaders think of him.


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