Tracker Pixel for Entry

In Intra-Elite Battle: Dems Preferred the ‘Stache to the Donald

Last Word | September 18th, 2019

By Gary Olson
olsong@moravian.edu

While actual leftists were elated by Bolton’s ouster, corporate Democrats were publicly circumspect and even critical, using terms like, abrupt, chaos in the White House, disarray in foreign policy, unstable situation and even “I’m legitimately shaken.”

In part, this response is because expressing unqualified relief would be giving Trump a boost. However, the motives behind these reactions are more disturbing and more sinister. None other than Tucker Carlson pinpointed it when observing that Bolton was “a man of the left.” In Carlson’s skewed view “the left” means neo-liberal Democrats who are firmly entrenched in the foreign policy establishment. In truth, as Black Agenda Report’s Glen Ford notes, Bolton has “ legions of soul mates among the Russia-obsessing Democrats.” They have more in common with the ’Stache than with the Donald.”

If Trump makes a serious effort toward peace with Iran, N. Korea and Afghanistan prior to the election, high-ranking Democrats will vehemently oppose him. Their ultimate nightmare is Trump greeting the last U.S. troops in Afghanistan upon their return to the United States. More seriously, this turn of events would undermine their Bolton-like preferred strategy of protecting and furthering the empire through incessant military interventions. For them, “losing” Afghanistan would be a serious and precedent-setting blow to their globalist imperial strategy.

Trump, who once joked that if Bolton was the ultimate decider, the U.S. would be simultaneously fighting four wars, wants to avoid getting U.S. troops bogged down in endless wars. At his press conference after firing Bolton, Trump said, “John was way out of line on Venezuela” and on North Korea, Bolton “pushed the Libyan model but that was not a good statement to make. Take a look at what happened with Gaddafi...not a good statement to make.” Finally, Trump sarcastically spouted, “John is known as a tough guy. He’s a tough guy that got us into Iraq. He‘s that tough.”

For Trump, these conflicts are distractions from more important goals like devising a successful strategy to confront China. Further, as Middle East expert Juan Cole asserts, Trump “believes his base is tired of seeing U.S. blood and treasure squandered in the Middle East” and exiting these wars would be enormously popular with his supporters. Needless to say, it would be ego-gratifying and might even garner Trump a Nobel Peace Prize.

Finally, lest I be misunderstood, from the beginning of Trump’s tenure there‘s been fierce intra-elite in-fighting over the best strategy for advancing the American empire and the interests of those it serves. Neither side is remotely concerned with the interests of those here or abroad who suffer the consequences.

[Editor’s note: Gary Olson is professor emeritus of political science, Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA]

Recently in:

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comNorth Dakota communities will join a “nationwide day of defiance” against authoritarianism and President Donald Trump’s policies on Saturday, June 14. A range of "No Kings" events…

From concerts and car shows to Japanese art and Juneteenth celebrations, there's so much going on around the region this summer. This year's High Plains Reader Summer Events Calendar is back and bigger than ever. It's packed with…

June 21, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway N., Fargo“We Watch Shudder,” Fargo’s favorite horror podcasters, bring on the darkness during the longest day of the year. The Darkest Day of Horror Film Festival features…

By John Strandjas@hpr1.com One description that perhaps aptly describes the mental state of many lately is that they feel they are attached to a string. Or several strings. Call it the notion that people are played like puppets,…

By Ed Raymondfargogadfly@gmail.comThe Fiddler on the roof was taking a big chance after two thousand years of hate Cal Thomas, who seems to hate a lot in a journalistic and broadcasting career where he expresses his conservative…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com Holiday wine shopping shouldn’t have to be complicated. But unfortunately it can cause unneeded anxiety due to an overabundance of choices. Don’t fret my friends, we once again have you covered…

By Rick Gionrickgion@gmail.com After a very inspiring conversation with Kayla Houchin of Sonder Bakehouse a few weeks ago, I decided that it’s an appropriate time to write a column about some of the sweet people who are involved…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comThe Moorhead Public Library will offer three free, all-ages outdoor concerts featuring regional bands this summer. The series begins on June 12 with the Meat Rabbits, a group that blends…

By Greg Carlsongregcarlson1@gmail.com Wes Anderson’s twelfth full-length feature, “The Phoenician Scheme,” sees the idiosyncratic auteur pull back from the elaborate storytelling scaffolding and structures of “The Grand…

By Raul Gomezraul@hpr1.com Minutes before Modern’s Celebration of Life opened its door at the Sons of Norway, I was fiddling with the bar computer, trying to pull up the playlists of Modern’s work I had set aside for the…

By Alicia Underlee Nelsonalicia@hpr1.comAct Up Theatre, in partnership with Minnesota State University Moorhead, will present “The Sound of Music” on June 10-14. All shows are at 7:30 p.m. at the Minnesota State Moorhead’s…

By Annie Prafckeannieprafcke@gmail.com AUSTIN, Texas – As a Chinese-American, connecting to my culture through food is essential, and no dish brings me back to my mother’s kitchen quite like hotdish. Yes, you heard me right –…

By Sabrina Hornungsabrina@hpr1.comNew Jamestown Brewery Serves up Local FlavorThere’s something delicious brewing out here on the prairie and it just so happens to be the newest brewery west of the Red River and east of the…

By Ellie Liveranieli.liverani.ra@gmail.com There appear to be differences in the incidence of mental illnesses between men and women. For example, women are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, post-traumatic stress…

By Alicia Underlee NelsonProtests against President Trump’s policies and the cuts made by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are planned across North Dakota and western Minnesota Friday, April 4 and…

By Vern Thompsonvern.thompson.nd7@gmail.com Our trucking business has me driving almost daily from gas plants in western North Dakota's oil patch to Canada. I haul natural gas liquids (NGLs) products we used to see flared off at…