Friday, March 4, 2016

Trump Names President of Council on Foreign Relations as Top National Security Adviser

During Thursday night's debate, when Donald Trump was asked by Megyn Kelly who he is listening to as top national security advisers, the first name Trump mentioned was Richard Haass.

Haass has been the president of the Council on Foreign Relations since July 2003, prior to which he was Director of Policy Planning for the United States Department of State and a close advisor to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

He believes that  maintaining a consistent interventionist or conversely non-interventionist foreign policy would be a mistake and that each situation requires a custom-fit approach.

In May 2013, I reported on a World Affairs Council private reception for Haass, in San Francisco:
Yesterday, in San Francisco, I attended a World Affairs Council private reception for Richard Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations.

Haass is out with a new book, Foreign Policy Begins at Home: The Case for Putting America's House in Order. Don't get too excited about the title of the book. It's not as though he thinks the US should mind its own business and stay out of the affairs of other countries. At the reception, Haass discussed his views and, although he wants to see a strong domestic economy, his idea of a "foreign policy that begins at home" doesn't mean he is against United States interventions globally. Though he does want to see a shift in regional focus.

During the reception he said that the United States should stop its fixation with the "Greater Middle East."  He said there are no great powers in the Middle East, thus less focus needs to be given to the region. He said the focus needs to be "dialed down." On the other hand, he said the US should "dial up" involvement in Asia, with more of a military presence in the area and more diplomatic dialogue.

He said that the US can influence the area in a way favorable to its interests. He said, get this, "I don't want to leave Asia to the Asians." He compared Asia to early 20th century Europe, when Europe was the epicenter of world wars. He suggested the same could now occur in Asia. He implied that China was unstable and stated that more than 100,000 major protests are occurring in China each year.

He said Pakistan deeply troubled him, that the country has enormous problems. He contrasted the concern over Iran, which is just trying to build a nuclear bomb, and North Korea, which has 11 nuclear bombs, as minor compared to Pakistan, which has hundreds of nuclear weapons, some completed and others that soon will be completed...

Haass said there is nothing obvious that the US can do about the Syrian situation. He said that if Assad is taken out, the problem becomes one of a replacement and that given the various factions, a long civil war would be likely. He said he is against sending troops to Syria, but seemingly in contradiction to the complex problems he saw if Assad is overthrown, he said he was in favor of arming opposition to Assad.

BTW, Even Trump's answer on Afhgansitan and its importance because of its border with Pakistan suggests Haass influence.

 -RW

28 comments:

  1. Makes sense that Trump would pick a "pragmatist." Very illuminating with respect to how Trump would behave as far as foreign policy though. I think one benefit of a pivot to Asia is that it would be less likely to result in a hot war precisely because China can fight back, and thus foreign policy would hinge more on negotiation. We could definitely see a trade war though, which is concerning. So overall a mixed bag, which means better than anyone else except maybe Bernie, who's probably done anyways.

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    1. Oh sure after after months of Trump,supporters bashing Heidi Cruz who worked for the CFR which she now no longer works there, it's now acceptable to ask the president of the CFR too be in Trumps administration, what a pack of hypocrites u Trump,supporters look like !!You bashed Cruzs wife for working for the CFR,, but Donald Trump can now hire the president of the CFR and it's ok, talk about chutzpah!!You can't even see how hypocritcal u are, it's like no matter what bad stuff comes out about Trump, u make excuses for him, but u didn't give that same latitude boo the other candidates!

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    2. As a Trump supporter (for the moment) I agree with you. I plan to ask Phyllis Schlafly to withdraw her endorsement unless he promises not to let Haas or any other CFR member near his administration. That will be difficult as even Reagan's administration contained many CFR members.

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    3. I see Trump, as a liberal in GOP clothing. Never the less, I will vote for him,if he is nominee, because I cant stand crooked hillary!

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    4. If the CfR /Insider influence can be kept minimal and he does half the things he says he would push for, it may buy us some time to elect a better Congress.
      That is the key body anyway! Focusing on the "President" elevates the Executive Branch above the co-equal Legislative and Judicial branches.
      Remember it is the House that can fund and defund agencies. Without money, government busybodies go home.

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  2. From what I could stomach perusing the transcripts, it seemed less of a debate and more a piling on against Trump, with the moderator debating him as well. It proves what a farce the political system truly is.

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    1. It wasn't a debate it was a huge argument and I've never seen the moderators argue with the candidates the way these people do. At least CNN has some control over their audience and the candidates.
      I do have to say the last debate Donald controlled himself quite well.

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  3. Another example of the false notion that Trump is "anti-establishment."

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    1. Oh stop that! He's not. I' know Trump He wants to fix the country. He may have to go along to get along....but if I know him...he won't succumb to their threats....or he will out smart them. He's no dummy. But I know one thing...he's authentic. He is NOT one of THEM. He can work among them without being one of them.

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    2. Trump named Richard Haass during the debate as who he gets advise. What more do you need? Straight from the horse's mouth

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    3. Trump ppl don't care about the Truth about the Donald, isn't it rich that the same group that the Trump supporters bash Cruzs wife having ties too, now wants the president of the CFR to be in his administration, haaaa haaaa

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    4. Sharon, for Trump to work "with them" miracles will have to happen. Face it, he is very disliked by congress. Of course congress, is very disliked by me right now! Why couldnt the GOP vet obozo, like they are doing donald? A muslim......and they have handed everything over to him, on a silver platter! HMMM.....maybe they feared "race wars"?

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  4. I hope this isn't so. They are globalist NWO and he's treading in dangerous water. The problem Trump is going to face is that he's going into the belly of the beast. They're all part of the club. Only a few aren't. Trump is going to need advice and knowledge...but I hope he can maintain his independence. These people are evil. They will try to indoctrinate him and get him into the club. One thing Trump is....a major patriot. I hope to hell he can maintain that. That he doesn't lose himself. They are masters. Centuries of fine tuning their evil craft. The rabbit hole goes very deep with this club. God protect him and our nation.

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    1. Well it's looks like it is so, so now what are Trump supporters gonna throw at Ted Cruz, oops can't use the CFR label anymore??

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    2. I dout very much if God would be protecting such a man as Donald Trump, it never ceases to amaze me when ppl think that God would approve of a man with such a lack of morals or principles!

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    3. Suzy, rather than take joy in the fact that the CFR has gained influence over Donald Trump, you should be saddened by the fact that there is no longer a candidate in the race that will not be doing the bidding of the CFR. I switched support from Cruz to Trump early when I learned of his two connections to the CFR. Now I may not vote. If Trump, like Sanders, Clinton, Kasich and Cruz, is going to allow the CFR to run it's foreign policy, you can expect that we will continue down the same slippery slope toward a North American Union and then a New World Order.

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    4. Yes Mark! Amazing that 100% of biblical prophecies are unfolding before our very eyes!

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    5. Bible prophecies? Really? Is that bit of propaganda meant to neutralize the actions of moral men in opposition to evil?
      Sounds a lot like another line, "You can't fight City Hall", doesn't it?
      The Bible also instructs us to "occupy until I come" and other action oriented verbs.
      This Christian will not be neutralized by "prophecies" that undermine active resistance and the revealing of truth to others.

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  5. Haas doesn't accept the principles of our founders. Stay out of foreign entanglements. His interest in Asia is all about the global agenda. He's thinking regions..not nation states. They want to open our borders....not secure our sovereignty. They want to bring in the N. American Union and set our Constitution on it's way out of relevance. All with the ruse of trade first. Trump needs to make sure he talks with others who can provide a balanced viewpoint and other info.

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  6. Cruz stated he admires greatly Elliott Abrams and Cruz calls the CFR pernicious snakes

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  7. Trump is an establishment liberal and this proves it. He's total CFR or would not have been allowed to go this far, doing the horrible things he done and said.

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    1. I'll take a business minded honest liberal that will make a few mistakes in our favor than mindless sold out puppets like Obama and Hillary.

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  8. Only time will tell whether Trump can "work among snakes" without becoming one of them--or whether he already is one of them whether CRF or any other entity.

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  9. He mentioned him as a possible. He didn't name him to that position. Your article is misleading.

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  10. Just because Trump talks with Haas doesn't mean that he is going to accept everything that Haas recommends. What I find alarming is how many here are ever so willing to abandon Trump, which raises the chance of a Hillary win. Voting Third party, not voting, or voting for a write-in candidate is playing Russian roulette, not very smart or sane, considering the mortal danger of a Hillary regime.

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  11. I believe (although I cannot prove it) that all of this political bickering is just a show, like the good cop bad cop play that is still being used today to get information on the subject.
    The whole satanic/evil of Hillary is unbelievably hidden by the media cover up (because they are in on the scam), look at how much evil the Clinton's have out there and NOTHING has been done? (Vince Foster, the pedophile friend of Bill, Jeffrey Epstein, Mena Arkansas smuggling drugs into America,(Benghazi,what difference does it make", Hillary's mentor with the founder Margaret Sanger who was a racist and strategically placed abortion clinics in low income neighborhoods to get rid of the minorities)
    Trump is related to the Clinton's first of all, then there is the pictures of Trump with racist Jesse James throwing the satanic hand symbols, Trump using the Illuminati hand signals, never professing that he believes that Jesus Christ is his Lord and Savior.
    If you look into the history of ALL but 1 president of the U.S. you will find that they are ALL related. Wow, what a coincidence huh?
    Just like Ted Cruz is related to Obama.
    So, with all these facts out there, the next president is not going to matter anyway, because it's all a scam.
    What does matter is that debt that BOTH candidates are ignoring by the way. The collapse of the dollar is imminent for the New World Odor.
    Order out of Chaos is their motto, just like 9/11. Look how many liberties Americans lost after 9/11. (which was a false flag by the way, just like ww1, ww2, vietnam war, etc, etc, etc....look it up if you don't believe me)
    Satan rules this world and it's leaders, who do you think want's a One World government? One world currency (cashless society with the mark of the beast)? One World Religion (the new Jesuit Pope is already calling for that) And of course One World Leader. (guess who?)
    So you see, it's all a scam, a lie, massive deceit, and these world leaders are ruled by satanic forces. Just like the Bible says:

    Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

    Your best bet?
    Seek Jesus Christ with ALL your heart before it's too late.

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  12. Hi, Yes and just think, we had ted cruz, and hannity, limbaugh, alex jones, billy bob bozo cunningham, and all the idiot stupid voters followed these frauds
    so I suggest that you send this article to that phony goofball fraud preacher robert jeffress

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  13. MARK GILLAR, is another one of these low information voters
    TED CRUZ NEVER HAD ANY connection with the cfr
    this link i pasted here, the interviewer thinks he is going to catch Ted in something, yet Ted cruz explains clearly that he denounces the cfr
    and this mark here is another fool who listened to ALEX JONES

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiFKtC6a9do

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