The WHO and the President

President Donald Trump threatened to remove all funding from the World Health Organization unless they make some changes. Why? He blames them for letting the virus escape into the world. It is one more way for the president to avoid any responsibility for his own actions or lack of actions. It is also sweet music to the ears of his ever-present hardcore right-wing base. In the letter, he released overnight he did not specify what those changes should be. This is classic Trump, and it is classic deflection. Trump will do all to distract from his lack of leadership.

However, it also fits a long pattern from the American right. They still hold to this fantasy that International institutions hurt the United States. In their fevered imagination, they take away sovereignty and the ability of the United States to act. Never mind we were behind creating those institutions at the end of World War Two.

The president and the far-right do not understand soft power. This is defined as the ability of the country to influence other nations using diplomacy, trade and other people to people contacts. times it is more important than hard power, which they have romantic ideas about. Hard power is your aircraft carrier, or your soldier patrolling the ground with an M-16, and the ability to call for air support instantly. . The latter includes the romantic idea of charging the enemy with fixed…