This column first appeared as an exclusive update to Ron Paul Institute subscribers. subscribe for free here.
It would be easy to sit here and write to you with my fears and misgivings based on the nominees to President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign policy and national security team. Believe me, I spent a good deal of this past week gnashing my teeth and hoping rumors weren’t true…until they turned out to be true.
After the euphoria of Trump publicly closing the door to neocons Mike Pompeo and Nikki Haley in his administration, it was like a cold shower to see a perhaps dumber version of Pompeo picked for Secretary of State.
Likewise Trump’s National Security Advisor pick, as well as Defense Secretary pick – and let’s not forget UN Ambassador pick – are among the most bestial warmongers out there. They zealously support continuing Biden’s backstopping Israel’s slaughter in the Middle East, they are not reliably opposed to the US/NATO disastrous proxy war with Russia in Ukraine, and they talk a tough game on “confronting” China.
Indeed, there is nothing “America first” about our global military empire and endless interventions overseas. They enrich corrupt foreign officials and the US military-industrial complex while impoverishing Americans at home and stirring up hatred of the US on every corner of the globe.
But after a couple of days of despair – particularly painful was not seeing Ron Paul Institute friend Col. Douglas Macgregor named to a suitable post (though we keep our fingers crossed) – I had the realization that this was not a productive use of my time. While I am not pleased with the national security and foreign policy picks thus far, there is really no reason to throw in with the anti-Trump crowd.
Yeah, I get it and it’s tempting to declare a pox on all of their houses, but as my old chief of staff in Ron Paul’s legislative office used to say, “do you want to make a point or do you want to make a difference?” Do we want to fritter away the possibility to support the good becsause the perfect is not available?
As our late and very great friend Robert Wenzel declared upon founding the then-indispensable website “Target Liberty,” the real goal is to observe and comment on trends toward and away from liberty. For our purposes we could add “peace.”
That I believe should be how we approach these early days of the Trump transition. Too early to write it off even if there are some big disappointments.
Here’s why…
Exhibit one is the continued engagement of Ron Paul and his Institute by Trump insiders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. While Dr. Paul is enthused about Musk’s proposal to cut two trillion from the US budget, he had no illusions that the kind words – including Elon Musk declaring that it would be great to have Ron Paul help them cut government (a suggestion that was endorsed by President-elect Trump’s own son) – were too much more than a last-minute frenzy to gain libertarian voters. No hard feelings, it’s just politics,
That’s why it was so encouraging that after the election both Musk and Ramaswamy reiterated their interest in working with Dr. Paul to cut government. Just three days ago, Ramaswamy commented on a Ron Paul Liberty Report clip about the need to cut two trillion from the budget: “Well said, Ron Paul. You’ll be hearing from us!”
Even today, when Ron Paul suggested auditing the Pentagon in light of its failure to account for the hundreds of billions shoveled into it each year, Elon Musk agreed enthusiastically:
Having the attention of Musk and Ramaswamy and Donald Trump, Jr. and others close to the incoming president is unprecedented for the Ron Paul Institute.
Does it mean that we will get everything we want? No. Does it mean that we are blindly supporting Trump? No. Does it mean that we are slamming the door in their faces because we’d rather make a point than make a difference? No way.
In addition to being a pro-peace organization, the Ron Paul Institute is dedicated to restoration of civil liberties and opposition to government tyranny. How about one of America’s strongest and most effective opponents of Covid tyranny, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as Secretary of Health and Human Services? Yes, the same Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. who delivered a brilliant speech at the Ron Paul Institute’s 2021 conference!!!
And how about Tulsi Gabbard – a friend and a guest on RPI’s Ron Paul Liberty Report – nominated to fill the incredibly powerful position in charge of coordinating the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies? As our friend and former CIA officer Ray McGovern informs us:
“The DNI is in charge of preparing The President’s Daily Brief (PDB), National Intelligence Estimates and the annual Threat Assessment required by Congress. What is less well known is her role in covert action — a favorite of the C.I.A.’s clandestine service.”
Again, we are not going to get everything we want and we will be frustrated. We can remain on the sidelines clutching our pearls at these disappointments or we can do everything possible to amplify our voices when some people are listening.
And we will continue to criticize this Administration as we have every Administration since Obama’s gang when we started this Institute.
Let me be honest with you, though: as often happens in presidential election years, we have taken a big financial hit this season. Lots of money goes through races – they are exciting and suck the oxygen out of the room. But this means hard times for those who are into promoting pro-freedom and pro-peace ideas. We who are providing the software of the campaigns – the ideas. Without these ideas – peace, freedom, liberty – elections are meaningless.
That is why I am appealing to you to please – especially as we approach the end-of-year fundraising season, consider a generous tax-deductible contribution to the Ron Paul Institute. We are YOUR voice. Please don’t let us be silenced. Thank you so much!
