Cartoon by Steve Benson
Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's global enabler, was no moderate
Deutsche Welle: At this point it is almost moot to decry this White House's ongoing revolving door mentality. It is still unclear whether the amicable-seeming announcement of Nikki Haley's departure was long-planned, or if, notwithstanding her unprompted rejection, she might be plotting to run against Donald Trump for the United States presidency in 2020.
Ultimately, the speculation adds little to evaluating how the US has conducted itself on the world stage. Let's instead focus on what we do know, and that is Haley's record as US ambassador at the United Nations.
Put bluntly, her record is bleak. Sure, during her two-year tenure in New York she has given vocal support to certain human rights issues and was one of the more outspoken administration figures criticizing Russia.
Exit from UN bodies
But this is not what she will be remembered for. Haley, one of the earliest and most high-profile female members of Trump's Cabinet, will be remembered for what happened during her tenure: With her support, the US pulled out of the UN-backed international climate deal, the UN Security Council-backed Iran nuclear deal, the UN cultural organization UNESCO and the UN Human Rights Council.
She will be remembered for threatening other UN members via Twitter that the US "will be taking names" of nations that supported a purely symbolic resolution denouncing Washington's decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
She will be remembered for advancing a new and dangerous principle whereby the US only gives aid to nations it deems friendly, meaning that they have conducted themselves, and voted at the UN, in line with the Trump administration's positions.
And she probably won't be, but should be remembered for the fact that during her tenure Washington ended its funding for the UN Population Fund, the body's reproductive health agency, and reinstated the so-called Global Gag Rule that prohibits the US government from funding international health groups that also advocate for abortions.
Enabler of 'America First' on the global stage
Taken together, Haley has been an ardent supporter of Trump's "America First" policy, which openly advocates a winner-take-all approach that is fundamentally at odds with the core principles of the UN. Her personal style may have helped to cloak and blunt her full-throated support for Trump's hostile attitude to multilateralism — nevertheless, it was there.
In her defense, some might say that she was trying her level best to prevent Trump from doing even more damage, and they may warn that her replacement could be even worse — but that ship sailed a long time ago. At this point in the Trump administration's tenure, and considering all the damage that has already been done on numerous fronts, we simply cannot allow the argument that "it could be worse" to stand and serve as a benchmark.
By any traditional party standard, Haley cannot be described as a moderate or mainstream Republican. She has been the leading advocate for and enabler of Trump's politics on the global stage. There is no reason the world need shed a tear about her impending departure.
Nimrata "Nikki" Randhawa Haley is a smart and calculating woman. She needed foreign policy credentials on her resume which she has now and she can leave on a high note before other scandals break around Trump.
She also needs to make money right now. She has 2 college-age sons and her husband is in S. Carolina National Guard, not making much money. So her plan is to get a high-paying job on the Wall Street and make her millions and get ready for 2024 elections. Her differences with Pompeo and Bolton also played a role here.
As the UN ambassador, she was to protect the US image around the world. Well, I think we all, at least the fair-minded folks know about the image of the US around the world since the charlatan took power.
Although the damage to the US cannot be blamed on her, she was part of this admin and shares the responsibility.
Muller is making America great again
tRump is helping to make Russia great again
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
Buy American, say NO to Chinese madeTrump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King
Pompeo and Bolton need a US ambassador to U.N. who has testicular fortitude to complete the triangle of regime change around the IRI thuggery! Too bad BiBi Netanyahu can not fulfill that role! With Nikki or without, the IRI regime is going down - you had better get on the train!
I personally would love to see the demise of IRI regime that will result in a democratically elected government and system in Iran that works for the Iranian people.
However, with the track record of the charlatan-in-chief and his gang (i.e. Bolton) what we can expect for Iran, if there is a regime changed orchestrated by this admin, at best would be the MEK cult and worse would be ISIS 2.0
So, let’s hope regime change to begin at home.
Muller is making America great again
tRump is helping to make Russia great again
Reject occupation, If the bar code starts with 7 29 put it back on the shelf
Buy American, say NO to Chinese madeTrump
“The time is always right to do what is right” – Martin Luther King