A Trump danger

M.R. Dua

America's theory and practice of "democracy" is globally believed to be a sacrosanct, a ideal textbook model. But unfortunately, that paradigmatic model is currently under severe strain under Donald J. Trump, the 45th president, who took over the reign of this nation just around five months ago.

James B. Comey President Trump's such a short stay in the White House demonstrates his extremely poor, much, much below par performance of any American president's political governance in history. He has embarrassed the country by multiple actions that he has taken andlitany of executive orders he has issued so far; the latest being the abrupt and unceremonious dismissal of James B. Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), who was in the third year of a 10-year prestigious federal assignment. Trump removed Comey because he said he didn't probe Hillary Clinton's email hacking. The president said he had 'lost confidence' in him. Also,Comey's colleagues too had reportedly 'lost confidence' in him. Besides,Comey was said to be 'no longer effectively able to lead the FBI, and it was necessary to restore public interest and confidence.'

Donald J. Trump But what Trump didn't say was that Comey was fired because he was closer to finding the alleged Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential election that was believed to be instrumental in Trump's victory in the election.
Meanwhile, the Senate Intelligence Committee had asked Comey to speed up probe the Trump campaign-Russian collusion and the election's unexpected outcome. It was stated that Comey was fired as he 'made up' investigations into 'possible ties between Trump's campaign members and Russia that conducted an influence campaign during the race with goal of boosting Trump.' Moreover, Comey had asked for additional funds and resources to expedite the probe in Russia's alleged meddling in the November 8 elections.
Whatever may have been Trump's allegations against Comey, the fact of the matter is 'vast majority' of the FBI staff had 'deep and positive faith' in Comey, had 'broad support from inside', also he had not lost faith' of colleagues. Moreover, Trump suspected that there could be tape recordings of his talks with Comey (on Russia's role), warning him he had 'better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he (Comey) starts leaking to the press.'
But some lawmakers have stated that tapes do exist and it's probably 'inevitable that Trump would have to turn them over to Congress, which is investigating whether his associates colluded with Russia to meddle in the elections.'This warning to Comey amounts to obstruction of justice, a criminal offence.
However, a cursory glance at Trump's acts of omission and commission in his official conduct has revealed a horrendous scenario. Remember, while only six days in the White House as president, on January 26, 2017, to be precise, Trump summoned James B. Comey to tell him to look into Russia's suspected involvement in the 2016 presidential elections.
The next day, January 27, in his executive order, Trump banned the entry into the US of the citizens of seven prominently Muslim nations; that order has since been stayed by the courts. Then, he banned Syrian refugees coming to the US. Instead, he averred, 'Temporary ban on refugees means, we're living in a safer America.'

Michael Flynn There's an endless list of Trump's indiscrete functioning: He fired Lt.- Gen. Michael Flynn, his own newly appointed national security adviser, due to his alleged contacts with Russian businessmen; he hung up on Australian prime minister; cancelled meeting with Mexican president; and reportedly lied that three million people had voted illegally for Hillary Clinton; he has refused to release his tax returns, or his White House visitors log; attacked integrity of judges; accused President Obama of tapping Trump Tower telecommunication system; compared leaders of federal intelligence agencies to Nazis; branded the US media 'enemies of the American people'; hosted Russian ambassador in the Oval Office with no American reporter present, only one day after firing the person (FBI directorComey) leading investigations into possible collusion between his (Trump's) team and Russian officials. In addition, during the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump had made innumerable wild statements – vowed to send 'crooked Hillary' to jail for alleged email scandal; bragged about committing serial sexual abuse, and getting away with it; he accused the father of Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz conspiring to murder President John F. Kennedy.

Hillary Clinton Meanwhile, widespread unprecedented Moscow's meddling during the 2016 presidential electoral process and in several other areas of America's national affairs has led to unabated discontentment and resentment among the American people. Washington Post's recent disclosure of Trump inviting Russian ambassador and its foreign minister to the White House, and passing on top classified confidential information pertaining to US policy on decimation of the Islamic State.

Ted Cruz Trump's secretary of state Rex Tillerson had close ties with the Russians as CEO of the petroleum giant, EXXON Mobile; Russian agents at Vladimir Putin's instance had hacked the email network of the Democratic National Convention in 2016, and operated an elaborate system of disinformation via 'fake news' on internet, and broadcast companies; and, finally,the newsgathering activities of the Russian network in the U.S., 'Russia Today,' too supplemented poll meddling. It's on record that during the 2016 presidential campaign trail, on July 5, Trump personally invited Russia to help review Hillary Clinton's private emails, and mishandling of classified information … the list is lengthening by the day.
But pressures are constantly mounting on the Trump administration that in order reach at the bottom of the crisis, the matter should be probed by an independent counsel or a 9/11 type of commission.Thus, with a view to short-circuit further rumourmongering, and similarities with the 1974 Nixonian Watergate scandal, immediate steps are afoot to appoint the new FBI director. Eight persons, including two women, and FBI's former deputy director, figure among the hopefuls. The appointment is expected to be finalized shortly.

Whatever, may be the shape of the emerging scenario, it's but certain that Trump's dismissal of FBI director James Comey will go down in the history of American scandals as Trumpgate, Comeygate, FBIgate. It's going to be 'somethinggate,' anyway. Therefore, as a noted political commentator opines, sooner or later Americans must realize that Trump is not only dangerous for the ruling Republican Party and its political future, but also for the United States of America.

Whatever, may be the shape of the emerging scenario, it's but certain that Trump's dismissal of FBI director James Comey will go down in the history of American scandals as Trumpgate, Comeygate, FBIgate. It's going to be 'somethinggate,' anyway.
As a noted political commentator opines, sooner or later Americans must realize that Trump is not only dangerous for the ruling Republican Party and its political future, but also for the United States of America.



		EDITOR'S MAIL MATTERS OF PUBLIC POLICY FRANKLY SPEAKING FARMERS' SUICIDES REALPOLITIK WHITHER AAP MODI'S FOREIGN POLICY CHINA'S NEW SILK ROAD DALAI LAMA ARUNACHAL VISIT ISLAMISTS IN CHINA STATE OF EDUCATION STATE OF EDUCATION BHOPAL NOTEBOOK BENGAL POINTERS TELUGU STATES BJP IN KERALA CHANDIGARH DIARY HITS & MISSES OLYMPIC SPIRIT AMERICA WATCH PAKISTAN WATCH SIGNS OF THE TIMES INTERVIEW OBITUARY BOOK BAZAAR BOOK BAZAAR BOOK BAZAAR CRIME AGAINST WOMEN SECULARISM IN INDIA ART OF LIVING Issue:June' 2017 Subscribe Now	AMERICA WATCH A Trump danger M.R. Dua America's theory and practice of "democracy" is globally believed to be a sacrosanct, a ideal textbook model. But unfortunately, that paradigmatic model is currently under severe strain under Donald J. Trump, the 45th president, who took over the reign of this nation just around five months ago. James B. Comey President Trump's such a short stay in the White House demonstrates his extremely poor, much, much below par performance of any American president's political governance in history. He has embarrassed the country by multiple actions that he has taken andlitany of executive orders he has issued so far; the latest being the abrupt and unceremonious dismissal of James B. Comey, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), who was in the third year of a 10-year prestigious federal assignment. Trump removed Comey because he said he didn't probe Hillary Clinton's email hacking. The president said he had 'lost confidence' in him. Also,Comey's colleagues too had reportedly 'lost confidence' in him. Besides,Comey was said to be 'no longer effectively able to lead the FBI, and it was necessary to restore public interest and confidence.' Donald J. Trump But what Trump didn't say was that Comey was fired because he was closer to finding the alleged Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential election that was believed to be instrumental in Trump's victory in the election. Meanwhile, the Senate Intelligence Committee had asked Comey to speed up probe the Trump campaign-Russian collusion and the election's unexpected outcome. It was stated that Comey was fired as he 'made up' investigations into 'possible ties between Trump's campaign members and Russia that conducted an influence campaign during the race with goal of boosting Trump.' Moreover, Comey had asked for additional funds and resources to expedite the probe in Russia's alleged meddling in the November 8 elections. Whatever may have been Trump's allegations against Comey, the fact of the matter is 'vast majority' of the FBI staff had 'deep and positive faith' in Comey, had 'broad support from inside', also he had not lost faith' of colleagues. Moreover, Trump suspected that there could be tape recordings of his talks with Comey (on Russia's role), warning him he had 'better hope that there are no tapes of our conversations before he (Comey) starts leaking to the press.' But some lawmakers have stated that tapes do exist and it's probably 'inevitable that Trump would have to turn them over to Congress, which is investigating whether his associates colluded with Russia to meddle in the elections.'This warning to Comey amounts to obstruction of justice, a criminal offence. However, a cursory glance at Trump's acts of omission and commission in his official conduct has revealed a horrendous scenario. Remember, while only six days in the White House as president, on January 26, 2017, to be precise, Trump summoned James B. Comey to tell him to look into Russia's suspected involvement in the 2016 presidential elections. The next day, January 27, in his executive order, Trump banned the entry into the US of the citizens of seven prominently Muslim nations; that order has since been stayed by the courts. Then, he banned Syrian refugees coming to the US. Instead, he averred, 'Temporary ban on refugees means, we're living in a safer America.' Michael Flynn There's an endless list of Trump's indiscrete functioning: He fired Lt.- Gen. Michael Flynn, his own newly appointed national security adviser, due to his alleged contacts with Russian businessmen; he hung up on Australian prime minister; cancelled meeting with Mexican president; and reportedly lied that three million people had voted illegally for Hillary Clinton; he has refused to release his tax returns, or his White House visitors log; attacked integrity of judges; accused President Obama of tapping Trump Tower telecommunication system; compared leaders of federal intelligence agencies to Nazis; branded the US media 'enemies of the American people'; hosted Russian ambassador in the Oval Office with no American reporter present, only one day after firing the person (FBI directorComey) leading investigations into possible collusion between his (Trump's) team and Russian officials. In addition, during the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump had made innumerable wild statements – vowed to send 'crooked Hillary' to jail for alleged email scandal; bragged about committing serial sexual abuse, and getting away with it; he accused the father of Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz conspiring to murder President John F. Kennedy. Hillary Clinton Meanwhile, widespread unprecedented Moscow's meddling during the 2016 presidential electoral process and in several other areas of America's national affairs has led to unabated discontentment and resentment among the American people. Washington Post's recent disclosure of Trump inviting Russian ambassador and its foreign minister to the White House, and passing on top classified confidential information pertaining to US policy on decimation of the Islamic State. Ted Cruz Trump's secretary of state Rex Tillerson had close ties with the Russians as CEO of the petroleum giant, EXXON Mobile; Russian agents at Vladimir Putin's instance had hacked the email network of the Democratic National Convention in 2016, and operated an elaborate system of disinformation via 'fake news' on internet, and broadcast companies; and, finally,the newsgathering activities of the Russian network in the U.S., 'Russia Today,' too supplemented poll meddling. It's on record that during the 2016 presidential campaign trail, on July 5, Trump personally invited Russia to help review Hillary Clinton's private emails, and mishandling of classified information … the list is lengthening by the day. But pressures are constantly mounting on the Trump administration that in order reach at the bottom of the crisis, the matter should be probed by an independent counsel or a 9/11 type of commission.Thus, with a view to short-circuit further rumourmongering, and similarities with the 1974 Nixonian Watergate scandal, immediate steps are afoot to appoint the new FBI director. Eight persons, including two women, and FBI's former deputy director, figure among the hopefuls. The appointment is expected to be finalized shortly. Whatever, may be the shape of the emerging scenario, it's but certain that Trump's dismissal of FBI director James Comey will go down in the history of American scandals as Trumpgate, Comeygate, FBIgate. It's going to be 'somethinggate,' anyway. Therefore, as a noted political commentator opines, sooner or later Americans must realize that Trump is not only dangerous for the ruling Republican Party and its political future, but also for the United States of America. Whatever, may be the shape of the emerging scenario, it's but certain that Trump's dismissal of FBI director James Comey will go down in the history of American scandals as Trumpgate, Comeygate, FBIgate. It's going to be 'somethinggate,' anyway. As a noted political commentator opines, sooner or later Americans must realize that Trump is not only dangerous for the ruling Republican Party and its political future, but also for the United States of America.