Mohammad Amjad Hossain :
It is really irony to witness that superpower led by the United States of America is distancing from her closed allies under the leadership of President Trump who is also under tremendous pressure at home on the issue of Gun control as well. This has been reflected during his maiden speech on the inaugural 72 session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. While criticizing leaders of the world body for its inaction to stop crisis-ridden areas in the world President Trump has inflicted barrage of criticism against leaders of North Korea, Iran, Syria and Venezuela but refrained from criticizing Vladimir Putin, President of Russian Federation whose seizure and annexation of Crimea Peninsula of Ukraine in violation of international agreement, apart from recent display of military power around Baltic states and Ukraine border under the guise of military training exercise.
It is true that building up nuclear weapons including intercontinental ballistic missiles by North Korea poses threat to allies of the United States and US itself too, but the language that President used of “destruction of North Korea totally” and calling its leader” Rocket man” goes beyond diplomatic niceties. There is difference of opinion in Trump’s own administration on North Korea. While Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has been in touch with North Korean administration to start negotiations, President Trump retorted by saying Tillerson has been wasting time but Defense Secretary is defending Secretary of State. Describing President of Turkey Erdogan as his best friend who is running the administration iron-handedly. Recently signed an agreement with Russian Federation violating tradition of NATO. Turkey is the only Muslim country being a member of NATO. Turkish leader is under criticism from leaders of European Union for signing agreement with Russia. President Trump is seen virulent against Iran while criticizing international treaty on nuclear weapons with Iran. President described nuclear deal with Iran was an embarrassment to the United States and defeat loser terrorists who have struck violence across the globe. President portrayed Iran as an exporter of violence, bloodshed and chaos. President urged world leaders to stop Iran’s nuclear programme. President Trump in fact received only appreciation from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who opposed such deal with Iran.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear watch dog, certified in August this year that Iran has been remained in compliance fully with the agreement. Other world leaders are not in agreement with President Trump to change agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron in his remarks said nuclear deal with Iran was essential for peace while his country would not close any door to dialogue with North Korea. Interesting to note is that Ret.Gen. James Mattis, Secretary of Defense of Trump administration is of the opinion to retain nuclear deal with Iran if Iran has been compiling with agreement. Since North Korea is building up nuclear weapons it would be height of folly if the United States walkes away from international nuclear deal with Iran.
President Trump did not leave the platform without criticizing President Maduro of Venezuela who destroyed a prosperous nation by imposing a fatal ideology. President said US must help to regain their freedom, recover their country and restore their democracy. There is a need to revive democracy in Venezuela for the people to leave peacefully and describing Cuba as corrupt and destabilizing regime.
Internally, President Trump picked up quarrel with football players of National Football League on the issue of National anthem on 25 September. President is reported to have made angry remarks against national football players, who were in kneeling position during national anthem. Angrily President directed to get that” son of a bitch off the field right now and fired right now”. President doubled down on his comments in a series of 18 tweets over next four days calling boycott of the National Football League. President also withdraw an invitation to the White House for regaining NBA champions the Golden state warriors following player Stephen Curry comments that his feelings about Trump made it unlikely he would attend to attend reception. It was disgraceful for the President when more than 250 NFL players across the country knelt or sat for their pregame anthems, while others interlocked arms or remained in the locker room to demonstrate support for free speech. Recent polls indicate that 66 percent speak against President Trump” for divisiveness” of any recent President
President Trump is also facing problem on the issue of gun control as both lawmakers of the Republican and Democrats demanded when fifty-eight people were succumbed to injures and five hundred wounded on 2 October in Las Vegas. Stephen Craig Paddock rained down burst of rapid fire into the crowd during music festival by using fully automatic machine guns. President accompanied by first lady visited Las Vegas to show sympathy with members of grieved families and met wounded people in hospital. President Trump accompanied with First lady visited Las Vegas on 4 October and said “our souls are stricken with grief for every American who lost a husband or a wife, a mother or a son or a daughter know that our sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain. You are not alone. We will never leave your side. “Senator Dianne Feinstein of Democrat introduced a bill dubbed the automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act but President said it was not yet time to talk about gun control. It may be noted that National Rifle Association of America which is most powerful organization, is not in favor of gun control. This association also spent huge amount of money during election to bring their supporters in the Congress. This organization was supporter of President Trump. Second amendment of the Constitution poses obstacle to make strong law against buying freely from the market as it preaches” the right of the people to keep and bears arms shall not be infringed”.
Nature also did not spare President Trump. President Trump has been confronting with natural hazard of unprecedented nature in Puerto Rico, US territorial Island. Preceded by terrible natural disaster in Florida and Houston in Texas President received criticism for slower relief to Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
(Mohammad Amjad Hossain, retired diplomat from Bangladesh, writes from Virginia)
