After the Hurricane

Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 12 September 2019
by Lluís Bassets (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephen Routledge. Edited by Elizabeth Cosgriff.

 

 

Bolton’s dismissal is one of the highlights of a presidency which has become accustomed to an abundance of bad news.

No one will regret that this hurricane is over. The pain is still to come. Seventeen months of John Bolton in the White House has added maximum risk to a presidency which itself is a permanent and insurmountable risk. With kindling in Venezuela, the Persian Gulf, North Korea and Afghanistan, Hurricane Bolton provided the incentive to light it. From the moment Donald Trump appointed him as national security advisor, global insecurity increased; and it remained at an alarming level until he was dismissed on Tuesday for bad manners.

Bolton’s dismissal is one of the highlights in a presidency that has become accustomed to an abundance of bad news. His appointment was the result of Trump's chaotic style, and a decision made in one of his stellar moments in front of the television, Twitter in hand. Bolton was a regular on Trump’s favorite network, Fox News. Trump liked Bolton’s innovative and warmongering views, choosing him to replace the rational and orderly Gen. H. R. McMaster.

Trump is especially dangerous when he is out of control. In reading a speech from the teleprompter or following the ceremonial script, Trump is very much like his predecessors; but let loose at night on his couch, or in conversations alone with foreign leaders (as has occurred with Vladimir Putin), he causes the whole administration to tremble, especially the Secret Service.

During his time with George W. Bush, Bolton was a warmongering hurricane, and the same was the case with Trump; the difference being that he was the master of his own destiny. Twenty years ago, after the 9/11 attacks, the president wanted war; now he is avoiding it, especially as he thinks about his reelection. The man he has just sacked favors preventive wars and, above all, regime change. Nothing would have given him greater satisfaction than the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro, Ali Khamenei or Kim Jong Un. Bolton's style suited Trump when he wanted to throw the adults who desired organization and predictability out of the White House. As national security advisor, Bolton spent the last 17 months dismantling the National Security Council in order to devote himself to whispering warmongering ideas to a president who very much liked them when spoke on Fox News. This was Bolton’s contribution to the destruction of institutions, which Steve Bannon, the campaign adviser and apostle of Trumpist disruption – advocated.

Now, as he faces a second election, Trump wants results: a disarmament agreement, like the one he was looking for with North Korea; withdrawal of troops, like the one he was negotiating with the Taliban; and direct negotiations with Iran. Bolton was a hindrance to any such triumph, while Mike Pompeo − who shares similar ideas and instincts − is Trump's loyal servant, willing to agree with him in spite of his own convictions. Bolton has fallen, but “Yes Sir” Mike has seen his stock rise.






La destitución de Bolton es una de las mejores noticias de una presidencia que nos tiene acostumbrados a fabricarlas malas y en abundancia

Nadie va a lamentar que este huracán se haya ido. El dolor es que llegara. Su paso durante 17 meses por la Casa Blanca ha añadido el riesgo máximo a una presidencia que es ella misma un riesgo permanente e insuperable. Allí donde había leña, en Venezuela, en el golfo Pérsico, en Corea del Norte o en Afganistán, el huracán Bolton alentó el incendio. La inseguridad mundial se incrementó desde que Trump le nombró consejero de Seguridad Nacional y se mantuvo en niveles alarmantes hasta este pasado martes, cuando le destituyó de malas maneras.

Esta destitución es una de las mejores noticias de una presidencia que nos tiene acostumbrados a fabricarlas malas y en abundancia. Su nombramiento fue fruto del caótico estilo de Trump y de una decisión tomada en uno de sus momentos estelares frente al televisor, Twitter en mano. Le gustaban las opiniones rompedoras y belicistas del tertuliano Bolton en su cadena preferida, la Fox, y le eligió para sustituir al racional y ordenado general McMaster.

Trump es especialmente peligroso cuando se halla fuera de control. Con un discurso leído en el teleprónter y siguiendo el guión ceremonial es como muchos de sus predecesores, pero suelto por las noches en el sofá o en conversación con mandatarios extranjeros en solitario, como ha sucedido con Putin, hace temblar a la entera Administración y especialmente a los servicios secretos.

Bolton fue un huracán belicista con Bush y lo ha sido con Trump. Con una diferencia que ha determinado su destino. Hace 20 años, tras los atentados del 11-S, el presidente quería guerra y ahora en cambio la elude, especialmente en cuanto piensa en su relección. El destituido es amigo de las guerras preventivas y, sobre todo, de los cambios de régimen: nada le produciría mayor satisfacción que los derrocamientos de Maduro, Jamenei o Kim Jong-un. El estilo de Bolton le convino a Trump cuando quiso echar a los adultos de la Casa Blanca, que querían organización y previsibilidad. Su consejero de Seguridad de los últimos 17 meses desmanteló el Consejo Nacional de Seguridad para dedicarse a susurrarle al presidente las ideas belicistas que tanto le gustaban cuando las proclamaba en la Fox. Esta ha sido su contribución a la destrucción de las instituciones propugnada por Steve Bannon, el asesor electoral y apóstol de la disrupción trumpista.


Ahora, encarando las segundas elecciones, Trump quiere resultados: algún acuerdo de desarme como el que buscaba con Corea del Norte, una retirada de tropas como la que negociaba con los talibanes o una negociación directa con Irán. Bolton era un estorbo para cualquiera de estos triunfos, mientras que Mike Pompeo, con ideas e instintos semejantes, es un leal servidor de Trump, dispuesto a darle la razón por encima de sus convicciones. Bolton ha caído y sube la cotización de Mike sí señor.

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