Horowitz: The Iran Mess - Paying the Price for Trump’s Incoherent Foreign Policy
Rob Horowitz, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
Horowitz: The Iran Mess - Paying the Price for Trump’s Incoherent Foreign Policy
Not surprisingly, Iran has now announced that they are going to begin to exceed the tight limits on enriching uranium contained in the deal and that every 2 months they will announce a new move that will get them closer to producing a nuclear weapon. Coupled with these announcements have been a series of provocative actions, such as the shooting down of an American Drone. These moves are viewed by most foreign policy experts as the Iranians exercising leverage to get the Europeans to provide some sanctions relief--rather than any final decision to abandon the nuclear deal.
The situation is fraught with danger, however, given the possibility that either side could miscalculate and we could end up in an expanding conflict in the Middle East. And this level of danger was avoidable, if President Trump had made the prudent decision to stay in the agreement and work to build on it. The Iranian Nuclear Agreement was keeping Iran from moving forward with its efforts to produce a nuclear weapon and would have done so until it expired in 2030. This is why even national security professionals who opposed the deal before it was signed mainly because they believed it gave Iran too much money by returning their substantial frozen assets and that these new resources would be used to subsidize their designs of territorial expansion, still didn’t think we should withdraw. After all, that "ship had already sailed", making it only common sense these original opponents thought to hold Iran to the commitments they made to unwind their nuclear weapons program--commitments they were living up to.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPresident Trump never made a coherent case for withdrawing from the deal, resorting to his usual tactics of name-calling and personal attacks. Further, the aggressive policy his administration has employed since the withdrawal is consistent with a strategy of regime change or of getting the Iranians to completely capitulate. This reckless strategy, which was unlikely to work even if well executed, requires a president who is committed to a more expansive role for the United States in the Middle East and who is far more willing to use military force than President Trump. In other words, the administration’s Iranian policy is inconsistent with Trump’s supposed America First approach, based on reducing American’s commitments around the world so we can rebuild at home.
The confused and muddled approach to Iran is a symptom of a foreign policy that is broadly inconsistent, reducing American credibility around the world. The National Security Advisor John Bolton is all too willing to use American military power and Secretary of State Pompeo is not far behind him. President Trump appointed both of these men, despite the fact that any kind of due diligence would have told him that they were not philosophically aligned with his approach to the extent that he has one.
To make matters worse, Trump veers from reckless threats-- that given the absence of follow through most of our adversaries and allies now view as empty--to cravenly coddling dictators. The sad irony is that if Trump gets a deal even a quarter as good as the Iran deal in North Korea, he will sell it as the greatest diplomatic accomplishment of all time.
There is still a way to return to the agreement and as part of this return to get Iran to agree to a new round of negotiations to strengthen the existing deal and to extend it. This would require President Trump to implicitly concede that it was a mistake to leave the deal in the first place. But, it would show a president putting country first. That would not only be good for our nation; it would be good politically for Trump. I am not holding out much hope for this, but it remains by far the best path forward.
Rob Horowitz is a strategic and communications consultant who provides general consulting, public relations, direct mail services and polling for national and state issue organizations, various non-profits and elected officials and candidates. He is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island.
19 to Watch in 2019 - FULL LIST
Angie Armenise
Chef and co-owner of Blackie’s Bulldog Tavern in Smithfield, Angie Armenise has it all going. Expansion to a new and larger location, a wonderfully loyal customer base and a big stack of awards -- and more to come in the new year. READ MORE
Marcela Betancur
Marcela Betancur, the new head of Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University and will be the power behind Latinx think tank in 2019.
Betancur, a Central Falls native, most recently worked READ MORE
Brian Goldner
No one will influence the psyche of Rhode Island more this year than Hasbro CEO Brian Goldner. After the loss of the PawSox to Worcester and the closing of Rhode Island’s beloved Benny's in 2017, Rhode Islanders are a bit raw.
He is poised to announce that Hasbro is...READ MORE
Cortney Nicolato
New United Way of Rhode Island President and CEO Cortney Nicolato succeeded Anthony Maione in 2018 — and takes on her first full year at the helm of the social service organization in 2019.
She is a Rhode Islander turned Texan returned back to Rhode Island. The Pawtucket native is all about Rhode Island and is passionate about helping to improve issues of housing affordability and the quality of education in RI. She is the mother of two elementary school-aged children. READ MORE
Sabina Matos
It is the rise of the Phoenix in Providence. On Monday, Sabina Matos won back the Presidency of the Providence City Council and returns to the top legislative position in the City of Providence.
As Providence goes so goes Rhode Island. Matos will be faced with taking on some of the most difficult issues in the state. READ MORE
Jamie Bova
The Newport City Councilor At-Large lined up the votes to votes for Mayor after being elected to just her second term on the Newport City Council this past November.
Bova, an engineer who grew up in Middletown, attended URI, and moved to Newport in 2012, succeeds Harry Winthrop as the city faces major changes ahead for 2019, including the construction of a new hotel on Thames Street — and more hotel proposals in the pipeline — and READ MORE
Jennifer Wood
The former private practice attorney turned top government aide turned non-profit director might have her biggest — and most public — battle on her hands in 2019.
RI Center for Justice Executive Director Jennifer Wood joined GoLocal News Editor on GoLocal LIVE where she spoke to the next steps after filing a federal class-action lawsuit in late November on behalf of all Rhode Island public school students to establish the right, under the U.S. Constitution, to an adequate education to prepare young people for full civic education.
Catholic Church Sex Abuse Survivors
In 2018, Bishop Tobin with the Diocese of Providence landed on GoLocal's “18 to Watch” as the Catholic Church was — and continues to remain — at the center of lawsuits pertaining to the collapse of the St. Joseph pension fund.
He’ll remain squarely in the spotlight — and not for good — in 2019, when he has pledged to release a list of names of abusive priests “credibly accused” over the years in the Diocese, as pressure mounts nationally for how sexual abuse claims were handled around the country — READ MORE
Matt Voskuil
One of Newport’s most iconic — and upscale — dining locations has a new look, a new chef — and people are taking note not just in Newport, but beyond.
Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage, Matt Voskuil at the newly opened Cara at the Chanler READ MORE
David Torchiana
The most powerful person in healthcare in Rhode Island may soon be a man who rarely visits the state and few here know his name.
Dr. David Torchiana is the CEO of Partners HealthCare and he is poised to push through an acquisition of Rhode Island’s second largest hospital group, ending the local control over three of Rhode Island’s most important healthcare assets. And, the deal has the potential of putting in peril thousands of Rhode Island jobs through consolidation. READ MORE
RI GOP Party Chair
Rhode Island Republican Party Chair Brandon Bell was defeated in his run for the General Assembly in 2018.
Republican Cranston Mayor Allan Fung lost in his second attempt at the Rhode Island Governor’s office, after a bruising primary that saw former opponent and House Minority Leader opt to endorse former Republican-turned-independent (and honorary chair for President Donald Trump’s campaign in Rhode Island) Joe Trillo. READ MORE
Anthony Baro
Anthony Baro heads Newport-based PowerDocks — one of Rhode Island’s most interesting startups. It is a market-making green tech company that, in many ways, combines the best of Rhode Island.
The emerging maritime renewal energy company is having an impact in the U.S. and globally. READ MORE
Blake Filippi
Blake Filippi is the new House Minority leader and is a fresh-faced leader for the GOP in Rhode Island. But, he faces a number of challenges. READ MORE
Desmond Cambridge
Brown University sophomore basketball player Desmond Cambridge has been a human highlight film his first year and a half on College Hill. He won Ivy League Freshman of the Year and this year he is READ MORE
Sarah Markey
South Kingstown School Board member Sarah Markey has been at the center of controversy since her election in November.
Markey, a top labor leader for the RI National Education Association, has drawn criticism by Democrats, Republicans and multiple municipal attorneys because READ MORE
Peter Neronha
Peter Neronha, the new Attorney General, takes over for the controversial Peter Kilmartin. The former U.S. Attorney for Providence now faces a far busier assignment than his federal one. READ MORE
Dylan Conley
Dylan Conley seems to be everywhere. Recently, GoLocal featured the attorney as one of Rhode Island's "Emerging Leaders."
He is the chairman of the Providence Board of Licenses and is in a hotbed READ MORE
Mike McGovern
Chef Mike McGovern -- formerly the chef at Red Stripe -- is taking the helm at East Greenwich's Kai Bar -- and now 241 Main Sports Bar and Grill.
Kai Bar is a combination of small plates and big drinks, “Kai offers a rotating small plates menu from an award-winning Chef and Craft Cocktails READ MORE
BIg Tourism Voids
Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Rhode Island economy and two of the most important positions in the state are now vacant. READ MORE
