Trump's fluid approach to national and economic security is leaving his allies baffled

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post




By David J. Lynch and Damian Paletta
May 28 at 3:01 PM

President Trump is merging his national security and trade goals in a blur of tactical improvisation that risks alienating U.S. allies and opening American businesses to costly retaliation, according to several Republican lawmakers, business executives and former U.S. officials.

The president last week initiated a Commerce Department investigation that could lead to tariffs of up to 25 percent on foreign cars, arguing that a flood of imports had eroded the nation’s manufacturing base and threatened the nation’s security.

The potential auto tariffs — which would hit Mexico, Canada, Japan and Germany hardest — are the latest sign of the president’s fluid approach to national and economic security that has left allies and adversaries baffled over U.S. intentions, according to foreign diplomats.

The proposal has irritated close allies like Germany and the United Kingdom while inviting demands for similar protection from an ever-expanding list of U.S. industries.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/trumps-fluid-approach-to-national-and-economic-security-is-leaving-his-allies-baffled/2018/05/28/b08c5908-5f95-11e8-9ee3-49d6d4814c4c_story.html

[uppityperson]

1. "Fluid approach" "we don't know Wtf he's going to pull next. Help! Help!"

[MurrayDelph]

5. Yes, but to be fair

neither does he.

[not fooled]

20. "Fluid"

complicit MSM covering his ass by using a euphemism for the actual term, "chaotic."

[rpannier]

21. idk. fluid is a pretty good term

i mean, urine and diarrhea are both fluids

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

22. "Fluid" is polite speak for "Fucked up"

Calling it "fluid approach" is an attempt to normalize the abnormal. They need to be called out on every abnormal action or use of language to shield the abnormal.

[Dave Starsky]

24. "Fluid approach" "I don't know WTF I'm doing."

I'm going to use that euphemism the next time I screw up royally at work.

"Starsky, what in the hell ever possessed you to tell our best client to 'go piss up a rope'?!"

"Relax, boss! I'm just going with a more fluid approach."

[Squinch]

26. "Fluid approach" is media speak for "chaos bred by rank ignorance, constant lies, and stupidity."

[YessirAtsaFact]

28. You left out blatant corruption and vindictiveness

Otherwise your list is dead on

[SWBTATTReg]

2. Easy to explain all of this garbage he's doing...

Massive conflicts of interests (his interests) vs. the rest of the world, period. This explains it 100% if you look at his puzzling actions...it's all about his business interests, period.

Scum-in-chief, and chief rip off artist...He'll go down w/ multiple conflicts of interests...massive corruption, and the like.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. His "allies" shrink daily. nt

[workinclasszero]

4. It's a shakedown obviously

Crime family boss Trump threatens tariffs until countries pay up with sweetheart deals for his hotels/golf courses or special deals for his kids.

ZTE anybody?

How fucking dumb is the news media in this country? Or do they think we are all fools?

[OldHippieChick]

10. Hint, hint - see China and

all the trademarks recently issued to Ivanka. That's how to get good treatment from Cheeto. Just grease his palm or that of one of his children.

[workinclasszero]

15. Bingo

Trump: Hey Japan/Germany, nice little auto industries you got there. Would be a shame if anything happened to them.

Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Greasy palms extended.

[BigmanPigman]

6. That is a gross understatement.

Realistically, everyone is very aware and has been that the moron has no idea what the Hell he is doing domestically and internationally. More importantly, he doesn't want to know, learn or care about governing. He has no love for this country and his only reasons for running for office were money and fame. He sold this country for those two things. RESIST! REMOVE! Peace.

[murielm99]

16. Yes.

"Fluid" is a euphemism for he does not know what the hell he is doing.

[rurallib]

7. He does have two guiding principles that can be identified:

!) will I or my family make money on it? and

2) How will Putin (and maybe Xi) view it?

Those help clarify things somewhat.

[truthisfreedom]

8. Fluid approach. Pee tape!

[Mc Mike]

18. +1000, thanks. nt.

[oberliner]

9. Jeez - who wrote that headline?

Fluid approach?

Talk about normalizing the abnormal.

[PSPS]

17. Boy. No kidding.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. That Could Have Just Used "Inconsistent"

It's not a pejorative term, but it's way closer to the truth.

[oberliner]

30. Agreed

Although a pejorative term may be more appropriate (and accurate).

[ProfessorGAC]

31. Oh, Don't Get Me Wrong

I'd be ok with a pejoriative as well. But, if the editor was looking for something neutral, they sure could have come up with something better than "fluid".

[SunSeeker]

11. What's so hard to understand? He has no idea what he is doing.

He is just flailing, but thinks his arbitrary actions are perfect. He is such an egomaniac that he thinks he can operate on his "genius instinct" without planning, deliberation, or understanding the issues.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. Trumps core competency not dealmaking w powerful counter-parties. Its duping gullible victims - Frum

[SunSeeker]

14. True. nt

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. tRump's mendacity & incompetence on security causes US allies to shrug their shoulders in disgust.

There, fixed the headline for you, WaPo.

[Amaryllis]

19. Fluid is a euphamism. Wildly Erratic is more like it.

[SergeStorms]

23. Trump can't abide Obama era policies....

still being used successfully in his administration. He, and his base, demand that everything "Obama" be destroyed ASAP. So Trump will saber rattle, huff and puff and bluster, call everyone names, then go back to the Obama era policies - now calling them his own - and brag to Americans about what a wonderful economy there is, and how much more fair and equitable "HIS" trade and economic policies are over Obama's. The deplorables will believe it, hell.....Trump himself will believe it, and history will once again be re-written by a man with no more intelligence than a concrete lawn ornament.

[southrnbelle]

25. Hmmmmmmmm........

His "fluid approach"???

Is that a nice way of saying he doesn't know what the f*ck he's doing?

Our allies are not baffled.

They know exactly what he is.

What baffles them is why the Republicans let him get away with it.

[Maxheader]

27. Dementia boy

has no qualms about forgetting the handshake with one person and taking
another with more gold to offer..Add to that what many have called psychological
problems...ie dementia. What do his buddies not understand about that?

There were concerns about ray gun ronny..during his reign. About his age
and mental state..The words bandied around by the gop was
"all was cool" cuz ron had brilliant advisers.

[the_sly_pig]

32. It does make sense....

... if your sole objective is to destroy. Scary to think what will come out of the ashes. Likely a lot fewer people.

For good or bad, the government of the United States has been a global stabilizing force. Divide and conquer is both the oldest and most effective tactic.

[kwassa]

33. Fluid circling the drain, perhaps ....