Government at war with its people
The Trump administration is engaged in ‘targeted warfare’ where war becomes an extension of policy. It’s led by the White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller who states, “We live in the real world that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power, these are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.” Mr. Miller presents a vision for a new world order in which the United States could freely dominate national governments and take over foreign territory and resources to protect the national interest. Every interaction with a weaker nation is tinged in some way with the threat of force. Some examples: Trump has threatened military action against Colombia, Mexico, and Greenland and intends to rule Venezuela, warning its new leader, Delcy Rodríguez: “If she doesn’t do what’s right, “she is going to pay a very big price. Marco Rubio has labelled this as “law enforcement operation!” Other examples include: threatening to strike Iran if it kills protesters, bombing extremist groups in the Horn of Africa, executing numerous strikes in Somalia.
Trump’s addiction to power is likely to lead to serious consequences. David French reminds us that “The world has seen what happens when the will to power dominates world affairs, that the most catastrophic conflicts can start from the most modest beginnings.”
Domestically, his power needs point to leadership as an opportunity to seize, not a responsibility to serve. ICE uses coercive, deceptive, and violent methods, including surveillance and home raids, and Fourth Amendment rights violations (unreasonable searches/seizures). Polls indicate that a majority of Americans disapprove of ICE activities. We must thank the citizens of Minneapolis & St. Paul acting en masse in frigid temperatures to resist loudly the intrusions of ICE and the military.
This administration is at war with its people. It responds to demonstrations by telling blatant lies about events caught on video. We cannot trust anything it says —not just about immigration, but about anything at all. Everyone committed to the truth needs to be prepared to keep the pressure on.