Vendredi 10 février 2017, réalisation : Jérémie Gauthier

NPR : Demonstrations Continue Around Paris Over Alleged Sexual Assault By Police ...... 4 FRANCE – EUROPE ...... 3 New York Daily News : Black man's alleged rape by Paris to Increase Security Around Eiffel Tower ...... 3 French officers was accidental ...... 5 Why is Paris putting glass walls around its Eiffel CNBC : French political turmoil clouds Moody's Tower? ...... 3 review ...... 5 France thwarts suspected new terror attack ...... 4 France Has a New Front-Runner. Can He Last? ...... 5 4 Arrested, Including Teen, Explosives Seized in James Mackintosh : Treat French Debt Like Italy, but French Raid ...... 4 Don’t Worry About Le Pen (online) ...... 6

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 1

Le Pen May Get a Shock If She Tries to Pay French Trump targeted Japan during the campaign. Now its Debt in Francs ...... 7 prime minister is embracing the new president. (UNE) 26 French Far-Right Candidate Le Pen Opposes Dual David Feith : The U.S.-Japan Alliance of Hope ...... 27 Citizenship ...... 7 Donald Trump Commits to ‘One China’ Policy in Call Now Francois Fillon's Campaign Is Running into With Xi Jinping (UNE) ...... 28 Money Problems ...... 7 China Hangs Tough. Trump Folds. China Ups the New York daily News : McDonald’s gets a French Ante...... 29 makeover with croissants, chocolatines ...... 8 Trump Will Use Abe Visit to Soothe Worried Asia- For Roma in France, Education Is an Elusive Path to Pacific Allies ...... 29 Integration ...... 8 A French farmer fed and sheltered migrants. Now he faces 5 years in prison...... 9 ETATS-UNIS...... 30 Merkel Plans to Speed Deportations of Rejected Court Refuses to Reinstate Travel Ban, Dealing Trump Asylum Seekers ...... 10 Another Legal Loss (UNE) ...... 30 Germany’s Global Trade Surplus Hits Record in 2016 11 Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Travel Ban Britain to end its program for lone child refugees ...... 11 (UNE) ...... 31 In Departure, ECB Officials Stump for the European 3 key Trump mistakes that led to the travel ban court Union ...... 12 defeat ...... 32 ECB's French Folly ...... 13 Eli Lake : Trump's Travel Ban Is Not Recruiting More Greece Pressured to Improve Migrants’ Living Terrorists ...... 33 Conditions ...... 13 Trump is changing the presidency more than the In Romania, Corruption’s Tentacles Grip Daily Life ... 14 presidency is changing Trump (UNE) ...... 34 First we take Hässleholm … Swedish far-right rises .... 15 White House says Conway has been ‘counseled’ after Emily Tamkin : A Critical Month Ahead for Europe ... 16 touting Ivanka Trump’s products ...... 35 Trump’s next trade target: Europe’s scooters and Jonah Goldberg : Kellyanne Conway & CNN -- Media cheese ...... 16 Pile-On Reveals Double Standard ...... 36 The Trump Effect: The President’s Wild Start Churns Senate confirms Trump's Health chief ...... 36 Domestic Politics Around the World ...... 17 Michael Gerson : In a time of tragedy, could Trump US Allies Worry About Joint Intel Operations Under soothe the nation? ...... 37 President Trump ...... 18 David Brookds : A Gift for Donald Trump ...... 37 Trump gets a powerful lesson in role of judiciary ...... 38 Ruling Showcases Checks and Balances ...... 39 INTERNATIONAL ...... 19 In executive actions, President Trump vows crackdown David Ignatius : Fears of an Islamic State breakout fuel on violent crime. Is America as unsafe as he thinks? ....40 Trump’s strategy ...... 19 Gorsuch’s criticism of Trump may be winning him Editorial : A terrorism label that would hurt more than Democratic support ...... 40 help ...... 20 Fareed Zakaria : Stephen Bannon’s words and actions Syria's Assad Brushes Off Amnesty Report on Prison don’t add up ...... 42 Executions as 'Fake News' ...... 20 Charles Krauthammer: The travel moratorium: A Russian airstrike kills 3 Turkish soldiers in northern hopeless disaster ...... 42 Syria ...... 21 Paul Krugman : When the Fire Comes...... 43 Trump May Turn to Arab Allies for Help With Israeli- Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian : Since 9/11, Muslim Palestinian Relations (UNE) ...... 21 society in the U.S. has been transformed. Trump could Neocon and Iran-contra figure Elliott Abrams in line change it back...... 43 for State Department job ...... 22 GOP Ramps Up Effort to Transform Medicaid Into Kenyan Court Blocks Government Plan to Close the Block Grants (UNE) ...... 44 World’s Largest Refugee Camp...... 23 Kimberley Strassel : The GOP’s Health-Care A Bilingual Cameroon Teeters After English Speakers Offensive ...... 45 Protest Treatment ...... 24 Sarah Binder : A Game Plan for Senate Democrats ...... 46 National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions Editorial : When Rules No Longer Apply ...... 46 with Russian ambassador, despite denials, officials say Editrorial : A serious Republican idea on climate (UNE)...... 24 change ...... 47 Details of Trump-Putin call raise new White House Editorial : A group of prominent Republicans has an leak concerns ...... 26 excellent plan to fight climate change ...... 47

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 2

FRANCE – EUROPE

Paris to Increase Security Around Eiffel Tower Aurelien Breeden plan was to build a “bulletproof target for terrorists. After the The city said the enclosure was part fence” made of glass. The fence, November 2015 attacks in and of a wider set of renovations at the Soldiers on patrol according to the newspaper, would around Paris that killed 130 people, Eiffel Tower that would cost 300 at the base of the Eiffel Tower in be about eight feet high. the authorities closed the tower for million euros, or about $320 million, January 2016. Dmitry Kostyukov for two days. over 15 years. Those include a paint The New York Times Several city councilors told the job, elevator renovations and the newspaper they worried about the During the European soccer replacement of thousands of PARIS — The iron lady, as the tower becoming a “fortress,” and tournament last year, the city buffed French affectionately call the Eiffel flashing bulbs that make the tower one of them, the center-right up security around the Eiffel Tower sparkle every hour on the hour. Tower, is getting a security upgrade. councilor Yves Pozzo di Borgo, later and the Champ de Mars, the park Paris officials said on Thursday that posted on Twitter: “The Eiffel Tower, that stretches southward from its Paris and the surrounding region are the city planned to make the new bunker.” base, where the authorities had set top tourist destinations, attracting 47 landmark safer by extending the up an area for fans to party and million visitors every year, according But Jean-François Martins, the watch games on giant screens. to the city authorities. Officials said security perimeter at its base to deputy mayor in charge of tourism, include two small public gardens on in a statement that the Eiffel Tower said in a telephone interview that the Mr. Martins said the project was the “symbol of Paris and the its eastern and western sides, and city was only tweaking existing announced on Thursday aimed to by building walls on the northern most visited paying monument in the security measures, and that it was replace the “ugly” metal barriers and world.” and southern edges. too early to say what the enclosure temporary buildings that stayed As a major tourist destination that would be made of. behind after the tournament ended. But the city continues to be rattled by attacks. has endured several deadly terrorist “It could be glass, it could also be “Because the risk and the threat are, attacks in recent years, Paris wants wrought iron,” Mr. Martins said, unfortunately, here to last, the idea Last week, an Egyptian man armed to ensure that the millions of visitors adding that the walls would not is to make the security setup more with two large knives assaulted a who come here every year feel not block views of the tower, which was durable, but to do it in a way that is military patrol near an entrance to only welcome but also safe as they built for the 1889 World’s Fair and aesthetically nicer and more elegant the Louvre museum, and in tour the city’s crowded attractions. attracts six million tourists every than it is today,” he said. September French security forces year. disrupted a plot by a group of After the project was announced, The project will be examined in the local authorities rushed to ease radicalized women to set off an Security checks would be moved to spring by a committee that monitors explosion near the Cathedral of worries that the tower would soon the garden entrances on each side, construction around historical become a “bunker.” Notre-Dame with a car stuffed with but visitors would still be able to landmarks, and it must also be gas canisters. The newspaper Le Parisien, which reach the tower’s base free of approved by the environment first reported the project, said on charge, he said. ministry. Thursday that the head of the The French authorities say that the Officials hope to begin construction company that manages the Eiffel Eiffel Tower, arguably the capital’s by the end of the year, Mr. Martins Tower had told city councilors the most iconic landmark, is a major said. Why is Paris putting glass walls around its Eiffel Tower? The Christian from the popular Champ de Mars object of special security measures," turning point for security agencies in Science Monitor park and the Iena Bridge, unlike the Mr. Martins added. France and across Europe, with metal fences. governments considering new February 9, 2017 —Parisian The announcement one week after means of intelligence-sharing and authorities are planning to erect an "We will replace the metal grids to a machete attack on French troops rethinking privacy safeguards, as 8-foot wall of reinforced glass the north and south with glass stationed outside the Louvre The Christian Science Monitor’s around the Eiffel Tower, in a security panels which will allow Parisians Museum ended with the attacker, Rachel Stern reported last February: measure designed to function as a and visitors a very pleasant view of Egyptian citizen Abdullah Reda Al- more aesthetically pleasing the monument," the assistant mayor Hamahmy, shot four times. He has "Intelligence agencies are talking replacement of a metal fence that for tourism, Jean-Francois told officials he wanted to damage now, both because of the panic and, went up last year for the Euro 2016 Martins, told the BBC. paintings and “avenge the Syrian quite frankly, practically because soccer championship. people,” according to Reuters. The lives are at stake," said Scott The construction seems a symbol of museum was reopened last Stewart, vice president of tactical Paris officials have also proposed a how conspicuous security measures weekend after closing briefly, in analysis at Stratfor, a global $318-million modernization of the deployed by the French government what was perhaps a testament to intelligence and advisory 128-year-old monument that in the wake of terrorist attacks have much of the city's “business-as- firm. "Politically we can’t be seen includes better elevators and lights, gradually become normalized, usual” attitude toward the incident. dropping that same ball more security, and a renovated especially in tourist-heavy Paris. again." Before the attacks, only half visitor entrance, according to CNN The November 2015 massacre in "The terror threat remains high in of the European Union's 28 Money. Officials say that the new Paris, orchestrated by a man countries participated in intelligence see-through panels will afford Paris and the most vulnerable sites, suspected by Belgian authorities of led by the Eiffel Tower, must be the exchange through Europol, the EU's visitors a view of the monument being an Islamic State fighter, was a law enforcement agency, according

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 3 to press spokesperson Jan Op Gen attacks. “Not whatever it takes,” Paris This report contains material from Oorth. Now all belong, and three are resident Antoine Lippen told the Reuters and the Associated Press. in the process of joining. But as the Monitor’s Sara Miller Monitor at the time. “It would be too Llana and Colette Davidson wrote in dangerous to block our own liberties In France, the expansion of policing the days after those attacks, some when we know terrorist attacks are has been particularly French still worry about going too far always cowardly attacks attacking at aggressive, including the extension toward a “whatever it takes” the place and time you least expect of emergency security measures mentality. it, so there is always a breach in originally put in place after the Paris security, whatever is imposed.” France thwarts suspected new terror attack Kim Hjelmgaard , as they thwarted a suspected new The arrests came a week after a Earlier this week the White House USA TODAY terror attack, the Paris prosecutor’s machete-wielding assailant who released a list of 78 terror attacks office said Friday. shouted "Allahu Akbar!" was shot by that it claimed the media failed to After terrorists killed more than 230 soldiers outside the Louvre Museum adequately report. people in France over the past few The arrests Friday were in the in central Paris. Investigators found years, the Eiffel Tower will be Montpellier area of southern France. no links between the Egyptian-born The list followed comments from ramping up security. Veuer's Nick The prosecutor’s office said around attacker and militant groups but the President Trump in which he said "in Cardona (@nickcardona93) tells us 70 grams of TATP were seized. The episode occurred as France remains many cases, the very, very what they're planning to do. Buzz60 explosive, which can be made from on high alert for new attacks. dishonest press doesn't want to readily available ingredients, was report it." Shingles with the names of victims used in the November 2015 attack Amid heightened new security of the Nice terror attack are in Paris and the March 2016 attack measures, Paris' city council White House Press Secretary Sean displayed in Nice, France, on Feb. in Brussels carried out by Islamic announced this week that it plans to Spicer subsequently clarified 9. On July 14, a truck smashed into State extremists. The men arrested permanently install a bullet-proof Trump's remarks. "Protests will get a crowd in the French resort, killing were aged 20, 26 and 33. glass barrier around the Eiffel blown out of the water, and yet an 84 people as they watched a Bastille Tower. A temporary fence was put attack or a foiled attack doesn’t Day fireworks display.(Photo: Unconfirmed French media reports in place last June. necessarily get the same coverage," AFP/Getty Images) said the people arrested were he said. planning a suicide bombing on a More than 230 people have died in French anti-terrorism forces arrested tourist site in Paris. The prosecutor's terror attacks in France over the last USA TODAY reported on 59 of the four people, including a 16-year-old office, which handles terrorism two years. 78 attacks cited in the White House girl, and uncovered a makeshift investigations in France, has not list. laboratory with explosives material commented on the reports.

4 Arrested, Including Teen, Explosives Seized in French Raid  By lori The prosecutor's office said around to the prosecutor's office, which — notably the girl — attracted new hinnant 70 grams of TATP were seized in handles terrorism investigations in attention with their social media , the home of a 20-year-old man, France. postings, he said. associated press along with a liter each of acetone, oxygenated water and sulfuric acid. A police official, speaking on "Faced with the heightened threat, PARIS — Feb 10, 2017, 7:21 AM TATP, which can be made from condition of anonymity to discuss there has been an extremely strong ET readily available materials, was the unfolding investigation, said one mobilization of our intelligence used in the November 2015 attack of the suspects was believed to be services to ensure the French as French anti-terrorism forces arrested in Paris and the March 2016 attack planning a suicide attack but that the protected to the utmost," said Prime four people on Friday, including a in Brussels carried out by Islamic investigation had not yet uncovered Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. 16-year-old girl, and uncovered a State extremists. a specific target. makeshift laboratory with the explosive TATP and other base Two other men were arrested, a 33- He said one in the group had tried to ingredients for fabricating a bomb, year-old and a 26-year-old, along reach Syria in 2015 and was known the Paris prosecutor's office said. with the 16-year-old girl, according to intelligence services. The group NPR : Demonstrations Continue Around Paris Over Alleged Sexual Assault By Police Rebecca Hersher The victim, referred to by officials as " 'I fell on to my stomach, I had no Those arrests followed two previous "Theo," gave the BBC a graphic strength left,' he said. nights of demonstrations in the Demonstrators have taken to the account of what he says happened region, CNN reported: streets in and around Paris to to him. "He was then sprayed with tear gas protest the alleged beating and rape around the head and in the mouth "A few miles away, near Paris' of a black man by French police. The BBC reported Theo said he left and hit over the head." Ménilmontant metro station, several his house last Thursday evening hundred demonstrators gathered to The unrest has gone on nearly a and found himself in the middle of a On Tuesday, French President protest police violence. Authorities week, and "rioters have clashed with police operation targeting drug Francois Hollande visited Theo in say 17 people were arrested in police and have set fire to trash dealers: the hospital, and later praising his Aulnay-sous-Bois on Tuesday night, cans, cars and a nursery school," dignity in a tweet, which included a after protesters torched garbage reported Jake Cigainero for NPR's "Theo said he was sodomized with a photo of Hollande by his bedside. bins and vehicles. Newscast unit. truncheon, as well as racially abused, spat at and beaten around CNN reported that police arrested "Videos shared on social media Four police officers have been his genitals," the broadcaster 26 people on Wednesday, according showed clashes between riot police suspended and charged in reported. "He has undergone to a spokesperson for the local and youths as fires burned in the connection with the incident, emergency surgery for severe anal prefecture in the suburb of Seine- streets. Police fired warning shots according to a statement by the injuries, and has been declared unfit Saint-Denis northeast of Paris, into the air to disperse the crowd, French Interior Ministry. Three face for work for 60 days. where the incident occurred. according to French reports. assault charges and one faces a charge of rape.

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 4

"On Monday, hundreds of peaceful Stephane Troussel, the president of "Although thousands of police are When major news happens, stay on protesters marched in the same the General Council of the Seine- doing their work properly...too many top of the latest developments, northern suburb. Demonstrators Saint-Denis region, said the incident arrests end in nightmares for some delivered to your inbox. carried banners reading 'Justice for brought up "numerous questions," young people. The image of the Theo' past a nearby building that reported German broadcaster Republic is being tarnished," had 'police, rapists' written on it in Deutsche Welle. Troussel said. graffiti."

New York Daily News : Black man's alleged rape by French officers was accidental BY Elizabeth Elizalde (GEOFFROY VAN DER because I love my city, and I want to claim Theo’s pants “slipped down on HASSELT/AFP/Getty Images) find it the way I left it,” Theo told their own.” A group of French police officers French news station BFMTV. accused of beating and anally Theo reportedly suffered head The incident sparked protests raping a black man with a baton did trauma and had to undergo surgery French President Francois Hollande Sunday across Paris and has so accidentally, investigators said for “severe anal injuries,” France’s visited the alleged victim at a continued through early Thursday Thursday. The Local reported. suburban hospital Tuesday. morning, resulting in more than a dozen arrests. A 22-year-old man identified as An earlier police investigation Theo said four police officers concluded that while Theo’s incident The unrest also reflects the current sodomized him during an identity was serious, there was no indication People march in the streets of tensions between police and check on Feb 2. it was rape, and that his injuries Aulnay-sous-Bois, north of Paris, residents in several communities were accidental. France, holding a sign reading where the unemployment rate is One officer was charged with "Justice for Theo" during a protest. high among youth. aggravated rape and the others with Protesters burn garbage containers aggravated assault, French Interior during a protest in support of a man (Milos Krivokapic/AP) Send a Letter to the Editor Minister Bruno Le Roux said in a allegedly abused while in police He later posted a photo to Twitter statement. custody in Paris’ Aulnay-sous-Bois with a caption saying, "Theo reacted suburb. with dignity and responsibility” and (-/AFP/Getty Images) that “justice has been seized.” Police block a street as people gather to protest against an alleged “I would like to ask the residents of Video cited by French media police assault on a black man. my neighborhood to calm down. I showed the officers roughing up the ask them to stop the hostilities young man against a wall, but police CNBC : French political turmoil clouds Moody's review Sri Jegarajah Italian referendum. Hence, we see it Cutting the outlook on French debt given how French yields have been as highly unlikely, especially given would "be a bit premature," Heng rising in recent sessions." Heightened French political risk and how low Le Pen's victory odds are." said, though Le Pen's publication of policy uncertainty, reflected by a a 144-point manifesto to take Olivier Desbarres, independent G10 jump in sovereign yields and a Though trailing in the polls, far-right France out of the Eurozone is FX strategist suggested Moody's weaker single currency, are clouding leader Marine Le Pen's call to take contributing to elevated stress in the may even take action before the a scheduled ratings review by France out of the European Union is French debt, he said: "That worried presidential polls conclude. Moody's, economists and currency rattling financial markets, pushing investors." strategists told CNBC. the premium investors demand to "Rating agencies want to come hold French debt over German Moody's last month warned of the across as apolitical so if they think Moody's rates French government bonds to its highest since 2012. rise of populist parties fielding that a downgrade is justified they debt at Aa2, the third-highest candidates in 2017 elections and the may not wait until after elections," investment grade ranking, but some Philippe Wojazer | Reuters impact on the future of the European Desbarres said. "The recent rise in are not ruling out a cut in the outlook Union. French yields, although modest, to negative from stable. Others, French National Front political party could at the margin be stretching however, said they believe such leader Marine Le Pen arrives at the "While it is unusual for changes in debt dynamics." action is unlikely until after the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, to government to have material credit conclusion of the French attend a meeting with government, implications, the far-reaching nature "Moreover, if the new president presidential elections and a main political parties leaders and and ubiquity of the political shifts loosens fiscal policy, which most clarification about the winner's presidents of the Parliament, under way means that the impact of presidential candidates clearly want economic platform and commitment November 15, 2015. the upcoming elections could be to do (with the exception of Fillon), that in itself could put France's credit to the European Union. "The widening of this yield premium more significant from a credit perspective than is usually the ratings under pressure," he added. "The experience from similar is a classic sign of increasing investor risk for France," said Heng case," Moody's said in its outlook on Follow CNBC International on episodes is that a country will be put January 12. on a negative outlook, but not Koon How, senior FX strategist at Twitter and Facebook. downgraded until the worst is Credit Suisse. "We have long Macquarie's FX strategy team said confirmed," said Benat Onatibia, argued that markets are complacent the expected Moody's ratings review macro strategist at Vanda about increasing political risk in was a "scheduled exercise" and Securities. "That's what happened Europe." didn't necessarily imply any action, with DBRS on the "but should be worth monitoring France Has a New Front-Runner. Can He Last? With Fillon’s Gregory Viscusi If France’s 2017 presidential months to go and the plot twists campaign in election were a movie, there would coming fast and thick, there will be turmoil, Emmanuel Macron now has 9 février 2017 à 19:00 UTC−5 be no shortage of possible titles. plenty of other possibilities. a real shot at the presidency. From Revenge of the Third Man or The Curse of the Front-Runner. Don’t The French go to the polls on April by Subscribe Reprints like them? With two and a half 23 to choose from a slate of at least

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 5 five major candidates. If no one wins for their pay. Prosecutors are trying 39-year-old Macron, who was political scientist at Sciences Po in more than 50 percent—and no one to determine whether the famille minister of the economy from 2014 Paris. “That’s Macron’s big ever has—then the top two face off Fillon held real jobs. to 2016, in position to prevent challenge.” on May 7. In the primaries held in France from becoming the first November by the Republicans, the The Republicans are deeply split major European nation to fall to the At a rally in Lyon on Feb. 5, just two traditional center-right party, a late between those who say Fillon populist wave that swept Donald days after a soldier shot a machete- surge took François Fillon past should stand his ground and clear Trump and Brexit to victory. A Le wielding attacker at the Louvre, Le former Prime Minister Alain Juppé his name and those who say he Pen win would almost certainly Pen pushed the theme of Islamic and former President Nicolas should step down. Adding to the mean the end of the euro and terror and gave a Trump-like view of Sarkozy. That victory made the 62- confusion: The party has no maybe even the EU. a defenseless France at the mercy year-old Fillon the front-runner to be procedure to replace a candidate so of open borders. She got big cheers the next president. The most likely close to an election. At a Feb. 6 Macron’s rallies are attracting when she said Trump’s win was a scenario seemed to be that he’d news conference, Fillon gave an crowds of believers in his vision of a victory of the people. Macron also defeat the National Front’s Marine impassioned defense of his wife’s plugged-in France open to the world held a rally in Lyon that weekend Le Pen in the runoff as voters from work and said he’d campaign with and to new technologies. But he’s and proudly said his program has no other establishment parties renewed vigor. under pressure to release a platform walls. Polls say most French reject coalesced around his candidacy to that goes beyond vision and gets Le Pen, largely because she wants Fillon has plummeted in the polls, into specifics. And with his to take France out of the EU. But keep out the anti-European Union, and though he seems to have halted anti-immigration Le Pen. technocratic background and belief with more than two months to go, the slide, as things stand he in open borders, he’s much shakier there’s still time for more surprises. Fillon’s campaign is now in turmoil. wouldn’t make the second round of talking about national security in a A newspaper reported in late voting. A poll conducted Feb. 7-8 by country whose military is engaged in —With Carol Matlack January that his wife and two of his the Elabe survey group found that conflicts from the Sahara to Iraq and children were on the public payroll he’d run behind independent that’s suffered more than 200 The bottom line: Front-runner as his parliamentary assistants, candidate Emmanuel Macron in the deaths at the hands of Islamic Fillon’s family scandal has made earning a total of almost €1 million first round, with Macron getting at militants since January 2015. “Can Macron the chief contender to ($1.1 million) over more than a least 22 percent to Fillon’s 17 Macron embody the image of a defeat Le Pen in France’s decade. While it’s not illegal for percent. At 25.5 percent, Le Pen president of a country that’s still at presidential election. French lawmakers to hire family would take first place, but would be war, that’s still facing a terrorism members, they must actually work trounced by Macron in the second threat?” asks Bruno Cautres, a round, the poll found. That puts the James Mackintosh : Treat French Debt Like Italy, but Don’t Worry About Le Pen (online) Updated Feb. 10, 2017 7:22 a.m. ET occupy the president’s Élysée somewhere between proper core wide [the France-Germany spread] Palace have a big impact on bonds. and periphery,” says Antonio Garcia is given the ECB’s buying all the France isn’t Greece. But as Pascual, Europe chief economist at bonds.” investors worry about the impending The point of introducing a new franc, Barclays PLC. “None of these presidential election, French bonds as Ms. Le Pen has set out, would be countries look in great shape, not In terms of Ms. Le Pen’s chances, at have shifted from trading like haven to take back the central bank and France or Italy or Spain.” best they’ve risen to negligible from German bunds to be treated more print money to finance government nonexistent. Laurence Boone, AXA like troubled Italian debt. spending. A plunge in the franc’s Something similar happened at the SA chief economist and a former value is certain, but France can’t be height of the last euro crisis, when adviser to French President The reassessment of France—from considered in isolation. If France those betting on a currency breakup François Hollande, points out that part of the eurozone’s financial core leaves the euro, it is hard to see began to lump France in with the polls have been a good guide to Ms. toward its periphery—shows the how Spain or Italy could remain. periphery. Le Pen’s support in the past. Even if heightened concern about far-right the populist surge like that seen in National Front leader Marine Le Pen The euro could survive only as a Yet, the absolute level of risk priced the U.S. is repeated in France, winning the presidency. kind of deutsche mark-plus, with in to French bonds remains polling errors would need to be far hard-currency northern European astonishingly low, with the 10-year The effects on trading were visible bigger to give her a hope in the countries sticking with Germany. yield on Thursday back below 1% French system. The latest polls give even as fears about France receded This would amount to a catastrophe and Italian bonds yielding below this week. The daily move in French her only about a third of the vote if a not only for holders of French bonds 2.2%. It is only relative to Germany second round pits her against yields was much closer to that of but for investors in Italy and Spain, that the fear shows up, with 10-year Italy than of Germany, both as yields current front-runner Emmanuel too. When this is the focus, French bunds yielding 0.31%. Macron, a centrist former economy rose and fell. This shift began bonds trade more like the periphery. shortly before the U.S. elections in A measure created by Roberto De minister. November, amid talk of a populist To see how French bonds trade, Santis, an ECB economist, based Investors who think the world is surge. look at how much of their move is on credit-default swaps, shows a being turned upside down by explained by the direction of Italian rise in the past few months in the Ms. Le Pen will almost certainly populists will still see value in betting and German bonds. From the July risk of eurozone bonds being repaid that the French-German bond lose, but that doesn’t mean French 2012 promise by European Central in a different currency in Italy, Spain bonds are wildly mispriced or spread will widen far more on a Le Bank chief Mario Draghi to do and France. However, the rise was Pen win. For everyone else, don’t traders are mistaken to treat France “whatever it takes” to hold the euro from a very low level, in the case of more like Italy than Germany. worry about boredom. There is an together up to late October last year, both France and Spain the lowest early test of European populist Investors are trying to price two French bonds moved much more since late 2011. power in March with the Dutch things: the risk that France leaves closely with German bunds and had elections, then the excitement of the little link to Italian debt. Since fears But even a slightly higher chance of the euro and the loss that would a bond apocalypse is enough to German election later this year, and result from being repaid in devalued of a global populist backlash began the wild card of a possible Italian to increase in October, the situation drive up the extra yield investors francs instead of euros. Many, demand to hold French bonds. election, complete with antieuro particularly outside France, think has reversed, with French and populists who have a shot at both risks have risen. Ms. Le Pen’s Italian debt closely linked and the Another explanation for the low government. chances are slight, I’ll come to this connection to German bonds French yield is the ECB’s buying of later, but a “Frexit” from the euro weaker. €60 billion ($64.19 billion) of Corrections & Amplifications The third chart of the graphic shows would be so catastrophic for Bond-market treatment of France eurozone bonds each month. As the bondholders that even small manager of one large European percentage point change in Italian matches how the nation is regarded bonds against French bonds from increases in the chance she will by economists. “France now is hedge fund put it, “It’s shocking how

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 6

Oct. 26 to Feb. 9. In a previous incorrectly labelled as Oct. 25 to Write to James Mackintosh at version of the graphic this was Feb. 9. (Feb. 10, 2017) [email protected]

Le Pen May Get a Shock If She Tries to Pay French Debt in Francs by Helene order to compensate for the German debt to the highest in more is due to scheduled to release an Fouquet and currency risk. I would expect the than four years. update on France’s Aa2 rating on Chiara Albanese same for France in this scenario.” Friday. “We don’t care who owns France’s 10 février 2017 à 06:03 UTC−5 debt, what matters is what type of The yield difference between French contracts the debt is in,” Le Pen and German 10-year bonds widened  Investors question Le Marine Le Pen on Feb. 9. said. Lenders “won’t be repaid in two basis points to 70 basis points Pen’s view on currency of Photographer: Thomas euros, the contracts are in French on Friday. Still, that’s down from debt payments Samson/AFP via Getty Images law. And according to the IMF, 90 about 80 basis points on Tuesday, percent of the French debt is under the highest since 2012.  ‘We would need to re- The National Front leader is trying to French law, that means that only 10 assess our exposure’: convince French voters they can percent would be at risk. It’s the lex “The major consideration for Banque Audi’s Naud leave the European single currency monatae,” she said, referring to the international investors” is “what the without hurting their pocket books right of a sovereign state to chose new French franc is worth relative to Algebris' Gallo Finds More Populism ahead of a presidential election in which currency it will use. the old euro and relative to their own in U.S. Than Europe April. As part of her plan, she currency,” said James Athey, a fixed Polls show Le Pen is on course to income portfolio manager at French Presidential candidate intends to take control of the Bank of lead the first round of voting in April, Aberdeen Asset Management in Marine Le Pen says most holders of France and print new francs to pay but is unlikely to win the decisive London. “French investors might not the nation’s debt don’t care what for welfare spending and to service May 7 run-off. The French electoral care as much, but investors whose currency they get repaid in. The the government’s financial system, a two-round direct vote, base currency is dollars or sterling investors themselves disagree. obligations. means the winner needs broad- would very much care as the base If the re-denomination of the debt Speaking in a two-hour television based support making it difficult for currency valuation of their holding became a real possibility, “we would interview on Thursday, Le Pen more extreme candidates like Le could end up being significantly need to re-assess our exposure to defended the policy of re- Pen to take power. less.” France," said Yannick Naud, head of denomination, saying that it wouldn’t Changing French debt into francs fixed income at Banque Audi in matter for investors, or the French would constitute a default in the Geneva. “International emerging- people. Concerns that Le Pen will eyes of the major rating companies, market investors expect much triumph in the elections have roiled according to Christian Lenk, senior higher yield for debt in local markets this week, pushing the market strategist at DZ Bank AG in currency than in hard currency in premium investors demand to hold French bonds over similarly maturity Frankfurt. Moody’s Investors Service French Far-Right Candidate Le Pen Opposes Dual Citizenship By The people with dual citizenship in long as they respect French laws measure would involve Israel, since Associated Press France and other countries to and values". it's not a European country. choose only one nationality, except PARIS — Feb 10, for Europeans and Russians. Le Pen said she considers Russia to In early polls, Le Pen appears in a 2017, 5:39 AM ET be part of the "Europe of nations." In good position to be among the two She said this doesn't mean response to a specific question from top contenders and advance to the French far-right presidential foreigners would need to leave the a reporter on France 2 television second round of the April-May candidate Marine Le Pen has vowed country, explaining they can stay "as Thursday night she said the presidential election. to request all Now Francois Fillon's Campaign Is Running into Money Problems @HeleneFouquet with a splurge in 2012 and the belt- what’s spent in the U.S. The entire Emmanuel Macron, the favorite to More stories by tightening is starting to show. French campaign may cost barely win, didn’t even fight a primary. A Helene Fouquet 100 million euros while Donald spokesman for nationalist “Every day I look into our spending - Trump and Hillary Clinton spent $1.8 by - every day,” Fillon’s campaign chief billion on their battle for the White Marine Le Pen declined to comment Patrick Stefanini said in an House. The challenge for French on her spending. 10 février 2017 à 00:00 UTC−5 interview. “Every day my treasurer candidates is as much about how to Alain Juppe. tells me it’s not cash I should worry deploy their funds as how to raise  Republican outspent about, but spending.” mainstream rivals winning them. Photographer: Marlene Awaad/Bloomberg party nomination For a dashboard tracking European Primary Battle political risk, click here Team Fillon is having to count the Former President Sarkozy  Keep up with the best of Bloomberg pennies just as their man needs new faces trial for illegal After almost seeing his candidacy Politics. impetus. A torrid couple of weeks funding derailed by allegations he’d handed his wife an unjustified public salary, Get our newsletter daily. saw the one-time front-runner slip to Francois Fillon’s efforts to climb Fillon can ill afford any missteps on third place in the polls after he was back into contention in the French campaign financing. Indeed, his Fillon spent just under 1.5 million dragged into preliminary criminal presidential race are running into defeated primary opponent, former euros ($1.6 million) on his primary investigation for alleged nepotism financial constraints. President Nicolas Sarkozy, stands campaign as he overturned party over his wife’s job. as a cautionary tale. Sarkozy is due grandees While the Republican has raised the Read more: an explainer on the to stand trial for spending violations most money so far, he also spent Alain Juppe and Sarkozy to score a Fillon affair during his losing 2012 campaign more than his mainstream rivals on shock victory. By comparison, and has already incurred fines that While Le Pen, Macron and even far- his primary campaign. Added to Socialist Benoit Hamon spent just nearly bankrupted his party. leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon are that, his party is hyper-sensitive 150,000 euros on securing his booking stadiums and conference about the limits on campaign nomination and the independent The money involved in a French centers in major cities like Lyon and spending after running into trouble presidential election is nothing like

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Paris, Fillon is making do with more “For the Republicans 2012 is a the run-off on May 7. Anyone who spokesman said, declining to specify modest settings. trauma,” Rene Dosiere, a Socialist gets more than 5 percent of the vote how much the candidate had spent. lawmaker who specializes in the use has almost half of their spending He spoke in small meeting room in of public money, said in an refunded by the state. Macron’s more streamlined the northeastern Ardennes region interview. “Sarkozy’s spending went campaign also has much lower on Feb. 2 and visited a factory on totally out of line and he nearly Banks Take Sides overheads than Fillon, paying Feb. 7 though the budget did stretch 20,000 euros a month for its ruined his party. Fillon is trying to Le Pen’s anti-euro campaign, still to the iconic Futuroscope center in avoid that at all costs.” headquarters. Fillon’s staff are Poitiers on Thursday. Even before tainted by her party’s racist past, based in a 27,000 square-foot he went underground during the first The first meeting after news broke says French banks have refused her (2,500 square-meter) space in week of the scandal, Fillon’s that he employed his wife as a funding, unlike in 2012 when southern Paris which costs 150,000 relatively low profile had led the parliamentary assistant was a Societe Generale helped finance her euros a month, according to funding French press to dub him “the symbol of the Fillon campaign’s presidential bid. She’s taken a 6 chief Vincent Chriqui. invisible candidate.” austerity. Over 10,000 supporters million euro loan from her father to gathered in a warehouse-like hall sustain her operations and told Paris Chriqui said he’s allocated about Sarkozy Indictment out by the beltway in northern Paris. Match she is seeking additional half the campaign’s budget to The decoration was minimal and financing in the U.S. electoral meetings and Fillon has It’s a far cry from 2012 when asked him to be “very rigorous” to Sarkozy was renting out sports there was no cocktail party for VIPs Running as an independent means afterward. make sure they don’t exceed the grounds for elaborate rallies and Macron doesn’t have the financial spending limits. throwing cocktail parties for Under election rules implemented in heft of a party machine behind him. privileged insiders. A French judge 1988 after a string of scandals, He’s raised 5 million euros from “They want to avoid taking any this week ordered Sarkozy should French candidates can spend as private donations so far and is risks,” Dosiere said. “They are very stand trial for allegedly attempting to much as 16.9 million euros on aiming to pull in another 2 million conservative in their spending now.” cover up spending of at least 42.8 campaigning for the first round while euros. He’s also negotiating with two million euros -- almost twice the banks for a loan of 8 million euros, a Before it's here, it's on the the ceiling rises to 22.5 million euros Bloomberg Terminal.LEARN MORE campaign limit. for the two contenders who reach

New York daily News : McDonald’s gets a French makeover with croissants, chocolatines BY Jeanette Settembre sauce online for up to $10G McDonald's sales fall for first time in Midtown two years ago with 6 quarters "waiters" taking orders on iPads. Call it Le Big Mac. "This model emphasizes simplicity Starbucks also took a bite out of the to set the stage for a different kind of The price is right. All pastries are fast casual restaurant concept in A new French-inspired McDonald’s McDonald's experience," said $1.29 and under. While it's no has landed in Chelsea serving 2015 when it started slinging franchisee PJ Fonseca. Dominique Ansel, the French meatballs and Malbec with its freshly baked Parisian sweets like sweets are a bargain compared to croissants and chocolatines The entrance is almost macchiatos in Brooklyn as part of its other French chains like Le Pain "Starbucks Evenings" menu. alongside its gut-busting burgers unrecognizable with a subtle yellow Quotidien, which hawks $4 and French fries. "M" at the top of the building's silver croissants. McDonald's film 'The Founder' loses facade. Guests at the 809 6th Ave. its way And don't expect to see Ronald location are greeted by a restaurant There's also a Signature Crafted McDonald or the Hamburglar lurking host, and can order from kiosks built section with savory chicken There will be several more McCafé anywhere in sight. The super-sized into the wall. sandwiches like the maple bacon concepts opening in New York City chain called in French designer dijon variety, and customizable in the "near future," a company Patrick Norguet to give the Golden Customers can browse menu items burgers. spokesperson told the Daily News. Arches a facelift. The new like a new apple pie with a fancy restaurant, labeled McCafé outside, lattice crust, blueberry muffin Of course, it wouldn’t be Mickey is the first of its kind in the US and toppers, raspberry petite pastries Dee’s without a selection of new Big features a sleek, minimalist interior and a cinnamon coffee cake to go Macs, like the double cheesy, extra with an open counter ordering area, along with the McCafé espresso. beefy, Grand Mac topped with redesigned kitchen and posh, high special sauce, lettuce, onions and top red chairs with communal "It's very sleek and chill. It doesn't pickles. And don’t worry, Chicken seating. feel like a McDonald's at all," one McNugget fans, McDonald’s entire patron, who tried the blueberry all-American menu is still available. It basically looks like an an upscale muffin topper, noted Thursday Panera Bread. adding: "It tasted more Pillsbury It's not the first time a fast food chain than Jacques Torres, but it was has experimented with a more People selling McDonald's special good!" upscale concept. Chick-fil-A opened its first three-level location in For Roma in France, Education Is an Elusive Path to Integration Today, however, Slavi is lucky On that, most agree. But while there advocates for the Roma, also known enough to have something that most is consensus that public education as Gypsies, say are deliberately Roma children do not: a classroom could help integrate a Roma heightened to keep the Roma out, Martin de Bourmont that allows him to imagine a future population that has long faced perpetuating a vicious cycle of beyond the shacks and the frigid systematic discrimination, the poverty and marginalization. BOBIGNY, France — After the train station halls in which he has obstacles remain formidable. shantytown he was living in burned spent most of his 11 years. In the case of Slavi, whose surname to the ground, Slavi and his siblings In France, schooling is mandatory name is being withheld because he slept in the trunk of a car for several “When I first started coming here, I between the ages of 6 and 16, but is a minor, the director of Marie weeks one winter. When police didn’t really know what school was,” about 67 percent of Roma children Curie, Véronique Decker, and the officers confiscated the car and said Slavi, reflecting on his school, do not regularly attend. school’s teachers stepped in to help moved them on, they did not allow Marie Curie, in this Paris suburb. after his shantytown burned down in The reasons often have to do with a the children to even retrieve their “School will help me a lot. More than 2014. lack of stable housing or shoes. anything.” bureaucratic obstacles that

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They found housing for the children Roma integration to discrimination The following school year, Champs- the township or have only been and their families. And they and a lack of political will. sur-Marne required Roma children present for a few days — must be demanded that the municipal to pay roughly $13 a meal for registered by the township,” he said. government allow the Roma children Since 2012, Mr. Loret has worked access to the school cafeteria, a who had begun their education in with the Roma in the Val Maubée, price high above the $1.20 ordinarily Sylvain Mathieu, a delegate for the Bobigny to continue studying here. an agglomeration of six towns about charged to children from low-income illicit encampment and shantytown 25 miles east of Paris. families. division of the Interministerial The city obliged, but provided no Delegation for Accommodation and support. So Ms. Decker and her “That’s when we discovered there The town also assigned Roma Access to Housing, pointed out that colleagues sought funding from a were four to five hundred people in children to schools far from the while French authorities were foundation to subsidize the the area” of thick forests, Mr. Loret shantytowns and camps where they allowed to evict the Roma from children’s daily transportation costs. said, referring to the Roma. lived. Local bus drivers often camps for safety and sanitary With the help of government grants About 250 remain today after years refused to drive the Roma. reasons, they were obliged to offer and charitable organizations, the solutions for housing, schooling, of trying to help them get jobs, After escaping homelessness teachers provided the children with medical care and schooling. The employment and health. school supplies and clothes. thanks to the support of a obstacles have been sometimes schoolteacher and her parents’ There is little doubt that the never- But such compassionate overt, sometimes subtle, but always tireless efforts, Anina Ciuciu went on ending cycle of eviction and intervention is exceptional — and persistent and numerous. to finish high school and earned a relocation of Roma families poses a would be unnecessary, Roma When Mr. Loret and his associates law degree at the Sorbonne. Dmitry significant obstacle to schooling. advocates say, if the state and local Kostyukov for The New York Times — a network of concerned citizens, With a safe place to live, young authorities lowered the barriers to political activists and union public education for the Roma. So the children walked the two miles people stand a chance of members — began efforts to to school. For the mothers, who overcoming poverty and Ms. Decker, for one, said the register children for school in the accompanied the children to and marginalization. That is the lesson problem stemmed partly from the town of Champs-sur-Marne, the from school and brought them food offered by Anina Ciuciu. refusal of local governments to children were denied access. at noon, this meant walking more respect the law. Educators, she than 10 miles a day. “I was only able to study when I had The town hall cited a lack of identity access to stable housing,” said Ms. said, should act as a bulwark papers. Only in mid-November against discrimination. Maud Tallet, the mayor of Champs- Ciuciu, who arrived in France in 2012, after obtaining birth sur-Marne, defended her town’s 1997. Véronique Decker, the director of certificates, identity cards and actions, saying that it reserves the Marie Curie school in Bobigny. soliciting a visit from the state reduced cafeteria tariffs for the After escaping homelessness She and the school’s teachers inspector of schools, were the children of taxpayers. Moreover, she thanks to the support of a demanded that the municipal children able to go to school. said, the town assigns children to schoolteacher and her parents’ government allow the Roma children schools with the space to tireless efforts to secure housing, “The teachers told us they she went on to finish high school who began their education in rediscovered a sense of purpose in accommodate them. Bobigny to continue studying there. and university before earning a law their work,” Mr. Loret said, “and that She also noted the Roma children’s degree at the Sorbonne. Dmitry Kostyukov for The New York these kids were boosters for the Times poor school attendance. Pressed on classes because they want to learn the matter of evictions impairing the Today, Ms. Ciuciu works as legal “If all the school directors had about everything.” children’s ability to attend school, support coordinator for a nongovernmental organization that registered the children in their This victory proved short-lived. she replied that “no one has the district, without asking the mayor for right to settle on land that does not promotes Roma rights, while permission, saying ‘Excuse me, they Champs-sur-Marne refused to belong to them.” preparing to begin her career in are in my school district, I am taking include Roma children during its human rights law. them,’ we wouldn’t have this annual distribution of sweets and Alexandre Le Cleve, a legal expert who specializes in the rights of “Before we had housing, my sisters problem,” she said. dictionaries to local children. Town and I couldn’t attend school,” she hall employees also took down an foreigners, said families and the François Loret, an administrator for state bore equal responsibility for said. “We were always moving, and exhibit on Roma life featuring these conditions do not allow one to the National Human Rights pictures taken by Roma children. ensuring a child’s education. Collective Romeurope, also go to school everyday, to be clean.” attributed much of the failure of “Today, a child — whether French or foreign, whether they were born in

A French farmer fed and sheltered migrants. Now he faces 5 years in prison. By James on his trees. These days, what Today's WorldView Or does it mean upholding the lofty, McAuley matters are the migrants. humanitarian values of the French What's most important from where republic in spite of its laws? BREIL-SUR-ROYA, France — The For the past two years, Herrou, 37, the world meets Washington house, if you can call it that, is has continually defied French Herrou — and the thousands who nearly impossible to find. Unless you authorities by shepherding Please provide a valid email have rallied to his defense across happen to be a migrant — then you undocumented migrants across the address. the country — insist on the latter. As probably know the place. And, by Italian border and onto his hillside As France struggles to navigate the was widely reported in French word of mouth, its owner. farm. As many as 60, he says, have tidal wave of migration that has media during his trial last month, he stayed on his land at one time, crashed onto European shores in responded to a judge who asked A self-described “extreme leftist” some after knocking on his door in him why he had helped migrants with the requisite beard and unruly recent years, the case of this the dead of night. Herrou, like other obscure mechanic-turned-farmer across the border with a simple ponytail, Cédric Herrou — once an good Samaritans in Britain and phrase. auto mechanic, then a steeplejack has electrified a nation that has Scandinavia, is now on trial, remained comparatively inhospitable — is now technically an olive farmer, accused of “helping undocumented Cédric Herrou has defied French living out of a crumbling, 19th- to refugees. At its core is an authorities by shuffling foreigners enter, move about and uncomfortable question about the century cottage in the middle of reside” in France. He faces a undocumented migrants across the nowhere, on a rocky incline high moral obligations of French Italian border and onto his hillside possible sentence of five years in citizenship. In times like these, does above a riverbed. But errou’s focus prison as well as a fine of 30,000 farm. Farmer faces jail time for is no longer the picholines that grow being French mean following the helping migrants cross into France euros ($32,000) if convicted. On letter of the law, which indeed Friday, he will learn his fate. prohibits undocumented foreigners?

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(James McAuley/The Washington “I worry about this one,” Herrou said. “Don’t you worry!” Binate screamed Back on the French side of the Post) “He doesn’t eat much.” as the officers shoved him on the border, Herrou scoffed at the notion train and waited for it to pull out of that many now consider him a hero. (James McAuley/The Washington Typically, Herrou said, he collects the station. Post) migrants from a church in nearby “I’m not doing this for the money or Ventimiglia, Italy, where many — All of the officers involved declined the material benefit. When you don’t “I am a Frenchman,” Herrou said. most often from sub-Saharan Africa to comment. live for that, the notion of ‘your — live in a squalid camp along a set house’ and ‘my house’ being “There’s much to criticize about it Once on the Italian side, Binate — today, but France is a country with of abandoned train tracks outside of somehow separate doesn’t apply,” town. Then he drives them across who had also arrived in Europe via he said. values that are beautiful — the Libya and Lampedusa — explained rights of man, the protection of the French border in the same beat- up blue van he uses on the farm. that he had crossed the French Herrou sees the problem on the children, and the social welfare we border late Sunday night with hopes border as less about a society have,” Herrou said in an interview Entry into France tends to be safer of making it to the Paris suburb of shutting its doors on foreigners than Wednesday, sitting on the terrace of on the back roads than through the Saint-Denis to find his aunt. The about people willing to tolerate his cottage, sipping coffee he had train stations, where — in French police had caught him in indecency beyond the scope of their made in his alfresco kitchen. “All of spectacles eerily reminiscent of the Nice earlier on Tuesday trying to immediate concerns. which we are in the process of hunts for Jewish stowaways during board a Paris-bound train with losing.” World War II — French police papers that had expired in mid- “Everyone should go out in the streets and try to solve whatever He was brandishing a sizzling skillet repeatedly stop and comb trains for November. migrants without the right papers. problems they see,” he said. “That’s in front of the last of the migrants When he struggled with the officers, what democracy is. It’s not staying staying on his land: Mohamed, 19, This is precisely what happened Binate said, one of them struck him at home and sharing things on from Sudan, who had made his way Tuesday afternoon at the Menton- over the head, leaving a bloody Facebook. It’s positioning ourselves into Libya and across the central Garavan station, the last stop in gash, which he bent over to show. “I to live better together.” Mediterranean to Lampedusa and France before the Italian border. A had a positive idea of France, the then onto the Italian mainland. squadron of the French National country of human rights, of legality,” “And if we have to fight against the Herrou had found Mohamed Police flanked Cheick Isaac Binate, he said. “But there’s nothing to see state to do it, then we have an wandering in the valley earlier in the 21, from Ivory Coast, on the platform of that here.” Even still, he vowed to obligation to do so.” week and quickly taken him in. and deposited him on the 3:40 p.m. try again. train for Ventimiglia.

Merkel Plans to Speed Deportations of Rejected Asylum Seekers Ruth Bender “We all agree that we can only reached authorities in Germany two Under the new plan, Berlin would tackle this challenge together,” said days after the attack. Amri was killed set up a joint center for deportations Updated Feb. 9, Volker Bouffier, premier of Hesse in a shootout with Italian police near that would support the states in 2017 3:42 p.m. ET and a member of Ms. Merkel’s Milan four days after the market difficult cases, for instance by BERLIN—German Chancellor Christian Democratic Union, after attack. mediating with countries that refuse Angela Merkel is stepping up efforts the meeting. to issue travel papers to their While Ms. Merkel has stuck to her nationals. to speed deportations of rejected The agreement comes after months stance that Germany, unlike the asylum seekers after a terror attack of debate between the states, which U.S., can’t cap the amount of Scores of migrants—some of them in Berlin last year cast a sharp light largely feel overburdened by the refugees it takes, she has been rejected asylum seekers—have on the potential risks of letting those responsibility of carrying out the taking a firmer stance on been accused of supporting not granted asylum remain in the deportations, and the federal deportations. Government officials terrorism and some committed country. government, frustrated by a lack of hope that if the government follows attacks or were implicated in foiled The chancellor Thursday reached progress on sending back refused through on expelling rejected plots in recent months, putting Berlin an agreement with the country’s 16 asylum seekers. asylum seekers, it will discourage under additional pressure to act. would-be migrants. federal states to back fresh Practices vary widely from state to On Thursday alone, two rejected measures expediting deportations. state. While conservative Bavaria Berlin already has introduced some asylum seekers from Algeria and The states would be responsible for has boosted forced departures, measures to speed up departures, Nigeria suspected of planning an carrying out many of the new some left-leaning state governments carrying out mass deportations of imminent terror act were arrested in measures in deporting illegal rarely carry out deportations and Afghans and offering illegal Lower Saxony. Boris Pistorius, state migrants that still need to be oppose tougher steps. immigrants financial incentives to interior minister, said authorities transcribed into new laws. leave the country. Improvements, were checking whether the men With some eight months to go The agreement comes after Berlin however, have been slow. could now be deported, saying that before federal elections, Ms. Merkel they “abused our hospitality.” proposed a 16-point plan that is under pressure from the anti- In 2016, a total of 25,375 people foresees a more centralized immigrant Alternative for Germany were deported, a rise from 20,888 in Ms. Merkel’s plan includes organization of deportations, now and conservative allies in Bavaria to 2015, according to the interior proposals to allow for longer subject to a patchwork of laws and address public concern over ministry. But deportations represent detentions of rejected asylum practices, the creation of a national migration, rising crime and the only a tiny share of the more-than- seekers deemed a risk to public repatriation center, more cash looming terror threat. 200,000 foreigners currently under safety as well as measures to incentives to those who depart orders to leave the country. Many restrict the residency of those who willingly and allowing lengthy A December terror attack at a avoid expulsion because their use fake identities and allow detention time for rejected asylum Christmas market in Berlin countries won’t take them back. immigration officials to search seekers who are believed to pose a committed by a rejected Tunisian Others claim medical exemption, asylum seekers’ phones to prove risk to national security. asylum seeker sparked sharp hide their identities or simply their true identities. criticism of authorities’ failure, over disappear. “The matter we discussed today is many months to deport the man While federal states agreed in the necessary requirement for our long known as a criminal and “One of the big problems we have is principle to the plan, its success will country to remain a country that can Islamist radical. Anis Amri killed 12 that people without the right to stay hinge on how the measures will be welcome people in need of people when he rammed a truck into often stay three, four or five years put into practice. Ms. Merkel said a protection,” Ms. Merkel said, after a Berlin Christmas market on Dec. because it takes so long,” said Erwin planned national repatriation center, meeting with the state governors in 19. Authorities said he hadn't been Sellering, prime minister of the state the most controversial measure of Berlin to discuss the chancellery’s deported because Tunisia failed for of Mecklenburg–Western the plan, requires further discussion. proposal, which called for a “national months to issue the necessary Pomerania. “That needs to happen effort” to improve deportations. papers. Those documents finally faster.”

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Such a center would give the federal implementing deportations, which amendment to the constitution, Write to Ruth Bender at government more sway over could require several legislative lawyers warned. [email protected] ordering and changes and, possibly, an Germany’s Global Trade Surplus Hits Record in 2016 Nina Adam and German Chancellor Angela Merkel trans-Atlantic spat this week, It accounted for about 8.5% of GDP Andrea Thomas has rejected White House claims, rushing to Berlin’s defense. “We are last year, according to calculations pointing out that Berlin had no not currency manipulators,” he said by The Wall Street Journal. That is Updated Feb. 9, 2017 12:46 p.m. ET influence on exchange rates and on Monday, adding that different the highest percentage among the FRANKFURT—Germany’s exports interest rates. Berlin has been a central-bank policies reflected world’s largest global economies, exceeded its imports by the widest fierce critic of the European Central “diverse positions in the [economic] according to preliminary data, and yearly margin on record last year, a Bank’s easy-money policy, which cycle” between the U.S. and the well above the 3%-of-GDP level the sign of the strength of Europe’s has helped keep the euro low eurozone. U.S. Treasury targets when it biggest economy that could inflame compared with the dollar. Others assesses the exchange-rate policies have pointed to German companies’ Still, many economists agree that of major trade partners in its tensions between Washington and the euro’s exchange rate doesn’t Berlin over their trade relations. productivity and engineering biannual currency report. Along with prowess as the main factors behind fully reflect Germany’s economic currency intervention and large Germany’s trade surplus—or the high exports. strength, because it mirrors bilateral trade gaps, Treasury balance of exports and imports of developments in all 19 countries that gauges current-account surpluses goods—rose to €252.9 billion “Germany and the U.S. understood use the euro, whose economies as one of the three key criteria that ($270.58 billion), marking the early on that economic have been mostly trailing can trigger currency negotiations highest surplus since records began competitiveness is central…for Germany’s. and even sanctions. after World War II, the statistics reaping the benefits of globalization,” Germany’s deputy And while Germany sells more Most economists consider a large body said on Thursday. Total products than ever to the world, exports of goods rose 1.2% from finance minister wrote in a current account surplus as a sign of commentary published in The Wall domestic demand in Europe’s economic unbalance. The 2015, while imports increased just largest economy isn’t keeping up—a 0.6%. Street Journal on Thursday. Blaming International Monetary Fund, the a country for being competitive development that, economists say, U.S., and even the European Underlining the German economy’s “would be bizarre,” Jens Spahn said, is depressing economic growth and Commission have criticized reliance on exports, net trade adding that “nobody can have an employment in other parts of the Germany for its huge current accounted for about 8.1% of interest in provoking a trade war.” world. Weak domestic investment is account surplus and called on Berlin Germany’s gross domestic product also holding back growth inside to do more to stimulate both last year, according to calculations German officials have said they Germany. domestic demand and spending on by The Wall Street Journal, in feared coming under particularly imports. heavy fire when Wolfgang Schäuble, “Exports are not too high, but contrast with the large trade deficit imports are much too low as recorded by the U.S. last year. Germany’s plain-speaking finance While Germany’s government minister, holds a meeting of the Germany has a huge investment expects the current account surplus The German data follow recent Group of 20’s finance ministers in gap and private and public to ease to around 8.1% of GDP this criticism by President Donald Baden-Baden. Meetings of the investment is too low,” Mr. year, the forecast decline is unlikely Trump’s administration of group, which Germany chairs this Fratzscher said, adding that the to silence these critics. Germany’s dependence on foreign year, have been a central forum for trade surplus was more a sign of demand. global macroeconomic disputes in economic imbalance than strength. Reflecting those concerns in Berlin, the past. Mr. Spahn wrote in his column that Mr. Trump has accused Germany of Recent analysis by The Wall Street “we need to move beyond the flooding the U.S. with cars while Berlin argues that it has done a lot Journal showed that many German current account and broaden our U.S. car makers weren’t being given to boost domestic demand—and companies are still reluctant to step view to the real challenges enough access to the German therefore imports—for instance by up investment in their own country. ahead…Germany and the U.S. market. Peter Navarro, the head of enacting the country’s first Germany’s statistics body also should seize any chance to foster Mr. Trump’s new National Trade minimum-wage legislation. But the released data that showed a sharp their good economic and political Council, has said German exporters erection of trade barriers by the U.S. rise in the country’s already high relations, and to build on their had an unfair advantage because of would hit Europe’s largest economy current-account surplus—a measure strengths, especially their open- the euro’s weak exchange rate. hard. both of the country’s export prowess market economies.” Berlin can expect more U.S. German exports of goods to the and of German companies’ Write to Nina Adam at criticism, said Marcel Fratzscher, U.S. outstripped imports by around reluctance to invest at home. [email protected] and Andrea president of prominent German think €45 billion in the 11 months through Germany’s current account stood at Thomas at tank DIW. “Germany is vulnerable November, according to Germany’s €266 billion in 2016, which marks [email protected] with its high export surplus,” Mr. statistics body, and the U.S. remains the highest surplus since records Fratzscher said, with the data likely Germany’s single-biggest export began in 1991. By comparison, to be seen in the U.S. as vindication market. Germany’s current-account balance of Mr. Trump’s protectionist was showing a deficit in the 1990s platform. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi intervened into the and in the early 2000s.

Britain to end its program for lone child refugees By Karla Adam member of the opposition Labour Today's WorldView fret over perceived threats to their and James Party, is trying to prevent the closure culture — and watch a landmark McAuley of the refugee program he helped What's most important from where court battle play out in the United spearhead. the world meets Washington States over the Trump LONDON — A former child refugee, administration’s entry ban on Alfred Dubs was elated in May when The British government announced Please provide a valid email address. refugees and on citizens from seven he helped force the British quietly Wednesday that it would limit Muslim-majority nations. government to accept the number of lone child refugees The rollback, however, reflects unaccompanied refugee children brought in from Europe under the forces that resonate across the [Britain will start taking in child from other European countries. “Dubs Amendment” to 350 — far West as many countries tighten refugees, as it did before World War fewer than the 3,000 that immigration policies, rethink the size II] Less than a year later, the campaigners wanted. Czechoslovakia-born Dubs, a of their welcome mat for refugees,

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British Prime Minister Theresa May of the famed “Kindertransports” out children would be accepted under moving Britain in the direction of tells lawmakers she had no prior of Nazi-occupied Europe, disagreed. the Dubs program. Trump’s immigration policies. knowledge of President Trump's “They have no right to stop it at any travel ban on citizens of seven point on any basis. It’s going against [They were rescued as kids in WWII. “May’s treatment of refugee children Muslim-majority countries despite the whole tenor of the parliamentary Now they want to help today’s is appalling, and shows how close her visit to the White House. debate,” Dubs, 84, said in an refugee children.] she has moved to the policies of Britain's Theresa May says interview with The Washington Post. Trump,” the Liberal Democrat leader Last year, Dubs sponsored an Tim Farron said in a statement. President Trump gave her no prior amendment to the government’s warning of travel ban (Reuters) Britain is not the only country in Europe wrestling with its stance on immigration bill that required Britain But Rudd insisted that the United (Reuters) immigration and refugees. In to make arrangements for the safe Kingdom was not turning its back on Germany, for instance, Chancellor passage of unaccompanied refugee vulnerable children, and that it would British Prime Minister Theresa May Angela Merkel, who is facing an children who arrived in the focus on supporting those in Syria said at a news conference Thursday election this year, has recently taken European Union before March 20, and the region. that President Trump’s ban was 2016. The government never agreed a tougher position on deporting “The U.K. has a strong reputation, in “wrong” and “divisive” and not rejected asylum seekers. Germany to a specific number, but Dubs something that Britain would do. originally proposed that it take 3,000 Europe and internationally, for deported 620 unaccompanied looking after the most vulnerable She also insisted that Britain’s minors in 2016. children. approach to child refugees is that will continue,” she said. “We “absolutely right” and said that Amber Rudd, Britain’s home In a passionate address in the have a different approach to where Britain is helping refugees from secretary, defended the House of Commons on Thursday, the most vulnerable are. We believe Syria. government’s decision, telling Yvette Cooper, a Labour politician that they are in the region. That’s Parliament on Thursday that the who chairs the Home Affairs why we have made a pledge to “What we are doing in terms of initiative risked encouraging Committee, urged the British accept 3,000 children from the refugees is absolutely right, on top, traffickers and suggested that local government to reconsider. region and we are committed to of course, of the significant financial delivering on that. They are the most councils did not have the capacity to “Where does it say that instead of support and humanitarian aid we are accept more children. vulnerable.” giving to refugees in the region of the 3,000 that Parliament debated Syria — a commitment of 2.3 billion In a statement Wednesday, the that we will only help one-tenth of Campaigners have indicated that pounds, the second-biggest bilateral British government said that 200 that number?” she said. “Britain can the decision to end the Dubs donor,” she said. children had arrived from France do better than this.” scheme could face a legal challenge. and that 150 more were expected Some have suggested that by Dubs, whose father was Jewish and next month. A spokesman for the who entered Britain at age 6 on one limiting the number of refugees Home Office said that a total of 350 allowed in by this route, May is

In Departure, ECB Officials Stump for the European Union Tom Fairless spokesman said, without Rahman, managing director at based think tank. “They are elaborating. Eurasia Group. “What’s new is the ultimately bureaucrats.” Updated Feb. 9, fact that the ECB is now wading into 2017 4:44 p.m. ET The meeting occurred amid a surge the EU’s international relations.” It is perfectly legitimate, analysts of criticism of the ECB’s policies in say, for the ECB to highlight FRANKFURT—European Central Germany, where a jump in inflation In a series of statements this year, economic risks, such as a breakup Bank chief Mario Draghi’s meeting has raised fresh concerns about the Mr. Draghi called for closer of the eurozone, and to defend the with German Chancellor Angela impact of ultralow interest rates on integration among eurozone common currency. The problem Merkel in Berlin on Thursday was the nation’s savers. countries, complained about their comes if the ECB is seen as trying only the latest turn in an exceptional economic policies and criticized to shape political decisions. “There round of election-year politicking by German politicians and economists policy proposals of the new U.S. is a legitimate question to be asked top ECB officials. have been urging the ECB to start administration. about whether they really have the winding down its €2.3 trillion ($2.5 Senior ECB staff have recently mandate to push states toward trillion) bond-purchase program, “Unity is the key to security for our political union,” Mr. Wolff said. weighed in on France’s presidential known as quantitative easing or QE. continent—today as it has always election, defended Germany’s vast The ECB extended the program by been,” Mr. Draghi said this month in In France this week, where National trade surpluses against U.S. nine months in December and bank Slovenia. In Italy, where Beppe Front presidential candidate Marine criticism, and attacked President officials have signaled they want to Grillo’s 5 Star Movement has Le Pen has laid out her plans for Donald Trump’s plans to deregulate provide steady support for the advocated ditching the euro, the yanking her country out of the the U.S. finance industry. economy during an election-heavy ECB president spoke glowingly of euro, two ECB officials warned The unusual ECB interventions year. Italy’s historic ties with Europe. In sharply that such a move would Brussels, he called the euro impoverish the nation. come against a backdrop of intense The ECB, which won sweeping new opposition to the European Union “irreversible” and slammed potential powers after helping to beat back the Trump administration’s plans by “The euro is not the enemy of within some of its member states, as Europe’s successive crises in recent growth,” Bank of France Governor well as unprecedented criticism of the Trump administration to roll back years, has become a last line of financial-services regulation. François Villeroy de Galhau said the bloc from a U.S. president. defense for the bloc and its single Tuesday. He warned that returning The ECB’s unelected civil servants currency. The risk in speaking out, analysts to the franc would cost the nation are mounting their defense of the say, is that the ECB could draw €30 billion a year in added debt- The bank’s decision to launch QE, more of the same criticism the EU financing costs. In a dig at Mr. EU as Europe’s elected leaders are fiercely opposed by Germany’s enmeshed in national debates. has faced: being a distant, opaque, Trump’s “America first” stance, he Bundesbank, has contributed to the unaccountable bureaucracy. From referred to “this new world that the Britain is preparing to leave the EU, ECB’s politicization. By buying €80 and elections will be held this year in Rome to Berlin, the ECB is already current U.S. administration seems to billon a month of mainly government a prime target for anti-EU parties coldly envisage.” France, Germany, the Netherlands bonds, the ECB redistributes wealth and possibly Italy. that have lambasted it for stifling across the region from creditors to growth, stoking inflation or Benoît Coeuré, a French member of Mr. Draghi last had a bilateral debtors, driving up asset prices and increasing inequality. the ECB’s executive board, said the meeting with Ms. Merkel in January reducing government borrowing euro allows “medium-sized countries 2016, according to his diary as costs. “The ECB has to walk a very careful like France to speak as an equal to line,” said Guntram Wolff, the the United States or China.” published on the ECB’s website. On “For the most part, EU leaders are Thursday the two discussed the director of Bruegel, a Brussels- Sounding sounded more like a weak and have limited mandates, politician than an economist as he , eurozone economy, an ECB while Draghi is strong,” said Mujtaba

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Mr. Coeuré praised the single That void creates a dilemma for Weidmann, hit back, calling the U.S. is a fine line. In Slovenia this month, currency for helping “the non-eurozone governments, who accusations absurd. Mr. Draghi urged governments to disadvantaged and the vulnerable,” have no one outside the central construct “an institutional and warned that leaving the euro bank to call to discuss the Forcing the ECB to defend architecture” for the eurozone, and “would be to choose euro. When Peter Navarro, the head European policies, such as called for “a new stage of impoverishment.” of Mr. Trump’s National Trade Germany’s trade surpluses, could integration.” Council, last week said Germany be beneficial if it allows national With such comments, the ECB is was exploiting its trading partners by leaders to preserve precious political “The central bank can’t be a trying to fill a political void at the using a “grossly undervalued” euro, capital while bank officials make political” actor, Mr. Wolff said. “The heart of the eurozone, according to German Finance Minister Wolfgang important points, said Mr. Rahman. risk is that it is seen as illegitimate.” Mr. Wolff. “We do have a currency Schäuble responded by blaming the Even as ECB officials step into the Write to Tom Fairless at without a state and without a real ECB. political representative that would international spotlight, they have [email protected] take care of that currency,” he said. Several ECB officials, including generally avoided specific policy Bundesbank President Jens recommendations. But sometimes, it ECB's French Folly Marcus Ashworth Source: Bloomberg The power of the ECB's easing Source: Bloomberg measures wane toward the long end Do you prefer Marmite debt over La Such a distortion can be placed at of the curve, with the illogical result The ECB must be aware of the Belle France? the feet of the European Central that sovereign debt yields more than distorting effect QE is having both Bank and the impact negative rates a proxy for bank credit on government and corporate Unilever NV, with its A1/A+ credit and quantitative easing are having bonds. It is about time they took rating, managed a yield of just 1.03 on trapping short-end yields so low. Source: Bloomberg steps to correct these effects, which percent for the 600 million-euro So the longer end has to take the has at its root the insistence on ($641 million) 10-year bond it issued strain, steepening the government Longer-dated French government continuing QE for countries that Wednesday. France's Aa2/AA rating yield curve. While some of the bonds are currently quoted wider don't need it -- something the doesn't seem to be doing it much pickup in French yields might also than swap rates, an anomaly not Bundesbank reminds them of good, since its 10-year yielded a few be due to the upcoming tapering of seen since 2014. It is unusual to see incessantly. QE should be focused basis points more at the time. the Public Sector Purchasing the proxy for European bank credit on countries that still need it, and yield less than one of the bedrock Unilever is at least cash flow Program, it is also down to the purchasing for the rest should just recent repricing wider of France sovereign countries of the EU. fade away. positive whereas France does have Recent political turmoil ahead of the an ever-expanding deficit, but is the versus Germany as euro crisis fears resurface. presidential election is the driver This column does not necessarily market really saying that Unilever here -- in the last four months, the reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP has greater placement control of While government bond yields have gap blew out 40 basis points. This is and its owners. toiletries than a major European backed out, corporate spreads have a clear expression that the market is sovereign has in raising taxes? This held in amazingly. As yields on pricing back in euro breakup risk. To contact the author of this story: does not seem to be an efficient company debt fall, that must at Marcus Ashworth in London at measure of credit risk. There are some point restrict investor demand And it is a French effect -- as the [email protected] two effects at play here, both the for longer-dated new issuance, relationship between German richness of corporates and the government bunds and To contact the editor responsible for which would be contrary to the this story: recent cheapening of France. program's aims of loosening funding swaps is actually going the other way. Jennifer Ryan at Keeping a Lid on Corporate Spreads availability. Continuance of the [email protected] ECB's Corporate Sector Purchase Back to the Crisis ECB company bond purchases are Program might only make this shrinking the difference between worse. Recent slump shows investors see corporate and government yields the French sovereign as riskier than Seven Year Itch European banks

Greece Pressured to Improve Migrants’ Living Conditions Niki Kitsantonis Amnesty International and other aid of the site near Athens that was by migrants on Monday and briefly groups have previously expressed once home to the city’s international prevented from entering Elliniko. A baseball alarm about sites across Greece, airport. “This is not a camp that was While acknowledging the “pain and stadium built for the 2004 Summer including those at Elliniko, a camp made to house human beings for an hardship” they face, Mr. Mouzalas Olympics in Athens is now filled with near Athens, and on Lesbos. extended period.” said groups — which he did not tents for migrants. Louisa identify — were waging a campaign Gouliamaki/Agence France-Presse More than a million migrants have The site, along with two adjacent of misinformation and exploiting — Getty Images passed through Greece in the last sports venues built for the 2004 migrants for their own political ends. two years, and the country has been Summer Olympics in Athens, is ATHENS — Human rights groups stretched to its limits in trying to home to about 1,600 migrants, During a visit by the Greek migration stepped up their warnings on cope simultaneously with the huge mostly Afghans, as well as some minister on Monday to the Elliniko Thursday about the living conditions influx and an economy that was families from Iran and Pakistan. camp near Athens, Afghan migrants for migrants in Greece after three already teetering. briefly blocked the entrance to people died during a recent cold Migrants at Elliniko have been living protest conditions. Thanassis snap on the Aegean island of The approval this week of 3.9 million in flimsy tents for more than a year, Stavrakis/Associated Press Lesbos, and as dozens of asylum euros, about $4.15 million, in and a group of around 30 people seekers near Athens threatened to emergency funds from the European started refusing food and trying to At a news conference on Thursday, resume a hunger strike if the Union will help, but with around block deliveries to the site over the Maria Bikaki, a spokeswoman for situation did not improve. 62,000 migrants effectively trapped weekend to protest living conditions, the left-leaning Coordination for in Greece at the moment, it will not according to aid workers. They have Refugees and Migrants, rejected The European Commission be nearly enough to resolve the since started eating again but are assertions that the migrants at criticized Greece last month for an situation. threatening an open-ended hunger Elliniko were being manipulated or “untenable” situation at its refugee strike if conditions are not improved. instigated. camps amid worsening weather, “The conditions at Elliniko are and the United Nations High difficult,” Roland Schoenbauer of the The Greek migration minister, “The only instigation here is the Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations refugee agency said Ioannis Mouzalas, was confronted situation,” she said.

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Zeinab Ghanbari, a 20-year-old “They don’t want to go,” Mr. With temperatures plummeting and A plan by the European Commission Afghan woman who has been living Mantouvalos said. “What can we snow falling across much of the to allow member states to return at Elliniko since she, her husband do?” country, Greek officials asylum seekers to Greece starting in and her son, now 4, were turned acknowledged after the criticism mid-March, in line with European away from Greece’s border with Mr. Schoenbauer did, however, from the European Commission that Union rules that were suspended Macedonia a year ago, expressed report “one positive development.” hundreds of migrants were living in last year because of the crisis, is dismay at her predicament. Two warehouses in northern Greece tents at overcrowded camps on the expected to heap even more being used to house migrants — Aegean Islands. A recent pressure on Greece. “In my country, the Taliban and Al “currently among the worst in the improvement in the weather offered Qaeda kill us in one go with a country” — will be closed and its some respite, but there are On Thursday, the authorities in bullet,” said Mrs. Ghanbari, who is occupants moved to alternative concerns about what will happen neighboring Macedonia said they pregnant and would like to go to accommodations in United Nations- when temperatures drop again. had returned 49 migrants who had Sweden. “Here we’re dying subsidized apartments and hotels. elected not to file asylum claims. gradually over a year. If we knew Thousands of migrants were left The migrants were taken by bus to that Europe, that Greece, is like this, On Lesbos, which became the main stranded in Greece last year after the border and then crossed on foot, I would have preferred to die in my gateway for tens of thousands of several European countries closed where they were met by the Greek country.” migrants seeking better lives in their borders in an effort to prevent authorities. Europe last year, severe them from moving on to central and The list of migrants’ demands overcrowding at the main camp has western Europe. As the Greek authorities and rights includes a disinfection of the site, meant that hundreds have been groups try to keep a lid on tensions, where insects and rats are said to forced to live in tents for the past An agreement between Turkey and the United Nations refugee agency be rife; better food and medical several months. the European Union to crack down has been working with the services; and a gradual relocation to on rampant human smuggling in the government to transfer hundreds of proper homes rather than tents in Three people died in one week in Aegean in March last year migrants from cramped island disused military barracks and other January, when cold weather swept drastically curbed the influx into facilities to more spacious quarters makeshift quarters. across the island and covered tents Greece, but officials there have on the Greek mainland. in snow. Local reports attributed the complained that a European Union Kyriakos Mantouvalos, a deaths to the inhalation of toxic plan to relocate migrants to other According to Mr. Schoenbauer, the spokesman for Mr. Mouzalas, said fumes from cheap or makeshift countries in the bloc is moving too United Nations is working with the authorities were doing stoves set up by migrants for slowly. hotels on Lesbos, but several “everything possible” to help the warmth, though a coroner’s ruling is government buildings are sitting idle, migrants, including improving pending. So far, about 12,000 people have notably on the nearby island of access to hot water and better food. been moved from Greece and Italy Samos, where many residents are He added that the country’s options The Moria refugee camp on the to other European Union member frustrated with the presence of were limited, and he said that many island of Lesbos during a snowstorm states under a plan scheduled to migrants. migrants had rejected offers to move in January. Three people died in one expire in September that envisioned to better-equipped facilities in week last month, when cold weather the relocation of 160,000 refugees; “The local authorities don’t want to central Greece. swept across the island and covered of the 12,000, about 9,000 were give us the keys,” Mr. Schoenbauer tents in snow. Stratis relocated from Greece. said. Balaskas/European Pressphoto Agency

In Romania, Corruption’s Tentacles Grip Daily Life Palko Karasz Romanians to share their personal impossible to change without the husband, who had no hope of encounters with corruption. They help of the judicial system. A lot of staying alive. Romania spoke of constant, everyday bribery my colleagues do take bribes from captured the world’s attention last — at hospitals, schools and public their patients. Some of them won’t Generally you have to give bribes to week when hundreds of thousands institutions. Some people felt treat someone who doesn’t offer get anything done. That’s how it was of people took to the streets, helpless, saying that corruption was them money, although Romania’s in the Ceausescu times, and that’s protesting a government decree that a deeply rooted cultural problem. medical system guarantees free how it has remained until today. many saw as backtracking on Many were infuriated by the access to medical services. I don’t fighting corruption. On protesting: I’ve taken part in the government’s decree, which would take money from my patients, and protests, out of indignation with the Corruption is an endemic problem have directly benefited some when I refuse their money, some get thievish way in which they adopted across Eastern Europe. But prominent politicians, and feared the worried, thinking I refused them Emergency Decree No. 13, and with Romania’s long struggle against it edict could erode the country’s long- because they have some sort of its contents, and intent to save the has placed the issue at the center of term commitment to fighting terminal disease. Some think you’re criminal Dragnea [Liviu Dragnea, the its political debate. The government corruption. a low-quality doctor if you treat them ruling party’s leader]. without charge. decree would have decriminalized After we made the initial call to — Cristina Iftode, 62, a retired some corruption offenses, which Romanians for their stories, we On protesting: I went to all of the mathematician in Bucharest. alarmed Romanian judges and followed up to ask how they viewed protests that have taken place in Translated from Romanian. prosecutors. In Brussels, the the protests. The submissions below Bucharest during the last three European Commission expressed Nightmarish Memories of a Club have been condensed and edited for weeks. Like so many others, I felt Fire concern, as many people inside and clarity. that the recent government decree, outside Romania feared the decree which was adopted at 10:30 p.m., In 2015, a deadly nightclub fire in could undermine the rule of law in Dr. Dan Arama in his apartment in was the first sign that Romania was Bucharest was widely blamed on one of Europe’s youngest downtown Bucharest on turning away from democracy and corruption. Protests afterward forced democracies. Wednesday. “Corruption is so the rule of law. the government to step down. Oana embedded in the medical system Celia Gheorghiu, 38, a translator Although the government revoked that it’s nearly impossible to change — Dan Arama, 31, a doctor in the decree and survived a no- and lecturer in Galati, lost three of without the help of the judicial Bucharest. her friends in the fire. confidence vote on Wednesday, system,” he wrote. Andrei opponents vowed to continue to Pungovschi for The New York Times _____ I have attended all the protests in fight, and on Thursday the justice I’ve paid a lot of money — the Galati, starting with the night when minister, Florin Iordache, submitted ‘I Don’t Take Money From My the government passed the his resignation. Patients’ equivalent of 5,000 euros — in the hospital from the doorman to Emergency Ordinance 13/2017. I As the protests intensified last week, Corruption is so embedded in the nurses, assistants, residents, am not the revolutionary type, but The New York Times asked medical system that it’s nearly doctors and for medicine for my the indignation I felt that night

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 14 prompted me to join the hundreds of were all-powerful; the law seemed to papers and grades, also taking fortune using their influence. You thousands in the street. not apply to them. That always homemade products from the see how they argue on television bothered me and everyone I know, “candidates,” like cheese, alcoholic about it all day. By the time you Ioan-Radu Tanasescu taking part in even the supporters of the Social beverages, even eggs!— Monica reach maturity, you comprehend a protest outside the Romanian Democratic Party (in charge of the Vlad, 49, a university professor in corruption as an active part of your government’s headquarters in government right now). Sibiu. society. Bucharest on Wednesday. “When I — Rares Petru Achiriloaie, 22, a was a kid, I thought these politicians On protesting: I was in front of the A protest in Timisoara, Romania, on student in Paris. were all-powerful; the law seemed to government just an hour or two after Sunday. Sebastian Tataru/European not apply to them,” he wrote. Andrei they passed Emergency Ordinance Pressphoto Agency I grew up in the ’90s in a country Pungovschi for The New York Times 13/2017. I promised them this would where you always kept a pack of not pass, I promised them they Growing Up With Corruption Kent cigarettes and a bottle of ‘Cheese, Alcoholic Beverages, would pay a political price. whiskey in your drawer. You kept Even Eggs!’ In small towns like my hometown, — Ioan-Radu Tanasescu, 31, a nepotism is just as natural as them for the visit to the doctor, to get I’ve had to pay bribes in order to get front-end developer in Bucharest. inheriting something from your into a better school; you kept them for when you had a lawsuit or even normal things done that should have I have been put under pressure to parents, going to church on required no payment, like getting Sundays or watching the seasons for going on vacation. Romania has promote students who never made huge progress in recent power back after it was cut for attended class. I have been offered go by: It is one of our customs or nonpayment. The bribe made the something that goes without saying. years. A new generation has bribes for this and I have been emerged that doesn’t keep drawers procedure to give me back electric sanctioned because of my integrity. I — Tamas Hunor Kecskes, 25, a power last only three days after I student in Cluj-Napoca. full of bribery presents. Everything was forced to leave the country can be shattered in the next 10 paid the full bill. Without a bribe, it many times because of the awful _____ would have taken three months. days. corruption and because my monthly As a child growing up in Romania, — Lucian Alexe, 28, a Our country has been fighting wages were insufficient for survival. you are surrounded by this notion of communications professional in corruption for decades. When I was My colleagues took huge amounts “corruption.” You hear your family Brussels. a kid, I thought these politicians of money from selling graduation discuss how that politician made a

First we take Hässleholm … Swedish far-right rises Richard Orange Unlikely alliance His party’s support has soared in professor at Södertorn University, recent years on the back of growing who sees the shift as part of a HÄSSLEHOLM, Sweden — When In Hässleholm, a town in northern disquiet over migration. Last year, necessary realignment of the party the leader of the Moderates, Anna Skåne, a stronghold for the Sweden Sweden, a country of 9.5 million system since the growth of the Kinberg Batra, recently announced Democrats, Ulf Erlandsson, the local people, granted residency to a Sweden Democrats deprived that her party would be open to SD leader, looks every inch the record 150,000 immigrants. As alliances on the left and on the right negotiating with the Sweden maverick in black jeans, trainers and the number of asylum seekers has of the chance of a majority. Democrats, it sent shockwaves a floral shirt. At the end of this dipped, the party has turned its through the establishment. month, he intends to join forces with focus to law and order concerns in “I still think we’ve got a long way the centre-right Moderates to oust before the Sweden Democrats get Many accused Kinberg Batra of areas with large immigrant the ruling Social Democrats, whose populations. anywhere near ministerial positions,” ripping up the cordon sanitaire budget the two parties have blocked he said. “What’s more likely is some which has prevented far-right from being voted through. At the height of the refugee crisis in understanding where SD would populists in Sweden from winning 2015, party activists posted the passively support a centre-right the kind of influence they have He hopes the Social Democrat addresses of all asylum centers in government.” achieved in neighboring Denmark council chairman will resign at a and around the city of Lund. and Norway, and elsewhere on the meeting on February 27 and, in Kinberg Batra, who has repeatedly Continent. exchange for supporting the But despite leader Jimmie described Sweden Democrats as Moderates’ appointee to replace Åkesson’s moves to soften the “racist in its actions,” put a stop to “You will be sitting and negotiating her, expects to be made his deputy. party’s image, it continues to be her party’s backroom negotiations with a party that you yourself say is dogged by scandals involving with the SD in Hässleholm as racist and pro-Russia,” Prime Ulf Erlandsson, the local SD leader racism. recently as December, saying: “I do Minister Stefan Löfven said in in Hässleholm | Richard Orange not want us Moderates to enter into response to the news, arguing that An MP was sacked last year for The collaboration between SD and cooperation with the Sweden his opponent had ”lost her political proposing that the Bonniers Democrats on any level.” compass.” the Moderates in this area will be newspaper group, whose family the first of its kind in Sweden and if owners are Jewish, be broken up Her sudden shift has left Moderate Even the Moderates’ allies in the he gets made vice chairman, because no “ethnic group” should be MPs grumbling, mostly off-the- centre-right Alliance bloc were Erlandsson will be the first Sweden allowed to “control more than five record, that they were never unhappy, with Liberal leader Jan Democrat to take such a position in percent of the media.” consulted. And at least three former Björkland calling the move an Sweden, “so it’s nice,” he said. “But I Moderate ministers have criticized “unfortunate gambit.” Both he and think it will soon be happening all At the height of the refugee crisis in the move publicly. Centre Party leader Annie Lööf have over the country.” 2015, party activists posted a map said they would never be part of a listing the addresses of all asylum Mikael Odenberg, defense minister government formed with the active Indeed, Erlandsson believes the centers in and around the city of in the last Moderate government, support of the Sweden Democrats. winds of change blowing through Lund, a move criticized as inviting wrote an article on Monday, calling Skåne are the same ones that have anti-immigrant activists to commit for a grand coalition with the Social But the Sweden Democrats — brought Brexit and Trump and have arson attacks. Democrats rather than negotiations which have been surging in the polls upset the upcoming elections in with a party whose policies on most — will likely be in a position to wield France and Germany. A big deal issues, he said, are “a total joke.” real power after next year’s election. And the blessing by the Moderate In November, he made a speech in Last week, Moderate party officials Jimmie Aakesson, right, at the leadership to allow MPs and local the council chamber, celebrating the held their first official meeting with Swedish parliament in Stockholm. councilors to start talks with the SD election of U.S. President Donald their Sweden Democrat He lead the party to finishing third in is clearly helping sanitize a party Trump. “I said that those people who counterparts on cooperation in the the 2014 general election | Jonathan that, until now, has been cut out of wanted to see a woman president … Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament. Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images just have to wait for it to happen in mainstream politics over links to “It’s a really big deal [although] it neo-Nazi and white supremacist France,” he said. “Is limited cooperation with SD was very probably a matter of time,” possible?” asked Sten Tolgfors, a groups. said Nicholas Aylott, associate

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 15 former trade minister, on Facebook. percent of Moderate voters party, which would earn them 31 The underlying message is that “Is it desirable? Will you influence supported Kinberg Batra’s move votes. ruling with the passive support of a one another through cooperation? while a clear majority of Moderate party whose founders had links to Will the political climate be affected local councilors, approached by the Authoritarian roots the neo-Nazi movement is no by it?” Dagens Nyheter newspaper, The maths looks similar across different from the way the Social welcomed the possible Sweden. In Gävle municipality, half- Democrats often have done with the In Hässleholm, Douglas Roth, who collaboration. former Communist party, whose hopes to be appointed chairman of way up the Baltic coast, the Moderates at the start of last year previous leaders supported Joseph the council this month if all goes to The Moderates are already moving Stalin. plan, argued the move was a return to detoxify the Sweden Democrats’ ended more than a hundred years of to sanity. The last Moderate image among voters. Social Democrat rule, again with the “It’s wrong to call SD such a terrible government’s “open hearts” in terms passive support of the Sweden and disgusting party,” Roth said. of immigration and its refusal to put Roth admits that talks have already Democrats. Kinberg Batra’s move “The Social Democrats want you to in place tougher policies proposed taken place in Hässleholm, opens the way for more to do so. see them like that because they contradicting the claims of Pär by then-immigration minister Tobias The Moderates are already moving want to be able to stay in power. Billström, was the reason his party Palmgren, the local party leader, Half of SD’s members are old that there is no cooperation. to detoxify the Sweden Democrats’ came third in the municipality, he image among voters. Moderates.” said. For Roth, it comes down to Kinberg Batra’s latest line is that her In Hässleholm, Erlandsson can’t “We saw that people were horrified arithmetic. The Social Democrats wait to move into his council office. have 20 seats in Hässleholm and, party would neither form a by the immigration politics we were government with the Sweden “I don’t have a key, but I will next driving forward,” he said. “If we had with their allies, hold 30 seats on the month!” he said with a laugh. “I will council, leaving them one crucial Democrats nor with the Left Party as brought in the politics that Billström “both have authoritarian roots.” have a big office on the second wanted, we wouldn’t have had the vote short of a majority. The floor. It feels very good.” Sweden Democrats with 16 percent Moderates, with just eight seats, are Sweden Democrats posters in of the votes.” far short of a majority, even with all Stockholm for the last general of their Alliance partners, unless election | Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP He is not alone. A poll by Inizio they get the support of the Sweden via Getty Images found that 82 Democrats and the local Folkets Väl Emily Tamkin : A Critical Month Ahead for Europe For 60 years, the The first is Brexit. British Prime on Saturday. She said Europe may message resonates with their preservation of Minister Theresa May’s government be open to letting countries commit electorates. European unity and stability was a recently moved up the date to begin to being in the Union at “different cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. negotiating the U.K.’s exit from the speeds.” To some extent, as Stefan Which brings us to the third event: EU to March 7, ahead of the Lehne of Carnegie Europe told The Dutch national election. The And then came U.S. President summit. Foreign Policy, this already exists: Netherlands’s elections, which will Donald Trump, who applauded the there are, for example, more EU be held on March 15, are the first of departure of the United Kingdom On Thursday, the House of members in the Schengen area three (possibly four, if Italy has from the European Union and now Commons voted 494 to 122 in favor (between which individuals can elections this year) elections this may appoint Ted Malloch, a man of May’s government’s Brexit bill, travel without passports) than in the year that will determine whether who considers the EU to be anti- which gives May’s government the eurozone (which shares a common continental Europe will go the way of American, as the U.S. envoy to authority to notify the EU of the currency). Reforming European Brexit and Trump. So far, Geert Brussels. intention to withdraw and begin treaties to allow more of the same Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti- negotiations. The bill now goes to Muslim Freedom Party, has European leaders have responded sort of flexibility could prevent the House of Lords. Parliament is another Brexit, he argues. managed to drag political rhetoric by saying that Trump is a threat to expected to approve the bill by across parties to the right. Prime Europe, and that, while they must May’s March 7 deadline. However, Lehne does not believe Minister Mark Rutte recently told work with the U.S., so, too, must substantive action will be taken on immigrants to “act normal or leave.” they be masters of their own May has already said she will be this anytime soon because this is an destiny. pursuing a “hard Brexit,” one that election year for several European How various Dutch politicians privileges limited migration into the countries and leaders will be loath to incorporate Euroskepticism or Strong rhetoric, certainly. But a United Kingdom over remaining in Europhilia into the last month of month from Thursday, on March 9, fuel Euroskepticism. Nevertheless, the single European market. Belgium, the Netherlands and campaigning — and how the Dutch European leaders will meet for a European leaders know this. So, electorate responds on March 15 — summit — and the 60th anniversary Luxembourg have already come out too, they know the formal talks to in support of a two-speed solution. will be the first test of whether of the Rome Treaty, which marked leave the EU will start ahead of their Europe will forge its destiny as a the beginning of Europe as an Other countries, like Poland, will summit. Whether they know how likely worry that two speeds will union that can hold for another 60 economic union. Three key events they will respond and conduct years — or whether it won’t hold in the next month may determine the leave them behind. It is worth themselves during negotiations is watching whether European leaders together at all. future of Europe for many months still to be seen. after. weigh in on Merkel’s proposal ahead The second is a statement made by of the summit and how their German Chancellor Angela Merkel Trump’s next trade target: Europe’s scooters and cheese Hans von der deficits with leading trade partners. targeting agricultural products from with the U.S., making it particularly Burchard and Adam Behsudi While China and Mexico have borne France, Germany and Italy. vulnerable to trade sanctions. the brunt of his early threats, he now Iconic European products ranging has a prime opportunity to box out The potential duties derive from a While most of the 90-odd products from Roquefort cheese to Vespa some of Europe’s most famous transatlantic quarrel that has targeted by the U.S. retaliatory list scooters will soon be in Donald exports. dragged on for more than 20 years are meats, Washington also has its Trump’s sights. over the EU’s refusal to accept knife out for motorbikes, chocolate, Next Wednesday, the U.S. trade imports of U.S. beef treated with mustard, paprika, chestnuts and — The billionaire property tycoon won representative will hold a public hormones. Powerful U.S. farming bizarrely — hair clippers. the U.S. presidency on a highly hearing on slapping an eventual 100 groups are pushing the Trump protectionist agenda and vowed to percent import tariff on about 90 administration to hit the EU hard. “If a tariff is put on Vespas, we slash the country’s eye-watering European products, particularly The EU has a €136 billion surplus would lose our business because

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 16 some U.S. farmers want to inject “If a tariff is put on Vespas, we Rolling out the cannons “The motorcycle sector should not their cattle with growth hormones” would lose our business because be dragged into trade disputes over — Paul Henry, owner of a Vespa some U.S. farmers want to inject The dispute over beef has kicked off food products,” said Manuel dealership in Oregon their cattle with growth hormones,” again partly because U.S. farmers Ordonez de Barraicua from he wrote. “There is no connection in argue that the 2009 deal was not fair the European Association of The European Commission said it logic.” to them. They say countries such as Motorcycle was following “closely the U.S. Australia and Uruguay, which can Manufacturers. “European review process to reinstate trade Festering dispute produce hormone-free beef more companies must be able to compete sanctions.” The USTR could not cheaply, moved in to fill the 50,000 The dispute dates back to 1996, in the US market on fair terms and comment, in part because Trump’s ton quota originally intended for the must not be hindered by artificial nominee for U.S. trade when the U.S. sued Brussels at the U.S. World Trade Organization for its ban and politically-motivated trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, barriers.” has not yet been confirmed by the on hormone-treated beef. After Vespa scooters in Rome, Italy | Senate. Europe continued to uphold the ban, Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty The American Motorcyclist the WTO authorized the U.S. to Images Association last month also urged its A new era impose punitive tariffs equal to the North American Meat Institute members to deluge the agency with damage suffered because of the objections. The organization said it “I’m definitely concerned,” said hormone ban. President and CEO Barry Carpenter German Social Democrat Bernd cautioned in December that thwarted an effort by the USTR in Lange, the European Parliament’s The retaliatory tariffs had a retaliation was a “last resort” but 2008 to put motorcycles on a rapporteur for trade relations with significant impact, causing the value added that it was “the only way to revised retaliation list. Washington. “Apparently the of EU imports affected by the duties secure fair compensation for the While most of the 90-odd products willingness to engage in a dialog is to drop from $130 million in 1997-98 losses the U.S. meat industry has targeted by the U.S. retaliatory list no longer a given on the U.S. side.” to less than $15 million in 2008, a incurred over the years because of are meats, Washington also has its Congressional Research Service the EU’s hormone ban.” knife out for mustard and paprika | “This is a sign we’re heading for a report says. new era” in trade relations between Jean-Luc Mériaux, secretary- Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Brussels and Washington, he said. In 2009, under the newly elected general of the European Livestock European food giant Nestlé President Barack Obama, both and Meat Trading Union, saw protested the move, saying it Christian Burgsmüller, a member of sides reached an agreement for America’s retaliatory list as leverage European Trade Commissioner threatened more than 250 jobs and ending the trade sanctions in return on Brussels to take action. would make popular European Cecilia Malmström’s cabinet, last for allowing the U.S. to export up to week also expressed his concern “It’s more expensive for U.S. sparkling waters such as San 50,000 tons of hormone-free beef Pellegrino and Perrier prohibitively that the likely demise of the per year to Europe. farmers to comply with the EU’s Transatlantic Trade and Investment requirements than for beef expensive. Partnership — now in a deep freeze “That was at a moment when the producers from other countries “The United States has — had put an end to an “armistice” Americans were truly open to using the quota. There’s an demonstrated its ability to resolve between the EU and U.S. “under negotiate at eye level,” said economic problem … The message this dispute — i.e., to return the which we tried to solve differences Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl from to the Commission is: Find a way to Commission to the table — without amicably instead of engaging in the European People’s Party, who fix this.” resorting to additional tariffs,” Nestlé disputes.” was the European Parliament’s USA, Inc.’s attorneys wrote. rapporteur on the deal. In 2012, the Despite the farmers’ concerns, there As with Trump’s controversial plans agreement passed the parliament, is public unease about retaliation. Trade lawyer Reinhard Quick, a to slap a 20 percent tax on imports one year before the EU and U.S. More than 11,500 people and professor of international trade at from Mexico, the U.S. will have to started talks on their transatlantic organizations have flooded the U.S. Saarland University, said that a deal carefully calibrate the domestic trade pact. trade representative with comments could still be found, and urged reaction to price hikes on European in an online consultation ahead of companies to wait for the Trump goods. “Today, our trade talks are stalled … next week’s meeting. administration to fully settle in. and in the light of a ‘America first’ European food giant Nestlé policy, the mood seems to have “Currently the Americans are rolling “Currently the Americans are rolling protested the move | Fabrice changed,” she added. out the cannons, but they are not out the cannons, but they are not Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images firing yet” — Trade lawyer Reinhard firing yet.” The possible tariffs now under Quick Paul Henry, the owner of a Vespa consideration were announced by dealership in Portland, Oregon, said Obama’s outgoing Trade Many expressed outrage that the the tariff on scooters would mean he Representative Michael Froman, list, unlike the previous tariffs in the would have to cut his five 1990s, include not only agricultural who — amid frustration over TTIP — employees and would likely fall on launched the process in December. produce but also motorbikes. hard times.

The Trump Effect: The President’s Wild Start Churns Domestic Politics Around the World Carol E. Lee, Anton Troianovski and an increasingly popular brand that alliances and just the thought of that ahead of ours,” White House press Santiago Pérez appeals to those who broadly has reverberations both with allies secretary Sean Spicer said. disapprove of his world view or who and with rivals,” said Joseph Nye, Feb. 9, 2017 11:25 a.m. ET have been put off by some of his former chair of the National While the new president’s style is brash—particularly after eight years President Donald Trump’s early moves. Multinational Intelligence Council. “If you have a organizations such as the European slogan ‘America First,’ that means of the cautious, deliberative combative approach to world affairs approach of former President is scrambling political dynamics in Union and the North Atlantic Treaty everybody else is second.” Organization are racing to formulate Barack Obama—Mr. Trump is countries across the globe, The White House said Mr. Trump’s seeking to advance his agenda one bolstering some candidates who a unified response to what promise to be dramatic shifts in U.S. policy. foreign-policy approach is designed personal relationship at a time, his promise to stand up to the new U.S. to implement what he sees as a aides said, despite that effort’s rocky leader and potentially reshaping “There is a feeling which is pretty necessary course correction in start. America’s alliances. widespread that Trump is trying to America’s role in the world. end what has been 70 years of A White House visit Friday by From Germany to Mexico to Iraq, “He just feels that for too long we’ve Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo political opposition to Mr. Trump is American foreign policy based on international institutions and let other countries’ interests become Abe offers the next test of the Trump

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 17 effect on other countries’ politics. Council on Foreign Relations, a immigration, resurrecting France’s Mr. Trump’s statements have People close to Mr. Abe say he London think tank. national borders and pulling the emboldened hard-line Shiite parties plans to make it easy for the new country out of the European Union’s that traditionally tilt toward Iran. president by launching a charm Mr. Trump’s victory initially common currency. “What Trump did confirms what we offensive—something that won’t energized his ideological allies, have warned of before: that America likely cost him politically thanks to particularly in Europe’s nationalist, Emmanuel Macron, a pro-EU former is not a strategic ally to Iraq,” said his own popularity at home. anti-immigrant and euroskeptic investment banker who is running as Naeem al-Aboudi, spokesman for parties. Yet that enthusiasm has an independent, has increasingly Asaib Ahl al Haq, one of the largest Mr. Abe wants to avoid inflaming Mr. tempered since he took office and in used Mr. Trump as a foil. He’s cast Shiite militias. Trump by pushing back on his some countries centrist politicians his centrist campaign as a sanctuary policies, even in areas where the who oppose the new American for liberal democracy and Mr. Trump’s early move to retaliate U.S. leader has attacked Japan’s president’s policies are enjoying a multiculturalism. against Iran after its ballistic missile interests, these people say. One revival. test just days after he took office, advantage: Hot-button issues such “I want to issue a solemn appeal to and his administration’s warning that as immigration and refugee policy The president’s praise for Russian all the researchers, academics and Tehran is “on notice,” could aren’t top-of-mind in insular Japan. President Vladimir Putin and businesses in the United States that embolden the country’s hard-liners, criticism of NATO has rattled are fighting against obscurantism,” warns Iran’s exiled crown prince, The same weekend, a rising likely European leaders. Mr. Trump’s Mr. Macron told thousands at a rally Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Iranian candidate in Mexico’s presidential policy on Russia, as well as China, on Saturday. “You have and you will shah and president of the Iran elections next year, leftist leader isn’t yet clear, although he has have, as of next May, a homeland. It Council for Free Elections. Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is rattled Beijing’s leadership by will be France!” embarking on a tour of half a dozen questioning the status of Taiwan “The regime, in fact, would welcome U.S. cities in an attempt to cement and accusing the country of While Ms. Le Pen is leading in the a conflict,” he said in an interview. his lead in the polls following a manipulating its currency. He has polls with about a quarter of the “They use a conflict” to deflect nationalist backlash in his country said he hopes to have better vote, Mr. Macron gets between 20% attention from domestic against Mr. Trump’s policy relations with Mr. Putin, and this and 23% for the No. 2 spot. He unhappiness over the economy and proposals and rhetoric on week the White House said the U.S. recently supplanted conservative political repression. immigration. won’t support lifting sanctions on François Fillon who is now in third Russia in response to its incursion after an expenses scandal. Mr. Trump has tempered some of Starting Sunday in Los Angeles, Mr. his campaign pronouncements, into Ukraine until the conflict there If the current pattern holds, Ms. Le López Obrador is holding a series of ends. such as that Japan and South Korea events to convey his support for Pen would win the first round of perhaps should acquire nuclear Mexican migrants in the U.S. The In Germany, the party of a candidate voting in late April, but polls predict weapons. But he did withdraw the ascent of the 63-year-old founder of taking a hard line against Mr. Trump she’ll lose in a landslide to Mr. U.S. from the Trans-Pacific the populist National Regeneration ahead of September’s general Macron in the runoff in May as Partnership, a trade pact with 11 Movement, who narrowly lost election has surpassed Chancellor voters for Mr. Fillon and left-wing Asia-Pacific nations, as promised Mexico’s two previous elections, Angela Merkel’s conservative party candidates are expected to shift during the campaign. comes as President Enrique Peña for the first time in more than five their votes to him. Nieto scrambles to establish a years, according to a survey In South Korea, a U.S. ally, Mr. In the Middle East, Mr. Trump is Trump has helped fuel the rise of working relationship with Mr. Trump. released Monday by the polling firm being watched closely by America’s Mr. Peña Nieto cancelled a planned INSA for the Bild newspaper. upstart candidates bidding to allies and adversaries alike. He has replace President Park Geun-hye, Jan. 31 White House meeting after a close relationship with Israeli Mr. Trump repeated demands that By contrast, the anti-immigrant and who was impeached by the antiestablishment Alternative for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, country’s National Assembly in Mexico pay for a wall between the who is scheduled to visit the White two countries. Germany, which has praised Mr. December. Trump, has struggled in the polls House next week. And Mr. Trump’s A poll published Feb. 1 by Mexican recently. It dropped to 12% in this aggressive opening salvo with Iran In Australia, another close U.S. ally, business daily El Financiero gave week’s INSA poll, compared with was greeted positively by Sunni Mr. Trump’s presidency has jolted Mr. López Obrador 33% voter 15% in early January. Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, the coalition of Prime Minister support, up 4 percentage points which is a shift from the deep Malcolm Turnbull, which has only a from November and six points Martin Schulz, the Social skepticism they had for former thin majority in parliament, ahead of former first lady Margarita Democratic candidate challenging President Obama, said R. Nicholas emboldening conservative party Zavala, a leading presidential Ms. Merkel for chancellor, has been Burns, who advised President rebels to talk of another leadership contender within the conservative rallying supporters by criticizing Mr. George W. Bush on Iran policy. coup and straining ties with the U.S National Action Party. Trump, saying his “attacks on over a flashpoint refugee deal. Europe are also attacks on Iraq, though, may be emerging as a In Europe, Mr. Trump’s election, Germany.” trouble spot. Mr. Trump’s executive On Tuesday, a high-profile policy pronouncements and style order banning the vast majority of lawmaker who says he has drawn have had an impact on matters Even in France, where Trump-style Iraqis from traveling to the U.S., inspiration from Mr. Trump and the including the British government’s populism was surging, the picture is coupled with his comments that the conservative drift in U.S. politics, position on Brexit to European growing more complicated, and the U.S. should have taken Iraq’s oil quit the government to start his own military spending to political races in American leader becoming a during the Iraq war, has shaken the rival party, hoping to draw others. Germany to Polish foreign policy. defining wedge issue in the delicate political balance Iraqi Prime presidential race. Minister Haider al-Abadi has tried to —Jacob Schlesinger, Alastair Gale, “I have not had a conversation, no maintain between serving as a pro- Stacy Meichtry, Tamer El- matter how minor, with a European Marine Le Pen, leader of the far- U. S. ally and resisting strong anti- Ghobashy, Jonathan Cheng, Rob official that hasn’t focused on right National Front, said Mr. American forces in his government, Taylor, Julian E. Barnes, Valentina Trump,” said Jeremy Shapiro, the Trump’s swift action since taking analysts say. Pop and Martin Sobczyk contributed director of research at the European office has lent credibility to her own to this article. causes: cracking down on US Allies Worry About Joint Intel Operations Under President Trump WASHINGTON just how much President Donald willingness to give the Trump combined with what, at times, — Trump plans to shake up the administration more time to get appears to be contradictory existing order. people in place at the various messages from the White House, Some U.S. allies are increasingly agencies and departments. key departments and even from uneasy about the future of joint The concerns are still in the early President Trump himself, is starting intelligence endeavors with stages, with most of those willing to But many also admit that the to strain ongoing efforts. Washington as they try to figure out share their thoughts expressing a ongoing lack of communication

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 18

"It's hard to know for sure," one FILE - President Donald Trump "What you're going to see, I'm sure, Commissioner for Migration, Home Western diplomatic official told VOA speaks to troops while visiting U.S. is a campaign of fake news," the Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris on condition of anonymity, when Central Command and U.S. Special diplomatic official said, warning a Avramopoulos sounded an asked about the future of Operations Command at MacDill Air softer approach to Russia's activities optimistic tone, calling his talks intelligence cooperation with the Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Feb. is only likely to backfire on the West. Wednesday with U.S. Homeland U.S. 6, 2017. Security Secretary John Kelly, FILE - Russian President Vladimir "fruitful and friendly." "So much of the administration is not "These alliances have been a little Putin takes part in a meeting in in place," the official said, cautioning too much of a one way street, which Moscow. "The security threats faced by the that despite the many remaining is not to say that the alliances have United States and the European vacancies there is already a sense no value," said Kevin Harrington, "If the most important of these allies, Union are common and so should Trump prefers some allies to others. deputy assistant to the president for the U.S., decides to forgive, it will be be our response," Avramopoulos strategic planning at the National very difficult," the official said. said in a statement. Perhaps no set of issues has been Security Council, at a forum Monday While Trump's aides have done little more emblematic of the dilemmas in Washington. Kelly, for his part, emphasized facing officials from Washington's to ease creeping anxiety for some Washington's "deep commitment to European allies as the Trump "It was time for the United States to U.S. allies, there have been some help the EU fight the terrorist threat" administration's approach to Russia look harder at a fairer burden hints of pragmatism. according to a readout from his and the NATO alliance. sharing on certain fronts," he said of "If we've learned anything from the office. the president's message during the Starting on the campaign trail, last eight years it's that sort of Yet for every step forward, Western campaign. "This is not being anti- cuddling up to your opponents and Trump continually talked about his alliance to do that. I think it's simply officials say it is difficult to move respect for Russian President punishing your allies is not a good past nagging doubts caused by a question of fairer distribution of recipe for a peaceful, stable world," Vladimir Putin, a view he has clung burdens." tweets, comments or even the to even since taking office. said the NSC's Coates. "We have administration's executive order "It's a wonderful area of terrific friends who are willing to help pausing immigration from seven "I do respect him," Trump told Fox opportunity," according to NSC us and if we ask them to do so in a Muslim majority countries. News' Bill O'Reilly in an interview Senior Director for Strategic purposeful way, that there's a plan that aired this past Sunday. "He's a Assessments Victoria Coates who behind it, I actually think we have a One Western official, speaking on leader of his country. I say it's better spoke at the same event regarding great deal of upside." condition of anonymity, said the to get along with Russia than not." order caused several days of the chance to work on Washington's Western officials hope that thinking relationships. uncertainty as Western countries At the same time, Trump has ultimately wins out. struggled to get answers on how it criticized NATO repeatedly, calling it But it has been the U.S. president's impacted their citizens and what "obsolete." "We have something to offer," noted apparent willingness to work with Dutch Ambassador to the they were supposed to do. And despite voicing voiced "strong Russia that has some Western U.S.Henne Schuwer, who has been officials most unnerved. For now, many Western officials support for NATO" in a phone call watching developments closely. seem willing to give the Trump Sunday with NATO Secretary "It's a key concern," said the administration more time to get its General Jens Stoltenberg, Western The Netherlands has been working Western diplomatic official who with various U.S. agencies to footing. Still they worry, waiting, as officials say they are left to wonder spoke on condition of anonymity. one official put it, for a firm signal to how far that support truly goes, improve security across Europe and "Russia has been a very disruptive to establish a European Union indicate what sort of course the U.S. given other statements the president player." leadership will ultimately take. has made. intelligence community in order to Officials worry Moscow's disruptions better share vital information and During a visit to U.S. Central of upcoming elections in France, combat threats. Command headquarters in Tampa, Germany and the Netherlands will "We have a very good relation with Florida, Monday, for example, only increase. Trump repeated criticism of NATO the intelligence community [in the members who have not been The fear, the officials say, is Russia U.S.]," Schuwer said. "That will not making "their full and proper will interfere in those elections in be broken easily." financial contributions." much the same way American Meetings this week with key intelligence officials said it interfered "Many of them have not been even European Union officials may also with the recent U.S. presidential go a long way in easing potential close," Trump said. "And they have election. to do that." anxieties.

INTERNATIONAL

David Ignatius : Fears of an Islamic State breakout fuel Trump’s strategy https://www.facebook.com/davidign happen to the Islamic State after its That’s the worry that motivates the That may be one rationale for atiusbooks stronghold in Mosul is captured. It Trump administration as it plans Trump’s controversial ban on travel shows menacing black arrows strategy against the terrorist group: from Iraq and six other Muslim- Michael Flynn, the national security reaching west toward future Rather than a shattering defeat for majority countries, which was adviser to President Trump, shows battlefronts in Iraq, Syria and the adversary, Mosul may be the rejected Thursday night by a federal visitors a map predicting what will beyond. start of a breakout to other regions. appeals court. Defenders of the ban

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 19 could argue that it might prevent a most of the heavy fighting, is about Institute for the Study of War to clear Raqqa with thousands of metastasis of the Islamic State into 30 percent, a high-level intelligence caution that such a Russia-Iran split U.S. troops from mobile units, such the West after its capitals are official said. Because that unit must is probably wishful thinking. as the 82nd Airborne Division, crushed. rebuild its strength, victory in Mosul which is already partly deployed in is at least six months away. Trump’s notion of partnership with Iraq. That would be a decisive show “As Mosul falls, everyone [in the President Vladimir Putin is also of force, and it could get the United Islamic State] will move out,” said a Then there’s the Iran conundrum. increasingly problematic. States in and out relatively quickly. senior Trump administration official. Flynn put Iran “on notice” after its Congressional Republicans are But it would probably mean high “ISIS will fall back into different Jan. 29 missile test, and the wary about embracing Moscow. U.S. casualties. areas. You could get suicide attacks administration soon announced And last Friday, the senior again in Ramadi,” an Iraqi city that sanctions. But Tehran is also the administration official endorsed the The bitter irony is that as Trump was liberated 14 months ago. United States’ de facto ally against hard-line statement by U.N. proclaims his anti-Islamic State the Islamic State in Iraq. Iran- Ambassador Nikki Haley that campaign, al-Qaeda is becoming Opinions newsletter backed Shiite militias haven’t turned Russia must withdraw from Crimea stronger in both Iraq and Syria, Thought-provoking opinions and their guns on U.S. forces, but they before sanctions are removed. The warn analysts from the Institute for commentary, in your inbox daily. could — severely complicating the White House position on Russia is the Study of War. This is a fight Islamic State campaign. now “high standards, high where easy slogans and rushed Please provide a valid email expectations,” the official said. travel bans aren’t likely to provide a address. And there’s the puzzle of how to path to victory. deal with the new alliance of The Trump team has criticized P But many experts outside the Russia, Iran, Turkey and the regime resident Barack Obama’s plan for ●A clarification about the National administration see holes in Trump’s of Syrian President Bashar al- taking Raqqa as “poor staff work,” Security Council organizational counterterrorism approach and Assad. Will the United States join without having its own version chart described in a previous worry that it could backfire. His them in a shared fight against the ready. Some analysts worry that the column: Susan Rice, former rhetoric about “Islamic terrorism” Islamic State? If so, would that Islamic State is regrouping as the national security adviser, disputed a has turned up the ideological heat, mean abandoning the Syrian new administration recalibrates claim by Flynn, her successor, that but it has frightened some potential Kurdish militia known as the YPG, policy. “Simultaneity and pressure she had 23 people reporting directly Muslim allies at home and abroad. which has been the United States’ are the keys going forward,” one to her, compared with Flynn’s eight. Trump has denounced the Obama strongest partner against the U.S. commander said. He urged Rice said she had just eight direct administration’s strategy — which, Islamic State, but which Turkey that the United States sustain its reports. Flynn’s spokesman said he however cautious, was slowly rejects as a terrorist group? broad coalition, including the Syrian had based his estimate on an throttling the Islamic State — Kurds, to keep up momentum. organizational chart that Rice had without having a clear alternative. During the presidential campaign, given him. Trump urged an alliance with Victory in Raqqa could be a year The travel ban has offended the Russia against the Islamic State in off, the intelligence official warned. Read more from David Ignatius’s Iraqi government, even as its elite Syria, and some officials have That would give the Islamic State archive, follow him on Twitter or forces bravely captured eastern talked of driving a wedge between many months to plan the global subscribe to his updates on Mosul. The casualty rate among the Moscow and attacks that Flynn fears. Given this Facebook. Iraqi Counterterrorism Service, Tehran. But danger, some analysts speculate which has done analysts from the that Trump may eventually decide

Editorial : A terrorism label that would hurt more than help https://www.facebook.com/washingt 1970s in exchange for the freedom organization list. A Jordanian were so labeled, anyone in the onpostopinions to organize politically and socially. branch, purged of extremists, is United States or abroad who Following the Arab Spring uprising represented in parliament. A 2015 provided “material support or THOSE WHO favor the United in Egypt, the Brotherhood moved review by the British government resources,” including something States designating the Muslim into politics and one of its members, concluded that “for the most part, such as democracy training, would Brotherhood a foreign terrorist Mohamed Morsi, was elected the Muslim Brotherhood have be at risk of removal from the organization, a move being president in 2012. His faltering preferred non violent incremental United States, as well as financial considered by the Trump performance led to mass protests, change,” but “they are prepared to sanctions. administration and advanced by a and he was deposed by the military countenance violence — including, few members of Congress, think it a year later. Gen. Abdel Fatah al- from time to time, terrorism — The possibility of this being used will strike a singular blow against Sissi, now Egypt’s president, has where gradualism is ineffective.” A unfairly against Muslim groups in violent extremism. But they labor outlawed the Brotherhood, arrested blanket designation would injure the United States is real, and under an illusion. The Muslim its leaders and members, and those who seek change without worrisome, given the inclination of Brotherhood is not a single, pressed hard for Washington to terrorism. President Trump and some cohesive unit, but rather a sprawling impose the foreign terrorist members of his team to unfairly organization. It does not designation. Under U.S. law, the designation as conflate all Muslims with the danger systematically engage in terrorism, a foreign terrorist organization is to of terrorism. An overly broad although some parts of it have In Tunisia, a party inspired by the be made by the secretary of state. designation against the Brotherhood turned to violence. A blanket Brotherhood is openly engaged in Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rep. would also have unwanted designation would be a mistake. politics, and the democratic Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) have blowback in the Middle East, transition would have been reintroduced legislation that would tainting people who are working for Founded in 1928 in Egypt as a impossible without its moderate urge the secretary to make the nonviolent change. This is a case religious, social and political leadership. Among Palestinians, the designation, saying the Muslim where the United States needs a organization, the Muslim Islamic Resistance Movement, or Brotherhood, as well as Iran’s laserlike attention to real threats, Brotherhood has evolved over Hamas, which has waged a violent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, not a senseless political designation subsequent decades. After conflict against Israel, is also an “espouse a violent Islamist ideology that would miss the mark. endorsing the use of violence in its offshoot of the Brotherhood and is with a mission of destroying the early years, the Egyptian branch of already on the U.S. foreign terrorist West.” If the Muslim Brotherhood the Brotherhood disowned it in the Syria's Assad Brushes Off Amnesty Report on Prison Executions as 'Fake News' Zamira Rahim

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 20

Syrian President Bashar Assad has "You can forge anything these He added: “If the FBI says campaign of extrajudicial dismissed allegations of extensive days," Assad responded when something, it’s not evidence for execution." human rights violations at military shown the report during an anyone." prison outside of Damascus as interview with Yahoo News in [Yahoo News] The Syrian President also said that "fake news." Damascus. "We are living in a fake news era." He was also shown an life was returning to normal in parts The Amnesty International report FBI report concluding that photo of of Syria, including Damascus, as claims that up to 13,000 prisoners bodies at one of his prisons were the intensity of the 5-year civil war were killed at the Saydnaya prison genuine. Assad dismissed this as diminishes. Amnesty's report said between 2011 and the end of 2015, "propaganda". that between 20 - 50 people a week Yahoo News reports. were executed in a "calculated

Russian airstrike kills 3 Turkish soldiers in northern Syria https://www.face Please provide a valid email Russia, Turkey and Iran hosted conducted in support of Syrian or book.com/lizsly address. talks in Kazakhstan to manage a Turkish operations there. cease-fire between rebel factions MOSCOW — A Russian airstrike in The deaths added to a heavy toll and the Syrian government, and The attack also coincided with northern Syria killed three Turkish suffered by Turkish troops Russian and Turkish officials reports of the first direct clashes soldiers and wounded 11 others embroiled in an increasingly announced that they would begin between Syrian forces and Turkish- Thursday, in a friendly fire incident complicated and bloody fight to help coordinating strikes against the backed rebels on the outskirts of al- that could test the shaky Syrian rebels capture al-Bab from Islamic State. Bab, threatening to turn the battle coordination between the two the Islamic State. Five died into a three-front, international war. countries in the fight against the Wednesday, and the latest deaths The two countries’ relations have Photographs posted on social Islamic State. brought the number of Turkish warmed despite dramatic incidents, media by rebel groups showed soldiers killed in the two-month including the assassination of rebels driving an armored vehicle Russia and Turkey both described battle to more than 60. Russia’s ambassador to Turkey in that was said to have been the morning attack as accidental, December by a gunman who commandeered from government - saying a bomb hit a building used [Report: Syria has secretly executed yelled, “God is great!” and “Don’t forces. by Turkish troops near the northern thousands of political prisoners] forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!” Syrian town of al-Bab. Turkish [The road to Raqqa: On the front forces are launching an offensive to In a short statement, the Turkish [Trump to Erdogan: No decision yet line of a U.S.-backed advance] retake the town from the Islamic armed forces said Russian officials on arming Kurds in Syria] State. had expressed their “sadness and Erdogan is hoping to persuade U.S. condolences.” It added In recent days, rebel and Turkish military commanders to partner with The two countries quickly took steps that “investigation and studies reinforcements have been the Turkish-backed force fighting in to limit fallout from the related to the event will be carried converging from the north on the Syria — rather than arm Syrian incident. Russian President Vladimir out by both sides.” outskirts of al-Bab for what rebel Kurdish fighters linked to the Putin expressed condolences to commanders said is expected to be Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Moscow and Ankara appeared a major push to eject the militants. which is designated a terrorist group Erdogan in a telephone call and close to the brink of war in late 2015 by Turkey and the United States. blamed the strike on poor after Turkish jets shot down a Meanwhile, Syrian government The ground force would be used in coordination, according to a Kremlin Russian warplane over forces have also been advancing on a final assault on the Islamic State’s spokesman. The Russian Defense Turkey’s border with Syria. But the town from the south, setting up self-proclaimed capital in the Ministry said the strike was meant Putin restored relations with a race for control of al-Bab between northern Syrian city of Raqqa. to hit Islamic State targets. Erdogan after a coup attempt nearly Turkish-backed forces and those unseated the Turkish leader in July. loyal to Assad. President Trump’s advisers have Today's WorldView been skeptical about a plan to arm The two countries have increased Russia has been providing air the Kurds but have not ruled it out. What's most important from where their coordination in Syria, where support to both sides as they the world meets Washington Turkish-backed rebels have sought advance. It was unclear whether the Sly reported from Beirut. Kareem to overthrow President Bashar al- errant strike Thursday was Fahim in Istanbul contributed to this Assad, a Moscow ally. Last month, report.

Trump May Turn to Arab Allies for Help With Israeli-Palestinian Relations (UNE) Peter Baker and Mark Landler WASHINGTON — President Trump cooperation, the United States “There are some quite interesting himself as an unstinting supporter of and his advisers, venturing for the cannot make life harder for them ideas circulating on the potential for Israel who would quickly move the first time into the fraught world of with provocative pro-Israel moves. U.S.-Israeli-Arab discussions on embassy and support new Middle East peacemaking, are regional security in which Israeli- settlement construction without developing a strategy on the Israeli- The White House seems to be Palestinian issues would play a reservation. But he has tempered Palestinian conflict that would enlist taking the advice. Mr. Trump significant role,” said Robert Satloff, that to a degree. Arab nations like Saudi Arabia and delayed his plan to move the United the executive director of the Egypt to break years of deadlock. States Embassy to Jerusalem after Washington Institute for Near East The notion of recruiting Arab Arab leaders told him that doing so Policy. “I don’t know if this is going countries to help forge an The emerging approach mirrors the would cause angry protests among to ripen by next week, but this stuff agreement between Israelis and thinking of Prime Minister Benjamin Palestinians, who also claim the city is out there.” Palestinians — known as the Netanyahu of Israel, who will visit as the capital of a future state. And “outside-in” approach — is not a the United States next week, and after meeting with King Abdullah II The discussions underscore the new one. As secretary of state would build on his de facto of Jordan last week, Mr. Trump evolution of the new president’s under President George Bush, alignment with Sunni Muslim authorized a statement that, for the attitude toward the Israeli- James A. Baker III organized the countries in trying to counter the first time, cautioned Israel against Palestinian conflict as he delves first regional conference in 1991 at rise of Shiite-led Iran. But Arab building new West Bank settlements deeper into the issue. During the which Arab leaders sat down with officials have warned Mr. Trump beyond existing lines. campaign and the postelection Israel’s prime minister. President and his advisers that if they want transition, Mr. Trump presented George W. Bush invited Arab

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 21 leaders to a summit meeting with this logic, according to people who American policy and emphasized It was worded in a way that let Israel in Annapolis, Md., in 2007. have spoken with him. Mr. Kushner the risks that Jordan would face if different parties focus on different And President Barack Obama’s first has grown close to Ron Dermer, the Israel were to become even more parts. The “may not be helpful” special envoy, George Mitchell, Israeli ambassador and a close assertive about building phrase was the first time Mr. Trump spent months in 2009 trying to enlist confidant of Mr. Netanyahu’s. Mr. settlements, according to people had warned against new housing in Arab partners in a joint effort. Trump and Mr. Kushner also had who spoke with Mr. Kushner and the West Bank. dinner at the White House on Stephen K. Bannon, the chief White Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Thursday night with Sheldon House strategist. But the “beyond their current Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel last Adelson, the casino magnate, who borders” phrase suggested a return year in New York. The Trump is a key supporter of Mr. Mr. Trump had already decided by to George W. Bush’s policy of administration’s emerging approach Netanyahu. that point to slow down the essentially acquiescing to additional to Middle East peace efforts mirrors embassy move — a decision that construction within existing Mr. Netanyahu’s thinking. Reuters A series of telephone conversations did not especially trouble Mr. settlement blocs as long as Israel and personal meetings with Arab Netanyahu and his team, who, while did not expand their geographical The difference is that in the last and regional leaders in recent publicly supporting a move, reach or build entirely new eight years, Israel has grown closer weeks have also shaped Mr. privately urged caution to avoid a settlements. Elliott Abrams, one of to Sunni Arab nations because of Kushner’s thinking and that of the violent backlash. The administration the authors of that policy under Mr. their shared concern about Iranian president. Mr. Trump has talked had also received reports from Bush, is poised to become deputy hegemony in the region, opening with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi American diplomats in Jordan that secretary of state under Mr. Trump. the possibility that this newfound, if of Egypt; King Salman of Saudi the threat level for a terrorist attack not always public, affiliation could Arabia; Sheikh Mohammed bin there had been raised to the highest Mr. Netanyahu’s team focused on change the dynamics. Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince level in years. that part of the statement. “I happen of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab to know they were very pleased with “The logic of outside-in is that But a series of announcements of the statement because it was such because the Palestinians are so Emirates; and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Mr. new settlement construction worried a contrast from Obama,” said weak and divided — and because some White House officials, who Morton A. Klein, the national there’s a new, tacit relationship Kushner has also met with Arab officials, including Yousef Al Otaiba, thought Mr. Netanyahu was taking president of the Zionist Organization between the Sunni Arabs and Israel action without first meeting with Mr. of America, who has been — there’s the hope the Arabs would the ambassador from the United Arab Emirates. Trump. supportive of the Trump be prepared to do more,” said administration. Dennis B. Ross, a Middle East The United States Embassy in Tel Within hours of Mr. Trump’s peace negotiator under several Aviv. Mr. Trump delayed his plan to meeting with King Abdullah, the Indeed, undeterred, Mr. presidents, including Mr. Obama. move the embassy to Jerusalem administration leaked a statement to Netanyahu’s coalition pushed after Arab leaders told him that The Jerusalem Post saying, “We through Parliament a bill to That is a departure from the urge all parties from taking retroactively authorize thousands of countervailing assumption that if doing so would lead to protests among Palestinians. Jack unilateral actions that could homes in the West Bank that even Israel first made peace with the undermine our ability to make under Israeli law had been built Palestinians, it would lead to peace Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images progress, including settlement illegally on Palestinian-owned land. with the larger Arab world — the announcements.” “inside-out” approach. That was at King Abdullah II of Jordan seems to Mr. Klein, who argues that the core of President Bill Clinton’s have played a particularly pivotal After that was posted online, the settlements are not an obstacle to attempts to bring the two sides role. Concerned that an embassy White House issued a public peace, said the White House had together and was Mr. Obama’s move would anger the many statement with softened language: made the statement too confusing fallback position after his efforts to Palestinians living in his country, the “While we don’t believe the to provide clear direction. “I did find find Arab partners failed. king rushed to Washington without existence of settlements is an it ambiguous, and not as clear as I an invitation, in a gamble that he impediment to peace, the would like it to be,” he said. Mr. Netanyahu, who is due at the construction of new settlements or White House on Wednesday, has could see Mr. Trump. He visited first The challenge now is whether Mr. with Vice President Mike Pence, the expansion of existing been talking about an outside-in settlements beyond their current Trump can use this ambiguity to his approach for a while. His theory is who had him over for breakfast at benefit. If the United States can his official residence last week. The borders may not be helpful in that the inside-out approach has achieving that goal.” extract gestures from the Arabs, failed. And so, he argues, if Israel king appealed to the then that could provide a basis for can transform its relationship with administration’s fixation with the King Abdullah II of Jordan, far left; Israelis and Palestinians to make Sunni Arab nations, they can Islamic State, arguing that the Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson; compromises that they could not do ultimately lead the way toward a United States should not alienate and the White House adviser Jared by themselves, Mr. Ross said. resolution with the Palestinians. Arab allies who could help. Kushner, right, at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington last “You’d have to have some kind of Jared Kushner, the senior White Several days later, the king parallel approach,” he said. “This buttonholed Mr. Trump on the week. Stephen Crowley/The New House adviser whom Mr. Trump York Times would be a serious investment of has assigned a major role in sidelines of the National Prayer diplomacy to probe what is negotiations, has been intrigued by Breakfast and made a similar case. possible.” He advised against a radical shift in Neocon and Iran-contra figure Elliott Abrams in line for State Department job https://www.facebook.com/anne.ge State Department would be another secretary of state job Tuesday at If he is chosen, Abrams is expected aran sign that the Trump administration the White House. The nomination to play a major role in the intends to remake U.S.-Israel policy could come within days, ahead of administration’s effort to resume If President Trump hires Elliott after what Trump sees as the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin negotiations toward a peace Abrams as the No. 2 at the State failures of the Obama years. It also Netanyahu’s visit to the White settlement or smaller, interim Department, he will be sending suggests that Trump plans to House next week. agreements. That effort is likely to several important signals on the quickly make good on Trump’s be headquartered at the White administration’s emerging foreign pledge to seek a peace deal Checkpoint newsletter House under presidential adviser policy, especially regarding Israel, between Israel and the Palestinians. and son-in-law Jared Kushner. and on his own tolerance for Military, defense and security at home and abroad. While Kushner has no government dissenting views. Best known for his role in the experience, and other influential Reagan-era Iran-contra scandal, Please provide a valid email Trump advisers on Israel have little, Abrams is fiercely pro-Israel, and Abrams interviewed for the deputy his inclusion at a high level in the address. Abrams would bring decades of

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 22 experience and extensive contacts their support for the Iraq War. He in Middle East peace issues were “He’s not going to burn the building across the Middle East. vowed to break free of constraints encouraged. down,” said a State Department on U.S. actions abroad that he said official, speaking on the condition of Ghaith Al-Omari, a former were the false constructs of a James J. Carafano, head of foreign anonymity to comment on a Palestinian peace negotiator, Washington foreign policy and defense policy analysts at the personnel issue. praised what he called Abrams’s establishment that Abrams Heritage Foundation, said Abrams “solid grounding in reality” and undoubtedly represents. knows the State Department well David Makovsky, an adviser on the learned understanding of the and believes American diplomacy is Middle East under President Barack problem. Abrams supported two of Trump’s important. Obama, witnessed the collapse of Republican rivals during the former secretary of state John F. “As importantly, he was an effective presidential campaign, Sens. Ted “He’s a tough, thick-skinned guy,” Kerry’s peace efforts. counterpart to work with: He got Cruz (Tex.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), Carafano said. “That’s what you things done,” Omari said. and declined to back the need as a deputy. It’s not a job “Adding Elliot would be a very where you make a lot of friends.” important signal that someone who Paula Dobriansky, who served in businessman once he became the GOP nominee. has experience in this issue will be the Reagan and George W. Bush “He’s a guy a lot of conservatives very much at the center of administrations, is another potential Trump and chief adviser Stephen K. trust,” he said of Abrams. “I don’t administration policy,” he said. “I choice for deputy. The post often Bannon prize loyalty, and the think he’s intensely ideological. He served in a Democratic goes to an experienced bureaucrat administration turned its back on makes each decision on its merits.” administration, but I think it would or a career Foreign Service officer. Republicans who signed manifestos Carafano said he expects Trump to be welcome across the board.” Although recent secretaries of state calling Trump unqualified on have had two deputies, the Trump brush off Abrams’s criticism of him The bipartisan praise is all the more national security grounds. Abrams during the campaign. administration might fill only one did not sign those letters but wrote noteworthy for the fact that slot, according to current and former last year that Republicans had “He respects expertise and Abrams’s conviction for withholding officials. chosen someone who could not leadership,” he said of Trump. “I information from Congress is seldom mentioned. Abrams’s White House visit is the win. Questions about his loyalty are don’t think he keeps score. If he clearest sign yet that he has a main reason for the long delay in thinks someone is good for the Abrams pleaded guilty in 1991 to become the leading candidate, announcing a nominee for the team and gives honest, concealing knowledge of the people familiar with the search said. deputy job at State, people familiar straightforward advice, he’ll be fine.” scheme to sell arms illegally to Iran with the process said. Through an assistant, Abrams Within the State Department, and divert the profits to anti- declined to comment. A White Abrams has no personal history Abrams developed a reputation as a communist rebels in Nicaragua. House spokesman did not respond with either Trump or Secretary of manager who listened to alternative to a request for information about Abrams was pardoned by President State Rex Tillerson, who also viewpoints before making a George H.W. Bush. the meeting between Trump and attended the Tuesday meeting at decision. His appointment would Abrams. the White House. come as a welcome relief to Carol Morello contributed to this employees who were dreading the report. An appointment under Trump would But Abrams’s knowledge of be Abrams’s third stint in prospects of another former Washington appealed to Tillerson, diplomat whose name was floated government, all for Republican who has no government presidents, and the most surprising. as a deputy, former U.S. background, one official said. As ambassador to the U.N. John As a candidate, Trump pilloried the Abrams’s stock rose as a potential Bolton. views of neoconservatives such as deputy to Tillerson, current and Abrams, especially in relation to former officials and others involved

Kenyan Court Blocks Government Plan to Close the World’s Largest Refugee Camp Matina Stevis persecution, illegal, discriminatory pales in comparison to the one A U.S. appeals court on Thursday and therefore unconstitutional,” million Somali refugees in Kenya upheld a federal judge’s order last Updated Feb. 9, 2017 6:30 p.m. ET Judge John Mativo ruled in Nairobi and other East African countries, week that temporarily barred NAIROBI, Kenya—The nation’s on Thursday. He said the plan was but it gave more-vulnerable enforcement of Mr. Trump’s high court threw out Kenya’s plan to a violation of Kenya’s obligations displaced Somalis, especially small directive. shut the world’s biggest refugee under international law, and children, a chance at an education declared it “null and void.” outside the vast refugee camp. Somalia, which on Wednesday camp, halting the repatriation of evening elected a new president, a hundreds of thousands of Somalis The United Nations and Western News of Mr. Trump’s decision in U.S.-Somali dual national who fled to the war-ravaged nation and countries that helped Kenya fund January shook Dadaab and left the civil war to find refuge in Buffalo, relieving pressure on refugee Dadaab criticized the closure plan thousands who had already gone N.Y., where he spent much of his facilities caused by President last year, but the government, which through multiyear vetting adult life, is facing a multitude of Donald Trump’s recent travel ban. is preparing for an election procedures by U.S. authorities in problems. scheduled for August, insisted it limbo, fearful that Kenya would Thursday’s ruling suspends plans Apart from the interclan conflict that for the closure of Dadaab, but the would proceed. It alleged, without send them home as the U.S. was offering evidence, that the camp shutting the door. has been going on for 25 years and government said it intends to appeal al Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab still the decision. could be a hub for extremists and said wealthier Western countries “After months of anxiety because of controlling swaths of the country The Kenyan government last year were rejecting refugees as well. the camp closure deadline hanging and wreaking havoc with attacks, said it wanted to shut Dadaab, over their heads, increasingly the Somali economy is decimated where roughly 300,000 Somali Mr. Trump’s executive order restricted asylum options and the and a drought has left some six refugees have been living for years, suspending the admission of Somali recent U.S. administration million people on the verge of many born there as their homeland refugees to the U.S. because of suspension of refugee resettlement, famine, the U.N. has said. security concerns has added the court’s judgment offers Somali has been in the throes of a civil war Write to Matina Stevis at and a violent Islamist insurgency. pressure to resolve the refugees’ refugees a hope that they may still situation. have a choice other than returning [email protected] “The government decision to insecure and drought-ridden specifically targeting Somali The U.S. last year accepted 11,000 Somalia,” said Laetitia Bader, Africa refugees is an act of group Somali refugees, many of whom researcher at Human Rights Watch. were joining families. The number

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A Bilingual Cameroon Teeters After English Speakers Protest Treatment Francois Essomba and Dionne French speakers and a minority the rest of the country, further flagrant disregard for basic rights Searcey who speak English and adhere to inflaming the situation. risks inflaming an already tense British common law. The setup has situation in the English-speaking BAMENDA, Cameroon — Lawyers been plagued by constitutional Protests Violence in Cameroon region of the country and is clearly have long put up with laws that disputes and complaints from an attempt to muzzle dissent.” aren’t translated into their native In Cameroon, anti-government English speakers who say the protests in the country's English- English. They have endured government gives them fewer With protest organizers in jail, French-speaking judges whose speaking regions grew in size and members of the Cameroonian resources and generally fails to frequency last fall, sometimes English is barely passable and who represent their interests. diaspora have intervened, sending aren’t familiar with their judicial turning violent. This footage from messages to supporters by system. Cameroon, a Central African nation November 2016 shows protesters WhatsApp and Facebook. so geographically and ethnically lighting trash bins. Last fall, after another new law, Government officials circulated their diverse it is known as “all Africa in By CHARLES CHARLO, VIA regarding business transactions, one country,” has been ruled since own warning message to WhatsApp was not translated, the lawyers here STORYFUL on February 9, 2017. users, cautioning them that they 1982 by President Paul Biya, 83, Photo by Facebook/Charles Charlo. in Bamenda, a bustling city in who spends weeks at a time in risked up to two years in prison if Cameroon’s northwest, decided European hotels and is seen as “Cameroon is one and indivisible they spread information on social they’d had enough. They organized increasingly out of touch with a and shall so remain,” Issa Tchiroma media that they could not prove. a demonstration to protest a growing population of young people. Bakary, Cameroon’s information government that they believed had The government has shut down the minister, told reporters at a news internet in English-speaking areas, long slighted their English-speaking The nation is battling Boko Haram conference last month. region by failing to uphold a in its Far North region, as the war angering a population accustomed constitutional promise of a bilingual with Islamic militants spills over American diplomats have called for to using social media to nation. from Nigeria, and wildlife trafficking a peaceful resolution of the dispute. communicate, and internet-based elsewhere, regularly fighting off The government and protesters cash transfers to send money for The demonstrations grew, as international poachers of its ivory. have tried to negotiate. business transactions and to teachers vented their frustration that Last month, Cameroonian officials relatives. the government in Yaoundé — seized two shipping containers of A group of lawyers who organized dominated by the French-speaking the protests came up with a list of In English-speaking towns recently pangolin scales. They were being the population seems to disappear majority — sent teachers with illegally smuggled to China, where grievances, but before they could shoddy English skills to schools in be fully resolved, Nkongho Felix on some days. The streets are the fingernail-like scales are valued quiet, shops close down and their area. Hundreds of citizens as an ingredient in medicine. Agbor-Balla, the president of the joined in, carrying banners and Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society classrooms sit empty as daily life is chanting against what they said The demonstrations have spread to Consortium, and Fontem Neba, the suspended, in a form of protest were longtime injustices against Buea, an English-speaking city in group’s secretary general, were called Operation Ghost Town, their region. the southwest, where a video arrested. organized by English-speaking circulated on social media of police Cameroonians. By December, the protests had On the same day as their arrests, officers hovering over female In English-speaking areas, turned violent. Security forces used students lying in the mud and of Jan. 17, the government declared live ammunition to disperse the group illegal. demonstrators have turned violent officers beating students in their against people who have not demonstrations in Bamenda. At dormitories. least two unarmed protesters were “Any other related groups with supported the Ghost Town killed and others were injured, In recent weeks, dozens of similar objectives,” according to a movement, which is hampering according to human rights groups. protesters have been arrested and government letter presented to the commerce and keeping students News media reports said as many moved to Yaoundé. news media, “are hereby prohibited from classrooms. as four protesters died. all over the national territory.” “We don’t call it arrested; we call it A few days ago, a shop in an As the violence and calls for abducted,” said one government The jailed lawyers have been English-speaking town that secession in English-speaking employee who considered the charged with inciting terrorism, a reportedly stayed open during a areas rise, the issue is quickly detentions in a French-speaking city crime that landed them before a Ghost Town protest day was set on becoming a big problem for the yet another slight to English military tribunal, raising alarms from fire. And a message circulating on central government. In recent days, speakers. The worker comes from human rights groups. Last month, social media warned students at the protest organizers have called on an English-speaking area and did Amnesty International called for the University of Bamenda to boycott businesses in Anglophone areas to not want to be identified out of fear release of Mr. Agbor-Balla and Dr. classes or “the blood of those killed stop paying taxes. for his safety and that of his family. Neba, saying their detention was in this struggle will be on their unlawful. heads.” For four decades, Cameroon was Protesters have been accused of split into English and French violence, too. But the government’s “These two men have been arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of territories. After independence in heavy-handed response has the early 1960s, the nation unified revived calls in the English- their right to freedom of expression,” into one republic made up mostly of speaking area to break away from said Ilaria Allegrozzi, a Central Africa researcher for Amnesty. “This

National security adviser Flynn discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador, despite denials, officials say (UNE) https://www.face sanctions against Russia with that Trump officials, current and former Kislyak were interpreted by some book.com/ellennakashimapost/ country’s ambassador to the United U.S. officials said. senior U.S. officials as an States during the month before inappropriate and potentially illegal National security adviser Michael President Trump took office, Flynn’s communications with signal to the Kremlin that it could Flynn privately discussed U.S. contrary to public assertions by Russian Ambassador Sergey expect a reprieve from sanctions

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 24 that were being imposed by the president-elect. They acknowledged U.S. officials said that seeking to foreign policy speech in April of last Obama administration in late only a handful of text messages and build such a case against Flynn year. The ambassador would not December to punish Russia for its calls exchanged between Flynn and would be daunting. The law against discuss the origin of his relationship alleged interference in the 2016 Kislyak late last year and denied U.S. citizens interfering in foreign with Flynn. election. that either ever raised the subject of diplomacy, known as the Logan Act, sanctions. stems from a 1799 statute that has In his CBS interview, Pence said Flynn on Wednesday denied that he never been prosecuted. As a result, that Flynn had “been in touch with had discussed sanctions with “They did not discuss anything there is no case history to help diplomatic leaders, security leaders Kislyak. Asked in an interview having to do with the United States’ guide authorities on when to in some 30 countries. That’s exactly whether he had ever done so, he decision to expel diplomats or proceed or how to secure a what the incoming national security twice said, “No.” impose censure against Russia,” conviction. adviser should do.” Pence said in an interview with CBS Checkpoint newsletter News last month, noting that he had Officials also cited political Official concern about Flynn’s spoken with Flynn about the matter. sensitivities. Prominent Americans interactions with Kislyak was Military, defense and security at heightened when Putin declared on home and abroad. Pence also made a more sweeping in and out of government are so assertion, saying there had been no frequently in communication with Dec. 30 that Moscow would not Please provide a valid email contact between members of foreign officials that singling out one retaliate after the Obama address. Trump’s team and Russia during individual — particularly one poised administration announced a day the campaign. To suggest for a top White House job — would earlier the expulsion of 35 On Thursday, Flynn, through his otherwise, he said, “is to give invite charges of political suspected Russian spies and the spokesman, backed away from the credence to some of these bizarre persecution. forced closure of Russian-owned denial. The spokesman said Flynn rumors that have swirled around the compounds in Maryland and New “indicated that while he had no candidacy.” Former U.S. officials also said York. recollection of discussing sanctions, aggressive enforcement would he couldn’t be certain that the topic Neither of those assertions is probably discourage appropriate Instead, Putin said he would focus never came up.” consistent with the fuller account of contact. Michael McFaul, who on “the restoration of Russia-United Flynn’s contacts with Kislyak served as U.S. ambassador to States relations” after Obama left Officials said this week that the FBI provided by officials who had Russia during the Obama office, and put off considering any is continuing to examine Flynn’s access to reports from U.S. administration, said that he was in retaliatory measures until Moscow communications with Kislyak. intelligence and law enforcement Moscow meeting with officials in the had a chance to evaluate Trump’s Several officials emphasized that agencies that routinely monitor the weeks leading up to Obama’s 2008 policies. while sanctions were discussed, communications of Russian election win. Trump responded with effusive they did not see evidence that Flynn diplomats. Nine current and former had an intent to convey an explicit “As a former diplomat and U.S. praise for Putin. “Great move on the officials, who were in senior delay,” he said in a posting to his promise to take action after the positions at multiple agencies at the government official, one needs to inauguration. be able to have contact with Twitter account. “I always knew he time of the calls, spoke on the was very smart.” condition of anonymity to discuss foreigners to do one’s job,” McFaul President-elect Donald Trump said. McFaul, a Russia scholar, said named retired Lt. Gen. Michael intelligence matters. Putin’s reaction cut against a long he was careful never to signal practice of reciprocation on Flynn his national security adviser All of those officials said Flynn’s pending policy changes before on Nov. 18, but Flynn has a history diplomatic expulsions, and came references to the election-related Obama took office. after his foreign minister had vowed of making incendiary and sanctions were explicit. Two of Islamophobic statements that have On Wednesday, Flynn said that he that there would be reprisals against those officials went further, saying the United States. drawn criticism from his military that Flynn urged Russia not to first met Kislyak in 2013 when Flynn peers. The controversy about overreact to the penalties being was director of the Defense Putin’s muted response — which Michael Flynn, Trump's new imposed by President Barack Intelligence Agency and made a trip took White House officials by national security adviser, explained Obama, making clear that the two to Moscow. Kislyak helped surprise — raised some officials’ (Peter Stevenson/The Washington sides would be in position to review coordinate that trip, Flynn said. suspicions that Moscow may have Post) the matter after Trump was sworn in Flynn said that he spoke to Kislyak been promised a reprieve, and (Peter Stevenson/The Washington as president. on a range of subjects in late triggered a search by U.S. spy agencies for clues. Post) “Kislyak was left with the impression December, including arranging a that the sanctions would be call between Russian President “Something happened in those Flynn’s contacts with the Vladimir Putin and Trump after the ambassador attracted attention revisited at a later time,” said a 24 hours” between Obama’s former official. inauguration and expressing his announcement and Putin’s within the Obama administration condolences after Russia’s because of the timing. U.S. response, a former senior U.S. A third official put it more bluntly, ambassador to Turkey was official said. Officials began poring intelligence agencies were then saying that either Flynn had misled assassinated. “I called to say I concluding that Russia had waged a over intelligence reports, Pence or that Pence misspoke. An couldn’t believe the murder of their intercepted communications and cyber campaign designed in part to administration official stressed that ambassador,” Flynn said. Asked help elect Trump; his senior adviser diplomatic cables, and saw Pence made his comments based whether there was any mention of evidence that Flynn and Kislyak had on national security matters was on his conversation with Flynn.. The sanctions in his communications discussing the potential communicated by text and sanctions in question have so far with Kislyak, Flynn said, “No.” telephone around the time of the consequences for Moscow, officials remained in place. said. Kislyak characterized his announcement. The nature of Flynn’s pre- conversations with Flynn as benign The talks were part of a series of Trump transition officials inauguration message to Kislyak during a brief interview at a acknowledged those contacts contacts between Flynn and Kislyak triggered debate among officials in conference this month. “It’s that began before the Nov. 8 weeks later after they were reported the Obama administration and something all diplomats do,” he in The Washington Post but denied election and continued during the intelligence agencies over whether said. transition, officials said. In a recent that sanctions were discussed. Flynn had violated a law against Trump press secretary Sean Spicer interview, Kislyak confirmed that he unauthorized citizens interfering in Kislyak said that he had been in had communicated with Flynn by contact with Flynn since before the said Jan. 13 that Flynn had U.S. disputes with foreign “reached out to” the Russian text message, by phone and in governments, according to officials election, but declined to answer person, but declined to say whether questions about the subjects they ambassador on Christmas Day to familiar with that debate. Those extend holiday greetings. On they had discussed sanctions. officials were already alarmed by discussed. Kislyak is known for his assiduous cultivation of high-level Dec. 28, as word of the Obama The emerging details contradict what they saw as a Russian assault sanctions spread, Kislyak sent a on the U.S. election. officials in Washington and was public statements by incoming seated in the front row of then-GOP message to Flynn requesting a call. senior administration officials candidate Trump’s first major “Flynn took that call,” Spicer said, including Mike Pence, then the vice adding that it “centered on the

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 25 logistics of setting up a call with the photographs seated next to Putin at Former colleagues said that narrow GRU chief,” a former senior U.S. president of Russia and [Trump] a lavish party in Moscow for the focus led Flynn to see the threat military official said. after the election.” Kremlin-controlled RT television posed by Islamist groups as network. overwhelming other security U.S. intelligence agencies say they Other officials were categorical. “I concerns, including Russia’s have tied the GRU to Russia’s theft can tell you that during his call, In an earlier interview with The renewed aggression. Instead, Flynn of troves of email messages from sanctions were not discussed Post, Flynn acknowledged that he came to see America’s long- Democratic Party computer whatsoever,” a senior transition had been paid through his speakers standing adversary as a potential networks and accuse Moscow of official told The Post at the time. bureau to give a speech at the ally against terrorist groups, and then delivering those materials to When Pence faced questions on event and defended his attendance himself as being in a unique the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, television that weekend, he said by saying he saw no distinction position to forge closer ties after which published them in phases “those conversations that happened between RT and U.S. news traveling to Moscow in 2013 while during the campaign to hurt Hillary to occur around the time that the channels, including CNN. serving as director of the Defense Clinton, Trump’s Democratic rival. United States took action to expel Intelligence Agency. diplomats had nothing whatsoever A retired U.S. Army lieutenant Flynn was pushed out of the DIA job to do with those sanctions.” general, Flynn served multiple Flynn has frequently boasted that in 2014 amid concerns about his deployments to Iraq and he was the first DIA director to be management of the sprawling Current and former U.S. officials Afghanistan in the years after the invited into the headquarters of agency. He became a fierce critic of said that assertion was not true. Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — tours in Russia’s military intelligence the Obama administration before which he held a series of high-level joining the Trump campaign last Like Trump, Flynn has shown an directorate, known as the GRU, intelligence assignments working although at least one of his year. affinity for Russia that is at odds with U.S. Special Operations forces with the views of most of his military predecessors was granted similar Karen DeYoung, Tom Hamburger, hunting al-Qaeda operatives and access. “Flynn thought he and intelligence peers. Flynn raised Islamist militants. Julie Tate and Philip Rucker eyebrows in 2015 when he developed some rapport with the contributed to this report. appeared in Details of Trump-Putin call raise new White House leak concerns https://www.face popularity. the report that Trump did not know Russia is new in terms of nuclear. book.com/PhilipR what the treaty was, saying the We are old. We’re tired. We’re uckerWP [What we know so far about president had merely sought an exhausted in terms of nuclear. A Trump’s phone calls with foreign opinion from an adviser during the very bad thing.” The White House is probing leaders] conversation, which was conducted ongoing leaks of President Trump’s through a translator. Current U.S. planning calls for private conversations with foreign (Video: AuBC via AP / Photo: AP spending more than $1 trillion over leaders, including a report Thursday and Bloomberg) “It wasn’t like he didn’t know what the next 30 years to update the that he criticized a 2011 U.S.- After what President Trump was being said,” Spicer said of American nuclear arsenal. Russia nuclear arms treaty during Trump. reportedly called "the worst call by Jeffrey Lewis, an arms-control last month’s call with Russian far,” with Australian Prime Minister President Vladimir Putin. A White House statement on the expert at the Middlebury Institute of Malcolm Turnbull on Jan. 28, call at the time did not mention any International Studies at Monterey, “We’re looking into the situation, Turnbull gave sparse details at a nuclear discussion. Calif., said the phone call was and it’s very concerning,” White news conference on Feb. 2, but troubling because it showed that House press secretary Sean Spicer said, "I stand up for Australia in Spicer said Trump is “very Trump has not taken the time to said, deploring “the idea that you every forum, public or private." After concerned” about the continued learn anything about nuclear policy can’t have a conversation without what President Trump reportedly leaks, which he said represent since the election. “He knows one that information getting out. . . . called "the worst call by far,” with breaches of protocol and potential thing, which is that Obama signed it, We’re trying to conduct serious Australian Prime Minister Malcolm illegality. so he’s going to rail against it,” business on behalf of the country.” Turnbull, Turnbull spoke at a news Lewis said. conference. (Video: AuBC via AP / The New START treaty set limits on On the same day as the Putin call, Photo: AP and Bloomberg) both countries’ deployed strategic But the treaty is not without critics. Jan. 28, The Washington Post arms. It does not limit non-deployed reported that Trump told Australian Following the Australia and Mexico warheads. “I would agree if he said that the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reports, Trump told Fox News the treaty is more advantageous to leaks were “disgraceful” and Trump mentioned the treaty, which Russia and kind of a bad deal to the that their conversation was “the he called the “start-up,” in all three worst call by far” and blasted him accused “Obama people” still United States,” said Michaela serving in the White House of debates with Democrat Hillary Dodge, a senior policy analyst with over a pending refugee deal Clinton during the presidential negotiated by the Obama providing the media with potentially the conservative Heritage embarrassing details. campaign. He charged that Russia Foundation. Trump’s call, she said, administration. Tensions were also had increased its number of reported during a call the day before could mark this as a good time to During the Putin call, the Russian warheads and said, erroneously, reexamine whether New START is with Mexican President Enrique leader raised the possibility of talks that the United States was not Peña Nieto. still good policy for Washington and on a number of issues, including the permitted to do the same for non- reshape the debate. Checkpoint newsletter New START treaty limiting nuclear deployed weapons. weapons deployments, according to Dan Lamothe contributed to this Military, defense and security at a report Thursday by Reuters. [Why Vladimir Putin has a grudge report. home and abroad. against Hillary Clinton] The news agency said Trump Please provide a valid email paused to ask aides what the treaty “Our nuclear program has fallen address. was, and then denounced it as way behind, and they’ve gone wild favoring Russia. with their nuclear program,” Trump In all three, Trump reportedly touted said during the Oct. 10 debate. “Not his political accomplishments and Spicer would not comment on some good. Our government shouldn’t details of the call. But he challenged have allowed that to happen. Trump targeted Japan during the campaign. Now its prime minister is embracing the new president. (UNE)

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 26 https://www.facebook.com/annafifiel Trump. Japanese Prime Minister conference call Thursday. The With uncertainty over the future of d Shinzo Abe arrived in the U.S. for a official was not authorized to speak the alliance, Abe and his allies have summit with President Trump. on the record. renewed prospects of raising As foreign leaders have recoiled (Reuters) defense spending, said Andrew and recalibrated amid President Abe, who has met with the head of Oros, author of the recently Trump’s bluster and bullying on the “We’re going to have a round of Toyota to prepare for the trip, also published “Japan’s Security world stage, Prime Minister Shinzo golf, which is a great thing,” Trump will try to preempt Trump’s criticism Renaissance.” Abe of Japan has taken another said in an interview this week with over the lack of market access for tack — offering the new American Westwood One Sports Radio. U.S. auto companies in Japan. “Trump is like the gift from heaven president an embrace. “That’s the one thing about golf — Japanese auto exports make up to Abe to push forward more on his you get to know somebody better about three-quarters of Japan’s security agenda,” said Oros, Like most foreign capitals, Tokyo on a golf course than you will over $60 billion annual trade surplus with associate professor of political was shocked at Trump’s upset lunch.” the United States. science and international studies at victory and scrambled to make Washington College. “Abe’s goal on sense of the outcome. Japan was Abe’s determination, and early But the prime minister intends to the security side is to show Trump one of Trump’s primary foreign success, in forging a personal explain that companies such as that Japan is doing more.” policy targets during the campaign connection with Trump has Toyota and Honda are not just as he denounced a hefty trade contrasted with other foreign making cars at U.S. plants but also At home, Abe can sell his goals to a imbalance and suggested that the leaders. Mexican President Enrique creating huge demand for local skeptical public by saying, “Trump is longtime U.S. ally in Asia was Peña Nieto abruptly canceled a suppliers, Japanese officials said. forcing us to do this; it’s not my freeloading off America’s security White House visit after Trump fault,” Oros added. umbrella. signed an executive action to get On security, Trump raised alarms started on building a border wall. during the campaign by suggesting As for the chemistry between Abe But Japanese diplomats had been Australian Prime Minister Malcolm that U.S. military basing and Trump, foreign policy analysts studying Trump — reading books, Turnbull got into a testy exchange agreements in Japan and South said the Japanese put value in the news articles and even with Trump during a phone call after Korea were too expensive and that type of personal warmth exhibited psychoanalytical essays about the the American president questioned those two nations should consider by President George W. Bush and New York business mogul — and a U.S. commitment to help resettle developing their own nuclear Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, trying to get to know his top refugees. weapons. who played catch with a baseball at deputies. On a congratulatory Camp David in 2001, and by Ronald phone call in November, Abe invited For Abe, the goal is to reassure But Tokyo was encouraged by Reagan and Yasuhiro Nakasone, himself to Trump Tower — and, Trump that the U.S.-Japan security Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s visit who were nicknamed “Ron-Yasu” in after stopping in New York on a trip alliance is a “win-win” relationship, last week, during which he the 1980s. to Peru, presented Trump, an avid Japanese officials said. reaffirmed Washington’s golfer, with a $3,755 gold-colored commitment to defending Japanese Local Politics Alerts driver. “It’s extremely important to build a territories under Article 5 of the trusting relationship with the security treaty. Mattis said the Breaking news about local If the strategic charm offensive was president, who was chosen through Trump administration recognized government in D.C., Md., Va. designed to blunt Trump’s an election,” Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s administration of a group of Please provide a valid email inflammatory rhetoric, the Japanese Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, told disputed islands in the East China address. have seen some initial returns on reporters in Tokyo. Sea that has also been claimed by the investment. On Friday, Abe will Beijing. In 1957, just 12 years after the end visit the White House for a formal Though Trump’s first executive of World War II, Abe’s own summit with Trump, followed by a action was to make good on his Mattis “made very clear statements grandfather, then-Prime Minister trip together on Air Force One, campaign pledge to cancel U.S. about the strength of the alliance, Nobusuke Kishi, played golf with along with their wives, for a participation in the Trans-Pacific that these alliances and our President Dwight D. Eisenhower at weekend at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Partnership (TPP) — an expansive, commitment to them are Burning Tree Club in Maryland after winter retreat in Palm Beach, Fla. 12-nation trade deal on which Abe unwavering,” the senior White finishing a more formal summit had staked significant political House official said. “I think you’ll meeting. White House aides said the capital — the prime minister has hear a very similar message from weekend getaway, which Trump will maintained hope that the deal can the president himself, and that will Abe, who has been busy practicing pay for as a “personal gift” to the be rekindled down the road. go a long way toward dispelling any his swing, has repeatedly refused to prime minister, is aimed at helping doubts that might remain among our disclose his handicap, but the the two leaders get to know each In the meantime, Abe arrives in Japanese and Korean friends and Japanese media has reported that other in a more relaxed setting. Washington with a proposal for other allies in the region.” he usually shoots around 90 — Trump “just really enjoys his Japanese companies to invest about 18 shots over par. company,” press secretary Sean $150 billion in U.S. infrastructure, To some degree, Abe has spied an Spicer said of Abe, adding that the including high-speed rail, potentially opening to further his own security Trump has boasted that his own president intends to use Mar-a-Lago creating 700,000 jobs in the United agenda with Trump’s rise, foreign handicap is in the low single digits, for relationship building in the way States. policy analysts said. The prime something the Japanese have been minister has moved to increase the sure to research. other presidents have used Camp The Japanese are “well acquainted David. role of Japan’s Self-Defense with President Trump’s priorities, Forces, whose combat missions are “We hear he’s a big hitter,” one (Reuters) which can be summed up in three limited by the constitution imposed Japanese diplomat said. words — jobs, jobs, jobs — when it on the country by the United States Fifield reported from Tokyo. Philip Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo comes to the economic after World War II. Abe arrived in the U.S. for a summit relationship,” a senior White House Rucker in Washington and Yuki with President official told reporters on a Oda in Tokyo contributed to this report. David Feith : The U.S.-Japan Alliance of Hope “Let us call the U.S.-Japan alliance, sensibilities: optimistic, liberal, even president rails against “globalism” an alliance of hope,” Shinzo Abe gauzy. Six weeks later Donald and promises a vague, declared in 2015 to a rare joint Trump announced his candidacy for unsentimental and transactional David Feith meeting of Congress. With this president. policy of “America First.” Today an poetic touch, the Japanese prime American visiting the Japanese Feb. 9, 2017 7:29 p.m. ET minister sought to define one of the Soon Mr. Trump was criticizing capital hears worries that the Trump Japan and other allies as trade Tokyo world’s key relationships with ascendancy could spell the end of themes suited to Obama-era cheats and free riders on American the alliance. security commitments. The new

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 27

An important exception, though, is aggression—in which case Japan is were attacked, his lament was to expand Japanese purchases of Prime Minister Abe, who responded America’s single most important outdated. American shale gas, the first to Mr. Trump’s surprise victory security partner. shipment of which arrived last quickly and confidently, securing an Further, the bilateral security treaty month, and will welcome bilateral early postelection meeting in Trump Japan does spend too little on allows U.S. forces based in Japan free-trade talks as a means to Tower and an invitation to a White defense, as Mr. Trump has to operate across the “Far East”— liberalize Japan’s economy. House summit this Friday. On charged. But Mr. Abe agrees and including in Korea, the Taiwan Strait Saturday Mr. Abe will become the has already increased spending five and the South China Sea. The Many in Tokyo harbor contradictory first foreign leader to golf with the years running. Although Japan’s 50,000 American troops Japan concerns about Mr. Trump. They president at his Mar-a-Lago resort annual defense budget is still a hosts aren’t mercenaries hired out worry he may prove too aggressive in Florida. slight 1% of gross domestic product, for Tokyo’s security, but in confronting North Korea or that figure ignores additional Washington’s most valuable asset revising the “One China” policy Mr. Abe’s optimism, guarded as it security outlays. Japan spends $2 for deterring conflict across the regarding Taiwan. Yet they also may be, is justified. For starters, he billion a year to support the U.S. region. Moving them to the U.S. worry he might accept a Chinese doesn’t mourn the passing of an troops it hosts (more than any other would be a strategic catastrophe, grand bargain that sells out Taiwan, Obama administration that ally) and billions more to assist the and it would cost more to boot. Japan and others. promised a “pivot” to Asia and Philippines, Vietnam and other deepened ties with Tokyo, but cut countries facing Chinese bullying. Or consider the dramatic scene off A good summit can’t erase these defense spending and mostly Hawaii last week, when the USS concerns, even if recent statements refused to confront Chinese Tokyo is also spending $20 billion John Paul Jones successfully test- from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis aggression. The Japanese leader is on several of the largest U.S. fired a new missile interceptor, the and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson known to have been alarmed by military construction projects in the SM-3 Block IIA. This system, a joint have helped calm them. But a President Obama’s failure to Pacific. These include two projects U.S.-Japanese effort, is intended to successful summit would vindicate enforce his Syrian red line. in Japan and even one in the U.S. defend against intermediate-range Mr. Abe’s eagerness to sit down territory of Guam. If the Japanese ballistic missiles such as North with Mr. Trump early and often. As for the new administration, Mr. delegation has mock-ups of the Korea’s. If Mr. Trump wants to Abe can take comfort in a generally sites, the visuals could be expand missile defense, Japanese Japan’s leader is the most overlooked shift: Mr. Trump has particularly persuasive to America’s help is crucial. strategically ambitious in at least a refrained recently from criticizing the builder-turned-president. generation, and he suspects that on Japanese alliance, even as he has None of this guarantees harmony the most important issues of repeated his indictments of NATO. Add to this Tokyo’s legal embrace between Messrs. Trump and Abe. regional security he and President And the new president has of “collective self-defense” two Even the most optimistic observers Trump will see eye to eye. Until denounced Beijing’s maritime years ago. Even if Japan isn’t expect friction on trade, which is further notice, the alliance of hope bullying and coddling of North attacked directly, its military can why Mr. Abe comes prepared with endures. Korea, reaffirmed plans for a major now help American forces facing, data: Japan accounts for about 14% say, a North Korean missile launch of the U.S. trade deficit, down from Mr. Feith is a Journal editorial writer naval buildup, and hired several based in Hong Kong. aides who are noted China skeptics. or a Chinese naval assault. So more than 40% in the 1980s. More This suggests Mr. Trump may be when Mr. Trump charged last year important, Mr. Abe has tallied serious about trying to curb Chinese that Japan could “sit home and Japanese firms’ plans for U.S. watch Sony television” if the U.S. investment. Ideally he will also seek

Donald Trump Commits to ‘One China’ Policy in Call With Xi Jinping (UNE) Te-Ping Chen in Beijing and Carol But Mr. Trump’s secretary of state, with Australia’s Prime Minister policy as a bargaining chip in E. Lee in Washington Rex Tillerson, said before his Malcolm Turnbull, in which Mr. broader negotiations with Beijing on confirmation by the Senate on Feb. Trump questioned an agreement economic and security issues. Updated Feb. 10, 2017 1:34 a.m. 1 that he intended to adhere to the reached under the Obama ET policy under which Washington administration for the resettlement The phone call took place on the eve of a visit by Japanese Prime In a phone call with Chinese grants diplomatic recognition to of refugees. China, but not to Taiwan. Minister Shinzo Abe to the White President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Such conversations, buffeted by Mr. House and to Mr. Trump’s home in Donald Trump affirmed the “One “The United States should continue Trump’s unpredictable diplomatic Florida over the weekend and China” policy that has long to uphold the One China policy and style, are likely to have increased comes two months after Mr. Trump underpinned Sino-U. S. relations, a support a peaceful and mutually challenges in setting up a call with roiled relations with China by declaration that appeared aimed at agreeable cross-Strait outcome,” he protocol-conscious Chinese officials participating in a protocol-breaking ending weeks of uncertainty in wrote in response to questions from wary of exposure to public phone call with the leader of Washington’s approach to Asia. Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.), senior embarrassment. Taiwan. The phone call late Thursday in Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last month. The U.S.-China relationship is often China’s official state-news agency Washington was likely to help called the most important bilateral Xinhua cited Mr. Trump as saying smooth relations between the two In his answer, he identified “the relationship. As weeks passed he “admires the historic nations, which had been rocked by People’s Republic of China as the without direct contact between accomplishments of China’s Mr. Trump’s questioning of whether sole legal government of China and Messrs. Trump and Xi, the contrast development,” expressing the U.S. should continue to adhere acknowledges the Chinese position with Mr. Trump’s other diplomatic confidence that relations between to the policy. that Taiwan is part of China.” outreach became increasingly the two nations could, through conspicuous. mutual effort, achieve a “new high.” The call to Mr. Xi follows a pledge Speculation that a call between by other top officials of Mr. Trump’s Messrs. Xi and Trump was in the The White House said the pair had Mr. Xi said China was willing to administration to adhere to making had been rife for days. The a lengthy, “extremely cordial” call in strengthen cooperation with the longstanding U.S. policy. The White conversation came after Mr. Trump which Mr. Trump agreed to honor U.S. on a number of areas, House didn’t elaborate on Mr. had a series of calls with other the policy “at the request of including trade and investment, Trump’s declaration regarding the world leaders, including urging President Xi.” Before his according to Xinhua. It said Mr. Xi One China policy, or explain Mexican President Enrique Peña inauguration, Mr. Trump had “appreciated” that Mr. Trump had whether he no longer sees it as Nieto to rein in drug cartels and one indicated he planned to use the open to negotiation.

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 28 stressed the U.S. government’s there were no U.S. plans to Ing-wen, the first such high-level Beijing has stressed that the Taiwan adherence to the One China policy. withdraw. contact since in 1979. issue remains the “most important and sensitive part of the China-U.S. Mr. Trump’s rhetoric has unsettled The White House statement said He also took to Twitter to fire off relationship.” U.S. allies in the region as well, the two leaders extended invitations tweets critical of China’s following comments in which he to each other to meet in the U.S. assertiveness in the South China Washington’s agreement to cease questioned the financial cost of and China and that officials from Sea and blamed Beijing for failing to diplomatic recognition of the keeping U.S. troops in South Korea both governments “will engage in halt North Korea’s military buildup. government in Taiwan, which and Japan. Such remarks had discussions and negotiations on Beijing views as a breakaway prompted anxieties in both nations, various issues of mutual interest.” Mr. Trump’s December phone province, was a precondition for the which depend heavily on a U.S. conversation with Ms. Tsai had re-establishment of diplomatic presence to help deter an The phone call followed a letter prompted both elation and anxiety relations between the U.S. and increasingly assertive China and the from Mr. Trump to Mr. Xi this week. in Taiwan, which has long been China in 1979. North Korean nuclear threat. insecure about its political future. In the lead-up to his inauguration, While the call marked a Write to Te-Ping Chen at te- The administration has moved to try Mr. Trump took a markedly more breakthrough, it also provoked fears [email protected] and Carol E. to assure both nations, last week aggressive stance toward China of trade or other reprisals from Lee at [email protected] dispatching U.S. Defense Secretary than his predecessor. In early Beijing. Others worried Mr. Trump Jim Mattis to the region, where he December, Mr. Trump had a phone might abandon the island’s interests made stopovers in both countries call with Taiwan’s President Tsai following signs of concessions from and indicated Beijing. China Hangs Tough. Trump Folds. China Ups the Ante. Gordon G. the policy in question when, on Dec. myriad challenges on the U.S.- House for a day of talks. Abe’s visit, Chang02.10.17 2, he accepted a congratulatory China agenda,” Evan Medeiros, a in turn, comes after Defense 4:59 AM ET phone call from Taiwan’s president, high-ranking Obama Asia adviser, Secretary James Mattis visited Tsai Ing-wen. told the Financial Times. Tokyo. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast The call was considered a violation Medeiros is right that the On Saturday, Mattis reaffirmed that of U.S. policy in place since 1979, acceptance allows dealings Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan mutual KOWTOW when President Jimmy Carter broke between Beijing and Washington to defense treaty covers the Senkaku After months of calling into question off diplomatic ties with Taipei in go forward, but it is hardly “wise.” Islands in the East China Sea, order to recognize Beijing. Both pledging Washington to defend the ‘One China’ policy that The New York Times reports that acknowledges the mainland’s claim Beijing and Washington state that them from attack. The only country ‘One China’ forms the basis of their administration officials believed that threatening the barren outcroppings on Taiwan, Trump has made a Xi would refuse to talk to Trump humiliating about-face. ties. is China, which claims sovereignty. until he publicly accepted the policy. Beijing for years has been On Thursday night, President Furthermore, Trump, in a Chris To smooth over the rift and as “a pressuring Japan to hand them Trump told his Chinese counterpart, Wallace interview aired on Dec. 11 gesture of conciliation,” National over. Xi Jinping, that he accepted the and in an interview published in The Security Adviser Michael Flynn and “One China” policy. The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 13, said his deputy, K.T. McFarland, hand- Just two days after Mattis issued his acknowledgement, made during a he did not feel constrained by the delivered to Cui Tiankai, China’s confirmation, three Chinese coast phone conversation, appears to be policy. ambassador to the U.S., a letter guard vessels, without permission, a capitulation to Beijing’s demands. from Trump to Xi. The Chinese will intruded into Japan’s territorial The ‘One China’ policy accepts the view both actions as evidence of an waters around the Senkakus. The A letter also was delivered to People’s Republic of China as the American climb-down. intrusion is seen as a warning to China’s ambassador to the U.S. legitimate government of China, Tokyo and the United States. accepting the policy, which, with acknowledges Beijing takes the In what was a test of will, the some nuances, acknowledges position that Taiwan is part of the Chinese will surely believe they Trump, seeking better ties with Beijing’s position that Taiwan is a People’s Republic, and states have scored a quick victory. Trump, China, has just made matters far province of China. Taiwan’s status is unresolved. therefore, has fed their sense of worse for America. It is fair to say power and arrogance—and that in Chinese eyes, they have just According to the White House Furthermore, Washington insists American weakness. Beijing, as a disrespected Mattis and intimidated readout, “President Trump agreed, that resolution of that status be result, is bound to become even his boss, the president of the United at the request of President Xi, to peaceful, in other words, with the more difficult to deal with. States. honor our ‘One China’ policy.” consent of Taiwan’s people. The phone call came just hours Trump, before his inauguration, “It’s a wise move that sets the basis before Japanese Prime Minister appeared to put for Trump and Xi to address the Shinzo Abe arrives at the White Trump Will Use Abe Visit to Soothe Worried Asia-Pacific Allies Carol E. Lee and and will make clear during Mr. Abe’s he might break from decades of Mr. Trump would create global Alastair Gale visit that he views those in Asia as American foreign policy by scaling instability. “central to our success both in back the U.S. military presence in Updated Feb. 9, 2017 8:39 p.m. ET terms of security and prosperity in Asia, and by raising the prospect of The stakes are high for Japan because the U.S. is both its largest President Donald Trump plans to the region,” a senior administration countries like Japan and South official said. Korea acquiring nuclear weapons. export destination and security use the White House visit of guarantor. About 50,000 U.S. troops Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo “I think that that will go a long way Mr. Trump’s election victory raised are deployed in Japan, the largest Abe on Friday to reassure towards dispelling any doubts that concerns in Japan in particular American military contingent in America’s Asia-Pacific allies that his may still remain” about Mr. Trump’s about a disruption to the Asia. administration values U.S. alliances commitment to U.S. alliances, the international order that has in the region, despite his earlier official said. underpinned the country’s peace Japan’s concerns of U.S. comments raising doubts about his and return to prosperity after World disengagement from Asia were support for the relationships. The effort seeks to quell anxiety War II. A poll conducted at the end amplified by Mr. Trump’s decision in stoked in the region triggered by Mr. January to suspend U.S. The new president views alliances of January by Kyodo News showed Trump’s comments during the 84% of Japanese residents thought involvement in the Trans-Pacific generally as the “cornerstone” of presidential campaign suggesting Partnership, a 12-country trade pact security for the U.S. and the world,

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 29 that would have included seven leaders and their wives fly to Florida On trade, the two leaders are minister Hiroshige Seko said on nations in Asia, including Japan. to spend the weekend at Mr. expected to discuss a possible path Tuesday.” Our relationship today is Trump’s home there, Mar-a-Lago. forward after Mr. Trump withdrew different from that in the past when A recent visit to Japan by U.S. the U.S. from the TPP, with Mr. the two countries collided over trade Defense Secretary Jim Mattis The Florida weekend is designed Trump favoring bilateral deals frictions.” offered reassurances, as he for Messrs. Trump and Abe to get to instead. indicated the new administration know each other in a more casual A priority for Japan is for Mr. Abe to sees Japan as a vital partner in setting, over golf and meals, “In a bilateral agreement you can develop personal ties with Mr. tackling North Korea’s accelerating administration officials said. negotiate terms that are more Trump. The Japanese leader nuclear program and China’s favorable to the United States than appeared to make a misstep by military assertiveness. Mr. Mattis Beyond general support for the you can negotiate a multilateral holding talks with Democratic U.S. praised Japan’s contributions to the alliance, Mr. Trump is expected to agreement where sometimes you’re presidential nominee Hillary Clinton alliance and didn’t raise the issue of say that he will continue current held to the standards to the weakest in September but not Mr. Trump. A U.S. military costs, according to U.S. policy that the U.S.-Japan link in the compact,” the U.S. official meeting was hastily arranged soon Japanese officials. bilateral defense treaty covers said. after Mr. Trump’s election. islands in the East China Sea While Mr. Mattis’s comments helped administered by Tokyo but claimed Japanese officials say they are Mr. Abe wasn’t seen as being close calm Japanese nerves, officials by Beijing. open to discussions about a to President Barack Obama, but ties have been mindful of the periodic bilateral deal, though they preferred between the two nations grew contradictions that have emerged in As China has made territorial the TPP. warmer in the final year of Mr. the new American administration challenges to other Asian countries Obama’s presidency. between the president and his in recent years, it has sent more Mr. Trump has regularly blasted aides. So the reaffirmation expected ships to the waters surrounding Japan for unfair trade practices, Last May, Mr. Obama became the from Mr. Trump to Mr. Abe has an islands, known as Senkaku in citing the $60 billion bilateral trade first U.S. leader to visit Hiroshima, added significance. Japan and Diaoyu in China. imbalance, and last week lumped the site of one of two U.S. atomic Japan together with China as bombings of Japan in 1945. Mr. Abe Mr. Abe’s visit is the second for Mr. Three Chinese coast guard ships unfairly manipulating currencies to reciprocated with a trip to the USS Trump by a world leader since he sailed close to the islands on boost exports—a charge both Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor in took office last month, following a Monday, the fourth appearance in countries deny. December. late-January visit from British Prime the area by Chinese vessels this Minister Theresa May. Canadian year, according to Japan. Part of Tokyo’s strategy for trying to Write to Carol E. Lee at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is contain tensions over those views is [email protected] and Alastair “I would expect certainly for you to to offer Mr. Trump and his advisers Gale at [email protected] scheduled to visit Mr. Trump in hear on that subject in fairly Washington on Monday. a detailed picture of how Japan concrete terms that President contributes to the U.S. economy Trump is committed to that treaty But the meeting with the Japanese through investment and job leader will be more extensive. The and it extending,” the senior creation. president and the prime minister are administration official said. “We scheduled to meet in the Oval oppose any unilateral actions that “We are talking about a mature Office, have lunch at the White would seek to undermine Japan’s relationship between two administration of the islands.” economies that are mutually House and take questions jointly from reporters, before the two dependent,” Japanese trade lped bring some reward.

ETATS-UNIS

Court Refuses to Reinstate Travel Ban, Dealing Trump Another Legal Loss (UNE) Adam Liptak security assessments. Judges have “national security concerns are court’s ruling in place. The a crucial role to play in a unreviewable, even if those actions administration has moved fast in the WASHINGTON — A federal constitutional democracy, the court potentially contravene constitutional case so far, and it is likely to file an appeals panel on Thursday said. rights and protections.” emergency application to the unanimously rejected President Supreme Court in a day or two. The Trump’s bid to reinstate his ban on “It is beyond question,” the decision Within minutes of the ruling, Mr. court typically asks for a prompt travel into the United States from said, “that the federal judiciary Trump angrily vowed to fight it, response from the other side, and it seven largely Muslim nations, a retains the authority to adjudicate presumably in an appeal to the could rule soon after it received sweeping rebuke of the constitutional challenges to Supreme Court. one. A decision next week, either to administration’s claim that the executive action.” “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE reinstate the ban or to continue to courts have no role as a check on block it, is possible. the president. The decision was handed down by SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT the United States Court of Appeals STAKE!” Mr. Trump wrote on Joyous Reunions as Travel Ban The three-judge panel, suggesting for the Ninth Circuit, in San Twitter. Is Lifted that the ban did not advance Francisco. It upheld a ruling last national security, said the Friday by a federal district judge, At the White House, the president Approved refugees and visa holders administration had shown “no James L. Robart, who blocked key told reporters that the ruling was “a from the seven countries listed in evidence” that anyone from the parts of the travel ban, allowing political decision” and predicted that President Trump’s immigration seven nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, thousands of foreigners to enter the his administration would win an order were able to enter the country Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen country. appeal “in my opinion, very easily.” after judges suspended the move. — had committed terrorist acts in He said he had not yet conferred the United States. The appeals court acknowledged with his attorney general, Jeff By CAMILLA SCHICK. Photo by that Mr. Trump was owed deference Sessions, on the matter. Alex Wroblewski for The New York The ruling also rejected Mr. Trump’s on his immigration and national Times. Watch in Times Video » claim that courts are powerless to security policies. But it said he was The Supreme Court remains short- review a president’s national claiming something more — that handed and could deadlock. A 4-to- The travel ban, one of the first 4 tie there would leave the appeals executive orders Mr. Trump issued

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 30 after taking office, suspended panel was a "complete victory." Jr., appointed by President Jimmy It noted that the states challenging worldwide refugee entry into the Carter; and Judge Richard R. the executive order “have offered United States. It also barred visitors By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. Clifton, appointed by President evidence of numerous statements from seven Muslim-majority nations Photo by Associated Press. Watch George W. Bush. by the president about his intent to for up to 90 days to give federal in Times Video » implement a ‘Muslim ban.’” And it They said the states were likely to security agencies time to impose “We will not stop,” Ms. Bass said. said, rejecting another stricter vetting processes. succeed at the end of the day administration argument, that it was But some Republicans cast because Mr. Trump’s order free to consider evidence about the Immediately after it was issued, the aspersions on the Ninth Circuit’s appeared to violate the due process motivation behind laws that draw ban spurred chaos at airports and decision and predicted that it would rights of lawful permanent residents, seemingly neutral distinctions. protests nationwide as foreign not withstand a challenge in the people holding visas and refugees. travelers found themselves Supreme Court. But the court said it would defer a stranded at immigration checkpoints The court said the administration’s decision on the question of religious by a policy that critics derided as “Courts ought not second-guess legal position in the case had been discrimination. un-American. The State Department sensitive national security decisions a moving target. It noted that said up to 60,000 foreigners’ visas of the president,” Senator Tom Donald F. McGahn II, the White “The political branches are far better were canceled in the days Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, House counsel, had issued equipped to make appropriate immediately after the ban was said in a statement. “authoritative guidance” several distinctions,” the decision said. “For imposed. days after the executive order came now, it is enough for us to conclude “This misguided ruling is from the out, saying it did not apply to lawful that the government has failed to The World Relief Corporation, one Ninth Circuit, the most notoriously permanent residents. But the court establish that it will likely succeed of the agencies that resettles left-wing court in America, and the said that “we cannot rely” on that on its due process argument in this refugees in the United States, called most-reversed court at the Supreme statement. appeal.” the ruling “fabulous news” for 275 Court,” he said. “I’m confident the newcomers who are scheduled to administration’s position will “The White House counsel is not The court also acknowledged “the arrive in the next week, many of ultimately prevail.” the president,” the decision said, massive attention this case has whom will be reunited with family. “and he is not known to be in the garnered at even the most Trial judges nationwide have chain of command for any of the preliminary stages.” “We have families that have been blocked aspects of Mr. Trump’s executive departments.“ It also separated for years by terror, war executive order, but no other case mentioned “the government’s “On the one hand, the public has a and persecution,” said Scott has yet reached an appeals court. shifting interpretations” of the powerful interest in national security Arbeiter, the president of the The case in front of Judge Robart, executive order. and in the ability of an elected organization, which will arrange for in Seattle, was filed by the states of president to enact policies,” the housing and jobs for the refugees in Washington and Minnesota and is In its briefs and in the arguments decision said. “And on the other, the cities including Seattle; Spokane, still at an early stage. The appeals before the panel on Tuesday, the public also has an interest in free Wash.; and Sacramento. court order issued Thursday ruled Justice Department’s position flow of travel, in avoiding separation only on the narrow question of evolved. As the case progressed, of families, and in freedom from “Some family members had already whether to stay a lower court’s the administration offered a backup discrimination.” been vetted and cleared and were plea for at least a partial victory. temporary restraining order blocking “These competing public interests,” standing with tickets, and were then the travel ban. told they couldn’t travel,” Mr. At most, a Justice Department brief the court said, “do not justify a stay.” Arbeiter said. “So the hope of The appeals court said the said, “previously admitted aliens who are temporarily abroad now or The court ruling did not affect one reunification was crushed, and now government had not justified part of the executive order: the cap they will be admitted.” suspending travel from the seven who wish to travel and return to the United States in the future” should of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in countries. “The government has the 2017 fiscal year. That is down Several Democrats said they hoped pointed to no evidence,” the be allowed to enter the country the appeals court ruling would cow despite the ban. from the 110,000 ceiling put in place decision said, “that any alien from under President Barack Obama. Mr. Trump into rescinding the ban. any of the countries named in the Representative Karen Bass, The appeals court ultimately The order also directed the order has perpetrated a terrorist rejected that request, however, secretary of state and the secretary Democrat of California, said in a attack in the United States.” statement that the ban “is rooted in saying that people in the United of homeland security to prioritize bigotry and, most importantly, it’s The activist Michael Petrelis outside States without authorization have refugee claims made by persecuted illegal.” of the Ninth United States Circuit due process rights, as do citizens members of religious minorities. with relatives who wish to travel to Court of Appeals in San Francisco As of Thursday, that means the Washington Attorney General on Thursday after the ruling was the United States. Applauds Decision United States will be allowed to announced. Jim Wilson/The New The court discussed, but did not accept only about 16,000 more Bob Ferguson, the attorney general York Times decide, whether the executive order refugees this fiscal year. Since Oct. of Washington State, said the The three members of the panel violated the First Amendment’s ban 1, the start of the fiscal year, 33,929 rebuke of Donald J. Trump’s travel were Judge Michelle T. Friedland, on government establishment of refugees have been admitted, 5,179 ban by a federal appeals court appointed by President Barack religion by disfavoring Muslims. of them Syrians. Obama; Judge William C. Canby

Appeals Court Rules Against Trump Travel Ban (UNE) Devlin Barrett The appeals court declined to take what due process requires, such as has directed uncommonly blunt and Brent a position on the most pointed notice and a hearing prior to criticisms at the judges who have Kendall accusation leveled at the Trump restricting an individual’s ability to ruled against him. The judges— administration—that the Jan. 27 travel,’’ a three-judge panel of the appointed by presidents from both Updated Feb. 10, 2017 12:20 a.m. executive order restricting U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth parties—in turn have sought to ET immigration from seven Circuit in San Francisco found. defend their long-established predominantly Muslim countries authority to interpret the law and A federal appeals court on The ruling is a major legal setback Thursday unanimously ruled against discriminated on the basis of ensure the president acts within it. religion. Instead, the panel ruled the for Mr. Trump and marks the latest President Donald Trump’s executive chapter in an unusually early clash As government lawyers scrambled order on immigration and refugees, travel ban likely violated the due process rights of travelers. between the judiciary and a brand- to analyze the ruling Thursday saying such a travel ban shouldn’t new president, one with evening, Mr. Trump fired back go into effect while courts consider “The government has not shown considerable ramifications for the quickly, tweeting in all capital whether it goes too far in limiting that the executive order provides separation-of-powers. Mr. Trump letters: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE travelers to the U.S.

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SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT The appeals court’s 29-page order had no business reviewing a The appeals-court judges heard oral STAKE!’’ isn’t a final ruling on the executive president’s order. arguments in the case on Tuesday, order. Full court proceedings that in which a Justice Department Shortly after, Mr. Trump told take a deep dive into its legality are The court said that protecting lawyer argued that the president reporters at the White House that expected to take many months, and against terrorism was of the highest has wide authority to make such the court decision was “political,’’ with multiple appeals it could take priority, but that the administration decisions regarding immigration and and added: “We have a situation well over a year before the courts, “submitted no evidence” as to why national security. where the security of our country is and likely the Supreme Court, fully the order needed to go into at stake, and it’s a very, very resolve the matter. immediate effect “despite the district Washington Attorney General Bob serious situation.” court’s and our own repeated Ferguson called the order “a Justice Department lawyers said invitations to explain the urgent complete victory’’ for opponents of Mr. Trump predicted after the they were reviewing the appeals- need.” the travel ban. decision that he would ultimately court decision, and White House win on further appeal. press secretary Sean Spicer told “There is no precedent to support “We are a nation of laws, and as we reporters that the administration this claimed unreviewability, which have said those laws apply to The case before the Ninth Circuit runs contrary to the fundamental everybody in our country and that involved a challenge brought by the hadn’t determined its next legal step. structure of our constitutional includes the president of the United states of Washington and democracy,” the court wrote, adding States,’’ he said. Minnesota against the executive Democrats and civil-rights groups that it is appropriate for the court to order Mr. Trump signed one week hailed the decision. Republican review public statements made by The executive order prompted into his presidency. A federal judge leaders on Capitol Hill were quiet, elected officials in making protests soon after it went into in Seattle ruled in favor of the states with the office of House Speaker determinations about their intent. effect, with large gatherings at on Feb. 4 and issued a restraining Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) declining to major city airports. Officials have order blocking enforcement of the comment, saying it was deferring to Jonathan Adler, a law professor at said some 60,000 visa-holders were new rules, at least temporarily, the White House. Case Western Reserve University, affected by the move. prompting the government to said the court order shows “how the appeal. The Justice Department had Trump administration made this Mr. Adler, the law professor, said previously suggested a possible whole fight harder on themselves the initial confusion surrounding the Mr. Trump’s executive order compromise—that the appeals court than it needed to be.’’ travel ban hurt its chances of suspended entry to the U.S. for reinstate some aspects of the travel surviving legal challenges. visitors from seven countries—Iran, ban, but not others. Thursday’s The judges’ language “certainly Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria suggests’’ that a rewrite of the The judges said as much in their order rejected that idea, suggesting order. “In light of the government’s and Yemen—for at least 90 days, it would be better instead for the executive order by White House froze the entire U.S. refugee officials “might solve the problems,’’ shifting interpretations of the White House or Congress to draft executive order, we cannot say that program for four months and new rules if they desire. he said. indefinitely banned refugees from the current interpretation by White Syria. The government said such “It is not our role,’’ the judges wrote The appeals court didn’t reach a House counsel, even if authoritative action was needed to keep terrorists “to try, in effect, to rewrite the conclusion about whether the and binding, will persist past the from entering the U.S. executive order…The political executive order discriminates immediate stage of these branches are far better equipped to against Muslims. proceedings,’’ the court said. The Trump administration could make appropriate distinctions.” seek emergency intervention to end “The states’ claims raise serious —Rebecca Ballhaus and Siobhan the restraining order from a larger As the court weighed the issue, Mr. allegations and present significant Hughes contributed to this article. constitutional questions,’’ they panel of Ninth Circuit judges or the Trump had suggested the courts Write to Devlin Barrett at Supreme Court immediately, a should be blamed if a terror attack wrote, but the judges said they would wait to address that issue [email protected] and Brent process that could play out in a occurred while the new travel limits Kendall at [email protected] matter of days but wouldn’t fully were suspended. In its ruling, the until it is more fully explored in resolve legal questions surrounding appeals court pushed back sharply additional court proceedings. the president’s order. against any suggestion that judges

3 key Trump mistakes that led to the travel ban court defeat By Richard threat posed by foreigners entering 1. The green-card debacle Permanent residents have more Primus the U.S. U.S. constitutional rights than any The White House failure to make other category of foreigners. The Several legal experts are urging Story Continued Below clear from the outset that the travel green-card issue all but guaranteed President Donald Trump to ban did not include U.S. permanent Introspection does not seem to be that opponents of the travel ban withdraw his order altogether. | residents, so-called green-card would win the early rounds of Getty one of Trump's strongest holders, was both a political and personality traits. Even after litigation by persuading judges that legal gaffe of the first order. The these long-term U.S. residents were Several legal experts are urging Trump's own Supreme Court confusion led to the detention of Trump to withdraw his order nominee expressed strong being unfairly denied entry or more than 100 green-card holders detained. altogether. discomfort with Trump's public during the first 24 hours the order attacks on judges weighing his was in effect and many more White House officials have insisted President Donald Trump's three- travel ban case, White House press week-old administration took a thereafter. that green-card holders were never secretary Sean Spicer made clear supposed to be covered by the thrashing from a federal appeals that the president had no intention That caused major blowback from court Thursday as a panel of three order, but many experts don't of retreating from his remarks. Congress, because many green- believe that. judges unanimously rejected his card holders are longtime residents request to resume enforcement of "He has no regrets," Spicer said of the U.S. It included many "I think they clearly intended to his controversial travel ban flatly. Iranians who fled their country in the include legal permanent residents," executive order. Now, several legal experts are 1980s to escape Islamic said Jonathan Meyer, a former The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals urging Trump to withdraw his order fundamentalism, a bizarre result for Department of Homeland Security ruling put into sharp relief several altogether, so it can be redrafted in an executive order allegedly aimed deputy general counsel. "It was a tactical and strategic errors Trump a way that might be more likely to at combating radical Islamic mistake to do so, compounded by and his aides made in crafting, hold up to court review. terrorism. the fact and shows that they did not implementing and defending the vet this sufficiently. There's no Here are three key mistakes that But strictly as a matter of legal question that it meant they would order, which the president said was strategy, the impact on green-card needed to ward off the terrorist contributed to Trump's courtroom face legal defeats ... It's definitely defeat Thursday: holders was a serious error. hurt them."

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2. The McGahn fix "At this point, however, we cannot dog, his wife or his son, all of whom constitutional democracy," the rely upon the Government’s have no official standing judges wrote. One of the steps the Trump team contention that the Executive Order whatsoever in the government. settled on to save face while no longer applies to lawful And while the judges made no stemming the legal and public permanent residents. The 3. Pushing the legal argument too reference at the arguments or in outcry over the order's impact on Government has offered no far their opinion to Trump's U.S. residents essentially blew up in extraordinary public attacks on them authority establishing that the White Another major tactical mistake the White House's face Thursday. House counsel is empowered to and the judge who issued the came when the Justice Department restraining order at issue, this is Once the concern about green-card issue an amended order decided to argue to the 9th Circuit superseding the Executive Order where Trump's statements may holders was identified, Trump could that the courts have no role to play have come into play. have simply signed a half-page signed by the President," the judges whatsoever in examining tweak to his executive order, wrote, adding curtly: "That immigration-related decisions the The 9th Circuit ruling goes on to cite making crystal clear that U.S. proposition seems unlikely." president makes on national a Supreme Court case decided permanent residents were exempt And the appeals judges didn't leave security grounds. under President George W. Bush from the order. But he didn't do that, it there. rejecting efforts by Congress and apparently because he or his aides The claim that Trump's action was the White House to shut down legal did not want to admit any flaws in "Nor has the Government unreviewable is a tough one for cases brought by Guantanamo the drafting or vetting process. A established that the White House judges to stomach. Some lawyers prisoners. If the courts did not formal change to the order would counsel’s interpretation of the say government lawyers might have believe Bush was due complete have amounted to a concession of Executive Order is binding on all done better by acknowledging a role deference in that case, it seems such imperfections. executive branch officials for judges but insisting that they unthinkable that the 9th Circuit responsible for enforcing the must be very deferential to the would grant such latitude to Trump, Instead, Trump and his advisers Executive Order. The White House executive branch. given the erratic decision-making settled on having his official lawyer counsel is not the President, and he "I think in the context of this case it processes on display in recent — White House Counsel Don is not known to be in the chain of weeks. McGahn — sign a memorandum was clearly a mistake," said Meyer, command for any of the Executive now with Sheppard Mullin. "I think purporting to offer "authoritative Departments," the court wrote. "Given the dynamics we've seen in guidance" that the order did not it's a mistake almost any time you this administration, they had to apply to green-card holders. The Some legal experts said the Trump tell judges you can't look at know that argument would not be memo did not say that Trump administration's contention that something." popular with almost any judge," instructed McGahn to tweak the McGahn could clarify the order was The claim that the issue was Meyer said. order or even that the president bizarre. If Trump wanted to change beyond the province of the courts approved the new "guidance." it, he could have in moments with In their ruling Thursday, the judges essentially invited the judges to do didn't squarely address the the stroke of a pen, but the bravado just what they did at oral arguments "The White House counsel speaks exhibited by the president and his relevance of Trump's "Muslim ban" for the president in this context," on Tuesday: raise Trump's "Muslim talk to assessing the legality of his aides seemed to foreclose that ban" comments and ask whether Justice Department lawyer August possibility. executive order. But it was clear Flentje insisted during Tuesday's the courts would have no role in that the fact Trump was on the oral arguments in response to "There were other options," said reviewing an immigration-related record suggesting a desire to target skeptical questions from the only George Washington University law action explicitly taken to Muslims made it almost impossible Republican appointee on the three- professor John Banzhaf. "The discriminate against a religion or for for the judges to buy into the Justice judge panel, Richard Clifton. president's counsel has no official some other highly dubious reason. Department's argument and standing at all ...The Homeland The court's opinion makes short conclude his order should be Despite the claims by McGahn and Security Secretary does, the entirely immune from judicial Flentje that the counsel's memo work of that argument. "There is no Secretary of State does. Maybe it's precedent to support this claimed scrutiny. was conclusive, the three judges not as good as the president nearly ridiculed that position. unreviewability, which runs contrary himself, but it's a hell of a lot better to the fundamental structure of our than the counsel, the president's Eli Lake : Trump's Travel Ban Is Not Recruiting More Terrorists Eli Lake No wonder they are calling the argument that the Trump policy will counter the jihadist worldview. He executive order a "blessed ban" on radicalize people is predicated on began his presidency by delivering Since President Donald Trump last Islamic State web forums. the flawed premise that people a speech to the Islamic world from month issued an executive order radicalize as a response to Cairo, in which he stressed his own banning travel from seven Muslim This is a familiar line to anyone who government policy. The reality is it's administration's respect for Islam. majority nations, we've heard a lot has followed the national security a highly complex process that He promised, and ultimately failed about how it will aid jihadists. debate since 9/11. Democrats in involves religious and personal to, close Guantanamo; he withdrew particular have argued that the Iraq Leading Democrats, factors. A government policy may U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011, and War, the Guantanamo Bay prison play a role, but it's one of many he scrubbed terms like "radical counterterrorism experts and even and anti-Muslim web videos help to Iran's foreign minister have all factors." Islam" and "war on terror" from the radicalize otherwise peaceful government's lexicon. asserted that Trump's travel ban will Muslims to murder us at random. Meleagrou-Hitchens's program end up being used by the Islamic Hence Trump's travel ban is now a released an invaluable report last And yet despite his efforts, the FBI State to recruit new terrorists. "recruitment tool." year that studied motivations of arrested more Americans for joining Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat Americans who had declared Islamic terrorist groups during his from Connecticut, made this point If only jihadi recruitment were so allegiance to the Islamic State. It presidency than during that of forcefully on Jan. 30, when he told easily disrupted. Sadly it's much found that the motivations ranged George W. Bush. And while Obama MSNBC that Trump's executive more complicated. from sympathy for the plight of decimated al Qaeda's central order "ultimately is going to get Syrians suffering under their leadership following the raid that Americans killed." To start, the process by which an individual gets sucked into the dictator's war to a sense of religious killed Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda's The argument goes like this: death cults of al Qaeda or the obligation to join a new utopian franchises in Yemen, Somalia and Jihadists believe there is a Islamic State cannot be reduced to Islamic caliphate. Libya grew stronger. Meanwhile, the Manichaean struggle between Islam a single cause. Alexander Islamic State broke away from al Another problem with this argument Qaeda during Obama's presidency and the West. An alleged "Muslim Meleagrou-Hitchens, the research is that it fails to account for the ban" plays directly into this director for the Program on and managed to gain territory in significant rise in radical Islamic Syria and Iraq. Only now has the worldview, telling Muslims that they Extremism at George Washington terror under President Barack are not safe in the un-Islamic world. University, put it like this: "The Obama. He went out of his way to

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 33 military campaign to liberate Mosul Iranians are on the side of the military in Iraq, not to mention At the time, they were too busy shown some success. oppressors. leading advocates for the Islamic insisting the Iraq War helped create State's victims like the Yazidi-Iraqi more terrorists. It's true that Obama also did many This gets to the most important legislator Vian Dakhil. Fortunately things jihadists did not like during point. The fanatics who seek to the Trump administration has This column does not necessarily his presidency. For example, he recreate an eighth-century caliphate reversed these elements of the reflect the opinion of the editorial used drone strikes against more of have an endless supply of travel ban in the last week. But the board or Bloomberg LP and its them than his predecessor did. And grievances about our open society. perception that America would close owners. when the U.S. Supreme Court If we succumb to the fallacy that we its doors to the people who helped recognized the legal right to gay can counter their propaganda by not To contact the author of this story: us makes it harder to recruit allies Eli Lake at [email protected] marriage, Twitter accounts affiliated doing things they could exploit for against the Islamic State going with the Islamic State posted video propaganda purposes, we are forward. To contact the editor responsible for of gay men being thrown to their giving them too much power. this story: deaths off of high buildings in Critics of Trump's travel ban are not A far better argument against Philip Gray at Raqqa, with the hashtag #lovewins. inclined to make that argument. [email protected] The Islamic State didn't like the Iran Trump's executive order is that it After all, Democrats were silent nuclear deal, either. After all, Shiites undermines our own recruitment when Obama abandoned the Iraqi like the Iran regime are seen as efforts to counter the jihadists. At sheiks who helped to temporarily apostates, and in the battle for first the travel ban applied to drive al Qaeda out of the Anbar Syria, the translators who helped the U.S. province between 2007 and 2009. Trump is changing the presidency more than the presidency is changing Trump (UNE) https://www.face Washington, meanwhile, is Trump and those around him had politically correct person that you’ve book.com/pages/Karen- beginning to figure out that it had long promised that he would tone ever seen.” Tumulty/1410916925870676 better get used to it. Surreal is the down his style if elected. There was new normal. even talk that he might give up the Two weeks later, Trump told NBC A month after announcing his Twitter account that functions as an News that he would be “much candidacy, Donald Trump shocked “Most people in Congress and expression of his id. different, much different” as the establishment by questioning elsewhere did harbor the fantasy president. the heroism of Sen. John McCain that he would become a different In an April rally in Pennsylvania, (R-Ariz.), a former prisoner of war. person,” said Vin Weber, a former Trump promised: “At some point, “When you’re president, you act in a The near-unanimous verdict of the Republican congressman from I’m gonna be so presidential that different way, there’s no question pundit class: Trump was doomed. Minnesota who is now a lobbyist. “I you people will be so bored.” about that, and I would do that,” think they’re learning differently.” Trump said, after being questioned Eighteen months later, Trump is still Anthony Scaramucci, a prominent about why he called rival Sen. Ted insulting McCain — only now he’s Mark Salter, a confidant and former New York financier who now works Cruz (R-Tex.) a “p---y” at a rally in doing so from the White House. top aide to McCain, said he never at the White House, predicted the New Hampshire. expected Trump to change because same during a Fox News interview “He’s been losing so . . . long he that would have required “not just in late December. Yet there were other times when doesn’t know how to win anymore,” growing into the job, but growing Trump made it clear he had no Trump tweeted Thursday. up.” “I think that the gist of what intention of undergoing an extreme happened during the election makeover. Despite all predictions — including Other Republicans were deluding season is going to be slightly his own — that the country would themselves in predicting that modified now,” Scaramucci said. “I “I am who I am. It’s me. I don’t want see a new, more “presidential” another Trump would emerge once think the candidate as president is to change,” Trump said in an Trump once he took office, the the enormous weight of the going to be way more presidential interview in La Crosse, Wis., in commander in chief has barely presidency was placed on his and way more precise than people August. “Everyone talks about, ‘Oh, changed from the impulsive shoulders, Salter said. “They just think. That’s my prediction.” well, you’ve got to pivot.’ . . . I don’t candidate who blew up every couldn’t bring themselves to believe want to pivot. I mean, you have to political norm that stood between otherwise, because it would have Reince Priebus, the former GOP be you. If you start pivoting, you’re him and the White House. been an indictment of them” for chairman who is now Trump’s chief not being honest with people.” supporting Trump. of staff, repeatedly used the word He is still tweeting at odd hours, “pivot” to explain how the After he obliterated expectations calling people names, promoting his Lyndon B. Johnson once said: “The businessman was prepared to and pulled out an electoral college family’s business interests, bragging presidency has made every man mature as he transitioned from the win in November, Trump sent about crowd sizes, complaining who occupied it, no matter how primaries to the general election conflicting signals. about media coverage and lashing small, bigger than he was, and no and beyond. out at anyone who challenges him, Days after the election, Lesley Stahl matter how big, not big enough for of “60 Minutes” asked him in an including members of his own party its demands.” “He has a lot of space to grow,” and a federal judge. His White Priebus said in a July 17 interview interview: “Are you going to House seems just as chaotic, But in his first three weeks in office, with ABC News. “I think he’s much sometimes have that same rhetoric tumultuous and discordant as his Trump appears to be changing the more precise in his rhetoric, in his that you had on the stump? Or are campaign was. presidency more than the reverse. tone, in his attack. I think he’s got a you going to rein it in?” lot of room to grow. . . . He knows “Well, sometimes you need a All of which is according to plan, his Rather than moderating his the pivot is important. He has been team insists. impulses, his top aides seem intent certain rhetoric to get people better, and I think he’s going to be motivated,” Trump responded. “I on amplifying them — pleasing their great moving forward.” “Part of the reason the president got boss by attacking critics and the don’t want to be just a little nice elected is because he speaks his news media, defending his factually [For Donald Trump, it’s always monotone character and, in many mind,” White House press secretary inaccurate assertions and adding to about control] cases, I will be.” Sean Spicer said at Thursday’s the growing pile of what counselor Stahl asked: “Can you be?” news briefing. “He doesn’t hold it Kellyanne Conway called Trump kept repeating the promise back, he’s authentic, and he’s not “alternative facts.” himself. Today's WorldView going to sit back.” [The Fix: John McCain’s brutal “When I’m president, I’m a different What's most important from where [Trump lashes out at senator who rejoinder to Sean Spicer] person,” Trump said at a rally in the world meets Washington revealed Supreme Court nominee’s Pella, Iowa, last January. “I can do comments] anything. I can be the most

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 34

Please provide a valid email His Republican allies on Capitol Hill Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), “He’s got a unique way of doing address. insist that Trump’s unorthodox style said the speaker has a normal things,” Buck said, “and we don’t will not get in the way of their policy working relationship with the ever expect that to change.” “Sure I can,” Trump said. “I can be agenda. president and doesn’t get easily, that’s easier. Honestly, to do “distracted by whatever the Alice Crites contributed to this that, it’s easier.” Brendan Buck, chief statement out of the pool spray is or report. communications adviser to House whatever the tweet is.”

White House says Conway has been ‘counseled’ after touting Ivanka Trump’s products https://www.face way the president of the United A day later, after ethics experts “I’m going to give a free commercial book.com/PostRoz States treated me today.” criticized the notion of Melania here,” she added. “Go buy it today, Trump attempting to make money everybody. You can find it online.” The White House on Thursday said The incident was the latest from her public role, her attorney that a top adviser to President illustration of how the Trump White and a spokeswoman issued Experts quickly seized on Conway’s Trump had been “counseled” after House has struggled to grapple with statements saying that the first lady remarks as a direct violation of using a television appearance from long-established ethics rules as the “has no intention” of using her Office of Government Ethics rules. the West Wing to promote the president has attempted to balance position for profit. Don W. Fox, a former OGE acting clothing and jewelry line sold under the potentially competing interests director and general counsel, said the brand of Trump’s daughter. of his new public position and his The first family has struggled to Conway’s statements were “jaw- family’s vast business holdings. cleanse its public appearances of dropping” and “a clear violation of The endorsement, in which private entanglements. rules prohibiting misuse of public Kellyanne Conway told Fox News The matter has grown politically office for anyone’s private gain.” Channel viewers to “go buy Ivanka’s thorny in recent weeks as many In his official biography on the White stuff,” appeared to violate a key opponents of Trump’s policies have House website, Donald Trump Peter Schweizer, who has worked ethics rule barring federal waged a campaign to boycott the boasts of the success of the closely with Trump chief strategist employees from using their public family’s brands and protest at its business he still owns and cites his Stephen K. Bannon and wrote a office to endorse products. The properties. The tensions underscore book “The Art of the Deal,” which book, “Clinton Cash,” that was White House reaction was a rare the difficulty Trump faces in carrying remains for sale. critical of donations to the Clinton acknowledgment of an ethical through on his vow to separate his Foundation, said, “They’ve crossed misstep. presidency from his businesses — Melania Trump’s initial online a very, very important, bright line, particularly given that he and his biography referenced her jewelry and it’s not good.” Conway’s remarks drew a sharp daughter have refused to divest line, once sold on the cable and unusual rebuke from a top their ownership stakes. television channel QVC, and noted “To encourage Americans to buy Republican lawmaker, House its trademark, a registration now goods from companies owned by Oversight Committee Chairman The president has faced criticism overseen by a federal office led by the first family is totally out of Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who said from ethics experts and Democratic her husband. bounds and needs to stop,” - that Conway’s comments were lawmakers who have warned that Schweizer added. “Clearly, the “absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong” his public power could be misused Ivanka Trump, whose brand Trumps feel some of this is related and “clearly over the line.” to enrich him and his family. Trump includes dresses, shoes, skirts, to politics. But whether that’s true or has turned over the management of handbags, jewelry and accessories, not, these marketing battles need to Chaffetz, who has resisted calls by his businesses to his two adult sons much of which is sold online and at be fought by Ivanka and her Democrats to investigate potential and a longtime executive. dozens of the United States’ largest company. They cannot and should conflicts related to President retailers and department-store not be fought by government Trump’s businesses, joined with the Although Trump has said that most chains, mixed her business and employees and the White House.” Oversight Committee’s ranking ethics laws and rules do not apply newly elevated political profile Democrat, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings to the president, Conway’s stumble shortly after the election. Schweizer said that it was time for (Md.), in sending a letter to the Thursday served as a reminder that Trump “to move beyond the mind- Office of Government Ethics calling staffers are nonetheless subject to Hours after she was interviewed by set and the role of a businessman Conway’s comments those provisions. CBS’s “60 Minutes” about her and assume the mantle of “unacceptable.” The letter asked the father’s victory, her jewelry line commander in chief.” agency to recommend discipline The Conway episode followed other alerted journalists to the fact that given that Trump, who is Conway’s instances in which Trump’s political she was wearing an Ivanka-brand Federal law states that the director “agency head,” holds an “inherent rise and his presidency have diamond bracelet, which viewers of the Office of Government Ethics conflict of interest” due to the provided a promotional platform for could buy for $10,800. can advise the White House and the family businesses. Conway of the violation and involvement of his daughter’s Conway’s endorsement of Ivanka business. recommend disciplinary action. But On Monday, first lady Melania Trump’s brand followed a tweet the OGE’s recommendations are In a terse comment to reporters Trump filed a lawsuit accusing a Wednesday by President Trump nonbinding, and the ultimate Thursday, White House press British news company of publishing complaining that his daughter had decision resides with the White secretary Sean Spicer said that an inaccurate story that hurt her “been treated so unfairly” by the House. Conway had been “counseled on ability to take advantage of a “once department store Nordstrom, which the subject” but did not say whether in a lifetime opportunity” to build her dropped her clothing line, citing OGE officials did not respond to she would be disciplined. Spicer did brand of jewelry and accessories. slow sales. requests for comment. By The lawsuit said that the August midmorning, the agency’s website not say why Conway’s statements Conway touted Ivanka Trump’s had required the intervention, and 2016 article, which falsely had crashed, and the OGE’s official suggested that Melania Trump had “wonderful line” of clothing and Twitter account said that the office’s the White House declined to answer shoes during an interview Thursday further questions. once worked for an escort service, phone and email systems were damaged her ability to build morning with “Fox & Friends” from receiving “an extraordinary volume” Speaking on Fox News Thursday “multimillion dollar business the White House briefing room. of citizen input about “recent evening, Conway declined to relationships for a multi-year term” Responding to national boycotts of events.” comment but said Trump supports and damaged her brand during a Ivanka Trump merchandise, her “100 percent.” time when Trump “is one of the The office tweeted that its role is to Conway said, “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff help prevent ethics violations but most photographed women in the is what I would tell you.” Conway said she advised all world.” not to investigate allegations that women to, at some point in their life, rules have been broken — a job have a boss who treats them “the reserved for the FBI, inspectors

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 35 general and other watchdogs. Still, Conway’s case, the White House. Noah Bookbinder, director of the The president and his daughter the OGE notifies agencies of Conway’s counseling, independent liberal Citizens for Responsibility have taken steps to put distance possible ethics violations and asks lawyers said, could have included a and Ethics in Washington, which between their private companies for reports on any action taken, a meeting with members of the White filed an official ethics complaint, and public ambitions. Both resigned process the office indicated it is House counsel’s office, but it called Conway’s comments “just their official leadership roles in the “actively following,” according to the remained unclear what disciplinary another example of what looks like Trump Organization. OGE’s tweets. steps would be taken. a disturbing pattern of this administration acting to benefit the Ivanka Trump retains a financial Experts said that a typical - Independent ethics groups and businesses of the president’s family interest in her separate business. executive-branch employee who Trump critics targeted the and supporters.” The Trump company says the violated the endorsement rule could endorsement as a make-or-break president does not have a financial face significant disciplinary action, moment for how the White House Conway’s endorsement of Ivanka interest or ownership stake in the including a multi-day suspension will address future ethical concerns. Trump’s business also highlighted Ivanka brand. and loss of pay. U.S. Fish and an awkward reality for a White Wildlife Service employees, for Today's WorldView House threatening U.S. companies [Fact Checker: Trump’s claim instance, face a five-day seeking to move jobs or operations Ivanka is being ‘treated so unfairly’ What's most important from where by Nordstrom] suspension or termination for using the world meets Washington overseas. Nearly all Ivanka-brand public office for private gain. merchandise is manufactured in Please provide a valid email low-cost-labor countries, including But enforcement measures are address. China, Indonesia and Vietnam. largely left to the head of the federal agency — in Jonah Goldberg : Kellyanne Conway & CNN -- Media Pile-On Reveals Double Standard CNN has grave concerns about Journalism professor Jay Rosen campaign manager, is fine — and which party is in power. Under White House senior adviser thinks there’s little journalistic value calling for her media banishment is President George W. Bush, vast Kellyanne Conway’s credibility and in giving Conway a platform. “The the height of journalistic swaths of the media celebrated even refused to have her on its logic is, this is a representative of seriousness. dissent as the highest form of Sunday show recently, apparently the president,” Rosen said on the patriotism. Under President Obama, to protect viewers from her Jedi- Recode Media podcast. “This is In 2012, Susan Rice, Barack dissent became the lowest form of mind-trick powers. somebody who can speak for the Obama’s national-security adviser, racism. And upon Donald Trump’s Trump administration. But if we find flatly lied on five Sunday news election, dissent became not only CNN subsequently invited Conway that what Kellyanne Conway says is shows, saying that the attack on the patriotic but a requirement for the to appear on the network, infuriating routinely or easily contradicted by Benghazi compound was new mythopoetic cause of a chorus of liberal-media critics who Donald Trump, then that rationale “spontaneous” and the direct result “resistance.” insist she must be shunned like a disappears.” of a “heinous and offensive video.” harlot in an Amish colony. No one talked of banning her from While not a news organization, “Another reason to interview the airwaves. Nor should they Saturday Night Live is emblematic Now, I should disclose that I know Kellyanne Conway is, our viewers have. of this mindset. Jim Downey, the Conway a bit and like her. At the want to understand how the Trump SNL writer in charge of political same time, no one who’s read my world thinks,” Rosen added. “But if Here’s a news flash for the news mockery, insisted that there was columns over the last two years the end result of an interview is industry: Birds are gonna fly, fish simply nothing funny about Obama. would accuse me of being a more confusion about what the are gonna swim, and politicians are “It’s like being a rock climber looking cheerleader for her or her boss. Trump world thinks, then that gonna lie. The assumption that up at a thousand-foot-high face of rationale evaporates.” Conway is uniquely dishonest solid obsidian, polished and oiled,” Conway’s job is, at least in part, to strikes me as not only preposterous sell the president’s agenda and fight Downey said. “There’s not a single I can understand Rosen’s but irrelevant. If she’s that thing to grab onto — certainly not a back against a hostile press. She is frustration. President Trump’s dishonest, a good interviewer will very good at it. Too good, flaw or hook that you can surrogates, including Vice President make that clear to the viewer. caricature.” apparently. Mike Pence, have mastered the art Personally, I think Jake Tapper is Bill Moyers, who had a similar job of defending straw-man positions more than capable of holding The Trump White House, for President Lyndon Johnson, that don’t reflect the actions and anyone’s feet to the fire. meanwhile, is a bottomless source views of the president himself. of japery. That’s fine. But the double lamented CNN’s decision not to The arrogance is remarkable. The permanently ban Conway, which is standard is obvious to those who But I find this talk of refusing to Fourth Estate priesthood thinks don’t share the political biases of the “the surest way to prevent a interview Conway baffling and viewers can’t see through Conway’s professional con artist from using SNL, The Daily Show, or, for that bizarre. It’s also a bit ironic, given spin, so they must be protected matter, CNN. you to pollute the airwaves with one the hysteria this week over from it. It’s a compliment to Conway flagrant lie after another.” Moyers Senator Elizabeth Warren’s being and her skills, and an admission of — Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the says Conway is the “silenced” by the Senate. incompetence by the press. American Enterprise Institute and a “administration’s official Queen of Apparently, using a parliamentary senior editor of National Review. Bulls***,” which is an interesting technique to cut off a demagogic But the more important point is that © 2017 Tribune Content Agency, charge coming from someone who stemwinder in the Senate is singling out Conway would strike LLC used to clean out LBJ’s stables outrageously sexist. But cavalierly millions of viewers — and voters — gustily. insulting Conway, the first as further evidence that the press successful female presidential changes its standards depending on Senate confirms Trump's Health chief By No Democratic senator supported required, Democrats don't have the because of his support for nixing the Jordain Price in the 52-47 vote. He manpower to block any nominees Affordable Care Act and Carney - 02/10/17 02:11 AM EST overcame an initial procedural on their own. overhauling Medicare. hurdle on Wednesday evening The Senate confirmed Rep. Tom along party lines. But they signaled early on that Price “Make no mistake: In the dark hours Price (R-Ga.) to serve as secretary would be a top target and spent of the early morning, with the of Health and Human Services With the GOP's 52-seat hold on the hours on the Senate floor ahead of confirmation of Secretary Price, the during a 2 a.m. vote Friday. Senate and only a simple majority the vote protesting his confirmation Republicans launch the first assault

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 36 in the war on seniors,” said Senate He also voiced support in 2015 for a should be disqualified for “basic lawmakers acknowledged at the Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- proposal to reduce Medicare costs ethics.” time that they wouldn't meet the N.Y.). by delivering benefits through a deadline. voucher program. "He should have withdrawn his Democrats argue Price’s positions nomination weeks ago, and if he Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said are out of line with campaign-trail Democrats are all but guaranteed to didn't go voluntarily, the president Thursday that he hopes confirming Trump, who signaled during the use the vote on Price, and his and his friends in Congress should Price will speed up the process. race that he wouldn’t cut entitlement position on Medicare, to target GOP have quietly but forcefully pushed programs. Sens. Dean Heller (Nev.) and Jeff him out," she said. “After seven years we’ve got all Flake (Ariz.) — two Republican kinds of great ideas, but we have to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called senators up for reelection in 2018. The Wall Street Journal also come together behind one,” he told Price — who has previously backed reported last month that he received reporters. privatizing Medicare — the "exact Price faced a rocky confirmation a 12 percent discount on his opposite" of what Trump battle, also coming under fire for a purchase of biomedical stock. Senate Majority Leader Mitch campaigned on. growing number of reports about his McConnell (R-Ky.) praised Price stock trading as a member of But Republicans never publicly separately as the “right man” for to "My opposition to Congressman Congress. signaled that they were wavering on lead the department. Price has less to do with his well- Price. They believe getting him known extreme right-wing economic CNN and Time reported last month confirmed is key to syncing up with “Price knows more about health views than it has to do with the that he had invested in health- the White House on the plan to care policy than just about anyone. hypocrisy and dishonesty of related companies shortly before repeal and replace ObamaCare. He doesn’t just understand health President Trump," Sanders said. introducing or supporting legislation care policy as a policy maker … he that benefited them. The GOP Trump and congressional also understands it as a practicing Price, who was chairman of the lawmaker denied wrongdoing, Republicans — as well as House physician,” he said. “He gets the House Budget Committee when adding that he made the and Senate lawmakers — have at real-world impact.” nominated, said late last year that investments through a broker. times struggled to get on the same Republicans would move to page about a time line for repealing overhaul Medicare within six to But Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D- ObamaCare or how to replace it. eight months of Trump’s Mass.) — in her first floor speech administration. since she was temporarily banned They included a Jan. 27 date for on Tuesday night — said Price repeal proposals in a budget bill passed earlier this year, but Michael Gerson : In a time of tragedy, could Trump soothe the nation? By Michael people hate written speeches and what Trump actually thinks. But the Trump’s tone and approach — his Gerson reward extemporaneousness. In tweet, briefly expressing a taunt, insults, his self-centeredness, his some ways, John McCain’s 2000 appears triumphant. Spontaneity strange inability to discern Each day of the Trump era seems presidential campaign was a dry run reigns in presidential splendor. appropriateness — may appear in a to bring strange new objects to the for this approach, with the candidate different light. A virus produces national punchbowl. The newly making much of his news in daily Yet there are two caveats at least antibodies. Americans may become minted president publicly obsessed bull sessions on the press bus. It as huge as Trump’s crowd size. exhausted with his shtick. The over his inaugural crowd size. He was seriously proposed to me First, Trump’s communication style decency of the country may be claimed pervasive voter fraud. He during George W. Bush’s 2004 has not even begun to be tested. It deeper than the Trump reviewed television shows. He reelection campaign (on which I is at times of tragedy, grief and the phenomenon. attacked the independence of the was chief speechwriter) that the solemn expression of national judiciary. He called into question the president deliver his convention purpose that the words of a I’m betting on it, but who knows? fairness and good faith of address from notes. Even Trump president are assessed by history. The final measure of Trump’s Nordstrom, further deepening our did not attempt this feat, but the Moments such as these usually aggressive authenticity may be class divide on tie selection. enemies of texts, teleprompters and require both thought and craft. somewhere in the middle, as the speechwriters have plenty of Words are used to empathize, to truth of this matter may be It is difficult for an easily outraged heal, to reach out, to uplift, to speak somewhere in the middle. columnist to ignore the president’s ammunition in their quest to promote authenticity as spontaneity. from the undivided heart of the bad-boy, shock-jock, schoolyard, country. The requirements of presidential bar-stool, mental-ward Read These Comments communication are symbolized for provocations. But the Trump There is no evidence that Trump is me by the rigors of one day: Sept. phenomenon raises more The best conversations on The capable of this kind of 14, 2001. In the morning, Bush fundamental questions, including Washington Post communication; there is much spoke at the National Cathedral: about the nature of political evidence he is not. In the aftermath “Grief and tragedy and hatred are communication. Has President Please provide a valid email of terrorist attacks, Trump’s instinct only for a time. Goodness, Trump permanently changed the address. is to take credit for his own foresight remembrance and love have no way that politicians win office and There is no doubt that Trump and to employ events as justification end, and the Lord of life holds all speak once they assume it? Is tapped into public impatience with for his own agenda. There are few who die and all who mourn.” Trump’s use of Twitter in the same things more repulsive than typical-sounding politicians, Later that day, Bush held a bullhorn category of revolutionary change as embodied by the Democratic narcissism at a time of grief. In the political pamphlet (see Thomas moments demanding empathy, on smoldering rubble in New York nominee for president, who seemed and promised, spontaneously: “The Paine) or the barn-burning stump to have talking points in her soul. Trump may use a text and sound speech (see William Jennings inauthentic, or not use a text and people who knocked these buildings People who know Hillary Clinton down will hear all of us soon.” Bryan) or the radio (see Franklin D. would dispute that characterization sound indifferent. Roosevelt)? vigorously. But many voters could The second caveat is that we don’t Both text and heart. Both prayer There is little doubt that the Trump not imagine four scripted, stilted know the ending of Trump’s story. and bullhorn. Both needed by an precedent will amplify an existing years of presidential rhetoric. At His style of communication is American president. trend among communication least, it was widely argued, Trump attractive now because it helped says what he thinks. Read more from Michael Gerson’s advisers to candidates. During my him overcome nearly impossible archive, follow him on Twitter or professional life as a speechwriter, I That struck me as an odd way to political odds. But in, say, the fourth subscribe to his updates on often heard the point made that choose a president, especially given and final year of a failed presidency, Facebook .

David Brookds : A Gift for Donald Trump

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 37

David Brooks Moreover, the true Trump It’s not clear if Trump is combative have broken the logjam of our dysfunction seems deeper. We are because he sees the world as politics. If you could give Donald Trump the used to treating politicians as dangerous or if he sees the world gift of a single trait to help his vehicles for political philosophies as dangerous because it justifies his He didn’t have to have a vicious presidency, what would it be? and interest groups. But in Trump’s combativeness. Either way, infighting administration in which everybody leaks against one My first thought was that prudence case, his philosophy, populism, Trumpism is a posture that leads to often takes a back seat to his the now familiar cycle of threat another and in which backstairs life was the most important gift one is a war of all against all. could give him. Prudence is the psychological complexes — the perception, insult, enemy-making, ability to govern oneself with the psychic wounds that seem to induce aggrievement, self-pity, assault and He doesn’t have to begin each day use of reason. It is the ability to him into a state of perpetual war counterassault. making enemies: Nordstrom, John with enemies far and wide. suppress one’s impulses for the So, upon reflection, the gift I would McCain, judges. He could begin sake of long-term goals. It is the With Trump we are relentlessly give Trump would be an emotional each day looking for friends, and he ability to see the specific thrown into the Big Shaggy, that gift, the gift of fraternity. I’d give him would actually get a lot more done. circumstances in which you are unconscious underground of the gift of some crisis he absolutely On Inauguration Day, when Trump placed, and to master the art of wounds, longings and needs that could not handle on his own. The navigating within them. left his wife in the dust so he could drive him to do what he does, to only way to survive would be to fall greet the Obamas, I didn’t realize My basic thought was that a prudent tweet what he does, to attack whom back entirely on others, and then to how quickly having a discourteous President Trump wouldn’t spend his he does. experience what it feels like to have leader would erode the them hold him up. mornings angrily tweeting out his Thinking about politics in the age of conversation. But look at how many resentments. A prudent Trump Trump means relying less on the Out of that, I hope, would come an of any day’s news stories are built wouldn’t spend his afternoons knowledge of political science and ability to depend on others, to trust around enmity. The war over who barking at foreign leaders and more on the probings of D.H. other people, to receive grace, and can speak in the Senate. Kellyanne risking nuclear war. “Prudence is Lawrence, David Foster Wallace eventually a desire for Conway’s cable TV battle du jour. what differentiates action from and Carl Jung. companionship. Fraternity is the Half my Facebook feed is someone impulse and heroes from hotheads,” desire to make friends during both linking to a video with the headline: writes the French philosopher André At the heart of Trumpism is the good and hostile occasions and to Watch X demolish Y. Comte-Sponville. perception that the world is a dark, be faithful to those friends. The savage place, and therefore I doubt that Trump will develop a But the more I thought about it the fraternal person is seeking harmony capacity for fraternity any time soon, ruthlessness, selfishness and and fair play between individuals. more I realized prudence might not callousness are required to survive but to be human is to hold out hope, be the most important trait Trump He is trying to move the world from and to believe that even a guy as in it. It is the utter conviction, as tension to harmony. needs. He seems intent on Trump put it, that murder rates are old and self-destructive as Trump is destroying the postwar world order at a 47-year high, even though in Donald Trump didn’t have to have still 0.001 percent open to a — building walls, offending allies fact they are close to a 57-year low. an administration that was at war transformation of the heart. and driving away the stranger and It is the utter conviction that we are with everyone but its base. He the refugee. Do I really want to engaged in an apocalyptic war came to office with a populist make him more prudent and against radical Islamic terrorism, mandate that cut across partisan effective in pursuit of malicious even though there are probably categories. He could have created goals? several foreign policy problems of unorthodox coalitions and led greater importance. unexpected alliances that would

Trump gets a powerful lesson in role of judiciary https://www.face A federal appeals court upheld a national security concerns, are because the ban had a detrimental book.com/robert. lower court ruling suspending unreviewable, even if those actions effect on the rights of students and barnes.3139 President Trump’s controversial potentially contravene constitutional faculty at the public universities. immigration order barring refugees rights and protections.” Actions of the executive branch President Trump, meet the judicial and citizens from seven Muslim- designed to promote national branch. majority countries from entering the That, the court said, “runs contrary security are not immune from U.S. on Feb. 9. Federal appeals to the fundamental structure of our judicial inspection, the court You like fast? It prefers to take its constitutional democracy.” time. You were elected to disrupt, court rules against Trump's continued. but it insists on order. immigration ban (Peter That the opinion was unsigned Stevenson/The Washington Post) To have Robart’s order dissolved, seemed intended to emphasize the the burden was on the government Most important, you have pledged unanimity of the diverse panel: to move single-handedly to protect (Peter Stevenson/The Washington to show it was likely to win on the Post) Judge William C. Canby, 85, a merits. the country and change its Jimmy Carter nominee with more immigration priorities. The federal The judges fairly bristled at the than 36 years of experience; Judge But the judges said there were judiciary in the weeks-that-feel-like- government’s contention that courts Richard R. Clifton, 66, nominated to serious questions about whether the months of the Trump presidency had no business weighing Trump’s the bench in 2002 by President order provides the due process has pushed back in a series of executive order temporarily banning George W. Bush; and Judge guarantees required, “such as decisions that make clear it has a refugees and those from seven Michelle T. Friedland, 44, a Barack notice and a hearing prior to role to play. majority-Muslim countries. Obama nominee who became a restricting an individual’s ability to judge less than three years ago. travel.” Only history can know whether the “The government does not merely unanimous decision by a panel of argue that courts owe substantial They were deciding only whether to The government claimed that lawful three very different federal judges deference to the immigration and lift a temporary halt to the executive permanent residents would not be will ultimately be considered a case national security policy order, issued last Friday by Judge affected; the court said there was of judicial overreach, a self-imposed determinations of the political James L. Robart (another Bush no guarantee. The word of White mistake caused by the branches — an uncontroversial nominee). It could have been a one- House Counsel Donald F. McGahn administration’s lack of precision, or principle that is well-grounded in our paragraph order, but instead it ran was not enough, the judges said. something more significant. jurisprudence,” the court’s unsigned for 29 pages. opinion said. “We cannot say that the current But for now it served as a powerful It gave the president’s lawyers interpretation by White House reminder that judges demand their “Instead, the government has taken almost nothing. counsel, even if authoritative and designated part, even if in most the position that the president’s binding, will persist past the cases it is to defer to the president decisions about immigration policy, Washington and Minnesota had immediate stage of these on matters of national security. particularly when motivated by standing to sue, the judges decided, proceedings,” the decision said.

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 38

That argued against leaving even “We reserve consideration of these demand an explanation before the Despite the lopsided nature of the part of the order in place. claims until the merits of this appeal president may act preemptively. ruling, it also seemed to offer have been fully briefed.” pointers for the administration. A The court said there was not Local Politics Alerts legal strategy less dismissive of the enough in the record to decide The court referred to the “massive court’s role might have helped. Less whether the order amounted to attention” the case has received, Breaking news about local government in D.C., Md., Va. haste in drafting the order, issued religious discrimination, which and said it had to weigh interests. just a week after Trump’s would violate the Constitution’s “On the one hand, the public has a Please provide a valid email inauguration, might have filled some Establishment Clause prohibition of address. of the holes the judges saw. any “law respecting an powerful interest in national security establishment of religion.” and in the ability of an elected “The government has pointed to no Before his lawyers could decide on president to enact policies,” the evidence that any alien from any of their next move, Trump issued an But Trump’s words came back to judges wrote. “And on the other, the the countries named in the order all-caps tweet: “SEE YOU IN haunt him. “The states have offered public also has an interest in free has perpetrated a terrorist attack in COURT,” seemingly at odds with evidence of numerous statements flow of travel, in avoiding separation the United States,” the judges said. his recent criticism of judges as by the president about his intent to of families, and in freedom from “political.” implement a ‘Muslim ban’ as well as discrimination.” Again, they said: “Rather than evidence they claim suggests that present evidence to explain the The full appeals court? The the executive order was intended to Parts of the decision are sure to be need for the executive order, the Supreme Court? It was an be that ban,” the judges wrote. controversial. While it said courts government has taken the position acknowledgment, if nothing else, of defer to the president, it seemed to that we must not review its decision the role the judiciary holds in how at all.” his presidency will proceed.

Ruling Showcases Checks and Balances Michael C. Obama’s cabinet and as chief of The order was also widely viewed “It’s a permanent drag on his Bender, Janet staff to former President Bill Clinton by critics as a variation of Mr. presidency even if he does Hook and Peter Nicholas , both Democrats. Trump’s call for a Muslim ban, eventually get out of it,” said Bruce which helped him win the Buchanan, a political scientist at the Feb. 9, 2017 9:37 p.m. ET “Presidents have to be really careful Republican Party’s first primary University of Texas at Austin, about what fights they pick early in WASHINGTON—A federal contest in New Hampshire last year. referring to Mr. Trump’s legal an administration because if they setbacks. “Early missteps can be appellate court ruling blocking pick the wrong fights, it is going to Nearly 90% of Republicans said President Donald Trump’s overcome, but the problem is: Then make it tougher for them to do the they supported the executive order, you have to overcome them, and immigration ban sent a powerful things that are really important to according to a Quinnipiac University message about the balance of you are getting out of a hole, rather their legacy,” Mr. Panetta said. “If poll released Tuesday. And the than starting on level ground.” power enshrined in the Constitution you start off by engaging in a war of defeat in court may not hurt his establishing three equal branches of words and tweets and executive standing among supporters, said Using tactics honed in the government, a system that will orders, and picking fights with the Julian Zelizer, a professor of history campaign, Mr. Trump belittled the serve as a check on his presidency left and the right, you hurt your and public affairs at Princeton courts that would decide the fate of just as it does on any other. chances for being able to get the University. his executive order. He talked and The three-judge panel at the Ninth more meaningful things done.” tweeted in hopes of shaping public “His supporters are still happy he’s opinion, suggesting that the public U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), a fighting the fight,” Mr. Zelizer said. Francisco also delivered a withering faces a more dire threat than it defender of the travel policy, “There is probably an element of the might realize. blow to a central pillar of Mr. described the court’s ruling as Trump presidency that will be Trump’s political agenda—national “misguided” and called the ninth defined forever around fighting: “Historically, presidents have security—just three weeks into his circuit “the most notoriously left- Fighting with people, fighting with learned that attacking judges administration. wing court in America.’’ institutions.” personally has tended to reduce their own credibility rather than that The president’s executive order was “I’m confident the administration’s Other presidents have had to aimed at blocking travelers from of their judicial adversaries,” said position will ultimately prevail,” Mr. weather early storms, and they Jonathan Turley, a George seven Muslim-majority countries Cotton said. stand as warnings to the current because of what the administration Washington University law administration about how enduring professor. said were concerns about terrorism. Many Democrats praised the the damage can be from major decision. Senate Democratic stumbles early in a presidency. On Friday, a federal judge in The order prompted protests at Leader Chuck Schumer of New airports nationwide and already has Seattle, James Robart, issued a York said, “President Trump ought A decision by former President ruling blocking the order. The next cost Mr. Trump, a Republican, to see the handwriting on the wall Jimmy Carter to block the political capital and momentum. His day, the president tweeted that that his executive order is hometown spending projects Judge Robart was a “so-called decision to attack the judges who unconstitutional.” favored by members of Congress handled the case also touched off judge,” a characterization that his alienated fellow Democrats, whose own nominee to the Supreme Court, concerns that he sought to The rollout of the order was widely help he needed when confronting a undermine the nation’s judiciary. criticized for the confusion it Neil Gorsuch, later described as major international oil crisis. Lyndon demoralizing for the judicial branch. caused, even for some in Johnson’s overly optimistic Mr. Trump, speaking to reporters at government who were charged with the White House moments after the description of the Vietnam War Still, more tweets followed. On enforcing it. The ruling also cited struck a devastating blow to his Sunday, he urged his millions of court ruled, called the decision flaws in the order’s wording, which “political.” credibility. followers to blame Mr. Robart and was largely drafted during the the courts for putting the country in The administration could ask for its president’s transition period and not The collapse of Mr. Clinton’s health- such peril. appeal of the stay to be heard by widely circulated. care plan in his first two years helped Republicans take control of With the three-judge panel the full appellate court or seek Mr. Trump could have it rewritten, review by the U.S. Supreme Court. Congress, although Mr. Clinton considering the appeal, Mr. Trump and his administration is now better managed to regroup and rebuild his raised the issue again in an The White House faces additional staffed to manage such an presidency by working with appearance Wednesday at a police political risks if it prolongs the fight undertaking. Attorney General Jeff Republicans to forge major chiefs conference. He said the at such an early moment in Mr. Sessions was confirmed this week bipartisan laws—welfare reform, courts “seem to be so political,” and Trump’s presidency, said Leon and is now at his post in the Justice smaller health-care measures and a that even a “bad high school Panetta, who served in Mr. Department. big deficit reduction plan. student” would grasp his right to bar

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 39 certain people from entering the said Paul Collins, director of legal that of other presidents before him,” —Rebecca Ballhaus and Siobhan country he was elected to lead. studies at University of Mr. Collins said. Hughes contributed to this article. Massachusetts, Amherst and co- Other presidents also bristled over author of a 2015 article, “President Trump might be trying to court rulings that subverted their undermine confidence in the federal “Presidential Rhetoric and Supreme agenda. Court Decisions.” courts as a way to justify a later decision to choose not to follow one What’s different about Mr. Trump’s Mr. Trump’s language in the Robart or more of the rulings,” Mr. Collins comment is the vituperative tone, case “rings very different to me than said.

In executive actions, President Trump vows crackdown on violent crime. Is America as unsafe as he thinks? http://www.faceb and non-negligent manslaughter deploy the talents and abilities of Trump has cast himself as a pro-law ook.com/matt.zapotosky from 2014 to 2015. But the murder the Department of Justice in the enforcement candidate since the rate is down even from as recently most effective way possible to campaign trail. Some advocates President Trump signed three as 2009, and it has been declining confront this rise in crime and to worry that he is not adequately executive actions Thursday — with a few upward blips — since protect the people of our country.” concerned, though, with police designed to crack down on violence the height of the crack epidemic in abuses and those killed by police. in America, directing the the early 1990s. Sessions mentioned violent crime in Department of Justice to form a task his remarks even before terrorism, Some cities in recent years, force and take other steps to target [Violent crime and murders both indicating just how high a priority it including Ferguson, Mo., Baltimore criminal gangs and reduce violent went up in 2015, FBI says] might become in his Justice and Charlotte, have seen protests crime and crime against police. Department. and violence erupt after incidents of Civil liberties groups criticized the black men being killed at the hands Trump has long held a pessimistic executive orders as responses to a Trump issued executive orders on of law enforcement officers. The view of how safe people are in the non-existent problem. three topics — gangs, violent crime Justice Department under President U.S., declaring in his inaugural in general, and violence against Barack Obama sent mediators to address that the “American “President Trump intends to build police particularly. They contained task forces to investigate and stop those cities to try to keep the peace. carnage” would stop with his mostly broad directives, which The Obama administration also presidency. As his new attorney national trends that don’t exist,” said Sessions presumably will be left to ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jeffery aggressively investigated the police general, Jeff Sessions, was sworn implement. with systemic reviews of entire in Thursday, Trump said he was Robinson. “We have seen historic lows in the country’s crime rate and On crime in general, Trump ordered departments to address the root signing the executive actions to cause of conflict between law “restore safety in America.” a downward trend in killings against the creation of a task force to study police officers since the 1980s. The existing laws and crime data enforcement and residents. “First, I’m directing Department of president not only doesn’t collection and “develop strategies to Neither Trump nor his attorney Justice & Homeland Security to acknowledge these facts about our reduce crime.” The task force is to general mentioned such undertake all necessary and lawful nation’s safety, he persists in submit a report to him within a investigations at the swearing-in action to break the back of the ignoring the all-too-real deaths of year. On gangs, he ordered beefed ceremony. On the White House criminal cartels that have spread Black and brown people at the up enforcement and the issuance of website, the Trump administration across our nation and are hands of law enforcement.” once quarterly public reports has hinted at a crackdown on destroying the blood of our youth “detailing convictions in the United Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, protests. “Our job is not to make life and other people, many other States relating to transnational more comfortable for the rioter, the people,” Trump said. “Secondly, I’m Co-Director of Human Rights criminal organizations and their Watch’s U.S. program, said, “The looter, or the violent disrupter,” the directing Department of Justice to subsidiaries” He asked for a site says. form a task force on reducing executive orders President Trump broader progress report for himself violent crime in America. And signed today on criminal justice are in 120 days. Sessions, though, did note another thirdly, I’m directing the Department premised on a distortion of reality issue of importance to him: of Justice to implement a plan to that will ultimately be [Trump says he may send ‘the feds’ immigration. That is significant, as stop crime and crimes of violence counterproductive. Smart public to Chicago. Federal agents are the Justice Department is in the against law enforcement officers.” safety policies should be based on already there.] midst of a heated court battle to the realities that communities, law defend Trump’s now-frozen But Trump has, in the past, enforcement, and victims face, so On violence against police, Trump ordered prosecutors to develop a executive order barring refugees misstated crime statistics or not that resources are used wisely. Far and citizens of seven Muslim- presented them in the proper from soaring, overall crime rates strategy to use existing laws to prosecute those who harm law majority countries from entering the context, presenting a somewhat have decreased steadily in recent U.S. bleaker view than perhaps is decades, though homicide rates in enforcement officers and to “review warranted. He has accurately cited several major cities have increased existing Federal laws to determine “We need a lawful system of a statistic from the Brennan Center and require thoughtful attention.” whether those laws are adequate to immigration — one that serves the for Justice, which found that, in the address the protection” of police. interests of the people of the United largest 30 cities, homicides Sessions said in his own remarks According to the National Law States,” Sessions said. “That’s not increased by 14 percent from 2015 that America had “a crime problem,” Enforcement Officers Memorial wrong, that’s not immoral, that’s not to 2016. But in that data set, one and it was no mere anomaly. Fund, there were 135 officers killed indecent. We admit a million people in 2016, up from 123 the year outlier city — Chicago — was “I wish the rise that we are seeing in a year plus, lawfully, and we need responsible for 43.7 percent of the before, and 64 were shot and killed, to end this lawlessness that crime in America today were some up from 41 the year before. total increase in homicide rates in sort of aberration or a blip,” he said. threatens the public safety, pulls 2016. “My best judgment, having been “It’s a shame what’s been down wages of working Americans.” [Fact-checking Trump’s rhetoric on involved in criminal law enforcement happening to our great, truly great, This post was updated after the full crime and the ‘American carnage’] for many years, is that this is a law enforcement officers,” Trump text of the executive orders was dangerous, permanent trend that said. “That’s going to stop, as of released, and to include comments The latest FBI data show a more places the health and safety of the today.” from civil liberties groups. than 10 percent increase in murder American people at risk. We will Gorsuch’s criticism of Trump may be winning him Democratic support

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 40 https://www.facebook.com/costarep disputed Blumenthal’s account, Collins said she has not decided an “exceptionally qualified orts even after it was confirmed by whether she will vote to confirm nominee.” But the president Gorsuch’s team. Gorsuch. acknowledged that getting Senate Democrats sent mixed Democrats to agree with him may signals the day after Supreme Court Republicans are hoping to confirm Democrats have signaled that they be hard. nominee Neil Gorsuch expressed Gorsuch by early April, and they will seek to impose a 60-vote concerns about President Trump’s have moved swiftly toward meeting threshold on Gorsuch’s nomination, “I think that because of politics, attacks on the federal judiciary — a that self-imposed target. Grassley while Republicans have said that he perhaps they’re not going to vote for sign that the judge’s comments said Thursday that he is considering should get a straight up-or-down him. I think that’s a shame because could attract some badly needed holding Gorsuch’s confirmation vote without having to first clear that that’s not being honest,” Trump Democratic support. hearings sooner than he had obstacle. said. planned, in light of recent “To whisper to a senator but to Democratic attempts to slow the Trump has said that Senate Majority Grassley said there was “absolutely refuse to say anything public is not confirmations of many of Trump’s Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) not” a coordinated strategy between close to a good enough show on Cabinet nominees. ought to “go nuclear” and change the Judiciary Committee and the independence. So from my view, the rules so that Gorsuch can be White House to broadcast not a good start for Judge Gorsuch. “The fact that we see all of these confirmed with a simple majority. Gorsuch’s comments widely. Not a good start,” said Senate stalling shenanigans could impact Republicans hold a 52-to-48 Minority Leader Charles E. the necessity of moving it forward,” advantage over the Democratic “There couldn’t have been any Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking on the he said. “If we’re going to have the caucus. conspiracy between members of the Senate floor. same game played on Gorsuch, Judiciary Committee or Republicans that’ll be taken into consideration.” “I thought he’d get more than 60 because how would we know that But Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D- votes and still do,” Sen. Jeff Flake Blumenthal would do what he did?” Calif.), the top Democrat on the Grassley said early to mid-March is (R-Ariz.) said. Grassley asked. “These are usually Senate Judiciary Committee, struck now under consideration as a time private conversations.” a more positive note about frame, whereas he had been Flake said he does not see Gorsuch’s remarks, which came in looking at mid- to late March a few Gorsuch’s attention-grabbing As Gorsuch appeared to make at a meeting with Sen. Richard weeks ago. comments as a “calculated least some progress on the left, on Blumenthal (D-Conn.). statement” encouraged by the Twitter and on talk radio, there were Several Senate Democratic officials White House to get him confirmed. growing grumbles from the right “I for one appreciated them,” called the White House’s aim of about him. Feinstein said. “I think he was being winning over a few Democrats for “When you read his opinions, the truthful as to how he felt about it. the Gorsuch nomination overly statements and speeches he’s “Doesn’t that make you concerned And that was very much hopeful. They said that Gorsuch’s given, he feels very strongly about that Judge Gorsuch might be the appreciated.” She said she wanted criticism of Trump’s comments was the separation of powers,” Flake kind of justice then who would want Gorsuch to have a “fair hearing not going to suddenly change said. “I have a hard time believing” to please the editorial boards of the process.” Democratic minds about whether to that his statements were part of a New York Times and The confirm him. political strategy. Washington Post when a hot-button The comments highlighted the issue comes up? That crossed my lingering uncertainty over a crucial The officials said the party’s Ahead of a Thursday lunch with a mind last night, didn’t make me question: What level of support will strategy moving forward is to further bipartisan group of senators at the happy to hear it at all,” conservative Gorsuch receive from the raise the bar as Gorsuch asserts his White House, Trump said during a commentator Laura Ingraham said Democratic caucus? judicial independence. That means brief availability with reporters that Thursday on her radio program. pressing Gorsuch to speak out he believed Gorsuch’s comments Republicans hope that at least eight more forcefully about Trump’s were “misrepresented” by The Daily 202 newsletter of them will break ranks to help his Blumenthal. Trump then took a shot comments and to do so publicly A must-read morning briefing for nomination clear procedural rather than in private meetings. at the Connecticut Democrat. hurdles, if not support him outright. decision-makers. They expect Democratic senators to “What you should do is ask Senator But that will be challenging, as push Gorsuch on issues such as Please provide a valid email Democrats have largely united Blumenthal about his Vietnam Trump’s temporary ban on entry to record that didn’t exist after years of address. against Trump in the first three the United States for citizens of weeks of his presidency and have saying it did,” he said. “So ask But Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), a seven majority-Muslim countries Senator Blumenthal about his signaled they intend to keep doing and all refugees. conservative member of the Senate so. Vietnam record. He misrepresented Judiciary Committee, told the Post “Because President Trump has that just like he misrepresented in a phone interview that a revolt In a private session with Blumenthal made unwise and unbalanced Judge Gorsuch.” against Gorsuch from the right is on Wednesday, Gorsuch called comments that are perceived as Blumenthal came under sharp very unlikely — and said he was Trump’s criticism of federal judges undermining judicial independence, “surprised” by Ingraham’s criticism. “disheartening” and “demoralizing” criticism during his 2010 Senate I expect in my conversation with campaign for repeated remarks — raising some Republicans’ hopes Judge Gorsuch to raise the issue of Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.), a that he had separated himself from over the years that he had “served” centrist who attended the White judicial independence, to ask for a in Vietnam, even though he did his the president’s controversial posture demonstration of his commitment to House meeting with Trump, was not in a way that could warm some full Marine service in the United impressed by Trump’s attack judicial independence,” said Sen. States. Democrats to him. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.). against Blumenthal — yet another reminder that as Gorsuch courts “I think [Gorsuch’s] position is very, Blumenthal obtained several Gorsuch was back on Capitol Hill on deferments between 1965 and 1970 Democratic votes, the actions of the very positive” and his recent Thursday, where he met with six president will also be closely comments “show respect for what and then joined the Marine Corps senators — five Republicans and Reserve but did not serve in watched. we all respect from the judiciary, in one Democrat. He ignored terms of independence. He’s Vietnam. He later said he misspoke “That’s something I wouldn’t have questions from reporters as he and intended to say that he was in established that, answered that strode down a hall with Sen. Susan done,” Manchin said, admitting that question from the Democrats who the Marine Reserve during the many in the room found the Collins (R-Maine) for his first Vietnam conflict. were grasping at straws in the first meeting of the day. president’s attack on a fellow place since they know he’s a Trump received five deferments senator awkward. mainstream judge,” said Sen. Afterward, Collins said she did not from the draft during the Vietnam Read more at PowerPost Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), the press Gorsuch on his comments War, four while he was a student chairman of the Judiciary criticizing Trump. But, Collins said, and a fifth for bone spurs in his Ed O’Keefe and John Wagner Committee. “I disagree” with Trump’s attacks heels, records show. contributed to this report. against judges, which included Injecting further uncertainty into the recent criticism of the judge who Trump on Thursday also reiterated process: Trump on Thursday halted the refugee ban. his support for Gorsuch, calling him

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 41

Fareed Zakaria : Stephen Bannon’s words and actions don’t add up https://www.face successful Romney, by contrast, In a strange way, Bannon’s dark, the young and enterprising Bannon book.com/fareed “will not be my commander in chief,” dystopian view of U.S. history is left a large bank to set up his own zakaria Bannon said, because, although the closest to that of Howard Zinn, a shop, do his own deals and make a candidate had five sons who “look popular far-left scholar whose “A small fortune. It then allowed him to Perhaps it’s just me, but a few like good all-American guys . . . not People’s History of the United produce and distribute movies weeks into the Trump presidency, one has served a day in the States” is a tale of the many ways in outside of the Hollywood between the tweets, executive military.” which 99 percent of Americans establishment, build a media start- orders, attacks and counterattacks, were crushed by the country’s all- up into a powerhouse and become I feel dizzy. So I’ve decided to take Read These Comments powerful elites. In the Zinn/Bannon a political entrepreneur entirely a break from the daily barrage and worldview, everyday people are outside the Republican hierarchy. try to find the signal amid the noise: The best conversations on The Washington Post simply pawns manipulated by their This United States allowed What is the underlying philosophy of evil overlords. Bannon’s brash new boss to get out this administration? Please provide a valid email of Queens into Manhattan, build address. A more accurate version of recent skyscrapers and also his celebrity, The chief ideologist of the Trump American history would show that era is surely Stephen K. Bannon, by all while horrifying the The core of Bannon’s worldview can the cultural shift that began in the establishment. Donald Trump is many accounts now the second- be found in his movie “Generation 1960s was fueled by a powerful, most powerful man in the surely the poster child for the Zero.” It centers on the financial deeply American force: culture of narcissism. government. Bannon is intelligent crisis of 2008, and the opening individualism. The United States and broadly read, and has a scenes — in their fury against had always been highly In the course of building their command of U.S. history. I’ve bankers — could have been written individualistic. Both Bannon and careers, Trump and Bannon waded through his many movies by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). But Trump seem nostalgic for an age — discarded traditionalism in every and speeches, and in these, he then it moves on to its real point: the 1930s to 1950s — that was an way. Both men are divorced — does not come across as a racist or The financial crisis happened aberration for the nation. The Great Bannon three times, Trump twice. white supremacist, as some people because of a larger moral crisis. Depression, the New Deal and They have achieved their dreams have charged. But he is an unusual The film blames the 1960s and the World War II created a collectivist precisely because society was wide conservative. We have gotten used baby boomers who tore down impulse that transformed the open to outsiders, breaking to conservatives who are really traditional structures of society and country. But after a while, traditional morality did not carry a economic libertarians, but Bannon created a “culture of narcissism.” Americans began to reassert their stigma and American elites were represents an older school of age-old desire for personal actually not that powerful. Their European thought that is distrustful How did Woodstock trigger a freedom, fulfillment and stories are the stories of modern of free markets, determined to financial crisis four decades later? advancement. The world of the America. But their message to the preserve traditional culture and According to Bannon, the 1950s sounds great, unless you country seems to be an old, familiar religion, and unabashedly breakdown of old-fashioned values were a woman who wanted to work, one: Do as I say, not as I do. celebrates nationalism and martial resulted in a culture of self- an African American who wanted to values. centeredness that measured vote, an immigrant who wanted to Read more from Fareed Zakaria’s everything and everyone in one move up or an aspiring archive, follow him on Twitter or In a speech at the Conservative way: money. The movie goes on to subscribe to his updates on Political Action Conference in 2012, entrepreneur stuck in a large, accuse the political and financial faceless corporation. Facebook. Bannon explained his disgust for establishments of betraying their Mitt Romney and his admiration for country by enacting free trade deals The United States that allowed Sarah Palin, whose elder son, that benefited them but hollowed individuals to flourish in the 1980s Bannon noted, had served in Iraq. out Middle America. and 1990s, of course, was where The rich and Charles Krauthammer: The travel moratorium: A hopeless disaster https://www.face massacre when Donald Trump It caused enormous disruption disruptions, stupidities, random book.com/pages/ proposed a total ban on Muslims without making us any safer. What cruelties and well-deserved bad Charles- entering the country “until our was the emergency that compelled press. Krauthammer/95978776589 country’s representatives can figure us to turn away people already in out what the hell is going on.” the air with already approved visas The moratorium turned into a Stupid but legal. Such is the Trump for entry to the United States? distillation of the worst aspects of administration’s travel ban for Rudy Giuliani says he was tasked our current airport-security system, people from seven Muslim with cleaning up this idea. Hence President Trump said he didn’t want which everyone knows to be 95 countries. Of course, as with almost the executive order suspending to give any warning. Otherwise, he percent pantomime. The pat-down everything in American life, what entry of citizens from the seven tweeted, “the ‘bad’ would rush into of the 80-year-old grandmother should be a policy or even a moral countries while the vetting process our country. . . . A lot of bad ‘dudes’ does nothing to make us safer. Its issue becomes a legal one. The is reviewed and tightened. out there!” purpose is to give the illusion of judicial challenge should have been doing something. Similarly, during given short shrift, since the Read These Comments Rush? Not a single American has the brief Trump moratorium, a presidential grant of authority to ever been killed in a terror attack in cavalcade of innocent and indeed The best conversations on The this country by a citizen from the exclude the entry of aliens is Washington Post sympathetic characters — graduate extremely wide and statutorily clear. notorious seven. The killers have students, separated family The judge who issued the Please provide a valid email come from countries that are not members, returning doctors and temporary restraining order never address. listed — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the scientists — were denied entry. You even made a case for its illegality. UAE, Lebanon, Pakistan and saw this and said to yourself: We The core idea makes sense. These Kyrgyzstan (the Tsarnaev brothers). are protecting ourselves from these The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are failed, essentially ungovernable The notion that we had to act ? has indeed ruled against the states (except for Iran) where immediately because hordes of immigration ban, but even if the ban reliable data is hard to find. But the jihadists in these seven countries If anything, the spectacle served to is ultimately vindicated in the courts moratorium was unnecessary and were about to board airplanes to undermine Trump’s case for (as is likely), that doesn’t change damaging. Its only purpose was to blow up Americans is absurd. extreme vigilance and wariness of the fact that it makes for lousy fulfill an ill-considered campaign foreigners entering the United policy. It began life as a barstool promise. Vetting standards could easily have States. There is already empirical eruption after the San Bernardino been revised and tightened without evidence. A Nov. 23 Quinnipiac poll the moratorium and its attendant

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 42 found a six-point majority in favor of concern” — which may deter us Muslim Americans by the initial transformative agenda to enact. At “suspending immigration from ‘terror from taking far more real and denial of entry to green-card a time when it should be pushing prone’ regions”; a Feb. 7 poll found effective anti-terror measures. The holders. And the ripple effect of the and promoting deregulation, tax a six-point majority against . The administration was intent on initial denial of entry to those Iraqis reform and health-care same poll found a whopping 44- declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a who risked everything to help us in transformation, it has steered itself point majority opposed to terrorist organization, a concrete our war effort. In future conflicts, into a pointless cul-de-sac — where “suspending all immigration of measure that would hamper the this will inevitably weigh upon local even winning is losing. Syrian refugees to the U.S. operations of a global Islamist force. Muslims deciding whether to join indefinitely.” In the current atmosphere, however, and help our side. Actions have Read more from Charles that declaration is reportedly being consequences. Krauthammer’s archive, follow him Then there is the opportunity cost of delayed and rethought. on Twitter or subscribe to his the whole debacle. It risks alienating In the end, what was meant to be a updates on Facebook. the leaders of even nonaffected Add to that the costs of the ill- piece of promise-keeping, tough-on- Muslim countries — the 57-member prepared, unvetted, sloppy rollout. terror symbolism has become an Organization of Islamic Cooperation Consider the discordant, hostile oxygen-consuming distraction. This expressed “grave message sent to loyal law-abiding is a young administration with a Paul Krugman : When the Fire Comes Paul Krugman Republicans but from Democrats, For one thing, until now it would power. And the question becomes, whenever I pointed out what was have been inconceivable that a who will stop him? What will you do when terrorists going on. sitting president would attack a attack, or U.S. friction with some private company for decisions that Don’t talk about institutions, and the foreign power turns into a military Protesters at the inauguration in hurt his family’s business interests. checks and balances they create. confrontation? I don’t mean in your January. Damon Winter/The New Institutions are only as good as the personal life, where you should York Times But what’s even worse is the way people who serve them. keep calm and carry on. I mean Sean Spicer, Mr. Trump’s Authoritarianism, American-style, politically. Think about it carefully: Unfortunately, the suspension of spokesman, framed the issue: can be averted only if people have The fate of the republic may depend critical thinking ended as such Nordstrom’s business decision was the courage to stand against it. So on your answer. suspensions usually do — badly. a “direct attack” on the president’s who are these people? The Bush administration exploited policies. L’état, c’est moi. Of course, nobody knows whether the post-9/11 rush of patriotism to It certainly won’t be Mr. Trump’s there will be a shocking, 9/11-type take America into an unrelated war, Mr. Trump’s attack on Judge James inner circle. It won’t be Jeff event, or what form it might take. then used the initial illusion of Robart, who put a stay on his Sessions, his new attorney general, But surely there’s a pretty good success in that war to ram through immigration ban, was equally with his long history of contempt for chance that sometime over the next huge tax cuts for the wealthy. unprecedented. Previous voting rights. It might be the courts few years something nasty will presidents, including Barack — but Mr. Trump is doing all he can happen — a terrorist attack on a Bad as that was, however, the Obama, have disagreed with and to delegitimize judicial oversight in public place, an exchange of fire in consequences if Donald Trump complained about judicial rulings. advance. the South China Sea, something. finds himself similarly empowered But that’s very different from Then what? will be incomparably worse. attacking the very right of a judge — What about Congress? Well, its members like to give patriotic We’re only three weeks into the or, as the man who controls 4,000 After 9/11, the overwhelming public nuclear weapons put it, a “so-called speeches. And maybe, just maybe, response was to rally around the Trump administration, but it’s there are enough Republican already clear that any hopes that judge” — to rule against the commander in chief. Doubts about president. senators who really do care about the legitimacy of a president who Mr. Trump and those around him America’s fundamental values to lost the popular vote and was would be even slightly ennobled by The really striking thing about Mr. cross party lines in their defense. installed by a bare majority on the the responsibilities of office were Trump’s Twitter tirade, however, But given what we’ve seen so far, Supreme Court were swept aside. foolish. Every day brings further was his palpable eagerness to see that’s just hopeful speculation. Unquestioning support for the man evidence that this is a man who an attack on America, which would in the White House was, many completely conflates the national show everyone the folly of In the end, I fear, it’s going to rest Americans believed, what patriotism interest with his personal self- constraining his power: on the people — on whether demanded. interest, and who has surrounded enough Americans are willing to himself with people who see it the Never mind the utter falsity of the take a public stand. We can’t handle The truth was that even then the same way. And each day also claim that bad people are “pouring another post-9/11-style suspension urge toward national unity was one- brings further evidence of his lack of in,” or for that matter of the whole of doubt about the man in charge; if sided, with Republican exploitation respect for democratic values. premise behind the ban. What we that happens, America as we know of the atrocity for political gain see here is the most powerful man it will soon be gone. beginning almost immediately. But You might be tempted to say that in the world blatantly telegraphing people didn’t want to hear about it; I the latest flare-up, over Nordstrom’s his intention to use national got angry mail, not just from decision to drop Ivanka Trump’s misfortune to grab even more clothing line, is trivial. But it isn’t.

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian : Since 9/11, Muslim society in the U.S. has been transformed. Trump could change it back. By Bethany would soon sign an executive order Cochran is director of the Virginia state lawmakers to communicate Allen-Ebrahimian blocking visas for citizens of seven chapter of Emerge USA, an the concerns of Muslim Virginians. Muslim-majority countries in the organization founded in 2006 to Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian is an Middle East and Africa. The move, help Muslims get involved in local Opinions newsletter editor on leave from Foreign Policy an expression of the “Muslim ban” politics across five states. It’s one of magazine. Thought-provoking opinions and that Trump touted during his many organizations that American commentary, in your inbox daily. Two weeks ago, Sarah Cochran campaign, marooned Muslims Muslims created in the aftermath of awoke to an inbox full of panicked legally working or studying in the 9/11 to protect and advocate for Please provide a valid email emails. United States and threatens to their embattled community. That address. divide families who have relatives in very morning, she was already set The night before, Reuters had their home countries. to travel to Richmond to meet with If Trump keeps his campaign reported that President Trump promises — and so far there’s every indication he will — the country may

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 43 see a return to the excesses of the understand how American political the Constitutional Law Center for commentary whenever Islam makes Bush era that saw American organizing worked. Muslims in America, the Alliance for headlines. Muslims profiled, surveilled, an Indivisible America 2020, harassed and marginalized. When 9/11 came, the community WORDE, the Muslim-Jewish The increased visibility has paid off, Trump’s administration is more paid a heavy price. As Muslims and Advisory Council, the Institute for as many Americans have come to openly anti-Muslim than any in Muslim charities were targeted in Social Policy and Understanding in know and embrace their Muslim history. Trump himself has stated terrorism investigations, they had to Michigan, Ta’leef Collective in neighbors. In contrast to the 2002 that “Islam hates us”; his national scramble to mount a legal defense. California, the Texas Muslim registry, implemented with hardly a security adviser, Michael Flynn, has Mosques often had no idea how to Women’s Foundation and many peep, Trump’s executive order on called Islamism a “vicious cancer respond to media requests. As a others. After 2001, the nation’s visas and refugees sparked a inside the body of 1.7 billion result, those labeling Islam a premier Muslim civil rights advocacy massive backlash. On Feb. 3, a people”; his chief strategist, religion of violence spoke far louder organization, the Council on federal judge in Seattle issued a Stephen K. Bannon, once operated than Muslims themselves, and hate American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), temporary restraining order blocking Breitbart, an alt-right news site crimes against Muslims spiked — vastly expanded its footprint and the travel ban nationwide. The known for anti-Muslim rhetoric. according to FBI data, there were now operates 30 offices nationwide. Department of Homeland Security 481 incidents in 2001 alone. In has reverted to pre-ban immigration Sixteen years ago, many American September 2002, a special Mosques in Northern Virginia have policies for now. Muslims didn’t know where to turn registration system was quietly banded together to take advantage for help. There was no Emerge USA implemented to track many Muslim of their proximity to the nation’s But there’s another threat on the for them to email. They had almost and Arab immigrants from more lawmakers. “In the past, the results horizon. Lawmakers have no political, social or cultural capital. than 20 Muslim-majority countries. It that the community thought were a introduced a measure that calls for Now they are far better prepared. lasted until 2011. Most Americans win were having a representative the Muslim Brotherhood, a loosely That’s because American Muslims didn’t know this “Muslim registry” showing up at your mosque or organized multinational Islamist have learned to arm themselves, existed, because Muslims at the having a meeting with them,” said party, to be designated as a terrorist not with weapons but with the time didn’t have the means to Colin Christopher, deputy director of organization. Such a designation freedoms guaranteed in the mobilize or publicize the issue. government affairs at Dar Al-Hijrah could be used to launch Constitution. In the crucible of in Fairfax County. “We hope to investigations into a swath of American society after 2001, But 16 years later, Muslim society in usher in a new style of policy influential Muslim organizations, Muslims have fully embraced the the United States has undergone a engagement. It involves holding our charities and individuals that, even if democratic ideals, expansive stunning transformation. There are officials publicly accountable. When later found to be without merit, religious freedom and rich civil now two Muslim members in the they make promises and they don’t could cripple Islamic civil society in society that truly make America U.S. House of Representatives, keep them, we will call them out.” the United States. great. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and André Carson (D-Ind.). There are Muslim As pop-culture-savvy Muslims As one speaker at CAIR’s annual On the eve of 9/11, there were no staffers on Capitol Hill and raised in the West have reached banquet in December remarked, “A Muslims in U.S. Congress. There numerous Muslim elected officials adulthood, they have beefed up nightmare that we have been were no Muslim-focused think at the state and local levels. There their social presence as well. Aziz fighting in this country for the past tanks, few well-known Muslim are dozens of new Muslim Ansari and Aasif Mandvi, formerly of 15 years is now in the White journalists or comedians, and only a nonprofits aimed at community “The Daily Show,” have satirized House.” Muslims may have to handful of national organizations to outreach, political engagement, anti-Muslim bigotry for an audience harness every bit of influence at represent them. Most Muslims lived interfaith ties, research and legal of millions. Columnists such as their command to protect quiet lives, studied and worked aid. Emerge USA, where Cochran Wajahat Ali for the New York Times themselves from what may be an hard, and provided for their families; works, is just one of many, such as and Haroon Moghul for CNN offer unprecedented challenge. they didn’t the Muslim Legal Fund of America, GOP Ramps Up Effort to Transform Medicaid Into Block Grants (UNE) Jennifer Levitz votes to clear the Senate. change, should it be adopted as Of the 31 states that opted to and Stephanie Republicans hold a narrow 52-48 part of the planned overhaul of the expand Medicaid coverage under Armour majority in the Senate, so any Affordable Care Act, would the 2010 health law, 16 now have Medicaid proposals would likely represent the biggest shift since Republican governors. Several Feb. 9, 2017 12:03 p.m. ET need at least eight Democratic Medicaid’s inception in 1965, and it have said they want to keep that Congressional Republicans are lawmakers to support the bill to is both alarming and intriguing expansion if the health law is stepping up efforts to overhaul how make it to the president’s desk. That governors. repealed. Some governors welcome isn’t the case if Republicans seek to the expected flexibility of block Medicaid is funded, a move that The policy change “will result in the could reduce the funds states convert most of Medicaid through a grants, but caution their support will budget maneuver process, in which single largest transfer of risk ever depend on how the amount of the receive while giving states more from the federal government to the control over the roughly $500 billion case they wouldn’t need the support grants is determined. of Democrats. states,” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, program. a Republican, wrote recently to Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, a House Republicans this week The path forward is still uncertain House leaders, urging caution on a Republican, raised concerns about weighed bills on Medicaid eligibility even though top Republicans have new financing structure while not moving to a fixed funding structure that are widely seen as their first made Medicaid block grants a opposing the idea altogether. in the event of an economic move toward a broader overhaul. centerpiece of their health care downturn. “I want to make sure that agenda. Some Republican Moving to block grants has long there is something within that that Last week, a House Energy and been a goal of the GOP but sets up Commerce subcommittee hearing lawmakers concerned about funding takes into account for a fluctuation cuts, especially in states that challenges for states that may in the economy,” he said at a to discuss changes to issues such eventually have to make do with as eligibility became a platform for expanded Medicaid, could put National Governors Association pressure on GOP members in less, which could trigger event last month. debating Republican plans to turn adjustments to state Medicaid the program—which provides Congress not to change the program. programs. State legislatures would Nevada experienced the second assistance to more than 70 million have to re-evaluate coverage and highest increase among all states in Americans—into a block grant or Under the Republican push, benefits beyond what is federally enrollment in Medicaid and other capped spending program, a Medicaid would transform from an mandated or figure out how to fund children’s health insurance since move opposed by congressional open-ended entitlement program the shortfall. Republicans the rollout of the Medicaid Democrats. whose conditions are set by the themselves, meanwhile, aren’t expansion, behind only Kentucky, The House can pass Medicaid federal government to one in which aligned on the best course forward. according to recent data from legislation with just a simple states receive a fixed amount of Kaiser Family Foundation. In that majority, but most bills need 60 funds that they would control. That time, Nevada’s enrollment rose 87%

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 44 to about 620,000. In 2015, Medicaid waste and abuse,” she said in coverage for the elderly and transform Medicaid funding into spending in the state was $3.1 televised remarks. disabled. More than half of Medicaid block grants. Under this plan, the billion, ranking it 35th among states, spending goes to seniors and Congressional Budget Office according to the Kaiser data. The GOP pushed the block grant people with disabilities, according to concluded, states might be able to approach in the past, but hit the Kaiser Family Foundation, a deliver health care more efficiently, For many, like Sue Rillovick, who is Democratic opposition. President health-care research nonprofit. but also “would need to increase 59 years old and lives in Bill Clinton vetoed a block grant their spending on these programs, Farmington, N.H., Medicaid is a Medicaid proposal passed by the The rolls for Medicaid and the make considerable cutbacks in safety net in tough times. Ms. Republican Congress in 1995. connected Children’s Health them, or both.” Rillovick, an interior designer by Insurance Program have swelled by training, lost her health insurance In recent debates in Washington, around 16 million people since the House Republicans later backed an after the 2008 economic downturn Democrats have voiced their Medicaid expansion provisions agenda that floated a block-grant and for six years she didn’t see a discontent with the change. “It kicked in at the start of 2014, alternative called per capita caps, specialist for her diabetes, until her appears that yes indeed they intend according to federal data. where the amount of federal money low income allowed her to qualify to target families who rely on states get is tied to the number of for Medicaid around 2014. Then, Medicaid, for the elimination of care A shift to block grants or per capita beneficiaries. This would mean she was able to get treatment for a and services disguised by the caps for Medicaid would reduce more funding, for example, in an serious eye condition as well as terminology of ‘per capita caps’ and federal funding and hinder flexibility economic downturn when the depression. ‘block grants,’” said Rep. Kathy at states, said Massachusetts Gov. number of enrollees rises. That Castor (D., Fla.). Charlie Baker, a Republican. agenda includes block grants as an Getting her health under control put “States would most likely make option, a spokesman for the House her on better footing to pursue a Currently, the federal government decisions based mainly on fiscal pays an average of about 63% of Energy and Commerce Committee, new career path. She is now reasons rather than the health-care which is playing a key role in working at a mental-health agency Medicaid expenses, a smaller share needs of vulnerable populations,” in wealthier states than in poorer drafting legislation to dismantle and and transitioning off Medicaid to he said in a letter to congressional replace the ACA, said this week. employer-sponsored insurance. “It states. The dollar amount can rise lawmakers. really changed everything about my and fall depending on needs. Block “In recent meetings with governors, life,” she said. grants would give states a lump Diane Rowland, executive vice we saw strong support from sum amount based on a formula president of the Kaiser Family Republican governors in the per Republican lawmakers working to that hasn’t yet been determined. Foundation, said a key concern is capita approach,” he said. alter the ACA have yet to coalesce whether block grant funding would around any one replacement plan. “At a minimum, the Medicaid be based on current spending —Michelle Hackman contributed to Rep. Tom Price, President Donald expansion population should be levels, thereby penalizing states this article. Trump’s nominee to head Health converted to a block grant that didn’t expand Medicaid. and Human Services, has backed program,” Kentucky Gov. Matthew Another concern is what the growth Write to Jennifer Levitz at block grants. Kellyanne Conway, Bevin, a Republican, wrote recently rate will be for block grants to keep [email protected] and senior adviser to Mr. Trump, has to House leaders, who had solicited up with rising costs. Stephanie Armour at also said an overhaul of the health input from governors. [email protected] A 2012 plan by House Speaker law would put Medicaid into block Otherwise, he said, spending for the grants. “You really cut out the fraud, Paul Ryan, (R., Wis.) to reduce expansion group could crimp federal spending included a plan to Kimberley Strassel : The GOP’s Health-Care Offensive Kimberley A. officials, staffers, grass-roots Hoppe was also concerned by GOP Congress and the White House. Strassel groups, think tanks, trade inaction, especially given the depth The model was used successfully in associations, donors and of determination on the left to thwart 1993-94 by former Sens. Phil Updated Feb. 9, 2017 7:45 p.m. ET corporations—will serve as the reform. Gramm and Paul Coverdell in the GOP’s voice for selling the country fight against HillaryCare, leading to When Dave Hoppe recalls his first Mr. Hoppe had watched as powerful big health-care fight, one memory on a “replace/repair” plan for moments, like the Harry and Louise ObamaCare. liberal groups, such as Families ads, that tipped the scale. stands out. It was the summer of USA, launched a save-ObamaCare 1994, and Sen. George Mitchell, the One Nation Health is the brainchild coalition within 24 hours of the 2016 Mr. Hoppe spends every day on Democratic majority leader, had of another veteran of the policy election. He had seen Democrats calls, and he held the group’s first canceled August recess to force a wars: David Wilson, the CEO of a begin a full-throated scare big meeting two weeks ago. The debate over his party’s health-care Midwestern company called Asset campaign about the risks of ending coalition includes everyone from monster: HillaryCare. Health. An advocate for individual the health law. He had heard that health policy gurus like the Senators weren’t happy about health empowerment, Mr. Wilson deep-pocketed donors were American Enterprise Institute’s losing their break, remembers Mr. has been in the arena since the committing to fund a massive PR James Capretta and the Heritage Hoppe, who at the time was an Reagan days, and has recently effort. He had even witnessed Foundation’s Bob Moffit to aide. “And yet, Republican senators worked on the leading conservative President Obama sojourn to Capitol advocacy groups like the American were lining up in the cloakroom; blueprints for reform. Hill to exhort Democrats to do Action Network, which is already whatever necessary to defend his running $1 million worth of TV ads, they couldn’t wait to get to the floor,” Mr. Wilson grew concerned after he says. “They knew this issue. signature law. Mr. Hoppe knew that in 15 House districts, arguing for an last fall’s election that Republicans the right needed its own campaign, ObamaCare replacement. They’d studied it. They were better weren’t coordinating to explain what informed than Democrats about and he agreed to help Mr. Wilson Congressional leadership is on underpinned their ideas. “The right- set up One Nation Health. board. Rep. Kevin Brady, chairman HillaryCare. There was such an of-center approach has a set of core esprit de corps. It was energizing.” of the Ways and Means Committee, principles—with regards to greater The umbrella group isn’t a policy addressed the group’s inaugural Twenty-three years later, Mr. access, benefits, choices, health shop. It isn’t a vehicle to push one session. Mr. Hoppe says people are Hoppe’s mission is to re-create that savings, responsibility, rewards to GOP health plan over another. And joining so fast that his biweekly energy—only this time for a all Americans,” he says. “It is a it isn’t a lobbying outfit intended to conference calls are ballooning. Republican Party that wants to pass unifying concept, and one [that] corral votes in a legislative debate. people can understand.” What they all understand: “We’ve a health-care bill, not stop one. He Instead, One Nation Health is a is helping to assemble a sweeping got to explain to Americans that the One of his first calls was to an old clearinghouse, a place for end of ObamaCare doesn’t mean new alliance—underground until friend, Mr. Hoppe, a respected D.C. conservatives to meet, share notes, now—called One Nation Health. going back to the old system,” Mr. fixture, both off Capitol Hill (as a craft messages for the public, and Hoppe says. “It’s about creating a This “inside-out” coalition—a fast- consultant) and on (most recently unite on talking points. It will growing collection of elected whole new, better system.” That as chief of staff to Paul Ryan). Mr. facilitate progress between message might help buy

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 45

Republicans some time to get a GOP flip the HillaryCare model on common. If it works, it could be a “But we’re here to remind people reform in place. its head? The One Nation Health model for other big reform efforts. that this is an opportunity of a umbrella is a first big attempt to generation. And if we aren’t Another thing One Nation Health is: answer that question. The hope is If it fails, Mr. Hoppe doesn’t like to successful now, it’ll be generations an experiment. The right is great at that the very act of focusing consider the consequences. “Not before we get another shot.” opposing things. It isn’t so great at conservatives on shared themes will everyone is going to get what they unifying in support of ideas. Can the remind them how much they have in want in any reform effort,” he says. Sarah Binder : A Game Plan for Senate Democrats Sarah Binder matters, meaning that one senator create discord among Republicans to fill Antonin Scalia’s seat. Some can temporarily block the majority. and between Republican senators Democrats seem inclined to allow a Senator Chuck As a former top Senate staffer and the White House. Debating a vote since the confirmation would Schumer, center, and his fellow recently observed, withholding bill to deregulate Wall Street? Offer simply replace one conservative Democrats could impede the Trump consent is a sure way for an amendment to reject the justice with another. Filibustering agenda by taking advantage of Democrats to slow or stop Mr. president’s order banning refugees also increases the risk that Senate rules to slow down Trump. Want to force committees to and immigrants from entering the Republicans will do away with Republican legislation. Al adjourn? Refuse consent when the country. A bill to loosen limits on Supreme Court filibusters Drago/The New York Times leader wants to waive the rule that offshore oil drilling? Propose an altogether, which they could do with The Republican majority in prevents committees from meeting amendment to prevent the president a simple majority vote. beyond the first two hours of a from lifting sanctions on Russia. Washington has vowed to bulldoze Democrats are no strangers to the legacy of President Barack Senate day. Want to delay votes for 30 hours? Refuse consent. If Senator McConnell can block votes exploiting Senate rules, having used Obama. Because Democrats — on such amendments only if he also such tactics occasionally during the despite round-the-clock efforts this Democrats make sure to always have a senator available to dissent curtails Republican amendments. George W. Bush years. week in the confirmation votes of So Democrats are likely to secure Republicans, however, fully Betsy DeVos as education and Republicans don’t retaliate by adjusting chamber rules, such votes on at least some of their weaponized Senate rules by secretary and Jeff Sessions as proposals that might force routinely deploying them against attorney general — have yet to tactics can potentially secure concessions. Republicans to take sides. President Obama and the block any member of President Democrats. Americans would know Trump’s cabinet, Democrats might A single objection forces the Exploiting these Senate rules that there was a great debate going appear to have little hope of majority leader to seek cloture — a empowers Democrats to change the on, Senator McConnell reasoned, stopping the Republican juggernaut. cumbersome, multiday process subject, signal resistance to their only if Republicans refused to sign party base and perhaps change While Democrats are out of power, culminating in a vote to cut off on to Democratic proposals. debate with the support of 60 voters’ minds. Whether or not their though, they are not out of options. tactics ultimately prevent proposals These tactics could backfire and Their tools are limited in the House. senators. With a Republican bench of 52 senators, eight Democrats from going forward, Democrats provoke Republicans to ban But archaic chamber rules grant force Republicans to own Mr. filibusters. But senators’ power — Democrats considerable leverage in would have to cross the aisle to achieve cloture. Even then, unless Trump’s agenda by casting majority and minority alike — flows the Senate. By dragging their feet, controversial votes — a move that from the chamber’s lax rules. There sticking together and driving all senators agree to waive their rights to more debate, 30 hours of could come back to haunt is no guarantee that a majority wedges between Republicans and Republicans in the next election. would vote to curtail filibusters. The Mr. Trump, Senate Democrats can post-cloture debate ensues. Senators can also threaten to Senate’s 60-vote rule also allows focus attention on controversial Such tools are of more limited value Republicans to blame Democrats parts of the president’s agenda and filibuster amendments and other when it comes to blocking motions. So long as 41 Democrats for blocking more controversial force Republicans to cast potentially confirmation of presidential parts of the Trump agenda. unpopular votes. stick together, they can force appointees. Having banned the Senator Mitch McConnell, the filibuster of most judicial and Still, Democrats should take the In the House, a simple majority can majority leader, to slog through executive branch nominees in 2013, lesson of the Republicans’ years in end debate and bring matters to a cloture repeatedly on just a single Democrats can slow down the minority to heart. Majorities are vote. In the Senate, rules on bill. And every time Democrats force nominations, but can’t derail them more often blamed for inaction than debating and amending bills Republicans to find 60 votes, they without Republican defections. minorities are held accountable for typically limit the ways the majority make it harder for Republicans to Nonetheless, delay eats up floor blocking them. If Democrats adopt leader can advance a party plan, advance other parts of their plan. time and shines a spotlight on the Republican playbook, Senate creating avenues for Democrats to nominees Democrats oppose. rules will largely work in their favor. gum up the works. Democrats have an even more powerful arrow in their Senators can still filibuster Those rules empower a cohesive parliamentary quiver. Most times, confirmation votes for Supreme minority in several ways. The senators can offer unrelated Court nominees, a tactic Democrats Write to [email protected]. majority leader routinely seeks amendments to bills under debate, are debating now that Mr. Trump unanimous consent on procedural affording Democrats the chance to has nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch Editorial : When Rules No Longer Apply The Editorial They’re well on their way to getting Trump’s desk, and he’s expected to against all evidence, that the rule Board all this done under the sign both within days. would cost jobs. What it really would Congressional Review Act, a have done is subject them to fines An abandoned railroad trestle legislative cudgel that has rarely The goal of the Interior for pollution that harms human crossing a creek in Harlan County, been used until now. The act lets Department’s “stream protection health. Ky. Luke Sharett/Bloomberg Congress use fast-track procedures rule” was to prohibit mining to pass “resolutions of disapproval” practices that permanently pollute The antibribery rule was called for in Republicans in Congress seem streams, destroy drinking water the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 and strangely eager to let coal that, when signed by the president, nullify federal regulations issued sources and threaten forests. It issued by the Securities and companies pollute streams without requires coal companies to compile Exchange Commission in June. By telling the public, to let oil and gas roughly in the last six months of the previous presidential term. and provide information about requiring companies in extraction companies more easily bribe foreign contamination, so affected industries like oil and gas to officials, and to let any company win The stream pollution and bribery communities could take legal action disclose payments to foreign federal contracts no matter how measures are already on President against polluters under the Clean governments, it aimed to combat badly it has violated labor laws. Water Act. The companies argued, corruption. The American oil

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 46 industry has said such disclosure another makes needed updates to creates a clear process for resolving Mr. Trump won the presidency, in would put it at a competitive the nation’s Resource Management violations before contracts are part, by promising to hold powerful disadvantage. That’s ridiculous. Plans for conserving federal public awarded. interests accountable for practices Many other countries have similar lands. Yet another helps to ensure that harm the public. But nullifying rules. that the names of severely mentally Dozens of other regulations are final rules — which went through a ill people, barred by federal law vulnerable to this tactic. They long, public process on the way to As of Wednesday, the House had from buying guns, are included in include limits on fees on prepaid being issued — elevates corporate sent several other rule-nullifying the national background-check cards, rules that let states sponsor interests above all others. measures to the Senate. One of the system. Also opposed by the House retirement plans for people who do rules it wants to undo requires the is a regulation requiring federal not have pension coverage at work, oil and gas industry to reduce contractors to disclose labor law chemical facility standards, Arctic polluting leaks, flares and ventings violations when bidding for drilling safeguards, student- of methane — a powerful government contracts. They say this borrower protections and internet greenhouse gas — on public and amounts to blacklisting; it doesn’t. It privacy protections. tribal lands; Editrorial : A serious Republican idea on climate change The Editorial incentive to reduce carbon as does Rex Tillerson, Trump's new administration stocked with climate Board , USA TODAY emissions. A tax is simpler and less secretary of State and a former change skeptics. But with evidence intrusive than the Obama CEO of ExxonMobil. "A carbon mounting by the day of the harmful Carbon emissions from a power administration's heavily regulatory dividends program provides a rare effects of greenhouse gases plant.(Photo: Jim Cole, AP) Clean Power Plan, which targets exception: a simple idea that accumulating in the atmosphere, Maybe it was just a coincidence, but electricity-generating plants. strengthens the economy and the Baker plan represents a elevates the economic prospects of significant Republican-led effort to the high temperature in Washington The tax would boost the chances of hit a record-shattering 74 degrees the nation's disaffected," the Baker address climate change, one that's clean energy sources becoming plan says. "Mounting evidence of more than a lot of hot air. on Wednesday, the day a bevy of more competitive with oil, coal and Republican elder statesmen pitched climate change is growing too natural gas. As long as the carbon strong to ignore." USA TODAY's editorial opinions are White House officials on an polluters can use the atmosphere decided by its Editorial Board, appealing plan to combat global as a free waste dump, renewable There would, of course, be devilish separate from the news staff. Most warming. sources such as solar and wind will details to hammer out. Imports from editorials are coupled with an The plan for a refundable national struggle to be economically viable. countries that don't have a carbon opposing view — a unique USA tax would have to be taxed; U.S. TODAY feature. carbon tax — endorsed by James Depending on how the tax is Baker, Henry Paulson, George exports to those nations would have structured, it could produce to get a rebate. Environmentalists To read more editorials, go to Shultz and other GOP luminaries — rebates going directly to American the Opinion front page or sign up for represents a long overdue, market- would want some or all of the consumers to offset higher energy revenue generated by the tax to be the daily Opinion email based contribution from the right on costs. The plan promoted by former newsletter. To respond to this the climate change issue. invested in clean technology secretary of State Baker and his research. Republicans say the tax editorial, submit a comment We have long endorsed the idea colleagues estimates that an initial would make environmental lawsuits to [email protected]. tax of $40 on a ton of carbon would of putting a price on carbon dioxide, and tougher regulations against which traps heat in the generate $2,000 the first year for a carbon emitters unnecessary, a atmosphere. Taxing fossil fuels family of four. stance many Democrats would where they enter the economy — at And there's built-in bipartisan oppose. the refinery, the mining operation or support for the carbon tax idea, The biggest problem is political: the port — provides a powerful which originated with the economic getting support from tax-averse environmental left. Al Gore likes it, Republicans in Congress and a new Editorial : A group of prominent Republicans has an excellent plan to fight climate change https://www.facebook.com/washingt of themselves with minimal dioxide emissions — which, the The total picture, then, is a policy onpostopinions government intervention, these group’s experts say, equates to that would defuse the climate issue veteran Republican hands endorsed about 36 cents per gallon of for Republicans, without growing A GROUP of prominent what economists insist is the best gasoline — and set it to rise at a government revenue, while rolling Republicans brought a refreshing approach to dealing with the steady rate year after year. How back energy regulations and message to Washington on sprawling carbon emissions issue: a could this possibly be a political sending Americans a regular check Wednesday: Climate change is a carbon tax. Put a price on the winner, particularly for Republicans in the mail. The council reckons that threat that deserves serious pollution, and businesses and who spent years accusing President those checks would make the vast attention, and the GOP should consumers will change their Barack Obama of attempting to majority of Americans, and embrace smart ways of dealing with behavior in thousands of ways that raise energy prices? The group particularly those with lower it. What sorts of ways? The group government regulators would not proposes that the tax replace the incomes, whole or better, after — which calls itself the Climate have predicted and could not have climate rules the Environmental subtracting out what they paid in Leadership Council and includes compelled. This process, driven by Protection Agency established carbon taxes. two former secretaries of state, energy consumers, produces the under Mr. Obama, which James A. Baker III and George P. largest carbon cuts for the buck. Its Republicans hate. The plan would Still, it will be a political long shot. Shultz; two former chairmen of the basic structure is also simple also rebate the money the tax Energy interests — particularly the Council of Economic Advisers, enough for most people to raised back to every American. dirtiest of them all, coal — will fight Martin S. Feldstein and N. Gregory understand, and, since Congress hard against this sort of plan. As Mankiw; and former treasury would be writing it into the law, it Read These Comments usual, they will push for dangerous secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. — could not easily change from inaction instead. Some has a carbon emissions-reduction The best conversations on The environmentalists, meanwhile, have president to president, as current Washington Post plan ready to go. And it is excellent. regulations can. already objected to the fact that the plan would rescind the EPA’s Instead of indulging in the fiction Please provide a valid email The council’s plan would initially address. authority to address climate change that carbon emissions will take care peg the tax at $40 per ton of carbon via regulation, even though doing so

Revue de presse américaine du 10 février 2017 47 is a crucial prerequisite for GOP it: Congress could set the tax to concern and poses no threat to movement. Environmentalists worry adjust automatically if carbon conservative ideology. The rest of that merely setting a tax rate, emissions do not hit targets, for their party should listen. without directly capping carbon example. emissions, would not guarantee that These dyed-in-the-wool emissions would drop to desired levels. That is a fair concern, but Republicans have proposed an there are smart ways of dealing with elegant climate policy that addresses an issue of widespread .

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