Jeudi 20 juillet, réalisation : Josselin Brémaud

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 1

China Showers Myanmar With Attention, as Trump Looks Elsewhere (UNE) ...... 20 FRANCE – EUROPE ...... 3 How a Saudi Prince Unseated His Cousin to Become France’s Top Military Officer Steps Down in Fight the Kingdom’s Heir Apparent (UNE) ...... 22 With Macron Over Spending ...... 3 France’s Top General Resigns in Dispute Over Military Spending ...... 3 ETATS-UNIS...... 23 France’s armed forces chief resigns after clash with Trump Implores GOP Senators to Come Together Macron over budget cuts ...... 4 Over Troubled Health Bill (UNE) ...... 23 France's Macron visits air force base amid military Trump Demands That Senators Find a Way to Replace crisis ...... 4 Obamacare (UNE) ...... 24 Macron’s First Big Test Comes From His Own Senate 'repeal only' bill would leave 32 million more Military ...... 4 uninsured, CBO says ...... 25 Top French General Quits Over Dispute With Macron Trump threatens electoral consequences for senators Over Budget Cuts ...... 5 who oppose health bill (UNE) ...... 26 New French Military Head Named After General Quits Henninger : Obama’s Last Laugh ...... 27 in Spat ...... 6 E. J. Dionne: Why Obamacare won and Trump lost .....28 Trump and Macron: From White Knuckles to ‘He Rove : Is the Republican Congress Hopeless? ...... 29 Loves Holding My Hand’ (online) ...... 6 Supreme Court Delivers Compromise in Latest Ruling Trump: Macron 'loves holding my hand' ...... 6 on Trump Travel Ban (UNE) ...... 29 CNBC : Macron needs to move fast to reform France Trump’s wall: The inside story of how the president and keep credibility, says top EU commissioner ...... 7 crafts immigration policy (UNE) ...... 30 Business Insider : Fintech startups are charmed by Democrats Test 2018 Strategies in Virginia State Macron — but are reluctant to leave London for Paris ... 7 House Races ...... 32 France Says ‘We Want Our Money Back’ as Brexit Editorial : Why Trump’s chat with Putin is not just a Talks Crawl On ...... 8 chat ...... 33 ‘Valerian’ Is France’s Most Expensive Film Ever. Luc Hanson : Trump & Russia: Vladimir Putin Is Besson Says ‘Who Cares?’ (online) ...... 8 America’s Puppet Master ...... 33 Germany Says Turkey’s Detention of Rights Activist The Seven Circles of Donald Trump’s Russia Inferno .34 Could Threaten EU Aid ...... 9 Trump-Russia Scandal Now Threatens to Ensnare Big German Bank, Key to Trump’s Finances, Faces Ivanka ...... 35 New Scrutiny (UNE) ...... 10 Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired In Poland, an Assault on the Courts Provokes Outrage Sessions (UNE) ...... 36 (UNE)...... 12 Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort to Speak to Senate Panels ...... 37 The Hill Staffer at the Center of the Russia Intrigue .....38 INTERNATIONAL ...... 13 John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona, The Global Consequences of Trump’s Incompetence .. 13 diagnosed with brain tumor ...... 39 Editorial : Avoiding War With Iran ...... 14 Editorial : A Bad GOP Dream ...... 40 Map Said to Show Location of U.S. Forces in Syria Editorial : Betsy DeVos’s Due Process ...... 41 Published in Turkey ...... 15 Philips: The Democratic Party’s Billion-Dollar Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad Mistake ...... 41 rebels in Syria, a move sought by Moscow (UNE)...... 16 Milbank: Democrats finally have an agenda. Here’s Trump Ends Covert Aid to Syrian Rebels Trying to what it looks like...... 42 Topple Assad ...... 16 Klain : The one area where Trump has been wildly For the first time, Israel describes the aid work it successful ...... 43 carries out in Syria ...... 17 Will : What is the future of the Air Force? ...... 43 Spencer : The City Is the Battlefield of the Future ...... 18 Clement: I’m a scientist. I’m blowing the whistle on U.N. Expresses Alarm Over ‘Extreme Dangers’ for the Trump administration...... 44 Yemeni Civilians ...... 18 Editorial : Trump's 'Made in America' spin Trump has rare meeting of full national security team manufactured in fantasyland ...... 45 to discuss Afghanistan ...... 19 Navarro : Donald Trump: Made in America presidency45 Lack of Progress at U.S.-China Talks Raises Stakes for Senator Tammy Duckworth: Trump is derelict in his Trump ...... 19 duty...... 46

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 2

FRANCE – EUROPE

France’s Top Military Officer Steps Down in Fight With Macron Over Spending William Horobin make changes to labor laws by The dispute began last week when election promises. Mr. Macron said decree, and he has repeatedly used Gen. de Villiers criticized the cuts in he would raise military spending to 6-8 minutes the Palace of Versailles, favored by a closed-door hearing at the 2% of economic output by 2025, but French kings, as a backdrop for key National Assembly that leaked to the would also cut overall spending by

meetings. French media, telling lawmakers he €60 billion to bring down France’s Updated July 19, wouldn’t let himself “get f—” by Mr. deficit and comply with European 2017 3:21 p.m. ET Mr. Macron’s opponents assailed Macron’s government. budget rules. him on Wednesday for confronting PARIS—France’s top military officer the military’s top brass while France “I considered it was my duty to Mr. Macron’s budget plans ran into resigned Wednesday in a public conducts operations in Iraq, Mali share my reservations, on several immediate hurdles when a report by feud with President Emmanuel and other parts of Africa. Thousands occasions, behind closed doors, in the state auditor revealed a larger- Macron over military spending, of troops are also patrolling cities complete transparency and truth,” than-expected budget gap. The cuts posing the first major test of the new across France as part of the state of Gen. de Villiers said Wednesday in to military spending are part of a leader’s drive to invest his office with emergency, which Mr. Macron’s announcing his resignation. €4.5-billion plan his government more authority. predecessor declared and the new hastily put together this month in an leader has upheld, to protect the After learning of the general’s attempt to get back on track with The resignation of Gen. Pierre de country against terror attacks. remarks to parliament, Mr. Macron deficit reduction this year. Villiers marked the first time any delivered a speech to senior military chief of the country’s armed forces The French military has been a leaders gathered on the eve of the Mr. Macron has also promised tax has resigned since the post was central piece of the president’s Bastille Day parade as Mr. Trump cuts for businesses and households created in the 1960s, historians efforts to burnish his image as an was visiting France. Mr. Macron said to spur France’s sluggish economic said. It was the culmination of rising authoritative leader. Mr. Macron a public debate on military finances recovery. His government said last tensions between the general and rode down the Champs- Élysées, wasn’t dignified, adding he wouldn’t week it needs to find €20 billion of the 39-year-old president, who shoulder-to-shoulder with Gen. de tolerate dissent or other attempts to savings next year alone to meet its refused to back down on plans to Villiers in an open-top jeep, the day pressure his government. objectives. The proposed cuts to the slash military spending by €850 he was inaugurated. Last week he military budget this year amount to million ($982 million) this year to hosted U.S. President Donald “I am your boss,” Mr. Macron told less than 5% of that total, and Mr. plug holes in France’s public Trump at a military parade featuring the military chiefs. Under France’s Macron says he plans to increases finances. armored vehicles and flyovers to constitution, the president is the military spending in 2018. mark Bastille Day. commander in chief of the armed “In the current circumstances, I forces. Mr. Macron’s policies are sparking consider I am no longer able to National Front leader Marine Le opposition from other quarters too, ensure the durability of the model of Pen, Mr. Macron’s main challenger French government spokesman opening up a divide between the the army that I believe in to for the presidency in May’s election, Christophe Castaner said Mr. state and local authorities who say guarantee the protection of France said the resignation showed “the Macron acknowledged Gen. de they can’t cut spending as the and French people, today and in the very worrying limits of Mr. Macron’s Villiers’s service during a cabinet president has demanded. future,” Gen. de Villiers said. attitude and policies.” meeting Wednesday but told his ministers he was ready to replace “We’ve already tightened our belts a Mr. Macron swiftly named Gen. Lawmakers from the center-right any senior official who defied him. lot. Too much is too much,” François François Lecointre, head of his Groupe Les Constructifs—which is Baroin, the head of France’s prime minister’s defense cabinet, to in a loose alliance with Mr. Macron’s “There is no place for uncertainties, association of mayors, said Monday. succeed Gen. de Villiers. party in parliament—called on the ambiguities and doubts,” Mr. president to abandon or rethink his Castaner said. Surveys show Mr. Macron’s The spat with Gen. de Villiers planned cuts to the defense budget, popularity has declined since his illustrates the high stakes of what Mr. Macron praised the newly election. According to a poll of 1,007 saying they endangered national appointed Gen. Lecointre as “a Mr. Macron has described as his security. people by BVA Monday and “Jupiterian” approach to his office, a hero” for his role liberating soldiers Tuesday, 54% of French people reference to the king of the gods in “Of course France should reduce its in Sarajevo in 1995, according to have a good opinion of Mr. Macron Roman mythology. Since coming to deficit, but France is also a country Mr. Castaner. compared with 62% in May. power in May, Mr. Macron has at war against Islamist terrorism,” The clash over military spending announced plans to use special the lawmakers said. Write to William Horobin at comes as the French president [email protected] constitutional powers this summer to attempts to reconcile competing

France’s Top General Resigns in Dispute Over Military Spending Alissa J. Rubin servant since Mr. Macron was Macron tries to shrink government “I do not consider it honorable to put elected in May. spending. certain debates on public display,” 5-6 minutes Mr. Macron had said. In an unusual move, the military The dispute with General de Villiers chief, Gen. Pierre de Villiers, offered was raised in Mr. Macron’s annual “I am your chief. The commitments President Emmanuel Macron and his resignation after Mr. Macron said speech to the armed forces on July that I have made to our citizens, to Gen. Pierre de Villiers during the publicly that he would be the one to 13, the day before France’s the army, I stick to them,” he said, Bastille Day parade in Paris this determine military policy and imposing Bastille Day military adding that he did not need any month. Markus implicitly criticized General de parade. “pressure” or “commentary.” Schreiber/Associated Press Villiers for questioning the government’s proposed budget cuts. In that speech, the president Mr. Macron has committed his PARIS — A public fight between referred to concerns the general had government to meeting the President Emmanuel Macron and The president’s seemingly raised in a closed parliamentary European Union requirement that France’s chief military officer over unshakable confidence in his hearing about the cuts. The member governments keep their proposed cuts in military spending judgment, and his reluctance to general’s remarks were later leaked budget deficits to less than 3 led Wednesday to the first high- brook any dissent, could signal to the news media. percent of gross domestic product. potential difficulties ahead as Mr. profile resignation of a public The blunt language used in his speech last week suggested the

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 3 president was angry at having his Now, however, with the spending Mr. Macron has said that this year’s and the limited number of external policy questioned, and he cuts being proposed, he said he proposed cuts are temporary and operations had made defense into hammered that point home in an could not guarantee “the protection that he plans to increase spending an essentially political exercise and interview three days later in the of France and of the French today in 2018. Currently, France spends reduced the role of the military in the weekly newspaper Le Journal du and tomorrow.” about 1.78 percent of its G.D.P. on nation,” Mr. Desportes wrote. Dimanche, saying that if there was a the military. disagreement, the army chief would The military is being asked to Now, however, the have to go. shoulder about 20 percent of the After General de Villiers’s “professionalization, the total anticipated cuts to the French resignation, Mr. Macron endeavored multiplication of external operations, “If something puts the chief of the budget this year, which would mean to reassure ministers during a the real war and its procession of armed forces at odds with the a reduction of 850 million euros, cabinet meeting that the proposed dead and wounded” have changed president of the republic, the chief of about $979 million, in military level of spending would be sufficient the situation, and he added that the the armed forces changes,” Mr. spending. “to protect the country,” according to government “has not wanted to Macron said in the interview. a spokesman. recognize” it. While that is a relatively small part of In his resignation letter submitted to the military’s budget of €32 billion, it Vincent Desportes, a retired general Mr. Macron replaced General de Mr. Macron on Wednesday, General comes after several years of and former director of France’s Villiers with another career officer, de Villiers, a career military man, increasing demands on the armed École de Guerre Économique, or Gen. François Lecointre, who has noted his loyalty to the French forces, especially in the fight against School of Economic Warfare, writing served in the former Yugoslavia and nation and its political authority, but terrorism. in the newspaper Le Monde, said in Rwanda. added, “I viewed it as my that the head of state of the civilian responsibility to let them know my It also appeared at odds with Mr. government had not taken stock of reservations, on several occasions, Macron’s commitment to increase how much the role of the military behind closed doors in all military spending to 2 percent of had changed. transparency and G.D.P. — the amount that NATO truth.” countries are required to spend on “During the Cold War, the central defense — by 2025. role played by nuclear deterrence

France’s armed forces chief resigns after clash with Macron over budget cuts By Reuters guarantee the robust defense force I the two men just as France budget would rise again next year believe is necessary to guarantee prepared for the military pomp of the by 1.5 billion euros to 34.2 billion. 3 minutes the protection of France and the July 14 Bastille Day parade, where French people, today and tomorrow, President Trump was the guest of The standoff fits with a tough style

and to sustain the aims of our honor. cultivated by Macron, who is also By Reuters July 19 at 3:54 PM country,” he said. commander in chief of the French At a closed-door hearing of armed forces and whose powers PARIS — France’s armed forces Macron, 39, moved quickly to lawmakers, de Villiers had used under the constitution go further chief resigned Wednesday in a replace de Villiers, appointing Gen. strong language to protest an 850 than those of any other Western dispute with Emmanuel Macron over François Lecointre, 55, to fill the million euro ($980 million) defense democratic leader. defense budget cuts, an early test of role. budget cut — part of Macron’s the newly elected president’s mettle efforts to rein in state spending and Lecointre, de Villiers’s replacement, and the tough style he is cultivating. As well as being an early test for get the public deficit under the is a veteran of the marine infantry. Macron, the departure of France’s European Union target of 3 percent He served in Rwanda in 1994 and In a statement, Pierre de Villiers, 60, most senior soldier highlights the of national output. said he had tried to keep the armed stresses of a major military power as as part of the United Nations force in forces fit for an ever more difficult it battles Islamist insurgencies in National News Alerts Bosnia in 1995. task within the financial constraints Africa, partners with allies in Middle In 2013, he commanded a European imposed on them but was no longer Eastern conflicts and patrols its own Major national and political news as it breaks. military training mission in the able to sustain that. streets after attacks by homegrown western African nation of Mali. extremists. “In the current circumstances, I see A government spokesman later myself as no De Villiers’s resignation followed a sought to play down the scale of the longer able to fierce argument last week between defense budget cut, saying the France's Macron visits air force base amid military crisis ABC News the troops amid an intense crisis authority over the military, notably replaced by Gen. Francois over defense spending. by touring a nuclear submarine and Lecointre. 1 minute overseeing last week's military Macron's visit to the Istres air base parade for Bastille Day alongside Macron is to ride on a C-135

Thursday comes the day after the U.S. President Donald Trump. transporter and meet staff in charge French President Emmanuel head of the French military quit in a of France's airborne nuclear force. Macron is flying in a military jet and dispute with Macron over budget Gen. Pierre de Villiers departure visiting nuclear forces as he tries to cuts. Thursday as the armed forces chief show his of staff rattled the normally quiet, France's youngest-ever president, loyal French military. He was commitment to Macron has sought to establish his Macron’s First Big Test Comes From His Own Military @MarcChampion Emmanuel Macron, France's Photographer: Christophe resistance to come from his top 1 More stories by Marc Champion president, awaits the arrival of World Morin/Bloomberg military commander. Bank Group President Jim Yong 7-8 minutes Kim, not pictured, at the Elysee Many have been expecting French Following a public dispute with Palace in Paris, on July 6, 2017. President Emmanuel Macron's Macron over cuts to the defense ambitious reform plans to crash into budget, General Pierre de Villiers, reality. Few anticipated the initial chief of the general staff, said

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Wednesday that he “no longer feels He won an enthusiastic The armed forces' clash with their disregard for the working classes capable of assuring the continuation endorsement this week from the boss underscored Macron's status and excessive attention to his own of the military model” needed to International Monetary Fund. Yet as the first French president to have image. protect France. history doesn't give much reason for never served in the army or done optimism. Predecessors like former mandatory military service. The draft De Villiers said in an opinion piece General Pierre de Villiers President Nicolas Sarkozy were was scrapped in the 1990s. in last Friday’s Figaro newspaper forced to water down or abandon that there’s a “strong tension” Photographer: Etienne Laurent/AFP “What matters now is how Macron between overseas military via Getty Images similar plans in the face of mass strikes and street protests. France manages the crisis — whether he operations and “a complicated It's the first time that a head of the hasn't balanced a budget since can keep it as an isolated incident or budget situation,” and that “this gap French armed forces has resigned 1974. Government spending if it spills over and becomes a is not sustainable.” According to since Charles de Gaulle remade the accounts for 56 percent of the political crisis,” Craplet said. “Voters French media reports, de Villiers constitution in 1958, and a economy, tied with Finland as the are more sensitive to what matters was more outspoken at a closed significant challenge to Macron’s most in Europe. to their lives and a military spat isn’t door testimony July 12 to members authority just two months after at the core of their concerns but of parliament, and since last week taking office. The newspaper Le A government spokesman Macron should be careful of the news reports had suggested he Monde called it a “moment of truth” responded to the news by stressing snowball effect.” could resign. for France’s 39-year-old president. the need for France to get control of its finances. Faced with a 2017 Francois Heisbourg, a French The most important business stories “It sends a negative signal and deficit that was overshooting targets security analyst who chairs the of the day. London-based Institute for shows dissent at the helm of the agreed with the European Union, Get Bloomberg's daily newsletter. state,” said Christelle Craplet, a Macron imposed spending cuts of International Strategic Studies, pollster at BVA institute in 4.5 billion euros ($5.1 billion) across described the resignation as His resignation over a point of Paris. “Macron is at a crucial all ministries, of which 850 million unusual and worrying, reflecting a budgetary principle is rare for any moment: the end of the political euros will come from the military, cultural gap between a stressed Western military. “The only parallel I honeymoon with voters and the mostly by postponing equipment military and the rookie president. can think of was here in the U.K., beginning of the reality.” purchases. “Macron is very intelligent. He when the government announced its decision to cancel our aircraft carrier French voters took a chance on Prime Minister Edouard Philippe knows the figures and he knows the issues, but he hasn’t really had the program in 1966, and the chief of Macron, a former banker who was said last week that military spending naval staff, Admiral Sir David Luce not aligned with either major party will resume rising in 2018, reaching opportunity yet to understand the eco system,” said Heisbourg. “That resigned,” said Malcolm Chalmers, and who had never held — or run 34.2 billion euros from 32.7 billion deputy director general of the Royal for — elective office. He euros this year. The government is something you only get with experience.” United Services Institute, a London campaigned on a promise to trim the has said its goal is 50 billion euros think tank. bloated public sector; remake the by 2025, or 2 percent of economic Macron’s approval rating fell 5 pension system to reduce the output. French troops are deployed points to 54 percent in July, Military brass tend to be reluctant to number of privileged categories of throughout the Sahel region of according to a monthly poll by BVA deliver any kind of ultimatum on workers; and loosen labor markets Africa to fight Islamist guerrillas and for Orange and La Tribune policy issues because they accept to make firing easier to encourage the country’s warplanes and special published Tuesday. Respondents the broad division of responsibilities hiring. forces are involved with the U.S.-led with a poor opinion of Macron cite between civilians who coalition against Islamic State in Iraq his arrogance, authoritarianism, set policies and the military officers and Syria. who execute them, Chalmers said.

Top French General Quits Over Dispute With Macron Over Budget Cuts Krishnadev meet the European Union’s arena.” Then, in an interview with Part of the problem was the manner Calamur requirement that its members states Journal du dimanche, he elaborated: in which Macron, who had maintain their budget deficit at 3 “I am the boss,” adding if there was campaigned on, among other things, 4-5 minutes percent of gross domestic product. a difference of opinion between the a massive increase in the defense Most of the cuts were directed at president and his top general, “it is budget, directed his criticism at de

military equipment. the chief of the defense staff who Villiers. The general’s remarks to the The top French general resigned will change his position,” not the French parliamentary committee Tuesday following a clash with “I know when I am being had,” de president. were off the record, but leaked to President Emmanuel Macron over Villiers reportedly told a the media. Macron’s subsequent proposed cuts to the defense budget parliamentary panel in off-the-record Announcing his resignation criticism of him, however, was that General Pierre de Villiers said remarks that were leaked to the Wednesday, de Villiers, who was public. would no longer “guarantee the media, though Le Monde reported appointed chief of defense staff in robust defense force” needed to the general also used much stronger 2014, said it was his duty to share Macron was elected on a pledge to protect France. language to describe the cuts. his “reservations.” Hours after his be a tough president who would resignation, the government named make the necessary difficult choices “In the current circumstances I see De Villiers, who became chief of General François Lecointre the new to remake modern France, but it has myself as no longer able to defense staff in 2014 and whose head of the military. The career become quickly clear that his style guarantee the robust defense force I tenure was extended by Macron last officer served in the Balkans in the has chafed even his supporters. He believe is necessary to guarantee month, then reiterated those 1990s and more recently headed has said his thoughts are “too the protection of France and the sentiments in a Facebook post. the EU’s military training mission in complex” for the media to French people, today and tomorrow, Although the post did not name Mali. understand, appeared to insult and to sustain the aims of our Macron, the public expression of African states for their birth rates, country,” he said. criticism—“Watch out for blind trust Although Macron still enjoys high and made a joke about the types of ... Because no one is without approval ratings after two months in boats used by migrants. But it’s his The move wasn’t unexpected and shortcomings, no one deserves to office, the actions that led to de dispute with the military that may followed days of public back-and- be blindly followed.”— was seen as Villiers’s resignation are being hurt him in the long term. forth between the two men— highly unusual in a society where widely criticized. unprecedented in French politics. At the military is highly regarded but “It’s clear today that the executive issue is the plan announced last known for being silent. “The way he did it will leave marks,” cannot bear a situation where its top week by Macron to cut the Henri Bentégeat, a former head of public servants have a view of equivalent of $980 million to the Macron wasn’t happy. First, at a the country’s armed forces, told Le things that is different from the defense budget for 2017. It was speech at the French Defense Monde. “You can't publicly question political view put together by the needed, the government said, to Ministry, he said: “It is not dignified a military leader like that in front of Elysee,” General Vincent Desportes, to hold certain debates in the public his subordinates.”

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 5 a former head of the country’s referring to the presidential palace. the Turkish president Recep Tayyip premier military school, told Reuters, “It’s not Erdoganism [a reference to Erdogan], but it’s not far off.”

New French Military Head Named After General Quits in Spat Associated Press Macron's office sought to play down dignified to air certain debates in the De Villiers, head of the military since tensions over de Villiers departure, public sphere. I made commitments 2014, insisted that it was his "duty" 3-4 minutes even as French defense [to budget cuts]. I am your boss." to express his concerns about commentators described their public military resources amid the

dispute as a serious crisis. Watch: French Military Spending sustained threat of extremist PARIS — Squeeze Prompts Top General's attacks. De Villiers' office said the general Resignation Gen. Francois Lecointre, a career submitted his resignation to Macron "I have always taken care ... to military officer, has been nominated at a security council meeting Macron's own behavior has elicited maintain a military model that France's military chief, after his Wednesday and the president criticism, notably by those who guarantees the coherence between predecessor quit Wednesday in a accepted. Macron's office did not accuse him of authoritarian the threats that weigh on France dispute with President Emmanuel immediately comment. tendencies after he overwhelmingly and Europe, the missions of our Macron over budget cuts in a new won election in May and saw his armies that don't stop growing, and challenge to Macron's administration De Villiers lashed out at new new centrist party dominate last the necessary budget means to fulfill and his economic reforms. spending curbs during a closed-door month's parliamentary elections. them," he said his resignation parliamentary commission meeting statement. French government spokesman last week, according to leaked The resignation foreshadows the Christophe Castaner told reporters reports. battles Macron will likely face as he "I no longer consider myself in a that Macron has nominated tries to reduce the deficit and position to ensure the durability of Lecointre as the new chief of staff of The dispute escalated over the past government spending and boost the the military model that I believe in, to the armed forces, replacing Gen. week, with de Villiers issuing an stagnant economy. guarantee the protection of France Pierre de Villiers. appeal on Facebook saying "Watch and the French," he said. out for blind trust... Because no one While Macron has promised to boost Lecointre served in Sarajevo during is without shortcomings, no one defense spending to 2 percent of the Yugoslavia wars in the 1990s deserves to be blindly followed." GDP by 2025 as part of France's and recently led the EU military commitments to NATO, his budget training mission in Mali to help fight Without naming him directly, Macron minister last week announced limits Islamic then publicly upbraided de Villiers to on this year's military expenses as extremists. military officials, saying, "it is not part of an overall spending squeeze.

Trump and Macron: From White Knuckles to ‘He Loves Holding My Hand’ (online) Maggie Haberman es in Paris last week. But Mr. Macron assured him that it Pennsylvania Avenue,” said Mr. would not be a problem, Mr. Trump Trump, a military enthusiast who at 4 minutes The budding warmth in their said, and urged him to come watch one point hoped to include a display relationship follows an initially France’s display of military might, by the armed forces in his inaugural

awkward first encounter at a NATO including flyovers by warplanes, parade. President Trump and his wife, meeting in Brussels in May, during soldiers in period uniforms and Melania, with President Emmanuel which Mr. Macron firmly shook Mr. tanks rolling down cobblestone Mr. Trump also said that his Macron of France and his wife, Trump’s hand to signal that he streets. relationship with Chancellor Angela Brigitte, at a Bastille Day parade last would not be intimidated. In the Merkel of Germany had been week in Paris. Stephen Crowley/The weeks after, Mr. Trump said he “I have a great relationship with him; misinterpreted as chilly. New York Times intended to withdraw the United he’s a great guy,” Mr. Trump said. States from the Paris climate He also called the Bastille Day In fact, Mr. Trump said, “We get WASHINGTON — President Trump accord, a move he anticipated would parade “beautiful.” along very well.” He added that a rarely says he needs his hand held frustrate Mr. Macron. photograph of him sitting with Ms. for anything. Unless he’s around The two presidents watched the Merkel in the Oval Office, without a President Emmanuel Macron of Instead, the French president called parade from a viewing stand, from handshake, had been misread as a France. Mr. Trump a few weeks ago and which Mr. Trump said he could see stilted encounter. He said that he invited him to join the annual Bastille all the way up the Champs-Élysées had not heard someone call out to “He’s a great guy — smart, strong, Day celebration, which also marked to the Arc de Triomphe. Afterward, her to shake hands, and that they loves holding my hand,” Mr. Trump the 100th anniversary of the United standing together in a plaza, Mr. had worked well together earlier. joked about his French counterpart States’ entrance into World War I. Macron grabbed Mr. Trump’s hand, in an Oval Office interview with The and appeared reluctant to let go. So, Mr. Trump also said he had deeply New York Times on Wednesday. “I said, ‘Do you think it’s a good Mr. Trump recounted, the two enjoyed his travels abroad as thing for me?’” Mr. Trump recalled presidents stood there, holding president. “People don’t realize, he loves on Wednesday of asking Mr. hands for several minutes, as Mr. “I have had the best reviews on holding my hand — that’s good!” the Macron about attending the Macron’s wife, Brigitte, joined them. president said of Mr. Macron, who festivities, given how his decision on foreign land,” he said. invited Mr. Trump to attend Bastille the Paris accord might have been “It was one of the most beautiful Day received. parades I’ve ever seen, and in fact festiviti we should do one here down Trump: Macron 'loves holding my hand' Aida President Trump in a new interview Wednesday, referring to the French week, which was mockingly timed Chavez joked French President Emmanuel leader. "People don’t realize, he by MSNBC. Anchor Katy Tur saying Macron "loves" holding his hand. loves holding my hand - that’s the two leaders were "enjoying new 2 minutes good!" romance." "He’s a great guy - smart, strong, he loves holding my hand," Trump The two leaders shared an extended "The latest handshake that was told The New York Times on departing handshake in Paris last seen around the world lasted nearly

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 6

30 seconds," she continued as an meeting for the first time at a NATO the alpha and the omega of politics, their knuckles turning white and their on-screen clock counted the meeting in Brussels, a move the but a moment of truth." jaws clenching and faces seconds of the handshake. "There French leader said was meant to tightening," the reporter added. was a lot of leaning in with President assert his dominance. A reporter traveling with Trump in Trump at one point using his other Brussels said the two leaders Macron has been one of the most hand to pat Macron on the chest." "My handshake with him, it's not "shook hands for an extended vocal supporters of the Paris climate innocent," Macron told the Journal period of time. deal and a critic of Trump’s Macron and Trump shared an du Dimanche at the time. "It's not decision to pull out of the deal. intense handshake in May after "Each president gripped the other's hand with considerable intensity, CNBC : Macron needs to move fast to reform France and keep credibility, says top EU commissioner Silvia Amaro France's brand new President election term is the time you're Macron, who was elected in May, Emmanuel Macron needs to move starting bearing fruit of all those saw the first political setback on 5-6 minutes quickly to change the country, reforms," Katainen told CNBC in an Wednesday after the French military according to a top-ranking member exclusive interview on Wednesday. chief resigned over proposals to cut

of the European Commission. spending. Pierre de Villiers said Etienne Laurent | Reuters Katainen noted Macron's "bold" Wednesday he could no longer The advice, from Jyrki Katainen the economic reform plans and his pro- command the type of army that he French President Emmanuel vice president for jobs, growth, EU agenda. He added: "We've thought to be necessary to protect Macron walks through the Galerie investment and competitiveness, already seen in many countries France. The government wants to des Bustes (Busts Gallery) to comes as Macron suffered his first negative examples where leaders make cuts of about 850 million access the Versailles Palace's setback this week since taking have not been bold enough to do euros ($980 million) to reduce the hemicycle for a special congress office. reforms which they're planning to do country's deficit. Macron also wants gathering both houses of parliament early enough and then they start "As former prime minister of Finland to reform the rigid labor market that (National Assembly and Senate), losing credibility and also the fruits has held back the economy. near Paris, France, July 3, 2017. I can only say that the faster you of the reforms come later. Maybe if I make all the reforms you plan to do, could say something, move forward the better, because the rest of the as quickly as possible."

Business Insider : Fintech startups are charmed by Macron — but are reluctant to leave London for Paris Jemima Kelly, Reuters precursor Minitel, might seem like understood the force of labor reform "We have the world’s greatest an obvious contender. Of the top 10 in terms of job creation of this financial center and one of the 6-8 minutes European banks by global assets, sector, he will draw in young people biggest tech hubs in one global city four are French, and its fund from all over Europe," Falys said. – factors that cannot be replicated in France's President Emmanuel management industry is also one of Paris or anywhere else in Europe," Macron and his wife Brigitte speak the biggest in the world. "(British Prime Minister) Theresa London's deputy mayor for business with French entrepreneur and May will attract no one." Paris and enterprise, Rajesh Agrawal, told businessman Xavier Niel (R) during Yet a recent Deloitte study ranked Pixabay Reuters. Britain's Prime Minister Paris 29th among global fintech the inauguration of start-ups Brexit opportunity Theresa May arrives in Downing incubator "Station F", in Paris, hubs, and only seventh in Europe, Street, in central London, Britain France, June 29, 2017. thanks to a lack of investment, rigid Paris sees Britain's expected April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Stefan REUTERS/Bertrand Guay/Pool labor laws and a reputation for being departure from the EU, now being Wermuth less international than other cities. negotiated, as an opportunity to lure PARIS (Reuters) - France's fast- London was top. back some of the people it has lost "Friendly to entrepreneurs" growing fintech sector is optimistic to London. the country's dynamic new president President Emmanuel Macron, a London says that dynamic will not will push it up the global rankings. former investment banker voted in But no one interviewed for this change, but Brexit is already But startups based in London do not two months ago, wants to change all article, including lobbying group affecting the city's image elsewhere. that. He has pledged 10 billion euros yet seem ready to swap that key Paris Europlace and trade "We were envious, a bit scared of hub for Paris, even if they have ($11.3 billion) to an innovation fund organization FranceFintech, knew of to help turn France into a "startup London," said Andre Meyams, co- French roots. a company that was either moving founder of BeeAm, an online asset nation". from London to Paris or opening an The nascent industry, ranging from management marketplace, at the Last month the 39-year-old additional office there since the vote sidelines of the "Fin & Tech mobile payment apps to for Brexit. "cryptocurrencies" like bitcoin, is president attended the launch of "F Community" conference in Paris last seen by governments and business Station" in Paris, the world's biggest Some startups like Transferwise, month. "Brexit made people realize alike as crucial to the future of startup campus. started by an Estonian and one of that Paris could be the future." financial services and of vital Alain Falys, CEO of mobile Britain's biggest success stories, The fact that Macron used to work importance, therefore, to economic payments startup YoYo Wallet, is have said they will open offices as an investment banker, and was growth. based in a fintech co-working space somewhere in the EU. then economics minister, also Britain says fintech contributes $9 in London's Canary Wharf but is But many say London's prowess in comforts the fintech sector, which billion to the economy, provides originally from northern France. For both finance and technology, as well works alongside banks and other 60,000 jobs and will continue to be a him, London was the "obvious as its internationalism and light- traditional financial institutions as priority. But since last June's vote to choice" when he was choosing a touch regulation, will make it hard to often as it seeks to displace them. base in 2013 and he will stay put, leave the European Union, other knock off the top spot, at least for Many banks have set up countries have been jostling to although he said he might consider now. Paris if starting out now. "accelerator" spaces, where they replace London as the sector's main mentor startups and sometimes European hub. The French fintech sector raised "If Macron pursues his globalist, less than a tenth of the venture invest in them. Credit Agricole has Paris, with its huge financial sector, internationalist agenda - if he capital raised by Britain in 2016 - one such space in Paris's central famous universities, and history of continues to visit incubators, speak $68 million compared with $783 business district called "Le Village", inventions such as world-wide-web in English, if he shows he’s really million, according to Deloitte. where Bruno Van Haetsdaele, the

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 7 founder of personal finance and make cities such as Dublin or Many start-ups say the most crucial Britain's regulators have led the way budgeting app Linxo, works Amsterdam more likely successors change that Macron can make is to in allowing startups to test out ideas alongside 99 other startups. to London. shake up France's labor laws, which in the real market, under they say have made it difficult to hire supervision, with a so-called "Macron will bring trust. He's very "What I love about London is it's so and fire employees. "regulatory sandbox". It is a system transparent, he's very friendly to international," said Nikolay that many countries have copied, entrepreneurs, and he has a vision Storonsky, the Russian CEO of "You need to be flexible when you're though France is yet to put in place. that's very international," said Van London-based foreign payments a startup," said ING's head of Haetsdaele. app Revolut. "Paris is not fintech, Benoit Legrand, a Belgian ($1 = 0.8818 euros) international at all." who is based in Paris. "You need to Others say Paris's focus on the be able to test different things out." (Editing by Philippa Fletcher) domestic market France Says ‘We Want Our Money Back’ as Brexit Talks Crawl On @HeleneFouquet As the second round of talks wraps night and, with his EU counterpart, Negotiators never expected any More stories by Helene Fouquet up in Brussels, French Finance Michel Barnier, will have lunch major breakthroughs during the first Minister Bruno Le Maire used a together and chair a meeting of week of talks but the pressure will 5-6 minutes hearing in the French parliament in negotiators who have spent the past mount when they return for Paris on Wednesday evening to three days thrashing out issues such scheduled sessions at the end of

take a hard line on what the EU as Britain’s financial obligations and August and in September and By and believes the U.K. owes the bloc in the rights of European citizens in the October before EU leaders are terms of liabilities and obligations. U.K. asked to deem there has been 20 juillet 2017 à 03:04 UTC−4 20 “sufficient progress’’ at a summit on juillet 2017 à 04:18 UTC−4 To drive his point home, he evoked Stumbling Blocks Oct. 19-20. That would enable the spirit of former Prime Minister discussions to begin on a future Le Maire cites 100 billion- The so-called Brexit bill has proved  Margaret Thatcher when she won a trading relationship and a possible euro sum in parliamentary the biggest stumbling block, with the rebate on Britain’s payments to the transition period. hearing central EU budget, complaining two sides setting out vastly different that the U.K. was losing out despite stances on how the U.K.’s The U.K. government is keen for  Second round of Brexit being one of the biggest obligations should be calculated. talks to move on to trade, but back talks wrap up in Brussels contributors. The U.K. has now acknowledged home the notion of paying the EU is Thursday that it will be on the hook when it politically toxic, possibly even more “I will say what Margaret Thatcher leaves the bloc in March 2019 but so now that Prime Minister Theresa Follow @Brexit for all the latest used to say: ‘We want our money hasn’t gone much beyond that. May lost her parliamentary majority news, and sign up to our daily Brexit back,’” Le Maire said, citing the 100- in June’s election. Bulletin newsletter. billion-euro figure that has been on British officials spent much of the the high end of the amounts touted. week quizzing EU negotiators on Differences remain also on the France insisted that the U.K. pay a “We can always debate the amount, where they believe the U.K. is liable. protection of rights for EU citizens in Brexit bill of as much as 100 billion but the fact that the United Kingdom Britain will not commit to a figure the U.K. and British nationals euros ($115 billion), underlining the must pay what it owes to until much later in the process. residing in the EU, with EU officials hurdles to substantial progress in the European Union budget is a saying this week’s talks have thrown negotiations toward a new Get the latest on global politics in non-negotiable prerequisite at the up some new differences of opinion relationship with the European your inbox, every day. start of the talks.” between the two sides. Union. Get our newsletter daily. Brexit Secretary David Davis Before it's here, it's on the returned to Brussels on Wednesday Bloomberg Terminal. LEARN MORE

‘Valerian’ Is France’s Most Expensive Film Ever. Luc Besson Says ‘Who Cares?’ (online) Rachel Donadio Caribbean” installments at $300 Mr. Besson, 58, was wearing a Fast forward to the 1990s. Mr. million and counting. Mr. Besson, black T-shirt with an image of Besson — having already 10-12 minutes whose big ambitions and business Valerian from the French graphic established his maximalist, big- savvy have earned him a reputation novel series on which the film is hearted style with “The Big Blue,”

as the most American of France’s based. The series, by Pierre Christin “La Femme Nikita” and “Subway” — Luc Besson on the set of his latest filmmakers, claims he doesn’t find and Jean-Claude Mézières, first is working on “The Fifth Element,” film, “Valerian and the City of a the number very interesting. “Yeah, appeared in 1967, and Mr. Besson the offbeat, campy 1997 sci-fi action Thousand Planets.” STXfilms and but who cares?” he said in a recent discovered the books as a lonely 10- movie starring Bruce Willis and Milla EuropaCorp interview at the Cité du Cinéma, a year-old who had moved to the Jovovich, with costumes by Jean- studio in northern Paris that he French countryside with his mother Paul Gaultier. (The New York Times PARIS — Luc Besson’s latest sci-fi helped get built and where he filmed after his parents, both scuba-diving critic Janet Maslin gave it a skeptical extravaganza, “Valerian and the City “Valerian.” instructors, split up. review, with the headline “World of a Thousand Planets,” has every Saved by a Nude Babe? Cool!”) hallmark of his work: action, What do you mean who cares? The “Valerian” is based on a French romance, sassy women packing film seems genetically engineered to graphic novel series by Pierre Mr. Mézières, who helped create the heat, underwater scenes, special make money, with plot twists and a Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières. look of “The Fifth Element,” effects and a sense of humor that range of characters designed to STX Films and EuropaCorp suggested Mr. Besson adapt finds room for Rihanna to perform a appeal to every man, woman, child “Valerian” for film. Mr. Besson shape-shifting Moulin Rouge-style and Instagram follower on the The series tells of the special agents reread the comic. “I came back and number in outer space, before planet. “I’m happy we paid Valerian and Laureline, who travel said: ‘It’s not possible. I don’t have helping the hero save the world. everyone,” Mr. Besson said, through space and time. Laureline the technology or the experience.’” speaking in English. He was sitting “is kicking butt, and she’s driving a It is also the most expensive French in a large armchair and squeezing spaceship. It’s revolution for me,” Time went by. A decade ago, he film ever made, with a budget of honey into a cup of Lipton Yellow Mr. Besson said. “And it’s my only bought the rights from an American around $150 million. Huge for Label Tea. “All the money went to way to escape. It’s my ticket for studio. It was only after James France, and even for Hollywood, the special effects.” dreaming. I fall in love with Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster, although several films have topped Laureline.” “Avatar,” that Mr. Besson realized that, most notably two “Pirates of the

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 8 technology had advanced enough Columbia Tri-Star Pictures break. But he ruffled a few feathers Cinecittà in Rome. EuropaCorp for him to attempt “Valerian.” when most of the film’s budget was rents space in the Cité and is an Mr. Besson’s film seems aimed to spent outside the country for special investor in the studio, along with a Anne Parillaud in “La Femme please, and to get noticed across effects, including some by Industrial consortium of French banks. Since Nikita.” MGM platforms. The publicity notes point Light & Magic, the California the Cité opened in 2012, around 30 out how many Instagram followers company behind the visual effects productions have been filmed there, “James Cameron offered to the Ms. Delevingne has (now more than entire community to do whatever we for “Star Wars,” and Weta, the New of which Mr. Besson directed three 40 million), while Rihanna has 75 Zealand outfit that also worked on and EuropaCorp produced nine. The want now; thanks to him,” Mr. million Twitter followers. Mr. Besson Besson said. “Avatar” and “The Lord of the Rings” studio’s director, Brigitte Segal, said said that social media clout wasn’t a trilogy. she was satisfied with its In “Valerian,” which is also in 3-D, factor in his casting decisions. “I occupancy, which she projected at the hero, played by Dane DeHaan discovered that after,” he said. “The Scarlett Johansson in “Lucy.” 81 percent for 2017. (“The Amazing Spider-Man 2”), and main thing for me is to choose the Jessica Forde/Universal Pictures right person for the part.” Since 2013, the French authorities Laureline, played by Cara “There were 45 shots without Delevingne, race through actual and have been investigating possible Really? “For his whole life, Besson special effects, and there were misuse of public funds in connection virtual worlds to save Planet Alpha has been ahead of everyone in 2,744 with special effects,” Mr. and ultimately help a species known with the Cité du Cinéma’s initial France on how to communicate Besson said. financing and setup, and several as the Pearls, who lost six million of about a film,” said Geoffrey Le their kind when their own planet was French distributors grumble that Mr. officials have already been fined Guilcher, a French journalist who small amounts for mismanaging destroyed. Yes, six million. “I like to wrote a 2016 unauthorized Besson’s films — like “Lucy,” his suggest things without pointing them 2014 English-language blockbuster public money used in the project. (In biography, “Luc Besson: The Man an interview, a spokesman for out,” Mr. Besson said about the Who Wanted to Be Loved.” starring Scarlett Johansson — skew Holocaust reference. “I think it’s a French box-office ratings, since he EuropaCorp, Régis Lefebvre, called good start of a conversation for To help finance “Valerian,” wildly outperforms every other the fines “nothing.”) people who watch the movie and Fundamental Films, a Chinese French director. In years when he Mr. Besson is “a bit of an adventurer especially for parents and their company, acquired a large stake in doesn’t have a film, French box- in superproductions without a very kids.” Mr. Besson’s EuropaCorp office revenues plummet. strong artistic vision,” said Isabelle production company. The film was But “Valerian” isn’t gloomy. It’s not Mr. Besson, who lives in Los Regnier, a film critic for Le Monde. produced by Virginie Besson-Silla, “He’s a French mogul with no scary like “Alien” or pensive like Mr. Besson’s wife, and about 2,000 Angeles, has always straddled two “Arrival.” The soundtrack includes worlds. “There’s a part of me that’s equivalent. You can love or hate his workers were involved, including Cité du Cinéma, but it’s something David Bowie and Bob Marley. Clive those who focused on the special French and loves my country, and Owen plays a bad guy, Ethan there’s a part that isn’t French,” he very impressive,” she said. “There’s effects. “There’s basically three a very American side in his failures Hawke a space-age brothel owner, actors, and the rest are aliens,” Mr. said. “Every time I see something Herbie Hancock the minister of big and I like it, I want to say, and successes and how he’s always Besson said. “So you don’t even bouncing back.” defense, and John Goodman does know where to start. There is an ‘Congratulations.’ In France, they the voice for a creature with six entire scene in two parallel worlds at hate you for that. If you succeed at “Valerian” might not win over French nostrils. the same time, and the hero has his something they’ll say, ‘Yeah, his critics, but Mr. Besson has global arm in one and his body in the parents probably have money,’ or ambitions for it. He said that he “There are so many sci-fi films that ‘You probably cheat.’ But maybe he are so dark — it’s raining, the aliens another one.” wanted audiences to see it as an woke up earlier and worked more? escapist fantasy. “If they can forget are the villains,” Mr. Besson said. After years of storyboarding, he shot No, it’s not possible.” “The future is a blank page. Why do everything for two hours, and live the film in 20 weeks last year, another life for two hours, that would we project so much pessimism on entirely at the Cité du Cinéma. To In France, Mr. Besson has been in it? Why not at least try to say: the news more for his activities as a be perfect for me,” he said, back in make “Valerian” in France, and not his office, where his coffee table ‘Maybe there’s peace in the future. elsewhere with cheaper labor, Mr. businessman than as a director. He Maybe I can have a bunch of friends had the idea for the Cité du Cinéma was piled high with Valerian comics. Besson lobbied the French “I want them to be drunk with the who are aliens.’” government to change the country’s — which houses nine private film studios and a public film school — story, the images. I want them to Bruce Willis in “The Fifth Element.” tax credit system to allow films not in lose their minds.” the French language to receive a tax as a one-stop shop to rival the Pinewood Studios in Britain or

Germany Says Turkey’s Detention of Rights Activist Could Threaten EU Aid Andrea Thomas members of the North Atlantic International activists, including Mr. “We firmly believe that this arrest is Treaty Organization, is putting Steudtner, who had gathered in absolutely unjustified,” Ms. Merkel 7-9 minutes pressure on German Chancellor Turkey for what the organization said late Tuesday. “We declare our Angela Merkel to put a stop to what called a routine workshop. solidarity with him and the other

critics of Turkey see as increasingly detainees and the German Germany lashed out at Turkey for brazen provocations. Six of the rights activists, including government, at all levels, will do jailing a German national and Amnesty’s Turkey director, have everything we can to secure his suggested the latest escalation in a German Foreign Ministry been jailed pending trial on charges release.” growing feud between the two spokesman Martin Schäfer said the of aiding a terror group. Prosecutors countries could cost Turkey billions Turkish ambassador was “told very alleged that the director was linked Spokesmen for Ms. Merkel and for of euros in European assistance. clearly that the arrest of Peter to three unrelated terror German Foreign Minister Sigmar Steudtner and other human-rights organizations. The other four Gabriel said the government would Wednesday’s threat came hours activists is neither understandable activists previously detained are on consult on possible further action. after Berlin summoned Turkey’s nor acceptable.” bail facing investigation. ambassador to protest this month’s Ms. Merkel’s spokesman said the arrest of German human-rights Ms. Merkel’s spokesman said “These activists are innocent. The European Union was due to re- activist Peter Steudtner under Turkey’s accusations against the decision to proceed shows that truth examine this year its €4.5 billion Ankara’s controversial antiterror activist were a “transparent attempt and justice have become total ($5.2 billion) in aid to Turkey laws. to discredit and criminalize strangers in Turkey,” said Amnesty earmarked for measures to dissenters.” International’s secretary-general, strengthen democracy, the rule of The latest development in a Salil Shetty. law, economic growth and lengthening string of disputes The spat broke out on July 5, when competitiveness as part of the between Germany and Turkey, both Turkish police arrested 10 Amnesty

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 9 country’s longstanding bid for EU international alliance against Islamic Istanbul in February under terrorism in last year’s aborted coup attempt membership. State in Syria and Iraq. suspicions, remains in detention against Mr. Erdogan. without charges despite repeated “We think it would be right to review But the approaching September protests from Berlin. Mr. Yucel has A German official on Wednesday this [aid] now given the latest election in Germany, when Ms. denied any wrongdoing. said Ankara had provided Germany developments in Turkey,” the Merkel will be seeking a fourth term, with a list of prominent German spokesman said. It is unclear has made it more difficult for her to And after Turkey repeatedly barred companies it says support terrorism, “whether this aid can achieve the be seen as refusing to push back German lawmakers from visiting including car maker Daimler AG and desired result given the current against what many in the West troops stationed at the Incirlik air pharmaceutical company BASF SE . situation,” he added. perceive as Turkish President base in the country’s south, Berlin Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s said it would relocate the contingent A spokesman for BASF declined to A spokesman for Turkey’s Ministry increasingly authoritarian drift at to Jordan. comment. Daimler spokeswoman of Foreign Affairs didn’t respond to a home. Ute Wüest von Vellberg said the request for comment. Ankara has previously said it had company hadn’t seen the list and “This is a huge dilemma. Voters are banned all foreign civilian dignitaries declined to comment further. As the rapport between Berlin and clearly in favor of taking tougher from visiting the base in Incirlik for Ankara has deteriorated, Ms. Merkel actions against Erdogan…and if security reasons. A spokeswoman for Germany’s BKA has sought to avoid an escalation, Erdogan continues to behave this Federal Criminal Police Office limiting herself to verbal way it can damage her during the This month, Turkey began barring confirmed that Turkey has provided protestations. election campaign,” said Oskar lawmakers from visiting a separate it with a list consisting of what it German contingent at the NATO air referred to as vague information and Berlin’s room to maneuver is limited. Niedermayer, professor of political science at Berlin’s Free University. base in Konya, prompting accusations about companies. But Germany relies on a pact with parliamentarians to demand its she also said no direct threat to the Turkey that has drastically reduced A recent survey conducted by withdrawal, too. The visits, they companies resulted from the list and the inflows of migrants from the YouGov showed that 84% argue, are part of the mandates it has also currently no information Middle East since the summer of supported the German government governing German military about specific threats to these 2015, which caused a political crisis in banning Mr. Erdogan from deployments abroad. companies’ subsidiaries in Turkey. for the chancellor because Turkey is speaking to supporters on the the main transit route to Europe. sidelines of the Group of 20 leading A German pullout from Konya would —Monica Houston-Waesch be far more disruptive to the fight in Frankfurt Berlin officials have also been economies summit in Hamburg this month. against Islamic State than the Incirlik contributed to this article. reluctant to take action that could move. Germany provides about a further endanger nine other Martin Schulz, Ms. Merkel’s main third of the crews in Konya that Write to Andrea Thomas at Germans detained since last July in rival for the chancellery, on Tuesday operate and maintain the Awacs [email protected] Turkey under antiterror laws. And said German citizens were “at risk of surveillance aircraft seen as crucial they are wary of inflaming passions Corrections & Amplifications becoming a hostage to the politics of in the campaign. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is president among Germany’s three million President Erdogan.” ethnic Turks—the largest Turkish Turkey has accused Germany of of Turkey. An earlier version of this diaspora in the world, where support Mr. Steudtner’s arrest is just one of being a haven for terrorists wanted article incorrectly stated his name as for the Turkish regime is strong, the many Turkish actions that have by Ankara and has protested its Tayyip Recep Erdogan. (7/19/17) according to recent surveys. caused outrage in Germany. decision to grant asylum to several Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print individuals it believes were involved Also, the German military is Deniz Yucel, a prominent German- edition as 'Germany Says Aid To stationed in Turkey as part of the Turkish journalist arrested in Turkey at Risk As Activist Is Held.'

Big German Bank, Key to Trump’s Finances, Faces New Scrutiny (UNE) Ben Protess, briefed on the review who were not years later, he began a banking Additionally, the New York Jessica Silver- authorized to speak publicly. The relationship with Deutsche Bank. regulators recently requested Greenberg and Jesse Drucker regulators want to know if the loans Chester Higgins Jr./The New York information related to the hundreds might expose the bank to Times of millions in loans Deutsche Bank’s 17-21 minutes heightened risks. private wealth management division Although Deutsche Bank recently provided Mr. Trump, one of the

Separately, Deutsche Bank has landed in legal trouble for laundering people said, paying particular During the presidential campaign, been in contact with federal money for Russian entities — attention to personal guarantees he Donald J. Trump pointed to his investigators about the Trump paying more than $600 million in made to obtain the loans. Those relationship with Deutsche Bank to accounts, according to two people penalties to New York and British guarantees have declined as the counter reports that big banks were briefed on the matter. And the bank regulators — there is no indication loans were paid down and the skeptical of doing business with him. is expecting to eventually have to of a Russian connection to Mr. property values increased, but it provide information to Robert S. Trump’s loans or accounts at remains a source of interest to the After a string of bankruptcies in his Mueller III, the special counsel Deutsche Bank, people briefed on regulators. casino and hotel businesses in the overseeing the federal investigation the matter said. The bank, which 1990s, Mr. Trump became into the Trump campaign’s ties to declined to comment, scrutinizes its While there is no formal somewhat of an outsider on Wall Russia. accounts for problematic ties as part investigation of the bank — and Street, leaving the giant German of so-called “know your customer” personal guarantees are often bank among the few major financial It was not clear what information the banking rules and other required when people receive big institutions willing to lend him bank might ultimately provide. requirements. loans from their wealth managers — money. Generally, the bank is seen as the New York regulators have central to understanding Mr. And with one of its most famous questioned whether the guarantee Now that two-decades-long Trump’s finances since it is the only clients headed to the White House, could create problems for Deutsche relationship is coming under major financial institution that the bank designed a plan for Bank should Mr. Trump fail to pay scrutiny. continues to conduct sizable overseeing the accounts of Mr. his debts. To collect, the bank would business with him. Deutsche Bank Trump and Mr. Kushner and either have to sue the president, or Banking regulators are reviewing has also lent money to Jared presented it to regulators at the New hundreds of millions of dollars in risk being seen as cutting him a Kushner, the president’s son-in-law York State Department of Financial special deal. loans made to Mr. Trump’s and senior adviser, and to his family Services early this year. The plan businesses through Deutsche real estate business. essentially called for monitoring the It is not a hypothetical concern: Mr. Bank’s private wealth management accounts for red flags such as Trump sued the bank in 2008 to unit, which caters to an ultrarich Donald J. Trump in 1996 at the Taj exceptionally favorable loan terms delay paying back an earlier loan. clientele, according to three people Mahal casino in Atlantic City. Two or unusual partners.

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 10

Deutsche Bank expects it must Mr. Kushner has established his million to build Trump World Tower Ultimately, the bank granted Mr. eventually provide information to own relationship with the bank. He near the United Nations. But he Trump additional time to repay. And Robert S. Mueller III, the special and his mother have an unsecured required a construction loan, which, when he did, it was through the Wall counsel overseeing the federal line of credit from Deutsche Bank, at the time, Deutsche did not have Street equivalent of borrowing from investigation into the Trump valued at up to $25 million, and the the right staff to manage. one parent to repay the other. campaign’s ties to Russia. Saul family business he ran until January, Determined to get the deal Loeb/Agence France-Presse — Kushner Companies, received a nonetheless, Mr. Offit found another Mr. Trump received a loan from Getty Images $285 million loan from Deutsche German bank to make the loan with Deutsche Bank’s wealth Bank last year. the commitment that Deutsche Bank management unit to pay off the debt Mr. Trump has had a complicated would take possession once the he owed the bank’s real estate relationship with the bank over the Mr. Kushner’s dealings at the bank building was constructed. lending division, according to two past 20 years, which has included have included Ms. Vrablic. In 2013, people briefed on the transaction. more than $4 billion in loan he ordered up a glowing profile of But as the deal was being finalized, The wealth management unit later commitments and potential bond her in the real estate magazine he the other German bank had second issued another loan for the Chicago offerings, a majority of which were owned, The Mortgage Observer, thoughts because of worries of a project that is valued at $25 million completed, according to a New York according to a person with labor strike. Just as the deal to $50 million. Times review of securities filings knowledge of the matter. The piece seemed to be falling apart, Mr. and interviews with people with concluded with a disclaimer that her Trump produced a signed Josef Ackermann, Deutsche Bank’s knowledge of the deals. Despite all “past clients” included Mr. Kushner. commitment from all the major former chief executive, now the risk-taking — and a brief loan construction unions promising not to chairman of the Bank of Cyprus. default that spurred the 2008 In an interview with The Times last strike. Dmitry Rybolovlev, a Russian litigation — Mr. Trump’s business year, Mr. Trump suggested oligarch, was a large shareholder of has made the bank money, the reporters speak with Ms. Vrablic “We were all amazed he managed that bank. Thomas Peter/Reuters people said. about his banking relationships. to get that,” said Mr. Offit, who retired from the bank in 1999. A Personal Banker Trump International Hotel in A spokesman for the New York Ms. Vrablic, who helped facilitate the regulators declined to comment, and Washington. Al Drago/The New In the mid 2000s, Mr. Trump was in York Times need of another construction loan. wealth management unit’s loans to the White House did not respond to Mr. Trump, has built a career requests for comment. But this time, the loan — up to $640 “Why don’t you call the head of million to build Trump International lending to the rich and famous. Deutsche Bank? Her name is A few years after Mr. Trump sued Hotel and Tower in Chicago — did She got her start on Wall Street at the bank in 2008, he moved his Rosemary Vrablic,” he said. “She is not go as well. the boss.” Citibank’s private bank in the late business from the bank’s 1980s and later worked at Bank of commercial real estate lending A few years after the project began, A Relationship Is Born the 2008 financial crisis upended the America before joining Deutsche division to its private wealth division, Bank in 2006. where executives were more willing It was 1998, and Mike Offit, fresh off global economy and Mr. Trump fell to deal with him, according to the the trading floor of Goldman Sachs behind on loan payments. According Ms. Vrablic, who declined to be people briefed on the matter. for a new job at Deutsche Bank, was to a person briefed on the deal, interviewed for this article, has a hired to put Deutsche Bank’s real Deutsche Bank was discussing a reputation for being an aggressive In the past six years, the private estate lending business on the map. possible extension, when Mr. Trump advocate for her clients, according wealth unit helped finance three of To do that, Mr. Offit knew he had to sued it to avoid paying $40 million to two executives familiar with her Mr. Trump’s properties, including a snag big name developers. that he had personally guaranteed. work and profiles written in The golf course near Miami and a hotel His argument, as detailed in a letter American Banker and The Mortgage in Washington, according to Mr. That moment arrived when Rob Observer. Trump’s most recent financial Horowitz, with the real estate firm to the bank, was novel: “Deutsche disclosures and the people with Cooper-Horowitz, approached him Bank is one of the banks primarily In a 2013 Mortgage Observer knowledge of the loans. with an idea: Would he work with responsible for the economic article, one of her clients, Herbert Mr. Trump, who at the time had a dysfunction we are currently facing,” Simon, owner of the Indiana Pacers, The size of the loans — totaling tarnished reputation after several of Mr. Trump wrote. remarked that “when she came into about $300 million — is somewhat his casinos landed in bankruptcy? Trump International Hotel and the picture, it was a tough time to unusual by Wall Street standards, get money, and she was able to be according to former and current “My reaction was, why wouldn’t I?” Tower in Chicago. Nathan Weber for The New York Times very creative and get us what we Deutsche Bank executives and Mr. Offit recalled in a recent needed.” wealth managers at other Wall interview. With the help of a lawyer — Steven Street firms. Schlesinger of Garden City, N.Y. — In a 1999 American Banker article, To Mr. Offit, there was little Ms. Vrablic described her clients as The Trump National Doral resort in downside to hearing Mr. Trump’s Mr. Trump argued that the financial crisis allowed him to invoke the having “many homes, ex-wives, and Miami. Ilana Panich-Linsman for pitch. A short time later, Mr. Trump many children.” The New York Times came by Mr. Offit’s Midtown extraordinary event clause in his Manhattan office to discuss a loan contract with the bank. Mr. Trump Mr. Rybolovlev in Monaco in 2015. While it is not unheard-of for real for renovations at his 40 Wall Street argued Deutsche Bank should pay He purchased Mr. Trump’s estate in estate developers to obtain large building. Unlike other developers him $3 billion in damages. Florida, Benjamin Bechet for The wealth management loans for who arrived with their entourages, New York Times projects deemed too risky for an The bank filed its own action against Mr. Trump showed up alone, Mr. Mr. Trump, demanding he make investment bank, it differs from bank Offit said, and despite a reputation Mr. Trump fit that mold, but he was to bank, and those that do issue good on the loan. In a legal filing, far from her only client in the for bluster, he knew the financials of Deutsche Bank, which had loans of that size typically do so for the deal cold. rarefied world of New York real top clients known to pay their bills. distributed the loan to a number of estate. Others included Stephen “There was some resistance from other banks, called the lawsuit Ross, the chairman and founder of Mr. Trump’s wealth manager at management because of Donald’s “classic Trump.” the Related Companies in New Deutsche Bank, Rosemary Vrablic, reputation, but I told them that our The standoff culminated with a York. has specialized in real estate loan would be wildly overly lending and is known for taking risks meeting in Trump Tower, Mr. Mr. Ross extolled Ms. Vrablic’s collateralized even in the worst-case Schlesinger said. on clients, two of the executives and scenario,” Mr. Offit said. ability to make deals happen. “She wealth managers said. And her At the meeting, Mr. Trump brings knowledge — and the fact is relationship with Mr. Trump is close Rosemary Vrablic of Deutsche Bank threatened to remove his name from that if she tells you something, you enough that Ms. Vrablic attended helped facilitate loans to Mr. Trump. the building if he did not get more know it’s going to get done,” he told Mr. Trump’s inauguration, according Michael Nagle time to pay. That move, Mr. Trump The Mortgage Observer. to a person who attended. More deals followed. Later in the suggested, would reduce the value year, Mr. Trump needed $300 of the building.

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Ms. Vrablic was quoted in the same and analytics firm, or distributing and I’ve never once seen any Some ties are less direct. Josef article as saying that real estate is payments to the investors. money coming to him from Russia,” Ackermann, Deutsche Bank’s her “deep dive.” he said. Mr. Horowitz was not former chief executive, is now Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian involved in any of the private wealth chairman of the board at the Bank of While Mr. Kushner has never lawyer who was among the people management loans from Ms. Cyprus. A large shareholder of that disclosed the exact nature of his who met with Donald Trump Jr. Vrablic. bank was Dmitry Rybolovlev, the business with Ms. Vrablic, his during the presidential campaign. Russian oligarch who purchased Mr. financial disclosure shows a line of Yury Martyanov/Agence France- But separate from Mr. Trump, the Trump’s estate in Florida. credit worth between $5 million and Presse — Getty Images German bank has a host of Russian $25 million. And according to connections. And in May, federal prosecutors securities filings, Deutsche Bank In the autumn of 2014, Ms. Vrablic settled a case with a Cyprus provided a $285 million mortgage to and Mr. Kushner attended the Frick Soon after Mr. Trump took office, investment vehicle owned by a Kushner Companies to help it Collection’s dinner, a black-tie event the bank settled allegations that it Russian businessman with close refinance the loan it used to where patrons dined among famous helped Russian investors launder as family connections to the Kremlin. purchase several floors of retail works of art by Manet, El Greco and much as $10 billion through its space in the former New York Times Turner. branches in Moscow, London and The firm, Prevezon Holdings, was New York. In May, the Federal represented by Natalia building on 43rd Street in A picture of the pair appeared in the Manhattan. Reserve reached its own settlement Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer New York Social Diary. Mr. Kushner, with the bank over the money who was among the people who met Mr. Kushner’s company bought the dressed in a tuxedo, had his arm laundering violations. during the presidential campaign space from Africa Israel around Ms. Vrablic. with Donald Trump Jr. about Hillary Deutsche Bank also had a Investments, a company owned by The Russia Question Clinton. Lev Leviev, which has a sizable real “cooperation agreement” with the estate portfolio in Russia. There is no indication that federal Russian state-owned development Federal prosecutors in the United investigators suspect a Russian bank, Vnesheconombank, which States claimed Prevezon, which Deutsche Bank, other securities connection to Mr. Trump’s dealings has been swept up in the admitted no wrongdoing, laundered filings show, is also involved in loans with Deutsche Bank, according to investigation into Russian the proceeds of an alleged Russian the Kushner Companies received for people briefed on the matter. interference in the presidential tax fraud through real estate. the Puck Building in Manhattan’s election. And it had ties to VTB Prevezon and its partner relied in SoHo neighborhood and a property Mr. Horowitz, of the real estate firm Bank, a far larger Russian bank part on $90 million in financing from on Maiden Lane near Wall Street. Cooper-Horowitz, also saw no facing sanctions in the United States a big European financial institution, The bank was responsible for either Russian ties in his many years of and the European Union. The court records show. pooling those loans into mortgage- working with Mr. Trump. Russian firm’s investment banking backed securities that were sold to arm, VTB Capital, was created by It was Deutsche Bank. investors, according to Trepp, a data “I’ve arranged financing for the hiring dozens of bankers from majority of Mr. Trump’s transactions, Deutsche Bank’s Moscow office.

In Poland, an Assault on the Courts Provokes Outrage (UNE) Rick Lyman first vice president of the European it to quickly emerge as an economic themselves above the law, we are in Commission. “Collectively, they success. a revolutionary situation.” 8-10 minutes would abolish any remaining judicial independence and put the judiciary But its status as a regional star has In the lower house of Parliament this

under full political control of the been endangered by the rise of the week, as opposition leaders WARSAW — Step by step, the government.” Law and Justice Party. Since struggled to beat back the governing Polish government has moved assuming power in late 2015, the party’s push to pass its legislation, against democratic norms: It The drive to control the courts party has moved to co-opt or people on both sides delivered increased government control over comes barely two weeks after weaken potential rivals, beginning emotional speeches frequently the news media, cracked down on President Trump paid a triumphant with the Constitutional Tribunal, interrupted by chants. public gatherings and restricted the visit to Warsaw and praised the which could have declared its populist and nationalist Law and moves unconstitutional. Now “You could have been reformers of activities of nongovernmental the Polish judiciary,” an enraged organizations. Justice Party, which controls the dominated by government government. Now, if the party supporters, the tribunal provides a Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, from Now the party in power is moving prevails, its success could be the reliable rubber stamp for the opposition Peasants Party, said aggressively to take control of the final chapter in Poland’s long government initiatives. to stone-faced lawmakers from the last major independent government progression from a model Eastern Law and Justice Party. “But you institution, the courts, drawing European nation — and one of the Law and Justice supporters have have become its executioners crowds into the streets and possible first former Communist nations to been put in charge of public wearing a mask of justice.” condemnation by the European join the union — to what its television and radio, which now adhere to a firmly pro-government The Law and Justice party leader, Union. opponents are calling an illiberal Jaroslaw Kaczynski, in Parliament democracy. line. Independent oversight was The party is pushing to jam several removed from the secret services. on Wednesday. Agencja bills into law; one would force all the Three former Polish presidents, The justice minister was named Gazeta/Reuters nation’s top judges to resign, except including Lech Walesa, have chief prosecutor, formerly a Things turned especially ugly during those it appointed. Another bill, released a manifesto against the separate and more independent a debate at midnight on Tuesday in already approved by Parliament, proposed changes, saying “we do post. New regulations were imposed Parliament when an opposition would ultimately give the not consent to taking away our basic on public assemblies. politician, Borys Budka, presumed to government control over who can civic freedoms.” And a coalition of Still, at least one previous step to speak for the former Polish even be considered for a judgeship. more than 175 artists and scientists president from Law and Justice, who signed an open letter on pull Poland to the right, a nearly total In Brussels on Wednesday, a top ban on abortions proposed last fall, was killed in a 2010 plane crash. “If Wednesday calling the Lech Kaczynski were alive, he European Union official said that if government’s move a “coup d’état.” was defeated after mass protests. the changes were made, Poland wouldn’t allow this,” Mr. Budka might slip outside the bloc’s With the legacy of the Solidarity “This is a call for a right-wing declared. revolution,” said Jerzy Stepien, the definition of a democracy. movement, Poland entered the post- An enraged Jaroslaw Kaczynski — Soviet era with a head start on other director of the Institute of Civic “Each individual law, if adopted, Space and Public Policy at Lazarski the former president’s twin brother post-Soviet nations politically, and and, as leader of Law and Justice, would seriously erode the its strong agricultural sector allowed University, and a former president of independence of the Polish the Constitutional Tribunal. “If we the most powerful political figure in judiciary,” said Frans Timmermans, have people in power who feel Poland — seized the lectern and

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fired back: “Do not wipe your members of the Supreme Court to passed by the Senate and signed by when he was elected president, and traitorous mugs with the name of my resign, including several who have the president. The government’s Mr. Kaczynski. Opponents were not late brother. You are scoundrels.” been feuding with the government, decision to use procedural sure whether this signaled a true and replace them with judges maneuvers to fast-track the split between the two leaders or was Law and Justice has long selected by the governing party’s Supreme Court bill appears to have some sort of a trick. maintained that the 2010 crash was minister of justice. caught opponents off guard. an assassination, perhaps involving “We don’t know if the president is Russia and members of the political “Their goal is to create political “There were no public consultations, acting really with some sort of noble opposition. control over the judiciary,” said no public hearings,” said Kamila intentions or whether he’s just Adam Bodnar, Poland’s official Gasiuk-Pihowicz of the opposition playing a game,” said Mr. Stepien, “You murdered him,” Mr. Kaczynski ombudsman, who has come out party Modern. “There should have the former president of the shouted. against the bills. “I don’t have doubts been experts’ opinions, but there’s Constitutional Tribunal. about it.” no time for that.” Ewa Kopacz, the prime minister As opponents sought to slow the under the previous center-right Mr. Kaczynski and other Law and President Duda tried to suggest a bill’s passage, opposition leaders government, declared herself Justice officials contend that compromise in a nationwide asked Poles to continue to take to flabbergasted. “This man is crazy opponents are overreacting to an address. He said he would sign the the streets. Some protesters have with hate,” she said of Mr. honest attempt by the government bill on his desk involving the set up a tent camp outside Kaczynski. “He cannot control his to reform a dysfunctional and highly appointment of judges only if an Parliament, vowing to keep a round- emotions.” unpopular court system and to root amendment were added so that new the-clock vigil. “I had to be here,” The conflict over the judiciary has out corrupt judges and liberal judges must get 60 percent of the said Lidia Leipert, a lawyer who been simmering for some time. One ideologues who want to thwart the vote in Parliament rather than a joined the throng after work. will of the people. simple majority. Since Law and proposed law, already approved by Agnieszka Wierzbicka, a nutritionist, Parliament and awaiting President Justice has only a slim majority in Law and Justice, Prime Minister the Sejm, this would force the said she was already resigned to Andrzej Duda’s signature, would Beata Szydlo said, has “stood on losing this round. reconfigure the National Council of governing party to find at least one the side of the people, and nobody other party to vote with it. If that the Judiciary, which chooses those will make us turn back from this way “I think our protest is nothing but eligible to become judges, so that amendment is not added, Mr. Duda symbolic now,” she said. “Will it — not even by shouting here and said, he will refuse to sign the government-appointed members stamping your feet!” change anything? I highly doubt it. would essentially have veto power. Supreme Court law. But that doesn’t make it invalid. It is To become law, a bill must have It was a rare disagreement between important for history.” A second bill, introduced late last three readings in the Sejm, the week, would force all current Mr. Duda, a former Law and Justice lower house of Parliament, then be member who became independent

INTERNATIONAL

The Global Consequences of Trump’s Incompetence Paul McLeary | 1 called the “lie after lie after lie” world politics so that one can make an overarching aura of competence. hour ago regarding Trump’s relations with well-informed and intelligent policy Victory in World War II, the creation Russia. The presidential pendulum choices. It also means having the of key postwar institutions like 11-14 minutes has swung from dignified (Barack organizational skills, discipline, and NATO and Bretton Woods, and the Obama) to disgusting (Trump), and judgment to pick the right (mostly) successful management of

it’s tempting to spend all one’s time subordinates and get them to the Cold War rivalry with the USSR I returned this past weekend from a hyperventilating about his personal combine the different elements of convinced many observers that U.S. European vacation: conferencing in comportment rather than his national power in pursuit of well- officials knew what they were doing. Greece, queuing up at Wimbledon, handling of important policy issues. chosen goals. In other words, That aura was reinforced by kayaking in Ireland, and generally foreign-policy competence requires scientific and technological prowess doing my own small part to But the real issue isn’t Trump’s the ability to identify ends that will (e.g., the moon landing), by mostly stimulate the EU economy. I’m not nonstop boorishness; it’s his make the country more secure steady economic growth, and to Tom Friedman, so I didn’t interview increasingly obvious lack of and/or prosperous and then some extent by the progress made every taxi driver I encountered, but competence. assemble the means to bring the in addressing issues such as race, the one I did talk to was pretty down But the real issue isn’t Trump’s desired results to fruition. however imperfect those latter on the 45th president of the United efforts were. That same aura was nonstop boorishness; it’s his As in other walks of life, to be States. I’m sure there are a few increasingly obvious lack of tarnished by blunders like Vietnam, Trump supporters in Europe, but competent at foreign policy does not of course, but other countries still competence. When experienced mean being 100 percent right or recent surveys suggest they are a Republicans warned that Trump understood that the United States distinct minority. That seems to be successful. International politics is a was both very powerful and guided was unfit for office during the 2016 chancy and uncertain realm, and increasingly true here, too, despite campaign, most of their concerns by people who understood the world the stubborn loyalty of those even well-crafted policies reasonably well and weren’t bad at revolved around issues of sometimes go awry. But, on supporters who would stick with the character. But their warnings didn’t getting things done. The George guy even if he did, in fact, shoot balance, competent policymakers H.W. Bush administration’s prepare us for the parade of succeed more than they fail, both someone on Fifth Avenue. buffoonery and ineptitude that has successful handling of the collapse because they have a mostly of the USSR, the reunification of Since Donald Trump was characterized his administration accurate view of how the world from Day One. Germany, and the first Gulf War inaugurated, a vast amount of ink works and because they have the reinforced the broad sense that U.S. and billions of pixels have been What do I mean by “competence”? necessary skills to implement their judgment and skill should be taken devoted to documenting, dissecting, The Oxford English Dictionary choices effectively. As a result, such seriously, even if Washington condemning, or defending his defines it as “the ability to do leaders will retain others’ wasn’t infallible. disregard for well-established norms something successfully or confidence even when a few of decency and political restraint. efficiently.” In foreign policy, individual initiatives do not work out Since then, however, things have I’m talking about the blatant competence depends on a sufficient as intended. gone from good to bad to worse to nepotism, the vast conflicts of truly awful. The Bill Clinton knowledge about the state of the For much of the postwar period, the interest, the overt misogyny, and world and the key forces that drive administration managed the U.S. what Fox News’s Shepard Smith United States benefited greatly from economy pretty well, but its

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 13 handling of foreign policy was only attention to the advice, guidance, or and Justin Trudeau of Canada have the strategy calls for the United so-so, and its policies in the Middle requests that Washington makes. treated Trump with more respect States to “hold the balance” in key East and elsewhere laid the When people think you know what than he deserves. regions (i.e., Europe, Asia, and foundation for much future trouble. you’re doing, they will listen perhaps the Middle East) and to The George W. Bush administration carefully to what you have to say You’d tread carefully, too, if you stand ready to bring its power to was filled with experienced foreign- and will be more inclined to follow found yourself in the same room as bear in these areas should a policy mavens, but a fatal your lead. But if they think you’re an a drunk rhinoceros. But you potential hegemon emerge there. combination of hubris, presidential idiot, or they aren’t convinced you probably wouldn’t ask the rhino for The countries with which the United ignorance, post-9/11 panic, and the can actually deliver whatever you advice or consult it on geopolitical States would join forces should that baleful influence of a handful of are promising, they may nod politely strategy. occur have to be sufficiently neoconservative ideologues as you express your views but You’d tread carefully, too, if you convinced that Washington can produced costly debacles in Iraq follow their own instincts instead. found yourself in the same room as gauge threats properly and and Afghanistan. Obama did intervene with skill and effect when We are already seeing signs of this. a drunk rhinoceros. But you somewhat better (one could hardly probably wouldn’t ask the rhino for necessary. In short, the credibility of have done worse), but he never Having played to Trump’s U.S. commitments depends on a vulnerable ego brilliantly during his advice or consult it on geopolitical took on the Blob’s commitment to strategy. minimum reputation for liberal hegemony and made some visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now competence, and that is precisely of the same mistakes that the blithely ignoring U.S. efforts to Instead of relying on U.S. guidance the currency that Trump and Co. younger Bush did, albeit on a resolve the simmering dispute and (generally) supporting U.S. have been squandering. smaller scale. Even the vaunted between the Gulf states and Qatar. policy initiatives, states that lose American military seems more True to form, Israel doesn’t care confidence in America’s To be clear, I am not saying there skilled at blowing things up than at what Trump thinks about the Israeli- competence will begin to hedge and are not a lot of competent people achieving anything resembling Palestinian dispute or the situation make their own arrangements. serving in the U.S. government or victory. in Syria either. To be sure, these They’ll do deals with each other and that the United States is incapable two countries have a long history of sometimes with countries that the of doing anything right these days. Which brings us to Trump. ignoring U.S. advice and interests, United States regards as Indeed, my hat is off to the but their indifference to dedicated public servants who are He has been in office for only six adversaries. That is happening Washington’s views seems to have already with China and Iran, and trying to do their jobs despite the months, but the consequences of reached new heights. And now chaos in the White House and his ineptitude are already apparent. you can expect more of the same South Korea has announced it will as long as U.S. foreign policy Trump’s deliberate effort to cripple He has been in office for only six begin talks with North Korea, combines the strategic acumen of our foreign-policy machinery. months, but the consequences of despite the Trump administration’s Wile E. Coyote, the disciplined belief that the time was not right. Nor am I saying that Donald Trump his ineptitude are already apparent. teamwork of the Three Stooges, is incompetent at everything. He is, Meanwhile, the EU and Japan just and the well-oiled efficiency of the by all accounts, a much better than First, when you don’t understand frat in Animal House. the world very well, and when your reached a large trade deal; TPP-like average golfer (even if he may be team lacks skilled officials to talks are resuming without the Paleoconservatives and isolationists — now here’s a shocker — prone to compensate for presidential United States; and the leaders of might welcome this outcome, cheating), which may explain why ignorance, you’re going to make big Germany and Canada — two of because they think the United he prefers golfing to governing. He policy mistakes. Trump’s biggest America’s closest allies — have States has been bearing too large a has been adept at getting attractive doozy thus far was dropping the openly spoken of the need to chart share of global burdens and that it foreign women to marry him, though Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a their own course. Even the foreign just screws things up when it tries to not especially good at making the decision that undermined the U.S. minister of Australia — another run the world. They have a point, marriages last. And he is clearly an position in Asia, opened the door staunch U.S. ally — has taken a dig but they take it way too far. If the absolutely world-class bullshit artist, toward greater Chinese influence, at Trump for his demeaning United States were to disengage as with a genuinely impressive ability and won’t benefit the U.S. economy remarks to France’s first lady. And far as they would like, the other 95 to lie, prevaricate, evade, mislead, in the slightest. Similar ignorance- who can blame them? I mean: If percent of humanity would proceed stretch the truth, and dissemble. fueled errors include walking away you were a responsible foreign to create a world order where U.S. These skills clearly served him well from the Paris climate accord leader, would you take the advice of influence would be considerably as a real estate developer, but they (which makes Americans look like a the man who had the wisdom to smaller and where events in a few aren’t helping him very much as bunch of science-denying, head-in- appoint Sebastian Gorka to a White key regions would almost certainly president. Because once people the-sand ignoramuses) and failing House national security position, evolve in ways that the United decide you’re a bumbler, either they to appreciate that China wasn’t — wants to cut the State Department States would eventually regret. take advantage of your ineptitude or repeat, wasn’t — going to solve the budget by 30 percent, and thinks Instead of retreating to “Fortress they prefer to deal with those who North Korea problem for us. Not to Jared Kushner is a genius who can America,” it makes more sense to are more reliable. It gives me no joy mention his team’s inability to spell handle difficult diplomatic adopt the policy of offshore to say this, but can you blame and confusion over which countries assignments? balancing that John Mearsheimer them? they are talking about. The United States is still very and I outlined a year ago. Photo credit: MANDEL Second, once other countries powerful, of course, so both allies But offshore balancing won’t work if NGAN/AFP/Getty Images conclude that U.S. officials are and adversaries will continue to be other states have little or no dunderheads, they aren’t going to cautious when dealing with it. That’s confidence in U.S. judgment, skill, pay much why Emmanuel Macron of France and competence. Why? Because Editorial : Avoiding War With Iran The Editorial of his top aides as well as Sunni punishment and isolation. But Iran attacks, the country was riveted on Board Arab leaders and American activists and the United States also share Al Qaeda and the Taliban in — is raising tensions that could lead some interests, like fighting the Afghanistan. But in Washington, the 7-8 minutes to armed conflict with Iran. Islamic State. So why not take talk turned almost immediately to advantage of all the diplomatic Iraq and the chance to overthrow

Tehran invites some of this hostility tools, including opening a dialogue, Saddam Hussein, even though he Angus Greig with moves like detaining Xiyue used before to manage difficult and had nothing to do with Sept. 11 and Wang, a Princeton scholar, and even hostile governments? had no nuclear weapons, as The last thing the United States supporting the Syrian president, President George W. Bush alleged. needs is another war in the Middle Bashar al-Assad. And for many It is useful to recall the lead-up to Mr. Bush decided to fight a pre- East. Yet a drumbeat of provocative American politicians, Iran — the 2003 Iraq War, arguably emptive war without a solid words, outright threats and actions estranged from the United States America’s biggest strategic blunder justification or strategy. — from President Trump and some since 1979 — deserves only in modern times. After the Sept. 11

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Such a stumble into war could ballistic missile technology and The Saudis, who were already Most Americans are aware of Iran’s happen again. Here are some oppress the Iranian people.” There’s facing off against Iran-backed crimes against this country, reasons to be concerned: truth in that. But the nuclear deal rebels in Yemen, have taken an including the 52 Americans taken was intended to alleviate only the even harsher stance since their hostage in 1979; the 241 Marines ■ President Trump campaigned on nuclear threat, and they, like other leadership change. This month, killed in the 1983 bombing of their a pledge to tear up the 2015 seven- critics, fail to acknowledge that it they created a crisis by mounting a barracks in Lebanon; and the 1996 nation nuclear pact under which represented important progress regional boycott against Qatar, bombing of the Air Force quarters in Iran rolled back its nuclear program toward decreasing the risk of war in which has relations with Iran. Israel Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. in exchange for a lifting of the region. also considers Iran a virulent threat, Perhaps less known are events that sanctions. Although he twice one reason for a deepening still anger Iranians — like the 1953 certified to Congress, most recently ■ Top American officials have alignment between Israel and the coup aided by the C.I.A. that ousted on Monday, that Iran remains in turned up their rhetoric and have Sunni states, and from time to time Iran’s democratically elected leader, compliance with the deal, he did so hinted at support for regime change, has reportedly urged America to Mohammed Mossadegh, and grudgingly and with the subsequent despite the dismal record in Iraq, attack Iran or considered doing so America’s intelligence support for imposition of new sanctions related Afghanistan and Libya. Mr. Tillerson itself. Iraq in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. to Iran’s ballistic missile tests. The accused Iran of seeking regional Iranians say Mr. Trump is in danger hegemony at the expense of ■ Anti-Iran voices outside Iran’s grievances do not make its of violating the agreement, American allies like Saudi Arabia. government are trying to push Mr. recent behavior any less especially after urging European “Our policy toward Iran is to push Trump and Congress toward concerning. Tehran continues to leaders not to do business with Iran. back on this hegemony … and to confrontation with Iran. The head of fund Hezbollah and other A central promise of the deal was work toward support of those the Foundation for the Defense of extremists; detain Americans; and that Tehran would benefit elements inside of Iran that would Democracies, a hawkish group that work to expand its reach, including economically in exchange for its lead to a peaceful transition of that tried to block the Iran nuclear deal, in Iraq. Iran and the United States nuclear restraint. Instead of taking government,” he told a urged Mr. Trump in a recent Wall appear to be entering a particularly advantage of this diplomatic congressional committee. Defense Street Journal opinion article to risky time. As the Islamic State gets breakthrough, Mr. Trump seems Secretary Jim Mattis recently called “systemically dismantle Iranian pushed out of Iraq and Syria, Iran intent on reversing it by provoking Iran “ the most destabilizing power country by country in the and Saudi Arabia, along with their Iran to renege or reneging himself, influence in the Middle East.” Middle East” and to strengthen proxy forces, will be competing for in much the way he rejected the Iran’s pro-democracy forces. control. Any attempt at regime Paris climate accord. ■ Since the 1979 revolution that Prominent Trump supporters like change in Iran could destabilize the installed a theocracy in Iran, John Bolton, a former ambassador volatile Middle East in even more ■ Congress, which was American leaders have periodically to the United Nations; Newt unpredictable ways. overwhelmingly opposed to the toyed with regime change. But Gingrich, former House speaker; nuclear deal when it was signed, is some experts say this time is more and Rudolph Giuliani, former New Iran’s government continues to be working on new sanctions. serious, because Mr. Trump York mayor, are pressing Mr. Trump torn between anti-American hard- Republicans in particular have accepts the simplistic view of Sunni- to abandon the deal and are liners and moderates like President pressed Mr. Trump to toughen his led Saudi Arabia that Shiite-led Iran speaking out on behalf of the Hassan Rouhani who are willing to approach. In a recent letter to is to blame for all that’s wrong in the Mujahedeen Khalq, exiled Iranian engage with America. Mr. Trump Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, region, taking sides in the feud dissidents who back regime would make a grave mistake if four senators said Iran continues to between two branches of Islam. change. instead of trying to work with those wage “regional aggression, sponsor moderate forces he led the nation international terrorism, develop closer to war.

Map Said to Show Location of U.S. Forces in Syria Published in Turkey Dion the greatest threat to regional Turkey and the U.S. remain at odds Turkey has launched airstrikes on Nissenbaum stability and it is critical that all over Washington’s decision to work YPG positions in northern Syria and parties operating in Syria remain in Syria with the Kurdish YPG repeatedly turned its artillery on 4-5 minutes focused on what is most militia. Turkish leaders consider the Kurdish forces. The U.S. responded important—the annihilation of ISIS.” force a threat to their country and by launching joint border patrols in

have expressed frustration that the April with the YPG, a move that July 19, 2017 6:17 p.m. ET Release of the map angered some Trump administration decided to helped temporarily defuse tensions. U.S. officials, who privately step up its military cooperation with WASHINGTON—A detailed map expressed frustration that Turkey, a the YPG earlier this year. While the Turkish news agency purportedly showing where U.S. North Atlantic Treaty Organization published the map, the German forces are deployed in northern ally, would threaten its relationship Turkish officials see the YPG as an newspaper Bild released satellite Syria was published by Turkey’s with Washington by allowing its offshoot of the PKK, a Kurdish imagery of what it said was a major state-run news agency, drawing a state-run news agency to publish separatist force that the U.S. and U.S. base in northern Syria, a sharp retort and a warning from the sensitive information. Turkey both classify as a terrorist sprawling facility with a long Pentagon that the move could group. The U.S. treats the YPG as a runway, hangars, barracks and fuel undermine the battle against Islamic “While we cannot independently distinct force from the PKK, allowing depots. State. verify the sources that contributed it to work with Kurdish fighters in to this article, we would be very Syria. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad The U.S. government on concerned if officials from a NATO has denounced the U.S. military Wednesday expressed its concerns ally would purposefully endanger In May, President Donald Trump presence in Syria. to Turkish officials after Anadolu our forces by releasing sensitive approved plans to directly arm the Agency released a lengthy article information,” the Pentagon said. YPG for the first time, raising new “Any foreign troops coming to Syria and a map it said showed the “We have conveyed these concerns concerns in Turkey that the without our invitation or consultation locations of 10 bases used by to the government of Turkey.” weapons would be turned on or permission, they are invaders, hundreds of U.S. forces in northern Turkish soldiers fighting in Syria or whether they are American, Turkish, Syria battling Islamic State, also Turkish officials didn’t respond to smuggled across the border into or any other one,” Mr. Assad said in known as ISIS. requests for comment about the Turkey. an interview earlier this year. “They release of the information, which didn’t succeed anywhere they sent “The release of sensitive military comes as the U.S. military is The U.S. has tried to assuage troops, they only create a mess. information exposes coalition forces stepping up its efforts to push Turkish concerns, but the issue They are very good in creating to unnecessary risk and has the Islamic State out of Raqqa, its de remains a divisive one for the two problems and destroying, but they potential to disrupt ongoing facto capital in Syria. countries. are very bad in finding solutions.” operations to defeat ISIS,” the U.S. military said in a statement. “ISIS is

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 15

—Margaret Coker in Istanbul and Write to Dion Nissenbaum at Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print Nour Alakraa in Beirut contributed [email protected] edition as 'Ankara Rebuked Over to this article. Syria Map.'

Trump ends covert CIA program to arm anti-Assad rebels in Syria, a move sought by Moscow (UNE) https://www.face How Trump is changing America’s Some analysts said the decision to Checkpoint newsletter book.com/greg.jaffe.5 foreign policy end the program was likely to empower more radical groups Military, defense and security at 8-10 minutes Spokesmen for the National inside Syria and damage the home and abroad. Security Council and the CIA credibility of the United States. declined to comment. Earlier this month, five days into the first cease-fire in southwest Syria, In a move that reflects his interest in “We are falling into a Russian trap,” After the Trump-Putin meeting, the said Charles Lister, a senior fellow Trump indicated that another working with Russia, President United States and Russia agreement was under discussion Trump has decided to end a covert at the Middle East Institute, who announced an agreement to back a focuses on the Syrian resistance. with Moscow. “We are working on CIA program supporting Syrian new cease-fire in southwest Syria, the second cease-fire in a very rebels fighting President Bashar al- “We are making the moderate along the Jordanian border, where resistance more and more rough part of Syria,” Trump said. “If Assad. In a move that Russia is many of the CIA-backed rebels we get that and a few more, all of a likely to welcome, President Trump vulnerable. . . . We are really cutting have long operated. Trump them off at the neck.” sudden we are going to have no has decided to end a covert CIA described the limited cease-fire deal bullets being fired in Syria.” program supporting Syrian rebels as one of the benefits of a Others said it was recognition of fighting President Bashar al-Assad. constructive working relationship Assad’s entrenched position in One big potential risk of shutting (The Washington Post) with Moscow. Syria. down the CIA program is that the United States may lose its ability to (The Washington Post) The move to end the secret “It’s probably a nod to reality,” said block other countries, such as President Trump has decided to program to arm the anti-Assad Ilan Goldenberg, a former Obama Turkey and Persian Gulf allies, from end the CIA’s covert program to rebels was not a condition of the administration official and director of funneling more sophisticated arm and train moderate Syrian cease-fire negotiations, which were the Middle East Security Program at weapons — including man-portable rebels battling the government of already well underway, said U.S. the Center for a New American air-defense systems, or MANPADS Bashar al-Assad, a move long officials, who spoke on the condition Security. — to anti-Assad rebels, including sought by Russia, according to U.S. of anonymity to discuss the secret more radical groups. program. U.S. intelligence officials say officials. battlefield gains by rebels in 2015 Toward the end of the Obama The program was a central plank of Trump’s dealings with Russia have prompted Russia’s direct military administration, some officials a policy begun by the Obama been under heavy scrutiny because intervention on the side of the advocated ending the CIA program, administration in 2013 to put of the investigations into the Assad regime. Some U.S. officials arguing that the rebels would be pressure on Assad to step aside, Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 and their allies in the region urged ineffective without a major but even its backers have election. The decision on the CIA- President Barack Obama to escalation in U.S. support. But the questioned its efficacy since Russia backed rebels will be welcomed by respond by providing the rebels with program still had the support of a deployed forces in Syria two years Moscow, which focused its advanced antiaircraft weapons so majority of top Obama advisers, later. firepower on those fighters after it they could better defend who argued that the United States intervened in Syria in 2015. themselves. But Obama balked, couldn’t abandon its allies on the Officials said the phasing out of the citing concerns about the United ground and give up on the secret program reflects Trump’s Some current and former officials States getting pulled into a conflict moderate opposition because of the interest in finding ways to work with who support the program cast the with Russia. damage that it would do to U.S. Russia, which saw the anti-Assad move as a major concession. standing in the region. Senior U.S. officials said that the program as an assault on its “This is a momentous decision,” interests. The shuttering of the covert program would be phased Even those who were skeptical said a current official, who spoke on out over a period of months. It is about the program’s long-term program is also an acknowledgment the condition of anonymity to of Washington’s limited leverage also possible that some of the value, viewed it as a key bargaining discuss a covert program. “Putin support could be redirected to other chip that could be used to wring and desire to remove Assad from won in Syria.” power. missions, such as fighting the concessions from Moscow in With the end of the CIA program, Islamic State or making sure that negotiations over Syria’s future. Just three months ago, after the the rebels can still defend U.S. involvement in Syria now “People began thinking about United States accused Assad of consists of a vigorous air campaign themselves from attacks. using chemical weapons, Trump ending the program, but it was not against the Islamic State and a “This is a force that we can’t afford something you’d do for free,” said a launched retaliatory airstrikes Pentagon-run train-and-equip against a Syrian air base. At the to completely abandon,” former White House official. “To program in support of the largely Goldenberg said. “If they are ending give [the program] away without time, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Kurdish rebel force that is said that “in no way do we see the aid to the rebels altogether, then getting anything in return would be advancing on Islamic State that is a huge strategic mistake.” foolish.” peace in that area with Assad at the strongholds in Raqqa and along the head of the Syrian government.” Euphrates River valley. The Trump U.S. officials said the decision had administration’s long-term strategy, the backing of Jordan, where some Officials said Trump made the Greg Jaffe is a reporter on the decision to scrap the CIA program following the defeat of the Islamic of the rebels were trained, and State, appears to be focused on appeared to be part of a larger national staff of The Washington nearly a month ago, after an Oval Post, where he has been since Office meeting with CIA Director stitching together a series of Trump administration strategy to regional cease-fire deals among the focus on negotiating limited cease- March 2009. Previously, he covered Mike Pompeo and national security the White House and the military for adviser H.R. McMaster ahead of a U.S.-backed rebels, the Syrian fire deals with the Russians. government and Russia. The Post. July 7 meeting in Germany with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump Ends Covert Aid to Syrian Rebels Trying to Topple Assad David E. Sanger, Eric Schmitt and Ben Hubbard 6-8 minutes

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Syrians combed the rubble of their States had helped destabilize the Turkey and Jordan, was likely to Other independent experts said it houses, which were destroyed on region, and portrayed Iran as yield a different result. was unclear whether Mr. Trump’s Wednesday during clashes on the merely defending its interests. decision would have an impact on outskirts of Raqqa. Bulent Washington, instead, views Iran’s When it began, the initial objective fighters defending areas held by the Kilic/Agence France-Presse — aid to the Assad government as part was to force Mr. Assad to the opposition. Getty Images of an effort to restore itself as a bargaining table, in a series of major regional power. negotiations that the secretary of At its height, the program was run President Trump has ended the state at the time, John Kerry, took through operations rooms in Jordan clandestine American program to From the start, there were doubts up in earnest in late 2015. But each and Turkey, supporting rebel groups provide arms and supplies to Syrian that arming disorganized, often agreement — for cease-fires, and fighting under the banner of the rebel groups, American officials internally fractious forces would deadlines for a political “road map” Free Syrian Army who were said, a recognition that the effort succeed. Officials in the Obama for elections in the country — deemed not to be extremists. was failing and that the administration conceded that there fizzled. Mr. Kerry fumed that Mr. administration has given up hope of was no way to predict the future Obama was not willing to provide But the pressure on Mr. Assad was helping to topple the government of loyalties of those who received the kind of military pressure on Mr. not great enough to force him to President Bashar al-Assad. American arms, despite a lengthy Assad that might bolster the enter negotiations to end the civil vetting process. That problem — diplomacy. Mr. Obama, for his part, war. Nor was it sufficient to clear the The decision came more than a getting the weapons into the right was leery of entering another way for the rebel groups to take month ago, the officials said, by hands and assuring they were not Middle East war whose outcome he over major cities or approach the which time the effort to deliver the passed on to others and used could neither control nor predict. capital, Damascus. The program arms had slowed to a trickle. against American troops or allies — also sought to bolster so-called plagued the effort soon after it was The program became less relevant moderate rebels against extremist It was never publicly announced, as the Russians increased their factions like the Syrian affiliate of Al just as the beginnings of the proposed by Hillary Clinton, who was then secretary of state, and presence in Syria, targeting and Qaeda. program four years ago were badly weakening the C.I.A.-backed officially a secret, authorized by David H. Petraeus, the C.I.A. When the history of the effort is director at the time. rebels, who were the most capable President Barack Obama through a of the opposition fighters. That written — and the documents “finding” that permitted the C.I.A. to Mr. Trump’s decision was first helped the Assad government claw surrounding it are declassified — conduct a deniable program. News reported by The Washington Post. back and consolidate territorial historians will doubtless seek to of the troublesome program soon But it was foreshadowed as early as gains. learn why the rebels lost ground for leaked out. April, when the Trump years, to Syrian government forces “This is a big deal, but it’s been a and their Russian and Iranian allies, It joins similar failed efforts to administration said that ousting Mr. Assad, whose government has long time coming,” Charles Lister, a and to extremists. deliver arms and money to groups Syria analyst for the Middle East seeking to overthrow governments fought a civil war that has taken After the rebels’ expulsion from the roughly half a million lives, was no Institute in Washington, said. “It’s that Washington found noxious, the biggest indication so far of the eastern half of the city of Aleppo most famously the Kennedy longer a priority. Instead, the United last year, it became clear that they States and Russia have been administration’s having given up on administration’s disastrous effort to the opposition.” no longer posed a serious threat to do away with the government of discussing cease-fire zones in the Mr. Assad’s rule. Fidel Castro in Cuba. country, the first of which went into “After all, the Southern Front has effect this month. consistently been our most reliable But stopping the covert program, The White House had no comment. anti-Assad partner,” Mr. Lister said, which mainly helped rebels near the But the decision is bound to be Those discussions have been Turkish border in northwestern possible because Mr. Assad, secure referring to opposition forces welcomed by the Russians, whose fighting Mr. Assad in the southern Syrian and along the Jordanian military has backed Mr. Assad’s in his support from Moscow and border in the south, will not affect Tehran, no longer sees a part of the country. “It’s also the government and relentlessly result of strong Jordanian pressure, the fight against the jihadists of the attacked some of the rebel groups fundamental threat to his ability to Islamic State in the east. A different remain in power. And Mr. Trump’s as Amman has been pushing a that the United States was freeze for a long time. So it was program there run by the Pentagon supplying, under the guise of decisions amounted to an is supporting a Kurdish-Arab militia acknowledgment that no escalation probably inevitable, but it’s helping to eradicate terrorists. nonetheless very significant.’’ known as the Syrian Democratic of the program, which began in Forces. On Tuesday, Iran’s foreign minister, 2013 in concert with the C.I.A.’s He added that it was “a big mistake Mohammad Javad Zarif, charged counterparts in Saudi Arabia, in my mind.” that the United For the first time, Israel describes the aid work it carries out in Syria By Ruth Eglash and other support to some of the numerous occasions, returning fire we see them transferring weapons rebel groups fighting against the toward Syrian army positions, even to Hezbollah, we will hurt them. We 6-7 minutes army of Syrian President Bashar al- killing fighters, when errant fire did it dozens of times.” (ISIS is Assad in a conflict that started in reaches into its territory. another name for the Islamic State.)

2011. GOLAN HEIGHTS — Israel made On Wednesday, during a meeting [Netanyahu accidentally reveals public for the first time Wednesday On Wednesday, the Israeli army with Eastern European leaders in Israel has struck Iran-backed the extent of its humanitarian aid to opened its store rooms and briefed Budapest, Israeli Prime Minister fighters in Syria] journalists on the full extent of a Benjamin Netanyahu was heard the civilian population living just The meeting was being held behind across its northern border in Syria. humanitarian operation it calls saying, too, that Israel had carried “Good Neighbors.” As part of the out dozens of attacks against arms closed doors, but Netanyahu’s It is well documented that Israel effort, Israel has transferred 360 convoys in Syria making their way remarks were accidentally has provided emergency medical tons of food, 450,000 liters of to the militant Lebanese group transmitted to reporters covering the treatment to Syrian fighters seeking gasoline and 50 tons of clothing to Hezbollah. event, the Israeli newspaper help. As many as 3,000 wounded Syria. It has also sent large Haaretz reported. individuals have made their way to quantities of painkillers, anesthetics “We blocked the border not only in Egypt but in the Golan Heights,” During the trip to the Israeli- the border and received lifesaving and basic medicine for diabetes and occupied Golan Heights on medical treatment in Israeli asthma. Netanyahu told leaders from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Wednesday, military personnel hospitals before returning to their shared with journalists that over the homeland. While its official policy has been to Poland and Slovakia. “We built the steer clear of the fighting raging a wall because there was a problem past year Israel has provided aid to There have also been media reports few miles from its border, Israel has with ISIS and Iran trying to build a some 200,000 civilians living on the that Israel has provided financial been drawn into the conflict on terror front there. I told Putin, when Syrian side of the Golan Heights.

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 17

As many as 6.5 million Syrians “They have been taught all their Since last summer, Israel has to be run by a team of American have been displaced in the fighting. lives that Israel is Satan and were transferred infrastructure equipment doctors and protected by the Israeli Many of those have made their way afraid to come to the border for such as generators and piping to army will open in the area and to nearby countries and even help,” Hiram said. repair the water system, as well as operate during the day, Hiram said. Europe, but only the poorest hundreds of tons of basic food Syrians have turned to Israel for Much of the Syrian population in supplies and medicine. Noam Fink, who is the chief assistance, Col. Barak Hiram, that area lives in rural villages, and medical officer of Israel’s Northern brigade commander of the Golan about 50 percent are under 18. Today's WorldView Command and oversees the Heights, told reporters. There are also internally displaced medical program in the Golan people who have arrived in the What's most important from where Heights, said children with basic Israel and Syria have never had area, with some 400 families living the world meets Washington illnesses or conditions could now diplomatic relations and have been in tents close to the border, he The Israeli army has also facilitated receive simple treatment. officially at war since Israel’s said. basic medical treatment for Syrian establishment in 1948. Until now, “It makes me proud that we are The fighting had left many children and their parents in triage doing this, and I hope that the there was almost no human clinics set up along the border, interaction between Israelis, who residential areas with no running international language of medicine water or electricity, and educational allowing more-serious cases to be will start relations with our took control of part of the Golan treated in Israeli hospitals. Heights after the 1967 war, and and health-care facilities are almost neighbors,” he said. those Syrians who live close to nonexistent. Those that are still Until now, most of the operation Israel’s border. standing have only rudimentary has taken place at night, but in equipment, Hiram said. roughly two weeks a medical clinic

Spencer : The City Is the Battlefield of the Future John Spencer Over half of the world’s population and the Joint Multinational prepare American troops. I imagine resides in cities, and the United Readiness Center in Hohenfels, a school in an actual city, analogous 5-6 minutes Nations estimates that figure will Germany—are in rural places. We to the mountain, desert and jungle reach 60% by 2030. By the same don’t transport sand into the woods operations centers the U.S.

year, the number of “megacities,” to train for desert warfare or build currently maintains. Major cities July 19, 2017 5:48 p.m. ET those with more than 10 million greenhouses to simulate jungles. such as Detroit and the outer residents, will climb from 31 to more We train in those environments, and boroughs of New York have large The battle for Mosul represents the than 40. Such urbanization makes we should train for urban warfare in abandoned areas that could be future of warfare—and it wasn’t less plausible the traditional tactic of cities. safely redeveloped as urban pretty for America’s allies. A ragtag coercing civilians out of conflict training sites. army of a few thousand Islamic zones to give the military free rein. The only site available to the Army State fighters managed to hold the that comes close to what’s needed This is a long-term investment: A city for months against some This in turn makes cities is the Indiana National Guard’s new training facility would not 100,000 U.S.-backed Iraqi security increasingly attractive to bands of Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. prevent quagmires like Mosul forces. The ISIS fighters violent nonstate actors in places like This 1,000-acre facility has 68 overnight. Critics might argue that communicated via social media and the Middle East and Northern buildings, a reservoir, a system of the U.S. should focus on retaining were armed with crude explosive Africa. Dense populations, tunnels, and more than nine miles its advantage against strategic devices and drones available at advances in communication of roads. But Muscatatuck still lacks adversaries like Russia, China and Wal-Mart . In the end the rebel technology, and the often-poor the density American and allied North Korea. But strategic fighters were dislodged, but not coordination between city and forces have repeatedly faced since deterrence and battlefield readiness before an estimated 7,000 people national-security forces can allow the beginning of the Iraq war in are not mutually exclusive. were killed and another 22,000 terror groups to control urban 2003. Equipping soldiers to fight in cities is wounded. territory at a fraction of the cost one way to deter enemies—state states spend to fight back. No American forces also need to be and nonstate actors alike—from U.S. commanders ought to imagine amount of money thrown into the equipped to operate in large cities challenging America directly. how they would handle a similar U.S. defense budget will correct this with new equipment, formations and environment. Future American urban disadvantage without a major doctrine. Nowhere in the U.S. The city is the battlefield of the conflicts will not be waged in the shift in the way Americans prepare Army’s doctrine—the manuals of future, whether the U.S. military caves or craggy mountaintops of to fight. concepts and operating procedures trains for it or not. Failing to invest in Afghanistan, much less the open that guide the action of its forces— urban warfare only means American deserts of Iraq or the jungles of Surprisingly, few militaries does the word “siege” appear. But soldiers will be sent into combat in Vietnam. They will be fought in specifically train for major urban this oldest form of warfare has environments they have never cities—dense, often overpopulated operations. The U.S. military has no become the chosen tactic to end seen. and full of obstacles: labyrinthine location that can adequately urban fights in Iraq and Syria. apartment blocks, concealed replicate a big city. The training Islamic State was able to drag out Maj. Spencer is an Army tunnels, panicking civilians. The sites on Army bases that are the conflicts in Mosul and Raqqa infantryman and deputy director of enemy will be highly networked and generously labeled as “urban” while U.S.-backed forces struggled the Modern War Institute at the U.S. integrated into his surroundings. include a few dozen buildings at to cut off supply routes. Military Academy in West Point, America’s next war will be the 1993 best. The three centers that certify N.Y. Battle of Mogadishu on steroids. major units for combat—the What can be done to level this imbalance on urban terrain? A first Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print National Training Center at Fort edition. The U.S. military must wake up to Irwin, Calif., the Joint Readiness step would be to create an the reality of demographic trends. Training Center at Fort Polk, La., authentic, full-scale training site to

U.N. Expresses Alarm Over ‘Extreme Dangers’ for Yemeni Civilians Rick Gladstone this year. Hani journalists from reaching the The United Nations refugee agency Mohammed/Associated Press country to chronicle the war. said most of the victims were from 3-4 minutes one family, which like many others The United Nations expressed The bombing, in the southwest in the area had abandoned their

alarm on Wednesday at a bombing province of Taiz, was first reported homes to find safety. Yemenis presented documents to by Saudi-led forces in Yemen that late Tuesday, but the extent of the receive food rations provided by a killed at least 20 fleeing civilians, casualties became clear only hours “The latest incident once again local charity in Sana, the capital, and it criticized restrictions that stop later. demonstrates the extreme dangers

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 18 facing civilians in Yemen, that evicted the Saudi-supported indiscriminate bombings in the Friction over this issue spilled into particularly those attempting to flee government from Sana, the capital, conflict. The Saudis have said they the open on Wednesday when the violence, as they disproportionately and controls big parts of the avoid civilian casualties but have Saudi coalition stopped a United bear the brunt of conflict,” an country, the poorest in the Middle made errors, such as a bombing Nations aid flight from leaving agency statement said. East. raid last October that killed more Djibouti for Sana until three BBC than 100 funeral mourners. journalists deplaned. At least two million Yemenis are The conflict has left at least 10,000 regarded as internally displaced, people dead and created an urgent The United Nations and other Farhan Haq, a United Nations having fled elsewhere within the humanitarian disaster, with the organizations helping Yemen’s spokesman, expressed anger about country since the conflict began. threat of famine amplified by a civilians have also criticized the the plane standoff. The refugee agency said roughly 27 widespread cholera outbreak that Saudi blockades that have percent of them are from Taiz. has sickened more than 300,000 restricted shipping and aviation, “Steps like this do not help,” he people. causing severe shortages and said. “This has been a large, man- For more than two years Saudi preventing foreign journalists from made humanitarian problem. The Arabia and its allies have been The Saudi coalition has faced witnessing the conflict up close. world needs to know, and fighting the Houthis, an Iran-backed repeated criticism from rights journalists need to have access.” Yemeni group advocates and relief groups over Trump has rare meeting of full national security team to discuss Afghanistan https://www.facebook.com/greg.jaff troops to Afghanistan on top of the But such an approach has been met “It’s our longest war. We’ve been e.5 roughly 8,500 currently there. But with skepticism by senior officials in there for many years,” Trump told Mattis has yet to pull the trigger on the Pentagon and the State reporters before the lunch. “We’ve 5-6 minutes sending the additional forces until Department, who said that Pakistan been there for now close to 17 the administration can agree on a is unlikely to change its behavior years, and I want to find out why

final strategy for Afghanistan, said and that efforts to pressure we’ve been there for 17 years, how President Trump presided over a U.S. officials, who spoke on the Islamabad would likely lead to it’s going, and what we should do in rare meeting of his full national condition of anonymity to discuss greater instability in the region. terms of additional ideas.” security team Wednesday in the ongoing internal planning. White House. The subject was the Top U.S. officials have also been One challenge for Trump is that future of the U.S. war effort in “He’s clearly being cautious about divided over whether to seek peace there are not a lot of new options Afghanistan, and hovering over the cashing that check,” said a former negotiations with the Taliban now or available to him that do not come discussion was a big question: How U.S. official who has participated in wait until the new U.S. strategy has with a big price tag. In recent committed is the president to a the administration debate. “Mattis is begun to shift the momentum on the months, Trump has loosened the long-term and costly American either not persuaded that there’s a battlefield. “The McMaster view is rules governing American airstrikes, presence in the country? strategic rationale for the troops or that you should not negotiate with allowing U.S. forces to boost the air he’s not persuaded that the decision the Taliban while they are still campaign against the Taliban to Trump has said little about will ultimately fly with the president ascendant,” said the former U.S. levels not seen since 2012, when America’s longest war since taking — or both.” official. the United States had 100,000 office in January, but the debate troops in the country. over how to stabilize the country The meeting that Trump led in the Checkpoint newsletter and reverse the Taliban’s White House did not focus on the “I’m skeptical that the strategy can size of the American force in Military, defense and security at be dramatically improved,” said momentum has divided top officials home and abroad. in the Pentagon, the State Afghanistan but looked at America’s Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at Department and the White House in broader approach to the region and But the current U.S.-Afghan war the Brookings Institution. “You can recent weeks. its strategy regarding Pakistan, strategy is built around a four-year try to be tougher on Pakistan. You which has provided a haven for the plan to push back the Taliban that is can try to make clear that we are The meeting Wednesday was Taliban. not likely to yield significant results there for a long-term commitment. designed to tee up final decisions But I don’t expect a dramatic National security adviser H.R. until its later stages, U.S. officials for the president in what has been a said. metamorphosis of this mission.” long and difficult policy review, said McMaster and U.S. commanders in current and former U.S. officials. Afghanistan have pressed for a Earlier this week, Trump met over more punitive approach to Pakistan lunch with service members who Trump gave Defense Secretary Jim aimed at forcing it to cut ties to the had fought in Afghanistan and Mattis the authority more than a Afghan Taliban. suggested that his patience with the month ago to send as many as war might be running out. 3,900 additional Lack of Progress at U.S.-China Talks Raises Stakes for Trump Jacob M. After a full day of bilateral meetings, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Xinhua News Agency. Beijing is Schlesinger and the U.S. side issued a terse Kang describing them as also urging Washington to lift export Ian Talley statement saying that “China “innovative, practical and controls that curb sales of high-tech acknowledged our shared objective constructive,” though he reiterated products to China, Mr. Zhu said. 9-11 minutes to reduce the trade deficit which China’s displeasure at recent U.S. both sides will work cooperatively to actions, including arms sales to The failure to take specific steps to

achieve.” Taiwan. China’s Commerce Ministry close America’s $347 billion trade Updated July 20, 2017 7:39 a.m. ET didn’t immediately comment on the deficit with China—70% of the U.S. The statement from Commerce outcome of the dialogue. global imbalance—raises pressure WASHINGTON—High-level Secretary Wilbur Ross and on the Trump administration to economic talks between the U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin U.S. and Chinese officials agreed consider shifting from its embrace of and China ended Wednesday didn’t provide further details on just that “one of the solutions to address cooperation with Beijing toward without any concrete agreement or how much the two sides could the trade imbalance is for the United more confrontation. future agenda, leaving the Trump agree on, or when they would States to expand its exports to administration’s efforts to recast resume talks. China, instead of reducing imports Trump aides have been weighing a trade ties with Beijing in limbo. from China,” Chinese Vice Finance series of tougher trade policies Chinese officials painted a rosier Minister Zhu Guangyao said in toward China, from new import picture of Wednesday’s talks, with remarks reported by the official barriers on steel and solar panels,

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 19 to tighter restrictions on People familiar with the talks said a The stall in economic talks mirrors a payment, the two governments investments, but have so far chosen major sticking point was a demand similarly rough patch in the Trump announced agreement on Chinese not to implement them. from the American negotiators to administration’s diplomatic ties with market-opening measures in craft a concrete plan, with Beijing. In the weeks since the Mar- agriculture and finance, with a People familiar with Wednesday’s benchmarks and a timetable, for a-Lago summit, Mr. Trump rebuffed Chinese pledge to deliver concrete talks said that American negotiators reducing China’s trade surplus with Chinese objections in approving results before this week’s meetings. tried, unsuccessfully, to use the the U.S. news arms sales to Taiwan, which threat of new steel tariffs to force Beijing considers a renegade But some U.S. business groups and the Chinese to commit to specific “The administration wanted to put province, and sent bombers and affected companies have benchmarks for cutting the country’s some numerical targets in place and naval patrols this month to the complained that while China has mammoth production overcapacity I know China was uncomfortable South China Sea to assert met the letter of its pledges, it has in that sector, a big factor dragging with that,” said Myron Brilliant, the American freedom to navigate those failed to live up to the spirit of them, down steel prices globally. U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice contested waters. Mr. Trump also removing the promised trade president of international affairs. tightened economic sanctions barriers, while leaving other The meetings were held to mark the impediments in place. end of a 100-day period that More than his predecessors, Mr. against companies and banks President Donald Trump and Trump has focused not just on allegedly doing businesses aiding A new tiff flared up this week when Chinese President Xi Jinping had removing barriers to American North Korea’s nuclear program. Dow Chemical Co. said China had set to come up with a exports, but on trying to curb The North Korea issue in particular appeared to renege on a promise to comprehensive plan to reset America’s trade deficit, which he may affect Mr. Trump’s economic provide an expedited review of its commercial ties between the world’s has said is a concrete sign of flawed approach to China. The president genetically modified soybean crops two largest economies. The lack of policies. Many economists say Mr. said earlier that he would give as part of the May pledge to any announced plan means they Trump’s focus on trade deficits with China some leeway on trade in accelerate approval of eight stalled failed to meet that self-imposed individual countries is ill-conceived return for Beijing’s help curbing biotechnology products. deadline. because deficits are driven in large Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions. He The Chinese government said there part by macroeconomic factors has since said he was disappointed The decision to issue a statement beyond the control of trade had been a misunderstanding and from just the U.S. side was a break with China’s efforts, which may that the Dow product hadn’t been negotiators, like national saving and make him feel freer to yield the with past practices after similar investment patterns. on its priority clearance list. negotiations held in recent years trade club. Some American business leaders during the Obama and Bush Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, “In terms of North Korea, our administrations. In the past, both who headed his delegation, opened worry that the stalled talks could strength is trade,” Mr. Trump said create new uncertainty and countries issued common Wednesday’s talks by saying that last week. statements summarizing what they the economic teams from both instability in bilateral economic ties. had discussed, emphasizing areas countries “have worked around the Beijing hadn’t been likely to grant “We are disappointed the of agreement—and usually issuing clock and have held over 60 rounds major concessions to Washington Comprehensive Economic Dialogue a list of sector-specific market- of working consultations” since the even without recent irritants in the ended at an apparent impasse,” opening pledges from China. It was Florida summit to prepare for this relationship, according to Huo John Frisbie, president of the US- also a contrast with the more week’s session. He portrayed those Jianguo, a former Chinese trade China Business Council, said. “It is amicable joint statement given by discussions as more “intense” than official turned researcher. important for governments to take Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi during an intricate negotiations surrounding tangible steps to address April Florida summit where they China’s joining the World Trade “Large gaps still exist between the U.S. and China in terms of their longstanding issues and ensure the agreed to launch a “Comprehensive Organization in 2001. commercial relationship remains a Economic Dialogue.” economic interests, and there’s little People familiar with the discussions consensus on an approach toward source of stability in the overall “Many expected at the 100-day said American negotiators had been bridging those differences,” said Mr. relationship.” point we would have much more optimistic going into the meetings Huo, vice chairman of the China —Jacob Bunge in Chicago and substantive points of progress,” said that they could announce some kind Society for World Trade Chun Han Wong in Beijing Nicholas Lardy, a China scholar at of accords on Chinese regulation of Organization Studies. “Both sides contributed to this article. the Peterson Institute for data at multinational companies—a still need to time to adjust their International Economics. He added major complaint of U.S. firms doing mentalities.” Write to Jacob M. Schlesinger at that the lack of agreement on even business there—easing restrictions [email protected] and Ian modest measures is a sign that on foreign auto makers, curbing The Trump team early on Talley at [email protected] U.S.-China relations “are very Chinese agricultural subsidies, and expressed optimism that it had uncertain and subject to very high addressing Chinese steel found a new formula for solving Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print risks.” overcapacity. nettlesome trade tensions where edition as 'Chinese, U.S. Talk prior administrations had failed. In Economics Guardedly.' May, as part of a quick down China Showers Myanmar With Attention, as Trump Looks Elsewhere (UNE) Jane Perlez to Myanmar’s capital. There, after investments, it had the leverage to When Myanmar began to adopt being introduced to a beaming Ms. press the rebels and it found an democratic reforms in 2011, the 11-13 minutes Aung San Suu Kyi, they were wined opening to do a favor for Myanmar Obama administration quickly and dined, and sang rowdy karaoke to deliver peace. reciprocated, loosening sanctions

late into the night. as part of a broader effort to NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — When China is now able to play its natural strengthen relationships with Myanmar’s leader, Daw Aung San A cease-fire may still be a long way role in Myanmar in a more forceful Southeast Asian nations as a Suu Kyi, wanted to hold a peace off, but the gesture neatly illustrates way than ever before as the United bulwark against China’s rise. conference to end her country’s how Myanmar, a former military States under the Trump long-burning insurgencies, a senior dictatorship that the United States administration steps back from As Myanmar’s relations with China Chinese diplomat went to work. worked hard to press toward more than six years of heavy cooled, the result of what many saw democracy, is now depending on engagement in Myanmar, including as heavy-handed intervention by The official assembled scores of China to help solve its problems. some tentative contacts with some Beijing, Barack Obama became, in rebel leaders, many with of the rebels. The vacuum left by 2012, the first American president to longstanding connections to China, The pieces all fell into place for the United States makes China’s visit the country. He came again in briefed them on the peace gathering China: It wanted peace in Myanmar return all the easier. 2014, promoting stronger trade and and flew them on a chartered plane to protect its new energy security relations, and counted

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 20

Myanmar’s opening as a foreign line on Muslims. At the United they can wreak havoc with the access on the eastern side of the policy coup. Nations several months ago, China Chinese-built pipelines that carry oil Indian Ocean.” blocked a statement supported by and natural gas from the Bay of But the United States did little to the United States on the Bengal to southern China. Keeping China is already building Indian build on the new relationship, and persecution of the Rohingya, the Rakhine free of unrest may have Ocean ports in Pakistan and Sri now the tables have turned. As the Muslim minority in Myanmar. also been a factor in China’s Lanka, and it is seeking approval for Trump administration pays little blocking the United Nations from one in Bangladesh. attention, China is exercising But nowhere is China’s effort to win issuing a statement on the strategic and economic interests over Myanmar clearer than as Some hurdles remain. Frustration allegations of atrocities committed with China roils the scruffy town of that come from geographic mediator in Myanmar’s ethnic civil by Myanmar’s army there. proximity, using deep pockets for wars, the mission Ms. Aung San Kyaukpyu, among the poorest in building billion-dollar infrastructure Suu Kyi says is dearest to her heart. The stakes are rising as a Chinese Myanmar. After a decade of and activating ethnic ties with some state-owned corporation negotiates Chinese pipeline construction in the of the rebel groups, all areas where “I do believe that as a good final permissions to build a $7.3 area, ordinary people say they the United States cannot compete. neighbor China will do everything billion deep-sea port at Kyaukpyu, a received few benefits. The schools possible to promote our peace port town in Rakhine that will give built by China as part of a corporate “China wants to show: ‘We are process,” she said during a visit to China highly prized access to the responsibility project were empty doing our best at your behest,’” said China last year. “If you ask me what Indian Ocean. shells, they said. Min Zin, executive director of the my most important aim is for my Institute for Strategy and Policy in country, it is to achieve peace and Citic Construction of China is to “I got a few cents a day for digging Myanmar, who attended the peace unity among the different peoples of start building the port early next the pipeline and about $250 for the gathering in May. “As the United our union.” year, having won the contract by five-year use of my land,” said Tun States recedes, Aung San Suu Kyi covering 85 percent of the cost, said Aung Kyaw, 56, a farmer who was is relying more and more on China China is well positioned to help. Oo Maung, vice chairman of the walking to herd his six cows in bare in Myanmar and on the international Among the armed groups most Kyaukpyu special economic zone feet, a thin tarpaulin tied across his stage.” resistant to peace talks are the management committee. Citic also bare chest to protect him from the United Wa State Army and the won the right to build a $3.2 billion monsoon rain. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Beijing in Kokang Army, both of which have industrial park nearby, he said. May. Since becoming Myanmar’s been tacitly supported by China for Citic is aware of the hostility and is de facto leader last year, she has years in their battles with the The port is a signature project of working with nongovernmental visited Beijing twice and passed on Myanmar military. China’s global “One Belt, One organizations in Kyaukpyu to avoid an invitation to Washington. Pool Road” initiative, a $1 trillion global past mistakes, Mr. Yuan said. Citic photo by Mark Schiefelbein The Wa, whose army is said to infrastructure campaign, which will train Myanmar workers for 3,000 have 20,000 members, use Chinese ensured preferential financing, said jobs for the park and the port, he And not only Myanmar. Across currency in their autonomous Yuan Shaobin, vice chairman of said. Southeast Asia, China is region, where illegal narcotics are Citic Construction. energetically bringing nations into made and exported into China. Two China also faces suspicions among its orbit, wooing American friends Wa arms factories produce The United States generally leaves Myanmar’s politicians, many of and allies with military hardware, weapons with the help of former construction projects and other whom opposed a Chinese-financed infrastructure deals and diplomatic Chinese Army officers, and the Wa investments abroad to private dam planned at Myitsone, on the attention. have received Chinese armored companies, and Myanmar, a frontier Irrawaddy River, to provide power to combat vehicles and tank economy fraught with risks, is China. The previous government, In the Philippines, an American ally, destroyers, probably through considered an unattractive yielding to public opposition, President Rodrigo Duterte is leaning Chinese middlemen, experts say. destination, said Mary P. Callahan, suspended the $3.6 billion project. strongly toward Beijing. The military associate professor of international Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in Thailand, another China plans to build a $7.3 billion studies at the University of government has appointed a American ally, has bought deep-sea port in the poor fishing Washington. commission to decide the dam’s submarines from China and, at town of Kyaukpyu, giving its navy a fate. China’s request, deported Uighurs, base on the Indian Ocean. But “American companies haven’t come a Turkic ethnic group that China residents say they have seen few because of the high price of land, A confidant of hers and a member accuses of fomenting violence in benefits from a decade of Chinese and a difficult approval process,” of her political party, Mi Khun Chan, China. In Malaysia, China is offering pipeline construction. Soe Zeya she said. “The labor force is cheap said China viewed aiding the peace Prime Minister Najib Razak lucrative Tun/Reuters but not skilled.” process as part of the cost of deals like high-speed train projects. winning a green light for the dam. A third group, the Arakan Army, America’s loss may be China’s After the Obama administration uses Chinese arms and vehicles strategic gain. China’s ownership of For all the misgivings among her made big gains in Myanmar, provided by the Wa. the port — Citic will have the right to people about China, Ms. Aung San China’s president, Xi Jinping, was operate it for 50 years, with a Suu Kyi seems impressed with reported to have asked, “Who lost China’s special envoy for Asian possible 25-year extension — Beijing’s power to assist in peace. affairs, Sun Guoxiang, brought the Myanmar?” The message has hands Beijing a giant boost in its Her father, Aung San, the leader of gotten through, as China is now leaders of all three to the peace long-term plans for supremacy in conference, as well as the leaders Burma after World War II, dreamed pushing on multiple fronts to bring the Indian Ocean, analysts said. of a united country. He almost got the country back into its fold. of four other rebel groups, most of whom use Chinese weapons. Construction was halted before it there, presiding over an agreement Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi seems had barely begun on a Chinese- with ethnic leaders in 1947 for a receptive. She has visited Beijing “China wants quiet in Myanmar,” financed dam planned for the federation of states. Six months twice since becoming Myanmar’s de said Maung Aung Myoe, an expert Irrawaddy River. Some in Myanmar later he was assassinated. facto leader last year. In contrast, on the Myanmar military at the suspect that China is helping with International University of Japan. “It Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi wants to she skipped an invitation from the peace process to win approval finish the job. “Our goal is the Washington to attend a conclave of hurts their interests to have fighting for the dam. Minzayar Oo for The because it disrupts China’s trade. emergence of a democratic federal Southeast Asian foreign ministers New York Times union based on democracy and — she is also foreign minister of China now owns the peace process. The Myanmar military knows that.” Once completed, “Kyaukpyu will be federalism,” she said at the opening Myanmar — organized by Secretary of the peace conference. of State Rex W. Tillerson. a Chinese naval base,” said Mr. China has a particular interest in Maung Aung Myoe, the military pressing the Arakan rebels to the For the moment, she has China at China and Myanmar have also analyst. “China desperately needs her side. found common cause in their hard peace table. They operate in the western state of Rakhine, where

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 21

How a Saudi Prince Unseated His Cousin to Become the Kingdom’s Heir Apparent (UNE) Justin Scheck, Shane Harris, and “was for the sake of the national Some Saudis and Saudi watchers The royal-court official, without Summer Said interest.” The former crown prince have expressed hope that economic directly addressing the video, said: has daily visitors, he said, “and has liberalization will lead to more “Any country that abandons its 12-15 minutes visited the king and the crown political and cultural liberalization, leader in his last days for a critical prince more than once.” and that Mohammed bin Salman health condition is a country with no

will emerge as a force for such dignity and prestige.” July 19, 2017 10:20 a.m. ET The younger prince’s ascent marks change. His planned economic a reordering of power with profound overhaul includes a push to bring As the young prince laid his plan, he RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—After a implications for one of the world’s more women into the workforce and notified the Trump administration. wakeful night confined to a Mecca wealthiest and most secretive improve education levels. The week before the power shuffle, palace lounge, Saudi Arabian countries. With King Salman ailing, say several of the people familiar Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef the new crown prince could soon be Discord between the two princes with the royal court, Mohammed bin emerged into a marble-walled room in charge of one of the world’s last stretched back to 2015, in the early Salman dispatched a young official the morning of June 21. remaining absolute monarchies, a part of King Salman’s reign, when named Turki al Sheikh to kingdom that ranks among the he made Mohammed bin Nayef Washington. The 57-year-old prince found a planet’s largest oil producers and crown prince and installed his own waiting crowd, cameras, a security importers of arms, and that uses its son, Mohammed bin Salman, as President Donald Trump had met guard with his hand on a gun—and vast resources to boost its sway in deputy crown prince. King Salman’s Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh his cousin Mohammed bin Salman, the Middle East. later moves to give his son power and Washington in recent months. 31, the favored son of King Salman, over foreign affairs, the military and Mr. al Sheikh, a poet and writer of newly installed as his successor as Saudi Arabian succession is the economy fueled speculation the patriotic songs with no foreign- heir apparent and crown prince. governed by a malleable set of rules king could move him up in the policy experience, had been moved and family customs, and involves succession order. by Mohammed bin Salman recently An inside look at how the drama input from a council of about 35 top to a prominent role in the royal unfolded—pieced together from princes representing descendants The Qatar rift court. interviews with people familiar with of the kingdom’s founder. The June the royal court, including people 21 move amounted to one faction’s A debate over how to handle the On his June trip to Washington, Mr. aligned with each prince, and from deposing of another, in the most confrontation with Qatar that began al Sheikh notified the White House videos of events—shows the extent jolting succession fight since King in June, over accusations by Saudi that Mohammed bin Salman was to which the Saudi shuffle was a Saud was forced from the throne by Arabia and other Arab countries that ready to oust his older cousin, say power grab by a self-declared his brothers 53 years ago. the Persian Gulf neighbor supported these people. reformer. terrorism, among other factors, That has left some royal-court heightened the sense of urgency A White House official, referring to That June 21 morning, the older insiders concerned about further over the rift between the princes, the Saudi leadership change, said prince muttered a greeting to the upheaval, worrying another group say several of the people familiar the U.S. government “sought not to younger, who approached in an could plot a move, say some of the with the royal court. The older intervene or to be seen as ankle-length robe and red-and-white people familiar with the royal court. wanted a diplomatic solution rather intervening in such a sensitive checked headdress, a video of the “Now it’s the precedent,” one of than economic coercion and threats internal matter,” and “we encounter shows. Mohammed bin them says. of violence, say some of the people consistently stressed our desire to Salman, known to many as “MBS,” familiar with the royal court. The maintain cooperation” with Saudi knelt and kissed his older cousin’s The royal-court official declined to younger adopted a more hawkish leadership. hand. make Mohammed bin Salman stance, supporting the economic available for comment and said The royal-court official said: “With At that point it would have been blockade of Qatar that prevailed regard to Minister Turki Al-Sheikh, Mohammed bin Nayef declined to and remains in place. clear to Mohammed bin Nayef that comment. he did not meet any U.S. official at his long career—in which he had “Mohammed bin Nayef did not all. Neither the U.S. nor any other gained the trust of American Mohammed bin Salman in recent oppose any measures taken against country has been directly or intelligence officials and become a years has made bold promises of Qatar,” the royal-court official said. indirectly informed about the matter, crucial figure in the U.S.-Saudi change, pledging to modernize and for this is an absolute sovereign relationship—was over, say people open Saudi Arabia’s economy and King Salman’s deteriorating health matter.” familiar with the royal court. “When culture. His plan focuses on listing fed concerns in Mohammed bin MBS kisses you,” says one of these shares in the state-owned oil Salman’s camp that time was Mohammed bin Salman’s plan people, “you know something bad company on a public exchange and growing short, say some of the began playing out soon after Mr. al will happen.” investing the proceeds to diversify people familiar with the royal court. Sheikh returned to Saudi Arabia, in the economy. He has also taken an The young prince began to lobby a drama described to The Wall After the June 21 encounter aggressive approach to foreign his father to choose him as Street Journal by people familiar between the two princes, the royal policy and has worked to form close successor. with the royal court. court announced Mohammed bin ties with the Trump White House. Salman’s elevation. Mohammed bin “The King’s health is excellent,” the On June 20, Mohammed bin Nayef Nayef disappeared from public His older cousin is a low-key official royal-court official said of the 81- was getting ready for a relaxed Eid, view. He has been at his Jeddah who has made relatively few public year-old monarch. “He performs his the big celebration at the end of the palace with his movements appearances and has followed a daily, varied routines in an active Muslim holy month of Ramadan. He restricted, say those people, slow-moving approach to and energetic manner. In the headed that night to the palace in overseen by guards loyal to governance over the years. He had Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the King Mecca for a routine gathering of Mohammed bin Salman. widespread support among older is a King until death.” senior officials. Saudi princes who have backed his For months, he had known his A royal-court official, in a written more conservative approach to The royal court recorded a video in response to questions about the recent weeks in which the king says cousin could move against him. foreign affairs. Through his years of Within the three weeks leading up shuffle, said Mohammed bin Nayef working on antiterrorism initiatives, it is time for Mohammed bin Salman was “deposed.” to become king, say several of the to Eid, people close to Mohammed he had longstanding relationships bin Nayef warned him that with career U.S. security officials people familiar with the royal court. “The reasons of his deposition are They say the unpublished video Mohammad bin Salman was likely very confidential and no one has the who have sometimes been at odds preparing to oust him. But, with the current White House. could be used upon the king’s death right to disclose them,” he said, or as a public abdication Mohammed bin Nayef dismissed adding that the decision to do so announcement.

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 22 their concerns as conspiracy officials happen in the scorching government says 31 members bin Nayef didn’t expect to confront theories. Saudi summer. After dark, approved. the man taking over his title Mohammed bin Nayef’s motorcade immediately. Mohammed bin Nayef “thought why set out for the palace through In that room, Mohammed bin Nayef do it now, because it was the last Mecca’s busy streets. was told of his fate: The kingdom’s After exiting the room, though, he three days before Eid,” says one of senior princes wanted his cousin as was surprised to hear a crowd. He the people familiar with the royal When he arrived at the palace that crown prince. walked from the corridor to the court. evening, he was told to proceed marble-walled room and saw video alone, without his security detail. Mohammed bin Nayef “was cameras and photographers. A Guards loyal to Mohammed bin horrified,” says one of the people guard—not one of his—stood with Nayef were replaced by others loyal “Once he went from one room to familiar with the royal court. He was his hand on a holstered gun, in what to Mohammed bin Salman. The another they took the weapons, the asked to sign a resignation letter people familiar with the royal court’s royal-court official said this was phones, everything from everyone” and a pledge of loyalty to traditions say is a violation of normal procedure and that in his entourage, says one of the Mohammed bin Salman, this person protocol around the crown prince. additional royal guards have been people familiar with the royal court. says. The crown prince resisted. assigned to the older prince, adding Then he saw Mohammed bin that they don’t control his Guards ushered Mohammed bin Over the next several hours, royal- Salman coming quickly toward him. movements. Nayef upstairs, through the palace’s court officials visited him, urging him There was the kiss and muttered flower-patterned hallways to a small to reconsider. An emissary from the pledge of allegiance. Mecca’s black-and-white Al Safa lounge. They closed the doors, king told him to sign the resignation palace looms about 10 stories over leaving him alone. It was close to letter or face serious consequences. It took about 15 seconds. Then a the Kabaa, Islam’s holiest site. midnight by then, and the crown guard wrapped a black cloak Videos show that when the king and prince wouldn’t leave until morning. Mohammed bin Nayef held firm. But around Mohammed bin Nayef’s his entourage are present, as they by dawn he was exhausted. He shoulders and led him off to his were June 20, its carpeted meeting While Mohammed bin Nayef waited, knew there was no way out. He Jeddah palace. rooms buzz with ministers, staffers Mohammed bin Salman had calls made the only compromise he and servers carrying trays of coffee put out to members of the could—he agreed to give an oral Write to Justin Scheck at to dignitaries in green velour Allegiance Council, the group of pledge of allegiance. [email protected], Shane armchairs. about 35 sons and grandsons of the Harris at [email protected] kingdom’s founder who weigh in on The royal-court official said: “The and Summer Said at Palace intrigue leadership structure. They were told pledge of allegiance made to the [email protected] the king wanted Mohammed bin Crown Prince was made willingly.” The crown prince wasn’t set to Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print Salman to be crown prince and It was about 7 a.m. when arrive at the palace until nighttime, asked for their support. The Saudi edition as 'Saudi Royal Drama Was after Tarwieh prayers—an hour Mohammed bin Salman’s men let Sealed With a Kiss.' when many gatherings of high-level the crown prince out. Mohammed

ETATS-UNIS

Trump Implores GOP Senators to Come Together Over Troubled Health Bill (UNE) Louise Wednesday. He gestured at one “I’m ready to act, I have pen in Senate Majority Leader Mitch Radnofsky, Kristina Peterson and wavering GOP lawmaker, Dean hand, believe me, I’m sitting in that McConnell (R., Ky.) said after the Stephanie Armour Heller of Nevada, saying, “He wants office. You’ve never had that White House lunch that a vote on to remain a senator, doesn’t he?” before,” Mr. Trump said. “For seven that motion would happen next 10-12 minutes and warned lawmakers not to leave years, you’ve had an easy rap: week, regardless of whether it was town in August without a deal. ‘We’ll repeal, we’ll replace, and he’s expected to pass, and that he had

never going to sign it.’ ” “every expectation” of trying to eke Updated July 19, 2017 10:26 p.m. Senate Republican leaders out a bill with majority support after ET conceded defeat earlier this week GOP leaders’ immediate challenge that. on their effort to roll back and is mustering 50 Republican WASHINGTON—President Donald replace the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers to approve a procedural “I want to disabuse any of you of the Trump stepped into the health-care known as Obamacare, but at Mr. motion that would allow debate to notion that we will not have that debate with a new assertiveness Trump’s urging, they dug in begin on their health-care bill. vote next week,” Mr. McConnell Wednesday, imploring GOP Wednesday for what is expected to said. senators to revive their effort to be the final push. Senate Adding to the uncertainty, Sen. repeal and replace Obamacare after Republicans said they were hoping John McCain’s office disclosed late GOP leaders hope that once debate it had been left for dead earlier this to rustle up 50 votes for a third Wednesday that the Arizona begins and senators offer a variety week. version of the bill. Republican has been diagnosed of amendments, a majority will with a type of brain tumor known as emerge for some version. Earlier The president’s rallying cry—part Mr. Trump, telling the senators they a glioblastoma, and that the timing this week, three Republicans— exhortation and part warning— were “very close” to a deal, signaled of his return to the Senate would Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa sparked a fresh round of the White House would take a more depend on consultations with his Murkowski of Alaska and Shelley conversations with senators about aggressive role in wrangling the 50 medical team. Moore Capito of West Virginia— what it will take to get their support, votes need to pass the bill. The said they would oppose the motion and Vice President Mike Pence GOP president suggested that GOP senators said Wednesday to proceed on a repeal-only bill. planned to deliver another pitch Republicans had it easy in voting for night that the indefinite absence of Unless one of them changes her Wednesday night. the 2010 law’s repeal when his Mr. McCain made their quest to get mind, debate can’t begin because Democratic predecessor, Barack 50 votes on the health-care bill Democrats are uniformly opposed. “Any senator who votes against Obama, was in office because they harder. “That does complicate starting debate is really telling knew he would veto it and there things,” said Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Among the amendments may be America that you’re fine with would be no consequences. Pa.). one to largely repeal the 2010 law Obamacare,” Mr. Trump said before without an immediate replacement. a lunch with the senators An estimate released Wednesday

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 23 by the Congressional Budget Office states to redesign their Medicaid president comes in and very much Among those warning of dire found that such a move would leave programs, including more support emphasizes the need for consequences if Republican 32 million more people uninsured for low-income people. Sen. Roy momentum can break those plates.” senators don’t repeal Obamacare is and would double premiums by Blunt (R., Mo.) said Wednesday Republican National Committee 2026, compared with current law. senators had discussed the idea at “We are getting close -- the issues chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. She The measure would reduce federal lunch. are narrowing,” added Sen. Ron wrote in an email to GOP donors deficits by $473 billion over the Johnson (R., Wis.), a conservative and supporters Wednesday that “we coming decade, the CBO estimated. Ms. Murkowski has similar concerns senator who has said his support for could lose the midterm elections” as well as a broader worry about a GOP bill isn’t guaranteed. because “some in the Senate are About 20 GOP senators huddled for her state’s fragile insurance market. “There is still a hope on behalf of refusing to even put a simple repeal more than two hours Wednesday Mr. Trump cited the current bill on [Mr. Trump’s] desk.” night, but it wasn’t clear if they had struggles of Alaska’s insurance the administration and a lot of gotten any closer to securing the markets as a reason for her to take senators too that we can get there,” Conservative groups also joined in, needed 50 votes. “Hard to say,” Mr. action. said Sen. John Thune (R., S.D.), a including the Senate Conservatives Toomey said upon leaving the member of the chamber’s Fund, a political-action committee, meeting. Another holdout, Sen. Mike Lee (R., leadership. “We’re going to take one whose head Ken Cuccinelli said Utah), spoke with the president more shot at it.” Wednesday the group would hold White House Chief of Staff Reince Tuesday, and Mr. Trump appeared Senate Republicans accountable if Priebus came to the meeting but open to the changes the senator For months, lobbyists, GOP strategists and White House they failed to pass health-care was asked to stay in a room wants, a spokesman for Mr. Lee legislation. separate from the one where said. A White House aide said the officials have described the GOP senators held their discussion administration is open to any health bill in vivid metaphors, In the Washington swamp decried because some lawmakers wanted provision that increases GOP ranging from the biblical by Mr. Trump, Mr. Cuccinelli said, to speak privately, an aide said. support for the bill. resurrection of Lazarus to the “Mitch McConnell is the head bathtub scene in “Fatal Attraction,” alligator.” “We’re at our best when we’re Mr. Lee has been especially where an apparently vanquished among ourselves,” said Sen. John concerned about alterations that villain roars back to life. Such threats may have limited Kennedy (R., La.) were made to a provision of the effect on some of the Republican GOP bill written by Sen. Ted Cruz Heading into this week, a senior dissenters. Ms. Collins and Ms. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), (R., Texas), which was designed to White House official predicted, “This Capito don’t face re-election until an opponent of the repeal-only plan, lower premiums by allowing bill will have been declared dead 2020, and Ms. Murkowski isn’t up was noncommittal on her stance insurers to sell cheaper, less- once, and resurrected at least until 2022. Still, conservative after the meeting. Ms. Capito, also comprehensive plans than allowed once.” Officials also regularly cite activists said they hope to send a an opponent of that approach, under current law. the House’s success in passing a broader message to Republicans declined to comment on the health bill after legislation was about the importance of sticking to meeting. Similarly, GOP leaders have said initially pulled from the floor in their promises. they could address some of the March. The GOP currently holds 52 seats concerns of Sen. Jerry Moran (R., “It’s not just about these senators; in the Senate, leaving it vulnerable Kan.) that the bill could negatively Democrats, for their part, are it’s about the state of the to defections from conservatives, affect his state. seeking to use Mr. Trump’s revival Republican party,” said Rachael centrists or any senator with a of the GOP push to draw fresh fuel Slobodien, spokeswoman for the home-state concern. Democrats Before this week, the president had for their campaigns. conservative Club for Growth. “This have remained unified in their been less active in the negotiations is a much bigger fight.” desire to preserve Mr. Obama’s in the Senate than he was in “Like the armored and mummified signature domestic policy helping pass health-care legislation White Walkers from Game of —Byron Tau, Siobhan Hughes and achievement. in the House. Thrones, Trumpcare is hard to kill,” Janet Hook contributed to this Sen. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) wrote article. GOP leaders are faced in the days The question is whether his late Wednesday in a fundraising email. aheadwith finding ways to lure back intervention can turn the tide. Some “Republicans continue reanimating Write to Louise Radnofsky at at least some of the GOP senators Republicans have been quietly their terrible bill to kick millions of [email protected], Kristina who have said in recent days they skeptical of the president’s arm’s- Americans off of their health care… Peterson at couldn’t support the latest version of length approach to Senate Chip in now and support my efforts [email protected] and a bill aimed at overhauling the negotiations, though others have to kill this bill once and for all!” Stephanie Armour at nation’s health-care system. said he has been smart to hold [email protected] back. Democrats also hammered Ms. Capito, for example, is among senators such as Mr. Heller of Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print those who have protested the bill’s “Do the tectonic plates break and Nevada and Jeff Flake of Arizona, edition as 'Trump Prods GOP to cuts to Medicaid, the federal-state begin to move?” said Sen. Bill who are facing re-election Reach Health Deal.' health program for the poor. The Cassidy (R., La.), after the meeting. campaigns in 2018, over the administration is pushing the notion “I can tell you they weren’t before prospect of Medicaid cuts. of waivers for that meeting. The fact that the Trump Demands That Senators Find a Way to Replace Obamacare (UNE) Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Thomas WASHINGTON — President Trump Republican consensus, told the At a White House lunch, Mr. Trump Kaplan and Maggie Haberman ordered senators back to the party’s senators they must not leave warned the senators that any who negotiating table on Wednesday for Washington without acting on a stood in the way would be telling 10-12 minutes a last-ditch effort to repeal and measure to roll back Mr. Obama’s voters that they backed the current, replace the Affordable Care Act, just health law and replace it with “failed” program.

one day after angrily accepting the something better. Simply repealing President Trump spoke during a measure’s demise and vowing to the bill without an alternative would “I intend to keep my promise, and I lunch with Republican senators at allow President Barack Obama’s increase the number of people know you will, too,” Mr. Trump told the White House on Wednesday. signature domestic achievement to without health insurance by 17 them, trying to resurrect a measure Senators Dean Heller of Nevada crater. million in 2018, a figure that would that appeared dead on Monday and Shelley Moore Capito of West jump to 32 million in 2026, night, after a third and fourth Virginia sat next to Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump, staring down a high- according to the nonpartisan Republican senator declared their Stephen Crowley/The New York profile defeat on an issue that has Congressional Budget Office. opposition. That death was followed Times confounded him and defied on Tuesday by an 11th-hour effort

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 24 to force a vote on repealing the said. “You think you have it, and olive branch, approving the said of Senator Dean Heller, a Affordable Care Act without a then you lose four on the other side payment of a month’s worth of Nevada Republican who was replacement, but that, too, failed because you gave” concessions to subsidies to insurers that help poor seated beside him and who has when three Republican senators another faction of senators. customers with out-of-pocket health been outspoken about his concerns came out against it. care expenses. with the proposal. “I think the people “It is a brutal process,” he added. of your state, which I know very The budget office report Mr. Trump conceded that the very The president has never been well, I think they’re going to underscored on Wednesday why nature of what he had promised to completely engaged with the health appreciate what you hopefully will the idea of repealing the Affordable do — eliminate Mr. Obama’s health care repeal-and-replace efforts. He do.” Care Act without a replacement lost care program, which serves millions was largely absent from House traction so quickly. Not only would of Americans — made the effort an attempts to craft a bill earlier this In private, Mr. Trump was sharper, the number of uninsured jump, but uphill slog. year, weighing in at the end when according to a person briefed on the average premiums for people the effort appeared on the verge of closed-door lunch, telling Mr. Heller buying individual health insurance “Once you get something, it’s collapse to issue an ultimatum. that if he opposed the health care policies would increase by about 25 awfully tough to take it away,” Mr. effort, he would lose the Republican percent next year and 50 percent in Trump said. Then, too, he initially reacted with nomination for his Senate seat, angry resignation to the failure by 2020. By 2026, premiums would There is still little evidence that which would bar him from seeking double. House Republicans to reach re-election next year. The person returning to the negotiating table on consensus — “It’s enough, already,” a replacement will win over the four spoke on condition of anonymity The president’s demands for more he said after leaders scrapped a because the discussion was private. negotiations amounted to his fourth Republicans who have declared vote because they could not muster position in three days on the health their opposition. a majority for the measure — only Mr. Trump also alluded to two care bill. He began the week The health care bill drafted by to change course later, urging Republicans, Jerry Moran of supporting a Senate effort to Senator Mitch McConnell of lawmakers to strike a compromise, Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah, who overhaul the law, but when it Kentucky, the majority leader, would and celebrating lavishly in the Rose had come out against the measure became clear late Monday that repeal major provisions of the Garden when they did. Monday night, saying he had been Republicans would fall short of the “surprised” because the senators Affordable Care Act, including How the Number of Uninsured votes for that measure, he abruptly penalties for people who go without were “my friends.” declared that lawmakers should Would Change health insurance; make deep cuts in “My friends — they really were and simply repeal the law and start from projected Medicaid spending; and If Congress passes the Republican a “clean slate” on an effort to are,” he said. “They might not be establish a new system of subsidies plan to repeal the Affordable Care very much longer, but that’s O.K.” replace it — an approach he had to help people buy private Act without a replacement, 17 previously ruled out. insurance. million more people would be Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Facing still more opposition for that uninsured in the first year, Louisiana, said Mr. Trump was The measure has faced resistance compared to what the number “trying to add momentum back to a strategy, he said on Tuesday that both from conservatives concerned Republicans should “let Obamacare would be under the current health process” that had stalled. that it did not go far enough in law. fail” and blame it on Democrats. But eliminating the current law and from “We’ll see,” he said. “I like to think by nightfall, Mr. Trump was moderates who feared it would lead He has occasionally cajoled that we walked out with a sense of scheduling a lunch with to losses in insurance coverage, members of Congress, primarily momentum.” Republicans at the White House, stingier plans and higher health through his Twitter feed, but he has designed to pressure them to costs. seemed hesitant at best. White At the White House, senators said, redouble their efforts to find House advisers have been divided they discussed a proposal added to agreement on a full-scale Mr. Trump dispatched on how involved he should be, the Senate bill at the request of replacement, back where he administration officials to Capitol Hill leaving Mr. Trump to weigh in Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of started. on Wednesday night to lobby sporadically. And his impulse has Texas, that would allow insurers to wavering Republicans who have not sell policies that violate the Mr. Trump usually steers clear of been to keep members of Congress yet pledged to support the measure, at an arm’s length, reverting to Affordable Care Act if they also sell policy details and has grown some of whom have publicly aired policies that comply with the benefit impatient with the painstaking blaming and threatening them when their reservations. Mr. McConnell it appears they are not bowing to his mandates and other requirements behind-the-scenes bargaining that said the goal was to get them to of the law. has marked the health care preferences — and even privately agree to vote next week on a criticizing their work product, as he negotiations. But he said on procedural motion simply to open A study by the Department of Wednesday that he was hopeful did when he called the House- Health and Human Services, cited debate on the bill, but the final passed bill “mean.” that the Senate would deliver a bill language of that measure had not by Mr. Trump, said the proposal that he could sign. yet been determined. “I think it’ll be very bad for them” if would increase enrollment and they don’t support the health bill, reduce premiums in the individual “I think that we’re going to do O.K. “There’s no way that I, or anybody insurance market. But those figures — we’re going to see,” he said in an Mr. Trump said of lawmakers in the else, could prevent members from interview on Wednesday. are at odds with projections by interview in the Oval Office, just having amendments that any 51 of insurance actuaries outside the after his lunch with senators in the us can pass and change the bill,” At lunch, Mr. Trump used a government, who have called Mr. State Dining Room. Mr. McConnell said. “But we cannot combination of humor and thinly Cruz’s proposal unworkable and He was blunt about the obstacles have a debate until we get on the veiled threats to pressure senators warned it would lead to higher and the difficulty of the negotiations. bill.” to do what he was asking. premiums and terminations of coverage. “It is a very narrow path winding this The Trump administration also “Look, he wants to remain a way,” Mr. Trump offered the insurance industry an senator, doesn’t he?” Mr. Trump Senate 'repeal only' bill would leave 32 million more uninsured, CBO says By Adam Cancryn for following through on their seven- leave 32 million more people The legislation — an update of the year vow to eliminate Obamacare. | uninsured and double premiums repeal measure nearly all GOP 5-6 minutes John Shinkle/POLITICO over a decade, the Congressional senators voted for in 2015 — is on Budget Office said in a report track to reach the Senate floor early

A revived bill that would dismantle Wednesday. next week, where it likely would fail. The CBO’s analysis offers a stark large parts of Obamacare without look at the GOP’s remaining option an immediate replacement would Story Continued Below

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 25

Republican leaders pledged to put GOP’s own repeal bill. CBO motion to proceed to start both the requirement that everyone the bill to a vote after their initial predicted that the Better Care deliberations on the legislation. have coverage and the Obamacare effort to repeal and replace Reconciliation Act would leave 22 subsidies designed to make Obamacare fell apart in stunning million people uninsured over a Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insurance more affordable. fashion, though a number of holdout decade, a figure that alarmed more has encouraged skeptical senators lawmakers are meeting later tonight moderate Republicans and played a to vote for the procedural motion as That’s partially offset by CBO’s to try to salvage the effort. major role in the collapsse of the a starting point that would allow estimate that roughly 11 million legislation. them to then debate amendments to more people would receive If that fails, CBO’s analysis offers a the bill. insurance through their employer. stark look at the GOP’s remaining This updated, "repeal only" bill option for following through on their would fund Obamacare’s cost- Conservatives like Rand Paul, Those who do continue to buy seven-year vow to repeal sharing subsidies for two years, an meanwhile, have pressed insurance on the Obamacare Obamacare. important difference from 2015 that colleagues to vote for the same markets would face much higher would temporarily alleviate straight repeal measure that all premiums, or not be able to get The nonpartisan scorekeeper’s uncertainty for insurers relying on except for Susan Collins supported coverage at all — by 2026, CBO report projects that 17 million the money to help enrollees with just two years ago. Then, GOP estimates as much as three- people would lose insurance in the out-of-pocket costs. lawmakers were secure in the quarters of the population would be first year after a partial repeal that knowledge that President Barack without an insurer on the individual includes ending Obamacare’s Still, the CBO predicts insurers Obama would veto it. market. Medicaid expansion and repealing would flee Obamacare markets most of the taxes tied to the law. once the repeal takes effect But moderate Republicans are Those findings are in line with Premiums would jump 25 percent following a two-year delay, leaving already skittish about capping CBO’s estimates for the 2015 bill, over that same period as insurers half the nation’s population with no Medicaid’s funding and leaving their released in January. constituents without coverage, and grapple with the effective individual coverage options by This new analysis also predicts that elimination of Obamacare’s 2020. the updated 2015 bill is projected to have even harsher consequences. insurers would flee the Obamacare requirement that everyone purchase markets in response, leaving half coverage. Three moderate Republican senators have already pledged to Federal funding for Medicaid would the nation's population with no The bill would slash the deficit by vote against repealing Obamacare fall by $842 billion over a decade, individual market coverage options $473 billion over a decade, the without a replacement, raising with changes to the program by 2020. agency said. doubts about whether the Senate accounting for 19 million more people going without coverage. An Missing out on the latest scoops? GOP will even have the votes to Sign up for POLITICO Playbook Those findings are in line with open debate on the bill. additional 23 million enrollees on CBO’s estimates for the original the individual insurance market and get the latest news, every 2015 bill in January and far outstrip At least 50 of the 52 Senate would forgo insurance over a morning — in your inbox. the coverage losses associated with Republicans must support the decade compared with current law, the Senate in response to the elimination of Trump threatens electoral consequences for senators who oppose health bill (UNE) https://www.facebook.com/nakamur America that you’re fine with Wednesday by the Congressional with a president who appears adavid Obamacare,” Trump said. Budget Office. capable of not having their backs. 10-12 minutes After the collapse of the Better Care The forecast by the nonpartisan Despite those tensions, Trump Reconciliation Act, which would CBO is nearly identical to estimates claimed at the lunch that “we’re very have repealed and replaced key the office made in January based close” to passing a repeal-and- President Trump exhorted portions of the Affordable Care Act, on a similar bill that passed the replace bill. It was the latest sign of lawmakers Wednesday to resurrect Senate Majority Leader Mitch House and Senate in late 2015 — the disconnect between the the failed Republican plan to “repeal McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday and that was vetoed by President president and the Senate. It also and replace” the Affordable Care announced plans for a vote on pure Barack Obama. came a day after Trump tweeted “let Act, injecting fresh turmoil into an repeal instead, a move that seemed ObamaCare fail” — and two days designed to either allow — or force “I think we all agree it’s better to after he called for a repeal-only bill. issue that had appeared settled the both repeal and replace. But we day before, when Senate leaders — lawmakers to record a vote on what has been the GOP’s top could have a vote on either,” As he hosted Senate Republicans announced they did not have the McConnell said after the lunch at for a health-care meeting at the votes to pass their bill. campaign promise of the past seven years. the White House. White House, July 19, President Trump’s remarks, at a lunch with 49 Trump said he “worried” whether As he hosted Senate Republicans Trump’s remarks introduced a new Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) would Republican senators, prompted level of chaos into the GOP, some of them to reopen the for a health-care meeting at the support a revised GOP health-care White House on July 19, President potentially setting up Senate bill that collapsed on July 17. possibility of trying to vote on the Republicans to take the blame from sweeping legislation they Trump touted GOP efforts to President Trump says he “worried” revamp the Affordable Care Act. As angry conservatives for failing to whether Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) abandoned earlier this week. But fulfill a long-standing GOP vow. there was no new evidence that the he hosted Senate Republicans for a would support a revised GOP bill could pass. health-care meeting at the White The effort to undo the Affordable health-care bill that collapsed on House, July 19, President Trump Care Act has been fraught for July 17. (Photo: Jabin Botsford/The At the lunch, the president also touted GOP efforts to revamp the months with internal GOP divisions. Washington Post) threatened electoral consequences Affordable Care Act. (Photo: Jabin The intraparty tension looms over (The Washington Post) for senators who oppose him, Botsford/The Washington Post) other big-ticket items Republicans suggesting that Sen. Dean Heller (The Washington Post) are hoping to pass as they control The White House appeared (R-Nev.) could lose his reelection both chambers of Congress and the determined to keep trying for bid next year if he does not back the A repeal-only approach, which also White House, including passing a something. Health and Human effort. The president also invited lacks the votes to pass, would budget and enacting major tax cuts. Services Secretary Tom Price and conservative opposition against increase the number of people After six months, they can boast no Centers for Medicare & Medicaid anyone else who stands in the way. without health coverage by 17 major legislative achievements. Services director Seema Verma met million next year and by 32 million with roughly two dozen GOP “Any senator who votes against And now, Republican lawmakers starting debate is really telling at the end of a decade, according to senators for nearly three hours on a fresh analysis released head into the 2018 midterm cycle Capitol Hill on Wednesday evening.

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 26

The meeting was arranged by the “See, that hasn’t been decided. and replace at the lunch as a call to unless we give our people great White House to help persuade That’s part of the discussion. So, return to the broader bill McConnell health care,” meaning that recess wavering senators to back the that’s why I don’t take a position at pulled back earlier this week. plans should be put off if a deal isn’t repeal-and-replace bill, according to this point,” Heller said. reached. Marc Short, the White people familiar with the meeting “I think the president showed some House’s legislative director, told who spoke on the condition of Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), real leadership here,” Johnson said. reporters afterward that “this is not McConnell’s top deputy, said anonymity to discuss private Even GOP senators who oppose something that we can walk away planning. Wednesday: “I know it seems like from.” we’ve got a bit of whiplash, but I the repeal efforts worry about being Following the meeting, several think we’re making progress.” blamed for failing to act on health Trump, who had invited Republican senators described the talks as care. A recent Gallup poll found that leaders to a health-care strategy productive, but none would name But even he had no clarity on the 70 percent of GOP respondents dinner Monday night, was specific areas of progress or new next step. “We’re still discussing,” said they support repealing and apparently blindsided by the agreement that resulted from the he said. replacing Obamacare. opposition from some conservative gathering. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Conservative activists are already members, including Sens. Mike Lee the chairman of the Health, aggressively targeting centrist (R-Utah) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Even as Trump’s team tried to work whose declared no votes effectively out policy and political Education, Labor and Pensions Republicans who have opposed the Committee, told reporters efforts. On Wednesday, a pair of killed the legislation. At lunch, he disagreements among members, scolded them. the president was strong-arming Wednesday that there still are not influential conservative groups skeptical senators in public. Seated enough votes for a repeal-only bill. launched an “Obamacare Repeal The Health 202 newsletter directly to Trump’s right at Traitors” website attacking Sens. Separately Wednesday, members Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Rob Your daily guide to the health-care Wednesday’s lunch was Heller, who of the hard-right House Freedom is up for reelection in 2018 in a state Portman (Ohio) and Shelley Moore debate. Caucus started the process of Capito (W.Va.). Democrat Hillary Clinton won. bringing a repeal-only bill to the “The other night, I was surprised “Look, he wants to remain a House floor — a process meant to “They campaigned on REPEAL,” when I heard a couple of my friends senator, doesn’t he?” Trump asked, sidestep GOP leaders reluctant to says the website, which the Club for — my friends — they really were Heller smiling at his side. “Okay, expose vulnerable members to a Growth and Tea Party Patriots and are,” Trump said, without and I think the people of your state, politically perilous vote on launched. But now, it says, “they directly naming the duo. “They which I know very well, I think legislation unlikely to become law. are betraying their constituents by might not be very much longer, but they’re going to appreciate what you joining with Democrats to defeat that’s okay.” The House passed its own revision Obamacare Repeal efforts!” hopefully will do.” to the Affordable Care Act earlier Trump, as he has done numerous After he returned to the Capitol, this year. Wednesday’s gambit Capito has said that she supports times in recent weeks, reminded the Heller sized it up this way: “That’s would not only allow conservatives repealing the Affordable Care Act, lawmakers that Republicans just President Trump being to vote for a straight-repeal bill but but only if it can be replaced with a campaigned against the Affordable President Trump.” also force moderates to do the bill that doesn’t force millions off Care Act for years and that their same — adding to the political their insurance and doesn’t “hurt supporters are counting on them to Tensions have been evident for a divisions that Trump had stoked people.” make good on their promises. while. After Heller came out against earlier in the day. an earlier version of the Senate bill, “I think we all want to get to the right “I’m ready to act,” Trump said. “I a conservative organization aligned “The American people do not know place,” Capito said after the White have my pen in hand. I’m sitting in with Trump vowed to launch an why we did not have something on House lunch. On Twitter, she that office. I have pen in hand. expensive ad campaign against President Trump’s desk on Jan. 20,” sought to use Trump’s words to You’ve never had that before. For him, angering and shocking many said Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), defend her position, writing: “I’m seven years, you’ve had the easy mainstream GOP allies of the the group’s chairman. “Here we are glad @POTUS agrees that we route — we repeal, we replace, but senator. Later, the group backed at July 20 with nothing to show for cannot move to repeal Obamacare he [Obama] never signs it. I’m off. it, and they’re tired of waiting.” without a replacement plan that signing it. So it’s a little different.” addresses the needs of West Now, senators are not sure what Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who Virginians.” Mike DeBonis, Juliet Eilperin, Ed they will be voting on in the coming has expressed opposition at various O’Keefe, Abby Phillip and Amy days — pure repeal or repeal and times during the months-long At the lunch, Trump said, “People Goldstein contributed to this report. replace. health-care drive, said that he should not leave town unless we understood Trump’s push for repeal have a health insurance plan, Read more at PowerPost

Henninger : Obama’s Last Laugh Daniel Henninger inability to win while controlling the Republican Party had become self- like spending demands in the House, Senate and White House. identifiably conservative. We have Senate. At that point, the Laurel and 6-7 minutes just learned two things. Hardy act of Sens. Mike Lee and To reimagine the spectacle, it’s as if Jerry Moran blowing up the bill was

Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, The Republicans are not as almost comic. July 19, 2017 6:03 p.m. ET Claire McCaskill and Elizabeth conservative as they thought. As Warren had carved each other up important, a complex legislative Left undone by this failure is a Like pop-up dolls, across the length over some Democratic bill. That effort like this—Reagan’s 1986 tax historic chance to reform the 1965 of Barack Obama’s presidency, will . . . never happen. bill comes to mind—was going to Medicaid entitlement that now will Republicans voted to “repeal” the require both ideological discipline roll unchecked to the fiscal cliff. Also law that bears his name— It was written here in March that the and direction from the top, from the lost is $772 billion in savings, which ObamaCare. He laughed at them Trump win in 2016 could be either a president. The unideological Mr. imperils both permanent tax then, and he’s laughing now. No temporary bubble or produce a Trump neither conveyed nor reform’s promise of strong repeal and no replace. They can’t Republican governing majority for a enforced idea discipline in his public economic growth and America’s even do repeal and punt. generation. What does it look like messaging, other than “get it done.” underfunded defense posture. now? How did so much promise For Democrats, this doesn’t quite produce this week’s dud? Lacking an ideological North Star, Republican Party conservatism make up for losing the election to the Republicans reverted to form: always seems to be an undone Donald Trump, but it has to help. One problem revealed by this They divided—first with the symphony. It started with Schadenfreude can’t get much episode is the liabilities of a Freedom Caucus’s rebellion from Goldwater. Then came better than watching the Republican presidency held by a nonideological the right in the House and then with Reaganomics for a decade, which Party self-humiliate with an abject figure, a goal of good-government the moderate Republicans’ 1970s- gave way in the 1990s to the types. Until this moment, the

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 27 religious right until the tea party ranks. Income inequality, Medicare political margin, his can-do As antidote to this, let me displaced them, which gave way to for all, choice—keep it simple, reputation has taken a hit. recommend “Free People, Free a preoccupation with illegal stupid. Markets,” an entertaining history of immigration and the The Trump White House is right that The Wall Street Journal’s editorial “establishment.” It’s one Holy Grail When new Minority Leader Chuck it has accomplished a lot—energy page, written by my former after another. Schumer expressed early support and financial deregulation, colleague and long the page’s for a few of the Trump cabinet abandoning the Paris climate pact, deputy editor, George Melloan, and Now, incredibly, the party’s various nominees, thousands of reversing the Obama pen-and- published by Encounter Books. idées fixes seem to include progressives demonstrated in front phone executive orders. But big expanding Medicaid’s medical of his Brooklyn apartment shouting, legislation is the big league of The page’s first editor was company mediocrity to the nonpoor. A “Get a spine, Chuck!” politics. It turns out the American co-founder Charles Dow, who put bedrock belief in individual liberty Congress is not Wollman Rink. the editorials on the front page, and private property endures, but Mr. Schumer hopped back in line calling them, as today, Review & beyond that, the Republican identity fast. Did anything remotely like this This same Hydra-headed Outlook. His successors, such as today looks fatally inchoate, no one public pushback happen to Sen. Republican party will now descend William Peter Hamilton and William idea lasting long enough to make a Shelley Moore Capito of West upon the budget and tax reform. Henry Grimes, produced decades of deep impression on the electorate. Virginia, which Mr. Trump won by The GOP’s negative-energy consistent conservative opinion. As 42 points? Democrats are in the factions are already in play. On cue Mr. Melloan’s history and this Democrats don’t indulge defection. streets. The Republicans are on Monday, Mark Meadows of the week’s events make clear, the main After new Democratic National Twitter. Freedom Caucus pronounced the job requirement for daily opinion Committee head Tom Perez House budget dead on arrival. writing remains the same: optimism. demanded a pro-abortion litmus test The ObamaCare reform failure has Some might call that a Freudian for party candidates, even Nancy damaged President Trump. He has slip. Write [email protected]. Pelosi demurred. But make no come a long way with some mistake: Mr. Perez’s crude undeniable magic, but at the *** Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print message was heard through the edition.

E. J. Dionne: Why Obamacare won and Trump lost http://www.faceb The best conversations on The big cuts Republicans proposed to One was between ideologues and ook.com/ejdionn Washington Post the program paradoxically pragmatic conservatives e highlighted how it assisted many (Republican governors as well as “I’m not going to own it,” Trump parts of the population. senators) who worried about the 6-7 minutes insisted. But he will. And if Trump impact of Senate Majority Leader does go down the path of policy This creates an opening for a new Mitch McConnell’s designs on their

nihilism, it will be the task of push to expand Medicaid under the states. The collapse of the Republican journalists to show that it is the ACA in the 19 states that have effort to repeal the Affordable Care president doing everything in his resisted it, which would add 4 The other divide was within Trump’s Act is a monumental political defeat power to choke off this lifeline for million to 5 million to the ranks of own constituency, a large share of wrought by a party and a president the sick and the needy. the insured. which truly believed his pledge to make the system better. They were that never took health-care policy or As long as “repeal Obamacare” was Republicans also found, as they did the need to bring coverage to horrified to learn that they could be simply a slogan, what the law during the budget battles of the much worse off under the GOP millions of Americans seriously. But actually did was largely obscured 1990s, that when they tie their big their bungling also demonstrates proposal. A Post-ABC News poll behind attitudes toward the former tax cuts for the wealthy to this month found that 50 percent of that the intense attention to president. But the Affordable Care substantial reductions in benefits for Obamacare over the past six Americans preferred Obamacare Act’s core provisions were always a much broader group of and only 24 percent picked the months has fundamentally altered broadly popular, particularly its Americans, a large majority will turn our nation’s health-care debate. Republican bill. Trump’s approval protections for Americans with on them and their tax proposals. For ratings are dismal, but the GOP Supporters of the 2010 law cannot preexisting conditions and the big critics of the GOP’s tax-cutting plan’s were even worse. Defectors rest easy as long as the current increase in the number of insured it obsession, said Jacob Leibenluft of in the Trump base may have been Congress remains in office and as achieved. The prospect of losing the Center on Budget and Policy the silent killers of this flawed long as Donald Trump occupies the these benefits moved many of the Priorities, this episode underscores scheme. White House. On Wednesday, the previously indifferent to resist its “the importance of making clear the president demanded that the repeal. And the name doesn’t trade-offs of Republican fiscal And that is why a scorched-earth Senate keep at the work of repeal, matter so much with Obama out of policy.” To win on tax cuts, the GOP approach from the president would and, in any event, Congress could office. has to disguise their effects — or be both cruel and self-defeating. pump up the deficit. Americans now broadly support the undermine the act through sharp President Trump on July 18 said he Medicaid cuts in the budget process basic principles of Obamacare. is “very disappointed” after the One Democratic senator told me Republicans, including Trump, and other measures. And Trump, Senate GOP's effort to revamp the early on that Republicans would be placing his own self-esteem and would do well to accommodate Affordable Care Act collapsed. hurt by their lack of accumulated themselves to this reality. political standing over the health "We'll just let Obamcare fail. We're expertise on health care, since they and security of millions of not going to own it," he said. largely avoided sweating the details Read more from E.J. Dionne’s Americans, has threatened to wreck President Trump on July 18 said he in the original Obamacare debate archive, follow him on Twitter or the system. is “very disappointed” after a after deciding early to oppose it. subscribe to his updates on “We’ll let Obamacare fail, and then Republican effort in Congress to This showed. They had seven years Facebook. revamp the Affordable Care Act after the law was passed and could the Democrats are going to come to E.J. Dionne writes about politics in a us,” Trump said after it became collapsed. (Photo: Jabin not come up with a more palatable Botsford/The Washington Post) blueprint. twice-weekly column and on the obvious that the Senate could not PostPartisan blog. He is a senior pass a bill. But if Obamacare does (The Washington Post) The popular mobilization against fellow in Governance Studies at the implode, it will not be under its own repeal mattered, too. With Brookings Institution, a government weight but because Trump and his To the surprise of some on both Republican senators discovering professor at Georgetown University team are taking specific sides, the debate brought home the opposition to their party’s ideas in and a commentator on politics for administrative and legal steps to popularity of Medicaid, which for the surprising places, pro-ACA activists National Public Radio, ABC’s “This prevent it from working. first time received the sort of broad drove two wedges into the Week” and MSNBC. He is the public defense usually reserved for Read These Comments Republican coalition. author of “Why the Right Went Medicare and Social Security. The Wrong."

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Rove : Is the Republican Congress Hopeless? Karl Rove the proposed legislation would solve Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is watch as enthusiasm among party only some of ObamaCare’s now resorting to extreme measures, activists and donors wanes, 5-6 minutes problems, not all of them. Another bringing up a bill to repeal prospective candidates decide not was that as a matter of principle not ObamaCare without replacing it. to run, and the prospect of holding

a line of the Affordable Care Act He’s calling the vote without Congress in the 2018 election dims. July 19, 2017 6:02 p.m. ET should be left on the statute books. knowing if it can pass. In fact, three GOP senators have already With Republicans in charge of Republicans began 2017 with But dissenting Republican announced they will vote against everything in Washington, voters impressive advantages. For the first legislators, by opposing either the this, which would be enough to kill won’t blame Democrats when time in a decade, they controlled the Senate bill or the House version, the measure. Although all but two health-insurance premiums White House and both houses of would leave all of ObamaCare intact Republican senators voted for a continue to rise, the number of Congress. Republicans had 33 and all of its problems unsolved. repeal-only bill in 2015, it didn’t providers further dwindles, and governors to 16 Democrats and one The rebels have let the incomplete matter then: President Barack Americans in more counties are left independent, matching a record the be the enemy of the good. Obama vetoed the bill as expected. with zero options on the GOP set nearly a century ago. With ObamaCare exchanges. The public more state legislators than at any Some blame this debacle on It is a sign of Republican knows Democrats passed the law, time since the 1920s, Republicans ineffective leadership from the desperation that some think their but Republicans are still expected to controlled both chambers in 32 White House or Capitol Hill. Others best hope is to repeal ObamaCare clean up the mess. states while Democrats say doing tax reform first would and then pray something comes commanded both in only 13. have made health care easier to together in the next two years to As an optimist—and only an tackle. Still others say Republicans replace it. President Trump even optimist can view the situation this The voters who made the GOP never had a serious plan, didn’t hold seems to expect that Democrats will way—I’m hoping this plays out like America’s dominant party expected enough hearings, or failed to help. Good luck with that. a made-for-TV drama. The it to pursue a robust agenda. Angry include the critic’s preferred wing of protagonist appears near certain and marginalized Democrats would the party in enough of the Still, the repeal-only maneuver death at the commercial break but complain and obstruct, but the negotiations. might provoke a fresh start, perhaps is miraculously saved when electorate believed Republicans with a new bill drafted by some ad everyone returns with popcorn after would deliver on their promises, These claims may have some truth. hoc group of legislators. Maybe the final Geico ad. such as repealing ObamaCare and But the main reason the GOP failed failing to pass anything now will replacing it with what President is that party unity and discipline prompt wavering Republican In the wake of this crushing political Trump promised would be a “terrific” mean nothing to too many senators to start supporting week, believing that the GOP’s new program. Republicans in Congress. For incremental, if imperfect, progress. health-care drama has a few more senators like Rand Paul, Mike Lee A defeat of repeal on a procedural acts left to play is a thin reed of Yet after this week’s epic failure on and Jerry Moran, it’s their way or motion to take up the bill could hope. But it’s the only one health-care reform, the GOP looks the highway. House leadership cause Congress to drop health care Republicans have. like James Cagney in “White Heat,” narrowly overcame this sentiment now but return to it later, after Mr. Rove helped organize the yelling “Made it, ma. Top of the within the Freedom Caucus. The Republicans make progress on tax world!”—just before the oil refinery delay and disarray in the House political-action committee American reform, infrastructure, the debt Crossroads and is the author of explodes around him. deliberations, however, dispirited ceiling and the budget. senators. The GOP’s narrow “The Triumph of William McKinley ” Republicans proved incapable of majority in the upper chamber also Or maybe this really represents the (Simon & Schuster, 2015). coalescing around any health-care encouraged defections. end of Republican engagement on bill. One set of objections was that health care. If so, the GOP will Supreme Court Delivers Compromise in Latest Ruling on Trump Travel Ban (UNE) Brent Kendall administration officials might have Mr. Trump has said the ban, which terms. The administration argued adopted too narrow a reading of the he signed in a March executive Hawaii’s interpretation of the high- 6-7 minutes high court’s ruling on the issue last order, is needed to help protect the court ruling would render the ban month. U.S. from terrorist threats. largely meaningless.

Updated July 19, 2017 7:25 p.m. ET But in a partial victory for the The justices on June 26 allowed the The Supreme Court will give a full president, justices said his president to temporarily bar travel to review of the travel ban on Oct. 10. WASHINGTON—The Supreme administration could move ahead the U.S. by people from the Court reinstated the Trump for now to ban a broad group of countries if they had no connection Court rulings so far on Mr. Trump’s administration’s plans to keep many refugees with no U.S. family ties. to the U.S., but it said travelers with travel restrictions haven’t been final refugees from entering the U.S., but close connections to people or decisions on whether they are legal. blocked the White House from The White House didn’t respond to organizations in the U.S. couldn’t be Judges instead have been sweeping travel restrictions on requests for comment. The Justice barred while the court considers the considering whether the ban could extended families of American Department said it looked forward to case more fully. go into effect while the litigation residents, a second compromise making its arguments for the ban in continued on the underlying merits action by the justices in the hot- additional court proceedings. When the Trump administration of the executive order. button case. began implementing the Supreme The court’s move marked the Court’s guidance a few days later, U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson The court, in a one-page order second time in recent weeks the the state of Hawaii, which had sued in Honolulu, who has been Wednesday, prohibited the Trump justices have given Mr. Trump the president, argued that he was presiding over travel ban litigation administration from banning travel temporary leeway to impose travel imposing the ban more strictly than since March, ruled recently that the by people from six Muslim-majority restrictions on at least some people. the justices allowed. White House implementation plans countries who are grandparents, In addition to suspending U.S. entry contradicted last month’s Supreme grandchildren, aunts, uncles and by refugees, the president has Trump officials said extended family Court ruling. The judge said the other extended family members of sought to bar travelers from Iran, members weren’t close enough administration must allow travel by U.S. residents. That part of the Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and relatives to be exempt from the ban. a broader group of family members order was a setback for President Yemen. The administration also said only a and refugees. Donald Trump and signaled limited pool of refugees qualified for travel under the Supreme Court’s

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The Justice Department filed an The court in its brief order didn’t “We are glad that the order On the broader issues in the case, emergency appeal with the explain its reasoning. requiring the government to one appeals court said the Supreme Court, saying Judge recognize grandparents and other president likely disfavored Muslims Watson had gutted the ban and Like its ruling last month, the court close family remains in place, but in a way that violated the upended the balance the high court again appeared to find some are deeply concerned about the Constitution. Another said Mr. was seeking to strike. ideological common ground for its effect of today’s ruling on thousands Trump didn’t adequately justify that action.No justice registered a of refugees who seek to escape the ban was needed. The Justice The court’s order blocked Judge dissent to the court’s action on dangerous situations, who have Department argues that both courts Watson’s instruction that refugees refugees. been fully vetted by the United were wrong, saying the president aren’t subject to the ban if they are However, three conservative States, and whose arrival has broad powers over U.S. covered by a formal admissions communities, congregations, and borders, especially when national agreement between the U.S. justices— Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch — organizations in the United States security is a consideration. government and a refugee have been preparing for and resettlement agency. About 24,000 said they would have allowed the The Supreme Court will review president to bar travel by extended anticipating,” said Omar Jadwat, an refugees covered by such attorney at the ACLU. those rulings when it returns in agreements potentially stood to family members. Those same October. benefit from the Hawaii judge’s justices registered similar objections The Supreme Court is on summer ruling but now will not, at least in the last month, saying they would have break with several justices traveling. Write to Brent Kendall at short term. sided more broadly with the Chief Justice John Roberts, for [email protected] president. example, is on an itinerary that Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print But the Supreme Court declined the takes him through Australia and Trump administration’s request to The American Civil Liberties Union, edition as 'Top Court Revises which has been challenging the New Zealand.The court, however, Travel Ban Scope.' clarify its ruling from last month and still can consider emergency thus didn’t allow the president to Trump ban in court, expressed ambivalence about the latest appeals even when it isn’t in enforce plans to bar travel by session. extended family members. outcome.

Trump’s wall: The inside story of how the president crafts immigration policy (UNE) https://www.face including an eagerness to entertain “The president’s own opinion and among the most robust — and book.com/PhilipRuckerWP creative, even pie-in-the-sky his natural instincts on all of these inconclusive — in Trump’s White notions. issues is what will most likely be the House. 15-19 minutes default winner of the day, all the Critics often dismiss Trump as a time,” said Reince Priebus, the By contrast, Trump is far more

chief executive uninterested in the White House chief of staff. “So the certain about the wall. The structure The Washington Post’s Philip policy process, unwilling to delve guiding light is always his vast could change in design or function Rucker, Ashley Parker and David into minutiae and impatient with the experiences and his years of — he vowed to build a much longer Nakamura look at what President pace of governing. He has been thought on these subjects.” and higher wall during the campaign Trump has done over the past six largely absent from arm-twisting on — but his security argument for it months to fulfill his pledge to build a Capitol Hill, remote in interacting Advisers said the president has has remained constant. border wall. Three Washington Post with many of his Cabinet secretaries strong, instinctual opinions on broad and remiss in the public issues but is open to persuasion on “He campaigned on restoring the reporters look at what President rule of law,” said Rep. Lou Barletta Trump has done over the past six salesmanship of big-ticket policy details. Trump is proudly items — most recently on the GOP nonideological, but retains some (R-Pa.), an immigration hard-liner months to fulfill his pledge to build a who was an early supporter of border wall. (Video: Bastien health-care plan that collapsed this key beliefs — especially on week in the Senate. immigration, trade and national Trump’s campaign. “He never Inzaurralde/Photo: Jabin wavered, never backed off. He’s still Botsford/The Washington Post) security. He defends his views But on immigration — a challenge vigorously, yet solicits alternative doing what he said he was going to (Bastien Inzaurralde/The that has vexed presidents since perspectives and can be persuaded do.” Washington Post) Ronald Reagan and a theme that to change his position. has occupied Trump for decades — Yet for Trump, like his The border wall looms large for the 45th president has been heavily “The president likes consulting a predecessors, the reality is that President Trump. engaged in the administration’s wide variety of people and changing the immigration system is roiling debate. Officials credit him viewpoints,” said Robert Porter, unlikely to be achieved in a far- Aboard Air Force One last week, for being relentless in framing illegal assistant to the president for policy reaching bill. Any broad overhaul of talking with reporters en route to immigration as a threat to public coordination and the White House the nation’s immigration laws would Paris, he ruminated about the wall safety and to the economic security staff secretary. “He appreciates the need the legislative buy-in of both of his dreams — 700 to 900 miles of American workers, and for back and forth. Sometimes it’s on parties, and there is widespread long, with transparent sections so turning a border wall into a populist paper with memos that he’ll read resistance to building a wall that that border agents aren’t hit on the rallying cry. and ask for more information, and many consider an ineffective head by “large stacks of drugs” sometimes it’s in meetings, either boondoggle. tossed over from the Mexican side, This portrait of Trump as a formal structured meetings or more The White House intends to fight and outfitted with solar panels. policymaker at the six-month mark informal discussions.” of his presidency — culled from hard for border wall funding in And no, Trump insisted, he was “not interviews with two dozen top How Trump is rolling back Obama’s upcoming budget negotiations with joking.” administration officials, key legacy Congress. Still, Trump appears resigned to trying to remake the “There is a very good chance we lawmakers and other senior Republicans — shows a president Trump is torn over how to address immigration system through a can do a solar wall,” he said, “which the status of the younger combination of executive power and would actually look good.” driven by gut feelings, happy to mostly skim the surface but immigrants who were brought to the rhetoric. country illegally by their parents, The president began promoting the occasionally engrossed in details. “What I’d like to do is a idea, aides explained, after a colloquially known as “Dreamers,” [Trump says he wants victories — who were protected by President comprehensive immigration plan,” business acquaintance pitched it in he said last week, “but our country one of the many conversations he but he isn’t selling the GOP agenda Barack Obama’s administration. to voters] Debate about the Deferred Action and political forces are not ready has with friends — yet another yet.” example of how Trump often for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) outsources his policy process, policy aimed at this group has been ‘The two Stephens’

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“A nation without borders is not a President Enrique Peña Nieto [Blame game: Trump casts The strategic thinking among nation,” Trump said five days after abruptly canceled a ceremonial visit immigrants as dangerous criminals, administration members is that they he took office in late January. to the White House. The but the evidence shows otherwise] can gain a political advantage on administration’s ban on travelers immigration once they begin talking He was speaking at the Department from some majority-Muslim nations The next day, the House approved about proposals publicly. The of Homeland Security at a signing has been the persistent subject of both bills. They face a difficult path release of the Cotton-Perdue ceremony for two executive orders both outrage and court challenges. in the Senate, where the legislation, they hope, will mark the aimed at cracking down on illegal And some immigrants who have Republican majority is narrower, but beginning of a public immigration immigration. His troubled travel ban served in the U.S. military under a the families said they are convinced pitch. grabbed the headlines, but the two promise of citizenship from the that Trump will not forget them. orders Trump signed that day Pentagon have begun to flee the Meanwhile, Obama’s DACA policy, represent his administration’s “He remembers each one of us which has granted work permits to country for fear that they could be every time he sees us, knows our immigration blueprint so far — one deported to dangerous homelands. more than 750,000 Dreamers, beefing up border security and the stories, knows our children’s offers its own emotional narrative other increasing interior But Trump’s advisers view his names,” Mendoza said. “He’s our and has led to one of the most enforcement with more agents and immigration stance as savvy advocate.” fraught debates in the White House. restrictions. politics, reaffirmed by recent internal Trump began his White House bid The program is extremely popular polling of 10 battleground states. among Latino and Asian groups, Leading the charge on immigration by labeling immigrants from Mexico as “criminals” and “rapists” — a and ending it would produce fierce is Stephen K. Bannon, who ran the “Immigration policy affects every blowback. conservative Breitbart news website aspect of life — incomes, schools, stark departure from predecessors and now serves as Trump’s chief hospitals, community resources,” careful to characterize most The fight over how to handle DACA strategist, and Stephen Miller, Miller said. “Prioritizing the needs of undocumented immigrants as hard- largely pits Miller, who vociferously Trump’s senior policy adviser who American workers over powerful working strivers. While Obama opposes the program, against most made his name as a young Capitol special interests is not merely a showcased Dreamers at State of other White House advisers, who, to Hill aide championing hard-right core issue for Republicans, but also the Union addresses, Trump invited varying degrees, take a less immigration policies. “The two independents and massive numbers angel families to sit in first lady dogmatic approach. Some Stephens,” as colleagues of Democrats.” Melania Trump’s box during his administration officials have sometimes refer to them, work with address to Congress in February. privately griped that they wish Miller Hugging ‘angel moms’ Julia Hahn, who had covered Kellyanne Conway, counselor to the could be forbidden from briefing the immigration for Breitbart and was Trump — a known germaphobe — president, said the national president on the issue. hired in the West Wing by Bannon. is not a natural hugger. But every conversation had long centered on Many in the administration consider Like a businessman checking the time he meets “angel moms,” how to help immigrants. President DACA a workforce issue, and one status of a project, Trump demands whose children have been killed by Trump, she said, “changed it to, possible plan being championed is regular updates, calling DHS illegal immigrants, they expect to ‘What’s fair to the American worker to wind down the program — and Secretary John F. Kelly multiple receive an embrace from the who’s competing with the illegal stop issuing new work permits — times a week to check in, often with president. immigrant for the job? What’s fair to while also making clear that the local economy? What’s fair to little or no notice. They have become the emotional Dreamers would not be a our local resources — law deportation priority. [Amid immigration setbacks, one touchstone of his immigration enforcement, the school system, Trump strategy appears to be crusade. housing? What’s fair to a sovereign As with many issues, the most working: Fear] Michelle Wilson-Root of Iowa had nation that needs physical borders compelling argument for Trump is that are respected?’ ” reminding him that a tough More recently, Trump has focused arrived at her Washington hotel three weeks ago to lobby against immigration stance was his core his public remarks on the threat of a A ‘very hard’ decision pledge to his base, several advisers specific gang, MS-13, a Salvadoran illegal immigration when her cellphone rang. On the line was If the campaign rally chants came said. Bannon has printed out the cartel that has been active in the president’s statements from United States since the 1980s. Hahn, who had written for Breitbart easy to Trump and his supporters, about Wilson-Root’s daughter, the next few months will prove more campaign rallies and shown them to Trump, who is from New York City, him as a reminder. has been briefed about a rise in Sarah, 19, who was killed last year daunting as he attempts to homicides on Long Island attributed in a car crash caused by an illegal implement an immigration agenda Others in the White House — to MS-13. immigrant. in the wake of the health-care fiasco including Trump’s daughter Ivanka and other legislative failures. Trump, and son-in-law, Jared Aides said the tough rhetoric, along Now working for Bannon, Hahn invited Wilson-Root to the White Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Kushner, both senior advisers — with stepping up immigration have helped connect business arrests, has paid dividends. The House to join a roundtable with David Perdue (R-Ga.) have been Trump about a pair of immigration working with the White House to executives and technology titans number of immigrants caught trying who support robust immigration with to cross the U.S.-Mexico border bills. One measure would cut off introduce a bill by the end of the some federal funding for so-called summer that would cut the current Trump to make the economic case illegally fell to a 17-year low in in support of Dreamers. March, with fewer than 17,000 sanctuary cities, while the other — annual level of 1 million green cards apprehended that month compared “Kate’s Law,” named after a San by half in 10 years, largely by “It’s a decision that’s very, very hard with nearly 60,000 in December, Francisco woman allegedly killed by limiting visas for extended families to make,” Trump told reporters on according to DHS. an illegal immigrant — would of legal U.S. residents. Air Force One. impose stricter penalties on “What we’ve simply said is, if you criminals who have repeatedly Cotton, who along with Perdue has Fixated on the wall are an illegal alien in the United entered the country unlawfully. met twice on immigration with States, you should be concerned Trump, said the legislation is Trump in many respects faces the about being in the United States In the Cabinet Room, Trump popular in key states where same challenge his predecessors illegally,” Kelly said in an interview. greeted Wilson-Root and her friend Democratic senators are up for did: How to balance security with “We know by polling that the Central Mary Ann Mendoza, whose son was reelection in 2018. pragmatism. It’s impossible, experts Americans in particular are unsure killed in a head-on vehicle collision said, to deport all 11 million with an intoxicated undocumented “Donald Trump recognizes that it’s undocumented immigrants as of what’s happening. Consequently, possible to be both pro-immigrant they are less inclined to spend what immigrant, with a round of hugs. Trump repeatedly promised during and to believe that immigration the campaign. His administration amounts to be their life savings to “Every time I met with him — I’m a levels are too high and skewed come up to the United States.” this week also nodded to the reality hugger — it’s always been hugs,” against educated, high-skilled, of employment trends when it Trump’s bluster has had other Wilson-Root said. English-speaking immigrants,” authorized an additional 15,000 consequences. After he threatened Cotton said. temporary work visas for lower- to impose a border tax on Mexican skilled immigrants over the next few goods to pay for the wall, Mexican months. Trump has employed such

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 31 immigrants at his golf courses and The president has been questioning everybody, sounds like a good idea a candid conversation. “I said, ‘The other properties, drawing criticism. aides about the lack of progress: to me,” Kelly said. wall. Build a wall. People think wall, When will Congress approve the they think bricks and cinder And that is why some White House funding? Where are the Trump is so fixated on a physical blocks.’ ” aides said the border wall is so schematics? Will it be made of wall that in May, White House press important — it could be the concrete or steel? Which firm will secretary Sean Spicer showed off The president, the policymaker, the symbolic victory that allows him build it? photos of tall steel rods along the real estate magnate, understood more flexibility to forge a border, calling it a “bollard wall.” one thing in his gut: He had compromise on Dreamers and other Kelly said he is taking seriously the Many scoffed that it looked more promised a wall, and now he immigration issues. president’s interest in an like a fence, and the president needed to build one. environmentally friendly solar wall, himself, one adviser said, had little Trump sees a border fortress as the which White House aides say could patience for the design. President Trump has never physical manifestation of his identity make the project more difficult for described the work of his as a builder and dealmaker — a Democrats to oppose. Local Politics Alerts administration in modest terms. He president able to construct the boasts about the “record-setting nation’s security almost by hand, “Certainly, if someone thinks they Breaking news about local pace” of accomplishments. Six and to somehow persuade Mexico can hang solar panels on there and government in D.C., Md., Va. months in, we look at how Trump’s to pay for it. reduce the carbon emissions and “He’s like, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, government is working. sell energy both to Mexico and the no, I didn’t say ‘bollard wall,’ ” [Good news for border residents: United States and it benefits Joshua Partlow in Mexico City No one is throwing 60-pound bags recalled the adviser, who spoke on contributed to this report. of drugs over a 50-foot wall] the condition of anonymity to share

Democrats Test 2018 Strategies in Virginia State House Races Reid J. Epstein “If you’re a national Democratic president in her campaign literature his campaign. “We don’t try to tie donor being pitched on the idea of and rarely discusses him on the him directly to Trump, but we say 6-7 minutes radically changing the balance of campaign trail. what the party has done to hold power, I’d say: Donor beware,” said people back,” Mr. Tanner said.

Tucker Martin, a longtime She is banking on opposition to the July 19, 2017 4:14 p.m. ET Republican operative in the state state GOP’s push to implement Mr. Hugo, a 14-year incumbent, who is advising Ed Gillespie, the social conservative policies to said few constituents are talking MANASSAS, Va.—Democrats want GOP nominee for governor. “The propel her campaign against 25- about the president and other to take back control of the U.S. map is a lot tougher than you’ve year incumbent Bob Marshall, a business going on across the House by winning Republican-held been told, and the incumbents are Republican who in January Potomac River in Washington. “All seats where voters backed Hillary tougher than you’ve been told.” introduced legislation that would our guys say we’re not hearing it,” Clinton in last year’s presidential regulate transgender people’s use Mr. Hugo said. “It’s not permeating election. Statewide, Republicans have a of bathrooms in public schools and yet.” nearly 3-to-1 cash-on-hand other government buildings. This fall, they will be conducting a advantage over their Democratic But Democrats like Karrie Delaney test run in Virginia, including challengers. “Delegate Bob Marshall is more say their constituents are talking determining whether success concerned with where I go to the about little else. Ms. Delaney, a 38- comes by focusing on President Delegate Tim Hugo, who represents bathroom than with how his year-old nonprofit official, said she Donald Trump or not when wooing a Fairfax County district Mrs. constituents get to work,” Ms. Roem is running to be “the first line of voters who didn’t support him last Clinton won 53%-42%, said there said in an interview in her campaign defense” against the Trump November. was little evidence that Democrats office. administration. She is seeking to flip can translate opposition to the a Fairfax County district that has “Virginia is a good proving ground president into votes in local races. Mr. Marshall said the Route 28 backed every Democrat running and petri dish for our politics, traffic problems should first be statewide since 2012, including because the state has a little bit of “Everybody talks about this big addressed by the county awarding 59% of its vote to Mrs. every type of congressional district wave coming,” said Mr. Hugo, the government, not the state, and he Clinton. that will be a battleground in 2018,” third-ranking Republican in the stands by his legislation. said Jesse Ferguson, a longtime House of Delegates. “It might be “Acknowledging laws of biology is “Localizing these races, that’s not Virginia Democratic operative who interesting for people on cable news not bigotry,” he said. the right answer for this moment in also worked for the House to talk about, but it rarely time,” Ms. Delaney said. “The civility Democratic campaign arm. materializes.” In Mr. Hugo’s Fairfax County and temperament of the current district, Democrat Donte Tanner is administration does not reflect the “There’s a little bit of everything, so With little media attention paid to trying to appeal to voters who values of this district. People are you’re able to see which types of their races, Democratic challengers recently stopped being loyal GOP looking for leaders to take a stand districts respond most successfully in Virginia are trying an array of supporters. against it.” to which messages,” he said. different messages against the GOP incumbents. Before backing Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Her opponent, four-term incumbent Mrs. Clinton won 17 Virginia House Hugo’s district reliably voted for Republican James LeMunyon, said of Delegates districts where voters Danica Roem, a former local Republicans. In 2013, both Ken his constituents ask him about backed GOP legislators in the newspaper reporter who would be Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson, the education, traffic and problems with state’s last election in 2015. the first openly transgender person conservative Republicans running the Metro regional mass transit Democrats must flip 16 seats to win elected to any state legislature, is for governor and lieutenant system. He said he rarely discusses a state House majority for the first devoting her campaign in Prince governor, won majorities. Mr. Trump. time since 1999. William County to a single issue: Fixing the traffic bottlenecks on Now Mr. Tanner, a 37-year-old “People can draw their own Like the congressional map, Route 28, a major north-south small business owner from conclusions about the president,” Virginia’s House district map was thoroughfare through northern Centreville, said he hopes his Mr. LeMunyon said. drawn after the 2010 Census by Virginia. Her campaign signs district’s voters will embrace Republicans to favor the GOP, feature her campaign slogan, in all Democratic proposals to improve Write to Reid J. Epstein at making the push to a majority a capital letters: “FIX ROUTE 28 education, transportation and [email protected] steep climb for the state’s NOW.” redistricting. Democrats. Parts of the state where Democrats have won federal races Although Mrs. Clinton beat Mr. His Republican opponent, Mr. have reliably sent Republicans to Trump 54% to 40% in the district, Tanner said, is part of the “swamp” the state capital in Richmond. Ms. Roem doesn’t mention the Mr. Trump pledged to drain during

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Editorial : Why Trump’s chat with Putin is not just a chat https://www.face much that he sought out Mr. Putin Talk isn’t bad; what’s key is the the email account of Hillary book.com/washin for an informal chat. Rather, it is the nature of the talk. To carefully Clinton’s campaign chairman. gtonpostopinions deeply troubling and unresolved calibrate messages to world Mr. Trump refused to accept U.S. questions about his relationship with leaders, presidents usually rely on intelligence community warnings of 11-14 minutes Russia, which mean that any such an elaborate bureaucratic machine, Russian interference during the contact raises serious — and including the interagency process election, and his family and his

understandable — concerns. and the National Security Council campaign associates have Opinion A column or article in the staff. Mr. Trump’s dinner chat repeatedly been negligent or Opinions section (in print, this is “Engagement” is not a dirty word. showed once again his proclivity to untruthful about their contacts with known as the Editorial Pages). Even in the worst days of the Cold act alone, and he undoubtedly Russian officials — most recently, in War, in the shadow of the Cuban created headaches. With no U.S. the accounts of a meeting with a July 19 at 7:26 PM missile crisis and the 1983 war note-taker or interpreter, the U.S. Russian lawyer offering dirt on scare, the United States remained THE ALARMS over President national security structure was left Ms. Clinton. In his first meeting as in close communication with the without a record of the exchange, president with Russia’s foreign Trump’s second meeting with Soviet Union. A back channel often Russian President Vladimir Putin at except for Mr. Trump’s memory. minister, Mr. Trump blurted out proved vital. During the tense days Mr. Putin will have a better record. classified information. It’s the Group of 20 summit are, in one of autumn 1983, the National way, overheated. Staying engaged reasonable to worry about what he Security Council specialist on Soviet But the deeper problem is the might have told Mr. Putin. with Russia and its leader, including affairs, Jack F. Matlock Jr., met epidemic of mistrust Mr. Trump has through a spontaneous pull-aside at quietly in a cafeteria opposite the created about his ties to Russia, Mr. Trump often calls investigations a closed dinner for world leaders, is Old Executive Office Building with a which sensationalizes contacts that of his Russia ties a “witch hunt.” But not in itself a fault: At best, it might Soviet journalist he had known, who might otherwise be unremarkable. the fact is that he created the swirl help alleviate mistrust and avoid revealed the dire situation in The doubts began during the of suspicion. Only he can clear it up miscalculation at a time of high Moscow, including Soviet leaders’ campaign with his failure to release — and until he does, there will be tension. While it is possible to object deepening uncertainty about his tax returns, which could show reason for concern about any to Mr. Trump’s impulsive style and possible war with the United States. the origins of his income, and grew contact he has with Mr. Putin. tendency to bypass established This was important information. worse when Russia hacked the channels, the problem is not so Democratic National Committee and Hanson : Trump & Russia: Vladimir Putin Is America’s Puppet Master 6-7 minutes Yet several intelligence officials dossier and made sure that the FBI Foundation and offered generous from the Obama administration — investigated the phony dirt. Comey speaking honoraria to former former CIA director John Brennan, did just that. president Bill Clinton, apparently in About a year ago, Donald Trump Jr. former FBI director James Comey, hopes of gaining leverage with and former director of national In no time, the so-called Steele then–secretary of state and likely met with a mysterious Russian dossier was leaked. The website lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya. intelligence James Clapper — future presidential candidate Hillary asserted that they had found no BuzzFeed admitted it could not Clinton. In one controversial deal, Trump Jr. was purportedly eager to verify any of the accusations but receive information that could evidence of Russian collusion with the U.S. government approved the Trump campaign to rig the published the entire sordid file sales of a large amount of North damage Hillary Clinton’s 2016 anyway. presidential campaign. election. American uranium deposits to Russian interests. Former FBI head Robert Mueller is One of the principals of the Clinton Veselnitskaya denies that she was campaign, John Podesta, was a working for the Kremlin to lobby for now overseeing the probe into The list of Russian capers, possible Russian meddling as a board member of a green-energy collusions, and conspiracies could favorable Russian treatment. But in firm that suddenly saw an infusion the past, Veselnitskaya has been special counsel. There are also be expanded, but the picture is several other Russia-related of Russian cash — purportedly in clear: Putin’s Russia is in bad connected with a number of an attempt to sway Podesta. Russian-related lobbying groups. investigations being conducted by shape. It is economically weak and various agencies and congressional Congressional science and energy eager to do anything possible to Trump Jr., for his part, proved naïve committees. committees and subcommittees are hurt the U.S. — largely by using a and foolish to gobble such possible currently interested in whether the fake-news disinformation campaign, setup bait. The Russians proved Some members of Congress are spreading Kremlin cash, and asking why Obama-administration Russians funneled cash into eager to confuse, confound, and American anti-fracking groups such playing a gullible and often embarrass everyone involved in the officials such as Brennan, unprofessional U.S. media eager to Samantha Power, and Susan Rice as Sea Change on the expectation 2016 election. that they might help derail American find a scandalous Russian under requested surveillance files on every American bed. This latest Trump family imbroglio Trump-campaign officials, may have energy exploration and production. piggybacks on six months of unmasked names, and may have The Russian government has lost So far the Russian disinformation Russian collusion charges. National allowed those names to be illegally nearly half its oil revenue because program has worked brilliantly. Security Adviser Michael Flynn leaked to the press. of the innovative American ability to What foreign government could resigned less than a month into his frack gas and oil, which has job after being less than candid Earlier, some Republican anti- possibly entangle in truth, lies, half- Trump operators (and later some crashed world energy prices. truths, rumors, and scandals the about his contacts with the Russian president Vladimir Putin Russians. Paul Manafort, Donald Clinton campaign operatives) hired Trump family, Bill and Hillary former British spy and opposition apparently will do anything to see it Clinton, John Brennan, James Trump’s erstwhile campaign stopped. manager, had some questionable researcher Christopher Steele to Comey, John McCain, John Russian business interests and compile a dossier on Donald Trump The list of Russian capers, Podesta, Samantha Power, Susan resigned well before the election. that would include some ludicrous collusions, and conspiracies could Rice, and a host of other Beltway Russia-related allegations. Weirder be expanded, but the picture is grandees? 01:00 still, Steele’s firm may have had clear: Putin’s Russia is in bad Who could prompt enough some contacts with none other than shape. Paul Ryan: From Wisconsin to Russian lawyer Natalia investigations and inquiries to Capitol Hill overwhelm and distract the entire Veselnitskaya. U.S. government at a time when All these stories were luridly Senator John McCain, a former Early in 2016, investigative North Korea is aiming missiles at headlined in the press. target of candidate Trump’s journalists reported that Russian U.S. territory, Iran is pressing ahead invective, acquired the anti-Trump interests donated to the Clinton to develop a nuclear weapon, Syria

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 33 is a genocidal mess, and Putin is now America’s puppet headed playthings dangling from his immigrants from the war-torn Middle master — and we are his empty- Kremlin strings. East are sweeping across Europe?

The Seven Circles of Donald Trump’s Russia Inferno Paul McLeary | 1 With last week’s revelations before to support the very worst this particular talking point. He told hour ago regarding the meeting between possibilities: the theory that the the press pool on Air Force One Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Russians have kompromat on that “in fact, maybe it was 12-15 minutes Paul Manafort, and multiple Trump or that he is a true mentioned at some point,” though individuals they believed were Manchurian candidate. There is, he said he was unaware that it was

connected to the Russian however, substantially more about possible derogatory Back in May, Lawfare’s Jane Chong government, these theories seem information to support the theory information about Clinton. began compiling an annotated set less plausible. Those emails, after that Russian intelligence of links to the known facts in the all, demonstrate that at least some endeavored to, and in fact managed Those looking to the behavior of the Donald Trump-Russia affair. At the central figures in the Trump to, infiltrate the Trump campaign Trump campaign to tie together same time, one of us co-authored a campaign were, in fact, specifically and that Trump knew or should Smith’s efforts and Trump Jr.’s piece detailing seven possible informed — with almost comical have known it was happening. And meetings in some sort of broader theories that could explain the explicitness — of the Russian there’s at least some evidence that conspiracy may be looking in the available evidence, ordered from government’s effort to interfere in the purpose of that infiltration was to wrong place. These revelations may least to most sinister. The first three the election. They were also help the campaign by giving it dirt well be further indication of theories included: informed that the Russian on Trump’s opponent. “systemic, sustained, furtive” motivation was to assist Trump. And coordination not by the Trump team  Theory #1: This is all a the Trump campaign welcomed Remember that this is actually not itself but by the Russians. As series of coincidences and, at a minimum, attempted to the first story in which people Moscow’s intelligence operatives and disconnected events. participate in that effort. associated with Team Trump got — sought to make inroads, they may Yes, Trump held positions or sought — help from Moscow. have found receptivity in probing in favorable to Russia, So what’s left? Well, back in May, Before the New York Times broke different places at different times — which may have attracted the remaining possibilities included: the news on Don Jr., the Wall Street from the inner circle to more supporters with Russian Journal reported that now deceased tangential figures.  Theory #4: Russian Republican operative Peter W. business interests. But Think of the coordination then not that interest was intelligence actively Smith sought to obtain emails penetrated the Trump purportedly hacked from Clinton’s as some grand conspiracy on the unrelated to Trump part of the Trump camp but as a himself, and each campaign, but Trump was private server, including from not aware. groups he suspected were linked to pervasive rot among those tied to element is unconnected Trump that created opportunities for from every other element. Russian intelligence. Smith claimed  Theory #5: Russian to have support from high-level the Russians to exploit. intelligence actively  Theory #2: Trump Trump campaign staffers, including Think of the coordination then not penetrated the Trump attracted Russophiles. A then future and now former National as some grand conspiracy on the campaign, and Trump did variant of Theory #1, by Security Advisor Michael Flynn. The part of the Trump camp but as a know or should have this read, Trump’s many story leaves ambiguous the extent pervasive rot among those tied to known. unsavory tendencies, of actual involvement or knowledge Trump that created opportunities for including his solicitude for on the part of the Trump campaign the Russians to exploit. The unifying  Theory #6: There really is Vladimir Putin, meant the of Smith’s activities, as well as characteristic may not be some some kind of kompromat, only people willing to whether Smith was in contact with grand plan to “collude” but rather a or compromising material, work for him held similarly real Russian intelligence operatives lack of commitment to resisting and Trump’s fringe views on the or merely imposters looking to take intervention from hostile foreign uncharacteristic subject or had shady him for a ride. adversaries in free and fair elections business ties to the consistency in praising But the Trump Jr. meeting leaves — a lack of resistance that gave a Russians. The Russian and supporting Putin was no such ambiguities. The foreign adversary multiple hacking operation thus motivated by the fear that participants were the tightest of opportunities to take advantage coexisted with a “largely Russia would release Trump’s inner circle — his over time. unconnected incentive for negative information campaign manager, son, and son- people with untoward about him. These newer revelations also raise in-law — and the disclosed emails Russian business more possible scenarios and Theory #7: While spell out in black and white an connections to attach  theories that were not part of the implausible, the final account of the Russian themselves to Trump. original seven. One that has gotten theory that accounted for government’s intent and its The latter incentive may a lot of attention is the speech all known facts was that ambitions to assist the Trump have resulted in Trump gave the same day his son the president of the campaign. If the younger Trump individuals doing first received the email, in which he United States is a was surprised to learn of this, he did unsavory or even illegal promised to give a future speech Russian agent. not demonstrate it with his things or acting on behalf revealing damaging information on response: “If it’s what you say I love of Russian interests, but it Clinton. This suggests that the Note that merely six months into it.” And if he had anxieties about did not involve any fundamental relationship between Trump’s presidency, the likely guiding that involvement, he Russian infiltration of the the Trump campaign and Russia explanations for his conduct now suppressed them when he Trump campaign as such, may have been the opposite of reside on the decidedly more suggested a specific time frame — much less Russian espionage; typically, espionage is sinister end of the spectrum. Or, at later in the summer — for the corruption of Trump about exfiltrating information from a least, if you’re inclined to favor the disclosure of material. himself.” less sinister side of the spectrum, campaign, but this sought to inject you now have to account for the The White House insists that information into it.  Theory #3: The Russian known actions of individuals at the Donald Trump was unaware of this The public record actually has some operation was not about center of the campaign that seem meeting — held by his close family other suggestive indications of a helping Trump but instead more consistent with the theories at one floor beneath his office in relationship along these lines. The about harming the more the more sinister end of it. Trump Tower while he was on the very public elements of Trump’s probable winner, Hillary premises — though it appears the tacit cooperation with the Russians Clinton. To be sure, there is no more president himself has wavered on evidence today than there was have been widely noted. He

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 34 welcomed the Russian release of campaign, #DemocracyRIP, on rally in August 2016 in Columbus, mean that Trump was receiving Clinton’s emails; he proclaimed to election night in anticipation of Ohio, he said, “I’m afraid the secret, covert messaging help from love WikiLeaks; he denied Russian Secretary Clinton’s victory, judging election’s going to be rigged. I have Russian spies. The Russians were, involvement in the whole affair; he from their social media activity. to be honest.” In a Fox News after all, running RT and Sputnik enthusiastically used the fruits of interview a day later, he claimed, and had a giant influence operation Russia’s illicit efforts to attack his The identifiable efforts to discredit a “People are going to walk in. as part of their active measures opponent; and he had a monthslong possible Clinton victory were They’re going to vote 10 times, campaign — an influence campaign bromance with the Russian dictator, twofold: promoting the idea that the maybe.” That same month, his that may have influenced the after all. There is, however, another Democratic primary was “rigged” campaign website encouraged election, as well as some voters. part of the Russian operation that against Clinton’s opponent, Bernie people to become “Trump Election Trump’s claims of a rigged outcome Trump publicly supported that has Sanders, and creating uncertainty Observer[s]” to “Help … Stop may have been preemptive gotten far less attention — and now regarding the legitimacy of the Crooked Hillary From Rigging This attempts to balm his legendarily looks at least somewhat more election outcome. Trump heavily Election!” fragile ego in the event of defeat, sinister. abetted both of these goals. attempts that may have dovetailed Furthermore, when it appeared nicely with what Russia was putting The U.S. intelligence community’s NPR notes that on March 4, 2016, a overwhelmingly likely that Clinton Russian political analyst with deep out for reasons of its own. And the assessment of 2016 election would win the presidency, fact that Trump was, once again, interference noted that the Russian ties to the Kremlin posted a YouTube video that, among other Trump openly and repeatedly directly mirroring the Kremlin’s operation comprised two distinct talking points could well be just a elements. One part was helping charges, impugned the legitimacy of floated the possibility that he would the U.S. electoral system. refuse to concede the election. coincidence — or it could be that Trump, but there was another part, the Kremlin was mirroring his talking too: Alexander Dugin called American vote counting “stupid and fake” and Trump openly and repeatedly points, though the Russian When it appeared to Moscow that claimed (falsely) that while “the floated the possibility that he would government does appear to have Secretary Clinton was likely to win majority votes for Sanders,” Clinton refuse to concede the election. gotten there first. the presidency the Russian won by “bribing the electors.” When asked about doing so, he told the New York Times, “We’re going But the degree of message influence campaign focused more Between the time of the Dugin video compatibility here is worth noting if on undercutting Secretary Clinton’s and the inauguration, Donald Trump to have to see. We’re going to see what happens. We’re going to have for no other reason than that the legitimacy and crippling her tweeted about a “rigged” election at pattern thus far is that, as one presidency from its start, including least 29 times. At least eight of to see.” He refused to offer a direct answer when asked at the third bombshell revelation follows by impugning the fairness of the these tweets (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) another, the more innocent election. specifically alleged that the debate, saying, “I will look at it at the time. I will keep you in explanations do seem to slip out of Democratic primary was rigged the realm of the plausible. Before the election, Russian against Sanders — which is to say suspense.” Later, he pledged to diplomats had publicly denounced that it closely hewed to the accept the election results only “if I Photo credit: SAUL the US electoral process and were Kremlin’s talking point. win.” LOEB/AFP/Getty Images prepared to publicly call into question the validity of the results. Trump had similar critiques of the The relationship between Trump’s Pro-Kremlin bloggers had prepared Republican primary and of the U.S. talking points over time and those a Twitter election in general. At a campaign pushed by the Kremlin does not Trump-Russia Scandal Now Threatens to Ensnare Ivanka Spencer his origins as an Army brat, born in contacts], unless this is a family SF-86 to include over 100 Ackerman07.19. Trieste when it was still a free habit,” Beyer told The Daily Beast. interactions with foreign officials. 17 4:46 PM ET territory on the Adriatic. To get his SF-86 completed accurately, he had It’s the latest subplot to the Trump- “Forgetting one or two or three – 6-7 minutes to canvas his wife, his sisters, his Russia scandal. you know, people amend FEC brother and his father for every reports and financial disclosures, Last week, the New York Times yeah, they do that all the time, and foreign contact they had in the revealed that Donald Jr and Filling out a standard federal recent past. that’s OK,” Beyer said. “Forgetting Kushner met in June 2016 at Trump everything seems more than a little security-clearance application took Tower with a bevy of government- up three days of Don Beyer’s life. “I think they were all a little unusual. And having to have three fascinated,” said Beyer, who went connected Russian contacts. They corrections before he finally gets It was a long weekend in 2008. on to be Obama’s ambassador to include Kremlin-allied attorney everything, again pretty unusual.” Beyer, a former lieutenant governor Switzerland before getting elected Natalia Veselnitskaya; Rinat of Virginia, was preparing to spend to Congress in 2014 as a Democrat Akhmetshin, a former Soviet military Get The Beast In Your Inbox! intelligence officer accused of 11 weeks at the Department of representing the northern Virginia Daily Digest Commerce on behalf of Barack suburbs of DC. The disclosure form spearheading a hacking enterprise; Obama’s transition team. ended up being 99 pages long. and Ike Kaveladze, whom federal Start and finish your day with the investigators accuse of laundering top stories from The Daily Beast. To do that, Beyer needed to fill out Were it not for that experience, over a billion dollars worth of a boring document known as an SF- Beyer and his staff might not have Russian money. Cheat Sheet 86 – a document that now has grasped that Kushner’s SF-86 senior White House adviser, and problems were also an issue for The meeting’s purpose, according A speedy, smart summary of all the Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Ivanka Trump. While Beyer has no to the British music publicist who set news you need to know (and Kushner in serious trouble. And to evidence Trump had dissembled it up, was to provide the Trump nothing you don't). campaign with dirt on Hillary Clinton do that, Beyer had to get his about her own foreign contacts on Thank You! immediate family to rack their brains her SF-86, he wrote on Wednesday from Russia’s chief prosecutor, as to recall all their foreign contacts to the FBI requesting them to review “part of Russia and its government’s You are now subscribed to the Daily over the past seven years– what she disclosed about those of support for Mr. Trump.” Digest and Cheat Sheet. We will not something that now threatens to her husband and brother, Donald It turns out that Kushner disclosed share your email with anyone for ensnare Ivanka Trump, another Trump Jr. that meeting – belatedly. After the any reason. senior White House adviser, the “What I do suspect is that if he Times reported in April that Kushner Beyer’s history with the near- president’s daughter and Kushner’s had left off two other contacts with wife. wasn’t disclosing, then it probably proctological clearance form got him never lit up that she needed to Russian agents, the ambassador and his staff figuring that a review of It was a lot of work, Beyer recalls. disclose also. But the law is pretty Sergei Kislyak and the FSB-tied Ivanka Trump’s form would He had a substantial number of clear. We have no reason to think head of a state-owned bank, the determine if she engaged in what foreign interactions, dating back to she didn’t describe her own [foreign first son-in-law quietly updated his the letter termed “similar deception.”

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 35

She’s legally obligated to disclose immediately respond to a request “Well again, I’m not going to talk his pressure on Ivanka Trump’s SF- Don Jr. and Jared’s foreign for comment, either. about what my investigation is, 86. contacts. If she didn’t, it would raise other than just to answer the questions about whether she knew Beyer began circulating his FBI questions that, you know, what did “But I do think it’s potentially part of about those meetings; if she did, it letter to House colleagues late last the Russians do or not do, what’d a pattern of ignoring both the spirit would raise questions about why week. Ultimately 21 other the Trump team do or not do—that and the letter of the law. And it Jared didn’t. Democrats signed on. No kind of stuff,” Conaway told The certainly gets into the incredible Republicans did, though Beyer said Daily Beast on Wednesday. entanglements that the Trump When asked a series of questions he sent the text to all 241 of them. family has, which makes it difficult regarding this story, a White House Beyer has yet to hear back from the to govern independently of all their official responded to The Daily Mike Conaway, the Texas GOPer FBI. The FBI declined comment to financial entanglements across Beast simply by saying, “the White who is now co-helming the House The Daily Beast, as did Special many different countries.” House has a longstanding policy of intelligence committee’s Trump- Counsel Robert Mueller’s not commenting on security Russia inquiry, wouldn’t talk about representatives. — with additional reporting by clearances or other personnel whether the FBI ought to review Asawin Suebsaeng and Andrew security matters.” Kushner’s legal Ivanka Trump’s SF-86. “I don’t think it’s life or death for the Desiderio team did not future of the republic,” Beyer said of Citing Recusal, Trump Says He Wouldn’t Have Hired Sessions (UNE) Peter Baker, he took on Robert S. Mueller III, the abuses, an issue that remains a But Mr. Trump left little doubt during Michael S. special counsel now leading the sore point in relations with Moscow. the interview that the Russia Schmidt and Maggie Haberman investigation into Russian meddling investigation remained a sore point. in last year’s election. Attorney General Jeff Sessions His pique at Mr. Sessions, in 12-16 minutes testified in front of the Senate particular, seemed fresh even Mr. Trump said Mr. Mueller was Intelligence Committee in June. Eric months after the attorney general’s

running an office rife with conflicts Thayer for The New York Times recusal. Mr. Sessions was the first of interest and warned investigators Trump on Sessions’s Recusal Mr. Trump acknowledged that it was senator to endorse Mr. Trump’s From Russia Investigation: ‘Very against delving into matters too far candidacy and was rewarded with a afield from Russia. Mr. Trump never “interesting” that adoptions came up Unfair’ since his son, Donald Trump Jr., key cabinet slot, but has been more said he would order the Justice distant from the president lately. In edited audio excerpts from an Department to fire Mr. Mueller, nor said that was the topic of a meeting interview with New York Times would he outline circumstances he had with several Russians with “Jeff Sessions takes the job, gets reporters, President Trump under which he might do so. But he ties to the Kremlin during last year’s into the job, recuses himself, which discussed Jeff Sessions, Donald left open the possibility as he campaign. Even though emails frankly I think is very unfair to the Trump Jr., Robert S. Mueller III and expressed deep grievance over an show that the session had been set president,” he added. “How do you the newly disclosed conversation he investigation that has taken a up to pass along incriminating take a job and then recuse had with Vladimir V. Putin. political toll in the six months since information about Hillary Clinton, yourself? If he would have recused he took office. the president said he did not need himself before the job, I would have July 19, 2017. Photo by Stephen such material from Russia about said, ‘Thanks, Jeff, but I’m not going Crowley/The New York Times. Asked if Mr. Mueller’s investigation Mrs. Clinton last year because he to take you.’ It’s extremely unfair — Watch in Times Video » would cross a red line if it expanded already had more than enough. and that’s a mild word — to the to look at his family’s finances president.” WASHINGTON — President Trump beyond any relationship to Russia, The interview came as the White said on Wednesday that he never Mr. Trump said, “I would say yes.” House was trying to regain Mr. Trump also faulted Mr. Sessions would have appointed Attorney He would not say what he would do momentum after the collapse of for his testimony during Senate General Jeff Sessions had he about it. “I think that’s a violation. health care legislation even while confirmation hearings when Mr. known Mr. Sessions would recuse Look, this is about Russia.” the president’s son, son-in-law and Sessions said he had not had himself from overseeing the Russia former campaign chairman were “communications with the Russians” investigation that has dogged his While the interview touched on an being asked to talk with Senate even though he had met at least presidency, calling the decision array of issues, including health investigators. Relaxed and twice with Ambassador Sergey I. “very unfair to the president.” care, foreign affairs and politics, the engaged, the president sat at the Kislyak. “Jeff Sessions gave some investigation dominated the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, bad answers,” the president said. [Read excerpts of The Times’s conversation. He said that as far as with only one aide, Hope Hicks, interview with President Trump.] “He gave some answers that were he knew, he was not under sitting in on the interview. The simple questions and should have In a remarkable public break with investigation himself, despite session was sandwiched between a been simple answers, but they one of his earliest political reports that Mr. Mueller is looking at White House lunch with Republican weren’t.” supporters, Mr. Trump complained whether the president obstructed senators and an event promoting that Mr. Sessions’s decision justice by firing Mr. Comey. “Made in America” week. A spokesman for Mr. Sessions ultimately led to the appointment of declined to comment on “I don’t think we’re under Over the course of 50 minutes, the Wednesday. a special counsel that should not investigation,” he said. “I’m not often-fiery Mr. Trump demonstrated have happened. “Sessions should under investigation. For what? I his more amiable side, joking about The president added a new have never recused himself, and if didn’t do anything wrong.” holding hands with the president of allegation against Mr. Comey, he was going to recuse himself, he France and musing about having a whose dismissal has become a should have told me before he took Describing a newly disclosed military parade down a main avenue central issue for critics who said it the job and I would have picked informal conversation he had with in Washington. He took satisfaction amounted to an attempt to obstruct somebody else,” Mr. Trump said. President Vladimir V. Putin of that unemployment has fallen and the investigation into Russian Russia during a dinner of world stock markets have risen to record meddling in the election and any In a wide-ranging interview with The leaders in Germany this month, Mr. New York Times, the president also highs on his watch. possible collusion with Mr. Trump’s Trump said they talked for about 15 team. accused James B. Comey, the minutes, mostly about At one point, his daughter Ivanka F.B.I. director he fired in May, of “pleasantries.” But Mr. Trump did arrived at the doorway with her Mr. Trump recalled that a little more trying to leverage a dossier of say that they talked “about daughter, Arabella, who ran to her than two weeks before his compromising material to keep his adoption.” Mr. Putin banned grandfather and gave him a kiss. He inauguration, Mr. Comey and other job. Mr. Trump criticized both the American adoptions of Russian greeted the 6-year-old girl as intelligence officials briefed him at acting F.B.I. director who has been children in 2012 after the United “baby,” then urged her to show the Trump Tower on Russian meddling. filling in since Mr. Comey’s States enacted sanctions on reporters her ability to speak Mr. Comey afterward pulled Mr. dismissal and the deputy attorney Russians accused of human rights Chinese. She obliged. Trump aside and told him about a general who recommended it. And dossier that had been assembled by

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 36 a former British spy filled with Mr. Trump rebutted Mr. Comey’s The president also expressed In his first description of his salacious allegations against the claim that in a one-on-one meeting discontent with Deputy Attorney dinnertime conversation with Mr. incoming president, including in the Oval Office on Feb. 14, the General Rod J. Rosenstein, a Putin at the Group of 20 summit supposed sexual escapades in president asked him to end the former federal prosecutor from meeting in Hamburg, Germany, Mr. Moscow. The F.B.I. has not investigation into his former national Baltimore. When Mr. Sessions Trump played down its significance. corroborated the most sensational security adviser, Michael T. Flynn. recused himself, the president said He said his wife, Melania, was assertions in the dossier. Mr. Comey testified before he was irritated to learn where his seated next to Mr. Putin at the other Congress that Mr. Trump kicked the deputy was from. “There are very end of a table filled with world In the interview, Mr. Trump said he vice president, attorney general and few Republicans in Baltimore, if leaders. believed Mr. Comey told him about several other senior administration any,” he said of the predominantly the dossier to implicitly make clear officials out of the room before Democratic city. “The meal was going toward he had something to hold over the having the discussion with Mr. dessert,” he said. “I went down just president. “In my opinion, he shared Comey. He complained that Mr. Rosenstein to say hello to Melania, and while I it so that I would think he had it out had in effect been on both sides was there I said hello to Putin. there,” Mr. Trump said. As “I don’t remember even talking to when it came to Mr. Comey. The Really, pleasantries more than leverage? “Yeah, I think so,” Mr. him about any of this stuff,” Mr. deputy attorney general anything else. It was not a long Trump said. “In retrospect.” Trump said. “He said I asked people recommended Mr. Comey be fired conversation, but it was, you know, to go. Look, you look at his but then appointed Mr. Mueller, who could be 15 minutes. Just talked The president dismissed the testimony. His testimony is loaded may be investigating whether the about things. Actually, it was very assertions in the dossier: “When he up with lies, O.K.?” dismissal was an obstruction of interesting, we talked about brought it to me, I said this is really justice. “Well, that’s a conflict of adoption.” made-up junk. I didn’t think about He expressed no second thoughts interest,” Mr. Trump said. “Do you any of it. I just thought about, man, about firing Mr. Comey, saying, “I know how many conflicts of He noted the adoption issue came this is such a phony deal.” did a great thing for the American interests there are?” up in the June 2016 meeting people.” between his son and Russian Mr. Comey declined to comment on In an interview with Fox News visitors. “I actually talked about Wednesday. Mr. Trump was also critical of Mr. before Mr. Trump’s comments were Russian adoption with him,” he said, Mueller, a former F.B.I. director, published, Mr. Rosenstein said he meaning Mr. Putin. “Which is But Mr. Comey and other reprising some of his past intelligence officials decided it was was confident Mr. Mueller could interesting because it was a part of complaints that lawyers in his office avoid any conflict of interests. “We the conversation that Don had in best for him to raise the subject with contributed money to Mrs. Clinton’s Mr. Trump alone because he was have a process with the department that meeting.” campaign. He noted that he actually to take care of that,” he said. going to remain as F.B.I. director. interviewed Mr. Mueller to replace But the president repeated that he Mr. Comey testified before Mr. Comey just before his As for Andrew G. McCabe, the did not know about his son’s Congress that he disclosed the appointment as special counsel. acting F.B.I. director, the president meeting at the time and added that details of the dossier to Mr. Trump suggested that he, too, had a he did not need the Russians to because he thought that the news “He was up here and he wanted the conflict. Mr. McCabe’s wife, Jill provide damaging information about media would soon be publishing job,” Mr. Trump said. After he was McCabe, received nearly $500,000 Mrs. Clinton. details from it and that Mr. Trump named special counsel, “I said, in 2015 during a losing campaign had a right to know what information ‘What the hell is this all about?’ Talk for the Virginia Senate from a “There wasn’t much I could say was out there about him. A two- about conflicts. But he was political action committee affiliated about Hillary Clinton that was worse page summary about the dossier interviewing for the job. There were with Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is than what I was already saying,” he was widely reported the week many other conflicts that I haven’t close friends with Hillary and Bill said. “Unless somebody said that before Mr. Trump’s inauguration, said, but I will at some point.” Clinton. she shot somebody in the back, including by The Times. there wasn’t much I could add to my repertoire.”

Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort to Speak to Senate Panels Rebecca Congress,” said Abbe Lowell, Mr. to confirm that Mr. Manafort would email chain Mr. Trump released last Ballhaus Kushner’s attorney, in a statement. testify. week showing he helped arrange a “Working with and being responsive Trump Tower meeting to discuss 4-5 minutes to the schedules of the committees, A spokesman for the president’s allegedly damaging information we have arranged Mr. Kushner’s eldest son didn’t immediately about former Democratic

interview with the Senate for July respond to a request for comment. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. July 19, 2017 7:20 p.m. ET 24. He will continue to cooperate The younger Mr. Trump has also The meeting was also attended by and appreciates the opportunity to said he was willing to cooperate Messrs. Kushner and Manafort. Three top Trump campaign aides— assist in putting this matter to rest.” with the congressional committees. Jared Kushner, the president’s son- A Russian attorney, Natalia in-law and senior adviser, former President Donald Trump has They would be speaking on a panel Veselnitskaya, who also attended campaign chairman Paul Manafort expressed skepticism about U.S. alongside William Browder, a the meeting, has said she used the and Donald Trump Jr.—are intelligence agencies’ conclusion hedge-fund manager turned human- gathering to advocate against the expected to speak with Senate that Moscow sought to intervene rights advocate who has Magnitsky Act. Ms. Veselnitskaya committees next week as part of the during the campaign. Russian campaigned on behalf of the has been a longtime critic of Mr. congressional inquiry into Russian officials have denied doing so. Mr. Magnitsky Act, and Glenn Simpson, Browder. meddling in the 2016 election. Trump and his campaign aides a former Wall Street Journal have denied any collusion with reporter who runs a research firm Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, Mr. Kushner is set to hold a private Moscow. linked to a dossier containing the top Democrat on the Senate interview on Monday with the unverified allegations that the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday Senate Intelligence Committee, his The Senate Judiciary Committee president had ties to Russian she had been informed that special lawyer said Wednesday. The sit- said the younger Mr. Trump and Mr. leaders. The Magnitsky Act is a counsel Robert Mueller, who is down would mark Mr. Kushner’s Manafort would appear next 2012 U.S. law that punishes conducting a criminal probe of first time speaking with Wednesday in an open hearing. Russian officials accused of human- Russia’s actions during the election congressional investigators. rights violations, and is named for and any Trump campaign ties to Jason Maloni, a spokesman for Mr. Mr. Browder’s lawyer, who died in a them, had raised no objections to “As Mr. Kushner has been saying Manafort, said he had received the Russian jail in 2009. calling the attendees of the meeting since March, he has been and is request for Mr. Manafort to testify before the panel. prepared to voluntarily cooperate “in the last 25 minutes” and said, The testimony from the younger Mr. and provide whatever information “We’re looking it over.” He declined Trump and Mr. Manafort is Mr. Mueller has contacted the he has on the investigations to expected to focus in part on an eighth attendee at the Trump Tower

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 37 meeting, Ike Kaveladze, the While members of the Trump inquiry is extending to some people Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print attendee’s lawyer said Tuesday, administration, including Attorney closest to the president, including edition as 'Senate Panels to Hear marking the first public sign that the General Jeff Sessions, have two of his family members. Closest Trump Aides.' special-counsel probe will examine testified before Senate panels as the June 2016 gathering. part of the Russia probe, next Write to Rebecca Ballhaus at week’s planned interviews show the [email protected]

The Hill Staffer at the Center of the Russia Intrigue By Ben Behrends has been the chief After graduating from Ohio’s Xavier him to promote “free and fair Schreckinger Capitol Hill contact for the lawyer University in 1981, Behrends elections in Nigeria.” Natalia Veselnitskaya and the enlisted in the Marine Corps, where 14-18 minutes lobbyist Rinat Akhmetshin, a former he first encountered Rohrabacher— In 2009, Behrends first became Soviet intelligence officer, whose who worked in the Reagan acquainted with Thiel, the tech

contacts with Trump Jr., along with administration before being elected magnate and founder of Palantir, a In the spring of 2016, a longtime Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort, to Congress in 1988—as both men government defense and Washington operative pulled aside are now at the center of questions participated in the U.S. intelligence contractor, who would French Hill during a trip to Moscow about whether the Trump campaign government’s efforts to help go on to become Trump’s most and introduced the conservative colluded with Russia. Afghanistan’s Islamist insurgents prominent supporter in Silicon Arkansas congressman to two repel the Soviet invasion. Valley and an influential outside Russians who are now at the center After arranging their impromptu adviser to his administration. of a firestorm over the activities of meeting with Hill in Moscow, Behrends then went to work for Behrends also became involved Donald Trump Jr. Behrends later escorted Rohrabacher’s office for most of the with the Institute of World Politics, a Akhmetshin around Capitol Hill— ’90s, helping a college-age Erik graduate school in DuPont Circle In the brief encounter, which took “almost by the hand” in the words of Prince score a job as the California with close ties to the Europe right, place two months before their now- one congressional staffer—after the Republican’s first congressional doing a stint on the school’s board infamous meeting with the Moscow meeting last year, intern. that ended in 2013, and forming a president’s son in Trump Tower, the introducing him to lawmakers as relationship with Sebastian Gorka, a jet-setting pair proposed the same part of an effort to undermine In 1997, Behrends became a Hungarian-American professor at trade they would soon be pitching human rights legislation opposed by lobbyist and went on to work the school who now works at the all over Washington: Lift the Russian President Vladimir Putin, extensively for Prince’s private White House as a national security sanctions on Russia, and we’ll drawing on his significant security firm, Blackwater, which was adviser to Trump. make sure Americans can adopt experience and connections to give founded the same year. In 2004, he Russian babies once again. the Kremlin’s version of events a became chief lobbyist for Alexander *** hearing. Strategy Group, a firm with close Story Continued Below ties to former House Majority In July of 2014, in a career move One longtime acquaintance Leader Tom Delay that has been that puzzled many of his contacts in Paul Behrends, the operative who described Behrends as described as “ground zero” in the Washington, Behrends, then in his set up that previously unreported “sophisticated” and a “charming guy Abramoff scandal because of its mid-fifties, returned to work for Moscow meeting, has worked in with a wonderful breadth of entanglements with the disgraced Rohrbacher on the Hill, trading in security and foreign policy circles in knowledge,” adding, “He is as lobbyist. his lobbying gig for a staff job that Washington for decades while comfortable dealing with good ol’ pays $138,000, according to public keeping a low profile, but he has boys from Texas as he is with (Ties between the four men run disclosures. never been far from intrigue. sophisticated European investors.” deep: Abramoff, Behrends and Prince all gave generously to a fund Behrends referred questions to Long before he took up his most But that same sophistication Rohrbacher created to pay for Rohrabacher spokesman Ken recent post as an aide to California Washington foreign policy hands expenses related to the 2004 birth Grubbs, who explained, “Paul took Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, Behrends puzzling over the zeal with which of his triplets, according to a report the job because the congressman worked alongside the Afghan Behrends —for decades a standard in OC Weekly. Rohrbacher, an old had asked him repeatedly, over the mujahideen, helped the future GOP hawk on Russia — has been friend of Abramoff’s, defended the course of months, to replace his Blackwater founder Erik Prince get promoting the Kremlin line of late. ex-lobbyist’s character in a 2007 outgoing foreign affairs adviser. an internship on Capitol Hill (later, letter to the judge deciding Because of their relationship, he he navigated the security firm His activities, and the scrutiny they Abramoff’s sentence for wire fraud. took the requests seriously. He through the political fallout from a are now drawing, have become a In February, POLITICO reported wanted to get back into government 2007 massacre of civilians in Iraq) source of growing unease among that Rohrabacher and Abramoff service, the world having changed and served as chief lobbyist for a his colleagues and lawmakers on have teamed up once again, this since his last stint.” firm at the heart of the Jack both sides of the aisle. “Paul knows time in a bid to unite African leaders But Behrends’ sympathy for Abramoff scandal. More recently, he better,” said one congressional against Islamic terrorists.) has become a confidant of the pro- staffer. On Wednesday evening, a Russian interests since then has Trump Silicon Valley billionaire spokesman for the House Foreign Behrends continued to lobby for vexed members of Washington’s Peter Thiel and served as the Affairs Committee, where Behrends Blackwater — which has rebranded foreign policy establishment, many Capitol Hill point-man for the right- had been working until this week, twice since 2009 and is now called of whom have known and liked him wing government of Hungary. informed Politico Magazine that he Academi — as its name became for decades but say his views on was no longer working for the panel, increasingly toxic in Washington, the Kremlin have changed radically While his boss—who was jokingly but declined to comment further, and helped the firm navigate the in the past couple of years. described by Majority Leader Kevin leaving his current employment fallout from a 2007 incident in which “I don’t know why,” said a person McCarthy in a closed-door meeting status unclear. the company’s security contractors last year as being on the Kremlin’s who has repeatedly discussed the killed 17 Iraqi civilians in Nisour issue with Rohrabacher and payroll—is the most vociferous "Paul Behrends has done a terrific Square in Baghdad. defender of Russian interests in job for me and the committee," Behrends. “I know that he and Dana Congress and a staunch ally of Rohrabacher told POLITICO In addition to Blackwater and its have traveled to Moscow, but how President Donald Trump, it is Magazine in response to the news. founder’s next venture, the Prince he got turned around on this issue, I Behrends who does much of the "I have not been told anything to the Group, lobbying disclosures show have no idea.” actual work, a role that now thrusts contrary. I am looking forward to Behrends also performed highly Two months after Behrends him into the spotlight as discussing this with the committee lucrative work for various defense returned to the Hill, in September investigators and media sleuths leadership. I am sure we will work contractors and mining interests, as 2014, he and Rohrabacher peeled suss out links between Trump’s this out." well as Kuwaiti industrial firms and off from New York Rep. Gregory allies and Moscow. something called the “Destiny *** Meeks, with whom they had been Democratic Movement,” which hired traveling in Europe and Asia, and

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 38 traveled alone to Russia for three guests of honor—former Lithuanian initiated all these different Affairs. “They were pissed,” said a days, according to congressional ambassador to the U.S. Zygimantas meetings.” congressional staffer who was travel expenditure reports. An Pavilionis and Lithuanian MP present. “That was the first time I itinerary for that leg of the trip Emanuelis Zingeris—asking them According to another aide to Hill ever saw Dana apologize for provided by Grubbs shows the pair why the United States should have who was not authorized to speak on something.” met with Mikhail Margelov, then- to defend their country from Russia, the record, the congressman chairman of the Foreign Affairs according to a person present. listened to the pair’s pitch and took The government of Russia is not the Committee of the upper house of their research back to Washington, only controversial regime that looks Russia’s parliament, as well as “We don’t agree on everything where Foreign Affairs Committee to Behrends for access to the halls representatives of Russian industry certainly, but he’s informed and has staffers informed his office it was of power in Washington. He has and civil society, in Moscow. reasonable points, agree or not,” “not legit,” and the congressman also become a crucial point-man for said Denton, one of the few people then dropped the matter. Hungary’s government, which in As recently as the spring of 2015, willing to speak on the record about recent years has taken the country Behrends was still aggressively Behrends’ foreign policy views. It has not been previously reported in an increasingly illiberal direction, promoting the work of Putin critic Denton added that Behrends is “no that Akhmetshin and Veselnitskaya forcing the temporary closure and Paul Joyal — an expert on Russian softy” on Russia. “He’s a decent guy interacted with U.S. officials in sale of a leading opposition intelligence who was shot in his and he gives a damn.” Moscow during last April’s newspaper and waging a campaign driveway in Maryland in 2007 by congressional delegation to against a university backed by unknown assailants days after “He’s been critical of Putin,” said Moscow. Grubbs did not respond to liberal financier George Soros. speaking out about the Grubbs, the Rohrabacher questions about Behrends’ assassination of a Russian spokesman, “but he believes that a relationship with the pair. Last summer, Behrends arranged a dissident in London — according to more cooperative relationship is a meeting between Thiel and Jeno result of a realistic analysis of our Earlier this year, CNN reported that Megyesy, a senior to adviser to a person in touch with Behrends at Rohrabacher met with Akhmetshin the time. national security interests.” Hungarian Prime Minister Orban, in a hotel lobby in Berlin during during the Republican National Since then, Behrends’ stance on *** another congressional delegation Convention, when Thiel was holed Russia has softened remarkably, this April. According to a up at a house in nearby Shaker In the House, Behrends, like his congressional staffer, Behrends according to several people who boss, often goes against the grain. Heights, Ohio, according to a engage with him on foreign policy. was also present at that meeting, person briefed on the meeting. Fellow staffers regularly receive which was just one of several Like Rohrabacher, Behrends, who emails from him with links to More recently, Behrends facilitated is Catholic, seems to have bought notable incidents to take place meetings on the Hill in June to give Brietbart articles and YouTube during the trip. into Putin’s narrative that the United videos that push back against Megyesy a chance to lobby against States and Russia are part of a Washington’s prevailing foreign Behrends also arranged for the a proposed congressional resolution shared Christian civilization whose policy narratives. (“Like many Russian-born investor Yuri Vanetik, condemning Orban for his harsh biggest threat comes from the staffers, Paul sends around news a Rohrabacher donor who traveled treatment of migrants and his efforts encroachment of radical Islam. reports that contribute to the with a personal bodyguard, to join to “stifle any opposition to his rule, general fund of knowledge,” said the delegation in Berlin and the including by suppressing free “He was your typical GOP hawk speech and assembly, from until Trump came around,” said one Grubbs. “Breitbart adds a Hague, according to the staffer. perspective that is often missed.”) universities, civil society groups, foreign policy hand who interacts Rohrabacher had originally wanted and independent think tanks.” regularly with Behrends. He is also known for spicing up the the congressional delegation to go As time has worn on and scrutiny For the past several years, Jim itineraries of congressional to Russia, but Foreign Affairs delegations abroad – often to the Chairman Ed Royce requested that grown, House Republicans have Denton, director of the World Affairs become increasingly exasperated Institute, has hosted regular meet- chagrin of staffers and lawmakers. he not do so at such a politically sensitive moment. On the trip, with Behrends’ exploits and the ups at his home and on the second During last April’s congressional trip unwelcome attention they bring to floor of the Monocle restaurant on which a staffer described as to Moscow, Behrends pulled aside “Dana’s weed legalization tour” – a the Foreign Affairs Committee, Capitol Hill to discuss transatlantic Rep. Hill after a public roundtable according to interviews with several relations. At the meet-ups—which cause the congressman supports – discussion and asked him to meet Rohrabacher traveled to meet with staffers and operatives, but draw think-tank types, with Akhmetshin and Veselnitskaya, Rohrabacher’s office, no stranger to congressional staffers, journalists the separatist leaders of Spain’s who huddled with the congressman Catalonia region and made waves controversy, simply shrugs. like Washington Post columnist and pitched him on a deal to end Anne Applebaum and government by declaring support for its “The congressman’s subcommittee Russia’s adoption ban, offering him independence. officials like Kurt Volker, who was opposition research on Bill Browder, oversees Europe and Russia, so tapped this month to lead the Trump the London-based investor who has Royce had pressured Rohrabacher Paul, being his chief foreign policy administration’s efforts to end the championed Magnitsky Act to add a stop in Madrid to meet with adviser and coordinator, is the conflict Ukraine—Behrends, sanctions against Russian officials. Spain’s national government, and contact point for any and all leaders attendees say, has become the sole when the delegation left Catalonia from the region, including the Orban consistent voice sympathetic to the Hill had no advance knowledge of and arrived in the Spanish capital, government,” said Grubbs. “It is his Kremlin’s worldview and intentions. the meeting, according to his they were berated by an angry job.” At one dinner at Denton’s home in spokeswoman, Caroline Thorman. official from the Ministry of Foreign December, Behrend confronted the “He was invited by Paul. Paul

John McCain, Republican senator from Arizona, diagnosed with brain tumor https://www.face The Mayo Clinic said doctors McCain, 80, has been away from for this kind of cancer is generally book.com/paul.kane.3367 diagnosed a tumor called a the Senate this week, recovering poor. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D- glioblastoma after surgery to from the surgery and undergoing Mass.) survived less than 15 9-12 minutes remove a blood clot above tests. His office issued a statement months after his was found in 2008. McCain’s left eye last week. The describing him “in good spirits” and McCain’s doctors said the “tissue of

senator and his family are noting that his doctors say his concern” was removed during the Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has considering treatment options, underlying health is excellent — but blood-clot procedure. been diagnosed with a brain tumor, including a combination of not indicating when he will return to his office said Wednesday, throwing chemotherapy and radiation, the Senate. [5 questions about the brain cancer into doubt when and if he will return according to the hospital. diagnosed in Sen. John McCain] to Washington to resume his duties Glioblastoma is an aggressive type in the Senate. of brain cancer, and the prognosis

Revue de presse américaine du 20 juillet 2017 39

Dr. Philip D. Pulaski, a neurologist critics, particularly on issues of president — reaches far across the compromising the nation’s security at The Neurology Center, explains foreign policy and national security. aisle. He is an iconic figure as by making nuclear deals with Iran what Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) beloved by Democrats as and pulling troops out of faces as he recovers from surgery Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said the Republicans. Afghanistan and Iraq. But McCain after having a blood clot removed news of McCain’s diagnosis was was also open to working with the from the area above his left eye. A announced during a meeting Almost every major bipartisan deal president to explore closing the neurologist explains what Sen. John between GOP senators and White of the last 15 years has come with detention facility at Guantanamo McCain (R-Ariz.) faces as he House staff on health care. Hoeven McCain’s backing, on issues Bay. That effort ultimately failed. recovers from surgery after having a said the news left the group in including immigration, outlawing blood clot removed from the area “stunned disbelief.” torture and the Senate’s internal McCain’s absence from the Senate above his left eye. (Video: Ashleigh rules. this week came as GOP leaders “It was very emotional,” Hoeven struggled to bring their failing push Joplin/Photo: Reuters/The said. “I think for all of us he’s a Democrats line up to travel with Washington Post) to rewrite the 2010 Affordable Care special person.” McCain overseas because foreign Act to a conclusion. Leaders had leaders treat him as if he’s a prime (Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Graham also attended the meeting intended to vote on a bill this week Post) minister, winning audiences that are but postponed their plans late and told others there that he had usually reserved for a secretary of spoken with McCain and described Saturday after McCain said he McCain’s significance inside state. would be out recovering from the Congress is hard to overstate — him as “resolved and determined.” His fights with fellow senators have surgery to remove the blood clot. and his absence, however long, will “He said, ‘I’m going to have to stay reverberate across the Capitol. been legendary, but so have his On Monday, McConnell scrapped here a little bit longer and take dealmaking skills. some treatments, but I’ll be back,’ ” plans to vote on the bill altogether The Arizonan’s illness leaves once it became clear it would not Senate Majority Leader Mitch Graham said of McCain. “He said, “Heartbreaking news,” wrote Sen. ‘I’ve been through worse,’ and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Twitter. have the support to pass even with McConnell (R-Ky.) — and by proxy McCain in town to vote. McCain had President Trump, who has openly basically then we started talking He said he “traveled the world” with about health care and the NDDA” — McCain and “learned a lot from him. voiced skepticism about the GOP mocked the Arizona senator — with “repeal and replace” plan. It was 51 votes, the barest of majorities at a reference to the National Defense Murphy added: “there is no one Authorization Act. tougher.” unclear that he would ever get to a time when Republicans are yes on it. divided on such issues as health McCain has staunchly defended In a written statement she posted care, taxes and defense spending. Trump’s national security team — on Twitter, McCain’s daughter, About 12,400 new cases of glioblastoma are expected in 2017, McCain’s absence would also he has particular respect for Meghan McCain, said the news of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and her father’s illness has “affected according to the American Brain deprive the Senate of its moral Tumor Association. It is the most conscience on many key issues, national security adviser H.R. every one of us in the McCain McMaster. But McCain has family.” She said they live with common of all malignant brain particularly in the ongoing tumors, and a tumor that more investigation of the Trump criticized the president for “anxiety about what comes next,” campaigning on a promise to fortify which they have endured before. commonly occurs in older adults campaign’s potential involvement in than younger people. Russian meddling in the 2016 the country’s defenses without, in McCain has a history of melanoma, campaign. his view, devoting enough money to a dangerous form of skin cancer. The Finance 202 newsletter the task. Colleagues from both parties She added, “it won’t surprise you to Your daily guide to where Wall reacted swiftly to McCain’s McCain has also criticized Trump’s learn that in all this, the one of us Street meets Washington. announcement with sadness and apparent affinity for Russia and its who is most confident and calm is encouragement. Trump exhorted president, Vladimir Putin, warning my father. He is the toughest Matthias Holdhoff, an associate McCain to “get well soon” and that Russia is an enemy that should person I know. The cruelest enemy professor at the Sidney Kimmel declared the senator a “fighter.” not be trusted and becoming one of could not break him.” Comprehensive Cancer Center at Former presidents Barack Obama the earliest Republicans to lend his Johns Hopkins, said the first step support to a congressional McCain’s absence could complicate after a diagnosis is to surgically and Bill Clinton both tweeted their the fate of the annual National good wishes. investigation of Russia’s ties to the remove as much of the glioblastoma election. Defense Authorization Act, massive as possible. But that can be difficult; McConnell said: “I know that he will legislation that McCain has played it is a tumor that spreads through face this challenge with the same “John McCain has always been a an outsized role in shepherding extensions into the tissue, “more extraordinary courage that has warrior. It’s who he is,” said House through Congress since he took like a mesh work than a lump.” characterized his life. The entire Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.). “I over as chairman of the Senate’s Senate family’s prayers are with know John is going to fight this with Armed Services Committee in 2015. “It’s not just a matter of the cancer, John, Cindy and his family, his staff, the same sheer force of will that has but where it is and what it’s doing to earned him the admiration of the From that perch, McCain has made the patient,” said Chevy Chase, and the people of Arizona he a name for himself attempting to represents so well. nation. And all of us, not as Md., oncologist Frederick Smith, Republicans or Democrats, but as hold contractors to account over speaking generally about “We all look forward to seeing this Americans, are behind him. The stalled projects while driving an glioblastomas and not specifically American hero again soon.” prayers of the whole House are with overhaul of the acquisition process. about McCain’s case. A blood clot Senator McCain and his family.” He has pushed for greater over the eye tends to indicate the [‘Give it hell’: Obama, lawmakers investments to improve the quality tumor was in the brain’s frontal lobe, react to John McCain’s cancer McCain’s formal title is chairman of and availability of materiel and which controls cognition among diagnosis] the Senate Armed Services training, an expansion of the U.S. other things, he said. Committee, but McConnell military footprint abroad, particularly McCain, a prisoner of war in essentially deputized him after his in hotspots like Afghanistan and Again speaking generally of patients Vietnam and a two-time presidential second presidential bid, in 2008, to Iraq, and an unprecedented focus with this diagnosis, they “might be candidate, is known for his run all national security issues for on improving the country’s ability to fine for a number of months or even unfiltered opinions and willingness Senate Republicans. safeguard against cyberthreats and years.” But they are never cured. to buck Republican Party orthodoxy. hacking. Along with Sen. Lindsey O. Graham But McCain’s standing — from his Lenny Bernstein, Laurie McGinley, (R-S.C.), perhaps his closest friend stature borne of overcoming torture McCain was relentless in his Kelsey Snell, Lena H. Sun and Ed in the Senate, McCain has become in Vietnam to his denunciations of criticism of Obama’s understanding O’Keefe contributed to this report. one of Trump’s leading Republican Trump as a candidate and as of national security, accusing him of Read more at PowerPost

Editorial : A Bad GOP Dream The Editorial Board 4-5 minutes

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July 19, 2017 7:23 p.m. ET the Executive Branch will not renew countries where they have no family processing fees and are ineligible or issue any new DACA or and little memory? for food stamps or Medicaid. The President Trump sometimes Expanded DACA permits in the federal government routinely claims campaigned on deporting every future,” and it threatens to sue if the Remember: Dreamers were brought to lack the funding and personnel to illegal immigrant in the U.S., but in Administration declines to act. The here as minors and are not remove convicted criminals from the office he has been measured and ringleader seems to be Ken Paxton criminals, and those who commit an U.S., yet the state AGs would charitable to those he calls the of Texas and the AG list includes offense forfeit their legal status dedicate scarce enforcement “incredible kids” who were brought Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia under DACA. A January Cato resources to going door-to-door in a to the U.S. as children. So it’s and Derek Schmidt of Kansas. Institute analysis by Ike Brannon University of Texas dorm. regrettable that Republican state says that Dreamers as employees politicians are trying to bully Mr. Earlier this year Homeland Security tend to “be younger, better The better solution is for Congress Trump into deporting tens of rolled back the Obama educated, and more highly paid to rewrite national immigration law thousands of young adults with no Administration’s Deferred Action for than the typical immigrant.” to recognize reality, including that it criminal record. Parents of Americans and Lawful isn’t a political winner to deport Permanent Residents, or DAPA, The average Dreamer is 22 and people brought to the country as Last month 10 state attorneys which usurped Congress’s law- holds a job, and many pay tuition for five-year-olds. A majority in both general wrote to Attorney General writing power and applied higher education. More than 15% parties would favor legalizing Jeff Sessions asking that the prosecutorial discretion to an entire are seeking an advanced degree. Dreamers as part of a border Secretary of Homeland Security end class of individuals. The courts Texas and other states rightly enforcement bill. The state AGs an Obama Administration program blocked that Obama order. claimed that under DAPA the feds have higher priorities than chasing known as Deferred Action for commandeered state resources down law-abiding young people Childhood Arrivals. DACA currently DACA has similar constitutional because they had to provide driver’s contributing to American society, allows about 750,000 individuals deficiencies, but the way to address licenses. But the states may be net and a lawsuit would be political brought to America as kids to stay them is through Congress, not by beneficiaries under DACA due to grandstanding rather than sensible in the U.S. for two years subject to Republicans suing a GOP President tuition payments. law enforcement. renewal without the threat of who didn’t write the law. There is deportation. These are the so-called also the legal question of what to do Cato’s Mr. Bannon adds that Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print Dreamers. now that the government has invited deporting the Dreamers would cost edition. individuals to identify themselves. Is $60 billion and even more to the The letter asks that the government it fair to coax them out of the U.S. economy, as the legal reprieve “rescind the June 15, 2012 DACA shadows and then deport them to allows many to enter the labor memorandum force. The cost of granting DACA and order that status is de minimis; applicants pay

Editorial : Betsy DeVos’s Due Process The Editorial “enabling rape deniers.” exculpatory evidence. Even when are tipped in favor of the accuser. A Board students are initially found not recent article in the Yale Journal of But Mrs. DeVos is right to consider guilty, their accusers can appeal the Law and the Humanities even 4 minutes the plight of the accused. The decision. Meanwhile, the Title IX argued that demanding due process Foundation for Individual Rights in adjudicators who make life- for accused students is a form of

Education estimates that more than changing determinations sometimes rape-culture propaganda that July 19, 2017 7:25 p.m. ET 170 students have brought legal have as little as five hours of “exclude[s] victims and their challenges against universities over training. advocates from having a voice in Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Title IX decisions. In more than 50 the discussion.” admitted last week that the completed cases, courts have sided Accused students suing their adjudication of campus sexual with the accused. college often invoke Title IX’s own Sexual assault charges deserve to assault is “an issue we’re not protections against gender bias, be investigated, but liberal getting right.” Before correcting Many of these lawsuits hinge on the saying universities discriminated academia is using Title IX to silence course, Mrs. DeVos is meeting with lack of due process for the accused. against male students, who account ideological opponents, often rape survivors, their advocates, The Obama Administration’s for 99% of those facing allegations complaining that peaceful dissent administrators—and even students infamous 2011 Dear Colleague of sexual assault, harassment or constitutes actionable harassment who say they were wrongly letter mandated that students can misconduct. Last week Columbia on the basis of gender or sexual punished under the Title IX law that be punished based on a University settled with Paul orientation. Mrs. DeVos is right to covers such cases. “preponderance of evidence,” a Nungesser, the man accused of revisit the Obama-era guidance that burden of proof far less rigorous sexual assault by Emma Sulkowicz, has turned the law into an Far from seeing the wisdom in this than the earlier “clear and who famously hauled a mattress ideological weapon, and part of that multitude of counsels, progressives convincing evidence” standard. around campus for months to is learning from its victims. are outraged. Pennsylvania Sen. publicize her charges. The Bob Casey complained that That same Dear Colleague letter Appeared in the July 20, 2017, print also “strongly discourages” cross university cleared Mr. Nungesser, meetings with the latter group but his lawsuit claimed the edition. constitute a “slap in the face to the examination, which it says “may be traumatic or intimidating” to alleged university abetted her “gender- victims of campus sexual assault,” based harassment” against him. while Guardian columnist Jessica victims. The accused frequently lack Valenti accused legal counsel and have often been In higher ed these days, it’s taboo to the secretary of prevented from presenting admit that current Title IX tribunals Philips: The Democratic Party’s Billion-Dollar Mistake Steve Phillips focus on wooing voters who allied progressive organizations In spring 2016, when the supported Donald Trump, it is spent more than $1.8 billion. The progressive independent 6-8 minutes neglecting the cornerstone of its effectiveness of that staggering expenditure groups first outlined coalition and failing to take the amount of money, however, was their plans for $200 million in

steps necessary to win back the undermined by a strategic error: spending, they did not allocate any Doug Chayka House of Representatives and state prioritizing the pursuit of wavering money at all for mobilizing black houses in 2018. whites over investing in and voters (some money was slotted for The Democratic Party is at risk of inspiring African-American voters, radio and digital advertising aimed repeating the billion-dollar blunder In the 2016 election, the Democratic who made up 24 percent of Barack at blacks, but none for hiring human that helped create its devastating Party committees that support Obama’s winning coalition in 2012. beings to get out the vote). losses of 2016. With its obsessive Senate and House candidates and

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Predictably, African-American demanding time and attention. Stein parties’ total increased by Too many Democrats sit out turnout plummeted. According to about 202,000 votes over 2012. midterm elections (in 2014, drop-off new census data, 59.6 percent of In Georgia’s Sixth Congressional was slightly over 40 percent). Those eligible black voters cast ballots last District special election last month, The Democratic Party committees infrequent but Democratic voters year, down from the 66 percent who the Democratic nominee, Jon and its allies are likely to spend hold the key to the balance of power voted in 2012. The problem cannot Ossoff, raised a record $23 million more than $750 million on the 2018 in America. Democrats need to pick simply be attributed to the absence and spent dollar after dollar to cast midterms. Will they spend it up 24 seats to take control of the of Mr. Obama on the ticket: A himself as a moderate in a failed fruitlessly trying to lure Trump House, and there are 28 slightly higher percentage of black attempt to appeal to Republican voters, or will they give uninspired Republican-held seats in districts voters, 60 percent, turned out for voters. black Democrats a reason to vote Hillary Clinton won or nearly won. If and offer disaffected Obama- John Kerry in 2004, than cast The Democratic Party’s fixation on Republican turnout drops by the 36 ballots last year. In Wisconsin and Johnstein voters a reason to return percent that it did the last time a pursuing those who voted for Mr. to the fold? Pennsylvania, the tens of thousands Trump is a fool’s errand because it’s Republican held the White House, of African-Americans who voted in trying to fix the wrong problem. Democrats have an opportunity in Democrats need to get 951,000 2012 but didn’t vote in 2016 far Although some Democratic voters 2018 because of the significant drop-offs to vote again in those 28 exceeded the minuscule losing (in particular, white working-class enthusiasm gap between the districts. Civic engagement experts margins for Hillary Clinton. voters in Rust Belt states) probably parties. By concentrating their have found that an effective did swing to the Republicans, the firepower on inspiring, organizing canvassing and mobilization Nonetheless, Democrats seem to program costs about $50 per be doubling down on their 2016 bigger problem was the large and mobilizing people who voted for number of what I call “Obama- Hillary Clinton to vote again in 2018, infrequent voter who actually casts strategy. In January, the Senate a ballot. Democratic Caucus trooped to West Johnstein” voters — people who Democrats can take back the Virginia for its annual retreat. supported Mr. Obama in 2012 but House and also win the governor’s By that metric, it would cost $47.6 According to published reports, the then voted for Gary Johnson, the office in six key states — Arizona, million to get enough infrequent senators heard from panels of Libertarian candidate, or Jill Stein, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan voters to the polls in the 28 voters who had once voted for Mr. the Green Party candidate, last year and Wisconsin — for a fraction of congressional districts that will Obama but then chose Donald (according to the exit polls, 43 their $750 million budget, less than determine which party holds the Trump. percent of them were nonwhite). $100 million. House. In the six battleground-state contests for governors, the cost to The Democratic National In Wisconsin, for example, the In the congressional special Democratic vote total dropped by elections and primaries for governor bring out the necessary number of Committee’s “Unity Tour,” featuring infrequent voters is $42.1 million. the committee chairman, Thomas nearly 235,000, while Mr. Trump got this year, just 39 percent of the Perez, and Senator Bernie Sanders, only about the same number of Republicans who voted in the 2016 The country is under conservative included visits to overwhelmingly votes as Mr. Romney in 2012. The presidential election came back out assault because Democrats white states like Kentucky, Maine, bigger surge in that state was for to vote this year, while 57 percent of mistakenly sought support from Nebraska and Utah. Meanwhile, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Stein, who Democratic voters returned to the conservative white working-class African-American women — who together won about 110,000 polls. That’s a normal pattern for voters susceptible to racially voted at a rate of 94 percent for additional votes than the candidates midterm elections: The in-power charged appeals. Replicating that Mrs. Clinton last year, the party’s of their respective parties had party almost always sees a sizable strategy would be another most loyal voting bloc — had to received in 2012. And in Michigan, drop-off in enthusiasm. catastrophic blunder. write a letter to Mr. Perez which Mrs. Clinton lost by fewer than 11,000 votes, the Johnson- Milbank: Democrats finally have an agenda. Here’s what it looks like. https://www.face Now Democrats are trying to fix that Clinton’s. This will be purely an some to be introduced as legislation book.com/danam — and not a moment too soon. economic message. and some to be offered as Contract ilbank With America-style promises that a On Monday, I am told, They also resisted invitations to Democratic Congress would 6-7 minutes congressional Democrats — in the steer the party toward the center (as implement. Schumer told me in Senate and the House together — pollster Mark Penn advised) or in a December that Democrats would

will roll out a legislative policy more progressive agenda. This is have “five, six sharp-edged “The Democrats,” Vice President agenda, their de facto 2018 meant to be a populist manifesto [policies] that can be described in Pence said recently, “have already campaign platform. The details, that doesn’t conform to the left/right five words,” although it sounds as if settled on their agenda, and it can after months of haggling and cat- debate but instead aims to align the plan hasn’t come out quite so be summed up in one word: resist.” herding, could yet disappoint, but Democrats with ordinary, middle- lean. the broad outlines as described to class Americans fighting powerful He isn’t the only one with that view me are exactly what the doctor special interests. The goal is to avoid repeating of Democrats. In the latest ordered. Clinton’s problem in 2016. She had Washington Post-ABC News poll, Titled “A Better Deal: Better Skills, so many proposals, and she only 37 percent of Americans think Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Better Jobs, Better Wages,” it is scratched the itches of so many the Democratic Party “stands for Schumer promised Democrats will expected to have many Democratic Democratic constituencies, that she something,” while 52 percent say it fight Republicans' proposed health- staples — tax increases on the rich, lacked a coherent economic “just stands against Trump.” care bill on June 27 at the Capitol. affordable college, infrastructure message. The full-throated populist Schumer on health care: 'We're spending, higher wages, job agenda should also make it harder The Democratic Congressional going to fight the bill tooth and nail' training, paid family leave and the for President Trump to claim that he Campaign Committee, the House (Peter Stevenson/The Washington like — and a few new ones. is the one fighting special interests, Democrats’ campaign arm, seemed Post) Hashed out over several months by which he did to great effect against to admit as much two weeks ago Clinton. when it sent supporters an email (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Senate Minority Leader Chuck with the proposed slogan: Post) Schumer (N.Y.) and Sen. Chris Van Democrats have been little but the Hollen (Md.), with House Minority “Democrats 2018: Have you seen As important as what’s in it is what’s anti-Trump party lately, successfully the other guys?” Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), DCCC fighting his legislative agenda, not. Democrats jettisoned social Chairman Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), and foreign policy issues for this particularly health care, and raising Read These Comments and Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.), a ruckus about the Russia scandal exercise, eschewing the identity Cheri Bustos (Ill.) and David The best conversations on The politics and box-checking that has and Trump’s other outrages. The Cicilline (R.I.), it will be outlined danger is that an impression Washington Post plagued Democratic campaigns in Monday with a few sample the past, most recently Hillary solidifies among voters that the proposals, to be followed in the party has nothing else to say. coming weeks by more proposals,

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As if to illustrate the point, 23 liberal and if the United States had a DeBonis and Emily Guskin point congressional Republicans are now: House Democrats announced parliamentary system. out, more Republicans and in power but without a popular Wednesday morning that they were Republican-leaning independents mandate for their agenda. filing a “resolution of no confidence” A reporter asked Rep. Steve Cohen (65 percent) say they will definitely in Trump. It contains no fewer than (Tenn.), sponsor of the no- vote next year than Democrats and On Wednesday, I asked Rep. Linda 88 “whereas” clauses (whereas “the confidence resolution, if he was Democratic-leaning independents Sánchez (Calif.), the No. 5 embassy of Kuwait held its national focusing too much on Trump over (57 percent). To boost Democratic Democrat in the House, about the day celebration at Trump jobs. “Bubble-gum chew and walk at turnout, the party needs to be more search for a unified agenda, and International,” and whereas “Trump the same time,” he recommended. than just anti-Trump. she bristled. “We’re not searching for an agenda,” she replied. referred to United States Senator Except Democrats haven’t been Elizabeth Warren as Even if it doesn’t help their electoral “Democrats have always known doing both. Some think they don’t prospects, Democrats need a clear what we stood for.” ‘Pocahontas’ ”). The idea might have to, because polls show that work — if Democrats had a majority agenda so they can govern if they voters prefer a Democratic do win. If they win without a sharp They just did a really good job of Congress. But as The Post’s Mike agenda, they would end up where keeping it under wraps.

Klain : The one area where Trump has been wildly successful By Ronald A. than double the totals of Reagan, Alabama law that denied counsel to oppose these changes in the Klain Bush 41 and Clinton — death-row inmates. process — and, if they lose these combined. For the Courts of fights, insist that any new laxity 13-16 minutes Appeals — the final authority for 95 Progressives who are increasingly should apply when a future percent of federal cases — no counting on the federal courts to be Democratic president sends

president before Trump named a bulwark against Trump’s initiatives nominees to the Senate. Progressives breathed a sigh of more than three judges whose will increasingly find those courts relief recently when Justice Anthony nominations were processed in his stocked with judges picked by, and Second, Democrats need to M. Kennedy decided to remain on first six months; Trump has named in sync with, Trump. With federal overcome their historic unease the Supreme Court for presumably nine. Trump is on pace to more than judges serving for life, one might about working closely with at least one more year. But no double the number of federal judges think that the process of progressive legal groups. The pace matter how long Kennedy stays, a nominated by any president in his dramatically changing the makeup and conservatism of Trump’s massive transformation is underway first year. of the federal judiciary would take a judicial nominees reflect his close in how our fundamental rights are long time. But given Trump’s alliance with a conservative group, defined by the federal judiciary. For Read These Comments unprecedented pace, in just one the Federalist Society. But in the while President Trump is more year, one-eighth of all cases past, Democrats in the White House The best conversations on The filed in federal court will be heard by and on Capitol Hill have been incompetent at countless aspects of Washington Post his job, he is proving wildly a judge he appointed. reluctant to form a similar alliance successful in one respect: naming Moreover, Trump’s picks are with the Federalist Society’s With the abolition of the filibuster, progressive counterpart, the youthful conservative nominees to astoundingly young. Obama’s early Trump’s nominees need only the the federal bench in record-setting Court of Appeals nominees American Constitution Society, to votes of Republican senators to win identify potential judicial numbers. averaged age 55; Trump’s nine confirmation. Yes, if Kennedy picks average 48. That means, on nominees. (Disclosure: I have long Trump’s predecessors all slowly resigns and Trump nominates been active in the ACS.) When the average, Trump’s appellate court someone who might overturn Roe v. ramped up their judicial nominations nominees will sit through nearly two Democrats regain control over the during their first six months in Wade, pro-choice Republicans nomination or confirmation process, more presidential terms than could balk; and a few of Trump’s office. Ronald Reagan named Obama’s. Many of Trump’s judicial they need to be as enthusiastic Sandra Day O’Connor to the most outrageous lower-court about working with the ACS and nominees will be deciding the scope nominations might be unnerving Supreme Court and made five of our civil liberties and the shape of other progressive groups as lower-court nominations in that enough to attract GOP opposition. Republicans have been about their civil rights laws in the year 2050 — But the reality is that most of period; George H.W. Bush made and beyond. alliance with the Federalist Society. four lower-court nominations; Bill Trump’s rapid-fire, right-wing, Clinton named Ruth Bader How conservative are Trump’s youthful lower-court nominations And finally, nothing is more Ginsburg to the high court but no picks? Dubbed “polemicists in are poised to make it to the bench. important than taking back the Senate in 2018. The only thing that lower-court judges; and George W. robes” in a headline on a piece by What can Democrats do? Bush named four lower-court judges Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick, Trump’s can stop the Trump train of judicial who were processed by the Senate nominees are strikingly . . . First, they need to contest every transformation is a Senate Judiciary (plus more than a dozen others sent Trumpian. One Trump nominee procedural change the Republicans Committee in Democratic back to him and later renominated). blogged that Kennedy was a are making to speed Trump’s hands. Absent that, the next two The most successful early actor, “judicial prostitute” for trying to find nominees. Republican leaders are generations of Americans will live Barack Obama, named Sonia a middle ground on the court, and threatening to curtail “blue slip” under laws interpreted by hundreds Sotomayor to the Supreme Court said that he “strongly disagree[d]” rights that allow senators to block of judges picked by the president and nine lower-court judges who with the court’s decision striking unacceptable home-state with the greatest disdain for the rule were confirmed. down prosecution of gay people nominees; Trump is nominating of law in our history. under sodomy laws. Another candidates before they are What about Trump? He not only put Ronald A. Klain, a Post contributing equated the Supreme Court’s reviewed by the American Bar columnist, served as a senior White Neil M. Gorsuch in the Supreme decision in Roe v. Wade, upholding Association; Judiciary Committee Court vacancy created by Merrick House aide to both Presidents a woman’s right to choose to have Republicans are arguing that Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and Garland’s blocked confirmation, but an abortion, to the court’s 19th- nominees’ writings, legal he also selected 27 lower-court was a senior adviser to Hillary century Dred Scott finding that black representations and public Clinton’s 2016 campaign. judges as of mid-July. Twenty- people could not be U.S. statements are irrelevant to seven! That’s three times Obama’s citizens. Another advocated an confirmation. Democrats should total and more Will : What is the future of the Air Force? https://www.face 5-7 minutes It is said that America’s armed For the Air Force, however, the high book.com/george forces have been stressed by 16 tempo of combat operations began will years of constant warfare, the 26 years ago, with enforcement of MONTGOMERY, Ala. longest such in the nation’s history. no-fly zones in Iraq after Desert

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Storm. With an acute pilot shortage, became Army chief of staff, asked a capable of loitering over a contested speed of light, 186,000 miles a particularly in the fighter pilot two-star general in the horse area to conduct “find, fix, finish” second. It is preferable to shoot community, and with a shortfall cavalry how he planned to adapt to missions for up to 48 hours without down an enemy’s cruise missiles, approaching 4,000 among the challenges of tanks and planes. refueling. which cost a few hundred thousand maintenance and staffing The two-star, who replied that the dollars, with space-, ground- and personnel, the service is, as Air horses should be carried to the front When military air power was born a sea-based DE weapons rather than Force Secretary Heather Wilson in trailers so they would arrive century ago, just before World War with defensive missile interceptors says, “too small for what the nation rested, was retired in 1942. I, the hope was that it would save costing up to $20 million apiece. expects of it.” casualties by preventing what that Kwast notes that in 1940 the Navy war quickly became, a slog of The Air University’s military At the Air University here at Maxwell was preparing to devote most of its attrition. But in World War II, air intellectuals are impressive enough Air Force Base, officers are budget to building the sort of power was used to attack civilians to be forgiven for using “architect” studying what expectations are battleships that had been “kings of in order to destroy morale and as a verb: Hitler was defeated using reasonable. Technological the sea” since President Theodore damage the enemy’s capacity to great violence, but it would be better sophistication — America’s and that Roosevelt sent the Great White wage industrial-era war. Now, says to architect responses to threats by of near-peer adversaries (Russia Fleet around the world. After Pearl Kwast, war is shaped by the digital projecting power in ways that are and China) — is changing Harbor, the Navy turned toward networked age, when power does less expensive and much more capabilities. This, and the political aircraft carriers and away from big not flow in industrial-age channels. efficient than even today’s and military primitivism of some battleships. Twenty years earlier, U.S. forces can spend millions to kill precision-guided weapons — never adversaries (e.g., the Islamic State), Gen. Billy Mitchell had used an one high-value target in Syria, mind World War II gravity bombs, is reshaping the environment in airplane to sink a battleship, but where the enemy, for a few hundred 80 percent of which fell at least which air power operates, and the changing the trajectory of military dollars, can recruit 10 men who flow 1,000 feet from their targets. purposes of this power. The thinking, and hence procurement, up from entry-level positions. traditional U.S. approach to warfare often requires changing a service’s Viewed from the not-too-distant — dominance achieved by mass of viscous culture. Only the United States has the future, Kwast says, today’s Air force produced by the nation’s capacity to be, as retired Adm. Gary Force, although it is a century industrial might — is of limited Kwast wonders: What are the Roughead and Kori Schake say in a distant from the Flanders trenches, relevance. horses and battleships of our age? Brookings Institution study, might seem to have dug into the Some say: aircraft carriers, because “guarantors of the global commons equivalent of trench warfare by Read These Comments they are too vulnerable to long- — the seaways and airways, and operating below the altitude of range weapons and too expensive now the cyber conduits.” Nuclear 70,000 feet. Such thoughts are The best conversations on The for the budget constraints of weapons are still essentially a 70- considered here at a university Washington Post America’s entitlement state. Also, year-old technology delivered by a where “trigger warnings” and “safe Lt. Gen. Steven L. Kwast, president some say, remotely piloted aircraft, 60-year-old technology, ballistic spaces” are serious matters. of the Air University, recalls that a.k.a. drones, flown from, say, missiles. Before long there will be Gen. George Marshall, who in 1939 Nevada are many times cheaper space-based sensors and directed- than most manned aircraft and are energy (DE) weapons — war at the Clement: I’m a scientist. I’m blowing the whistle on the Trump administration. By Joel Clement Reluctantly, as of today, I am also a to quit in response to undesirable this danger. Our country values the whistleblower on an administration transfers. Some of my colleagues safety of our citizens, and federal 6-8 minutes that chooses silence over science. are being relocated across the employees who disclose threats to country, at taxpayer expense, to health and safety are protected from

Nearly seven years ago, I came to serve in equally ill-fitting jobs. reprisal by the Whistleblower On July 19, the former top climate work for the Interior Department, Protection Act and Whistleblower policy official at the Department of where, among other things, I’ve I believe I was retaliated against for Protection Enhancement Act. Interior filed a complaint and a helped endangered communities in speaking out publicly about the whistleblower disclosure form with Alaska prepare for and adapt to a dangers that climate change poses Removing a civil servant from his the Office of Special Counsel. The changing climate. But on June 15, I to Alaska Native communities. area of expertise and putting him in official, Joel Clement, says the was one of about 50 senior During the months preceding my a job where he’s not needed and his Trump administration is threatening department employees who reassignment, I raised the issue experience is not relevant is a public health and safety by trying to received letters informing us of with White House officials, senior colossal waste of taxpayer dollars. silence scientists like him. On July involuntary reassignments. Citing a Interior officials and the international Much more distressing, though, is 19, former top climate policy official need to “improve talent community, most recently at a U.N. what this charade means for at the Department of Interior Joel development, mission delivery and conference in June. It is clear to me American livelihoods. The Alaska Clement, filed a complaint and a collaboration,” the letter informed that the administration was so Native villages of Kivalina, whistleblower disclosure form. me that I was reassigned to an uncomfortable with this work, and Shishmaref and Shaktoolik are (Adriana Usero, Kate unrelated job in the accounting my disclosures, that I was perilously close to melting into the Woodsome/The Washington Post) office that collects royalty checks reassigned with the intent to coerce Arctic Ocean. In a region that is from fossil fuel companies. me into leaving the federal warming twice as fast as the rest of (Adriana Usero,Kate government. the planet, the land upon which Woodsome/The Washington Post) Evening Edition newsletter citizens’ homes and schools stand On Wednesday, I filed two forms — The day's most important stories. is newly vulnerable to storms, floods By Joel Clement July 19 at 4:10 PM a complaint and a disclosure of and waves. As permafrost melts I am not an accountant — but you information — with the U.S. Office and protective sea ice recedes, Joel Clement was director of the of Special Counsel. I filed the Office of Policy Analysis at the U.S. don’t have to be one to see that the these Alaska Native villages are administration’s excuse for a disclosure because eliminating my one superstorm from being washed Interior Department until last week. role coordinating federal He is now a senior adviser at the reassignment such as mine doesn’t away, displacing hundreds of add up. A few days after my engagement and leaving my former Americans and potentially costing department’s Office of Natural position empty exacerbate the Resources Revenue. reassignment, Interior Secretary lives. The members of these Ryan Zinke testified before already significant threat to the communities could soon become I am not a member of the deep Congress that the department health and the safety of certain refugees in their own country. state. I am not big government. would use reassignments as part of Alaska Native communities. I filed its effort to eliminate employees; the the complaint because the Trump Alaska’s elected officials know I am a scientist, a policy expert, a only reasonable inference from that administration clearly retaliated climate change presents a real risk civil servant and a worried citizen. testimony is that he expects people against me for raising awareness of to these communities. Gov. Bill

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Walker (I) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski every president, regardless of party, investigation into the Interior hope that I would be quiet or quit. (R) have been sounding the alarm has the right and responsibility to Department’s actions. Our country Born and raised in Maine, I was and scrambling for resources to implement his policies. But that is protects those who seek to inform taught to work hard and speak truth help these villages. But to stave off not what is happening here. Putting others about dangers to American to power. Trump and Zinke might a life-threatening situation, Alaska citizens in harm’s way isn’t the lives. The threat to these Alaska kick me out of my office, but they needs the help of a fully engaged president’s right. Silencing civil Native communities is not can’t keep me from speaking out. federal government. Washington servants, stifling science, theoretical. This is not a policy They might refuse to respond to the cannot turn its back. squandering taxpayer money and debate. Retaliation against me for reality of climate change, but their spurning communities in the face of those disclosures is unlawful. abuse of power cannot go While I have given small amounts to imminent danger have never made unanswered. Democratic candidates in the past, I America great. Let’s be honest: The Trump have no problem whatsoever administration didn’t think my years working for a Republican Now that I have filed with the Office of science and policy experience administration. I of Special Counsel, it is my hope were better suited to accounts believe that that it will do a thorough receivable. It sidelined me in the Editorial : Trump's 'Made in America' spin manufactured in fantasyland The Editorial his daughter Ivanka is actually — is going to support a healthy dose of companies would hire significantly Board, USA TODAY well, you know — made in America. imports. more workers if they were just allowed to pollute more. 4-5 minutes Or perhaps it is an oversight that Absent tax code changes that Actually, pulling out of the Paris will only cast more light on the encourage consumers to save and Agreement will do far more to stir

aforementioned outsourcing. invest, the push for Made in resentment of America in potential America is a bit like the promotion President Donald Trump hosted a With President Trump, you never export markets than it will to 'Made in America' product of healthy foods in the create jobs at home. know. Seemingly oblivious to the Obama administration. Yes, showcase at the White House on irony, he has spent the week Monday, an event that celebrated Americans should eat better. And, The second is a more complex gamely promoting U.S.-made yes, it is a good thing to buy matter. But compared with previous American-made products, according products ranging from horseshoes to the administration. AP American. But people don’t like trade deals, the TPP has less to do to firetrucks to guitars. lectures on what they with manufacturing than it does with Push is a bit like the promotion Made in America Week follows the consume. And they don’t like being financial services, copyright of healthy foods in the same general approach told to buy something that protection, pharmaceuticals and Obama administration: Our view of President Ford's WIN buttons might be more expensive, high-tech. By pulling out, the United especially if they are struggling to States has hampered some of its President Trump in a firetruck at the (snappy little red-and-white fashion items that stood for "Whip Inflation make ends meet. most promising export industries White House on July 17, while encouraging Asian nations to 2017.(Photo: Michael Reynolds, Now"). They both confront a In some ways, Trump's little bit complex problem that presidents seek their own epa) of ceremony is worse than prior agreements with China. have little control over with a ones because it provides Welcome to “Made in America campaign that pretends to be doing justification for his But far be it from us to spoil the Week,” the White House effort something about it. misguided environmental and fun. It's Made in America Week, so to celebrate domestic products. Fact is, American manufacturing trade polices, most notably his let's all celebrate. Might we Perhaps this is a brilliant ruse to employment has been battered by decisions to withdraw from the Paris suggest a nice Asian-made necktie obscure the fact that virtually none powerful forces of technology and climate accord and the Trans- from the Donald J. Trump of the clothing lines, fashion globalization. And any free and Pacific Partnership. collection? accessories or home décor items prosperous country with The first of these actions is based marketed by either Donald Trump or an economy based on consumption on the fallacy that American Navarro : Donald Trump: Made in America presidency Peter Navarro confronting American workers and responding by dramatically boosting are owed, and we are working to Published 5:36 p.m. ET July 19, manufacturers. their workforce training initiatives. ensure that counterfeiters and 2017 | Updated 6:53 p.m. ET July pirates cannot smuggle their goods 19, 2017 Since 2000, the year before China OUR VIEW: into our markets. entered the World Trade 3 minutes Organization, the United States has President Trump’s decision to Finally, President Trump has lost more than 60,000 factories — withdraw from the disastrous Paris withdrawn from the job-killing Trans- not jobs, entire factories. climate accord will save the U.S. Pacific Partnership and instructed economy an estimated 6.5 million the U.S. trade representative to President Donald Trump hosted a President Trump has been hard at industrial-sector jobs, and his 'Made in America' product improve our trade deals with the work to save our jobs and revive regulatory rollbacks have already NAFTA region and South Korea. showcase at the White House on manufacturing. saved more than $60 billion in Monday, an event that celebrated Our trading partners are on notice unnecessary costs for American that the president will approve deals American-made products, according He signed an executive order companies. to the administration. AP targeting the abusive use of waivers only if they are good for American and exceptions to “Buy American” He has unleashed America’s energy workers. This will be truly a Made in laws, which are meant to prioritize potential — a great boon for This is “Made in America Week,” America presidency: Opposing U.S. government spending on American manufacturers and view and the president’s actions have American companies, and we are consumers. And employment in the already shown that this will be truly President Trump introduces already seeing strong results. coal industry is up, contrary to the a Made in America presidency. products made in America on July cynics’ forecast. He signed an executive order Peter Navarro is director of the 17, 2017.(Photo: Michael Reynolds, promoting more flexible He has empowered the Department epa) White House National Trade apprenticeships to fully equip our of Homeland Security to enforce our Council. The cynics criticizing “Made in workers for the jobs of the future. laws to put the needs of American America” show just how out of touch Around the country, companies are workers first. We are finally on a they are with the challenges path to collect the import duties we

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Senator Tammy Duckworth: Trump is derelict in his duty Tammy I retired from military service in came under cyberattack partnering with the Russians on a Duckworth 2014, but during my 23 years, I so-called "cybersecurity unit" to regularly trained and participated in by Russia, a known adversary, the protect America from election 6-7 minutes exercises to keep our military commander in chief is derelict in his hacking, and then abruptly took it prepared to fight at the Fulda Gap. duty to recognize definitively that back.

That area in Germany is Russia is working against us. Story highlights Last week, we learned the one of the avenues of approach After one of the the most blatant President's closest advisers and his attacks on our democracy to date,  Tammy Duckworth: In son knowingly and gleefully sought that the former USSR would likely he has taken no steps to punish help from people they thought were and out of uniform, I've have used to launch a kinetic strike Putin and protect the nation. always held a deep -- Russian government officials who (a military strike involving lethal Despite the fact that defense and were trying to interfere in our nonpartisan -- concern for force) against the West. Nearly all intelligence experts agree that the security of our country election. President Trump is now Americans who've served in the last Russian hacking and meddling changing his tune 50 years have taken part in similar present a clear and present danger,  That concern is why I am exercises, because our military our commander in chief continues and claiming, so appalled that our leaders — and commanders in chief to deny the evidence, commander in chief from both political parties — "Most people would have taken that refuses to recognize that recognized the threats posed to our takes Putin's word meeting." Note his language; he Russia is working against country by the Soviet Union's, and refers to a potentially traitorous act us as more credible than all our later Russia's, expansionist desires. with the business euphemism national intelligence agencies "taking a meeting" and he doesn't Tammy Duckworth is a Democratic When I enlisted in the 1990s, our combined, and claim that it was legal or the right senator from Illinois. She is an Iraq main security concerns with the thing to do. He only gives his War veteran, Purple Heart recipient, refuses to even admit USSR were the threat of ground opinion that most people would do and former assistant secretary of invasion of our allies in Europe, and directly that Russia is responsible it. the Department of Veterans Affairs the threat their stockpile of nuclear for meddling in our elections. under the Obama administration. weapons posed to our own nation. I would not do it. My moral compass The views expressed in this After the demise of the USSR and For a full year, candidate and then tells me that such a thing is wrong. I commentary are solely those of the its Cold War ideological struggle President Trump and his team have do not believe that most American author. with democratic nations, former denied any connection or collusion people would do it, either. between his campaign and the (CNN)When I enlisted in the United KGB officer Vladimir Putin has Russian government, all while The President has also stated that States Armed Forces in 1992, I shifted Russia's focus toward failing to do anything to counter there is nothing wrong with his son's swore an oath — the same oath espionage, hacking and cracking, their persistent attacks against our actions because "nothing happened members of my family dating back and destabilizing democracies to democracy, our electoral institutions from the meeting" -- in other words, to the Revolution had sworn — to support the expansionist goals of and our nation's standing in the he didn't get any good dirt on Hillary protect and defend our Constitution their country, and personal profit for world. Clinton out of it. That's a peculiar against all enemies, foreign and their leaders. The wolf may put on defense that rings as hollow as a domestic and to "bear true faith and slightly different clothing, but it is Instead, he honored Russia's bank robber pleading his innocence allegiance to the same." I also still a wolf. Russia is not our friend. foreign minister with a private Oval because the teller didn't happen to pledged to follow the orders of the This past January, I swore a slightly Office meeting where he have any money in the till. It doesn't officers appointed above me, as different oath and began my first even pass the laugh test. well as the President of the United reportedly term in the United States Senate. States. Some things must rise above petty That oath still includes defending disclosed highly sensitive partisanship. All Americans should In 2004, I lost my legs fighting in a the Constitution against all enemies, intelligence and put lives in danger. be unified against foreign attempts war with which I disagreed, and foreign and domestic. His administration is also working to influence our government. And following orders from a President for Whether in or out of uniform, I've behind the scenes every American should expect their whom I did not vote. always held a deep concern for the commander in chief to put this to weaken a Russian and Iran nation's security above personal, That oath, this country and its security and safety of our country— sanctions bill that the Senate financial, or political gain. Sadly, it institutions meant more to me than and it's never been partisan. That passed with overwhelming support. seems one of the few people who any political party could, and they concern is why I was flying that Just last weekend, he bizarrely disagrees is the man who currently still do. It didn't matter who Blackhawk over Iraq in 2004, and sits at the Resolute Desk. occupied the Oval Office. it's why as a US senator I am so suggested appalled that after our nation's voting system

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