The United States swings back and forth between being isolationist and accepting its role as a world superpower. We were reluctant to enter World War I, a European war. We were dragged into World War II by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. But after entering these wars, we eventually got our heads straight and went on to help win both.
In the case of WWII, imagine a world where Hitler won. Thankfully, instead of worldwide Nazi domination, we developed the United Nations, NATO and a host of other partnerships to keep world peace. Now, we are in the process of unraveling 79 years of that peace, democracy building and yes, our role as a world leader.
Thanks to the Republican Party, it looks like we’ll be abandoning Ukraine, which will cause that country to lose its war against Russia. It’s scaring our European friends, who are beginning to understand we aren’t a good and faithful ally. It’s emboldening Vladimir Putin, who realizes that he can outlast our intervention and take over Ukraine. Donald Trump’s comment that Putin can do what he wants with our NATO allies who have not paid their defense costs incentivizes the Russian despot to do just that.
Trump, who seems to be owned by Putin, is the single most dangerous threat to our democracy since the founding of this country. News reports exist about money from Russia’s spy agency going to German banks that have in turn financed Trump’s enterprises. At one point, after going bankrupt several times, Trump had to go overseas in search of financing because U.S. banks considered him too big a financial risk. For some reason, other than a few stories, the apparent security risk of having a president whose enterprises are owned by Russian banks has not bothered anyone.
Imagine this: If Trump was a security risk before, how much greater a security risk does he pose now that he faces a $500 million debt due in 30 days? Will he get financing from the Saudis, the Russian government, Russian oligarchs or multiple foreign countries eager to own a U.S. president? He will surely be happy to accept someone else’s money to get out of this hole. Isn’t that the “Art of the Deal?”
Russian fingerprints are all over our democracy. Former FBI informant Alexander Smirnov created a fake bribery scheme in an attempt to ruin President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, which Republicans in Congress were only too happy to champion. Smirnov is now behind bars because he’s deemed a flight risk. Where would he run, back to Mother Russia?
Reginald J. Clyne, Esq.
The Russians and Chinese used our open communications systems to plant ideas on social media to turn the country against Democrats in the last two elections. Both of those foreign nations have closed internet systems that block outside stories from filtering into their countries. We, on the other hand, let everyone have access to our minds, including the Chinese-owned TikTok. Fox News and conservative newscasters have become mouthpieces for our foreign adversaries.
When this country faced outside threats in the past, we unified to fight back. Now, we have one party supporting Russia against our democracy. We are a house divided and it appears that we shall surely fall.
We need a strong, dynamic and brilliant leader who can counter Trump’s craziness and the cold, calculating minds of Putin and Xi Jinping. Our new leader needs to have an iron will to fight two ruthless individuals who will stop at nothing to topple our worldwide dominance. Right now, we look like a small child under the thumb of two bullies trying to take away our lunch money. We are simply sitting on the sidewalk and crying.
If we do not act, we will see a new world order that does not exercise democracy, truth and goodness at its core, but rather an insatiable desire to destroy every democratic institution built up since WWII to sustain a peaceful balance of power.
If we don’t fund Ukraine soon Putin will win and, like a ravenous wolf, he will invade other countries. China may likely invade Taiwan. Then, we’ll be faced with a decision: Do we live up to our commitments to our allies? Or do we turn tortoise and hide in our shell and say these are not America’s problems? Our Asian allies think we’ve become weak. Our European allies have already lost faith in us. Our Middle Eastern allies don’t trust us either, and are infuriated by our inability or unwillingness to control Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
God save our country.
Reginald J. Clyne is a Miami trial lawyer who has practiced in some of the largest law firms in the United States. He has been in practice since 1987 and tries cases in both state and federal courts. Clyne has lived in Africa, Brazil, Honduras and Nicaragua.