Unexpurgated (as told by deep throat)
MY deadline approaches and the White House will neither confirm nor deny the following first-person account of my deep-throat source. One senior official at the US Embassy in Manila speaking “off the record” and “not for attribution” said that the story is either fake news, disinformation, or, at best, misinformation. Tillerson confronts Trump By George Thomas Clark
Walking fast, Rex Tillerson enters the office of White House chief of staff John Kelly and says, “Tell the President I’m here and we need to talk.”
“You don’t have an appointment,” says the retired four-star general, rising to attention.
The Secretary of State pivots, marches out, and turns toward the Oval Office.
Kelly from behind grabs Tillerson’s left elbow and pulls, and the stocky former oil executive whirls and right-hand slaps Kelly’s face.
Dazed, Kelly raises his left hand to console his cheek and does not reply. Tillerson moves through Trump’s open door.
“Please excuse us,” Tillerson says to Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
“Jared needs to watch and learn. He could be the man who brings peace to Asia and the Middle East while he solves the opioid crisis.”
“He’s a busy boy. Close the door on the way out, Jared.”
Glancing at Trump, the young man rises and departs.
“I told you to let me know when you’re coming.”
“Listen, Mr. President, I’m sorry for questioning your foreign policy intelligence at the Pentagon meeting; but I won’t tolerate your saying that your IQ is higher than mine.”
“Nothing personal. Mine’s higher than just about anyone’s.”
“Let’s settle it right here,” says Tillerson. “Go ahead.” “What’s the capital of Vietnam?” “Saigon.” “Wrong.” “No trick questions. My turn. How much per square foot is office real estate in Manhattan right now?”
“Irrelevant. How much was a barrel of oil the day you took office before that sparse crowd?”
“You don’t answer my questions; I won’t answer yours.”
“Here’s one you can’t avoid: What the hell were you alluding to when you said ‘Only one thing will work’ – when trying to convince the North Koreans to stop testing nuclear weapons?” “What’s it sound like?” “Like you’re conceding nuclear war is inevitable.”
“We either fight them now, before they can hit us, or we wait till they can,” says Trump.
“I’d get better diplomatic results if you’d quit tweeting that I’m wasting my time trying to talk to North Korea.”
“They lie, they intimidate, they murder Americans and others, and they never keep their promises. It doesn’t matter if you’ve established ‘direct contacts with North Korea to probe its willingness to negotiate.’”
“Surely you’re not going to just give up on diplomacy,” says Tillerson.
“Talking won’t stop them from developing and deploying missiles that can soon destroy our cities.”
“With the help of the Chinese and the Russians, I think our sanctions will influence the North Koreans.”
“Sanctions haven’t worked and never will. There’s only one solution…”
“Mr. President, you’re worse than a moron.”
*** PHOTO OP. Last Wednesday’s Manila Bulletin front page photo showed President Rodrigo Duterte trying on a cap with the insignia of HMAS Adelaide III in the company of Australian Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binshin and Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorley. Don’t the Aussies know that the only hat the Philippine President wears is the “Ang Pangulo?”
*** IN MEMORIAM. I join our classmates and many fans in expressing sincere condolences to Blezel Jacinto, widow of Blue Eagle Norrie Jacinto, Student Canteen Niel Sedaka of the Philippines. Norrie took his final walk on “Stairway to Heaven”and was interred at 10 o’clock yesterday morning, 12 October 2017, at the Cattleya Memorial Garden in Cordova, Cebu. FEEDBACK: