US OFFICIALS INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED OVER TRUMP FOREIGN POLICY

WASHINGTON— Frustration is mounting among leading foreign policy officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration as they chafe at some policy and bureaucratic defeats and complain they lack independence to do their jobs, officials say.

The clash between internationalists urging the traditional US leadership role in the world and advocates of an “America First” approach has worn down foreign policy and intelligence professionals inside the government, according to the officials.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had told friends he would be lucky to last a year in his job, according to a friend, while two officials said the national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, was frustrated by disorganization and indiscipline in the White House.

A source told Reuters that Tillerson was “very upset at not having autonomy, independence and control over his own department and the ability to do the job the way the job ... is traditionally done.”

Getting worse

The source said he had heard nothing about any possible departure, but “the situation doesn’t seem to be getting any better, and in some respects appears to be getting worse.”

R.C. Hammond, Tillerson’s spokesperson, denied Tillerson was considering leaving, saying he had “plenty of reasons to stay on the job, and all of them are important to America.”

Tillerson scored a policy win last week when the administration certified, albeit reluctantly, that Iran was complying with the 2015 nuclear deal under which Tehran agreed to restrain its atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief.

He was upset, however, by fierce internal criticism from Trump, as well as his chief strategist Steve Bannon and White House aide Sebastian Gorka, over the decision, said another official.

“The secretary does not feel that White House staff members should be in a position to conduct hostile cross-(examinations) of Cabinet officials,” the official said.

Conflicting stands

Following last month’s move by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to boycott Qatar, Tillerson publicly asked the nations to ease their blockade, and put the onus on both sides to end the crisis.

But less than 90 minutes later, Trump accused Qatar of being a “high-level” sponsor of terrorism and suggested he had helped plan the Qatar action with Arab leaders.

Politico reported last month that Tillerson was furious with Johnny DeStefano, the head of the presidential personnel office, for torpedoing proposed nominees to key state department posts.

Senior national security officials said McMaster was dismayed that his recommendations, about taking a tough stance with Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been ignored.

McMaster is also troubled by a protracted debate about sending more US forces to help Afghanistan reverse gains by the Taliban, officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.—