Rex gets the ax
Given Rex Tillerson’s malign neglect of his job, his ouster as secretary of state is welcome. But it is President Trump who disrespects diplomacy. It is he who is addicted to a brand of furious, disorganized, unprincipled global dealmaking. There is no reason to think things will get better under Tillerson’s announced successor, CIA Director Mike Pompeo.
In fact, Trump is replacing a reasonably independent thinker with at least the potential to check his worst instincts with a much more political operator who looks eager to walk in lockstep with the White House. But first, let’s review Tillerson’s failures. He stood by as his department was eviscerated as the White House chopped its budget by a third.
He imposed a freeze on hiring and promotion that prompted an exodus of talent.
He was a weak public presence who considered it an annoyance to engage with the press — when that is a core responsibility of a secretary of state.
In Tillerson’s defense, the job of top diplomat under Trump may well be just plain impossible. There is no way to send clear signals about American intentions and interests when an angry, often ignorant President is forever tossing out ill-tempered tweets that clash with official policy.
Tillerson tried to pursue diplomacy with North Korea, only to be publicly mocked by Trump (who later stumbled into that very position).
He tried to navigate a minefield between Gulf States Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Again, Trump bigfooted, and broke china.
He tried to speak the truth about Russian meddling in America and around the world, only to be repeatedly contradicted by his boss.
The promise of Pompeo is that finally, someone who knows how to work with Trump will take charge. The peril is that the department will become an empty echo of the White House.
In confirmation hearings, senators must press Pompeo to promise to rebuild the decimated capabilities at State. They must demand to know whether he agrees with House intelligence committee Republicans in their assessment that the intelligence community was wrong in its assessment that the goal of Russian interference was the election of Donald Trump.
There’s no way to make Trump behave rationally. But the Senate must demand a secretary of state with integrity and a shred of independence.