Yes, Warmongers, Trump Does Have a 'Coherent Foreign Policy': It's Called 'the National Interest'

“When Trump negotiates trade agreements, he isn't interested in "moral questions" or "spreading the principles of the free market abroad." For him, it's all about one simple thing: what deal best serves the nation's interests? If he concludes that this goal is served by having no tariffs at all, he gets rid of them. And when he believes that it's best served by more and higher tariffs, that too is what he will do.

The same goes for military operations. The only question he asks himself is: Does it serve America's interests to attack, in this particular case, Iran? No? Then there will not be an attack. If the facts on the ground change, however, so that a military adventure does serve the nation's interests, he'll change his position on the war question.

To pretend that this approach is anti-intellectual is quite simply dishonest.”

I don't doubt that Trump believes he has a strategy... although ordering an air-strike and then canceling it...

The problem is that having a strategy based on erroneous ideas is... not a good way to run the planet :

President Trump believes we live in a zero-sum world in which one country’s gain is another’s loss. This is evident in his reaction to Mario Draghi’s comment this week that additional monetary stimulus will be needed if euro zone inflation doesn’t rise. Trump tweeted :

Mario Draghi just announced more stimulus could come, which immediately dropped the Euro against the Dollar, making it unfairly easier for them to compete against the USA. They have been getting away with this for years, along with China and others.

Adding that this is “very unfair to the United States!”

This, of course, is bollocks.

...

It is like me complaining that I lose money by my trading with Lidl. I don’t, of course. I merely exchange goods for money – which is exactly what US citizens are doing with China.

Obviously the left thinks basic economics doesn't apply when Trump is in charge?

investopedia

Pros and Cons of a Weak Currency

A weak currency may help a country’s exports gain market share when its goods are less expensive compared to goods priced in stronger currencies. The increase in sales may boost economic growth and jobs, while increasing profits for companies conducting business in foreign markets. For example, when purchasing American-made items becomes less expensive than buying from other countries, American exports tend to increase. In contrast, when the value of a dollar strengthens against other currencies, exporters face greater challenges selling American-made products overseas.

Currency strength or weakness can be self-correcting. Because more of a weak currency is needed when buying the same amount of goods priced in a stronger currency, inflation will climb as nations import goods from countries with stronger currencies. Eventually the currency discount may spur more exports and improve the domestic economy provided that there are not systematic issues weakening the currency.

In contrast, low economic growth may result in deflation and become a bigger risk for some countries. When consumers begin expecting regular price declines, they may postpone spending and businesses may delay investing. A self-perpetuating cycle of slowing economic activity begins and that will eventually impact the economic fundamentals supporting the stronger currency.

wits.worldbank

cnbc

Europe is doing the same thing.

scmp

Yet, a day later, the ECB delivered a completely different message. While it anticipates ending its asset purchase programme at the end of this year, it also stated it expected key ECB interest rates to “remain at their present levels at least through the summer of 2019”. The ECB’s

overall message was dovish

and the euro sold.

Looking ahead, investment research firm TS Lombard noted on Friday that the policy rate gap between the ECB and the Fed “is now 2.4 per cent” and, based on their expectations that the Fed will raise rates by 25 basis points every quarter, it is set to widen by a further 1 per cent in the next 12 months.

“The negative carry associated with [the euro] is becoming a drag on the currency,” TS Lombard’s Europe Team concluded.

If a weaker euro again becomes a market trend, it might also mean a lower value for that currency versus the yuan. The Chinese currency might then fall somewhat against the US dollar as a counterweight, in line with the basket of currencies framework of China’s current managed floating exchange rate system.

The net effect would be that the currency market would have delivered a stronger US dollar, which renders American exports more expensive, but imports into the US cheaper.

The bottom line.  Well said.  

I don't doubt that Trump believes he has a strategy... although ordering an air-strike and then canceling it...

Is a sign that Trump has more brains than the left thinks he does. Iran monitors the US media, and social media, closely. Pelosi and Schumer are in an all out panic. The leftist media is besides itself. Half of the US population is calling Trump deranged. Think Iran isn't nervous? Russia and China are busy with Syria. Iran has extended itself into Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. Now, Iran could do something exceedingly stupid (attacking US or NATO assets in the ME) and provoke the US into war; but it does not change the fact they will lose badly.

At worst we will end up with another Iraq/Afghanistan. At best another Libya. Hopefully Trump is smart enough to go with the Libya option. Pretty sure Iran has made enough enemies in the ME that the weakened state we will leave them in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, etc will be able to make short work of them.

Oh, and Trump still has started 0 military conflicts despite the left's constant gloom, doom, and all out panic. Only wish our past presidents could say the same.