A couple of weeks ago, we discussed Trumpism as a method rather than an ideology. The president makes threats, sees what happens, uses force, and then makes new threats. This particular threat may have even advanced a fragile ceasefire, with talks set to begin this weekend in Islamabad.
So, why do the president's words still matter, even now that we know the threat was not carried out? When the president talks to foreign leaders, he speaks on behalf of all Americans, making them complicit in the threat. The proposed destruction would be paid for by their taxes.
The president's words challenge America's sense of goodness and its aspiration to be a force for good. Having a leader who does not share that aspiration destroys something of America's own civilization.
The president's use of passive voice, attributing the action to someone else, is particularly concerning. It suggests no remorse or pity for people who have suffered doubly, from six weeks of bombing and from their own oppressive government.
For those who look to America for inspiration, the president's words are a disappointment. America used to be a beacon of hope for people like Liu Xiaobo, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison for holding Jeffersonian principles.
