Pompeo’s First Foreign Trip as Secretary of State
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
His extremist ideology should have disqualified him for the job he’ll hold as Washington’s chief diplomat.
Confirmed on Thursday by a 57 – 42 vote, largely along party lines, he’s the latest addition to Trump’s war cabinet – his diabolical worldview incompatible with democratic values, rule of law principles and peace.
He’s a West Point grad former combat officer, former House member and Trump’s CIA director until stepping down for his new post.
During his 2010 congressional race against Raj Goyle, an Indian-America, he disgracefully called him a “turban topper.” He called Obama an “evil Muslim communist.”
In mid-March, Trump nominated him to succeed Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. On Monday, The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved sending his nomination to the Senate for a full floor vote.
As CIA director, he was involved in extrajudicial killings and color revolution attempts to topple democratically leaders not beholden to Washington, along with other dirty tricks – a disturbing resume he’ll bring to his new job as Washington’s chief (undiplomatic) diplomat.
He opposes what responsible societies cherish – an outlaw, a warrior disdaining peace, wanting Guantanamo kept open, along with other US torture prisons.
He’s militantly Russophobic and Islamophobic. He once called for terror-bombing Iran’s legitimate nuclear facilities.
He fiercely supports Ziofascist Israeli PM Netanyahu, calling his efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons (it doesn’t have and wants abolished) “incredibly admirable and deeply appreciated,” adding:
“In the fight against terrorism (Washington and the Jewish state support), cooperation between Israel and the United States has never been more important.”
Saying “we must…put a stop to terrorism” belies US creation of and support for ISIS, al-Qaeda, and likeminded groups.
He consistently lies about Russia. During his January confirmation hearing for CIA director, he turned truth on its head, saying:
“Russia has reasserted itself aggressively, invading and occupying Ukraine, threatening Europe, and doing nearly nothing to aid in the destruction of ISIS.”
He lied calling Iran “the world’s largest state-sponsor of terror” – dubious distinctions characterizing Washington and junior partner Israel – not Iran, Syria, Russia, China or other nations on the US target list for regime change.
On Thursday, Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan led a US delegation to the NATO Foreign Ministerial in Brussels – a two-day session to meet with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and alliance partners in high crimes.
Pompeo will join the US delegation on Friday – among other issues discussing preparations for a July NATO summit.
He’ll visit other countries, including Israel, unlikely to meet with PA officials, the Trump administration unwelcome after illegally recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s exclusive capital.
Along with Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, Pompeo is expected to lead a US delegation to Jerusalem for the opening of Washington’s embassy on May 14 – Israel’s 70 anniversary, the nation created on stolen Palestinian land.
Its anniversary was commemorated on April 18, according to the Jewish calendar.
Mid-May marks 70 years of Palestinian suffering, commemorating the Nakba seizure of 78% of historic Palestine, the remainder in June 1967.
The late Palestinian/American scholar activist Edward Said once called the Nakba Palestine’s “holocaust,” saying:
“Every human calamity is different, but there is value in seeing analogies and perhaps hidden similarities.”
He called Nazi extermination “the lowest point of (Jewish) collective existence.” Occupied Palestinians today “are as powerless as Jews were” under Hitler, devastated by “power used for evil purposes,” not self-defense.
Israeli ruthlessness reigns terror against a defenseless people. “Is this the Zionist goal for which hundreds of thousands have died,” Said asked?
US support lets Israel get away with mass murder and much more. One of Pompeo’s main tasks as secretary of state is supporting its killing machine – the lives, rights and welfare of Palestinians of no consequence.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
