Now that the smoke has cleared on John Bolton, what does he mean for the NSA? Plus some thoughts on Trump's tariff policy, news you may have missed... and MORE!
American Opportunity
A/O Global Intelligence Weekly: Bolton Might Be The Shot In The Arm We Need
News this week of John Bolton's ascendancy to the White House has been the topic of much conversation as of late.  With the dust settled and the air cleared, I wanted to offer some clear-sighted and sober thoughts as to what Bolton's leadership as National Security Advisor means for Washington and the world. 

First and foremost, John Bolton is a person a great intelligence.  He has deep experience, including his appointment as Ambassador to the United Nations.  Personally, I met him there when I attended the U.N. to monitor the discussions on a proposed international treaty on the control of small arms.  He stepped out of a meeting to greet me, and with great courtesy.  

My summation of the man's character?  Bolton is a patriot, one who cares deeply about the future and safety of the United States. 

Meanwhile, the American left is desperately seeking to cage and define the role of the National Security Advisor, judging Bolton's appointment against their manufactured definition.  The role they describe is found in the White House Transition Project of the Moody Foundation, one where Bolton's role would be demoted to that of an honest broker of policy options rather than an advocate for his own policy agenda. 

Of course, this attempt to cage Bolton is utter nonsense -- the President alone defines the role of the National Security Advisor in any way he wishes, and will make the final and sole determination whether an official like John Bolton meets his own requirements. 

More specifically, Bolton recognizes the grave dangers we face in today's world, and is unlikely to advise a passive foreign policy.  We here at American Opportunity, in our foreign policy essays previously published to our web page, recognize these dangers.  We advocate a strong forward posture in Conservative Internationalism, one which advocates a policy of diplomacy backed by the American capacity to use force, one which makes a successful diplomatic solution more likely.   

Bolton is likely to help the President define the true threats to the United States, urge the preparation of force as necessary -- but not necessarily the use that force if the national security of the U.S. can be achieved through diplomacy.  Concerns about a return of "cowboy diplomacy" under Bolton are dealing more in hyperbole than honesty, and perhaps fear a repudiation of Obama's eight year fumbling of American power.

More after the jump. . . 
Much ado has been made over President Trump's introduction of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Communist China.  Naturally, the principles of free trade and fair trade are not necessarily contradictory.  Simply put, if the American free market is competing against Chinese state capitalism and government subsidies, and if other nations are imposing tariffs or duties on imports on American goods and shipping, then our local industries simply cannot compete.  

I'll give you a quick instance.  We have a supporter here at American Opportunity who manufactures recreational airguns and the ammunition for same.  WIth the existence of certain tariffs, this manufacturer cannot compete in the best markets overseas because of tariffs imposed on his products -- and this is just for recreational airguns for sport.

Meanwhile, the U.S. has been charging no tariffs on the same products being manufactured in those very same countries -- an uneven playing field that sees capital outflows rather than capital inflows.  The result is immensely favorable treatment by the foreign counties of their industries, while American products are outpriced.  American businesses lose sales and revenue to foreign competition and in turn, American jobs are threatened.

The principle of "free trade and free goods" is a principle as old as the American founding.  Such a principle -- echoed by conservatives and responsible for the lifting of one billion people from the grip of poverty -- is not only correct, but moral.  Yet free trade cannot be manipulated by decidedly un-free command economies determined to take advantage of American latitude.

If one wants to understand the drive towards tariffs, it is these concerns that are constitute the heart of President Trump's trade policy.  As an opening shot for America industry in order to create that level playing field, free marketeers should applaud the effort to create a level playing field. 
Joim American Opportunity

Some news and articles we recommend for information and discussion purposes, none of which necessarily represent the position of A/O:

As always, American Opportunity is always looking for new resources and topics we can address in detail.  Please feel free to stay in contact! 

Sincerely,  

Jim Gilmore
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