Trump’s National Security Speech

What do we make of Trump’s national security speech? First of all, it is the military/security complex’s speech, and it is inconsistent with Trump’s intention of normalizing relations with Russia.
The military/security complex, using Trump’s position as President, has defined Russia and China as ‘revisionist powers,’ Washington’s rivals who seek to put their own national interests ahead of Washington’s unilateralism. Russia and China are ‘revisionist powers’ because their assertion of their national interests limits Washington’s hegemony.
In other words, Washington does not accept the validity of other countries’ interests if those interests are contrary to Washington’s interests. So, how does Trump expect to work with Russia and China when he reads a speech that Russia and China seek to ‘shape a world antithetical to our interests and values.’
‘Our values’ means, of course, Washington’s dominance.
Trump begins by honoring the military, police, Homeland Security, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In other words, ‘America first’ means domination by Washington over the citizenry as well as over foreign countries.

This post was published at Paul Craig Roberts on December 19, 2017.