It is funny how many smart people misjudged what was going on in Helsinki. Many on the right were demanding that Trump call the President of a major rival country a liar in an open press conference. Those on the left claimed that he sold out the country and is a traitor. Only a few understood what Trump was after. The people who really understood were his top staff and others who have done high level negotiations where an equally fair deal is struck.

If Trump was to call President Putin a liar in an open press conference, what would happen to any chance of a relationship that might be able to work towards solving some of the big problems in the world? No chance of establishing any relationship.

Some called on Trump to demand the freedom of some religious people that Russia deems unsuitable for their society. How would we feel if a country started telling us how to handle our internal affairs by demanding we free prisoners which have violated our legal system? Not a good way to start a relationship that just might solve any of the world’s biggest problems, but a sure way end to any worthwhile dialog.

How about saying that Putin strongly denied tampering with our elections, yet Trump saying he has confidence in our intelligence agencies. All parties know what happened and they know the other party knows, you let them know in private and let it slide in public, trying to humiliate someone and make them look bad doesn’t lead to a productive relationship, it does not lead to any relationship.

Anyone who has ever done high levels of negotiation’s, knows that you establish rapport and that is not done by calling someone a liar. It is done by finding common ground and building on that, not by accusations and attack statements. First a trust must be established and that is not done by embarrassing the other party in public.

Attack dogs don’t solve problems by working together but by force and that means war. Good negotiators find something, however small to build upon. They don’t attack but try to find and then build on some mutual interests. Russia is not going to give up Crimea or parts of Ukraine just by our asking and demanding. That is so stupid that you get nothing except the phone hung up, that is if a call is even answered.

This is the first President in my life time who is working for America and not to help someone else. To those doubters I ask but one question; if your life was on the line (And thousands of American young people’s lives are on the line) who would you want to do the negotiations? Hillary or Trump?

 

*Disclaimer:  The opinions of the columnist/editorial writer are their own and do not reflect the opinions of the Mesquite Local News