UK Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch sparred with President trump, and In the immortal words of another Brit, Freddie Mercury: “another one bites the dust.” After emails exposing the truth of a rancorous and contentious relationship with the president came to light this week, Sir Kim Darroch raised his white flag and resigned as the UK Ambassador with plans to skitter home to the comfort of the stiff upper lip crowd.
Donald Trump (left) and Sir Kim Darroch (right)
Darroch — in documents leaked in recent days — slammed the Trump administration as “diplomatically clumsy and inept,” and “uniquely dysfunctional,” among other propaganda talking points straight out of a drive-by media memo to their talking heads.
Trump did not hold back – no big surprise – and labeled Darroch a “wacky,” “incompetent,” and “very stupid guy.” As international schoolyard brawls go, Trump, the street fighter, prodded and pushed the classically trained diplomat to the brink.
And only Darroch is experiencing the pain of having his knickers in a twist – Trump didn’t blink.
Not Up to His Standards
In his most decidedly prim and proper resignation letter, the soon to be across the pond Ambassador cited a host of irreconcilable differences, and stated that “the current situation is making it impossible for me to carry out my role as I would like.” The man, it seems, is simply exhausted by the bullish American president.
Darroch continued:
“Although my posting is not due to end until the end of this year, I believe in the current circumstances the responsible course is to allow the appointment of a new ambassador… [this] has brought home to me the depth of friendship and close ties between our two countries.”
Well, except the president. But Darroch remained stoic and professional after his nasty comments were uncovered and published, and credit should be given for his modicum of good breeding finally kicking in.
But what is most fascinating about Darroch’s quick surrender to Trump is that the occupant of 10 Downing Street had just one day prior thrown her weight and support behind the ambassador. She said, “we have made clear to the U.S. how unfortunate this leak is … the selective extracts leaked do not reflect the closeness of, and the esteem in which we hold, the relationship.” That may translate to “bloody hell, who snitched?”
Britain’s Foreign Office then boldly called the leaks “mischievous behavior.” Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a candidate for Britain’s prime minister, praised Darroch as a man who “served his country with the utmost dedication and distinction,” and then promptly added that Darroch was wrong. “I think the U.S. Administration is highly effective.”
He then bounced back to support his friend, acknowledging a fatal error, “I profoundly regret how this episode has led Sir Kim to decide to resign.”
Let’s Blow This Way Out of Proportion, Shall We?
Windsor Mann penned an opinion piece in USA Today seemingly to alarm his readers that Trump’s foreign policy of “wounded feelings” makes America a less secure nation on the international stage. His argument, referencing President Putin and Kim Jong Un:
“Trump’s entire foreign policy is based on his wounded feelings. It matters very little what foreign leaders think of Trump personally. What matters is that Trump cares — deeply, passionately, inordinately — what they think of him — or, rather, what they say about him.”
We all know Trump is no shrinking violet. And it certainly appears he prefers the dust-up in diplomacy over the sneaky forked tongue versions – so widely utilized by the toadies, international or not – in the Swamp. Trump’s people will call it Trumplomacy. Like him or not, he is an artful dealmaker, and no other world leader has come close to securing peace with North Korea. Perhaps Mann may want to watch The Godfather, especially the part when Michael Corleone says, “keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”
Sir Kim Darroch
I would venture a guess Trump cares not what anyone thinks about him – excepting those who put him in office.
Mann’s tirade was one of an interesting angle, but overall lacked much of foreign policy insights, appearing designed only to infuriate the already angry radical left – and they do not need any help in that department.
Job Opening
For now, Darroch will stay in the Swamp until the prime minister selects his replacement. And as Prime Minister Theresa May is set to leave July 23, that may keep the position open until her successor can fill the role.
In the meantime, President Trump will have to muddle through with Sir Darroch, who friends say is leaving his post with head held high. And Darroch had the good manners to acknowledge his allies, claiming that he is forever “grateful to all those in the U.K. and the U.S., who have offered their support during this difficult few days.”
Self-inflicted difficult days, to be precise.
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