Trump Administration MO: Incompetence and Blaming

The scale and horror of Tuesday’s gas attack on civilians in Idlib highlighted the vacuum in the Trump administration’s foreign policymaking: the incident was met first by silence, then by criticism of Barack Obama.

Donald Trump described the attack, which killed scores of victims, including many children, as a direct “consequence” of his predecessor’s Syria policy.

“These heinous actions by the Bashar al-Assad regime are a consequence of the last administration’s weakness and irresolution,” he said in a statement. “President Obama said in 2012 that he would establish a ‘red line’ against the use of chemical weapons and then did nothing.”

[...]

The Idlib attack was swiftly condemned by western capitals and congressional leaders, but the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson – who was visiting neighbouring Jordan at the time – ignored a press question about it, retaining his customary silence in the face of daily world events.

[...]

On Tuesday morning, Trump addressed a builders’ conference, but made no mention of the attack.

It was only later in the day that the White House spokesman read out a statement from the president, in which Trump used the occasion to score a domestic political point against the Obama administration.

[...]

There was nothing in Trump’s statement to indicate how the US might respond differently from the Obama administration.

[...]

Later in the day, after much public speculation about his silence, Tillerson issued his own statement, which did address the responsibility of Moscow and Tehran.

“While we continue to monitor the terrible situation, it is clear that this is how Bashar al-Assad operates: with brutal, unabashed barbarism,” the former oil executive said.

He added: “We call upon Russia and Iran, yet again, to exercise their influence over the Syrian regime and to guarantee that this sort of horrific attack never happens again.”

  Guardian

So....doing nothing but "calling upon" Russia and Iran to do something.  And blaming Obama, for doing the same thing.  (Plus some air support.)

On Tuesday, the French foreign minister vented his frustration at the confusion at the heart of Trump’s Syria policy, arguing that the Idlib attack was carried out by the Damascus government to explore the boundaries and responses of the new US adminstration.

“It’s a test. That’s why France repeats the messages, notably to the Americans, to clarify their position,” Jean-Marc Ayrault told RTL radio.

  Guardian

This reminds me of a statement I read recently (sorry, can't recall from whom) that right now is the perfect time for any of America's enemies to act, because the Trump administration doesn't know what it's doing and is unable to respond to anything in any meaningful way.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.