Strange success
by Groff Schroeder

On Friday, January 27 President Trump signed an executive order that repeatedly cites the September 11, 2001 attacks and claims to protect the United States from terrorist attack by prohibiting travel and immigration to the United States for 130 million individuals and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries - not one of which is associated with terrorist attacks in the United States. Countries that have been involved in terrorist attacks, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, were excluded from the ban. The Trump Organization (which President Trump remains directly associated with despite a strong need to present at least the appearance of integrity in the public trust) maintains business interests in the excluded nations, but not the banned nations. Sad.

While the White House has repeatedly claimed that the executive order is “not a Muslim ban,” candidate Trump repeatedly promised a “Muslim ban” and the executive order provides exemptions only for minority religions in predominantly Muslim countries, thereby denying travel and immigration to the United States only to Muslims. In addition to being apparently unconstitutional, widely opposed by America's allies, cheered by America's enemies, and reminiscent of notorious religious profiling policies of arguably the darkest times in human history, the implementation of President Trump's executive order appears to have been poorly coordinated with other government agencies. However, the Trump Administration insists that the travel ban's roll out has been a complete success.

How could intense multiple negative international reactions constitute a success? One of the few possibilities is that President Trump's executive orders are a “trial balloon” in calculated attempts to further skirt the law. President Trump's ownership of the Trump D.C. hotel as an elected representative directly violates his federal lease, and his continuing direct ties to the Trump Organization at least appears to violate the emoluments clause of the United States Constitution. When a New York federal court judge ordered a stay on deportations of legal residents on Saturday, January 28, the Trump Administration appeared to openly defy the federal court order until at least late Sunday afternoon. Reports citing White House compliance with the rule of law apparently started appearing on Monday.

More disturbingly, another Friday executive order reorganizes the National Security Council, removing the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (both confirmed by Congress) from legally required attendance of the “principles committee,” and replacing them with Trump Administration staffers, Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus (neither confirmed by Congress). Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates stated, "...under the law, there are only two statutory advisers to the National Security Council, the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." Apparently, President Trump's executive order reorganizing the National Security Council also directly violates federal law.

There are very few reasons why the Trump Administration might interpret prejudging millions of innocent people, chaotic implementation, international condemnation, rejoicing enemies, and added probable violations of the rule of law as “a massive success story.” The infamous history of governments that reject the rule of law, participate in personal profiteering, and single out millions of adherents of a single religion for prejudicial discrimination without evidence suggests that at least two of President Trump's January 27 executive orders should be promptly and thoroughly rejected by the United States Congress and the American People.

Published in the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs' Freethought Views column in the Colorado Springs Independent on February 1, 2017 with the quotation below.

"If we destroy human rights and the rule of law in response to terrorism, they will have won."
Joichi Ito