FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Excerpts of President Donald Trump’s Speech to the UN General Assembly, Sept. 25, 2018
Sept. 25, 2018 (EIRNS)—President Trump began be reviewing the economic developments in the U.S. during his two years in office—jobs, 4% growth rate, tax reform, military budget increases, and (unfortunately) the booming stock market. He concluded that the U.S. is stronger, safer and richer than two years ago.
Then he introduced the theme of sovereignty.
“This is great news for our citizens and for peace-loving people everywhere. We believe that when nations respect the rights of their neighbors, and defend the interests of their people, they can better work together to secure the blessings of safety, prosperity, and peace. Each of us here today is the emissary of a distinct culture, a rich history, and a people bound together by ties of memory, tradition, and the values that make our homelands like nowhere else on Earth. That is why America will always choose independence and cooperation over global governance, control, and domination. I honor the right of every nation in this room to pursue its own customs, beliefs, and traditions. The United States will not tell you how to live or work or worship. We only ask that you honor our sovereignty in return.”
He then reviewed the historic breakthrough in Korea:
“I would like to thank Chairman Kim for his courage and for the steps he has taken, though much work remains to be done. The sanctions will stay in place until denuclearization occurs. I also want to thank the many member states who helped us reach this moment a moment that is actually far greater than people would understand; far greater—but for also their support and the critical support that we will all need going forward. A special thanks to President Moon of South Korea, Prime Minister Abe of Japan, and President Xi of China.”
He said he has the same approach to the Middle East. ISIS has been “driven out from the territory they once held in Iraq and Syria.” He did not mention Russia’s role, but neither did he attack Russia once in the speech.
On Syria, he said it Was “heartbreaking,” and said there must be a “political solution that honors the will of the Syrian people.” He did not attack Assad, but said that if the Assad government uses chemical weapons, he will respond.
He spent a long time denouncing Iran for every dastardly deed under the Sun (but recall that he did the same on North Korea last year).
He said that his decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, “in recognition of [the right of] every sovereign state to determine its own capital.” He went on:
“The United States is committed to a future of peace and stability in the region, including peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That aim is advanced, not harmed, by acknowledging the obvious facts. America’s policy of principled realism means we will not be held hostage to old dogmas, discredited ideologies, and so-called experts who have been proven wrong over the years, time and time again.”
This message of previous failures is unquestionably true.
He said the same holds true for “matters of prosperity. We believe that trade must be fair and reciprocal. The United States will not be taken advantage of any longer.” He said the Chinese and others had taken advantage of the fact that the U.S. had few protective barriers, leading to the huge trade deficit. “The world trade system is in dire need of reform.” Therefore,
“we are systematically renegotiating broken and bad trade deals. Last month, we announced a groundbreaking U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. And just yesterday, I stood with President Moon to announce the successful completion of the brand new U.S.-Korea trade deal. And this is just the beginning.”
He directly attacked the UN Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court, which he said has
“no jurisdiction, no legitimacy, and no authority. The ICC claims near-universal jurisdiction over the citizens of every country, violating all principles of justice, fairness, and due process. We will never surrender America’s sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable, global bureaucracy.”
He did not mention Russia in the speech, other than to say that “Germany will become totally dependent on Russian energy if it does not immediately change course.”
On Latin America, he said that the “criminal networks, ruthless gangs, and the flow of deadly drugs” had caused the illegal migration to the U.S. “Ultimately, the only long-term solution to the migration crisis is to help people build more hopeful futures in their home countries. Make their countries great again.” He said this last sentence with emphasis, clearly marking his intention that America First means sovereignty, which all nations should defend.
He announced new sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his team, stating that Venezuela had been reduced from a rich nation to abject poverty, blaming “socialism,” without mention of imperial economic policies.
He said:
“It is the question of what kind of world will we leave for our children and what kind of nations they will inherit. The dreams that fill this hall today are as diverse as the people who have stood at this podium, and as varied as the countries represented right here in this body are.... Many countries are pursuing their own unique visions, building their own hopeful futures, and chasing their own wonderful dreams of destiny, of legacy, and of a home. The whole world is richer, humanity is better, because of this beautiful constellation of nations, each very special, each very unique, and each shining brightly in its part of the world. In each one, we see awesome promise of a people bound together by a shared past and working toward a common future.”
He concluded:
“In America, we believe in the majesty of freedom and the dignity of the individual. We believe in self-government and the rule of law. And we prize the culture that sustains our liberty—a culture built on strong families, deep faith, and fierce independence. We celebrate our heroes, we treasure our traditions, and above all, we love our country. Inside everyone in this great chamber today, and everyone listening all around the globe, there is the heart of a patriot that feels the same powerful love for your nation, the same intense loyalty to your homeland. The passion that burns in the hearts of patriots and the souls of nations has inspired reform and revolution, sacrifice and selflessness, scientific breakthroughs, and magnificent works of art.
“Our task is not to erase it, but to embrace it. To build with it. To draw on its ancient wisdom. And to find within it the will to make our nations greater, our regions safer, and the world better.
“To unleash this incredible potential in our people, we must defend the foundations that make it all possible. Sovereign and independent nations are the only vehicle where freedom has ever survived, democracy has ever endured, or peace has ever prospered. And so we must protect our sovereignty and our cherished independence above all.
“When we do, we will find new avenues for cooperation unfolding before us. We will find new passion for peacemaking rising within us. We will find new purpose, new resolve, and new spirit flourishing all around us, and making this a more beautiful world in which to live.
“So together, let us choose a future of patriotism, prosperity, and pride. Let us choose peace and freedom over domination and defeat. And let us come here to this place to stand for our people and their nations, forever strong, forever sovereign, forever just, and forever thankful for the grace and the goodness and the glory of God.
“Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the nations of the world.”
