"Madman Theory?" No. "Stupid Man Theory."

"Madman Theory?" No. "Stupid Man Theory."

by digby

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had strict words on Sunday for Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding Venezuela – a day before the two are scheduled to meet to discuss, among other things, the continuing political crisis in the South American nation.

“I’m going to tell him the same thing the president told the world: that every country must get out, including the Russians,” Pompeo said during an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “That’s what I’ll tell him. We don’t want anyone messing around with Venezuela.

How does that square with this?

On Friday, Trump told reporters at the White House that Putin had assured him Moscow isn’t seeking to “get involved” in the crisis in Venezuela, despite assertions by the U.S. president’s top national security advisers that the Kremlin is offering critical support to Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

“He is not looking at all to get involved in Venezuela other than he’d like to see something positive happen for Venezuela,” Trump said of Putin. “And I feel the same way.”

Putin understands that the president of the United States is a doddering fool but he also knows that the doddering fool is extremely powerful and is the final word. So does Kim Jong Un, who shot off a rocket for the first time since 2017 this week:

Mr. Kim has pushed for a gradual, step-by-step approach to denuclearization, where each nation would make a concession that would be met with one of similar weight by the opposing side. But Mr. Trump’s top foreign policy officials — John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, and Mr. Pompeo — have argued that that approach is flawed because previous administrations had tried it, only to see North Korea continue its development of nuclear weapons. North Korean officials say they do not want Mr. Bolton or Mr. Pompeo involved in future negotiations.

Here's Trump's reaction to the missile test:

Anything in this very interesting world is possible, but I believe that Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it. He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 4, 2019

He honestly thinks he has cajoled Kim with promises of real estate development money. He is so narcissistic that he thinks everyone has the same small-minded, venal, motivations that get him excited. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if he doesn't think of Kim as a childlike primitive he can bribe with beads and blankets. He is that racist.

Trump is being played for a fool by all these strongmen. And his sycophantic enablers are helping them do it:

Watch this clip. The Secretary of State of the United States of America is *smirking* about the fact that Kim Jong Un may have executed some of his aides. https://t.co/9YNyb8DxTV
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) May 5, 2019