By: Ken Abramowitz

Under President Trump’s America First guidelines, American foreign (and domestic) policy should be guided by the following principles:

1) Peace Through Strength

2) Negotiate with adversaries but set deadlines for firm action.

3) Win, Win, Win!

4) Protect our allies, and lend support to those who do 90% of the protection and fighting.

5) Protect countries that best project America’s common Western values

6) If a physical war is to be fought, fight hard and win quickly

So, how are we doing? Are there specific misconceptions that are holding us back from implementing these key common-sense America First values? Yes, there seem to be three blind spots that are not fully factored into America’s policies, both foreign and domestic:

Qatar: This rogue nation is perceived as a 50/50 frenemy, but it is a 10/90 frenemy. The country holds the third-largest natural gas reserves globally. Therefore, it has friends. However, Qatar is the principal sponsor of the Muslim Brotherhood worldwide. It funds mosques, schools, academic institutions, and staff, as well as politicians and officeholders everywhere, including in America. These funds are grossly understated in Federal disclosure statements.  Qatar also funds Muslim student organizations globally, and has large investments in businesses, industries, real estate, and ‘cultural’ institutions.

Iran: This rogue nation is strangely perceived as a rational partner for negotiations. In reality, Iran is managed by an authoritarian Islamo-Nazi Death Cult, somewhat reminiscent of Nazi Germany, where Hitler and his goons were impervious to talks. Death Cults like this must be fought and defeated. There is no middle ground.

Syria: This newly created, fractured country must be restored to its geographic integrity, the State Department might say. But like most Muslim majority countries, Syria has a long tradition of abusing its minorities.  To stop further escalation, an American/Israeli control mechanism is needed to protect the three million  Kurds, two million Alawites, one million Druze, and 500,000 Christians, from more than ten million Sunnis. If America loses interest over time, it should enable Israel to protect these minorities from massacres. If the minorities are killed, it will create a huge moral stain on the current American government and will undermine trust in America in the region and beyond.

What changes are needed to improve America’s foreign and domestic policies?

1)Qatar: The U.S. must insist that Qatar stop funding the Muslim Brotherhood everywhere, including in America.  Ban Qatari funds from schools, universities, mosques, and NGO’s in America. Likewise, ban Qatari hiring of American lobbyists or consultants.

2)Iran: The U.S. must insist that after 30 days of negotiation,  America or Israel can destroy any nuclear weapons capability, missiles, and drones, and any conventional weapons systems, wherever they are found, at any time.

3)Syria: The U.S. should either resolve to protect all minorities or else enable Israel to protect them.

American foreign and domestic policy can only succeed when these three misconceptions are resolved.  The sooner, the better.