Definition of Trump

Trump is now a new word in the dictionary. It has multiple meanings: "Charging around blindfolded, saying things in ignorance and not regretting it, being totally unaware of diplomatic niceties, not caring a fig about saying the opposite of everyone else, hating....." I could go on, but the dictionary definition of trumping, to trump and to be trumped runs to several pages and I don't have the space or the inclination to cite them all. Suffice to say, Qatar has been trumped this week. Probably the most important ally of the Pentagon in the Middle East, it hosts the huge al-Udeid airbase which is the forward operating centre for US Central Command from which all missions in Iraq and Syria are supervised, monitored and managed. There are 10,000 US troops in Qatar and a whole range of aircraft, including F16s, A10s, KC135 tankers, C17 transporters, Predator drones etc etc. It's a massive and massively important base for the US. But, says, Trump, in trumping mood, Qatar is a dreadful country supporting all the worst things in life such as terrorism and fawning over Iran. Now Qatar, it has to be said, like every country in the region plays a double game: supporting the US and the West but behind their backs financing a lot of dodgy organisations and ideologies for its own domestic reasons. Saudi Arabia's accusation against Qatar for sponsoring terrorism is a bit rich!! Only Trump thinks Saudi Arabia is a golden treasure of goodness and charity. But the point is, Trump has it in his head that his visit to Saudi Arabia last month was so magically brilliant that he and only he persuaded the royal kingdom and the other Gulf states to point the finger at Qatar and effectively isolate its neighbour as punishment for being a terrorist backer. Did Trump stop and think for one moment that his harsh comments against Qatar might imperil the Pentagon's position in the gas-rich Gulf state? Did he even know that Central Command has a forward operating base at al-Udeid? The poor Pentagon and State Department have been scrabbling around trying to repair the damage. Trump thinks he has won a diplomatic coup. In fact, his "charging around blindfolded" has created chaos and possibly long-term damage. Sean Spicer, probably the most miserable man on God's earth, appears to have given up trying to make amends for his boss's outrageous verbal interventions. He has now said that the Trump tweets are the tweets of the President of the United States and therefore should be treated with respect as policymaking on the hoof. If Trump says Qatar is a terrorist-sponsoring state, IT IS. So, General Jim Mattis, prepare to withdraw American forces from Qatar!! By the way, don't even think of transferring everything to Saudi Arabia. That nice country does NOT want American troops stamping all over the place ever again. Once was enough in 1990/91 when thousands of men and (oh my God) women in uniform arrived to prepare for Operation Desert Storm, to drive Iraqi occupiers from neighbouring Kuwait. Do you remember that, Mr Trump?