What Trump's 'sulk' told America's friends
No one can seriously believe the various excuses made by Team Trump for what appears to be sheer laziness this weekend, so I will not grace them with much analysis here. There is no difficulty getting from Paris to Belleau in a light drizzle. Helicopters can fly in rain; presidents can take cars. (The other world leaders all managed.)
One thing's for sure. In pulling this sulk, President Trump has managed to ensure the story of this armistice centenary is all about him -- in splendid American isolation. For other world leaders, the weekend was a carefully planned show of diplomatic alliances. British Prime Minister Theresa May paid her respects at WWI graves on Friday, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel (a member of the public crashing into their cavalcade didn't stop them), before returning to London to lay a wreath alongside the German President at Britain's Cenotaph memorial.
Ron Freer is 103 years old. He is blind and uses a wheelchair. Ron lost his sight 75 years ago in the service of his country due to the malnutrition he endured in a Japanese prisoner of war camp during World War II. He spent four years in the camp ... On Sunday, Ron led 100 fellow veterans down the streets of London as part of the UK's commemorations of the armistice, 100 years since the end of the First World War. There was a light drizzle -- it doesn't seem to have deterred him.
If Ron Freer can make it to a French cemetery at the age of 103, I'm not sure why Donald Trump can't. Then again, perhaps President Trump doesn't believe in honoring men like Freer. I understand he prefers war heroes who didn't get captured.
Full article at:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/12/opinions/wwi-trump-armistice-day-paris-maltby-opinion/index.html
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