Trump and his most ardent followers do not recognize soft
power. They seem to be saying their plan
is to increase the already supremely mighty US military to the point that 5% of
the world’s population can hold a gun to the heads of the other 95%. Then they
will ‘negotiate from strength’. This is not negotiation. It is Mob-style
extortion.
Moral issues aside, Trump underestimates the much vaster
scope of soft power and what it does and can do for America. Just as many underestimate
the power of slow-moving flood water that nonetheless removes houses from their
foundations and sweeps away large vehicles, so Trump mistakes slow and complex multilateralism
as weakness. He thinks that inspiring fear gives him more influence than inspiring
hope and offering win-win solutions. It is a naïve mistake.
Clinton has only a short time to educate the undecideds. She
made a good start Monday with her Charlie Rose interview. She was clear,
informed and intelligent but best of all she showed real passion. Anyone who
sees it will come away trusting her more than they ever have before. I
certainly did.
