Saturday, June 30, 2018

U.S. Estonia Ambassador Resigns Over Trump NATO Jibes

MSN  "The U.S. ambassador to Estonia is resigning in frustration at President Donald Trump’s jibes at America’s European allies. 
"Ambassador James D. Melville Jr. revealed in a Facebook posting that Trump’s comments about Europe had led him to bring forward his retirement. "

In the private Facebook post seen by Foreign Policy, Melville reportedly told friends: “A Foreign Service Officer’s DNA is programmed to support policy and we’re schooled right from the start, that if there ever comes a point where one can no longer do so, particularly if one is in a position of leadership, the honourable course is to resign. Having served under six presidents and 11 secretaries of state, I never really thought it would reach that point for me.
"For the president to say the EU was 'set up to take advantage of the United States, to attack our piggy bank', or that 'Nato is as bad as Nafta [the North American Free Trade Agreement]' is not only factually wrong, but proves to me that it's time to go."
"A career diplomat with 33 years in the foreign service, Melville was appointed to his position by President Barack Obama in 2015. " . . .

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