Could It Be Any More Obvious?

The executive order issued by Trump imposing "extreme vetting" on a discriminatory basis against Muslims from a specific collection of countries isn't really surprising, given the low bar of logic already established with this president. However, the order does highlight yet another combination of hypocrisy and conflict of interest already engulfing the Trump mis-Administration.

The key components of the order are quoted here:

I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas).

(snip)

(c) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.

Trump blathered thusly when announcing the order:

I am establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. We don't want them here. We want to ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas. We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people.

Sooooooooo....

• Trump is worried about visitors, immigrants and refugess...
• who are of Islamic faith...
• who come from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia...
• because those countries have a history of Islamic terrorism...
• and they might bring Islamic terrorism to the United States

That's the story? Got it.

Ok. One question. Why isn't Indonesia on this list?

• it's the largest predominately Muslim country in the world
• in 2002, a choreographed, 3-bomber attack sponsored by Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 in Bali
• in 2003, a car bomb linked to Jemaah Islamiyah killed 12 at the JW Marriot in Jakarta
• in 2009, a choreographed, 2-bomber attack killed 7 in Jakarta at the JW Marriot and Ritz hotels
• there appear to be dozens of choices of direct flights from Jakarta to the US

Hmmmm. What could be going on here? Why might Indonesia be different?

Think.

THINK.

DING!

Oh yea. Got it. Money.

More specifically, Trump's money.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/31/world/asia/indonesia-donald-trump-resort.html

Even as President-elect Donald J. Trump promises to end foreign business deals that could pose conflicts of interest — there will be “no new deals” while he is in office, he has said — his company is moving ahead with two Indonesian projects that illustrate how tricky that pledge might be.

None of the construction work to build or renovate structures at the Indonesian resorts has even begun, but Mr. Trump has forged relationships with powerful political figures in Indonesia, where such connections are crucial to pushing through big projects.

That tangle of relationships includes an Indonesian business partner who aspires to high office; a powerful politician accused of trying to extort billions of dollars from an American mining company; as well as Mr. Trump’s adviser on regulatory issues, Carl C. Icahn, who is a top shareholder in the same mining company.

Come to think of it, I have a second question. Why not Malaysia?

• the country is 61 percent Muslim
• a Muslim pilot ditched flight ML370, killing 227 passengers and 11 other crew members
• it isn't clear if the pilot was suicidal over relationship issues or an Islamic extremist

I'll be damned. Same answer.

http://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/son-of-one-of-malaysias-wealthiest-tycoons-planning-vancouver-developments

Trump has financial ties with wealthy business players from Malaysia who owned Trump Tower in Vancouver which recently sold for $360 million.

I think it would be more accurate to explain the rational behind the Islamic immigration / refugee freeze along these lines:

• I can do it with an executive order without actually legislating anything
• the ban is a big chunk of red meat to my low-information base, wanting "action"
• I can season the steak for the low-info base by adding preferences for Christians
• who cares about a bunch of Muslims from places we bomb or would like to bomb?
• but hey, bidness is bidness -- don't alienate the suckers, I mean Muslims, who invest in my Trump development schemes

At this point, we could replace the constitution with an auctioneer. Our rights and any claim to moral leadership in the world are being sold off to the highest bidder. One deal at a time.

WTH