But Trump’s characterization of the State Department as weak and useless bears little connection to reality. Instead, in neutering State, Trump is weakening the agency that U.S.-friendly governments and activists abroad rely on most. The State Department also saves lives. After Obama-era human rights official Tom Malinowski met with the leader of the country’s chief opposition party in 2014, Bahrain expelled Malinowski. “If you don’t fully fund the State Department, then I need to buy more ammunition,” Trump’s Defense Secretary, retired Gen. Jim Mattis, said in 2013.

Source: Huffington Post March 16, 2017 22:52 UTC