Brij Nath Betab
When America sneezes, the world gets cold, goes the axiom. Today Americans are in the grip of feverish speculation about national politics while the world is keenly watching whether the compatriots of Trump will allow him another term or pass on the keys of the White House to former Vice President — the 77-year-old Joe Robinette Biden Jr. the democrat from Scranton.
Election of representatives is the corner stone of a democratic structure, and citizen’s right to franchise in any democratic country is the basis on which democratic edifice is built. Given the highly volatile world order of contemporary times in which international peace is at stake and the risk of reckless unleashing of the weapons of mass destruction is just a whisker away, the judgment of the Americans in voting a chief executive to power is of utmost importance. Obviously, while casting their precious vote they will analyse the situation objectively and rate the last four years of presidential performance.
Trump, under whose administration, during the pre-Covid three year period , American economy thrived with more and more Americans getting jobs, has propagated his priority to ‘get back to normal’ and that shall yield good dividends for him. In contrast Biden has his focus mainly on Covid and it is perhaps here that his answer to a question at an American television News Magazine interview was that president Trump ‘Could’ win.
As the date with destiny for the America’s White House denizen is nearing, observers believe that even the last debate may not have helped many Americans to finally make up their mind. For example, their immediate concern is Covid 19 the pandemic that has taken a toll of more than two lack twenty thousand Americans lives so far. With millions of Americans already having cast their vote, Biden, for whom Barak Obama, his former senior at the White House, has been campaigning, is making a last ditch effort with all sorts of narratives and anti Trump tirade.
In domestic discourse the issues with which the voters were seized are Covid-19, Health Services, Insurance, (Illegal) Immigration, Justice system and the safe return of troops from foreign battlegrounds especially Afghanistan.
About Covid-19, Trump is under severe criticism for not doing enough to mitigate the suffering of the victims and lowering the death toll. He is accused of being so slipshod as to fall a prey himself. The people’s angry sentiment was well echoed by Biden when he retorted back ‘we have learnt to die with that’, when defending his policy during the last debate, Trump said “We have learnt to live with that”.
The question is could Trump administration have done miracles and saved lives? Experts believe that other countries like Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Britain, Spain, Italy and even Spain have not been able to do anything better than the United States. About immigration and the ‘inhuman act’ of separating children from parents, Americans do understand the consequences of human influx particularly from Mexico. Trump has made Biden accept that the policy was initiated during the Obama administration and Biden was the Vice President. Biden acknowledged by saying that if elected, he will do better than what the Obama administration did about immigration policy.
About the return of troops particularly from Afghanistan, Trump may not have succeeded the full circle but he did keep his word and also made the Taliban come to the negotiating table. One must give credit to Trump that despite chocking funds to Pakistan and influencing FATF to put Pakistan on the grey list, he managed personal support of Imran Khan and General Bajwa for the Afghan Peace Talks. The recent visit of Hezb-i-Islami leader and former Afghan Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar to Pakistan is a testimony to the fact that ‘the agreement to bring peace to Afghanistan’ is progressing well. It is this progress that shall ensure the safe return of the last of the American trooper to his home. Americans have appreciated this. American voters also appreciate Trump’s efforts of making Middle East peace agreement a reality. This rather forbidding achievement was appreciated by one and all except the enemies of peace. This agreement changed the equations in the world order and the division of societies in the Middle East was arrested from further deterioration.
I believe Trump’s role in Korean affairs, Iran and the Gulf are all positive initiatives to favour him with public appreciation. It is during his tenure and owing to his efforts that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have normalized diplomatic relations with Israel, and now Saudi Arabia will be following the suit. Undoubtedly, it augers well for the world peace and Americans are cognizant of giving credit where it is due.
`Credit will surely and certainly be given to Trump for standing up to Xi Jin Ping. Events of the past several months have shown that China has aggressively followed expansionist policy. From Dhoklam in India to Lapcha in Nepal, and from Pakistan occupied territory of Gilgit Baltistan to the South China Sea, Trump is the only world leader after Narendra Modi who has stood up to China with eyeball to eyeball stance. If Trump had not taken a bold and courageous decision China would have attempted to alter the geography of Taiwan and made progress in ‘reclaiming her so-called lost territorial and maritime borders’.
With regard to voting patterns, I am convinced that Indian Americans are very much alive to the current affairs in Asia. Halting China in Eastern Ladakh is an issue of paramount concern for our territorial integrity and national security. Trump has proved a true friend of India and the recent Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement reassures that.
For India Donald Trump’s departure from the White House would mean that she shall have to work hard to readjust the new strategic parameters between India and the US in the background of Chinese expansionist designs. As 9/11 changed the world order, President Trump shaped the new Asian strategic roadmap. The unshakable support that American President and his administration offered to India in her anti-terrorist campaign, consolidated India’s position as a front runner state to fight the global menace of terrorism. Terrorism today is one of the three most critical challenges the world is facing, the other two being public health (Covid-19 included) and the ‘Climate Crisis’ ( including Food safety and Water scarcity).
Terrorism today has the potential of dividing societies vertically, hence a big danger and a tough challenge. The spat between Turkey and France and the results of New Zealand’s recent election are pointing towards the urgency to take steps to make the world a better place for human habitation and Trump, despite his alleged eccentricity, has risen to the occasion.
This, however, is past and the recent sort of avowal by President Trump in response to a question by a journalist about “ensuring a peaceful transfer of power”, is keeping everyone guessing about Trump handing over the torch to the new choice of Americans in case the apprehensions of him losing come true. A section of Americans is apprehensive about a long drawn legal tussle and that could have an impact on the voter turnover. Disrupted mail services in America, owing to Covid-19 protocol, are only going to add to that.
Had it not been for Covid- 19 and its disastrous impact on American economy and health sector, the incumbent president would have been carefree of the election result. Still Republican Party believes that the latest rebound in GDP number would be a reassurance to the voter about Trump’s capability. Americans may not forget how the business thrived during pre- Covid days of the democrat business tycoon’s rule. The body language and calm composure of the former T V personality at the last Presidential debate reflected his confidence of emerging successful in the hustling. However one has also to keep in mind the Presidential election system in America, where a particular candidate is elected through an “electoral college” depending on who wins a particular state and how many “Electoral votes” that state has.
Watching the Presidential debates and media reports, I still believe the final tally may come in favour of Trump, though with a thin margin. The way his election managers and his party are working, despite Biden’s narratives, leaves some hope intact. Americans are aware that this election will decide not only the fate of Trump-ism but will also carry the consequences of rejection of Trump-ism for the world at large. America has to continue to remain the flag bearer of Democracy. However one cannot dismiss the trend in international media that the world may have to wait a little longer to send greetings to the new American President as the present Presidential term ends on January 20th.
(The writer is a senior journalist)
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