Senator John McCain, (R, Ariz.), who went on a rampage against several of President Donald Trump's misogynistic statements and executive orders, has joined forces with Senator Bob Corker, (R, Tenn.), and Senator Jack Reed, (D, R.I.). The three senators have bonded together to reassure Australian ambassador Joe Hockey that the United States still honors its agreements with Australia and values its working relationship with the nation. The trio of Senators called the Australian ambassador in the wake of a tumultuous phone conversation on Thursday between Trump and australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull which culminated in Trump's abrupt termination of the phone call by "hanging up" on Turnbull.
One angry phone call
In the phone conversation between the two leaders, Trump defiantly asked Turnbull about an agreement he had made with the Obama Administration to send Muslim refugees to the United States. The Australian government had rejected the refugees and the Obama Administration agreed to allow them into the United States. Trump described the agreement between Obama and Turnbull as "dumb." Then he accused Turnbull of conspiring to send "the next Boston bombers, " (Times of India, 2/3/17) to the United States, and stated that his phone conversation with Turnbull was "the worst call by far," (Times of India, 2/3/17), that he had to taken on Thursday. Then the new American president "hung up" on Turnbull.
America's alliances with Australia
The objective of the three senators, when they called Hockey on Thursday, was to reaffirm America's alliances and agreements with Australia. Among those alliances is ongoing military cooperation between the two nations, Australian deployment of large numbers of U.S. aircraft, port visits by American tourists and Marine Corps training at Darwin's Robertson Barracks.
McCain referenced the need for the crucial relationship between the two countries to remain in place to maintain "security and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," (ABC News, 2/217). Corker stated in a tweet that he and Hockey had discussed the "long-lasting alliance" between the two nations.
Corker attributed Trump's abrupt bluntness with Turnbull to his "long" business career.
As Corker explained it, business leaders are accustomed to going "straight to the problem," (ABC News, 2/2/17), as opposed to career politicians who tend to be more diplomatic and prudent when dealing with foreign leaders.
Reed, the highest ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stated that he reassured Hockey that he considers Australia an "ally." Reed also expressed his confidence that the relationship between the two nations will continue "because we are united by shared bonds and values," (ABC News, 2/2/17).
Gorbachev's warning to Trump and Putin
Meanwhile, former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev warned Trump and Soviet leader Vladimir Putin of the dangers of nuclear war. Gorbachev pleaded with the leaders to "ban" nuclear war before it becomes a reality and the very existence of the human race is imperiled.
