To be fair, if left to his own devices, Mike Pompeo would probably be a reasonably decent Secretary of State. His positions on Russia, NATO, and liberal democratic values, just to name three, are within the mainstream of traditional Republican thought. But Pompeo works for Donald Trump, so none of that matters. How does he reconcile his opinions with those of his capricious boss?
It works like this:
- Provide public support for traditional American positions except where it is already known that Trump does not agree with them.
- If, as he frequently does, Trump makes an impulsive decision and makes statements that are inconsistent with yours or with the apparent truth, lie and say there is no inconsistency.
- If you are pressed on the inconsistency, change the subject by blowing up and attacking the press.
As a survival tactic, this appears to work fairly well. As a basis for diplomacy, it is a disaster. No one outside of Trump’s bubble believes a word you say. As a result, America no longer has any real allies–just skeptical business partners pursuing their own interests.