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Tillerson Considering Resignation? |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
| According to media reports, he’s grown frustrated over disagreements with
Trump on Iran, deep State Department cutbacks, and other issues. As former head of oil giant ExxonMobil, he’s out of his element as chief US diplomat - even though he’s had extensive business dealings with governments worldwide. Hawkish generals run Trump’s foreign policy. Tillerson is out of the loop when it comes to warmaking, the defining feature of US geopolitics. He wasn’t consulted about Trump’s travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries, or use of special forces in Yemen or Somalia. Nor is he involved America’s phony war on terror. Days earlier, his comments to reporters were unusually frank, saying his job “is a lot different than being CEO of Exxon because I was the ultimate decision-maker. That always makes life easier,” adding: As head of a major corporation, “(y)ou own” the decisions you make, “and I had a very different organization around me. One that I spent my whole life with. People knew me very well and they knew what to expect.” “We had very long-standing, disciplined processes and decision-making. I mean, highly structured that allows you to accomplish a lot, to accomplish a lot in a very efficient way.” Privately, Tillerson reportedly expressed frustration about being left out of some foreign policy decisions, along with being overruled by Trump on staff selections he prefers and a downsized State Department. He called government “largely not highly disciplined. Decision-making is fragmented, and sometimes people don’t want to take decisions. Coordination is difficult through the interagency” process. Sources close to Tillerson think he may return to private life by yearend or sooner. He reportedly called Trump’s criticism of Jeff Sessions unfair - for recusing himself from the Russiagate investigation. According to sources close to him, he may be looking for an exit strategy, seeing no end to disagreements with the White House. Last week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer bowed out. Perhaps Tillerson is next. Or maybe Jeff Sessions in the wake of Trump’s public rebuke. VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. |