That Mike Pompeo is facing criticism as our next U.S. Secretary of State is not all that surprising. After all, as chief U.S. diplomat, the position calls for diplomacy.
So when Pompeo is called on the floor for making incendiary remarks about Muslims and gays, thats cause for concern.
Taking a page from radical terrorists, Pompeo is on record accusing Muslims of having a global mission to eradicate Christians. After the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Pompeo, then representing Kansass 4th Congressional District, accused local Muslim leaders of being complicit in the attacks, though no proof existed.
That kind of talk does not foster good relations when dealing with the dozens of Muslim-majority countries around the world and lends an inauspicious beginning to any kind of negotiation; say as in the case of the Iran nuclear accord. From the get-go Muslims will view him with more-than-usual suspicion.
Pompeos fear-mongering tactics also do great harm to our social fabric. Less than 1 percent of Americans are Muslims. Of those, many came here to escape authoritarian regimes in their homelands and face death if they were to return something no American can dare imagine.
We have only to look at Garden City to see the devastating consequences of such anti-Muslim group-think. Just last week, three men were convicted of plotting to bomb an apartment complex and Mosque frequented by Somali refugees there. Aligned with a group called the Kansas militia, the men plotted in 2016 to bomb the properties in order to kill as many Muslims whom they referred to as cockroaches as possible.
Also destructive is Pompeos stance on gays and lesbians. Pompeo views homosexuality as a perversion, as if it were a disease. Never mind that the United States joined other nations around the world in 2011 declaring, Gay rights are human rights.
Because a secretary of states role includes defending all human rights, Pompeos bigotry precludes him from working on behalf of members of the LGBTQ community who face oppression in their countries.
Pompeo also has said he is open to waterboarding and other torture methods of prisoners, saying current laws can be rewritten, if necessary.
His hawkish views, including hints at regime change for North Koreas Kim Jong-Un, have many fearful that engaging in war would not be seen as a last resort.
SO YES, opponents to Pompeos appointment stand on solid ground. But will that matter in a U.S. Senate with a Republican majority? Nope.
This is the party of Donald Trump.
And Mike Pompeo fits him like a glove.
Susan Lynn
