Trump in quandary

No matter how tempting the bait, no sensible person would like to step into the shoes of President Donald Trump. Indeed, his arbitrary style of functioning, firing, finding fault with everyone and so much more has got him in quite a spot. Even his past is haunting him with three women going to court on charges ranging from alleged sexual misconduct to exploitation. Added to that is the fact that he is on a perennially short fuse. True, he admires dictators and their style of functioning but he is irked that not everyone admires him. Now, he is with his back to the wall defending himself against criticism over his congratulatory phone call to Vladimir Putin following the Russian President's re-election, insisting it was in the US interests to maintain a positive rapport with Moscow. It was reported that he defied a specific warning from his national security team against congratulating Putin on his securing a fourth term in power. "I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also)," Trump said. "Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing." He added: "They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race." His comments came amid widespread backlash over the call, which reinforced the perception that his administration has adopted a less aggressive posture toward Russia. Earlier, his national security advisers had presented him with written briefing material in capital letters enforcing "Do not congratulate". Trump's conversation with Putin also drew scrutiny for occurring amid escalating tension and fear over Russian meddling in the US electoral process, which the two leaders did not discuss. There was also no mention of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, the former double agent targeted with a nerve agent in the UK. Trump confirmed that apart from congratulating Putin, the two would "probably get together in the not too distant future so that we can discuss the arms race". Former Presidential candidate, Senator John McCain who called the Russian election "a sham" said Trump had "insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election". Understandably, John Brennan, ex-CIA, backed McCain and described Trump as a "cornered animal", and added: "I think the President has shown a lack of understanding of international affairs as well as a real ignorance of what it takes to be president." Meanwhile, Trump again attacked the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel, Robert Mueller. Asked if he thought the Russians had something on Trump, Brennan said: "The Russians have had long experience with Mr Trump and they may have things that they could expose." Trump has, of course, denied any collusion or any wrongdoing in the 2016 elections. But, of course!