The selection of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley as UN Ambassador should come as a suprise to many, especially since she was one of the most outspoken #NeverTrumpers out there - from what is reported she would not even endorse him for president...
Apparently it was an "Easy Choice"
That being said, her appointment, as pointed out by Joel B. Pollak of Breitbart News, has clear and definite advantages - and can work out for the better good of all Americans.
The first is that she has the skills necessary to advocate for U.S. interests in a hostile forum.
According to Pollak, Haley came up with the Tea Party movement, in the long political winter of 2009-2010. She has moved to the center since then, but learned the hard way how to confront media critics and political opponents. Turtle Bay is a den of scavenging hyenas; the job requires a lion — or in this case, a lioness.Second, Haley is an excellent representative of what America has become — a tolerant, diverse society to which immigrants like Haley’s family have contributed more than their share. Haley is also internationally known for being the governor who took on the Confederate flag, which will draw interest and respect from foreign diplomats. And third, Haley shows that Trump can reach out to his critics — and reward his supporters, like Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster, who will move into Haley’s former role.The major drawback of the Haley pick is that she has no significant international diplomatic experience and no expertise in foreign policy. She has the right positions — she is pro-Israel, for instance, which is refreshing, given Obama’s last few picks — but the task of UN Ambassador is no ordinary diplomatic posting.The UN Ambassador has to know — or to learn — the ins and out of one of the world’s most complicated institutions, where protocol is a virtual battlefield, and words are weapons.In conclusion Pollak points out that Haley is a political pick. She will need experienced hands — and not career State Department bureaucrats — to fill the related slots, such as the deputy UN Ambassador and the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights.As much contempt as President-elect Donald Trump and Americans in general have for the UN, it is where wars are won and lost before shots are fired. Merely defending America’s interests is not enough. Haley will need help to press them forward.
Interestingly, Pollak does not mention Hally's positions on Israel - which for any Jew should be an important factor.
Well thankfully, as reported by Jerusalem post, Haley signed into law a bill to stop efforts to boycott, divest and sanction Israel which was a first for the nation on a state-wide level - so that already puts her on my friends list.
That being said, I will be watching her closely, and will be the first to criticize her if she abandons the state of Israel in the UN arena.
Yechezkel Moskowtz
@nikkihaley congratulations on you pick as #Ambassador to UN, do your best to safeguard US interests, and advocate for its true ally #Israel
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