AMIR CONGRATULATES TRUMP ON INAUGURATION – Defeating extremists top policy goal

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KUWAIT CITY, Jan 21, (Agencies): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated Friday US President Donald Trump on his inauguration, wishing him best of luck in office. His Highness the Amir said he was looking forward to boosting friendship and partnership between the two countries, towards new horizons that would achieve common interest. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah congratulated Trump on his inauguration. His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent a cable to Trump on his inauguration day.

The Kuwait Embassy, meanwhile, held a reception on the occasion of the inauguration of Trump. The embassy usually holds such receptions on the eve of big moment in Washington and the transition of power, the embassy said in a statement received by KUNA. Some of US senior officials, Congressmen, accredited ambassadors and others attended the function, it added

The Trump administration will make defeating “radical Islamic terror groups” its top foreign policy goal, according to a statement posted on the White House website moments after Trump’s inauguration as US president. Trump, a Republican, used his inaugural address on Friday to promise to “unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth.”

In the statement, titled “America First Foreign Policy,” the Trump administration said, “Defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups will be our highest priority.” ISIS is an acronym for Islamic State. In order to “defeat and destroy” Islamic State and similar groups, the new administration said it “will pursue aggressive joint and coalition military operations when necessary,” work to cut off funding for terrorist groups, expand intelligence sharing, and use “cyberwarfare” to disrupt propaganda and recruitment efforts. The statement offered no indication of how Trump’s policies might differ from those of his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama.

Strategies
The Obama administration also pursued those broadly described strategies: working with European and Middle Eastern allies in a bombing campaign targeting Islamic State leaders and their oil infrastructure, authorizing US special forces operations against the group, and using sanctions and other methods to cut off its financing. Trump’s speech and the statement echoed his campaign criticism of Obama and his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for not using the phrase “radical Islamic terror” to describe Islamic State and other hardline jihadist groups. Obama argued that using the term would conflate “murderers” with “the billion Muslims that exist around the world, including in this country, who are peaceful.” Clinton said using the phrase would play into the hands of militants who want to portray the United States as at war with Islam. The White House statement also appeared to nod at better relations with Russia, something that Trump has said he would pursue. “We are always happy when old enemies become friends, and when old friends become allies,” the statement said. Trump has rejected criticism that he is too eager to make an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The statement repeated Trump’s campaign vow to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Asian free-trade pact that Obama championed but was unable to get through Congress. Trump has said, without elaboration, that international trade deals have hurt American workers.

Ensure
“President Trump will ensure that on his watch, trade policies will be implemented by and for the people, and will put America first,” the statement said. In a separate statement on the White House website, the Trump administration said it intends to develop a “state of the art” missile defense system to protect against attacks from Iran and North Korea. It did not say whether the system would differ from those already under development, specify the cost or say how it would be financed. Hundreds of thousands of people stood on the rain-splattered National Mall to see the 70-year-old Republican billionaire be sworn in, and deliver a stridently populist call-to-arms. Trump promised to lift up the nation’s disenfranchised and those who felt betrayed by the political elites, declaring with vindication that “the forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” Trump said, promising an end to business-as-usual in Washington. “From this moment on, it’s going to be only America First.” Adhering to his vow to immediately start dismantling the healthcare reforms passed by outgoing president Barack Obama, Trump signed his first executive order in the Oval Office, targeting Obamacare. It commands government offices to grant all possible exemptions to limit the “economic and regulatory burden” of the Affordable Care Act, as a prelude to a full repeal.

As the day’s ceremonial rituals drew to a close, Trump and his wife Melania stepped out — the first lady stunning in an off-the-shoulder ivory gown — to lead the dance at one of the string of glitzy inaugural balls being held across the capital. The pair slow-danced in a close embrace to a version of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” before they were joined by Vice-president Mike Pence and his wife Karen, and both families’ children. “Well, we did it,” Trump told the revelers. “We won. And today, we had a great day.” “This was a movement. And now the work begins.” During his inaugural address, Trump vowed that his presidency would usher in a new political era. “We are transferring power from Washington, DC, and giving it back to you, the people,” he said. Moments earlier, the incoming US leader had placed his left hand on a bible used by Abraham Lincoln and recited the 35-word oath spoken since George Washington.

The popular turnout was visibly smaller than for Obama’s two inaugurations, in 2009 and 2013, with sections of the mall and bleachers along the parade route left nearly empty. Throngs of Trump’s opponents also converged on Washington. Most of their protests — by an array of anti-racist, anti-war, feminist, LGBT, and pro-immigration groups — were peaceful, but sporadic violence marred the day. Several hundred masked, black-clad protesters carrying anarchist flags smashed windows, lit fires and scuffled with riot police blocks from the parade held in Trump’s honor, with at least 217 people arrested for vandalism. Even the peaceful protesters were intent on spoiling Trump’s party — letting out a deafening roar as the presidential limousine rolled past. “Not my president! Not my president!” they yelled, as the pro-Trump crowd in nearby bleachers chanted “USA! USA!” For Trump’s critics, there was disbelief that a man who 19 months ago hosted “The Apprentice” reality TV show is now leader of the free world — sworn in with a 37 percent approval rating, the lowest on record, according to a CBS News poll. Public interest lawyer Renee Steinhagen, 61, came from New York to join the protests.

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