A former U.S. diplomat spoke Monday with University of Oregon law students about how national security and foreign policy might play out under a President Donald Trump.
J. Kael Weston spent 7 years in Iraq and Afghanistan working for the State Department. He says it’s hard to know how Trump will approach international affairs.
Weston: “I think that President-elect Trump has sent out so many different signals it’s really hard to unwind what his priorities will be in terms of national security.”
Weston says he expects Trump’s direction will become more clear as Trump chooses his cabinet. Weston urged law students to consider public service.
Weston: “Whether president Trump becomes a great president, I hope he does. When our presidents succeed, we succeed. But, in case there’s a reason that these concerns grow, we need to be watching and we need to be watching and we need to be prepared to speak up and do what we can to make sure that our nation does okay in the end.”
1st year law student Marie Vermaas says she feels uneasy about a Trump presidency.
Vermaas: “My initial reaction was a little bit of fear and helplessness and hopelessness but over the next few days it’s trying to be like a galvanizing, a reminder of why I’m here.”
Vermaas is interested in alternative dispute resolution and mediation. J. Kael Weston was brought to the law school by the ADR – Appropriate Dispute Resolution program.
J. Kael Weston will speak about his book “The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq and Afghanistan” at the UO Law School Room 175 at 7:00 Monday night (Nov. 14).
