I’m not sure if this is accurate, but NBC is reporting that Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobile, is expected to be nominated by President-elect Trump to be his Secretary of State.
I’m opposed to this idea, and only for the fact that Mr. Tillerson has not held a government office or position before, and has no diplomatic experience. The Secretary of State is fourth in line of succession to the President, and is the chief diplomat of the United States.
The international situation is very complex, and requires someone who has an idea of how to deal with the EU/Brexit situation, the ISIS situation, the Middle East troubles, Iran, piracy on the high seas, the China/Taiwan situation, international terrorism, and a whole myriad of other entanglements.
Russia’s and China’s foreign ministers will be challenging enough for an experienced American diplomat, but putting someone with no diplomatic experience up against them is not an appealing idea.
I think the U.S. and Russia will engage in a conventional war over Syria, or at least a limited battle (probably a clash between the U.S. and Russian air forces), and it will take a skilled American diplomat to lower tensions. Negotiating a gas contract is not the same as negotiating a cease-fire between nations at war.
I hope this story is wrong and the President-elect is going in a different direction with his choice for Secretary of State.
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