Pompeo Echoes Reagan’s ‘Peace Through Strength’ Mantra

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
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Pompeo Echoes Reagan’s ‘Peace Through Strength’ Mantra

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen on screens as he addresses attendees via satellite during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2019. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended the policies of “Make America Great Again” as he spoke Tuesday by video-conference to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

He said the Trump administration would echo former President Ronald Reagan’s mantra of “peace through strength” in its dealings with other countries.

“America is committed to helping the Middle East be secure and stable... America will need coalitions built out to ensure that there is Middle East stability,” he said.

He added that Iran is “truly the malign actor” in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He said that a coalition of US allies is “so central” to creating stability in the Middle East.

Commenting on the next round of US-China trade talks, Pompeo said he was optimistic that the Chinese delegation would be well received and both sides would "have a good outcome from those conversations."

"I don't want to get ahead of the conversations and negotiations that are taking place. There is lots of hard work to do. I am very confident that there will be a bright future for the United States and its people, but for the Chinese people as well," he added.

Pompeo called on Moscow to change its "outlook and behavior", and denied Washington had turned isolationist. 

“It should not go unnoticed that we’ve also defeated the ISIS caliphate in Syria and Iraq... There’s a lot more work to do, and with your help, I know we’ll achieve it” he said.

Brazil’s rightwing president Jair Bolsonaro has prompted fresh alarm among environmentalists after stressing that protecting his country’s unique ecosystem has to be consistent with growing the economy.

Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab said: "We are at the crossroads of the history of humanity. We now have to shape the future.”

“We feel Globalization 4.0 has to be more human-centered… We are now in some ways in a battle between robots and humankind. We don’t want to become slaves of the new technology,” he continued.



Khamenei: Iran Doesn’t Have Proxies in the Region

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei meets a group of elegists and eulogists in Tehran
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei meets a group of elegists and eulogists in Tehran
TT

Khamenei: Iran Doesn’t Have Proxies in the Region

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei meets a group of elegists and eulogists in Tehran
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei meets a group of elegists and eulogists in Tehran

Iran’s supreme leader denied Sunday that militant groups around the region functioned as Tehran’s proxies, warning that if his country chose to “take action,” it would not need them anyway.
Ali Khamenei told a group of elegists and eulogists in Tehran, “They keep saying that the Islamic Republic has lost its proxy forces in the region! This is another mistake. If one day we want to take action, we do not need a proxy force,” according to his website.
Khamenei then attacked the United States and its ally Israel over developments in Syria, and hinted at internal criticism of Iran's regional role.
“Their plans in Syria led to unrest and chaos, and now the United States, the Zionist regime, and their allies, feeling victorious, have resorted to extravagant claims and nonsensical talk, like the followers of devil,” he said.
The Iranian leader then quoted an American official as saying that Washington will “provide assistance and support to anyone causing unrest in Iran.”
Such statements, he said, are an example of the enemies’ boastful rhetoric. “The Iranian nation with their strong steps will trample underfoot any US mercenary who accepts this role,” he added.
Khamenei then addressed the Israelis saying, “You Zionists haven’t won; you’ve been defeated. Yes, you were able to advance a few kilometers in Syria where there wasn't even one soldier with a gun to stop you. That’s not victory. Indeed, the courageous, devout, young people of Syria will definitely expel you from there.”
He added, “You wretched people! Where have you won? Have you won in Gaza? Have you destroyed Hamas? Have you freed your own prisoners? Is this victory to kill over 40,000 people without being able to achieve even one of your goals? Despite killing Hassan Nasrallah, have you managed to eliminate Hezbollah in Lebanon?”
Khamenei also affirmed that Iran has not lost its proxies in the region.
“Iran doesn’t have proxy forces. Yemen fights due to their faith. Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad fight because their beliefs compel them to do so,” he said.
IRGC commander Hossein Salami, five days after Assad's fall, had denied that Iran had lost its regional arms. “Some suggest the Iranian regime has lost its arms, but this is not true. The regime still has its arms,” he said.