Last month, President Trump took the time to call Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to praise his drug war. Trump told Duterte:
I just wanted to congratulate you because I am hearing of the unbelievable job on the drug problem. Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that.
Trump would also formally invite Duterte for an Oval Office visit.
Duterte earned his White House invitation by arbitrarily arresting and detaining people and killing the rest. More than 7,000 people have been murdered including children as young as four. For a moment there I thought Mr. Trump didn't like the murder of "beautiful little babies." To Duterte they are "collateral damage." Indeed, Duterte also changed the law to allow children as young as 9 to be targeted in the drug war.
No doubt Duterte has further endeared himself to Trump when he imposed martial law on the island of Mindanao a couple of days ago and is considering extending the decree nationwide. The Philippines has a ISIS problem, but if his tactics in his war against ISIS are anything like his war against drugs a lot of innocent people are going to die. Which means Duterte can probably expect another phone call & invitation to the White House from Trump.
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