Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, should be appointed to an ambassadorial position.
That way, Kushner could continue to advise President Trump, while also doing something constructive.
I say “do something constructive,” in that having lost his Top Secret-SCI security clearance, Jared Kushner is in a poor position to do his current job. After all, Kushner has been leading the Trump administration’s efforts on sensitive issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and U.S. policy towards Iraq. But now that he lacks access to the most sensitive intelligence, Kushner cannot do his job effectively.
A couple of hypothetical examples?
Kushner will no longer, for example, be able to receive CIA analysis that is based on human sources inside the Iranian militias operating in Iraq. And that means he won’t be able to get the best context on any upcoming challenges to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s government, or Iranian efforts to smuggle weapons to Syria.
He will no longer have access to NSA analysis of intercepted phone calls between Palestinian officials in Ramallah and Gaza, and Israeli officials in Jerusalem. And that means he won’t be able to anticipate the negotiating strategies of each side in the run up to peace talks.
The simple issue here is that if Kushner truly cares about President Trump’s policy agenda and national service, he should find the courageous humility to accept that he’s now better suited to a different kind of role.
Enter an ambassadorship.
As individuals who clearly enjoy the party circuit and mingling with high powered individuals, Kushner and his wife, Ivanka, would likely do well as America’s chief representatives in a foreign capital. Their effectiveness would also be greatly supported by their close personal relationship with the president. The government wherever Kushner was posted would listen to his concerns in an effort to maintain positive relations with Trump.
While it’s a shame that Trump endorsed the swamp-strategy of sending close cronies and big donors to take up ambassadorial spots abroad, Kushner has options in vacant positions. Contemplate a few possibilities.
If Kushner wants to drink mojitos and revel with communist kleptocrats (and risk losing his hearing — probably thanks to the Russians), he could head off to Cuba.
If Kushner wants to help handle a troublesome (and perhaps insane) on-paper-ally, he might head to Turkey.
If Kushner wants to work alongside a reformist crown prince, he could go to Saudi Arabia (this would be the best choice).
If Kushner wants to support a critical (and most reliable) U.S. ally, King Abdullah, he could go to Jordan.
If Kushner wants to annoy Europeans (which is always fun), he could go to the European Union.
Regardless, Kushner should pick one of these locations and Trump should send him there. It’s now the best way for the president’s adviser to serve this boss in an appropriate way.
