trump Establishes ‘Bureau of Peace’ With Sweeping Powers
“Donald J. Trump shall serve as inaugural Chairman of the Board of Peace, and he shall separately serve as inaugural representative of the united States of America…The Chairman [Trump] shall have exclusive authority to create, modify, or dissolve subsidiary entities as necessary or appropriate to fulfill the board of Peace’s mission…The Chairman [Trump] shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman. Replacement of the Chairman [Trump] may occur only following voluntary resignation or consequently of incapacity, as determined by a unanimous vote of the Executive board, at which time the chairman’s [Trump’s] designated successor shall instantly assume the position of the Chairman and all associated duties and authorities of the Chairman.”
Those are quotes from the charter of the new,so-called Bureau of Peace (BOP) established by President Trump and signed January 22,at davos,switzerland by Trump for the United States and the leaders or representatives of 19 other countries.
On January 16, White House proclamation of BOP said the institution would provide “strategic oversight, mobilizing international resources, and ensuring accountability as Gaza transitions from conflict to peace and growth.”
However,six days later the BOP charter that President Trump released at Davos described its purpose in Chapter I this way: “the Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability,restore dependable and lawful governance,and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
No mention of Gaza, as BOP’s sole focus, but rather the far broader “areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
BOP’s expansion to a worldwide peacekeeping role provides President Trump with a new way to involve himself in international affairs, not just while he is U.S. President, but even after he leaves the White House.
I will discuss below how President Trump sees all this happening and what it may mean. First, however, it’s worth seeing how BOP’s charter, gives its Chairman, Trump, total power over the organization even beyond what’s mentioned above.
For example,, the charter says. “Membership in the Board of Peace is limited to states invited to participate by the Chairman…Each Member State shall serve a term of no more then three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman…The Executive Board shall be selected by the Chairman…shall serve two-year terms, subject to removal by the Chairman and renewable at his discretion…[and] shall be led by a Chief Executive nominated by the Chairman and confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board…Decisions of the Executive Board shall be made by a majority of its members present and voting, including the Chief Executive. Such decisions shall go into effect immediately, subject to veto by the Chairman at any time thereafter.”
Beyond that, Chairman Trump, under the charter, shall convene BOP meetings, establish their locations, must approve the agendas and the persons from all states attending those meeting.
Individually, the charter says Chairman trump, “acting on behalf of the Board of Peace, is authorized to adopt resolutions or other directives, consistent with this Charter, to implement the Board of Peace’s mission.”
As Chairman, Trump can also “dissolve [BOP] at such time as the Chairman considers necessary or appropriate, or at the end of every odd-numbered calendar year, unless renewed by the Chairman no later than November 21 of such odd-numbered calendar year.”
The charter says,“The Executive Board shall provide for the rules and procedures with respect to the settling of all assets,liabilities,and obligations upon [BOP’s] dissolution,” but remember,decisions of the Executive Board are “subject to veto by the Chairman at any time.”
In short,the BOP charter gives trump total control over the organization and all its activities.
At last Thursday’s press conference introducing BOP, Trump s
