Mark Wentling is an international development and humanitarian assistance specialist with over 40 years of relevant experience. He attended the U.S. National War College; international strategic studies program for selected senior members of U.S. armed forces and civilian Foreign Service agencies. US foreign assistance to poor people across the globe was a cost-effective and relatively efficient program. The Trump Administration weakened America’s soft power reducing influence over the policies of other countries favorable to the US, alienated many of our allies, cut off business, defense, trade and cultural opportunities, destroyed markets for many American farm products and killed thousands of our poorest and sickest allies. By surrendering America’s leadership, China, and other frenemies of the US and democracies, will be delighted to fill the leadership vacuum. No low-income country can trust the US again to be a dependable partner. Future assistance programs should focus on 42 of the poorest countries.

12.24.25

Robert L. Dilenschneider, founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, is one of the world's foremost communication experts and leadership coaches. Dilenschneider is widely published, having authored 18 seminal business and career development books. His latest book is “Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership.” He discusses the traits of several leaders. Nelson Mandela, who was jailed for years, won the first all-race election in South Africa and created the Reconciliation Commission, as well as being a role model both at the UN and for potential young leaders worldwide. Other outstanding leaders included Eleanor Roosevelt and John McCain. Eleanor Roosevelt used her White House platform to work on a variety of social issues such as women’s suffrage, civil rights and leadership at the United Nations through the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. All of the aforementioned exhibited courage, integrity, and dedication to being effective.

12.24.25

Enrique Dussel Peters has a Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Notre Dame. Professor at the Graduate School of Economics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México since 1993. He is Coordinator of the Center for Chinese-Mexican Studies of the School of Economics at UNAM and of the Academic Network of Latin America and the Caribbean on China. His most recent book is “Latin America, China & Great Power Competition.” The US appears to be abandoning the Bretton Woods structure and some UN programs. US leadership with President Donald Trump is no longer dependable. Withdrawal from international institutions is foolhardy and counterproductive. Many experts are touting China as the emerging world leader. China is using Soft Power, such as the Belt and Road Project, to accomplish foreign policy goals. Eliminating USAID by President Trump damaged the reputation, alliances, efficiency and effectiveness of the US in many areas of the world.

December 6, 2025