Eliora
With All Due Respect by Nikki R. Haley – 2019
I recommend this easy to read book. A family member told me she could not put it down and finished it in two sittings. It could be described as lightweight, but the interesting part in Haley’s book is finding out what goes on behind the scenes in the Trump Presidency and knowing more about the author, who may even run for the office of US President in 2024.
Nikki Haley served as Governor of South Carolina 2011 to 2017, then as United States Ambassador to the United Nations 2017 to 2019. She writes giving insight into her life and her role at the UN. Trump approved of her no-nonsense approach.
‘Well sir, I said, I’m not going to be a wall flower or a talking head’. “That’s why I want you to do this!” the President – elect answered.
Subtitled Defending America with Grit and Grace, this book provides the background for some of President Trump’s decisions and reveals Haley’s leadership qualities.
In chapter 7, Maximum Pressure, Haley covers her friendship with Fred and Cindy Warmbier, the USA parents of Otto, who was imprisoned in North Korea, after stealing a propaganda poster. He was sentenced to 15 years hard labour then later released after negotiations. However, he had serious unexplained brain injuries and died shortly after.
But they (the Warmbiers) were very grateful about what we had done to bring Otto home and to take on the Kim regime. Even though Otto had died, they were thankful that we had been loud about their son, that we had stood up in public to advocate for him in the way the Obama administration never did.
President Trump honoured the Warmbiers, at the 2018 State of the Union Address. Haley explains, while grateful, it was also difficult for the parents to separate the murder of their son from the larger effort to denuclearise North Korea as they watched Trump’s warming relationship with Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June 2018. Haley could read the situation and tweeted continued support for the Warmbiers to the American people. Strong sanctions followed and were passed against North Korea at the UN.
Haley is to be admired for her principled, forthright manner and her courage. Her book could be given as a present to anyone interested in world events or in leadership with integrity.
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