The Mother’s Milk of Insanity
The Trump Administration has decided that breast feeding is not a good idea.
At the World Health Assembly, the United States upended a resolution simply stating that breastfeeding is best for both mom and baby.
American officials sought to water down the resolution by removing language that called on governments to “protect, promote and support breast-feeding” and another passage that called on policymakers to restrict the promotion of food products that many experts say can have deleterious effects on young children.
And when that didn’t pass, the United States of Damn America threatened countries.
The Americans were blunt: If Ecuador refused to drop the resolution, Washington would unleash punishing trade measures and withdraw crucial military aid. The Ecuadorean government quickly acquiesced.
There were 12 witnesses to the threats by the United States.
I do not believe for one second that anyone in the Trump administration believes breastfeeding is bad. I think they believe that campaign donations from folks who make baby formula is better.
They picked on the poorest countries, of course, as bullies would do.
In the end, the Americans’ efforts were mostly unsuccessful. It was the Russians who ultimately stepped in to introduce the measure — and the Americans did not threaten them.
Yeah, let’s have Russia be the good guys. That’s smart.