An isolationist US can't get 'great again'

Three years before entering the White House, US President Donald Trump tweeted that his country needs "a president who isn't a laughingstock to the entire world", "a truly great leader, a genius at strategy and winning".

The laughter he drew at the United Nations General Assembly notwithstanding, he is almost there, at least in his own eyes, for his administration "has accomplished more than almost any administration" in US history and "the United States is a stronger, safer and a richer country" than when he assumed office "less than two years ago".

It did not matter to Trump that he was touting his achievements to the wrong audience. His self-gratification may have been a harmless comic episode to the other national leaders and diplomats at the UN General Assembly. But his elaboration of US foreign policy is very bad news for the rest of the world.