We have been so alarmed at Trump for taking a big, old stinky Trump dump on the Statue of Liberty and the U.S. Constitution that we have forgotten who benefits from the executive order. Rather than looking to see what the countries do not have in common ( no Trump business ties) look to see what they have in common.
That is where Russia comes in.
Russia is actively courting the oppressive regime in Iran. No links necessary. And Iran has always wanted control of Iraq, the other big oil producing Shia state. Severing U.S. ties with these two countries by turning away political refugees makes it that much easier for Russian controlled totalitarian regimes to oppress and control the Iraqi and Iranian people. Turning away U.S. military assets from Iraq---such as interpreters---will make it harder for the U.S. to do anything in Iraq since no one will want to work with a country that goes back on its promises and abandons its allies---leaving Russia and Iran free to step into the void.
What about the five smaller countries on the list. Were they chosen at random? I doubt it. I think Putin sent Trump a memo. A wish list. "These are the countries Mother Russia wants. Take care of it."
Here is CNN on the seven countries which Trump/Putin targeted.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/29/politics/trump-travel-ban-countries/
Syria. Check. We know that Russia is actively attempting to consolidate control of Syria.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/01/russia-iran-turkey-game-syria-170126131318559.html
Yemen. Check.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samuel-ramani/why-putin-is-keeping-a-cl_b_12184874.html
On August 21, 2016, former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh urged Yemen’s Houthi government to give the Russian military access to all of Yemen’s bases, ports and airports. To justify this bold policy suggestion, Saleh praised Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “positive attitude” in the UN Security Council, and described Russia as Yemen’s “closest kin” in the international community.
Somalia. Check.
http://www.ibtimes.com/somalia-seeks-russias-help-fighting-al-shabab-terrorists-strengthening-economy-2355958
Somalia is asking Russia to help equip its armed forces to fight terrorism in the Horn of Africa nation, where Islamic militant group al-Shabab is waging a deadly insurgency against the Western-backed government, according to Sputnik news agency, which is owned and operated by the Russian government. Mogadishu is also seeking Moscow’s support in strengthening its flagging economy, Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke reportedly said Tuesday at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Sudan. Check
http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article60560
Sudan’s President Omer Al-Bashir will visit Russia in the coming two months to discuss mutual cooperation, according to the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Libya. Check.
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/russia-endgame-libya-170116061913370.html
In a quick turn of events this week, Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar met Russian officials in an effort to secure crucial military support that would pave the way for his control of the North African country.
Haftar visited a Russian aircraft carrier off the coast of Tobruk from where he held a video conference with Russian defence minister Sergey Shoigu. Italian State TV RAI reported that Haftar signed an agreement whereby Russia would build two military bases near Tobruk and Benghazi.
Why might Putin want to control seven Middle Eastern countries? Oil. If you add up Russia, Iran, Libya and Iraq, you come up with a world oil superpower. But oil doesn't do you much good if you can not ship it. Sudan, Yemen and Somalia make them a powerhouse on the Red Sea. Iran/Iraq/Syria connect the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean.
The last thing that Putin wants is refugees from these countries coming to the land of the free, making a lot of money, gaining political clout and then using that clout to do what Irish-Americans did for their home country. After its losses in Afghanistan, Russia retrenched. But it is ready to become a world colonial superpower again. And it is counting upon Trump to pave the way for them by telling the oppressed people of those countries "You either suck up to Putin and his puppet or die."