So we had an agreement with Iran, negotiated by Obama to limit nuclear weapon proliferation by Iran that, according to credible intelligence (including the “intelligence” agencies now headed by Trump) that Trump withdrew because it “did not go far enough.”
But Trump does not listen to anybody. He has said more than once he already knows everything he needs to know to make any decision he needs to make. That’s also why he does not read anything. He also has said, more than once, that he trusts Putin more than American intelligence agencies.
Take Tulsi Gabbard (please!). His head of “intelligence.” She said Iran was not close to having a nuclear weapon. Trump said he didn’t care what she said, Iran WAS close. How did he know? Because he knows everting he needs to know already. After what is known as a “come to Jesus meeting” with the president, Tulsi has changed her mind.
So Trump dropped bunker busters on Iran. In case anyone is wondering, that is an act of war. So where is Congress in this?
Take Lindsey Graham (please!). He said, JUST NOW as I was writing this, that Trump acted within his power, even "brilliantly." “We can’t have 535 commanders in chief!” he said. Mr. Graham would do well to read the Constitution, as would ALL of Trumpworld. Until this president, Congress DID have a job in going to war – not directing it, as the commander in chief does, but declaring it. And it only takes a majority vote – not a unanimous one.
Yes, there is that unpleasant business of Vietnam and, to a lesser extent, Korea. But if FDR had known he could order bombing of Japan and Germany WITHOUT Congressional action, he would have been a happy guy. (He didn't even do "lend lease" without Congressional approval.)
Also, Vietnam was an ongoing conflict in which we got involved gradually in a misguided attempt to stop the “domino effect” communist takeover over Asia, which Congress mostly supported and knew about in advance. And was only escalated after the Gulf of Tonkin resolution passed by Congress. We failed, it didn’t matter, and now Vietnam is booming. (I served there as an infantryman.)
Korea was actually a success. It was a UN approved operation with our involvement approved by Congress. The goal was to preserve South Korea as an entity. It happened. (Look it up if you have doubts.)
But FDR was not cut from the same cloth as Trump. He also read things like books and appointed qualified advisors whose opinions he valued. This president does not do ANY of that.
Also, this president ran on keeping us out of wars. Said Russia would never have attacked Ukraine if he had been president and that he could end that war in ONE DAY.
So we’re worried about Iran having nukes? Well, guess who else already has them: Pakistan and North Korea, not to mention Russia. As wacky as that Islamic fundamentalist in Iran is, Kim Jong Un (with whom Trump “fell in love”) is worse. Compared to North Korea, Iran is a free nation with a booming economy.
If Iran DOES get nukes, if Kim Jong Un is not stupid enough to use THEIRS, I doubt that religious fundamentalist in Iran would use THEIRS.
Another comparison between Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump, when Kim Jong Un became leader the party line was “heaven sent us another leader!” Remind you of what was said about Trump by Trumpworld? Well, if both those statements are true (they are not) then heaven also sent Germany Adolph Hitler, Italy Benito Mussolini, Japan Emperor Hirohito, the USSR Joseph Stalin, Uganda Idi Amin, and so on.
But God spared Trump from assassination! Why if not because he is the Lord’s anointed? I dunno, but Hitler and many other demagogues have survived worse assassination attempts. (See July 1944 for Hitler.)
America will survive and continue to be the best place in the world in which to live DESPITE Trump and Trumpanistas, not BECAUSE of them. Many in Trumpworld believe Trump makes decisions and sticks to them. More horse hockey. He’s known as TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) with respect to his tariffs (while having no idea who really pays those), and he has been on again and off again about whom to deport. He said “criminals” – the overwhelming majority of undocumented residents have never been charged with anything, let alone convicted, UNLIKE Donald Trump!
Trump also will not admit to making mistakes or owning any bad news occurring on his watch. Asked recently about the condition of the economy, Mr. Trump said the "good parts are mine and the bad parts are Biden's." Elaborating, he said "because Biden did a terrible job."
Glynn Kegley is a Rankin County Northsider.
