Spectacle without strategy
Trump’s Iran policy and his assault on U.S. institutions follow the same dangerous pattern: spectacle without strategy, escalation without any serious “day after” plan. They create chaos that serves him, not the country.
In Iran, he lurched from limited strikes to regime‑change rhetoric with no credible blueprint for what comes next — no clear vision of Iran’s politics, no plan for regional stability, no exit strategy. It’s like kicking in a door without knowing what you’ll do once you’re inside, then hoping events somehow break your way.
At home, he uses the same instinct against our own system: attacking courts, Congress, independent law enforcement, the press, and the opposition as illegitimate. There is no worked‑out constitutional project here — no serious proposal for a better framework. The implied end state is simply personal rule, where loyalty to Trump matters more than law or institutions.
This isn’t governing, it’s permanent crisis management. The lack of an endgame is the point. Endless conflict keeps his base mobilized and keeps attention on the latest drama instead of on his failures and vulnerabilities, including scandals like Epstein that would otherwise dominate the news.
Americans deserve leaders who do the hard, boring work of real strategy — who can say not just what they want to destroy, but what they want to build, and how. We cannot afford a politics that treats our democracy like a prop and our foreign policy like a TV season finale.
Paul Howard, Naples
Costly distraction
As I said here in the Mailbag, back on February 25, Trump could cause higher gas prices by starting a war with Iran, and lo and behold, here we are. And so far, there hasn’t been a rational reason for this war, why, or for how long, or anything that actually makes sense − UNLESS you remember what happened less than a week prior to the bombs starting to fall.
What was that, you ask? It was the NPR report about the 4 FBI interviews with a woman back in 2019 regarding sexual abuse when she was 13 or 14 years old, by Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump. Of those 4 interviews, only the first one is currently available. Where are the other three? I don’t know, but Trump is certainly sweating bullets about them, and he had to do something to make sure that the subject of the “Trump-Epstein Files” is off the news, and voila, there hasn’t been a word about it since Friday, February 27th, when the bombs started falling on Saturday, February 28th.
Trump doesn’t care how many U.S. military people get killed, or Iranians get killed, as long as he doesn’t get found out regarding his involvement with Epstein. And if anyone thinks he isn’t involved with Epstein, you just haven’t been paying attention. In addition to being in the “Trump-Epstein Files” many times, he’s shown us over the years what a “perv” he is, from telling Howard Stern about going into the dressing rooms at the beauty pageants he owned to ogle half-naked and naked young women and girls, to his “grab ’em by the xxxx,” and “they let you do it when you’re a star,” comments on tape, to consorting with porn stars (Stormy Daniels), etc., you’d have to be pretty naive to think he wouldn’t take advantage of any opportunities with Epstein. Plus, he’s done everything he can to prevent their release, even though he campaigned on releasing them. And anyone who doesn’t believe it, I’m sure there’s a bridge for sale somewhere you can buy.
Ken Brindle, Cape Coral
Trump’s quest for glory
Candidate Trump said over and over again to his lobotomized MAGA faithful that the U.S. policy of regime change in the Middle East with no plan for what comes after was insane and often shouted in his usual all capital letters that he would never do it. Candidate Trump accused first President Obama and then President Biden of plotting to go to war with Iran to compensate for weak negotiations and to boost poor poll numbers, stating he would settle the matter diplomatically. Mr. Trump was negotiating with Iran and Mr. Trump had nosediving poll numbers when our swaggering commander-in-chief with the debilitating bone spurs sent his self-designated “suckers and losers” into war against Iran when there was no imminent threat. We have seen projection by Mr. Trump and MAGA in just about every aspect of their corrupt politics but, with lives now being lost, this borders on the criminal. Mr. Trump is forever in search of glory, doing and saying any and everything (drink bleach to cure COVID), to bring adoration. He would be wise to visit that portion of Machiavelli’s book “The Prince” that warns ruthless leaders who are willing to commit deceitful and immoral acts in pursuit of glory that they may achieve temporary power, but never true glory. Sadly, young lives are being lost while Mr. Trump glorifies himself, plays golf and admires drapes in the White House.
Thomas Minor, Bonita Springs
Restraining the price of oil
If I was able to advise the president I would have him say we will cover any shortfall in oil supply from the reserves. Also, I’m asking the Saudis to cover any disruption in supply! You want to keep the speculators out of the mix while the short war continues. We have greedy outfits already raising prices!
Jay Vincent, Naples
Reckless sideshows
Project 2025, MAGA’s Bible, framed Iran’s government as an existential threat to be neutralized through “Maximum Pressure” — specifically regime change (Chapter 6, p. 176). The U.S. attempted regime change more than 70 times in the last 75 years. While overt invasions are “tactically successful” 66% of the time, these operations almost always produce “profound insecurity,” fueling civil war — NOT long-term U.S. security. Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promised: “I’m not going to start a war; I’m going to stop the wars.” Despite this platform, and even as a rare bipartisan coalition tried reining in the president (House passed a War Powers Resolution Feb 26; Vice President JD Vance broke a 50-50 Senate tie), current strikes reveal the truth. Declared war belies Trump’s Article II justification, his “No New Wars,” and his “America First” pledge. Project 2025’s goal of “removing the regime from the chessboard” succeeded at the executive level, but replaced a predictable adversary with a leaderless, nuclear-capable security state in a civil-military power struggle. Impacts are clear: the military-industrial complex gets rich, tariffs end to support the complex, world oil prices spike, and U.S. oil exports explode. Oil companies get rich, national debt rockets, consumers pay, and eyes turn from the America First Big Top, the Ringmaster, his masked clowns, and reckless sideshows.
Charles McClinton, Cape Coral
Mideast war and elections
One of the many side effects of President Trump’s self-declared “War” in Iran is the domestic political fallout that is likely to hamper Republicans who have to defend an unpopular undertaking in the campaign leading up to the midterm elections this fall that threaten the GOP’s maintenance of majorities in both houses of Congress. Their plight is heightened by a lack of any plan by the Trump administration for a conclusion to the conflict in the Middle East.
While the president lacks a plan for disengagement from his chosen “War,” worried Republicans can rest assured that he reportedly has a plan to avert potential loss of Republican control of the House of Representatives and, perhaps, the Senate: declare a “national emergency,” impose martial law, and cancel the elections.
Marshall H. Tanick, Naples
Standing by their man
Last week I wrote a missive to this column that the president had purposely boxed himself into a corner in the Middle East. Three days later I was proved correct. I mentioned the Ides of March fast approaching and wondered if this was all engineered by Christian nationalists and powerful forces coming from Israel. Statements made by Ambassador Huckabee previously and following statements from Rubio stating we did it because Israel was going to do it so we did too first because we didn’t want to be last to the party. I’d say we’ve seen this all before but maybe this is the great conflagration that sets the Middle East on fire and all done on biblical purpose. I’d like to congratulate all the right-wing contributors to this column whose recent gripes were Democrats not standing up in respect during the SOTU. Stand by your man while he burns everything down, well done.
Laurence Jacks, Estero
Diplomacy hard; starting wars simple
Today’s reality has confirmed what history has taught us. If bullies have bombs, then they will find any excuse to use them. The attack on Iran by the United States of America and Israel is the most recent case in point. The statement should not be misconstrued as advocacy of the corrupt and dangerous regime in Tehran. Although many would describe the leadership in Washington D.C. and Tel Aviv with similar adjectives. This U.S. president is averse to deep thought, rational judgment and consequential analysis. His perspective on history is limited to his latest golf score. With this backdrop, it should come as no surprise that our president, as the world’s moral arbiter, decided to attack Iran. Diplomacy is difficult. Starting wars is simple. If Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq are examples, ending conflict is exceedingly more complex. The victims are not limited to the innocent in Iran, but to the unintended and tragic consequences in the unraveling of what remains of the world order and its associated casualties across the planet. Tragically included here are America’s brave military who have been unnecessarily placed in harm’s way. Donald J. Trump is the perpetrator, but his congressional Republican co-conspirators are no less guilty. One would have thought that a renewed focus on Ukraine would have been a more productive path to the Nobel Peace Prize. But that is now as real as requiring only one day to end that continuing catastrophe under his watch.
Manny Cacciola, Fort Myers
Mindboggling!
It continues to astonish me that my MAGA friends have willingly and enthusiastically turned over the major control of their lives to one man, i.e. Donald Trump. In effect they have determined that this one man has been invested with the wisdom of the ages, that he alone knows more than all the experts in all the fields of intellectual endeavor, and they have pledged to follow him wherever he leads. The Republican Party in Congress, particularly Johnson, Thune, and Graham, as well as VP Vance, have also relinquished their judgment, power, and responsibility to one man. Mindboggling! Hyperbole? I think not. And anyone who has ever studied history knows how this turns out. Iran is just the start!
Ed OKeefe, Bonita Springs
Save Immokalee Raceway
Immokalee Regional Raceway has been a cornerstone of Collier County recreation for 27 years, serving as a safe, family‑friendly venue for motorsports. The decision to close the racetrack in April to make room for future airport expansion disregards the clear wishes of Immokalee residents, local businesses, and thousands of supporters across South Florida.
This racetrack is more than pavement. It is a community gathering place where three generations come together — racers as young as five and seniors in their eighties — to enjoy a sport they love in a controlled, safe environment. By providing a legal alternative to street racing, the track directly contributes to safer roadways for all county residents. Families come to watch, kids are free!
Drag racing is a sport, and this track is our sports field. Collier County invests heavily in recreational facilities for other sports — Paradise Coast Sports Complex, North Collier Regional Park, and East Naples Community Park, to name a few. Motorsports participants deserve the same consideration. Unlike other county‑supported venues, Immokalee Regional Raceway pays its own way. It pays rent to the Airport Authority, covers all maintenance and operational costs, and generates revenue rather than consuming taxpayer dollars.
With 1,333 county‑owned acres surrounding the airport, there is ample room for expansion without eliminating the only remaining drag strip in South Florida. The racetrack should remain where it is.
Petitions are circulating urging the county commissioners to halt the closure. Nearly 8,000 people have already signed online at IMMRACEWAY.com, alongside a growing paper petition in the Immokalee community.
Craig Thiel, Naples
Community Concert Series
I was at Barbara B. Mann Tuesday for the Community Concerts program of Three Italian Tenors. What a magnificent show. The crowd was on their feet for the last 15 or 20 minutes of the show. Community Concerts is one of the best bargains in town for classical music. There are five shows in the annual subscription – two symphonies, a ballet, an opera, and a fifth miscellaneous show such as Dueling Pianos, or this year, Rodney Marsalis and the Philadelphia Big Brass. A few tickets are still available for Marsalis. Call the box office for availability. I encourage you to get tickets for one year to see the full value of this series. The full subscription for the five shows is $168 ($33 per ticket). Symphonies have included the Moscow Symphony and the Ukraine Symphony – one of the best I have heard in over 60 years. Incidentally, the Ukraine Symphony received a standing ovation as they entered the stage and a standing ovation for each piece in the program. Very emotional.
Joe Jansen, Fort Myers
Thanks to kind stranger
Last Wednesday we saw the Broadway Palm Theater “Cats.” Great show, fantastic food! Lots of congestion in the aisle. A total stranger said do you need help with wheelchair, I said Yes! She took us to the parking lot to help my wife to get into the car. I said you must be a nurse, she said no, a biologist! I think her name was Eileen (not sure). Thank you!
Cornelius Cahill, Lehigh Acres
Florida cattle drive feature
I applaud the Naples Daily News for including this feature, the great Florida cattle drive, in the Sunday edition. Having grown up in Texas and Oklahoma I did not have an appreciation that cowboys and cattle drives began in Florida. The section on the muleskinner was excellent Also, the feature was wonderfully free of any political commentary.
Bruce Foster, Naples
Regulating e-bikes
In 2019, my wife and I took a cross-country trip. One of our stops was San Antonio, TX. This was the first time we became aware of e-bikes. I saw in your paper that the Legislature in Florida is considering rules and regulations concerning these instruments of transportation. Here is our experience with these bikes in Texas. There were three companies that supplied these bikes for use by the general public. I don’t think anybody owned one. When I say for use by the general public, here is what I mean. These three companies had bike stands all over the city. What you would do is go to one of these bike stands, select the bike you wanted to use, insert a credit card in the bike to turn it on, hop on the bike and go where you wanted to go. When you got to your destination, you would drop off the bike at the appropriate company’s stand, and go about your business. The credit card would charge your account the appropriate amount. Trust me when I say you could drop off the bike practically anywhere; there were so many stands.
Sounds pretty neat doesn’t it? The problem is that the bikes were so popular they were everywhere − on sidewalks, on roads, going seemingly whatever speed they wanted to travel. One time I walked out of our hotel and almost got run over by a bike on the sidewalk. I urge our legislators to do their homework and not put some law on the books and think everything will be okay. Maybe we won’t have the problems San Antonio experienced, but, a word to the wise.
Chuck Bainbridge, Naples
Orwellian bill in Legislature
The primary purpose of HB 945 (FL Senate), that is winding its way through committees, is to detect, identify and neutralize “adversity intelligence entities” including persons whose actions, views or opinions are perceived as threats to the interests of FL. If this Orwellian bill becomes law, then many/most authors of the News-Press Letters to the Editor could find themselves targets of “neutralization” − a euphemism for handling villains without articulating the gritty details and consequences: arrest, conviction, monetary fines, and incarceration.
James L. DeBoy, Fort Myers
Funds for AIDS treatment
Let’s make this short and to the point: When our health director, governor and legislators cut funding for AIDS treatment they are killing people and putting others at risk. This is cruel, unnecessary punishment. Florida is one of the few states going down this path.
Benjamin Glick, MD, Naples
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Readers debate attack on Iran, Trump’s leadership | Opinion letters
Reporting by Letter writers / Fort Myers News-Press
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