He usurped Congress’ authority again: this time to start an unprovoked war, intentionally murder officials of another country, and create chaos in the Middle East! Foreign policy experts are calling Trump’s war on Iran one of the worst foreign policy decisions in history, exceeding that of Bush’s invasion of Iraq!
At least Bush tried to make a case to justify his invasion and tried to convince the United Nations of its merits before he invaded Iraq. Trump did not bother to consult or convince anyone before he unilaterally took the United States into war in the middle of the night. His rationale: “… the Iranian regime are a vicious group of very hard terrible people,” whose menacing activities “directly endanger” the US and its allies.
His demand that Iran give up all nuclear capacity for a weapon, ignores the fact that other unstable countries have nuclear weapons, for example, Pakistan, which is now at war with Afghanistan. Is he going to attack Pakistan? I doubt it.
He casually mentioned that “lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties.” Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona and an Iraq war veteran, responded on social media: “Draft dodger (Trump) is willing to sacrifice working class kids. How charitable of him.” At this writing, we have already lost six US soldiers.
With no plan for a new government in Iran, or how to disengage at some point in time, Trump has launched Operation Epic Fury on an unready world. He is yet to articulate a long-term strategy beyond hoping for the best. There is no heir apparent on the scene in Iran to lead the country back into the mainstream. And with a savagely bombed out country, how can Iranians overcome the destruction and establish a new government at the same time?
In collaboration with Israel, Trump’s war on Iran is an attempt at regime change, with no foundation, launched in the middle of diplomatic talks to avoid conflict. It is in violation of the US Constitution and the UN Charter, in the absence of any credible, imminent Iranian threat to the US. Trump made clear that this would be no limited strike and recently added he would keep bombing until he achieved peace! If he follows the destructive pattern of his ‘brother in crime,’ Netanyahu, there won’t be anything left in Tehran but rubble. Over 150 Iranians were killed on the first day when a girl’s school was bombed! Trump may yet exceed Netanyahu’s cruelty.
Netanyahu is not only bombing Iran, but he is also bombing every Middle Eastern country he ever hated, causing chaos throughout the region disrupting air travel, oil production, and shipping.
Characteristically, Trump has gone from one extreme to another. He has long railed against the folly of the Iraq war and campaigned twice on a platform of ending US military entanglements abroad. Ironically, just ten days before this new war, he hosted the initial meeting of his Board of Peace, which is supposed to resolve conflicts around the world. So much for that! On the Board of Peace, there is no requirement for Trump to justify himself. There are no rules other than those giving Trump the power to make them up as he goes along.
Why the transformation from a no-war president to a’ war at any cost’ president? Here in the US, Trump faces significantly lower popularity in the runup to the midterm elections, a recent upset by the Supreme Court on his tariffs, and the ongoing revelations of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal getting closer to him every day. Led by his secret army, his immigrant deportation program is hated by a majority of Americans!
Will a war distract us from his unstable, erratic, unconstitutional, lawless, and cruel behavior?
Remember, it was Trump who caused what is happening now during his first presidential term by ending the agreement the US had with Iran not to develop high grade uranium for a weapon. Let us hope Congress will grow a spine and vote for the War Powers Act very soon before there is no going back.
Claudia Stravato is adjunct professor in the political science department at West Texas A&M University. The above editorial only reflects her personal opinions and not those of any organization to which she belongs.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Unauthorized war, murder and chaos | OPINION
Reporting by By Claudia Stravato, Special to the Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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