Trump’s Iran-Israel decision.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
I’ve owned my own company – and the radio stations that it operates – since 1991. I like being the boss. Being “on the risk,” as business owners call it, gives one a bit of a buzz.
I fully understand that I’m responsible for anything that goes wrong. Sure, it might be an employee that screwed up. But I’m still responsible.
Being in charge isn’t always fun. Sometimes it’s purely awful. But taken all around I’d rather be the boss than have one. Please forgive a bit of braggadocio when I say not everyone’s cut out for it.
Being the President of the United States is that ethos writ large. Truth be told, like most guys who own and run businesses, I’d get off on being saluted as I mount the steps to Air Force One. I wouldn’t hate being called, “Mr. President.”
But today I’m glad I’m not.
Somewhere in the sturm und drang of the conflict between Israel and Iran there may be a right move for President Trump. But not the clear-cut move that his supporters and detractors would have you believe is there.
It’s easy for the chattering classes and agenda-driven politicos to say they have it figured out. But none of them will ever return a salute going up the steps of Air Force One.
Israel, legitimately fearing for its very survival, started the present conflict with Iran. But, for all they have accomplished in an astonishingly short time, it’s likely only the United States can finish it.
Kudos to Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu for presenting us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to keep a gang of sociopathic religious zealots from getting nuclear weapons and using them to hold the civilized world hostage.
But only President Trump can decide to seize that opportunity. That’s because only the U.S. has the so-called “bunker buster” bomb that can take out Iran’s Fordow Fuel Enrichment plant that is buried deep underground. And only the United States has the B-2 bomber that can deliver that weapon.
“So, just do it,” says one camp. Fine. That’s because none of them will be blamed for the terroristic retaliation on American soil that is a very real possibility (thanks to God knows how many Iranian-backed terrorists now in the country thanks to Joe Biden’s open borders). None of them will be subjected to the Democrats’ reflexive calls for impeachment. None of them will watch as the economy tanks, taking with it the entirety of Trump’s second term policy agenda.
“No, don’t do it,” says the other camp. But that’s because they won’t be blamed when a year from now or five years from now or two months from now the sociopaths who run Iran either unleash a nuke or use the then deliverable threat of such to terrorize the entire civilized world.
Talk is cheap (that’s why there’s so much of it). But decisions have a cost.
Donald Trump – alone – now bears responsibility for covering that cost.
That’s why today, I’m glad no one is calling me, “Mr. President.”
Wonderful!
Well said!
Very well said,Paul.
That’s the weight of command, for you. There’s a third option that no one’s talking about, though: retrofit one of Israel’s various large aircraft to carry said bunker buster, maybe at bargain basement rates, then congratulate the new favorite guy in the neighborhood once he’s fixed the wagon of the local bully. You can roll a lot of stuff out of the back of a C-130, especially when you enjoy airspace supremacy.
Mr. Paul Gleiser,
Food for thought!
There is no doubt in my mind that Iran has the personnel, equipment, and “where with all” to pull off a SURPRISE ATTACK” here on American soil!!! Our adversaries are not stupid either and have been preparing for decades!! I fear this will happen should the United States destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Every country that can “sell weapons” to other countries! Instead of involving the US in the war, I recommend this narrative. SELL Israel the Bunker Buster Bombs and RENT the equipment necessary to destroy Iran’s nuclear program. Let Israel surprise the world by bombing the nuclear sites instead of the United States. It would be presented as an Israeli secret that they already possessed these weapons. At the very least, that should be the official US narrative. I understand that Israel may not have the training to use the equipment necessary to carry out the mission; therefore, the United States should never acknowledge involvement!
By “selling” Israel the means to destroy its enemies, it will distance America from “direct involvement,” at least for the short term, in terms of declaring that the United States did not and is not entering into the conflict. We are only selling the equipment to our allies. The same things Russia, China, and Rocket Man do. Israel can say they waited to use their “secret” weapon in hopes that Iran would negotiate and they wanted to keep their weaponry a secret for future use if necessary.
The statement from the White House should be that we sold Israel the Bunker Buster bombs long ago!!!! True or not, that should be the narrative that also comes from Israel’s narrative, of course all discussed and agreed upon in advance with Israel!
Regards,
Larrey Loeckle
Israel did not start this calamity. Iran did through its proxies almost 50 years ago. If you remember, the mullahs have been chanting death to the great Satan the United States and its Little Satan Israel. A thousand Americans have died and thousands more Jews during this time. Our mutual destruction has been their goal, their only goal. They are undeterred. Dithering under the delusion that a negotiated settlement is possible is a tragic mistake and miscalculation. This movie has re-run over and over again with the same result. What makes you believe it will be different this time if decisive action is not taken? Of course there are risks. But that doesn’t mean they are not worth taking. Neville Chamberlain tried to appease and avoid risks under similar circumstances. Now with nuclear annihilation at stake, let’s learn from history and be more courageous for the sake of our children and grandchildren.
That’s why I’m glad Donald Trump won the election instead of Joe Biden or Kamala Harris!!
We all know an unknown number of terrorist/ terrorist supporters walked into our Country compliments of Mayorkas, Biden, and Harris. My thoughts are something is going to happen regardless of whether President Trumps destroys anything in Iran. A number of Texas Sheriff’s in Texas are preparing their constituents for just such an attack. I do not believe in appeasing any terrorist regime, especially the Iranians. The difference in President Trump and past presidents; he does believe in complete victory with overwhelming firepower. Bush’s “Shock and Awe” was nothing of the sort. How fast did President Trump and the military destroy ISIS? Months with very limited ground casualties. Negotiations are garbage with these people. These are Persians, not Arabs. The Persians think they are superior to all before them. Don’t believe it ask one. Remember 1979? I had the privilege of going to college with over a hundred Iranians 1978. Got to know a couple fairly well; gave one rides up town and back to campus. The conversations were “You Americans this and You Americans that.” I learned to NEVER call a Persian an Arab. That will get you in a fist fight in a blink of an eye. Not going into super detail here but do I think we need to take out the leadership and blow up their military and strategic assets; Yes. You can be our Arab allies are hoping we blow them up too. As far as a threat here at home, it is already here.