It’s still unclear if Donald Trump will let US forces fire a shot for Israel, but his threats are a huge help
Donald Trump was left with two choices: be a bystander or a playmaker. And it seems Israel played him, counting on his vanity to join its righteous cause.
Andrew Bolt
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Five months ago Donald Trump foolishly promised not to make war: “Our power will stop all wars.”
Yet he’s been stampeded into backing Israel’s war on Iran, and even – seemingly – joining it.
Seems Israel played him, counting on his vanity to join its righteous cause.
The US President has moved aircraft carrier groups, jets, and air-to-air tankers into position around Iran, and even threatens to kill Iran’s Supreme Leader, but “at least not for now”.
In fact, to hear him, America is at war already: “We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”
Who’s this “we”?
All I’ve seen so far is Israel doing the fighting.
In fact, until last week, Trump seemed keen to stop Israel attacking Iran, and just hours before it did – last Friday – Trump posted: “We remain committed to a diplomatic resolution.”
Sure, there’s claims that Trump was just helping Israel lull Iran into a false sense of security, but a New York Times investigation confirmed Trump dithered to the last.
But Israel’s Prime Minister told him Israel’s attack was going ahead, with America or without it.
He already had Mossad agents inside Iran, preparing targets.
For Israel it had to happen now.
The International Atomic Energy Commission had just accused Iran of secretly enriching enough uranium for nine nuclear bombs, and with Iran’s anti-aircraft defences already mauled in previous battles, this was a generational opportunity to destroy the nuclear weapons sites of a terrorist state pledged to destroy Israel.
Trump had two choices: be a bystander or a playmaker as Israel changed the Middle East.
To someone that vain, the choice was natural.
So Trump immediately claimed credit for the war, posting he’d given Iran a “60-day ultimatum” two months earlier to make a deal, and “today is day 61”. Now he’s demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender”.
I’m not saying Trump isn’t a staunch ally of Israel, but he’s always dodged war and was mocked as a “taco” – Trump Always Chickens Out.
He’s refused to confront Russia over its barbaric attacks on Ukraine, and quickly called off US attacks on Houthi rebels after they promised to stop firing missiles at US targets, but not Israeli ones.
It’s still unclear if he’ll let US forces fire a shot for Israel, but his threats are a huge help.
He’s breathing war-fire, after being out-machoed by the Israelis. There’s hope there for Ukraine.
Originally published as It’s still unclear if Donald Trump will let US forces fire a shot for Israel, but his threats are a huge help
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