Much to the chagrin of his detractors, one of President Trump’s signature hallmarks during his first term was that he started no new wars. He was an American President whose only battlefield was ideological. Trapped in a war against plumes of propaganda that billowed through his presidency tainting everything in its path. This war was never won, it was merely survived. Its ghosts still linger on. Possessing its perpetrators and haunting their survivors. There is still no accountability for the Russia Hoax and its many perpetrators. At the dawn of his new term there was much hope and promise that this second run would be different for Trump. A wiser, battle hardened leader emerging from the ashes of war capable of leading his troops onward to victory. Involved in the occasional skirmish but hardly ever anything more. Alas, Trump is still a man at war. At war with himself and at war with enemies both within and without. The copious amounts of energy he started his second term with oozing away to a mere trickle. With each passing week his hand seems to be forced one way or the other. Not necessarily by his will but by the desires and whims of others.
This war was never won, it was merely survived. Its ghosts still linger on. Possessing its perpetrators and haunting their survivors.
Over the past few weeks there has been an ever louder chorusing emanating from Washington’s Cathedral of War. Altar boys Mark Levin and Senator Lindsay Graham leading in hymnals to a war they will never physically participate in. In spite of the fact that Tulsi Gabbard, the Director Of National Intelligence, specifically pointed out in March this year that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon, the cries for war have only gotten louder. Sadly, war is now at hand. Over the past forty eight hours there have been military attacks and counter-reprisals between the Jewish and Islamic state. What was celebrated as decisive action by the Israeli government has now turned to a plea for American help. Yet another war for the Americans to get entangled in. The same mantras that dominated Washington for the past few decades leading to the cataclysmic war on terror have now been resuscitated to fuel a war with Iran. The high priest ad libbing these hateful sermons none other the Prime Minister Netanyahu. A sermon he’s been rehashing every few years angling for regime change in Iran. No care given to the Iranian people and no fear of the demons they may have just unleashed. When the “Lion of Syria” was deposed in a coup, a religious fanatic by the name of Mohammad Al-Jawlani took his place. A chart topper on the FBIs most wanted list whose reputation was quickly rehabilitated to suit western narratives. The people of Syria be damned.
President Trump preaches peace while being the leading merchant of war.
When Israel launched strikes agains Iran, the White House was quick to point out that they had no part in Israel’s decision to go to war. A day later, President Trump seemingly took partial ownership of the conflict by stating that he’d given Iranian leadership an opportunity to make a deal. Sadly, due to their failure to do so Israel had carried out its attacks. There is a possibility that Israel acted unilaterally against Trump’s wishes. If so, this was an opportune moment for President Trump to cut his losses and let the embers of war peter out without American involvement. While this could have been an embarrassing admission for Trump it perhaps would have saved many lives in the long run. As the president seems incapable of admitting defeat he is now front and centre of this conflict. The fate of these two nations and the rest of the world in tow hinging on the decisions the White House makes over the next few days. Once hopeful visions of a presidency of peace are quickly fading away into a mere memory. Something similar has happened with the Russia-Ukrainian conflict: President Trump preaches peace while being the leading merchant of war. Both of these conflicts would most likely grind to a halt absent American involvement. Yet, the Americans are still involved. This speaks of a president who is not in control of his house or worse, one who is merely a ceremonial figure head meant to give the appearance of legitimacy to a corrupt and broken system. A system he has failed to bring to heel.
