Donald Trump’s self-styled wartime presidency backfires as costly Iran conflict, Epstein scandal and military blunders erode his standing.
DONALD Trump, who managed to evade military service during the Vietnam War through a series of draft deferments, said recently that he viewed himself as a “wartime president”.
He was clearly thinking of brass bands, fancy uniforms, medals and snappy honour guards to compliment his continental-sized ego.
He got his wish and it has been a disaster. He fired some of his best senior officers who would not kowtow to his amateur schemes, threw monkey wrenches into the Pentagon machinery and used the US military to conduct illegal assassinations of foreign figures.
“Careful what you wish for” should have been engraved on his Oval Office desk. As the renowned general, King Pyrrhus of Epirus (ancient Albania) famously said after a series of battlefield victories against the Romans, “one more such victory and I am lost”. Hence, the often-used expression, “Pyrrhic victory”.
Trump’s little war against Iran and Lebanon with his favourite ally amounts to a classic Pyrrhic victory. A few thousand bystanders died, missile supplies were exhausted, Iran was pounded by the US and Israel and billions of dollars were wasted in the shootout.
Iran estimates US$300 billion (RM1.23 trillion) in damages. For what? Primarily, to distract public attention from the festering Epstein scandal. That ploy worked brilliantly – initially.
The remarkable Israeli agent of influence, Jeffrey Epstein, implanted himself at the heart of US power, using Levantine charm, huge amounts of bribery and powerful influence from American supporters. This was likely the deepest penetration of the US government since the Clinton administration was manipulated by Israel.
Yet, there has been very little public outrage in the US. Trump, who is a key ally of Israel’s expansionist far right government, has so far soft-soaped this explosive issue and distracted voters.
Israel’s profound influence over the Trump administration has angered many Americans Last week we even heard proposals from some American allies of Israel that the US armed forces were to be put under joint US and Israeli control. The US-Iran-Israel war was the test run for this new concept. We shall see much more if the Epstein files are ever released.
Meanwhile, the US flounders without any clear idea of what to do with Iran. Trump’s bluffing over the little Gulf War has left him deflated and embarrassed as his pre-election polls drop.
Really difficult issues arising from Trump’s gunboat diplomacy abound: the US$300 billion to repay damage to Iran caused by US and Israeli attacks, US$100 million of Iran’s assets illegally frozen by the US, huge rebates to ship owners caused by US-Israeli operations, the destruction of much of southern Lebanon and Israel, annexation of parts of southern Lebanon and billions of dollars of destruction to Beirut and Lebanon’s coast. Not to mention America’s tattered image around the world.
Like children, politicians must not be allowed to play with matches.
Eric S. Margolis is a syndicated columnist. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
