***. “The imponderables and the unforeseen cannot be ignored in formulating foreign policy. That is why a preventive war should always be regarded as an act of criminal folly.” [. Sumner Welles ]
This post BEGINS to examine the American, and world, tragedy of Donald John Trump as the leader of a major world power in a war. That he is a deeply flawed person is beyond debate. That he seems to operate almost exclusively on whims, grudges, delusions, self-imposed lies is also seemingly beyond debate. Psychiatrists have said, written books, on his unfit mental state to be a U.S. president. That he is THE anti-George Washington, anti-Abraham Lincoln, anti-FDR, is also seemingly beyond debate. That he has surrounded himself with people who are “loyal” IS beyond debate.
And, now, this person has embroiled the U.S., thr Middle East, the world, in a war against Iran. – not for what they have done, but for what they COULD do. That Iran has fomented much evil. – in the name of religion. – is beyond debate.
Thus. – THE question: does Iran’s recent 46-year history justify a preventive war?
***. “War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.” [ Thomas Jefferson ]
This post presents excerpts from. “Impulse and Ultimatums” [Erica Green; New York Times; 3/29/26]:
5] “THe war, like everything else that comes out of the White House, is a reflection of Donald Trump’s very unique personality and leadership style,” said Steven M. Gillon, a historian and the author of “Presidents at War: How World War II Shaped a Generation of Presidents,” “It’s focused on him as a great man. It is vague. It’s undisciplined. It’s unfocused.”
1]. “At 7;44 p.m., the president made his frustration known with an extraordinary ultimatum: if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours and allow much of the world’s gas and oil to flow through, he would bomb Iran’s civilian power plants. It was the kind of attack that could constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.”
2]. “The disconnect underscores just how much the Iran war is testing Mr. Trump’s usual strategy for dealing with a crisis: imposing his own reality and disregarding inconvenient truths. “He thinks everything is transactional, he can deal with the deal one step at a time and see how things unfold, but war is fast, uncontrollable, unpredictable and deadly,: said Julian E. Zelizer, a Princeton University professor… “He’s doing the same techniques he always does – threatening people, insulting people, seizing attention to what he wants to say – he’s learning that it doesn’t always work,: he added. “He’s doing the art of the deal in a way that’s just creating chaos.”
3] “Mr. Trump’s cavalier attitude has shown cracks. When he was pressed about the deadly Tomahawk missile strike on an Iranian elementary school on the opening day of the war, Mr. Trump first blamed Iran and then claimed he did not “know enough about it.” [President Truman: “The buck stops here.” !!!!!]
4] “The president, who was granted five deferments from being drafted to fight in Vietnam. including for a diagnosis of bone spurs, has often mused that he would be a “good general.” [ delusional ego ??? ]
6] “Aside from the question of congressional approval, Mr. Trump has failed to provide any evidence that Iran posed an “imminent threat”. to the United States. And he has repeatedly moved the goal posts for success…”
{ But. – when you are a DICTATOR. – you don’t have to explain yourself. }
***. “War is the business of barbarians.” [ Napoleon ]
With Justice For All 