Trump’s War: The Bully Without Backup

By Mildred Robertson

So, Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegeseth decided it was a good idea to play wargames with Iran. Both Trump and Hegseth seem to think America’s military is a cadre of toy soldiers they can use to demonstrate what strong men they are, just like kids playing in the back yard. They entered this war with little thought, and apparently no plan, having left military experts out of the conversation. They thought they would drop a couple of bombs, assassinate a couple of leaders and that Iran would play the role of a whimpering underdog, fleeing from their strength and might. Hegseth talks about killing and fighting as though that is a goal, rather than a deterrent. 

In the three weeks since the two countries launched their attacks on Iran, the United Nations has noted mounting reports of civilian casualties. Trump’s little foray into militarism has resulted in the bombing of a school in the Iranian city of Minab,  where more than 160 schoolgirls were murdered and as many as 100 more people were wounded.

Iran answered American and Israeli attacks with drone and missile attacks on Gulf States. As of March 15, service members killed in the Middle East numbered 13.  Iran also moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, a vital, narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arbian Sea. It is the world’s most important oil transit corridor. The strait is only 21-33 miles wide and serves as the only sea route for much of the crude oil and liquid natural gas exported by Saudi Arbia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran.

Often referred to as the gate to the Persian Gulf, Iran has restricted passage through the Strait to the US and its allies. As a result, oil prices have surged to about $100 per barrel. About 20 percent of the world’s oil usually passes through the Strait, and so global oil prices have soared. Before the war, oil was around $70 a barrel. U.S. gas prices now average $3.71. That’s up 80 cents over a month ago.

Clearly that does not play well on the nightly news in America, so Trump is seeking to extricate himself from a web of his own weaving. His next move in this bloody game is to coerce NATO allies to join him in reopening the Strait. The problem is, the Allies were not consulted when Trump started this war and do not feel compelled to join a naval coalition to escort ships through the Strait. While he calls Iran a “paper tiger”, he still wants NATO allies to send warships to secure the strait.

So, Trump has started a war he cannot finish and now turns to NATO to back his play. But this is not NATO’s war.  NATO is obliged to come to the aid of its members once they have been attacked. Nothing in their charter compels them to join a member who is the aggressor.

Trump and Hegseth must play their war game, “EPIC FURY,” alone.  The problem is Iran is not playing and war is not a game.  What America ends up with is “EPIC FAILURE,” as the bully stands alone.