One of the most counterintuitive absurdities of Donald Trump’s political ascent is his personal popularity with many in the military. After all, it was previously an article of faith that those who relied on the privilege of wealth to avoid service during Vietnam were at the very least not entitled to anything more than grudging cordiality, even as Commander in Chief.
Bill Clinton certainly suffered through such estrangement during his eight years. Ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” didn’t help matters, but a substantial bloc of veterans already detested him, presumably because he took advantage of a Rhodes Scholarship instead of entering the draft or enlisting. Even W Bush suffered some aloofness due to the correct perception his father used connections to keep him stateside in the Air National Guard when he should have been overseas. “Chicken hawk” is a title vets have used in bipartisan fashion, reflecting the lack of credibility those who avoided service in Vietnam deserve to the eyes of those who did not.
That Trump, he of the multiple “bone spurs” diagnoses, who once told Howard Stern avoiding VD was his “personal Vietnam,” could enjoy the adulation of the Rolling Thunder crowd, current rank and file, and retired naval officers alike, seems to clarify their perceptions are guided by more odious biases previously deemed less important to their thinking, like race and homage to authority, or even embrace of debunked conspiracy theories. More than 50 years after she went to Hanoi, Jane Fonda would still be burnt in effigy, but Trump phony baloney draft deferments are easily forgotten. Go figure.
Regardless, both acting and retired service members are about to have their loyalty to Trump tested by his impulsive order to assassinate Iran’s most revered military leader. Make no mistake, Trump has placed our people serving abroad in mortal danger, particularly those in Iraq. Nobody believes Iran’s vow for revenge is the sort of empty bluster our President defines himself with; there is plenty of substantial tat coming our way, at a place and time we have no means to control.
From that faithful day “shock and awe” was unleashed on Saddam, Iran has been predominant in the Middle East. Its natural adversary fully obliterated, it has been able to focus on what it’s done best since the Mullahs took over, expanding control over a vast network of operatives with only one ultimate aim for one master. The success of that effort is about to be exhibited, American casualties likely the tragic result.
In Gaza, Hamas may operate as representative of Palestinian aspirations, but it is largely financed by Iran, who will surely now expect some of that tab be paid with services only desperate radicals are able to provide. Syria is an Iranian puppet state; that is, Assad does nothing without Tehran’s approval. Ditto Lebanon, where Hezbollah plays a dominant role and stages operations employed to enhance Iran’s reach throughout the region. Whatever Iran requires from either, they will get with at least the indifference of, if not cooperation by host governments. It’s not at all hyperbolic to say our now vastly outnumbered forces within Iraq are encircled by thousands of players mobilizing as we speak to do exactly as they are told.
The most significant aspect of the siege carried out last week by Iran-backed militia at the US Embassy in Iraq was the refusal of Iraqi security forces to intervene in any way. This portends nothing good for our people on the ground there. After more than 15 years of occupation, the army we dissolved remains unable to either guarantee its government’s well being or inspire trust about whose side they are on. Now, when we’ll need them most, anything is possible, nothing and nobody can be counted on. The announcement over the weekend that US personnel has suspended training of Iraqi soldiers clarifies a bunker mentality now exists.
Apparently, like most Presidential decision making these days, the move to kill Soleimani was purely impulsive, made out of frustration while watching television prior to yet another round of golf. What could go wrong? Pentagon brass were stunned, apparently the option had only earlier been presented as the most extreme of a range of possibilities, meant solely to bracket the presentation and encourage Trump toward moderation. It didn’t work. Why they thought it would and didn’t push back more when it didn’t is for another day, a crisis is now at hand. Which of his advisors were all in for targeting Iran’s equivalent of our CIA Director and Secretary of Defense for assassination? Why, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of course, our chief diplomat! Think about that.
The big winner is ISIS, who Iran was instrumental in containing. It’s the second gift Trump has recently given the world’s cruelest group of fanatics, coming on the heels of his similarly thoughtless move to abandon the Kurds, allowing Turkey free reign to replenish ISIS elements that were on the brink of destruction. Now they get another reprieve with both Americans and Iranians focused fully on each other. A couple months ago Trump declared betraying the Kurds was part and parcel of tough love decisions required to keep his promise of ending ceaseless war in the Middle East. Now he has rendered US forces in Iraq sitting ducks, awaiting the worst, even as 3500 hundred more troops are rushed to the region. In less time than is required to get his weave ready for the public, “bring our boys home” has morphed into a very open ended situation.
The wretched core, which now includes the full Republican Party, is predictably deflecting geo-political inconvenience, instead repeating ad nauseam what a terrorist Soleimani was, and how much American blood he was responsible for. But what about where killing him leaves us, and more importantly our troops and personnel abroad, our allies, not to mention global stability? “Let’s just hope Iran does the right thing,” sneered Pompeo.
Meanwhile, the POTUS has made clear via tweet that war crimes are on the table, with a variety of “cultural” sites included in a target package he will choose from should Iran keep its promise to avenge Soleimani. That such strikes would violate international law is beyond doubt:
Protocol I of the Geneva Convention prohibits the targeting of “historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples,” while also prohibiting making such sites the “object of reprisals.”
No matter. Last night Trump tripled down on his threat, snarling the US is obligated only to behave as low as it’s opponent:
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites. It doesn’t work that way.”
Asked repeatedly if they support Trump’s rabid disregard of civilized norms, Republican Hill eunuchs ignored the question in favor of inane repetition of Pompeo’s “hope” that Iran doesn’t escalate things. Of course Fox/AM personalities competed to agree most with their champion, no doubt sure he was watching as they supplicated. In addition to reason, logic and democratic values, the wretched core will not be bound by moral decency, that’s for the liberal traitors Trumpie social media threads now assure us anything less than full support of the President confirms.
The river of lies and daily outrages Trumpism requires to feed its relentless totalitarian torrent now approaches an ocean of chaos and needless destruction Middle East War promises. Eisenhower said it best when he observed only those who have actually seen the mindless brutality of war can fully appreciate its wanton stupidity. Perhaps now our future rests with those who are personally affiliated with Ike’s wisdom. One thing is certain, if men who have experienced battle can embrace Trump as a leader worth dying for, the future is bleak indeed. The march to ruin, at the double step! BC