I Ask Again: When Will This Madness Stop!

Americans are still trying to find out why their country launched an attack on Iran which seemed to have done nothing to them. Well of course it was a joint attack with Israel, and the answer might be- Ask Netanyahu! Some European leaders, like the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, responded in a way that made little sense to me. The Uk will not allow the US to use its bases to attack Iran but will allow use for defensive purposes. Isn’t that the same as giving them the go ahead to attack Iran since they could guarantee use of their bases to thwart any Iranian response. Spain was, on the other hand, very critical of the attack on Iran. Its Defence Minister sees the US as the main threat to the security and stability of humanity. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez stated that Spain, “is not going to be complicit in something that is bad for the world.”. As one should expect President Trump’s response was to threaten to halt trade with Spain. The US President again touting his country’s economic might even while seeking assistance with his military adventure. Mark Carney, the Canadian Prime Minister was a bit more cautious given the tension that exists with Donald Trump. He was, however, critical of the failure of the US to use UN channels and not to engage with its partners.

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State declared that Iran was not going to be allowed to hide behind its ballistic missile programme. I am not sure what they were supposed to be hiding behind the ballistic missile programme for after the last attack on Iran the Israeli Prime Minister and US President declared that they had obliterated Iran’s nuclear programme and its capacity to rebuild such. There were other sounds that seemed not to have been taken seriously, that Iran had plans to assassinate the US president and also that Iran was about to launch an attack on the US. There was also the issue of Regime change where the US was hoping or appealing to the Iranian citizens to rise up against their government with the assistance of the US being assured. Regime change however involves ‘Boots’ being on the ground and even Donald Trump wants to avoid that, especially when it involves a country such as Iran with its many levels of power. Even in Venezuela there has been no regime change but instead an accommodation with the person that replaced Maduro. Regime change, one commentator opined was aspiration rather than a plan. In any event the US had its eyes focused on Venezuelan oil and seems now to have total control over it. In the case of Iran, it is clear that there was no planning as to what was likely to follow the initial bombing. Perhaps as some persons have been suggesting it was a way of distracting from the Epstein files. The president is so afraid of what might be revealed!

One of the issues about which Americans were expressing some concern is what amounted to a declaration of war without the approval of Congress. The matter is being discussed in Congress, but the division is largely along party lines, so will not succeed given the Republican majority in Congress. One of the issues that emerged when the invasion of Iran was being discussed was that Iran was not a democracy. Trump, of course, is such an advocate of Democracy that he is doing his best to dismantle it in the US. He disrespects the rulings of Congress and pledges to work around them. He discards the constitution and obviously finds himself not bound by it. He tries his best to interfere with elections even attempting to remove the control of the states. His relationship with Saudia Arabia and Qatar betray any commitment to democracy. Those countries are hereditary authoritarian monarchies; Saudi Arabia a monarchy governed by Islamic law. In Qatar the Emir has full control, with successors being provided by the male branch of the family. Fortunately, in the US there are some guardrails still standing despite the President’s attempt to dismantle them. This includes the Supreme Court, which he plans to work around.

President Trump assumed office pledging to be the president of Peace and ending the US’s involvement in foreign wars that were costly and destructive. But he got the US involved in some form of military action in Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Somali, Yemen, and the kidnapping of Maduro from Venezuela. There were also boat strikes in Central America and the Caribbean. He will not stop. Cuba might be next as he attempts regime trade. This man sees himself as the real World Boss and policeman of the World. Will the midterm elections put a halt to his adventurism? Let us hope it does for nothing else seems to be working! But he is still, it appears, harbouring the thought of contesting for a third term despite this being a violation of the Constitution. The Republican members of Congress need special attention. What a group of spineless people!