Some People Just Aren't Good with Soundbites. Trump and the War in Iran

To read the full text of the podcast and the links to thequoted materials, please see: ⁠ https://erm76.substack.com/p/podcast-and-full-text-some-people⁠

 

During a press conference with reporters in the White House,Trump was asked  why the US didn’t inform its allies about the upcoming attack against Iran. Trump answered,

“We wanted surprise,” he said, with Ms. Takaichi seated nextto him. “Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?”

 

Pearl Harbor was a horrible situation. And yet, Trump madean off the cuff remark to Japan’s Prime Minister about the Pearl Harbor attack. I guess he forgot that over two-thousand Americans died, including crew membersof the USS Arizona, now a war grave and memorial. The attack also launched the US into World War II.

 

The incident also reveals and reminded me about one of theunpleasant sides of the Trump Administration. On occasion, the President has denigrated and/or failed to honor those who fell in battle.

 

For example, during a 2018 service in France to commemoratethe 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Trump didn’t visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial. It was raining. And even though the White House later commented that safety concerns forced Trump to cancel the visit, other world leaders were not so hindered

 

I know there will be a number of apologists, includingRepublican politicians, who will say Trump didn’t mean anything by the Pearl Harbor remark. It was just a joke, and Trump was just being Trump.

 

But I think one of Trump’s more questionable remarks camewhen he was asked when the war would end. Trump’s reply was, “When I feel it in my bones.”  Unbelievable.

 

And finally, in the same general time-frame, Trump talkedabout the attack on Kharg Island, Iran’s oil export center. During his presentation, he remarked, “We may hit it a few more times just for fun.” Fun?

 

This statement follows Trump’s line of thinking that we justcovered in this post. At a time when you’re sending the US military into harm’sway, you call this fun? It’s a disregard for the value of life and a lack of empathy for a situation that demands, at the very least, a sense of gravitas.

 

Going down the same path, the Administration has developed avideo game construct, including internet memes, to portray the war.

 

But what’s the reality of this situation? Someone’s kidwho’s serving in the military may be injured or possibly die. Civilians have been and are still being killed throughout the Middle East. This is the reality of war. Something Trump doesn’t seem to grasp.

 

 

Notes:

 

**** The Magic 8 ball is a toy that has been around foryears. You ask it a question, and your answer appears on the bottom of the ball through a small window. You can actually still buy one from ebay, and I assume from other vendors as well.