One of the most sacred duties of an American president is to protect the American people from threats, foreign and domestic. This duty sits alongside preserving our constitutional rights, sustaining a healthy economic environment, and following and enforcing the rule of law.
As the first barrage of American and Israeli bombers, fighter gets, and missiles pummeled Iran, Trump declared on Feb. 28, “A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Campaigning in 2024, Trump frequently announced his promise to end “forever wars” and avoid military exploits, pledging, “I’m not going to start wars, I’m going to stop wars.”
So here we are at war.
Congress has not yet declared war in Iran, and it probably won’t since Iran did not initiate military action, as there was no imminent and immediate threats from the Iranian regime.
Trump’s handpicked director of U.S. National Counterterrorism Joe Kent just resigned in protest over Trump’s unjustifiable actions. This top expert in our government stated, “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation …”
After Kent’s comments, Trump reframed his reason for attacking Iran as “a threat to American personnel at our military bases.”
So, if any country could send a single terrorist with a grenade launcher to any U.S. base anywhere in the world, that possibility according to Trump justifies starting and waging a war?
Trump six months ago claimed our preemptive bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities delayed Iran’s efforts for years and years. But last week Trump proclaimed that if we had not struck when we did, Iran would have had a nuclear weapon “within a month” or “two weeks.”
Either Trump was lying then or he is lying now.
It was confirmed that in 2003 Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatolla Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa, a religious directive, against Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
Our military experts credit Khamenei for Iran’s nuclear hesitancy.
Trump stated our surprise attack would protect our service members overseas, keep open the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital oil transport chokepoint, keep our allies in the region safe, and prevent Iran from finalizing the fashioning of a nuclear weapon.
As a result of Trump’s war, Iranian missiles are bombarding our service members overseas, the Strait of Hormuz is closed, our allies like Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are now being attacked, and Iran is now more inspired to obtain a nuclear capability than ever before.
After the 1979 Iranian revolution, the U.S. placed a strict embargo on Iranian oil exports in order to choke off revenues that could be used to fund anti-American policies.
Regarding an enemy in a war, providing materials, resources, and “giving them aid and comfort” is considered treason. This last weekend the Trump Administration announced that they are lifting this oil sale embargo on Iranian crude already at sea, about 140 million barrels. Now soaring to the $100 a barrel mark due to Trump’s attack, this lines Iran’s coffers with $14 billion it needs to sustain the war against us.
Trump is encouraging Iran the receipt of funds it needs to perpetuate war with us.
Trump claimed, just days after our combat incursion commenced, regarding the formation of a new government in Iran, that he will “work with them to help them make the proper choice.”
Retired four-star general and former Trump Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, a man who knows war and understands Iranian politics, stated, “There is no end to their hostility with that regime in charge … they are going to stay in power … I think it is very unlikely that this regime would break right now.”
There is no moderate faction to install as an alternate authority in Iran. If anything, now at war the Iranian regime is more likely to murder en masse any protesters and resist reform.
I predict that, with no regime change in sight, imminent runaway inflation, an extra $200 billion in defense spending added to our deficit, thousands of deaths of the innocent, and a weaker America, Trump soon will nevertheless “declare victory.”
Victory with no treaty nor concessions.
I believe Trump’s big goal all along is to ask again for the Nobel Peace prize for ending a war that he should have never started.
Jonathan Kraut directs a private investigations agency, is the CEO of a private security firm, is the CFO of an accredited acting conservatory, is a former college professor and dean, is a published author, and is a Democratic Party activist. His column reflects his own views and not necessarily those of The Signal or of other organizations.
