Yes, we know this, but it’s getting us into a very bad position. His on again/off again tirades about and to Iran are getting us somewhere that will eliminate our choices about what we can and cannot do. The number is shrinking rapidly. Right now we seem to have 3 options. Say we won and go home. Accept we lost and go home. Up the ante and restart the war again – not just skirmishes, but actual war. And that’s somewhere we don’t want to be, because plain and simple, we can’t afford it. We just can’t. Ships have been out too long. Military members have been out too long. We’re low on missiles. And no one in the world will help us, when we know at the very least, Russia is helping them. Respect to Raw Story:
President Donald Trump’s erratic eruptions as Congress lay “prostrate” before him have led the United States to the “brink of catastrophe” — and it’s up to voters to stop it, a furious opinion writer argued Sunday. New York Times [Subscription required] columnist David French issued this dire warning to American voters ahead of the midterm elections, when Democrats could feasibly reclaim the House and begin checking Trump’s power. “Our future may depend in part on American voters deciding to give Congress a spinal transplant,” wrote French. “But that requires us to do something that democracies have rarely, if ever, done successfully — see the catastrophe coming and act decisively.”
Ouch. Congress has failed in its duties by letting Trump stomp all over them. There is only so much that can be done when you are the minority party, much as we wish it weren’t. So, our forces in Congress can try, although sometimes we wonder if it’s worth the effort. We need to remember that. We still try. But the Republicans have let themselves be walked on, accomplices by inaction, getting him what he wants. Yes, there are a few standing up to him now, but is it too little too late? They are the ones who will be gone when the new Congress convenes. And what will Republicans be like then?
The catastrophe, as French sees it, is the looming threat of World War as Trump struggles to control the situation in Iran — and himself. “Trump ‘erupted’ at members of his national security team over the Iran War,” wrote French. “He thought he could topple a vicious, deeply embedded authoritarian regime with a few targeted airstrikes and a fantasized popular uprising.” French raised alarms about Iran’s continued strikes on American bases and its partners across the region, noting they may be receiving assistance from Russia and China to improve the effectiveness of their drone attacks.
We know for certain Putin is helping. Not sure about China, although it wouldn’t be a major surprise to find out they are. And yes, this was something to bring back up. Iran continues to attack American bases in neighboring countries. How long before those countries decide they have had enough? We know Trump having the posting fits about Iran that change day to day is definitely NOT helping (although they may just be laughing at us now). But this could very easily explode in a very bad way if the Middle East countries all go to war. We can’t honestly say, right now, that we are truly prepared to go to war, Iran aside, because we already know how *that* goes.
French urged voters to sit up and pay attention rather than accept Trump assurances they can “sit back and relax.” He warned the U.S. has not been so close to world war since the end of the Cold War, and argued its leaders in the White House were unfit to navigate the nation on a course to peace. “The American government is led by the worst rulers in the modern history of the United States,” he wrote. “Congress, the only branch of government that possesses the power to intervene, has been prostrate before the president.” French concluded that if the next Congress is not prepared to challenge Trump, there is a chance ” a terrible war swallows the world.”
Now. This may be an anticipating-the-worst piece from this writer. But it’s easy to extrapolate out, just as he did. We can hope that there really isn’t another World War on the horizon, but with Trump so erratic, isn’t it something we might want to consider? He’s stuck in a most intolerable position with Iran. There’s no “good” way out. He would be better off making an actual decision rather than flailing around every day. Most of the American people just want OUT, because practically everyone is tired of this pseudo-war. We were tired of it the same day it started. He needs to PICK ONE choice and actually follow through with it. And in the meantime, looking ahead to midterms. Hopefully Trump doesn’t blow something else up before then.
See you soon!
Friends, I know everybody begs you for money. I promise you that, of all the outlets bugging you for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a bunch of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. But the rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the ability to continue our quest to tell the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
