Trump: A Real Commander-in-Chief
“They are not going to have a nuclear weapon … We’re never going to let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”
So spoke President Donald Trump at a Monday presser after it was revealed that the United States military had rescued two downed American soldiers. And then he pointedly said that Iran has until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday to do a deal. (RELATED: Trump Winning in Iran)
And if it doesn’t? Stand by.
That, in short and in so many words, is the message President Trump has sent to the ruling Iranian mullahs who have focused their efforts on getting one, if not more, nuclear bombs. (RELATED: The Illusion of Victory: Trump, Iran, and the Limits of Military Power)
And there is no rocket science involved in knowing that the Iranian leadership is getting the message.
In his press conference, the president noted that if Iran were to get its way with getting a nuclear bomb they would be coming first for Israel and then for America’s European allies.
In fact, he has found himself dealing with the most powerful Iranian governments ever in the last 47 years. He also noted that ending the 2015 Obama nuclear deal with Iran was “one of the best things” he has done.
The Trump response to protecting that deal was: Never. Not on his watch.
And already as a result of the US military, Iran has no communication, no Navy, no “mine droppers.” And Trump adds he hopes he doesn’t have to hit Iranian power plants.
Why do this? “Israel would be extinguished” if he didn’t act, the president added.
“God is good,” said the president to doubtless eye-rolling journalists. Trump noted that because of his actions ending eight wars or conflicts around the world, he had saved the lives of 35 to 40 million people. So, when it comes to letting Iran have a nuke?
“Every bridge in Iran will be decimated” by Tuesday night if Iran does not stop their war, he added. Within 10 minutes of giving the order to destroy Iran’s biggest bridge, it was gone, he noted.
Japan, South Korea, Australia, and NATO didn’t help the U.S. on Iran, he said, while help was forthcoming from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. The consequences for that remain to be seen. (RELATED: NATO Commits Suicide — All We Can Do Is Bury It)
Trump has given Iran until Tuesday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes on power plants and bridges. Over there on his Truth Social site, the president said pointedly that he has “ given Iran until Tuesday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes on power plants and bridges.”
All of this after four Israelis were killed in an Iranian attack on Haifa in Israel.
All of this taken together also underlines the president’s central message. Which is: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
In short? President Trump has gotten out the message that he is not fooling around. He takes his role as commander-in-chief with deadly seriousness. He is not fooling around.
In fact, that is one of a president’s most important responsibilities.
Two examples from history.
In April of 1961, barely in office for four months, President John F. Kennedy authorized an invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles operating out of Florida. The invasion, which took place at a location known as the Bay of Pigs, was ill-prepared and turned out to be an utter disaster. This occurred during the height of the Cold War, with the U.S. dealing daily with a military rivalry with the Communist Russians running the Soviet Union. The Soviets considered Castro to be a Soviet client.
The results were an utter disaster. It was quickly seen as a massive embarrassment to the new Kennedy administration. And tellingly, the resulting image of JFK as a weak and novice president set in motion in the fall of 1962 the Cuban Missile Crisis, with the Russians attempting to install nuclear missiles in Cuba. A seriously major crisis resulted, with the world coming within a hair to a nuclear war. Kennedy threatened a full retaliatory nuclear attack on Russia from American bases in Europe. The world held its breath, and the Soviets withdrew. The world went back to a Cold, if peaceful, War. The lesson: Perceived weakness can invite disaster.
On the other side of the coin, in August of 1981, the federal employees union that composed the Air Traffic Controllers union threatened to go out on strike as part of a labor negotiation. In fact, federal employees are not allowed to strike. Reagan said if they did so, he would fire them. No one believed him. The union went out — and Reagan fired them. Shocked, the union eventually returned.
But as with Kennedy’s actions in Cuba, the Soviets were watching. And they correctly took the lesson that Reagan was a man of his word. This so impressed the Soviets that, thereafter, in dealing with the hardline anti-Soviet Reagan, they knew he was a man of his word. Reagan kept up the pressure — and told an aide his goal in dealing with the Russians in the Cold War was simple: “We win, they lose.”
The rest, as they say, is history. Reagan’s tough, no-nonsense approach did indeed win the Cold War.
So too is Trump following the same “peace through strength” model that was Reagan’s. He has used the U.S. military to unhesitatingly rescue two downed F-15 military flyers trapped in Iran. The president employed helicopters and aircraft to locate the flyers and extract them. The mission was a success.
“WE GOT HIM!” Trump announced the rescue of the second pilot.
Taken altogether, this story that ends with “We got him!” has the makings of a Hollywood movie. This was no easy task. With members of the U.S. military putting their lives on the line to save two trapped compatriots.
All of which is to say, it is a rare president indeed who can direct a serious mission involving troops, ships, and the Air Force — not to mention the CIA! — to rescue two heroic but trapped pilots from the middle of hostile enemy territory.
In the wake of the Easter holiday, this action has even brought together both political parties with praise for the military and its heroes.
In short, as the old motto goes, no man was left behind. Thanks in considerable fashion for the actions of Trump, the commander-in-chief.
For which all Americans, not to mention the families of those directly involved, have much to be thankful.
READ MORE from Jeffrey Lord:
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