The likelihood of the US getting involved in actual combat operations against Iran by the end of September is closing in on 50% for the following reasons:
ONE. Trump needs something to get his job approval rating above 40%. War always gives a sitting president a short term boost in the polls. When we were hit on 9-11 Bush got a 40%…that’s correct…FORTY PERCENT rise in his Gallup job approval numbers. When he commenced military action against Iraq he got a 12% boost. Trump hasn’t had poll numbers above 40% since June of 2017. With low poll numbers Trump is in a difficult position to fire Mueller. A war would get Trump’s numbers up a bit…who says it has to be necessary…if it helps Trump get rid of Mueller why not? And if people die…hey, people die every day.
TWO. Any accomplishment by Obama, who left office with a 59% Gallup Job Approval, reminds Trump that Obama was an actual functioning President. Any accomplishment by Obama has to be destroyed. Why? I can’t help on that one, but I have observed that bashing Obama still gets a rise out of that 20% of the population who get apoplectic at the mere mention of Obama’s name. The Iran Deal was a magnificent accomplishment bringing the US, UK, France, Russia, Germany, and China together in a major step towards less conflict. In Trump’s head, that means it must be destroyed.
THREE. Sheldon Adelson wants a war with Iran. He didn’t give $35 Million to Trump for good government. In response to a question about how to negotiate with Iran, Adelson replied “what’s there to negotiate?” He went on to say we should nuke Iran in the desert and tell them to do what we want “or the next one is in downtown Tehran.” Adelson funds people and organizations that want a war with Iran. Adelson did not like Tillerson and he wants H.R. McMaster gone. He’s interested in slipping an Israeli born woman, Safra Catz, or John Bolton into McMaster’s job.
FOUR. Netanyahu wants and possibly needs the US to go to war in Iran. Netanyahu has a number of scandals to deal with in Israel that have brought his poll numbers down. Part of Netanyahu’s political strength in Israel is based on his perceived ability to get the US to do his bidding. He was once caught on a hot mic saying “the United States is very easy to move.” Netanyahu has always benefited domestically when he can play the “they’re out to get us” card. Nothing like a war to make him look strong…especially if he can get the United States to fight it.
FIVE. Rupert Murdoch, the Jewish Australian-born immigrant, who owns FOX, The New York Post, and the Wall Street Journal wants a war. His hacks savaged the French back in 2003 when France wouldn’t join us in going to war with Iraq. A war that Netanyahu assured us we had to fight because there was no doubt that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. Nobody stays employed by a Murdoch TV station or newspaper unless they want what Adelson and Netanyahu want no matter how screwy it is for the USA.
SIX. There is no counter lobby to the Israel Lobby which is, by far, the strongest and most effective lobby in the US. I addressed this matter back when Netanyahu went around Obama to speak before a Joint Session of Congress against (what else) making a deal with Iran. A particularly low class stunt made possible by the Israel Lobby’s hammerlock on our Congress.
SEVEN. The so-called liberal channel, NBC/MSNBC, is a scared pussy cat when it comes to taking exception to Israel on anything. NBC is owned by Comcast whose President and controlling shareholder, Brian Roberts, is Jewish and visits Israel frequently to participate in the Maccabee Games.You think Rachel Maddow doesn’t know that?
EIGHT. There is no Peace Lobby in the US. NONE. Since the draft ended who cares…tell me.
CONCLUSION
Trump can’t go to war in Iran with his present team. Getting rid of Tillerson was a first step. For all his shortcomings, the most important thing to know about Rex Tillerson is that he was an Eagle Scout. That actually means something. Trump wouldn’t understand.
Slipping Pompeo in at State will help the War Team. They say he’s smart…he’s certainly smart enough to know that there’s no future in the Republican Party for someone who is not acceptable to Sheldon Adelson. Pompeo has big plans for himself…he’ll do what he’s told. Lay it on nice and smooth and slippery…Dick Cheney like.
Two more obstacles to a totally unnecessary war are H. R. McMaster the National Security Advisor and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. They’re good men. Good men are obstacles when it comes to starting unnecessary wars. In real necessary wars they’re indispensable.
Then, of course, we’ve got Gina (The Dominatrix) Haspel slotted for CIA. I’m sure she saved some tapes from the torture sessions. She and Trump can watch them together.
Comments are welcome at tomc[at]wednesdayswars[dot]com. Comments will be addressed in subsequent posts.