All bets are off as to what Donald Trump might do next
Clark
Ah, come on now. We knew change would happen with our new, 45th president in the White House. Trump’s agenda was detailed in his Project 2025 campaign as promises to reform a “woke” federal government.
While promoting multiple internal investigations that created intense partisan discord, he plowed ahead with significant changes in federal and state programs. Being impeached twice never slowed him down.
Today, eight years later as our 47th president, Donald Trump has promoted MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. (MAGA) which essentially declares White House authority supersedes that of Congress and the Supreme Court, especially when related to Health, Education, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs.
Within three months we understood its meaning: removing tens of thousands illegal, “worst of the worse” aliens in the USA. His orders became an honorable duty for ICE and the Department for Homeland Security — which eventually required National Guard units to control “riots” (public protest) in several (blue) cities.
Although there are many legal challenges to MAGA, Trump’s global agenda progressed rather well — if you call chaos progress. We watched as his worldwide tariff plans fell apart only to be replaced by arguments with the UN and NATO and, perhaps, receiving encouragement from Putin and Trump’s Arab friends?
And how did his mention of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Cuba, Panama and the “Donroe Doctrine” for Latin America fit into future plans?
Evidently, he would first test international waters by declaring WAR against drug smugglers. Who could object to that? And invading Venezuela to capture its “corrupt” president forewarned others that this could happen anywhere at any time.
But where else is there a threat to the USA? Trump described “a feeling” that Iran was it, although that problem was settled by President Obama and other nations more than a decade earlier with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
This agreement limited Iran’s nuclear program to prevent acquiring nuclear weapons. Oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency ensured Iran’s compliance.
President Trump 45 ended that “crazy Obama” agreement during his first term. Now, into his second — with encouragement from Israel’s Netanyahu — they saw a possibility (opportunity) to show off their militaries before the entire world.
Last year on June 22 both attacked multiple targets in Iran while seven US stealth bombers dropped twelve Block Buster bombs on two Iranian “nuclear” sites — without a Congressional declaration of WAR. (Bomb cost? Likely $3 million each.)
In the meantime, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, an Infantry Officer in the Army National Guard and Fox News TV host, delivered speeches before military officers at the Pentagon and assembled troops elsewhere by stating “Good morning and welcome to the WAR Department because the era of a Department of Defense is over …” He also announced a new “Warrior Ethic” for all branches of the military.
Colonel Larry Wilkerson, U.S. Army retired and former chief of staff, remarked “It was one of the, if not the most … bizarre things I had ever witnessed … Hegseth just repudiated (Special Operations Forces Ethics) completely, on the stage, repudiated it in the name of what I call … kill everything in sight. Clean the battlefield up later.”
To date Pete Hegseth, our Secretary of WAR, claims his refocus has prevented “woke thinking” with the removal of five former Secretaries of Defense and numerous retired Flag Officers, including a dozen four-star generals within the Navy, Army and Air Force, including the top commander for Iranian operations — and the Chief of Chaplains?
Another plus for the Secretary of WAR is a newly automated Selective Service system to register all male US citizens and immigrants aged 18 to 25, subject to a draft when deemed necessary. The US has maintained an all-volunteer military since 1973.
In addition to these pronouncements WAR Secretary Hegseth implemented President Trump’s vision to build an “Arsenal of Freedom,” an accelerated seven-year plan for the delivery of war planes and missiles to our American “warfighters,” actually an acquisition system on a wartime footing with a requested budget of $1.5 trillion for 2027.
Now, it seems, those first attacks on Iran were only a practice run leading to “Operation Epic Fury,” supported by two aircraft carriers and seven destroyers. Also available are more than 50,000 US troops stationed aboard ships and at land bases, including the recent arrival of 3,000 marines and 2,000 troops from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
Within recent days, Iran’s 5-point proposal would guarantee an end to the war, their control over the Strait of Hormuz and a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. President Trump’s 15-point proposal swamps those conditions and demands further concessions. And, how in this world did Pope Leo get caught in Trump’s net?
So, as of this past Monday, Trump announced the USA will blockade all Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. I wonder what can possibly go wrong with that plan? Surprise! Iran ended the blockade.
Larry Clark is a Burke County educator, historian, and author who provides occasional columns for The Paper. He may be reached at larryclark2880@icloud.com.
