Tag Archives: Iran

Everybody loses 

Posted on by
1

            ‘Trump’s war on Iran makes everybody a loser. Iran, Lebanon, the Golf states like Qatar, Bahrein, Dubai, the Saudis, even Israel is a country at war now,’ Camp said after we toasted the warm spring weather.

            ‘Except there is one winner,’ I said. ‘Russia, thanks to the high price of crude, fertilizer and the lifting of sanctions. Putin is just swimming in petro dollars right now. More cash for his criminal war in Ukraine.’

            ‘And the rest of the world is feeling the pain. Everything from gas at the pump to plastics and even groceries is dependent on hydro carbons. They drive the modern world from food to transportation and manufacturing. We’re all paying the price for Trump’s war of hubris and self-glorification.’

            ‘The un-holy trinity of Trump, Vance and Hegseth has declared that God is sanctioning their war personally. He likes the good guys, Trump said, meaning mostly himself. When he threatens to bomb Iran back to the stone age, he is dragging everybody along and nobody seems to want to stop him. Certainly not Congress or the courts.’

            ‘He threatened to obliterate bridges and power stations, regardless of the thousands of Iranians who congregated around them. A whole civilization will die tonight and never come back. That’s what he posted on his Truth Social network. He has no clue of the ancient Persian civilization and empire he is threatening to obliterate. Ominous and deranged words that could translate into nuclear annihilation.’

            ‘And then the world waited and an hour before his ultimatum ended, he announced a ceasefire and a deal. He did what Trump does. He threatens hell and damnation and then he turns around. But somebody who utters words like those he did cannot be normalized and explained away. Those words were written and will stand forever. The Republicans, the military brass and the world needs to wake up and do something about this lunatic. He is dangerous, he is narcissistic and he is unhinged. If we don’t stop him, we’re complicit in his lunacy.‘

            ‘I agree Camp but what can we do? We can talk and get upset about it but how can anybody stop this guy and his henchmen? We’re sitting on the sidelines up here in peaceful Gibsons. Two old guys griping into their beers.’

 ‘I meet a lot of Americans at the store, not as many as a few years ago mind you but none of the ones I meet have voted for Trump and yet, he is their president. What can they all do? How to stop this madness?’

 ‘How about a general strike? Just stay home from your job, whatever it is, until they remove him. The 25thamendment? Impeachment? Whatever works,’ I said, slapping the table for emphasis.

            ‘You’re talking revolution my friend. Maybe civil war. Don’t forget there are plenty of people who still think this guy is the second coming and will take them all to heaven.’

            ‘Yes, another reason why we need a revolution.’

            ‘That’s thirsty talk. It’s good to see that you still have the fire in your belly.’

            ‘All I have are words and I can at least offer my opinion. Makes me feel like I’m doing something.’

            ‘What’s all the agitation about, fellows?’ Vicky asked while serving up some fresh brewskies. 

            ‘It’s that beast in the White House,’ Camp said. ‘Get’s him upset.’

            Vicky looked at me and shook her head. ‘You shouldn’t be watching the news every two minutes. Take a deep breath. He will pass. When I’m your age, he will be a distant memory.’

            I didn’t know if she tried to make me feel better or was making fun of me. Maybe just putting this moment in time into perspective. I hope there will be a future when all this can be remembered.  

Epic Tragedy

Posted on by
Reply

‘What do you think of Trump’s war against Iran?’ I asked Camp when we met for our weekly beer-chat at the Pub by the harbour.

            ‘You mean Epic Fury? The most arrogant and foolish misadventure of any president or dictator in recent history. There were other vengeful wars started for personal hubris from the Peloponnesian wars to Operation Barbarossa, Hitler’s disasterous invasion of Russia but nothing quite as senseless as this war with Iran. There is no plan, no clear objective and no easy way out. It’s just plain stupid.’

            ‘I knew you’d have an opinion, Camp. What’s really unfortunate is that this pointless war will impact everybody, everywhere and it will make life in Iran even harder for its citizens then it already was. More repressive, more isolated, more hopeless.’

            ‘I’ve read an essay by Peter Barker, former Chief White House correspondent. This is what he said last week: “Epic Fury captures the Trump presidency in its essence. It is a quintessentially Trumpian choice for the name of a war. Not for him an Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Restore Hope (Somalia), Operation Uphold Democracy (Haiti) or Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or even Operation Iraqi Freedom or New Dawn. No uplifting sentiments like freedom and hope. Trump prefers rage. Everything Mr. Trump does, at least as he sees it, is epic — the biggest, the most, the first, “like we’ve never seen before,” as he likes to say. And much of what he does seems to be driven by fury. This is the Anger Presidency. Anger defines Mr. Trump’s decade on the political stage. Anger at foreigners who come to this country and change its nature. Anger at allies who take advantage of America. Anger at Democrats who cross him. Anger at Republicans who cross him. Anger at appointees he deems insufficiently loyal. Anger at prosecutors, F.B.I. agents, judges, journalists, law firms, elite universities, cultural figures, corporate leaders, pollsters, central bankers and the Norwegian Nobel Committee.”

            ‘Yes, that sums it up nicely,’ I said.  ‘It’s an Epic Tragedy for the whole world. To be ruled by an angry old man with nothing but hate and vengeful fury inside his head is indeed a tragedy unfolding.’ 

            ‘I’m waiting for the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations on the 28th March. A big turnout is expected across the USA. Will it change anything?’ Camp asked.

‘Probably not. It will make Trump even madder,’ I said. He would probably love nothing more than to deploy the troops out into the streets of his own country to squash all dissent and opposition. He will take it personally, I’m sure.’

‘Unless the army brass refuses to attack their own citizens, as they do in Iran and other autocracies, there will be no change, only more retribution, hate and fear. More disruption and chaos.’

‘Something to look forward to including higher fuel costs, airline tickets and groceries. Nothing like shocking the world economy into overdrive. And we got three more years to go unless he chokes on a cheeseburger,’ I said.

We both drank to that and right on cue Vicky showed up with two fresh ones. 

‘Did I hear cheeseburger? I thought you two lived on beer.’