Trump rules by crisis, and now he wants a war. Can we stop it before it starts?

[elleng]

by George Lakoff and Gil Duran

'One day soon, we could wake up to find our nation mired in a war even more disastrous than the Iraq invasion of 2003. If the United States attacks Iran, it will be for one reason: President Trump desperately wants a war.

He has intensified his threats against Iran. He’s moved warships to the region and raised the specter of deploying up to 120,000 troops. These belligerent actions should alarm all Americans.

The United States has no reason to attack Iran. Our disagreements can be handled diplomatically. President Obama and our European allies forced Iran to sign a deal that required a downscaling of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of harsh economic sanctions.

Trump pulled out of that agreement and has provoked conflict. Most Americans don’t know much about Iran or the tensions between our countries. Russia and Saudi Arabia have done more to harm our national interests. Yet Trump wants to make Iran a central issue in American politics, even though Iran’s leaders have complied with the agreement and don’t want a fight.

Why is Trump pushing confrontation? It’s likely because he views war as key to his re-election in 2020. If he succeeds in starting one, it will be the most dangerous power grab in American history.

Trump’s political success relies on projecting a “strongman” image, but his brand is sagging. His poll numbers stink. The Mueller Report has undermined his legitimacy. Calls for impeachment have snowballed. The American people may soon see his tax returns. Even some Republicans have turned against him.

He needs to change the narrative – fast.

“War is the traditional way authoritarian leaders distract the populace from their low ratings,” said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian of fascism and authoritarian regimes at New York University. “There’s no better way to get out of an investigation or deflect any attack on his legitimacy. Wars can be spun as moments of national crisis that deserve exceptional measures and need strong leadership.”'>>>

https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article230867274.html?

[intrepidity]

1. NK will do the trick imho nt

[jmowreader]

7. It can't be North Korea

North Korea sits between two major US trading partners - China and South Korea. Trump's financial backers will not allow Trump to fuck up their businesses.

Iran is different: as long as we can defend the Strait of Hormuz, we can go to war against Iran all we want (in Trump's eyes, anyway) because the only country in the Gulf he likes is Saudi Arabia, and it wouldn't be all that hard to keep the Iranian Army out of Saudi.

[guillaumeb]

2. One only has to look back to 2001.

And how Bush Jr. vowed to do better than his father.

[Girard442]

3. Fascism needs war to distract people from its failure to deliver on its promises.

Fire is hot. Water is wet. Trump wants a war.

[David__77]

4. I don't think so.

I don’t see that happening. That doesn’t make sense to me. That would do a lot to destroy his political coalition and rationale.

[jmowreader]

6. Nothing Trump does makes sense to me

As far as "destroying his political coalition"...forget it. As long as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama remain alive, he'll have his political coalition...because the whole basis of Trump's appeal is their shared hatred of Barack Obama and anyone named Clinton.

[stillcool]

5. I've fallen too many times...

over too many years, for war with Iran predictions. I did read recently that Russia, China, and Iran are having joint military exercises. I don't think Donald wants to mess with Putin.

[Captain Zero]

8. We couldn't stop him from doing this - BUT PUTIN WILL

Putin is not going to let Trump attack Iran. I've said it here before.
NOT> GOING> TO> HAPPEN.
This attack Iran rumor comes up once a year since Trump has been president.
This is it's early arrival for 2020.