LOS ANGELES ((OC).–President Donald Trump said he’s considering pulling out of the NATO Alliance because the its reluctance to join the fight in Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Trump asks why should the U.S. shed blood-and-treasure to open up the Strait of Hormuz when the U.S. gets not oil from the Persian GulF. When Trump asked NATO for join the fight against Iran, they refused to join in, prompting Trump to question whether the U.S. should stay in NATO. Trump has past reservations about NATO largely related to how much it contributes to the alliance. “Oh yes, I would say [It’s] beyond reconsideration. I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a Paper Tiger, and (Russian President Vladimir Putin) know that too, by the way,” Trump said, responding to a question about NATO not lending support to his military operation in Iran.
NATO’s response to Trump stems from the fact that Trump did not consult NATO before the Iran military operation with Israel. But regardless if Trump shared his military plans or not, a good ally supports a military operation when the request was made. Trump wasn’t asking NATO to do the heavy lifting of an operation in the Strait of Hormuz. He wa asking NATO for moral support as an ally to deal with a problem confronted by all countries receiving oil from the Arab Gulf State through the Persian Gulf. Trump realized after four weeks of degrading Iran’s military that he must open up the Strait of Hormuz for a successful mission. Trump offered Iran a reasonable 15-point plant to end the Iran War. It involved opening up the Strait of Hormuz but, more importantly, changing regimes in Tehran. Iran’s mullahs demanded that that Iran retain sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump speaks to the nation tonight in a prime-time address outlining the time line to exit the conflict. Wall Street has been rocketing up expecting the war to end sometime soon, despite questionable talks with Iran. Iran insists that ending the conflict requires the U.S. to pay Iran war reparations and recognize Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump can’t allow Iran to declare sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz because it an internationally recognized waterway, accessible to all commercial shipping. Striking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz is an act of terrorism by Iran. Trump can’t end the war until Iran’s mullah regime no longer has a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. So, no matter how much Trump wants to satisfy the press on the length of the mission, there’s no way to predict how long it will take to end Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made some parallels with the Ukraine War, noting that it should have been completed long ago if NATO backed his peace plan. “I just think its should be automatic . . . We’re been there automatically, including Ukraine. Ukraine wasn’t our problem. It was a test, and were there for them, and were there for them, and were would always have been there for them. They weren’t there for us,” Trump said, realizing that ending the war wouldn’t be as definite as the media wants. Trump can’t stop the war until Iran gives up the Strait of Hormuz, restoring the global waterway back unfettered access to commercial shipping. Trump can’t figure out how the U.K and NATO can turn its back on the United States. Trump sees that NATO wasn’t there for the U.S. when its their oil, not the U.S., that has been blocked by Iran’s mullah regime.
Irump claims he’s had some good discussions with Iran’s parliament speaker Bagher Ghailbaf, despite the fact he has no power in Iran’s elite Republican Guard military unit. Iran’s President Massoud Pezeshkian said that Iran inisists that Trump sign a legally binding declaration that he would no longer engage in combat with the Persian nation. Pezeshkian also wants Trump to pay Iran war reparations and accept Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump can’t meet any of Iran’s demands, especially after spending weeks decimating Iran’s military. All Iran has left are Shahed drones and ballistic missiles but no navy or workable armed forces, leaving Trump the one in charge. All Iran can do now is engage in terrorism much the the Houthi rebels and Somali pirates, resorting to sabotage and subversion but no conventional warfare.
Trump wants to end the war to restore U.S. and global financial markets, especially the skyrocketing price of oil and natural gas. Whether the U.S. gets any energy from Iran or not, Europe and Asia certainly depend on Arab Gult State oil and natuRal gas. EU gets about 35% of its oil and 49% of its natural gas from Iran. Why would the EU refuse to help open up the Persian Gulf when they’re dependent on energy products coming through the Strait of Hormuz. As much as Trump wants to reassure the public on ending the war, there’s much work to do to dislodge Iran’s Republican Guards from the Strait of Hormuz. However the situation shakes out, there’s no easy end to the four-week old war. Trump and many ordinary Persians wants regime, knowing the mullah government continues to brutalize its people. Only regime change can stop Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charimsa.
