LOS ANGELES (OC).–President Donald Trump found out the hard way what happens when you deal with terrorist regime in so-called peace negotiations. He’s been strung along since Pakistan tried to intervene in good faith to mediate a workable peace deal, something that resulted in nothing over a six-week ceasefire agreement./ Trump tried to go along with diplomacy but found Iran not a trustworthy peace partner, instead enaging in tit-for-tat attacks at U.S. bases around the Arab Gulf States. Iran doesn’t get that it’s not trusted by anyone in the Gulf Cooperation Council, watching Iran use its ballistic missile arsenal to torment its neighbors, when they’ve done nothing to provoke any hostile response. Trump resumed bombing Iran’s costal radar stations in response to Iran downing June 9 an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. Trump wanted a peace deal through diplomacy but switched tactics.
Iran relishes the chance to use its well-developed terrorist tactics to go up against the the mighty U.S. military. While few countries root for Iran, other that Russia, China and North Korea, they get all the world attention exchanging tit-of-tat attacks with U.S. allies, shooting off ballistic missiles hoping that some get through air defenses. Iran’s only military response now is confined to its ballistic missiles and drones, without any air force or credible army. So, when it comes to warfare with Iran, Trump can only go after so many mobile rocket launchers, the same onces used by its terrorist proxy groups like Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah. When it comes to Iran’s main oil transporation hub on Kharg island, Trump said he would take it over if necessary, then quickly walked back his threats, saying the American public did not have the stomach for a U.S. ground operation.
Trump admitted that the country wants a peace deal not escalating the war, especially using American ground troops. “”I’m not sure the country has the appetite for it. Does that make sense to you?” Trump said. “As good ast it is. By the way, as good as it is, that’s always been my No.l thin. Bu as good as it is, I’m not sure the country has the appetite for it,. An that’s OK. I undertand that,” Trump said, letting Iran know that the war effort will be confined to an air war, not boots on the ground. Iran doesn’t expect a ground operation by the U.S. but faces enough challenges enduring more bombing by the U.S. air force. Most the damage in any war strategy comes from air power, not ground forces. Today’s modern warfare has favored long-rang missile and drone attacks, something Iran figure out long ago. Trump knows he has time on his side to outlast Iran.
After threatening to continue bombing Iran tonight, Trump has been given word from Pakistani and Qatari mediators that Iran is ready to sign a peace deal. Trump has had plenty of false alarms telling the press since April 8, the date of the ceasefire, that he was days away from a long-term peace deal. Only yesterday did Trump say Iran had been stringing him alone when they had no intent to signing any peace deal. Whether the recent bombing campaign changed Iran’s mind or not, Trump said that Iran is now ready to sign a peace deal somewhere in a neural European Union country. Wall Street reacted favorably to Trump’s indication that a peace deal could be signed this weekend. If it doesn’t happen again, Trump will look like the boy-who-cried wolf. If Iran does sign on to a peace plan this weekend, it would be a major coup for Trump and and the GOP.
No matter what Iran’s bravado, they know they cannot take on the United States military, already weakened by months of bombing key military sites. With Trump’s blockade fully in plance, Iran can no longer transact its oil and natural gas on the world stage, cutting its revenue and currency in dramatic fashion. Going toe-to-toe gives Iran the illusion that it can hold off the most powerful military on the planet. Iran likes the PR from trading blows with the U.S., when it only harms Iran;s economy and currency. If Trump announcement of an imminent deal is real, it will spart a major achievement for the Trump White, neutralizing Irian, while at the same time, opening up the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. Iran can’t only crow about how it went up against the Great Satan. Iran has no room left when it comes to its economy and currecy currently sinking to reccor lows.
Trump showed he had the wisdom and patience to outlast Iran in the latest confrontation. Instead of taking out the big guns, Trump workd with the Pakiistanis, Qataris an others to resolve the confrlict politically. Losing some $500 million a day in oil and natural gas revenue, Tehran’s mullah rulers realized there’s no upside to the current conflict. Whether Iran proved anything, it showed it can use terrorist tactics to wreak havoc in world financial markets. Whether or no Trump really has a deal is anyone’s guess. All past talk has been empty rhetoric, realzing that therer was no deal at all, only more smoke blowing. Trump said the U.S. was played by Iran for suckers, meaning they had no intention of settling the conflict. But with Trump firing the big guns agains, though briefly, proved to Iran that only bad things can happen without signing on to a peace deal the works for both sides.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s edior of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
