What More Do the Iran Hawks Want?
The Trump administration thought that its attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was a limited show of strength with no cost. “When you can’t solve it diplomatically, you use overwhelming military power to solve it, and then you get the hell out of there before it ever becomes a protracted conflict. That is the Trump doctrine,” Vice President J.D. Vance told the audience at an Ohio Republican Party dinner.
Although President Donald Trump said that the U.S. would bomb Iran again if it tried to rebuild, he claims that will not be necessary and insists that a diplomatic deal can tie up loose ends. “I said ‘Iran will not have nuclear.’ Well, we blew it up. It’s blown up to kingdom come, and so I don’t feel very strongly about it. If we got a document, it wouldn’t be bad. We’re going to meet with them,” Trump said at the NATO summit on Wednesday.
But the hawks in Washington who pushed for the U.S. to join the Israeli-Iranian war aren’t satisfied. As predicted, they’re arguing that the job isn’t done and agitating for a more extended war. And now that the political barrier has been broken, it’s easy for them to push for more attacks.
Almost immediately after the ceasefire set in, conservative talk show host Mark Levin criticized Trump for not getting Iran to sign “a surrender document” or killing its leaders. “So we have a ceasefire. I hate this word, ceasefire,” Levin, who had reportedly been an influential voice in Trump’s ear leading up to the war, said on Monday. “Adolf Hitler wasn’t thrown a lifeline. He wasn’t thrown a lifeline. He was going to be killed, so he committed suicide.”
Congressional Republicans were more careful not to attack Trump’s insistence on a ceasefire, but tried to shift the goalposts of the war from a decisive one-off attack on Iran to the beginning of a protracted campaign of whack-a-mole. For example, Rep. Michael McCaul (R–Texas) told CNN that the plan to attack Iran “was always known to be a temporary setback where they could rebuild the centrifuges.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.) brought in his signature combination of flattery and demands, stating that Trump deserves a “Nobel Peace Prize on steroids” if he can get Iran to recognize Israel diplomatically—and implying that the ceasefire is worthless otherwise. “A ceasefire that leads to peace is a wonderful thing. A ceasefire that allows Iran to rearm and come back another day is a step backwards,” Graham told CNN on Tuesday.
Graham’s escalating demands shouldn’t come as a surprise. During the Obama administration, he insi
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.
