If Trump goes to war with Iran, he could become a POTUS without potency
Suddenly, Donald Trump's presidency is on the line. Will there be war or Iran's 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER', as Trump has demanded on his platform Truth Social? At home, will Americans revel in Trump's 'Golden Age' of economic miracles or be mired in recession? If Trump stumbles in Iran, and if his 'one big, beautiful' domestic policy legislation fails in Congress, Trump will be a lame duck for the balance of his term as president.
In Iran, Trump is at a crossroads. Israel has absolutely staggered Iran by assassinating its military leadership, taking control of the skies and terrifying its population with the aim of inciting an overthrow of the ayatollahs, and it is on the brink of destroying Iran's nuclear program. But there is a catch: Israel does not have or control the only bomb in the world that can obliterate Iran's nuclear-enrichment capability.
For Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, failure to destroy Iran's centrifuges – which are buried under a mountain to create nuclear fuel – would echo Israel's failure to destroy Hamas in Gaza after nearly two years of war. Netanyahu has asked Trump to use America's bunker-buster bomb and end Iran's nuclear fixation. Trump has repeatedly declined so far but is now leaning towards entering the war.
Peace depends on diplomacy to convince Iran to give up its enrichment inside the country. Will the threat of war with the US work?
If war is required because of Iran's obstinacy and zealotry, and the United States carries out the most famous bombing mission since the Enola Gay dropped America's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima to end the war with Japan, will such an attack transform the region, or incite catastrophic anger and retribution against Trump, America and Israel?
Loading
The political consequences at home could be as serious. Trump is already under fire from more hardline MAGA supporters opposed to him falling into another foreign war of misguided adventurism such as Afghanistan or Iraq. After 9/11, George W. Bush conjured the 'Axis of Evil' of Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Trump has excoriated that campaign and outlined his retreat from the 'forever wars'. As he tries to seek peace in Ukraine – we are over 140 days since his promise to achieve that within 24 hours – Trump keeps saying, 'It's not my war', as if the US will not be affected by what happens there.
A president fails if he cannot secure America's foreign policy interests. A failure by Trump in Iran – or a victory that comes back to haunt America's security in the years ahead – would eclipse his wholesale denunciations of Joe Biden in Ukraine and Afghanistan.
There is one other curveball: Democrats and some Republicans are demanding a vote in Congress to authorise Trump joining Israel's war against Iran – just as they successfully did to approve Bush's war against Iraq.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canberra Times
an hour ago
- Canberra Times
France aims to stop more UK-bound migrant boats
Ties between France and Britain have improved since Starmer took office in 2024, brought closer by shared concerns over Russian aggression toward Ukraine and the need to re-arm Europe as US President Donald Trump plots a more isolationist position for the world's largest economy.
Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
2000s US rockers spark controversy after banning Donald Trump voters from their latest tour
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music. Followed categories will be added to My News. The lead singer of 2000s US rockers The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has sparked controversy after banning Trump supporters from attending the band's shows. Frontman Ronnie Winter made the declaration in a video posted to his band's official Instagram page over the weekend, eliciting a mixed reaction from some of the rocker's fans on social media. 'If you voted for Donald Trump, do not come to my shows — forever, not just like these four years,' he said passionately. He then went on to call out Christian Trump supporters, ranting: 'If you're Christian and you voted for Donald Trump, shame on you. You are not allowed to come to my shows. I don't want you there. Don't come to my shows.' X SUBSCRIBER ONLY Rocker Ronnie Winter has sparked backlash on social media over his remarks. Picture: Instagram The band are embarking on a US tour. Picture: Instagram Winter continued: 'Do not come to my shows because you're going to hear a lot of propaganda, and you're going to hear like the actual words of Jesus.' 'You're going to see a lot of acceptance from all areas of life and races, and um, you're just going to see a lot of harmony, OK? That's not what you're about, OK? Don't come. Refunds are available. Forever, don't come. Goodbye.' 'It's awesome that you love Face Down, but it's not for you. It's not your song, OK? It is not your song,' he added, mentioning the band's most successful song that hit the charts back in 2006. While numerous fans supported the star's views, Winter comments were soon inundated with comments from Trump voters, with one replying: 'Poor baby doesn't want people to come to his show that voted for trump. Did your wittle feewings get hurt? Dawww, don't worry, nobody wants to see a one hit wonder anyway!' Another commented: 'When is the next show out West? Can't wait to be there with all my Maga buddies.' Trump supporters have flocked to then band's social media page. Picture: Getty. 'No one's goes to your shows anyway dude so I don't think you have to worry about Trump supporters coming bud,' sneered another. Elsewhere during his social media rant, Winter lashed out at fans who have criticised his liberal beliefs, insisting that being 'woke' just means 'being awake'. 'Look man, the thing about being woke is you're awake, and once you're awake you can never go to sleep,' he said. 'Not only has nothing changed, but everything they said was going to happen – the woke people – has happened. You have done nothing but prove them right.' Winter is the latest in a long line of musicians who are speaking up against Donald Trump as tensions continue to rise in the US in recent months, and in Los Angles over the last week. Winter joins a growing list of musicians who have spoken out against Trump's second term. Bruce Springsteen lashed out at Trump during his latest tour that's been marred by illness. 'In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration,' Springsteen told a sellout crowd last moth. Originally published as 2000s US rockers spark controversy after banning Donald Trump voters from their latest tour
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi calls on Anthony Albanese to condemn Israel, issues warning to Donald Trump
Iran's ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi, has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to condemn Israel's strikes on the Middle Eastern nation and denied that the Islamic Republic is working on a nuclear weapons program. Mr Sadeghi made the comments to 7.30 during a wide-ranging interview where he also refused to recognise Israel's right to exist as a state and warned US President Donald Trump there may be consequences for 80,000 US troops stationed in the Persian Gulf if the US strikes Iranian targets. Mr Sadeghi described Israel's June 13 attack on Iranian targets — that has seen a reported 224 people there killed — as "unprovoked". Since then, there have been a reported 24 casualties in Israel as a result of Iranian retaliatory strikes, with civilians dying on both sides. Mr Sadeghi defended the Iranian response as "its inalienable right to just defensive measures", before he called on Mr Albanese to condemn Israel for the June 13 attack that has pushed the Middle East to the brink of a wider conflict. "You have to have the punishment of the aggressor," Mr Sadeghi told 7.30. "If you let it go unpunished [and] the prime minister of this regime [Benjamin Netanyahu] declared publicly and arrogantly that 'I ordered such an attack against Iran'. "If you just let them go free, it has very bad consequences." Asked by 7.30 host David Speers if that meant "condemnation," Mr Sadeghi responded "exactly". Asked if that meant a public condemnation of Israel from the Albanese government, the Iranian ambassador said: "Yes, I ask them." As he asked for Australia to condemn Israel's actions, which began with attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, Mr Sadeghi issued a warning about possible US involvement. Israel's original strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Sifahan, and Fordow, and several scientists involved in nuclear research and development, reflecting Israel's fears about Iran's nuclear program and potential capability to soon produce nuclear weapons. But the Fordow site is deep underground, and it has been suggested that only US bunker-busting bombs could breach it. Mr Trump has so far avoided getting the US directly involved but has called for Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warned Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the US will not kill him "for now". "We know exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding," Mr Trump posted on Truth Social. "He is an easy target, but is safe there — we are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. "But we don't want missiles shot at civilians or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Mr Sadeghi told 7.30 that Iran was "fully prepared" to negotiate but warned that US military involvement could lead to a wider conflict. "The Mr Trump … character … he was supposed to be a man of peace, now he's come to man of war," Mr Sadeghi said. "Around 80,000 US personnel are in the Persian Gulf area; they may not be as comfortable as much as now. "The other Islamic nations around … in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq — if Iran would be attacked by US, they wouldn't be silent. "We advise Mr Trump to [not] be dragged into an unwanted war that Netanyahu is going to make. Netanyahu is notorious to put the burden of [his] own unjust war on shoulder of the other players. "I ask Mr Trump to be very careful about that." Mr Sadeghi earned himself a diplomatic rebuke from Mr Albanese last year for "antisemitic" and "hateful" comments he made on social media that called for the "wiping out" of Israelis in Palestine by 2027. During his appearance on 7.30, he was repeatedly challenged to acknowledge Israel's right to exist and refused to do so. However, when he was challenged on whether Israel had a right to fear Iran's nuclear capability, Mr Sadeghi maintained the programme was peaceful. That ran against comments made earlier in June by Rafael Grossi, director of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. In a statement, Mr Grossi said the IAEA was not "in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful". Mr Sadeghi disputed that was the case and went on to deny Iran was pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. "He (Grossi) came back to Vienna and had a sort of declaration that was not consistent with work cooperation Iran was doing," Mr Sadeghi said. "All the inspection on the Iranian programmes just signifies that Iran's programme has been peaceful and nothing as the initiation with regard to nuclear arms." Asked if that meant that Iran would not pursue the manufacture of nuclear weapons, Mr Sadeghi said the nation would not. "Of course not," he said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
