8 hours ago
Trump's Crucial Decision on Iran
To the Editor:
Re 'Iranians Strike Israeli Hospital As U.S. Buys Time' (front page, June 20):
President Trump is confronting a daunting test of judgment and resolve in what could well be the signature policy decision of his presidency and beyond — whether to join Israel and halt Iran's nuclear program by force.
Good-faith diplomacy followed by American military involvement only if necessary seems at this juncture to be an effective strategy and could also stand the best chance to gain crucial domestic and international support.
Whatever route President Trump pursues, he needs to make his case directly to Congress and the American people, many of whom have deep and legitimate concerns about how he defines his presidency.
His transactional governing style, the dubious qualifications of some of his advisers and his record of missed deadlines for policy initiatives — all have raised questions about his strategic decision-making ability.
Mr. Trump has not been tested as a potential wartime president. Hopefully, despite real and perceived shortcomings, he is now positioning to act with both resolve and caution, serving the best interests of the American people at large and the goal of Mideast stability, while surpassing expectations.
Roger HirschbergSouth Burlington, Vt.
To the Editor:
Re 'Trump Seeks Surrender by Iran as He Considers Attack on Nuclear Site,' by David E. Sanger and Jonathan Swan (news analysis, front page, June 18):
President Trump, who is considering an attack on Iran's nuclear site, Fordo, owes it to the American public and the principles of representative democracy to bring this issue to Congress for a vote. A military strike on a sovereign nation's nuclear facilities in the absence of a declaration of war is an action that could have major economic and geopolitical repercussions for the U.S. and its citizenry.
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