American officials - particularly from the Trump regime - seemed to bend over backwards to be careful to suggest that the recent Israeli air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Even while it was obvious that the United States is the closest of allies that Israel has, and even though the weapons which Israel used in the airstrikes were basically obtained by the United States, American officials insisted on this small degree of separation.
However, that went out the window over the weekend, as Trump launched airstrikes of his very own on Iranian nuclear targets.
He did this even though much of his base supported him - evidently somewhat conditionally - on the premise that Trump would not get us involved in another foreign war. Particularly in the Middle East, given our recent history of fighting wars in the region. Obviously, those wars did not go so well, particularly in Afghanistan.
So it was a mild surprise - not a major one, but a mild one nonetheless - that Trump so quickly went ahead with these airstrikes. It's not that I am convinced that Trump (or that segment of MAGA that supports him) love peace. Not at all. But they do seem to "get" that we probably should learn from past mistakes, and not get ourselves involved in yet another conflict, particularly in the Middle East.
Yet, Trump is doing his typical boasting right now, this time about how successful the airstrikes on Iran were. Of course, these are mixed with threats, such as that retaliation by Iran would result in severe ramifications. I think he even suggested that if they assassinate him, he left instructions for Iran to be decimated, for all intents and purposes. To be wiped off the map, or turned into a parking lot, or something more or less like that.
What all of this means is that we may be on the verge of another war in the Middle East. Clearly, this would not be a popular conflict. Many people - myself included - think that this is a very bad idea. That it cannot end well.
All of that said, Trump is announcing that there has been a ceasefire, claiming that he was approached by both Israeli and Iranian officials. This might be good news, except that we all know that Trump lies. Remember how he took credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, even though both sides made it clear that Trump had nothing to do with it?
Trump really feels like the presidential equivalent to the Boy Who Cried Wolf. When you lie and lie and lie, it's going to be difficult for anyone to believe you in the future. At least, that is, if you are not part of the mindless MAGA cult, anyway.
There is little that I can say at the moment. No way to know the full truth, if there really even is a ceasefire, and if, or how long, it will hold.
Time will tell. Let's see what happens.
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