Our Business?

Tucker Carlson said Donald Trump has abandoned his “America First” stances. Trump said that he was first to use the term and he, exclusively, can define it. The one who originated “America First” was Woodrow Wilson when he ran for president as the peace candidate in 1912. Wilson then took us to war. Sound familiar?  

After voting for Trump because he called our Middle East policies “crazy”, we are crazy for believing him. Trump has sold out.

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC) has called “our” bombing of Iran unconstitutional. Since when has she cared about constitutionality? It is important, this constitutionality thing; like rules in a game. If we know the rules going in, people get along. The Constitution specifies that Congress has the exclusive authority to make (declare) war. It makes sense because our congressman then must answer to the people he represents regarding the outcome of that decision. It makes him careful.

AOC should start with the War Powers Resolution of 1973 if she is concerned with constitutionality. That law negates the Constitution.

With all that being said, I'm reminded of 2003 when we attacked Iraq because of “weapons of mass destruction”. Forty four hundred dead Americans later, we found none. There was wide consensus supporting the war because our “intelligence” agencies had some credibility. Now the president doesn’t believe them either, apparently tossing that information aside in exchange for applause from the war business donors and ignorant masses.

George W. Bush claimed the Muslim extremists hated us for our freedoms, oblivious to our constant meddling in their affairs. As an example, English and American oil interests provided expertise in exchange for Iran’s oil. Mohammad Mosaddegh, the elected Prime Minister of Iran, was overthrown by Western “intelligence” agencies in 1953 because he wouldn’t give away Iranian oil. The West’s chosen replacement, Shah Mohamadd Reza Pahlavi’s secret police, SAVAK, dealt savagely with any resistance.

Mosaddegh was a secular Muslim but his ouster radicalized the young people of Iran, leading to the hostage crisis of 1979. Iran has been a scapegoat for American militarism ever since. 

We supported Iraq in their war with Iran from 1980 to 1988 with intelligence and weapons including chemical weapons. Iranians haven’t forgotten our role in that devastating conflict. But what sealed their hatred for us was when the USS Vincennes fired two guided missiles at Iran Flight 655 on July 3, 1988, killing all 290 civilians on board. They never admitted fault but gave the Iranian surviving families $61.8 million of US taxpayer money.  

This pitance is dwarfed by the actual cost of the phony War On Terror, which now amounts to over $8 trillion (enough to buy a little loader tractor at Blaines for every man, woman, and child in the United States). We make enemies so we can wage war. It’s evil.

With these facts in mind, what about our “enemies”? They are people just like us. They decide what’s for dinner. They root for sports teams and enjoy music. They fall in love. Iran has the biggest shopping mall in the world. Google it and see. They are people. 

Dismissing the findings of American spies and United Nations inspectors will lead to more price increases for Americans and more loss of life. Donald Trump has betrayed those of us who voted for him.

The latest news is that a ceasefire has been arranged by Trump according to him, with no word from Israel or Iran. This could change if things get sticky in Netanyahu’s corruption and bribery trial. Emergencies can come in handy. 

Please comment on my column through a letter to the editor or directly to me at 4selfgovernment@gmail.com