Trump ducks responsibility for his escalating Iran war
A map showing the South Pars natural gas field in the Persian Gulf and which portions are controlled by Iran and Qatar. Credit: AP/Phil Holm
The war in the Middle East is escalating, with alarming, cascading consequences for the safety of our troops, our economy and our strategic alliances.
Yet, President Donald Trump still has not formally addressed the nation to tell us why we are engaged in this effort, and what pain it must endure to achieve those ends. Doing so would make him responsible for his decisions. Late night posts on social media, off the cuff statements in press encounters and short calls to reporters, often feeding them contradictory statements, allow Trump to deny anything he has said.
When the United States and Israel first struck Iran and killed its leaders, the editorial board wrote, "It is difficult at this moment not to feel that the world is in a more dangerous place." That has come to bear.
After Israel struck a major Iranian oil field Wednesday, Iran retaliated by destroying part of a critical liquid natural gas pipeline in Qatar. Restricted supply and the years needed to restore destroyed production infrastructure is putting financial markets in turmoil. Trump has made the unlikely but predictable claim that he was not informed by Israel of the attack on Iran's oil field, allowing him to deny responsibility for what unfolds. Six U.S. allies put out a statement Thursday that they were ready to "contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait" of Hormuz but that's not likely to happen until there is a truce. Our Arab allies are balking.
The price of gas is up 80 cents a gallon and the cost of an airline ticket is taking off. The USS Tripoli, an amphibious assault ship with 2,500 Marines aboard, is getting closer to the Gulf, raising concerns that ground forces will be used to secure the strait and Iran's production facility at Kharg Island, despite Trump's waffling about an invasion. Reserve military officers in our region are expecting deployment.
Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, testified to Congress Thursday that the objectives of Israel and the United States "are different." The previous day, in a written statement, she undermined the White House's operating theory that Iran was a nuclear threat. The Pentagon now wants $200 billion to continue Operation Epic Fury. The short "excursion" which has already cost about $12 billion could become a prolonged conflict.
Meanwhile, Trump has never engaged Congress to get its support for the war and the Republican majority, but for a few, remains hesitant to take on its mantle of a co-equal branch of government. Speaker Mike Johnson timidly said that before the House writes a blank check for $200 billion, he would want "a detailed and specific" request. Senate Majority Leader John Thune seems a little more dubious.
It's beyond time for Congress to demand the president answer the age-old question: What are we fighting for?
MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD are experienced journalists who offer reasoned opinions, based on facts, to encourage informed debate about the issues facing our community.
