As President Trump prepares to address the nation tonight, there’s a buzz in the air about the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran. The President’s speech will highlight the successes of Operation Epic Fury, an endeavor that’s apparently delivering target packages faster than take-out pizza. With 12,300 Iranian targets struck and 155 vessels destroyed, the Pentagon surely must be closing in on the bottom of their list—or else everything in Iran must be twice-bombed by now.
Trump is poised to update the American people on their military’s exploits, which include demolishing Iran’s ballistic missiles, reducing their navy to splinters, and ensuring that no terrorist proxies will ever wreak instability in the region again. As part of this endeavor, Trump aims to remind everyone about the ultimate goal: dismantling Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities so thoroughly that even their blueprints might not survive. Yet, even with such grand claims, the president’s intentions to withdraw from NATO are hovering ominously in the air like a blimp full of very hot air.
It’s worth mentioning that the President’s NATO musings haven’t exactly sent waves of concern through Europe. It turns out, asking European allies to hop on board with a military operation they see as none of their business is about as effective as trying to convince a cat to take a bath. The president of Finland chimed in, noting a “productive” discussion with Trump, though one wonders if “productive” means the same thing in Finnish as it does in English. European nations aren’t exactly rushing to cheerlead this campaign, preferring instead to keep their hands clean and their gas prices low.
Interestingly, President Trump’s tough talk on the economic situation and military achievements hasn’t quite warmed the hearts of his critics back home. It seems the populace isn’t thrilled at the prospect of high gas prices, even if the alternative is a faraway nuclear risk. As some point out, no battle comes without cost, but the financial pinch from this military exercise is like a special levy in an unwelcome celebrity host. It appears, the real battle for Trump might not be in the Middle East but winning the hearts of his citizens struggling with affordability woes at home.
European reluctance is only capping off what seems like a testy scenario with NATO. While Trump has been badgering allies to up their defense spending—accomplishing some results, it must be said—the reciprocity seems a little one-sided. When Trump requested the use of their bases and airspace, allies placed their signs: “Closed for Business.” Spain, Italy, and Britain have all shown Trump their steel doors, forcing the question, if NATO isn’t rushing to support the U.S. in its foreign quests, what good is the alliance? After all, a club with no mutual benefits is just a hall of annoyed members wondering why they joined in the first place.
