After more than five weeks of war, now the NY Times reports on the White House “Situation Room” discussions that led to the decision for Donald Trump to decide that America should go to war with Iran.
It is now more clear than ever before that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had an overwhelming impact on Donald Trump, and was actually present in the “Situation Room” to give the case for war.
But it is also clear that Vice President JD Vance had strong discomfort about going to war, and that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, General Dan Caine (Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), and White House Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, all had different levels of reservation about the military effort.
Interestingly, and disturbing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were not even part of the group considering what action to take.
At the same time, why would non diplomats Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, who clearly botched their negotiations with Iran before February 28, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt (who is way out of the loop in regards to her own utterances and behavior), even be part of the discussion?
Only Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was strongly advocating action, and the rest were wimpy and weak and caved in to Trump’s evil instincts.
The danger to the Strait of Hormuz being shut down was discussed by General Caine, and the concern about the depletion of munitions over time. And everyone certainly knew a war would have a disastrous economic effect, as well as undermine relations with NATO allies and other friendly nations, but the entire group, in differing levels, were too weak to come out and oppose the military action.
For this, the Trump Presidency and its participants on high levels will be condemned in the long run of history, and most certainly, it will have a massive negative effect on Donald Trump and the Republican Party in the upcoming Midterm Elections of 2026, although Trump is attempting to interfere in such elections, and must be vehemently fought in every way possible, in court and on the streets, to prevent such corruption and fixing or preventing elections.
American democracy is at stake, and everyone must be ready to do their part to promote necessary change, which should include the forced resignation or removal of Donald Trump, and replacement by Vice President Vance, who although he went along in a weak way with the actions taken, at least it is clear that he would be likely to change course when and if he became President of the United States!