Over A Month Into The Iran War - Part I

Recall that in my March 30 post I said that I would address the assertion by Robin Abcarian that this is "Trump's poorly thought-out war on Iran."  On March 22, 2026, the New York Times had an editorial focusing on what they said was Trump's lies about the war.  This is serious stuff.  War is serious stuff.  But the mainstream media sees it only as yet another way to attack President Trump.  I would say "shame on them," but they have long since lost any sense of shame.  

Here is something out of the NY Times editorial:  "There is a reasonable debate to have about the wisdom of this war.  Iran's murderous government does indeed present a threat - to its own people, to its region and to global stability.  Mr. Trump could make a fact-based argument for confronting the regime now, especially to prevent it from menacing its neighbors and, above all, from developing a nuclear weapon.  We are skeptical, but we acknowledge that there is a case to be made."

You see that?  After laying out the many reasons for this war on Iran, the NY Times says they are "skeptical."  I guess the Times prefers to let Iran continue to be a threat to its own people and to the region and even to global stability.  I guess the Times prefers to let Iran get nukes.  Do these people suffer from any cognitive dissonance?  My guess is they do not.  Because their Trump Derangement Syndrome is so severe, that they actually believe that anything Trump does must be bad - even if they agree with it.  Because Trump = bad.  

On April 1, Trump gave his address to the nation about the war.  Something I said he should have done as soon as the fighting started.  But better late than never.  Then Trump set forth his rationale for this war.  "From the very first day I announced my campaign for president in 2015, I vowed that I would never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.  This fanatical regime has been chanting 'Death to America, Death to Israel' for 47 years."  Then Trump recounted some of the many ways Iran has attacked and killed Americans.  Trump:  "For these terrorists to have nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat."  Amen to that.  And every President from Bill Clinton forward has agreed.  And, until Trump, they preferred to let their successor's deal with the problem. 

Trump:  "As I stated in my announcement of Operation Epic Fury, our objectives are very simple and clear, we are systematically dismantling the regime's ability to threaten America or project power outside of their borders."  Trump discussed all the targets that have been hit, resulting in a weakened Iran.  He thanked our allies in the Middle East - Israel,Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain.  And, perhaps his best line:  "This is a true investment in your children and your grandchildren's future."  

As Barton Swain wrote in an Op-Ed in the 4/1/26 Wall Street Journal:  "If all you know about the war in Iran is what you read in the American and European press, you might conclude that the U.S. has never prosecuted a war so ineptly as this one.  In fact, nearly the opposite is true."  So far, the US and Israel have hit at least 13,000 targets in Iran.  

But here is an excellent example from the mainstream media about Trump and this war.  In the April 5, 2026 Los Angeles Times, was an Op-Ed by Anatol Lieven:  "America has betrayed its global mission."  His premise is that the Royal Navy ruled the seas for many years, and understood their job was to protect international trade, and specifically the flow of oil, and more specifically through the Strait of Hormuz.  When the US took over the role of protecting the seas after WWII, all was well until President Trump came along.

In case you had any doubts, here is Lieven's assessment:  "Apart from the obvious illegality of launching this war, the Trump administration's decision also displayed profound recklessness, incompetence, irresponsibiity and lack of foresight."  I think Lieven left out a few pejoratives.  Not a single positive word about the exceptional way this war has been conducted, nor about the stated goals of the war.  Instead, we have this lie:  "There was no imminent or even feasible threat from Iran to the United States."  (For a further discussion on the threats from Iran see my 3/4/26 post - "Operation Epic Fury - Part III (My Take).)

Here's a good one by Lieven:  "Beijing has so far been careful not to arm Iran, and not to stir up regional conflicts or to exploit America's difficulties in the region."  Not one word about how China has assisted Iran.  "China has provided Tehran with selective military and dual-use technologies - including air defense systems, drones, and surveillance assistance - while avoiding formal security guarantees."  (From the Middle East Institute.)  No surprise that if someone dislikes Trump, then it is probable that they will  dislike Israel (Lieven does), and not say anything bad about America's adversaries, such as China.