A lot has happened since the killing of Iran’s powerful man, Ali Larijani, yesterday. Not only has it become clear that US allies do not wish to be dragged into Donald Trump’s mess, but some senior government officials share that view.
Counterterrorism Director Resigns
The Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre, Joseph Kent, has resigned. He also issued a public statement making it clear that Iran was not a threat to the US, even as Trump and Netanyahu initiated the war. He said that the US President succumbed to pressure from Israel and its American lobbyists.
Congressman Pat Ryan of the Democratic Party, an army veteran who served during two wars in Iraq, says that Donald Trump is treating the Iran war like a video game, even though 13 US soldiers have lost their lives in the war.
The War is escalating, and Trump may Become More Erratic.
Iran has become even more vicious in attacking Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard has now used an extra-long-range ballistic missile known as the Sejjil to hit Tel Aviv with up to 80 missiles. It is the first time the regime has used this asset since the war began, and there is no telling what other surprises Iran has in store.
This attack happened after the killing of Ali Larijani and other Iranians yesterday. In retaliation, the IRG decided to target the residence of a consular official in Tel Aviv, Israel, and managed to damage it. Also, some people were injured.
When the UK, France, Germany, and other countries failed to nod to Trump’s “instruction” to join the war, he resorted to threats, sending signals that he could withhold the contribution the US makes to NATO. A while before then, he had announced that he did not need any help from the NATO countries. Since threats have not worked, Trump has dispatched a US Marine Corps ship to the Gulf.
Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who served in the American Marine Corps for 30 years, says the decision to send Marines to the Gulf should have been made before the war began. This decision, which involves 2,500 marines now en route, means they can only reach the region after weeks.
Some observers are also concerned that the Marines may be too exposed, especially because the operation was not part of the initial war plan. While Trump assured the media that all was well since he had discussed the issue with the Israeli Prime Minister on the phone, Benjamin Netanyahu said in response to media questions that, for now, Israeli support is restricted solely to the supply of intelligence.
Trump does not seem to have a Plan.
In the meantime, the US has used several 2,200-kilogram (5,000 lb) bombs to hit Iran’s missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. These bombs penetrate deep into the earth and can destroy deeply buried ammunition, just as they destroy bunkers.
While this may be a pre-emptive step to hinder Iran from firing at sea vessels from the coastline, experts say that taking the war to the Hormuz Strait could prolong the war by months.
On Monday, Trump displayed his impulsivity when he told some government officials and the media at the White House that he is contemplating taking over Cuba. To show that the timing is suitable for that, he mentioned that Cuba right now is very weak – the same thing he believed of Iran before he struck on February 28th.