- The moment breaking news started streaming on the television and digital media about the joint US/Israel attack on Iran, the global community would have thrown up their hands in exasperation at the sheer illogicality of the move when the geopolitical situation was extremely dicey all around. Trump’s by now bombastic and exaggerated claims have started sounding more hollow by the day, even as he went to town proclaiming Iran will be steamrolled in days. The days turned into weeks, subsequently, now Tehran is not only counterattacking the US bases in the neighbourhood but also showing enough verve and resilience to prolong the war no one wanted in the first place. The debilitating losses are monumental, leading to global repudiation of the war itself.
PC: The Jerusalem Post
- Notably, Trump’s petulance and haughtiness, combined with my war or the highway posture, have rendered the Iran war, like the tariffs, a bad joke. On the war front, not only have developments in Iran defied his prognoses, but other nations are refusing to fall in line. Spain has nixed the use of its territory for US military bases. It’s called the war illegal, and contrary to the interests of humanity. NATO countries are also ignoring his threat of a very bad future if they don’t send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Often lackey-like, the UK is refusing to be drawn into the wider war. Germany’s defence minister has mockingly asked: What does Trump expect from European frigates, since the mighty US Navy can’t manage it either.
PC: Business Standard
- Recollect how Trump ridiculed different countries as pleading to him over tariffs – “Please, please sir make a deal. I’ll do anything. I’ll do anything, sir”. This haplessness is, of course, not the whole story. China played hardball with its rare earths card. Others showed resilience not so much by resisting power as rerouting around it, starting to reduce their exposure to Trumpian volatility. Even right now, India is stepping up diplomatic engagement with Iran to secure its energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. However much Trump can destroy and dominate, he cannot control outcomes. Or foreclose others’ choices. But this is not just about Trump. Being blind to the limits of their power seems to come with the territory of having a lot of it.
PC: Axios
- Resultant outcome is the continuing salience of hubris in different biographies of power. At home, Indira Gandhi pulled off an Emergency but then was shocked by a dramatic electoral blow. Lance Armstrong was invincible until he wasn’t. Harvey Weinstein was the king of Hollywood, and then he was in jail. Power doesn’t see reversals coming. It’s akin to Goliath cannot see David standing up to it. Incredulously, Trump’s erratic moves run on unrepentant. There is talk of Cuba, now. In ancient Greek thought, hubris is more than arrogance. It isn’t merely a personality flaw, but a violation of cosmic and social order. The US cannot act like it owns an infinite resource and the ability to impose its will on others. Better sense should prevail upon Trump now.
