I think it isn't only that Trump doesn't understand the American people's views about war, but he also doesn't really care. He believes he has a "mandate" to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
There was a perfectly good treaty in place. Trump tore up an intelligently negotiated treaty for no other reason than it being a diplomatic achievement of Pres Obama.
Trump really can’t sell many people on the idea he was consumed with worry about Iran gaining nuclear capability, as he destroyed the previous compact.
Trump engaged in this to cover for the attention to the Epstein files. Trump didn’t care about the cost in lives, munitions&money.
In a very shallow world view, Trump acquiesced to Netanyahu&thought Americans would rally around him.
No one in the entire world, even our former allies think US should control the Straights of Hormuz.
BTW: we’ve seen this rodeo before. Both Bush presidencies. Some actions were a response to 9/11. Most an attempt to control oil.
I do think Netanyahu got us into this thing. Israeli intelligence found out about the meeting of Iran’s top government officials. This was presented to him as a once in a lifetime opportunity. He could decapitate the Iranian government and that, along with the quick destruction of their military assets, would result in a quick victory. He would, with one quick action, do what many presidents would have liked to have done.
Trump, basking in his perceived triumph in Venezuela couldn’t resist.
Not sophisticated. Uninformed. Disrespectful. That’s the Trump Way(tm). During the past wars, there were plenty of naysayers and critics within the administrations. We could hear alternative viewpoints without too much trouble. There really are no critics in the Trump World. Wanna bet there will be many after Trump leaves? Not only has he ignored or disdained criticism, he also keeps critics outside his life.
This is another WTF moment. What has happened that all these hate filled nasty sub-human evil beings are in positions where they can do great damage to others without real accountability?
Most Americans do not like killing people for no reason. Just because the President declares someone is 'bad', does not mean it is a good idea to kill them. Trump keeps killing people without really selling the reason to fear or hate those people.
Trump previously told us he had obliterated Iran's Nuclear program. So why do we fear their nuclear program? He tells us they sponsor terrorism, but we have not had much in the news about foreign terrorists hitting the US anywhere since we got out of the middle east. Yes, there were some caught up in the terrorist attack that started the current genocide by Israel, but it was obvious we were not targeted.
Sure, Israel hates Iran, perhaps for good reason, but then in the Middle east there are always plenty of 'good reasons' for any one group / country... to hate another group...
Trump tried to give us a bunch of reasons (each of them weak) to see what would 'stick', none of them did. Reality is, Israel's leader (the genocidal one) talked Trump into this current war, and there was really no good reason for us to be involved in it. Trump had no plan, because he got 'sold' that it would be quick and easy just like Venezuela, just like Trump keeps fantasizing about Greenland and other places he wants to conquer.
But without a good reason, and while of course we don't want to spend billions of dollars for no reason, and we certainly see no reason to put our soldiers in harms way, it is the bombing and killing in our name that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. How can we hate and fear Iran when it was us who bombed them for no apparent urgent reason? It is Iran who is the underdog, acting with restraint, hitting back in self defense. Trump made Iran look like the good guys, which is a pretty good trick for Iran.
Remember, Trump is a bully. He thinks it is a good idea to use his power to beat other people up and make them surrender, like Venezuela. Trump does not think like a good guy, he thinks like a bully, and here Iran is standing up to the bully and Trump is making the American people feel like the bully, and they don't like it.
Vietnam lost a LOT of it's appeal when the American people realized the atrocities committed in their name (My Lai Massacre), not just that we were caught in a forever war, but that we were the bad guys in the war. After all, if the 'enemy' is fighting so very hard to not be conquered, maybe they feel they have 'right' on their side, and remind us again why we are fighting?
One tiny addition: As the Vietnam War continued, anyone in the US who paid attention came to understand that the US was trying to prop up a corrupt, militaristic regime, one that was increasingly unpopular among its own population. That factored into the dissatisfaction and opposition. The Tet offensive hammered that home.
Since, as others have pointed out, the goal of the Iran war is (sometimes) to re-establish a situation that Trump himself had broken, and at other times for goals that are even less moral and achievable; and that it looks less and likely to work, we can expect the opposition to grow, as that understanding becomes widespread.
Heather Cox Richardson reminds us in her Politics Chats that the increasing chaos is a sign of the administration crumbling. It’ll get worse, but it’s because of the scramble for power and money as the structure collapses. And political historian Joanne Freeman often reminds of that we are living in an era of extreme contingency. The unpredictable event could be what changes everything. And, importantly, what we do now, individually and collectively, matters. We matter.
PedoPINO is not really concerned with how long his war of choice goes on: he'll be dead fairly soon (he's not a HEALTHY 80, let's be honest) or out of office in 2 years.
He's not concerned with loss of American lives: as he noted, they signed up for this, and they know he considers them "suckers and losers" for being willing to sacrifice for their country when his belief is that EVADING any service to our nation is far better. He noted that sailors posting photos and videos of the appalling situation on this, the longest modern deployment, are all liars and it's "fake news"; and that the deployment has not been LONG ENOUGH to suit HIM. (Again, he never served, so how would he know?)
And we know he is CERTAINLY not concerned about the financial or other costs. It's not HIS money (he doesn't pay taxes, and considers any who do to be "stupid"), and he has been SOLELY responsible for AT LEAST 1/4 of our $40T debt SINCE 1776 THROUGH HIS "LEADERSHIP" ALONE; and even if it WAS his money, he bankrupted every casino he owned and ran dozens of businesses tainted with his name into bankruptcy as well. He has also destroyed our trading relationships and alliances; and, despite Russia attacking a fellow democracy who has mastered modern asymmetric warfare as they fight for survival WITHOUT American help, has not worked with Ukraine to end both Putin's War and Trump's War, or even asked for help with counter-drones and FPVs units or plans, despite Ukraine now beginning to win the war that genocidal Russia began years ago.
I understand that PedoPINO does not want to put Americans in harm's way...no, strike that: I understand that while PedoPINO cares NOTHING about anyone NOT named Trump, he does NOT want the optics of American troops coming home boxed under a flag; but until he stops being stupid and STARTS being tactical with the help of allies, he continues to risk America's lives, treasure and future, but he doesn't care as long as the money is flowing in for him.
One can't help but think that if the orange sadist had served in Vietnam, he couldn't possibly want this war. (Note: WAS he joking when he said that the Strait of Hormuz would soon be "ours?" I don't think so.)
Maybe Trump thought that "Americans," or at least his reliable base, would be rah-rah over this war, or that they wouldn't notice how unprepared for it "we" were, or that at least it would distract them from the way Trump II has taken a sledgehammer to the economy -- but was war a big issue when Trump came down that famous escalator in 2015 and proceeded to wipe the floor with the Republican hopefuls in the "clown car"? Not that I remember.
Racism has been a big part of the Republican brand since Nixon's Southern Strategy. It enabled the Reagan administration to hoodwink its working- and middle-class supporters while its policies gutted unions and gifted the wealthy. A case could be made that Trump's full-page ad vilifying the Central Park 5 made him a contender in 1989, but his future base had been coalescing around Bernie Goetz since the end of 1984. With Trump II, will the loyal base finally realize how much it's cost them? Who knows? Watch this space.
As you mentioned, it's not that the war was only 6 weeks old then, and will be almost 6 months old soon. The point is that it's only gone on for that long _so far_.
The war in Iraq also was only 6 months old after the first 6 months.
After 6 weeks of the Iraq war, President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished".
After 9 months, Saddam Hussein was captured.
After Saddam Hussein was captured, the war went on another 8 years.
Of course, having a socio/psychopath pretending to be a president means there is only one way to look at war - in numbers. How morbidly creepy is it to determine a war's level of success by how few Americans have been killed ("DEAD"), with no mention or regard for the thousands of soldiers and civilians (and a girls' school) who have been effectively murdered by Donald Trump, Dear Leader?
It’s about young men and women putting their lives on the line for our country. Trump is so fucking disrespectful, like our troops are just pawns in his game vying for world dominance. It’s creepy!
I think it isn't only that Trump doesn't understand the American people's views about war, but he also doesn't really care. He believes he has a "mandate" to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
I’m sorry but I think the only thing Trump (barely) understands is ME.
There was a perfectly good treaty in place. Trump tore up an intelligently negotiated treaty for no other reason than it being a diplomatic achievement of Pres Obama.
Trump really can’t sell many people on the idea he was consumed with worry about Iran gaining nuclear capability, as he destroyed the previous compact.
Trump engaged in this to cover for the attention to the Epstein files. Trump didn’t care about the cost in lives, munitions&money.
In a very shallow world view, Trump acquiesced to Netanyahu&thought Americans would rally around him.
No one in the entire world, even our former allies think US should control the Straights of Hormuz.
BTW: we’ve seen this rodeo before. Both Bush presidencies. Some actions were a response to 9/11. Most an attempt to control oil.
I do think Netanyahu got us into this thing. Israeli intelligence found out about the meeting of Iran’s top government officials. This was presented to him as a once in a lifetime opportunity. He could decapitate the Iranian government and that, along with the quick destruction of their military assets, would result in a quick victory. He would, with one quick action, do what many presidents would have liked to have done.
Trump, basking in his perceived triumph in Venezuela couldn’t resist.
Bibi—another corrupt politician thinking war will keep the courts at bay.
Exactly right Suki Herr
ThankYou
Perhaps this will be the final death grip on oil.
Not sophisticated. Uninformed. Disrespectful. That’s the Trump Way(tm). During the past wars, there were plenty of naysayers and critics within the administrations. We could hear alternative viewpoints without too much trouble. There really are no critics in the Trump World. Wanna bet there will be many after Trump leaves? Not only has he ignored or disdained criticism, he also keeps critics outside his life.
Did you see this? I am beyond outraged. My ancestors are screaming from the grave.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/20/israel-ben-gvir-video-gallows-site-hanging-palestinians?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
This is another WTF moment. What has happened that all these hate filled nasty sub-human evil beings are in positions where they can do great damage to others without real accountability?
That guy is a follower of Meir Kahane. Racist to the core. Netanyahu needs these criminals in his coalition to remain in power. Mutha fuckah.
Most Americans do not like killing people for no reason. Just because the President declares someone is 'bad', does not mean it is a good idea to kill them. Trump keeps killing people without really selling the reason to fear or hate those people.
Trump previously told us he had obliterated Iran's Nuclear program. So why do we fear their nuclear program? He tells us they sponsor terrorism, but we have not had much in the news about foreign terrorists hitting the US anywhere since we got out of the middle east. Yes, there were some caught up in the terrorist attack that started the current genocide by Israel, but it was obvious we were not targeted.
Sure, Israel hates Iran, perhaps for good reason, but then in the Middle east there are always plenty of 'good reasons' for any one group / country... to hate another group...
Trump tried to give us a bunch of reasons (each of them weak) to see what would 'stick', none of them did. Reality is, Israel's leader (the genocidal one) talked Trump into this current war, and there was really no good reason for us to be involved in it. Trump had no plan, because he got 'sold' that it would be quick and easy just like Venezuela, just like Trump keeps fantasizing about Greenland and other places he wants to conquer.
But without a good reason, and while of course we don't want to spend billions of dollars for no reason, and we certainly see no reason to put our soldiers in harms way, it is the bombing and killing in our name that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. How can we hate and fear Iran when it was us who bombed them for no apparent urgent reason? It is Iran who is the underdog, acting with restraint, hitting back in self defense. Trump made Iran look like the good guys, which is a pretty good trick for Iran.
Remember, Trump is a bully. He thinks it is a good idea to use his power to beat other people up and make them surrender, like Venezuela. Trump does not think like a good guy, he thinks like a bully, and here Iran is standing up to the bully and Trump is making the American people feel like the bully, and they don't like it.
Vietnam lost a LOT of it's appeal when the American people realized the atrocities committed in their name (My Lai Massacre), not just that we were caught in a forever war, but that we were the bad guys in the war. After all, if the 'enemy' is fighting so very hard to not be conquered, maybe they feel they have 'right' on their side, and remind us again why we are fighting?
One tiny addition: As the Vietnam War continued, anyone in the US who paid attention came to understand that the US was trying to prop up a corrupt, militaristic regime, one that was increasingly unpopular among its own population. That factored into the dissatisfaction and opposition. The Tet offensive hammered that home.
Since, as others have pointed out, the goal of the Iran war is (sometimes) to re-establish a situation that Trump himself had broken, and at other times for goals that are even less moral and achievable; and that it looks less and likely to work, we can expect the opposition to grow, as that understanding becomes widespread.
Heather Cox Richardson reminds us in her Politics Chats that the increasing chaos is a sign of the administration crumbling. It’ll get worse, but it’s because of the scramble for power and money as the structure collapses. And political historian Joanne Freeman often reminds of that we are living in an era of extreme contingency. The unpredictable event could be what changes everything. And, importantly, what we do now, individually and collectively, matters. We matter.
PedoPINO is not really concerned with how long his war of choice goes on: he'll be dead fairly soon (he's not a HEALTHY 80, let's be honest) or out of office in 2 years.
He's not concerned with loss of American lives: as he noted, they signed up for this, and they know he considers them "suckers and losers" for being willing to sacrifice for their country when his belief is that EVADING any service to our nation is far better. He noted that sailors posting photos and videos of the appalling situation on this, the longest modern deployment, are all liars and it's "fake news"; and that the deployment has not been LONG ENOUGH to suit HIM. (Again, he never served, so how would he know?)
And we know he is CERTAINLY not concerned about the financial or other costs. It's not HIS money (he doesn't pay taxes, and considers any who do to be "stupid"), and he has been SOLELY responsible for AT LEAST 1/4 of our $40T debt SINCE 1776 THROUGH HIS "LEADERSHIP" ALONE; and even if it WAS his money, he bankrupted every casino he owned and ran dozens of businesses tainted with his name into bankruptcy as well. He has also destroyed our trading relationships and alliances; and, despite Russia attacking a fellow democracy who has mastered modern asymmetric warfare as they fight for survival WITHOUT American help, has not worked with Ukraine to end both Putin's War and Trump's War, or even asked for help with counter-drones and FPVs units or plans, despite Ukraine now beginning to win the war that genocidal Russia began years ago.
I understand that PedoPINO does not want to put Americans in harm's way...no, strike that: I understand that while PedoPINO cares NOTHING about anyone NOT named Trump, he does NOT want the optics of American troops coming home boxed under a flag; but until he stops being stupid and STARTS being tactical with the help of allies, he continues to risk America's lives, treasure and future, but he doesn't care as long as the money is flowing in for him.
One can't help but think that if the orange sadist had served in Vietnam, he couldn't possibly want this war. (Note: WAS he joking when he said that the Strait of Hormuz would soon be "ours?" I don't think so.)
He wasn't joking. He's become the mad king - nearly unlimited power and delusional.
I agree: utterly insane.
Maybe Trump thought that "Americans," or at least his reliable base, would be rah-rah over this war, or that they wouldn't notice how unprepared for it "we" were, or that at least it would distract them from the way Trump II has taken a sledgehammer to the economy -- but was war a big issue when Trump came down that famous escalator in 2015 and proceeded to wipe the floor with the Republican hopefuls in the "clown car"? Not that I remember.
Racism has been a big part of the Republican brand since Nixon's Southern Strategy. It enabled the Reagan administration to hoodwink its working- and middle-class supporters while its policies gutted unions and gifted the wealthy. A case could be made that Trump's full-page ad vilifying the Central Park 5 made him a contender in 1989, but his future base had been coalescing around Bernie Goetz since the end of 1984. With Trump II, will the loyal base finally realize how much it's cost them? Who knows? Watch this space.
As you mentioned, it's not that the war was only 6 weeks old then, and will be almost 6 months old soon. The point is that it's only gone on for that long _so far_.
The war in Iraq also was only 6 months old after the first 6 months.
After 6 weeks of the Iraq war, President Bush declared "Mission Accomplished".
After 9 months, Saddam Hussein was captured.
After Saddam Hussein was captured, the war went on another 8 years.
What Orange Blob misunderstands or doesn't understand would fill millions of pages.
Would it not just be more efficient to enumerate what he does understand? I'll start:
#1 how to use his position as POTUS from grift and corruption.
Of course, having a socio/psychopath pretending to be a president means there is only one way to look at war - in numbers. How morbidly creepy is it to determine a war's level of success by how few Americans have been killed ("DEAD"), with no mention or regard for the thousands of soldiers and civilians (and a girls' school) who have been effectively murdered by Donald Trump, Dear Leader?
It’s about young men and women putting their lives on the line for our country. Trump is so fucking disrespectful, like our troops are just pawns in his game vying for world dominance. It’s creepy!