Donald Trump and maga Republicans are enabling failed incompetent foriegn policy, They have fallen in Iran and cannot get up!

Trump’s extended ceasefire shows his desperation to exit his failed and illegal Iran war — but he doesn’t know how. Americans are endangered by Trump's inability to conduct a foreign policy that goes beyond threats and military force. Echo opinion published in the Philadelphia Inquirer by Trudy Rubin.

In 1966, the famous American psychologist Abraham Maslow came up with a description of a mental bias that became known as “Maslow’s hammer.”  “If the only tool you have is a hammer, I suppose it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail,” Maslow contended. Or, as some have reworded his theorem: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

This is a good diagnosis for how Donald Trump has trapped us all in his unnecessary and illegal war with Tehran. A war from which he can’t find a good exit.

It also explains why he indefinitely extended an April 21, ceasefire deadline with Iran, announced on Tuesday evening, even though he’d just threatened to resume bombing if there was no nuclear deal by then.  (Like Douglas Shields from Pittsburg wrote in a letter to the New York Times: "seen more stable direction from a weather vane — and at least it knows which way the wind is blowing. At this point, the only consistent policy is inconsistency, and even that seems subject to revision.") 

As Maslow would no doubt have diagnosed, Trump is a bully whose modus operandi is to browbeat, insult, and threaten opponents and allies (especially those who respond with timidity). He is impatient and seeks quick hits and big headlines.

Overseas, the military hammer has become his preferred tactic so long as the strike is quick, as in Venezuela and the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.

But, when an adversary is tougher and the fight more complex, with a strategy that outflanks his erratic tactics, POTUS is flummoxed. The illegal Iran war has laid bare how Trump’s strategic and cognitive weaknesses endanger Americans, as well as the entire world.

“Trump did not know what he was getting into,” I was told by Ryan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait, Syria, and Lebanon, and one of the smartest Mideast analysts in the field. “This is the first real foreign policy crisis he has faced, and he has no idea what he is doing. It’s scary 😱😰😧.”

POTUS swallowed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pitch that Iran’s Islamic regime could quickly be toppled by U.S.-Israeli bombing and replaced by more malleable secular leaders. 

CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) Director John Ratcliffe called such regime-change scenarios “farcical,” and Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled them “bullshit,” according to a New York Times investigation. But given his lack of knowledge about Iran and his conviction that his instincts trump expertise, the president picked up his military hammer.

Trump underestimated Iranian leaders’ tolerance for pain and determination to salvage their Islamic republic (even though their numbers were decimated and their country’s economy was in shambles).

But, most importantly, said Crocker, Trump failed to foresee (even though he was warned) that the Iranians had a critical card to play: the closure of the Strait of Hormuz through which about 20% of the world’s energy resources flow. Iran had never tried to close the strait before, but U.S. and Israeli bombs convinced its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that this was a necessary option.

“Iran now knows they can close the strait,” Crocker said. “Every day that the strait is closed adds to the economic pain of the U.S., Europe, and Asia. This has terrible consequences globally. They have turned the Strait of Hormuz into the Strait of Iran.”

Even Trump, with his unfettered verbosity, has referred to it by that name.

Last week, Iran offered to reopen the strait, but made clear its military would still control traffic in and out and charge tolls to passing tankers. Unsatisfied with this unpleasant option, Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade Iranian ports so its oil exports were also halted.

But, Iran’s current leaders are betting, probably correctly, that they can withstand that pain longer than Trump can, with his eye on rising gas prices and midterm elections. Tehran says it won’t return to talks until the U.S. blockade is lifted.

Faced with this standoff, and the choice whether to resume bombing or extend the ceasefire deadline again,👀 Trump blinked.

Let me be clear, I am glad he backed down. But it revealed his desperation to exit the mess he has made.

“Iran has won the first round,” Crocker contended. “This is not going well.”

Trump’s problem is that he now has only bad options to reopen the strait.



Some right-wing hawks are advocating that he pick up the hammer. Fox News’ Hugh Hewitt actually recommended Trump go “full Sherman,” recalling the famed Civil War general’s scorched-earth march to Atlanta, and proposing POTUS destroy all of Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure.

Not only would this be a war crime affecting civilians and a further blow to global energy prices, but it would be unlikely to move the survival-intent hard-line IRGC, which now appears to be running the show.

Moreover, the worst possible option — which would be totally insane — would be for Trump to launch a land war in Iran to try for real “regime change.”

Iran was not an immediate threat to the United States before Trump started this war, and even he knows that sinking into such a bloody quagmire would probably set him on the path to bipartisan impeachment.

The only way out, said Crocker, is to try to swap a simultaneous end to the U.S. blockade against Iran’s ports for a full Iranian opening of the strait. Ideally, this would mean no IRGC control of shipping or tolls on vessels entering or leaving.

“This will be harder for Trump to do now, when he is weaker,” Crocker said. Especially when the Iranians know he is eager for an offramp, after he extended the deadline.

“But it is pretty apparent to everyone, except Donald Trump,” Crocker added, “that he’s not going to bomb Iran out of anything. The only way he can leave [the war] and save face is to get back to the status quo ante on the Strait of Hormuz.”

As for a return to talks on eliminating Iran’s nuclear program, Crocker believes that “at some point we will go back to the table.” However, he noted, the nuclear deal negotiated by President Barack Obama — which would have halted Iran’s nuclear program for 15 years had Trump not withdrawn from it — took two years to complete.

For future negotiations to have a chance, Trump would have to abandon his “I win, you lose” approach to diplomacy. He would finally have to assemble and listen to an expert team instead of sending his ill-informed real estate buddy and son-in-law.

Hope springs eternal, but this hope requires a suspension of disbelief.

True, Trump is desperate to end his misbegotten Iran venture, but he seems to believe he is winning. On Truth (Fake❗ ) Social, he was posting New York Times clips from 2004, citing the top ratings of “The Last Season of My Apprentice Juggernaut.” In other words, how can such a winner be wrong❓

The best we can hope for is that fear of higher gas prices will keep Trump’s hammer in abeyance — and that he will find a way to negotiate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, declare a fake victory, and bring the troops home.

Perhaps after this Iran debacle, the U.S. public will grasp the danger of leaving a one-tool 🔨president in charge of foreign policy and the nuclear button when they vote in November — and choose legislators who are willing and able to rein him in.

ISIS and Middle East terrorism are outcomes of Iraqi Freedom - a timeline of failure

Republicans are like spectators at a Medieval joust, waiting until the death match in the Middle East.

As Americans are blindsided by the eruption of splinter Al Qaeda groups now terrorizing the world, the fact is, these radical Islam zealots are the result of the failed Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

This is a timeline where the string of events resulting from the failed invasion of Iraq are succinctly described.

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn Fast Facts

By CNN Library

updated 5:32 PM EDT, Wed September 3, 2014

(CNN) -- Here's a look at what you need to know about the Iraq War which was known as Operation Iraqi Freedom until September 2010, when it was renamed Operation New Dawn.

Timeline:
February 5, 2003 - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell makes the case to the United Nations that Iraqi President Saddam Husseinposes an imminent threat.

February 14, 2003 - U.N. Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix reports to the U.N. Security Council that his team has found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

March 17, 2003 - President George W. Bush issues an ultimatum to President Hussein and his family - leave Iraq within 48 hours or face military action.

March 19, 2003 (10:15 p.m. EST) - President Bush announces U.S. and coalition forces have begun military action against Iraq.

March 20, 2003 - President Hussein speaks on Iraqi TV, calling the coalition's attacks "shameful crimes against Iraq and humanity."

March 23, 2003 - Members of the 507th Maintenance Company are ambushed and captured outside Nasiriyah, Iraq.

April 1, 2003 - Pfc. Jessica Lynch is rescued from a hospital by U.S. forces.

April 9, 2003 - Coalition forces take Baghdad. A large statue of Saddam Hussein is toppled down in Firdos Square. The White House declares "the regime is gone."

April 13, 2003 - Seven U.S. prisoners of war are rescued by U.S. troops.

May 1, 2003 - Speaking on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, President Bush declares "major combat operations" over, although some fighting continues.

May 22, 2003 - The United Nations Security Council approves a resolution acknowledging the U.S. and Great Britain's right to occupy Iraq.

July 22, 2003 - Saddam Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, are killed by U.S. forces.

December 13, 2003 - Saddam Hussein is captured in a "spider hole" in Tikrit. This is not confirmed until December 14 by the U.S. Defense Dept.

June 28, 2004 - The handover of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government takes place two days before the June 30 deadline previously announced by the U.S.-led coalition.

June 30, 2004 - The coalition turns over legal control of Saddam Hussein and 11 other former top Iraqi officials to the interim Iraqi government. The United States retains physical custody of the men.

July 1, 2004 - Saddam Hussein makes his first appearance in court. A judge charges Hussein with a variety of crimes, including the invasion of Kuwait and the gassing of the Kurds.

August 2004 - U.S. and Iraqi forces battle insurgents in Najaf who are followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

September 6, 2004 - The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq reaches 1,000.

November 2004 - U.S. and Iraqi forces battle insurgents in Falluja. About 2,000 insurgents are killed. On November 14, Falluja is declared to be liberated.

October 25, 2005 - The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq reaches 2,000.

November 19, 2005 - At least 24 Iraqi civilians, including women and children, are killed in Haditha, Iraq. Suspicion falls on Marines from Kilo Company of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Eight U.S. Marines faced charges in the deaths, but only one is convicted of a crime, that of negligent dereliction of duty.

November 5, 2006 - The Iraqi High Tribunal reaches a verdict in the 1982 Dujail massacre case. Saddam Hussein is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging, pending appeal.

December 30, 2006 - Saddam Hussein is hanged a few minutes after 6 a.m. Baghdad time (10 p.m. EST).

December 30, 2006 - The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq reaches 3,000.

January 10, 2007 - A troop surge begins, eventually increasing U.S. troop levels to more than 150,000.

September 3, 2007 - Basra is turned over to local authorities after British troops withdraw from their last military base in Iraq to an airport outside the city.

March 22, 2008 - The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq reaches 4,000.

July 10, 2008 - Gen. David Petraeus is confirmed by U.S. Senate as commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). General Ray Odierno succeeds Petraeus as Multinational Forces commander in Iraq.

July 16, 2008 - The surge officially ends, and troop levels are reduced.

December 4, 2008 - The Iraqi Presidential Council approves a security agreement that paves the way for the United States to withdraw completely from Iraq by 2011.

January 1, 2009 - The U.S. military hands over control of Baghdad's Green Zone to Iraqi authorities.

February 27, 2009 - President Barack Obama announces a date for the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq: August 31, 2010.

June 30, 2009 - U.S. troops pull back from Iraqi cities and towns and Iraqi troops take over the responsibility for security operations. However, U.S. troops remain in the country to continue combat operations and patrols in rural areas.

August 19, 2010 - The last U.S. combat brigade leaves Iraq. 52,000 U.S. troops remain in the country.

September 1, 2010 - Operation Iraqi Freedom is renamed Operation New Dawn to reflect the reduced role U.S. troops will play in securing the country.

May 22, 2011 - The last British military forces in Iraq, 81 Royal Navy sailors patrolling in the Persian Gulf, withdraw from the country. 179 British troops died during the country's eight-year mission in Iraq.

October 17, 2011 - A senior U.S. military official tells CNN that the United States and Iraq have been unable to come to agreement regarding legal immunity for U.S. troops who would remain in Iraq after the end of the year, effectively ending discussion of maintaining an American force presence after the end of 2011. (Americans need to know how this decision was essential if the US military was to stay in Iraq. It was totally unacceptable for our troops to remain in the country without the legal immunity).

October 21, 2011 - President Barack Obama announces that virtually all U.S. troops will come home from Iraq by the end of the year. According to a U.S. official, about 150 of the 39,000 troops currently in Iraq will remain to assist in arms sales. The rest will be out of Iraq by December 31.

December 2, 2011 - The last U.S. troops to occupy Camp Victory leave as the Iraqi government assumes control of the complex.

December 15, 2011 - American troops lower the flag of command that flies over Baghdad officially ending the U.S. military mission in Iraq.

December 18, 2011 - The last U.S. troops in Iraq cross the border into Kuwait.

Tragically, when US troops exited Iraq, the void created a leadership vacuum. Like a destructive tornado, the situation became a funnel cloud of destruction as Iran's President Maliki became a tyrant whose oppression of Sunni Muslims caused the growth of splinter terrorist groups. Unfortunately, the splinter groups used money obtained from the ransom of Western hostages to obtain US military equipment left behind by our failed Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now, those same weapons, paid for by US taxpayers, are being used to terrorize the entire Middle East.

Regardless of how the evil ISIS and another Khorazan Group have grown to become, the fact is, their momentum's are correlated with the failed leadership following Operation Iraqi Freedom. This failed leadership could have been prevented if the US had never invaded Iraq, in the first place. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) didn't exist, therefore, the premise for the invasion was non-existent.

It's time Republicans are reminded again about why America is re-engaged in a Middle Eastern war. This current anti-ISIS coalition is the third time since 1990 that we're involved in war, beginning when the Desert Storm coalition, in response to the invasion of Kuwait by the now executed Saddam Hussein.

Therefore, Republicans who are stoically watching from the deadly jousting bleachers, waiting to see what's to become of the daunting US involvement in the Middle East, should evaluate and take responsibility for their complicity in these incendiary catastrophes.