#iran #trump #2020election
The chaos that often surrounds our current American administration has made itself evident several times, but none more so than the current diplomatic booby trap the Iranians have laid before the US and Europe. After the UK government, under direction of the US government, stopped and seized the Grace 1 cargo ship off the coast of Gibraltar in early July, tensions between Iran and the UK have raised to a boil after Iran returned the favor by seizing 2 of its oil tankers on Friday.
The current situation has already forced the UK, one of our closest allies, to choose Europe’s Maritime protection strategy over the offer from the US. Basically, Iran has managed to isolate the most powerful nation in the world from its closest ally. The list of possible reasons for our current state is long and will vary depending on the person you ask. However, all lists will include a common entry, lack of leadership. Whereas the US stood as a beacon of democracy and stability, even if not always sincere, it was there nonetheless.
With the current administration, one that prides itself in ratings rather than results, in re-tweets rather than actions, and in controversy rather than being progressive, this type of crisis were bound to arise. North Korea has continued its nuclear program, China has yet to turn around, even after the tariffs, the crisis at our southern border grows by the hour (and building a wall will not resolve the root of the issue), Russia has grown bolder, and after threatening Iran with an attack only to back down (something we should not have done in the first place), we have emboldened one of the bad actors of the middle east.
Iran has been able to do something no other nation had ever done, not even Russia, to isolate the US from the rest of the world and to make us look weak. I am not suggesting we resort to hostilities, that is what Iran wants us to do, I am only saying that we simply started a fight we didn’t need to start. We basically began a fight with the outcast of the party and there was no winning. If you fight them, you look like a bully (weak) and if you don’t, you look a like a coward (also weak). What do you do? As the most popular person you get everyone with you, through persuasive arguments, and as a group you impose your influence. This is diplomacy 101. Of course, diplomacy 101 didn’t take a boastful narcissist into account.
All along, Trump’s presidency was worrisome not only for the obvious disrespect to the office it represents (and few can argue that he’s not played his part to disrespect it), but for the long-term consequences it would produce. There is a famous saying “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair”. The US has spent many years building trust with its allies and the Trump presidency has destroyed it in 2. I only wonder how many years and how many more presidencies it will take to restore it… if ever.
