Trumps crime and punishment
Abdul Gaffar choudhury
President Donald Trump is a vain man. His many critics said this when he first entered into the White House. Since then it has been proved several times. For example, in the crisis with North Korea, we have seen how his boasting of punishing Pyongyang was proved a farce and his real character was exposed. He is not a man of war, but knows how to retreat from a war situation and boast of winning that war. The recent killing of the Iranian General Qasem Soleimani perhaps served his own personal purpose. An impeachment order is now hanging over his head like a sword. At the same time a presidential election is awaiting him next November. By killing a popular Iranian general he has made himself a hero in the eyes of the white voters in America and expects that with this crime he will avoid his impeachment and win the presidency. But the whole world is afraid that his irresponsible mad adventure may spark another world war. Until now that did not happen. To take reprisal Iran bombed the most fortified American military base in Baghdad. Iran claimed that 80 American military men were killed. But America remained silent over the Iranian claim and damage that this attack caused.
Some American newspapers commented after the killing of the Iranian general that Iran would not dare to take revenge because they are weak. But we know that in Korean and Vietnam wars America was much more powerful than them and possessed nuclear power. Ignoring international law they devastated Vietnam with vicious Napalm attack. Still America had to face defeat in both Korea and Vietnam. In the Korean War the-then president of America Truman threatened China and Korea that he would use atomic bomb against them. This Truman ordered the attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan during the end of the Second World War. In the Korean War his threat did not work. American might collapsed and their mighty General McArthur retreated quickly from the war field to his headquarter in Tokyo. He lost the job. So the America of Trump maybe more powerful but in the face of the determined Iranian people America cannot win this war.
American attack on Iran did not succeed on the face of Iranian determination to resist American aggression and it was demonstrated in the Generals funeral in Iran where millions of Iranians assembled and shouted Death to America. The American medias comment that a weak Iran would not dare retaliate against America proved untrue. Within four days of General Soleimanis death Iran struck against the American base in Baghdad. The Iranian claim about the death toll of the American military men might be exaggerated, which is a common practice in war. But America remained totally silent only saying that there was no casualty. We have seen this tactics in the Second World War. In the first phase of this war Britain was facing defeat heavily. After invading almost the entire Europe, including France the German soldiers were waiting to cross the English Channel. In the face of defeat after defeat, the British media took a clever policy. They described these defeats as successful retreat. The British forces were totally destroyed in the Dunkirk war but the British papers reported, Our brave soldiers have successfully retreated from Dunkirk.
In the present Korea and Iranian crisis Trump adopted this policy that in the face of defeat or retreat he loudly shouts Victory, victory. After Iran bombed the American fortress in Baghdad, Trump said that he will not attack Iran again because he has won the war. Similarly when notorious George Bush was the president of America he declared that America won the Gulf war, which was not true. Now everyone knows that there was no victory of the western powers in Iraq and the war continued. Now in the face of the Iranian reprisal Trump could not say, I would keep my words which means he would again attack Iran. Instead he said, he wants peace because he has won the war. Very soon his lie will be exposed and the people of the world would know that Trump has no courage to plunge America into a war because whatever its military might, there is no record that America has won any war in the last or the present century. Trump and Pentagon also know that American economy cannot be sustained by prolonging a war with Iran, which may bring another Vietnam defeat for them.
Yet the skirmishes between America and Iraq will continue. In front of the tens of thousands people assembled in the funeral of the dead general, Irans supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei already declared that missile attacks on the two USA bases in Iraq was not enough. He said, These strikes were only a slap in the face for America. But there will be more reprisals. It was more important for the USA troops to leave the region. Khameneis threat worked to some extent. The part of the USA coalition in Baghdad, Canada decided to leave Baghdad. America is also considering to shift their bases from Baghdad. A London newspaper reported that there is continued buzz of helicopters flying from the bases with the members of the allied forces. Even the Americans are leaving Iraq. The Iraq government who previously requested America to stay in Iraq to maintain peace and stability is now asking them to leave the Iraqi soil. Even British and French government are reluctant to get involved and already London ordered the British people to leave Iraq. America had to alert their bases around the world to take precaution against a possible Iranian attack. If there is a victory in this conflict then isnt it for Iran? But the boastful American president Trump is shouting Victory and victory like Don Quixote of the 21st century.
The Western observers also agree the attack on a prominent Iranian General causing death is no ordinary provocation but it is actually declaring a war against Iran. Iran proved they would not remain inactive against this declaration. But they will not step in a trap of war either. They are now free to have revenge attack on American ally in the Middle-east, Saudi Arab and Israel. The power of the house of Saud is now in decline. After the murder of journalist Khashoggi the Saudi monarchy is now in a disarray. They are accused of war crime in Yemen.
Throughout Middle East even in the Muslim world at large, Saudis good days are numbered. On the other hand in Israel war mongering Netanyahu is still a threat for the Arab states in the Middle-east but they fear Iran. Netanyahu is no more a popular figure In Israel and in the face of the continued Iranian influence and power, Netanyahu is asking help from America to survive.
Though Iranian economy is weakened by American sanction and Trumps further sanction might weaken it more, the Iranian people behind the present government have united. Peoples unity is stronger than any weapon. Even a devastated economy did not weaken the Vietnamese resistance to America and they became victorious ultimately. This military attack and killing of a general will make the resolve of the Iranian people stronger to resist America. History will record who will win the final war-Trump or Khamenei. But present indications are the Middle-east will make another grave yard of yet another empire. In 1956 by starting Suez war British Prime Minister Anthony Eden brought his own down fall and made the graveyard of the British Empire. Perhaps America will follow suit and the day is not far away.
London, Thursday 9 January, 2020
