COMMENTARY
Tucker Carlson
4/21
If Someone Asks You to Jump off a Bridge, They Are Not Your Friend
Last week’s revelation that Donald Trump rejected Israel’s Iran attack plan, which very plausibly could have entangled the U.S. in yet another forever war, reemphasized what most honest observers already knew: the conflict in the Middle East has nothing to offer America. It could only lead to peril.
Even if you think Washington bombing Tehran would serve a greater global good, it’s impossible to deny that reality. A war with the Iranians would kill thousands of service members, cost fortunes of taxpayer dollars, and like this century’s other Middle Eastern interventions, do nothing to advance American interests.
But Israel wants it anyway. Badly. And its leaders are completely undeterred by the White House’s rejection.
According to a weekend Reuters report, the Israelis are still eyeing an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Like a child who keeps asking mom for dessert after being told no, or a hopeless romantic who refuses to accept that his crush doesn’t want to go out with him, they just won’t give it up.
“Israeli officials now believe that their military could instead launch a limited strike on Iran that would require less U.S. support,” the article reads.
Got that? Less U.S. support. Not none. The premise of America’s might being behind the assault would be entirely unchanged.
What would this look like? The piece goes on:
“While the more limited military strike Israel is considering would require less direct assistance - particularly in the form of U.S. bombers dropping bunker-busting munitions that can reach deeply buried facilities - Israel would still need a promise from Washington that it would help Israel defend itself if attacked by Tehran in the aftermath.”
Again, less direct assistance. Not none.
From Israel’s perspective, this deal is great. They would get to execute an act of war against a country they’ve long salivated over destroying, then wouldn’t have to defend themselves against the counterpunch. Their obedient dogs in Washington would take care of that for them.
But what about you, Mr. and Mrs. America? What would you get out of this? A foreign country starts a war, then you have to pay for it and maybe even die fighting in it. Would the conflict make your life better? Would it strengthen your country? Would it do a single thing to help the United States? No, no, and no. Of course not. And how dare you even ask.
What would we think if this exact story revolved around different players? Say, if the South Koreans demanded the U.S. sponsor an unprompted strike on Pyongyang? There would likely be two main reactions.
First, “What are they crazy?” And yes, they would be. But that wouldn’t be the half of it.
The uncomfortable yet obvious conclusion would be that South Korea is an enemy of the United States. No “special ally” would pick a fight it can’t handle then lobby Washington to send Americans to thanklessly die cleaning up the mess. That’s not what friends do. Except Netanyahu.
The president was right to put the bloodthirsty prime minister’s first proposal in its place. He’ll likely have to keep doing so over and over again. Netanyahu won’t relent, and Trump shouldn’t either. Americans cast their ballots for him as a rejection of the neocon agenda. His ability to stave it off now will determine if they made the right choice.
