What President Trump Did…And Did Not Do, After Missile Attack

It looks like we aimed at Soleimani and hit him, and Iran aimed at the US, and missed. 

On purpose.

Putting it another way, the Tehran regime did what it had to do, but only what it could afford to do.

It HAD to show its own people some swagger, because the mullahs sit uneasy on the throne these days.

It COULD NOT AFFORD to kill Americans, because Sheriff Trump has demonstrated a quick trigger finger. The days of slowpokes like Obama and Kerry are over.

There was a lot of anticipation over the president’s remarks delivered Wednesday morning (MSNBC’s Lawrence “Stop the Hammering!” O’Donnell made up an explanation that he couldn’t give the talk last night because Iran had rendered him “speechless”).

Yeah, Trump speechless. Bet that happens all the time.

When he did speak from the White House “grand foyer” (or what we call at my house, the front door), the “news” was that we would not be retaliating militarily against Iran.

But, he accomplished something significant, and I wouldn’t want you to miss it.

He called out Iran’s forty years of rogue behavior, and the US/Allied tut-tutting of it. You have to call out evil, and put it on notice, to prevail over it.

Almost 37 years ago, President Ronald Reagan spoke before the National Association of Evangelicals in Florida. The speech featured one of the Gipper’s signature jokes (see below), but also these powerful words:

“Soviet leaders have openly and publicly declared that the only morality they recognize is that which will further their cause, which is world revolution

“Well, I think the refusal of many influential people to accept this elementary fact of Soviet doctrine illustrates an historical reluctance to see totalitarian powers for what they are. We saw this phenomenon in the 1930s. We see it too often today.

“This doesn’t mean we should isolate ourselves and refuse to seek an understanding with them. I intend to do everything I can to persuade them of our peaceful intent, to remind them that it was the West that refused to use its nuclear monopoly in the forties and fifties for territorial gain and which now pr-proposes 50 percent cut in strategic ballistic missiles… 

“At the same time, however, they must be made to understand: we will never compromise our principles and standards. We will never give away our freedom. We will never abandon our belief in God.  And we will never stop searching for a genuine peace, 

“Yes, let us pray for the salvation of all of those who live in that totalitarian darkness–pray they will discover the joy of knowing God. But until they do… they are the focus of evil in the modern world.”

It’s known as the “evil empire” speech. In reality, it was speaking aloud truth that had been silent too long.

President Trump did that today about Iran. It took many years to see the significance of Reagan’s words and actions.

Same may be true for this president.

 

(OK, now for the Reagan joke:

“An evangelical minister and a politician arrived at Heaven’s gate one day together. And St. Peter, after doing all the necessary formalities, took them in hand to show them where their quarters would be. And he took them to a small, single room with a bed, a chair, and a table and said this was for the clergyman. And the politician was a little worried about what might be in store for him. And he couldn’t believe it then when St. Peter stopped in front of a beautiful mansion with lovely grounds… many servants, and told him that these would be his quarters.

“And he couldn’t help but ask, he said, “But wait, how–there’s something wrong–how do I get this mansion while that good and holy man only gets a single room?” And St. Peter said, “You have to understand how things are up here. We’ve got thousands and thousands of clergy. You’re the first politician who ever made it.” )