Peloni: Did Trump really abandon the Iranian protestors after urging them into the streets where thousands were gunned down by the Mullahs? I don’t believe this is likely. Rather, I agree with the summation of this article, namely that a limited but significant strike raised against Iran will be the most likely outcome in Iran. I don’t think Trump is looking for regime change, and I don’t think his attack will be the deciding factor in what successes might be made by the protests. Time will tell of course.
Screengrab via X
The lead headline on The New York Times website as of 11 p.m. Israel time said, “Israel and Arab Nations Urge Trump to Postpone Attack on Iran.”
“Israel’s leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has asked President Trump to postpone any attack on Iran, a senior U.S. official said Thursday,” the Times reported.
“Arab nations in the region were already urging Mr. Trump not to attack Iran, an idea he has been discussing since early this month as the government there cracked down on protests engulfing the country. Israeli and Arab officials fear Iran would retaliate by striking their countries.”
All available evidence suggests a massive U.S. military strike on Iran was coming in the wee hours of Thursday morning, Mideast time (Wednesday evening U.S. time).
When it didn’t actually happen, the so-called “mainstream media” and social media erupted with reports that Trump had “lost his nerve.”
“Gotten cold feet.”
“Decided he couldn’t win.”
And — my favorite — “Netanyahu urged him not to attack Iran.”
“Don’t do it.”
“Postpone.”
“We’re scared of retaliation.”
The New York Times was leading the pack with this unsourced “leak” — and almost every media outlet in the world has followed their lead.
DON’T BUY THE MEDIA’S NONSENSE
Could it be true?
Anything is possible.
But I don’t buy it – here’s why.
First, consider the source.
Are we really supposed to believe the NYT, of all publications, that it was Netanyahu – of all people – who urged Trump not to attack Iran?
Are we really supposed to believe that Bibi insiders – of all people – leaked this to the newspaper Netanyahu hates most?
Are we likewise really to believe that moderate Arab leaders – who have long been terrified of the Iranian regime and the billions upon billions that Tehran has spent to build genocidal nuclear weapons, devastating ballistic missiles, and massively destabilizing terror networks – are begging Trump to wave off the Pentagon and “give peace a chance”?
Second, consider the logic.
Isn’t it more likely that we’re watching a sophisticated deception operation designed to confuse and deceive the Iranian regime?
Isn’t it more likely that the U.S. attack is “locked and loaded” and coming soon?
Isn’t Netanyahu the leader who has done the most to persuade the world to take decisive action to neutralize the threats posed by the Iranian regime once and for all – lest we have to watch helplessly as Tehran kills again and again and again all over the Middle East and all over the globe?
Didn’t Netanyahu just spend a week at Mar-a-Lago synchronizing U.S.-Israel strategy on Iran?
And isn’t it more likely that the moderate Arab leaders who most fear the mullahs and ayatollahs in Iran are privately urging Trump to attack, while publicly distancing themselves from any such operation in the hopes that Iran won’t retaliate against their cities, oil fields, refineries, and shipping ports?
Third, consider the facts.
• President Trump gave his word to the Iranian people that if their evil regime started killing the protesters, “America will come to the rescue.” The mullahs refused to listen. Thousands – maybe tens of thousands – of Iranians are now dead. Neither the mullahs in Iran nor the media believed Trump last spring when he warned Tehran to make a deal or face the wrath of American and Israeli military strikes. Neither Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro nor the media believed Trump’s warnings last fall. In both cases, Trump kept his word.
• All Israeli military forces are on high alert, and soldiers are being told their leave and weekends at home are being canceled.
• A U.S. carrier strike group has been ordered to the Middle East.
• “Several countries have put out warnings for their citizens to leave Iran, including the UK, India, Italy, Spain, and Poland,” The Times of Israel reported on Thursday. “Last week, Australia told its citizens to leave the country ‘as soon as possible’ due to the ‘volatile’ security situation.”
• The U.S. is issuing security warnings to American citizens in Israel to get prepared for sudden and unexpected conflict. “Given ongoing regional tensions, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem continues to reiterate standard advice to its personnel and all U.S. citizens in Israel to exercise good personal security and preparedness practices,” the American Embassy in Jerusalem posted on its website on Thursday. “We encourage all travelers to review our most recent Security Alerts, review any travel plans in case of disruptions, and make appropriate decisions for themselves and their families. Crises can happen unexpectedly while traveling or living abroad, and a good plan helps you think through potential scenarios and determine in advance the best course of action.”
• Some international airlines are canceling flights in and out of Israel and the region – others are limiting the number of flights they are operating in the region.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who is both very close to Trump and a hawk when it comes to Iran, says press reports claiming Trump is backing down are nonsense. “All the headlines like these are examples of reporting that are beyond inaccurate,” wrote Graham on ? on Thursday. “The circumstances around the necessary, decisive action to be taken against the evil Iranian regime have nothing to do with President Trump’s will or determination. Nothing could be further from the truth. Quite the opposite. Stay tuned.”
THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS
So, what will happen next?
I see three possible scenarios.
First, Trump chickens out, just as the media is saying. Unlikely, but always possible.
Second, Trump orders a large but ultimately limited strike to punish – but not topple – the Iranian regime for slaughtering thousands – maybe tens of thousands – of protesters. This is a likely option.
Third, Trump goes all in and orders massive and continuous military attacks to truly decapitate the Iranian leadership and severely damage – if not fully destroy – the leadership and offensive capabilities of Iran’s military, paramilitary, intelligence, and police/security forces in order to effect regime change. This is the most risky, most expensive, and most volatile option.
Done right, it would be the biggest geopolitical victory of the 21st century and the greatest Trump accomplishment of his career.
Done wrong, it could be disastrous.
I don’t pretend to know which option Trump will choose.
But I urge all Christians to pray without ceasing for the President – for the people of Iran – and for the peace of Jerusalem.
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