THOMPSON: War or humanitarian aid? Trump chose war

I’ve been more than a casual observer of American politics – domestically and internationally – for more than 60 years. Historically, the American government has been mostly a slow-learner in solving problems and serving the best interests of its citizens and during this time.

The government’s actions are rich in irony…and incredible ineptitude…and not just lately. There’s enough gross incompetence, self-interest and – yes – sheer stupidity to fully paint both political parties…probably two coats.

It should surprise no one that those who cannot effectively solve most problems of citizens in their own country…would really suck at bringing about good outcomes in other countries, as well.

As an example, consider how badly almost every U.S. President has handled Iran. Trump, Reagan, Carter…miserable failures all…costing billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives. 

Carter suffered the irrevocable political embarrassment of 52 Americans being held hostage for 444 days after Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979, a debacle that led to his overwhelming defeat for re-election.

Reagan – who beat Carter in a landslide and served eight years as president – didn’t fare much better with Iran. The Iran-Contra affair was a huge political scandal for Reagan…involving two covert and illegal operations…selling weapons to Iran to secure the release of the 52 American hostages, and then using the profits to fund the Contra rebel group in Nicaragua. 

Most recently, Trump started a bogus war with Iran…mostly to divert attention from the too-hot-to-handle Epstein Files cover-up. The U.S. had an agreement forged under Obama that – among other things – ensured Iran would not ever have nuclear weapons.

Trump ripped up that agreement…started a war that killed hundreds of innocent Iranians…and closed the previously open Strait of Hormuz. The result has been much higher prices for gas and oil, fertilizers and groceries. This year, gas is costing every American an extra $100 a month…groceries are $300 more every month.

Inflation in America is now the highest in three years. But sadly, not just Americans are paying the price…American stupidity is costing Canadians and citizens of virtually every nation worldwide…hundreds of millions of dollars every day.

Trump’s war is 107 days old…but soon it will be easier to count months than days…and then perhaps years than months. Make no mistake – Trump’s arrogance notwithstanding – Iran will determine when this war ends. 

The facts I laid out here speak for themselves…but beg the question, why do so many senators, representatives and presidents that Americans elect seem to lose their common sense, nerve, ethics and empathy when they enter the District of Columbia?

If you want to hear gobbledegook…I mean sheer nonsense…ask some of these elected officials a question about how to solve a problem…domestically or internationally. I have done this. 

It is like talking with Buddy. Buddy is my dog…and he is very likeable…but he knows little beyond eating, pooping and peeing, sleeping and playing. I know this, because when I ask him a tough political question…he furrows his brow.

Let’s talk common sense for a moment. Would America be smarter to spend between $1 Billion and $2 Billion every day to fight a meaningless, largely un-winnable war with Iran…or one-tenth that amount daily on humanitarian aide to nations around the world?

Pretend that “Think”…that 30-second musical interlude from the gameshow “Jeopardy” is playing. Okay, the right answer is the latter one…spend $100 to $200 million on humanitarian aid every day.

The wrong answer is spending on an un-winnable war. Some good news…if you chose this answer: you’re as qualified as most Republican senators and representatives.

Of course, most elected officials swear: “It’s not that simple!” Of course it is. The truth is…unless one of the elected or self-proclaimed leaders of nine countries with nuclear weapons decides to end it all…wars are un-winnable unless you put boots on the ground.

Conventional bombs and missiles…from land and sea…cannot win a major war. Soldiers by the tens of thousands…maybe more…must fight within sight of each other. Soldiers – a lot of them – must die in any major war.

Most elected officials will tell you the money isn’t there to do that much good. But ten times the amount for war…they can find it.

Nobel-Prize-winning economists and other experts agree that the cost of the war with Iran to Americans…even if it stops this year…will exceed $1 Trillion…that’s Trillion. And, more people will die…unnecessarily.

Spend $73 Billion on humanitarian aid this year…and people live…and the process of rebuilding trust among nations worldwide starts. It’s called winning friends. It’s not that complicated…unless you make it so…unless you’re taking care of special interests.

Some people get very wealthy in every war. Those people – regardless of country – are never ordinary folks. They are wealthy, powerful people who influence policies…influence decisions that penalize great numbers of people and benefit themselves.

Donald Trump and Republican Senators and Representatives passed what they called the “Big Beautiful Bill…and is closer to “Big Ugly Law”…because it left more than 15 million people without healthcare…cut Medicare and Medicaid…and gave people earning $40,000 a year just $393 in lower taxes.

Meanwhile, those earning $1 million or more got tax cuts of $114 Billion in a single year. Social Security – which was going to run out of money in 2033…moved a year earlier…to 2032 because of the Big Beautiful Bill alone.

No, things aren’t all that complicated when it comes to governments spending money…wealthy people have a huge edge…the poor and what was once the Middle Class suffer. The problems society face are often complicated…but the funding isn’t.

Americans…the ones who fight and die in wars…who go without healthcare…who struggle with two or more jobs to make ends meet…suffer so an elite group of ultra-wealthy can prosper. If that’s democracy…and it is under Trump and Republicans…it’s failing miserably.

America is hated around the world more now than at any time in history. Seems the reasons are pretty clear…and pretty worthy of every bit of the disdain.