Letter to the editor: Trump hopes you won't notice his defeat

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 06.11.26

Donald Trump “lost the Iran War in March, and has spent months trying to delay that reality.” That’s the verdict of Robert Kagan in his Atlantic article, “Trump’s Endgame is Surrender.”

Kagan worked for Reagan’s Secretary of State and as John McCain’s foreign policy advisor. He cites Trump’s response to March 18, when Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars facility, the world’s largest natural gas field. Caught off-guard, Trump posted: “Israel, out of anger…violently lashed out” at “a major facility in Iran. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack,” adding, “Unfortunately, Iran did not know this.” Trump promised “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field.”

Iran launched missiles at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, source of 20% of the world’s liquefied natural gas and 14% of the world’s urea, which makes the fertilizer that grows your food. Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said Iran destroyed 17% of Qatar’s capacity: “For production to restart, first we need hostilities to cease. Repairs will take up to five years.”

Alarmed at the looming global economic catastrophe, Trump lifted sanctions on Iranian oil. Since then, CNN notes, Trump has been “remarkably hesitant” to resume hostilities, making it “abundantly clear to everyone, including Iran, that he was desperate for a deal.” No wonder — Iran’s ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent your gasoline cost skyrocketing 50%.

Trump insists, “They are begging to make a deal. Not me. They’re begging to make it.” Trump claims Iran is “in a ‘State of Collapse,’ ” and “negotiating on fumes.” Still, Hormuz remains closed and Trump cannot reopen it.

Kagan says, “Trump hopes he can slip away without Americans noticing the magnitude of this defeat.” Trump’s transparent denials suggest Kagan is right.

“I don’t care if they’re over, honestly. I really don’t care. I couldn’t care less,” Trump said about peace talks. “Frankly, I thought they started to get very boring.”

Larry Widman

Leland