Lindsey Graham Is Out of Control
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Lindsey Graham is enthusiastically advocating for US military intervention in Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Lebanon.
- ❖Graham influences Donald Trump by appealing to the former president's business interests, suggesting military actions yield financial gains (e.g., minerals, oil).
- ❖Graham's rhetoric includes calls to 'blow the hell out of these people' and 'clean out the bad guys,' alarming even some within the Republican party.
- ❖He dismisses concerns about the negative consequences of regime change, calling it an 'insulting idea' that things could get worse in Iran.
- ❖Graham is expanding his interventionist targets, calling for vengeance against Hezbollah in Lebanon for a 1983 attack and threatening Saudi Arabia for not joining the fight against Iran.
Insights
1Graham's Interventionist Zeal and Influence on Trump
Lindsey Graham is described as 'having the time of his life' pushing for military interventions in multiple countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, and Lebanon. The host, Will Salatin, argues that Graham manipulates Donald Trump by appealing to Trump's business-oriented mindset, suggesting that military interventions will lead to financial gains from resources like minerals or oil.
Graham told Trump that keeping troops in Afghanistan would secure valuable minerals (), that intervention in Syria would secure oil (), and that Venezuela offered oil ().
2Dismissal of Post-Intervention Consequences
Graham consistently dismisses concerns about the potential negative outcomes or instability following regime change. He frames the idea that things could get worse after intervention as 'insulting' to the people of the targeted countries, despite historical evidence to the contrary and the hosts' concerns about the lack of a tidy outcome.
Graham stated that it's an 'insulting idea' to suggest things could get worse in Iran after intervention () and that 'peace brings prosperity' after toppling regimes ().
3Expanding Targets and Threatening Allies
Beyond current conflicts, Graham actively advocates for new military engagements, specifically calling for the US to join Israel in attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon to 'avenge' a 1983 Marine barracks bombing. He also publicly admonished and threatened Saudi Arabia for not fully participating in the military effort against Iran, indicating a willingness to challenge US allies.
Graham stated, 'Cuba is next' () and called on Trump to 'join Israel to attack Hezbollah, avenge the Marines' for a 1983 attack (). He also tweeted, 'Why should America do a defense agreement with a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is unwilling to join a fight of mutual interest?' ().
Lessons
- Monitor Lindsey Graham's public statements and influence on foreign policy, as his hawkish views appear to be a significant driver of potential US military actions.
- Analyze the rhetoric used to justify military interventions, particularly how economic incentives are framed to appeal to political leaders.
- Be aware of the historical context and potential long-term consequences of regime change operations, as advocated by figures like Graham, given past failures in similar situations.
Quotes
"We're going to blow the hell out of these people. This regime is in a death row now. It is going to be on its knees. It's going to fall. And when it falls, we're going to have peace like no other time. We're gonna have prosperity unlike anyone could ever imagine. Peace brings prosperity. You can't do it by talking."
"I have known Lindsey Graham since I was a child. I am imploring anyone who will listen in the Trump administration to stop sending this man out as a surrogate. He is scaring people and doing damage to whatever message you're trying to sell to the American public about the Iran war."
"I'm in Miami. You see this hat? Free Cuba. Stay tuned. The liberation of Cuba is upon us. It's just a matter of time now. You see this hat? Make Iran great. President Trump said the only way to make Iran great is for the people to take over. We're marching through the world. We're cleaning out the bad guys."
"Ronald Reagan, who I admire and love, withdrew and never did anything about it. So, I'm calling on President Trump today, join Israel to attack Hezbollah, avenge the Marines."
Q&A
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