Trump’s War Of Arrogance And Corruption | Mehdi Hasan | TMR
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The current war is unpopular from its inception, unlike the Iraq War, with only 6% approval among Democrats.
- ❖Trump's administration bypassed Congress and the UN, demonstrating a lack of due process and an alarming ignorance of Middle Eastern realities.
- ❖Jared Kushner's unelected influence and financial ties to Saudi and Israeli interests are highlighted as potential drivers of the war.
- ❖The administration is accused of waging a 'war on reality' by redefining terms and ignoring facts.
- ❖Jonathan Greenblatt and other Jewish communal leaders are criticized for conflating Judaism with Zionism, which is seen as harmful and defying even the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
- ❖Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are seen as beholden to donors, preventing them from taking a strong anti-war stance despite their constituents' views.
- ❖Defense Secretary Peter Hexath's call for a pro-administration billionaire to take over CNN is cited as evidence of media manipulation attempts.
- ❖The hosts characterize Trump and Hexath as 'childish warmongers' whose instability poses a greater threat than previous administrations.
Insights
1Unprecedented Unpopularity of the War
The current war is uniquely unpopular, reaching levels of public disapproval typically seen years into conflicts like the Iraq War. A Zateo/Drop Site poll found only 6% of Democrats approve of the war, indicating a significant disconnect between public sentiment and political action.
The war is 'already as unpopular as the Iraq war I think ever was' (). '52% of Americans think that Epstein was one of the reasons Trump went to war' (). 'The approval rating for this war with Democrats is 6%' ().
2Administrative Ignorance and Lack of Due Process
Unlike previous administrations, Trump's bypassed traditional diplomatic and legislative processes, launching the war without UN or Congressional authorization. This decision-making was compounded by a profound ignorance of regional complexities, such as the Strait of Hormuz or the distinction between Khomeini and Khamenei.
Bush and Cheney 'did go to Congress... and get Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton... to vote for authorization of force. That is not what this administration does' (). 'They had no idea that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz' ().
3Corruption and Personal Agendas Driving Foreign Policy
The war is framed as being driven by political corruption and personal interests, particularly the influence of unelected figures like Jared Kushner, who has financial ties to Saudi and Israeli enterprises. This suggests decisions are not based on American interests but on private gain or distraction.
Donald Trump is 'loudly telling everyone Jared Kushner told me to invade Iran' (). Kushner 'takes money from the Saudis who invests in Israeli enterprises' ().
4Conflation of Judaism and Zionism by Media Figures
Jonathan Greenblatt of the ADL is heavily criticized for conflating Jewish people with the state of Israel and Zionism. This conflation is seen as counterproductive, muddying the waters, and potentially fueling antisemitism by making all Jews accountable for Israeli government actions, even defying the IHRA definition of antisemitism that Greenblatt often promotes.
Greenblatt 'conflates Jews with Israel immediately' (). 'It is not helpful... for Jonathan Greenblatt and other leaders of Jewish communal organizations saying no no no no we're all the same we're all Zionists' (). 'Even that definition [IHRA], which Greenblat likes, says you cannot conflate Jews with Israel' ().
5Democratic Leadership's Failure to Oppose the War
Despite overwhelming anti-war sentiment among their constituents (6% Democratic approval), Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are criticized for their reluctance to unequivocally oppose the war. Their inaction is attributed to their reliance on pro-Israel donors and special interests, rather than representing public opinion.
Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries 'have been dragged' to take any decent positions (). Schumer 'was worried about pro-Israel donors' (). Schumer 'has a long record as a hawk on Iraq and Iran' ().
6The Danger of 'Childish Warmongers'
The current administration, particularly figures like Trump and Defense Secretary Peter Hexath, are characterized as 'childish warmongers' who are thin-skinned and unstable. This is seen as a greater danger than previous 'grown-up warmongers' like Bush and Cheney, as their impulsiveness could lead to catastrophic escalation based on perceived disrespect.
We have 'childish warmongers, the kind of people who will nuke the place if they think they've been disrespected enough' (). Hexath said 'No quarter, no mercy,' which is a war crime ().
Bottom Line
The Defense Secretary publicly called for a specific billionaire to take over a major news network (CNN) to align its coverage with the administration's agenda.
This reveals a blatant disregard for media independence and democratic norms, suggesting a desire for state-controlled media and undermining public trust in news organizations.
This statement could be used as evidence in arguments against media consolidation or for stronger regulations protecting journalistic integrity from political interference.
Lessons
- Scrutinize media narratives, especially those that conflate religious identity with political actions, to avoid inadvertently spreading harmful stereotypes.
- Demand greater transparency from political leaders regarding their motivations and financial ties, particularly concerning foreign policy decisions.
- Engage with local and national representatives to express anti-war sentiments, as current Democratic leadership appears disconnected from their constituents' views on this issue.
Notable Moments
Defense Secretary Peter Hexath openly states on air that 'David Ellison cannot take over CNN fast enough' to ensure pro-administration coverage.
This moment starkly illustrates the administration's desire for media control and its willingness to publicly advocate for a billionaire to transform a major news network into a propaganda outlet, highlighting a threat to journalistic independence.
Quotes
"This war is already as unpopular as the Iraq war I think ever was."
"52% of Americans think that Epstein was one of the reasons Trump went to war."
"This administration's approach to every issue is just to redefine simple words. Well, I mean, it's the they are waging a war on reality."
"The only person I've seen blame the Jews for this war is Donald Trump. He said it's Wickoff and Kushner's fault."
"The approval rating for this war with Democrats is 6%."
"We have childish warmongers, the kind of people who will nuke the place if they think they've been disrespected enough or they think they've been embarrassed enough."
"He said today, Emma, he said today, 'No quarter, no mercy,' which of course is a war crime."
Q&A
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