Memorandum and Dumber
If nothing else, we’ve at least stumbled our way into understanding the Trump Doctrine. It combines amorality and incompetence to empower enemies and betray allies, as it dilutes American power in a Dunning-Kruger stew of bluster, arrogance, and stupidity. This doctrine, and the war that came to represent it so clearly, is hardly a surprise. As Daniel B. Shapiro asks in The Atlantic (Gift Article), What Did You Expect? “The credibility of the U.S. in tatters and its military readiness compromised. Alliances and partnerships under stress. The global economy in tumult, inflicting financial pain on American citizens that will linger even as oil prices decline. A fine and avoidable mess all around.” Maybe you’re feeling a little schadenfreude watching this humiliation. But this is not just political theater. As Americans, the humiliation is ours as well. And its impact is bad. Bad for America, our alliances, the region, the Iranian people, Israelis, and the world order.
+ At one point yesterday, after describing the Iranian regime as “nice to deal with,” Trump explained to reporters why it makes sense to leave Iran with its ballistic missile program: “I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little unfair for them not to have some.” Today, JD Vance concurred. Defending Trump’s remark, Vance says Iran needs missiles for ‘self-defense,’ like Israel. Empower enemies and betray allies. Vance, who famously said he didn’t care what happens to our ally, Ukraine, added: “Donald J. Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who is sympathetic to the nation of Israel at this moment in time. If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.” (I’m no fan of Bibi or his cabinet, but Trump was locking arms with them as recently as a couple weeks ago. But I’ll give this to Vance: He is an expert on reducing the number of one’s powerful allies.)
+ NYT (Gift Article): Israel, Stunned by Trump’s Iran Deal, Sees It as a ‘Catastrophic Capitulation.’ And from Yair Rosenberg in The Atlantic (Gift Article): Netanyahu Finally Learns the Truth About Trump. “For years, Netanyahu has built his brand on two promises to the Israeli electorate: that he alone could withstand international pressure to compromise on Israeli security, and that he alone could handle Trump.” (If there’s any silver lining to this whole mess, it’s that it may finally doom Bibi’s election winning streak.)
+ While Vance was railing against our ally in the Middle East, Pete Hegseth was covering the Europe beat, lashing out at NATO for failing to be supportive enough of America’s historic blunder in Iran. (Easy on enemies, tough on allies.)
+ Some housekeeping. First, NextDraft will be off until Tuesday. Second, there’s still one more day to score a NextDraft shirt for just $13. (Use the code LUCKY13 at checkout.)
