peacefare.net

Incoherence is not healthy

Donald Trump’s birthday military parade fizzled yesterday. Attendance was low, energy was lower, and organization was poor. “No Kings” protests boomed. A couple of thousand demonstrations in all parts of the US attracted easily more than a million peaceful protesters. Energy was high and organization superb.

We are going in the right direction. Trump has been underwater and mostly sinking in the polls since March. His big beautiful budget is particularly unpopular. He is also underwater on the economy, tariffs, and universities. He barely ekes out a positive rating on immigration, his signature issue. Agricultural and hospitality industry lobbyists, as well as his personal interests in resorts, have gotten to him. No more Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids on farms and hotels.

How is he doing on war and peace?

Iran

Trump was trying for an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. This made no sense as he had withdrawn from the previous one. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu blew up the possibility of a new one with Friday’s opening salvo of war with Iran. Seeing the Israelis doing well, Trump is now cheering them on.

That makes no sense either, as Trump has claimed to be peace president who wants to steer clear of Middle East wars. Cheering the Israelis on also puts American military personnel who are helping defend Israel at risk and gives the Israelis a green light to try to get the US involved in offensive operations. Incoherence is not healthy in international relations.

Palestine

Israel continues to pound Gaza, including its civilians. The American-sponsored aid operation there is failing. Israeli troops are firing on Palestinians seeking aid. Israel is also allowing settlers to torch Palestinian villages in the West Bank, chasing them from their homes.

Trump’s idea of evacuating the Palestinians and rebuilding a Gaza-al-Lago resort is evaporating. Palestinians in Gaza want the Palestinian Authority to take charge there, or a Palestinian committee with Arab and other international support. But the Israelis seem set on maintaining absolute military control, including with Gazan gangs it is arming. Trump is doing nothing to restrain Netanyahu. Incoherence is not healthy in international relations.

Ukraine

Trump succeeded in bludgeoning Ukrainian President Zelensky into talks with Russia. But the talks are going nowhere since President Putin has no interest even in a 30-day ceasefire. He has bet his long time in power on subduing Ukraine and would not likely survive long if he accepted an agreement that Zelensky could sign.

Trump is badmouthing Putin now and again, but doing nothing to pressure him into an agreement with Zelensky. To the contrary, Washington is no longer supplying Ukraine military aid, only sales. It has also diverted vital missiles to the Middle East rather than Ukraine. Incoherence is not healthy in international relations.

Failure is an option

Trump is failing on the three main war and peace issues in the world today. He is also failing on domestic policy. There is some hope that the big beautiful bill won’t make it through the Senate. That would be a blessing, but Republican cowardice is likely to deprive us of the pleasure. Still, failure is an option.