Let’s Hope Trump’s ‘Spectacular Military Success’ Is Not Bush’s ‘Mission Accomplished’ – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

The United States military last evening performed skillfully and courageously in attacking three of Iran’s nuclear sites. Just as it performed skillfully and courageously in initially defeating the Iraqi army in 2003 and toppling the regime of Saddam Hussein.

On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush flew onto the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to announce to his countrymen and the world “mission accomplished,” which evoked cheers from the U.S. combatants and from most Americans. Last night speaking from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack on the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites as a “spectacular military success,” but wisely refrained from claiming victory as Bush prematurely did 22 years ago. Instead of calling for regime change, Trump urged Iran’s leaders to make peace.

Trump also warned Iran’s leaders that if they respond by attacking Americans anywhere in the world, the United States will launch more and greater devastating attacks on Iran. Trump, thereby, left open a chance for a negotiated end to the conflict but also the chance for more war. Reuters reports that Iran responded by launching more missiles at Tel Aviv, and an Iranian spokesman claimed that most of Iran’s nuclear material was moved elsewhere before the U.S. strikes.

World reaction was mixed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the attacks, saying that Trump’s “bold decision will change history.” China, Venezuela, and Cuba predictably condemned the attacks, while the UN’s Secretary General called the U.S. strikes a dangerous escalation of the war. A European Union spokesman advised “all sides to step back . . . and prevent further escalation.” Saudi Arabia said it had “great concern” over the latest developments. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to negotiate and end to the conflict. Japanese Prime minister Shigeru Ishiba said it was “paramount to calm the situation down soon,” but refrained from endorsing the U.S. strikes. Finally, according to Reuters, Pope Leo said that members of the international community have “a moral responsibility to stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”

Meanwhile, the reaction in Congress ranged from full support to claims that Trump acted unconstitutionally and should be impeached.

The devil, as they say, will be in the details as we learn the extent of the destruction at the three nuclear sites and whether Iran actually moved most of its uranium to another site or sites. It also remains to be seen how Iran will respond to the U.S. strike. Experts have warned that Iran may lash out at U.S. military bases in the region, attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance/exit of the Persian Gulf, take American hostages in the region, and/or engage in terrorism on American soil. An Iranian spokesman stated that the U.S. attack will have “everlasting consequences.”

Trump administration spokesmen were quick to say that they were not seeking regime change in Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked that the U.S. involvement in the war is “not open-ended” and is “not about regime change,” but said that Iran has to choose whether to make peace or further escalate the war. Perhaps Trump and his key national security officials remember that it was regime change in Iraq, U.S. military occupation there, and the insurgency that followed that led to the debacle which rendered Bush’s claim of “mission accomplished” premature and ultimately tragic. Let’s hope that the same fate does not await President Trump’s announcement of a “spectacular military success.”

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