Trump Beating the War Drums - TLS036
Trump has proven that he's no different than Clinton by being just another war hawk. Is anyone surprised? Thank you for joining me on the thirty-sixth episode of The LAVA Spurt, Trump Beating the War Drums.
Trump is fitting right in at the Oval Office by continuing the war hawk stances of every modern president since... well... forever. His act of war against Syria and his saber rattling against North Korea is exactly the same sort of thing we've seen from Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush II, Obama, and exactly what we would have seen from Hillary Clinton had she been elected.
While Trump campaigned as an anti-war candidate and that he would handle Russia differently than Clinton would have, I don't think any real libertarians are surprised by this turn of events. Trump is just following in a long line of footsteps and will continue to do so, not only in the area of war.
The funny thing about this is that even Trump himself was anti-Syrian war when Obama was saber-rattling a few years ago. Oh, how the weak and lame have fallen. Some of Trump's previous tweets on Syria prior to being President should be re-read by current President Trump. Here are a few examples:
What will we get for bombing Syria besides more debt and a possible long term conflict? Obama needs Congressional approval.
That was in August of 2013. In September of 2013, Trump had two other tweets for Obama:
President Obama, do not attack Syria. There is no upside and trememdous downside.
AGAIN, TO OUR VERY FOOLISH LEADER, DO NOT ATTACK SYRIA - IF YOU DO MANY VERY BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN & FROM THAT FIGHT THE US GETS NOTHING!
Sadly, Trump was right in 2013, the action of bombing Syria puts more lives, including American lives, at risk than any action of Trump's presidency so far. I have a friend in the Navy right now and he has told me that the war drums are beating extra loudly right now. He told me that, "I've washed my hands several times and the blood isn't coming off." I am terrified for my friend, for all men and women in the armed forces, and for all of the men, women, and children in Syria. He also tells me to tell my listeners, "Just know that a disgusting amount of people in the service are itching for war." Brother, keep your head down and keep me posted on what is going on out there, Grey Duck!
There is no way that bombing Syria is going to end well for us. There is no way the calls for regime change and US boots on the ground helps us in any way, and all it will do is pull Russia into a proxy war with us, which will essentially bring about another cold war. Sen. Graham is calling for 6,000 boots on the ground and US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is saying that regime change in Syria is inevitable and that nothing "is off the table" when it comes to imposing tougher sanctions on Russia and Iran. Haley also said, "We don’t see a peaceful Syria with Assad in there." What the actual fuck?
This is terrifying stuff and could be an impetus to a large regional or even world war.
And, speaking of cold wars, Trump has also sent the US Navy’s Third Fleet forward-deployed strike group, headed by the supercarrier USS Carl Vinson and supported by guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, orders to re-route toward the Korean Peninsula. And, the National Security Council has presented President Donald Trump with options to respond to North Korea's nuclear program — including putting American nukes in South Korea or killing dictator Kim Jong-un, multiple top-ranking intelligence and military officials told NBC News.
This is just what we need, another war with North Korea which will do nothing but give legitimacy to Kim Jong-un's rhetoric to his people that it is North Korea against the world. This will solidify his domination and dictatorship over his people, which is the exact opposite effect we would be looking for.
Why is it that the people who claim to be our leaders want to wave their pricks around to see who has the biggest one all the while putting the average civilian more at risk and risking the lives of our military men and women as if they are nothing more than cannon fodder?
I remember the previous calls for war with Syria in 2013. I remember the anti-war sentiment that was out there at the time from the right because Obama was president. Now, the right is calling for this war and calling for regime change. Where is the anti-war left? Maybe this will finally get them back out in droves, although the left-leaning media seems to also be complicit in helping Trump beat the war drums.
As libertarians, we must remain diligent calling for peace and an end to war posturing, acts of war, and war making. We must be on the front lines saying these actions are wrong and spreading a message of non-intervention. We need to hold the war mongers accountable.
As George S. McGovern once said, "I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.” Fuck war mongers in the neck. I have four words for them. Not in my name.
Until next time... keep striking the root!