It is Ukraine today, will it be Taiwan or South Korea tomorrow?
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As President Donald Trump turns his back on Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, it begs the question: Is Taiwan vs. China or South Korea vs. North Korea next? Dictator bullies seem to attract the admiration of one another. They could also regrettably gain Trump’s tacit support.
Trump’s highly questionable claim that we have been in a war against Iran pales in comparison to wars (cold and hot) that we had with the U.S.S.R. (Russia) and North Korea. We won the former and tied the latter.
Russia is not our friend, and is not to be trusted. The Cold War against the U.S.S.R. started in 1947 when the Soviet Union was determined to spread communism in Eastern Europe and around the world.
We won that war in 1991, and I remember the fall of the Soviet Union while I was in Congress. That was a 44-year confrontation. The entire world was enmeshed in this Cold War. Both nations had the ability to destroy each other multiple times given their huge nuclear stockpiles.
Americans feared Soviet missiles being relocated to neighboring Cuba. The Star Wars program was first conceived by former President Ronald Reagan to defend America from incoming missiles – nuclear or conventional. Now that was a “real war” – even though there was no direct confrontation. Yet via direct hostile incidents with the Soviet Union, 382 Americans were killed over the years.
For the most part, when the Soviet Union collapsed, not a single bullet or missile had been fired. Its communist economy had failed. This may be what Trump is hoping for in his battle with Iran.
Back in the 1950s North Korea killed over 36,000 Americans during the Korean War. The North Koreans still harbor hatred for America. The war ended in a tie when we drew a line to divide Korea into the North (those embracing Communism) and South (those embracing Democracy). Yet North Korea has not earned the wrath of Trump.
The premise of the U.S. war with Iran does not hold water. Trump did not engage in war to prevent North Korea from getting and developing nuclear bombs and now North Korea is working on ballistic missiles capable of reaching mainland America. Now that is where the “real” threat lies – versus attempting to stop Iran from obtaining something (a nuclear bomb) that they do not have. You figure.
We cannot forget that two of America’s biggest nemesis – North Korea and Russia – have formed a strong alliance largely due to the Ukrainian War. All of this is worrisome.
Say it is not so Mr. President. Helping Russia by buying their sanctioned diesel, as well as Starlink’s recent alleged problems in hampering Ukraine’s defense, and a sluggishness in giving Kyiv the necessary military supplies, all can deeply hurt Ukraine in its existential fight and efforts to beat back the Russians.
Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine has been prompted by his war with Iran. The disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz have reduced the flow of oil over the months, driving up energy costs as well as the cost of petroleum byproducts, which has in turn caused a spike in inflation. All the above has made affordability the major issue in the upcoming midterm election. Giving Russia money to continue its invasion and illegal and brutal occupation of Ukraine (causing untold suffering and death) is incomprehensible.
In addition, Trump is now helping Russia fight an ally like Ukraine, a country we have given over $196 billion since 2022 to help its defenses and aid its people. This is just another reason why voters cannot allow Republicans to retain control of Congress. Helping Russia beat Ukraine would be a waste of nearly 200 billion of taxpayer funds – as well as render pointless the countless lives lost in this struggle.
Before Trump’s latest moves against Ukraine, one could say (with a bit of hyperbole) that Ukraine may have been in a better position to prevail against Russia than the United States had been against Iran. We know that is not true. Heck, I say facetiously, let’s not forget that Trump has declared victory over Iran more times than Zsa Zsa Gabor has been married.
I served in Congress in the 1990s as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Readiness per the Armed Services Committee. I never heard a word about a war going on with Iran that Trump today has claimed is long-standing.
Yes, in 1979 the Iranians took over our embassy in Tehran along with 66 American hostages. But that was never a “war” though it was a crisis. Reagan easily dealt with the problem and got our hostages released.
Good luck on finding “real evidence” of the U.S. being at war with Iran for decades that even comes close to our conflicts in Korea and against the Soviets. Trump’s characterization of our conflict in Iran mainly exists in his imagination and is an obvious attempt to justify his blunder. Suffice it to say that nothing good has come out of Trump’s Iran war. It has added to our $40 trillion deficit and has drastically increased inflation and higher interest rates.
Even many GOP candidates for office have said the war should end. But that is too little too late. Most incumbent Republicans, when given the chance to do something, have voted the opposite way – by supporting Trump.
Too many of the GOP incumbents have a 100% or mid to high 90% voting record in support of Trump. They are not “checking” his power. Instead, many have perfected the art of sycophantry. It pains me to say this, but they must go. Nevertheless, many will return as some of their congressional districts have been so politically gerrymandered that even Mother Teresa, if she were running as a Democrat, would lose.
Yes, South Korea and Taiwan should be very concerned as their fates are now up in the air due to Trump’s whimsical and autocratic form of governing.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Gary Franks served three terms as a congressman from Connecticut’s 5th District. He was the first Black conservative elected to Congress and first Black Republican elected to the House in nearly 60 years. Host: Podcast “We Speak Frankly” www.garyfranksphilanthropy.org.