First Reagan, Then Trump

Suddenly, we have a “ceasefire in the Middle East.” Amazing how history repeats itself, isn’t it? In 1980, President Carter negotiated for months, trying to get Iran to free US hostages held by a surrogate. Ultimately held 444 days, they were released on January 20, 1981, after Reagan was sworn in. Last week, Biden was on bent knee with Iran, trying to get a surrogate to release US and Israeli hostages. Most will be released – if they are – after Biden leaves. What lessons?

First, Iran is an opportunist, the largest state sponsor of terror. They disdain the West, especially weak, easily manipulated US presidents. They attacked US Presidents Carter, Obama, and Biden.

History is clear. One reason Iran waited to release hostages in 1981, taken by a surrogate on November 4, 1979 (i.e. “Muslim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line”) is disdain for Carter.

Carter had brokered peace between Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin. He also shied from using force. His one rescue attempt was a complete debacle. They laughed at him.

In short, Iran saw in Carter a foil, a born appeaser, untrained in managing belligerents, unwilling to stay the course, neither competent nor resolved. The more he pleaded, the more they mocked him. Notably, Iran has less respect for Biden than for Carter. He did nothing but lie. They know him.

Second, Iran knew – or was persuaded – that Reagan was a different sort. He meant what he said. He had made clear the military option was front and center if hostages were still captive when he assumed office. The risk of direct, devastating confrontation was real. Iran sees Trump that way.

Like so many across the Middle East, Iran understood Reagan’s blunt talk and the authenticity of the man. He said what he thought, did what he said, followed through, and was unafraid to act decisively.

Third, Iran was – as opportunists are – aware when time got short. They negotiated the Algier Accord with Carter on January 19, 1981 – the day before Reagan took over. They played Carter to the end.

As with the Obama-Biden “nuclear deal,” billions for nothing, Carter gave Iran money and concessions. They gave back the Americans after Carter was no longer able to take credit. They ran circles around Carter, just the way they have now run circles around Biden, even last week.

Think about it. Biden was desperate to get something, anything, to give himself some foreign policy legacy, after abandoning 100,000 US allies to the Taliban in a cowardly, botched withdrawal; after inadvertently inviting Russia into Ukraine; after cozying up to China, getting millions in illicit gains; and after abandoning Israel. Biden’s legacy is a policy crater, filled with loss, cost, and failure.

Incompetence does not begin to describe Biden’s foreign policy legacy – bold betrayal, abandonment, corruption, appeasement, tragedy, ignorance, folly, and lies make good taglines.

What Iran has just done, through Hamas, is squeeze the last possible concessions from Biden, hundreds of released prisoners. As in 1981, they also rob the co-clowns, Biden, Harris and Blinken. Most of the releases will happen after they are gone.

Iran is nothing if not consistent. The radical Islamic state knows clowns from leaders and plays idiots like a fiddle. They know well, too, who cannot be played because they mean what they say. Trump, like Reagan, made clear Iran would have “hell to pay” if the hostages were not freed. Iran knows Trump, knows he is hardheaded, means what he says.

Thus, once again, we learn appeasement fails, deterrence works, the past is a prelude, and Iran is already showing respect for President Trump – just as they did President Reagan – and well ahead.

The irony is that political appeasers, cowards, and liars never learn, while those who speak what they mean, do what they say – never stop teaching. Trump put his team on the field early, as Reagan did. Iran sees Trump and Reagan in one light: They respected Reagan. They respect Trump. That bodes well.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).