President Trump announced last week that he would make a decision within two weeks about whether to involve the U.S. in Israel’s efforts to neutralize Iran’s nuclear program. He did so this weekend with a daring raid by American pilots in B-2 bombers carrying so-called bunker-buster bombs—”30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bombs” capable of reaching nuclear enrichment facilities 300 feet below ground.
The move has divided Republicans, many of whom justifiably do not want involvement in another Middle East war. But Trump made the decision to bomb Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites precisely to avoid a long war with American boots on the ground. It was designed to force Iran to finally come to the negotiating table. The old Latin slogan (familiar to history buffs and fans of the John Wick movie series) is Si vis pacem, para bellum: “If you wish for peace, prepare for war.”
The president’s announcement came on social media on Saturday evening:
“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this. NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
President Trump followed this written announcement up with a brief address to the nation in which he reiterated that the “massive precision strikes” were aimed at the Iranian nuclear enrichment capacity—and that “the nuclear enrichment facilities were obliterated.”
“Iran, the bully of the Middle East,” Trump declared, “must now make peace.” Trump briefly described the role of Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terror, noting that they have specialized in “roadside bombs” and other ways of mutilating and killing at least a thousand Americans as well as many other Israelis and others in the Middle East.
Trump congratulated Israel’s military and President Netanyahu on this maneuver designed to erase a threat to Israel. He also congratulated the pilots who flew the “magnificent machines” that delivered the massive bombs. “Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity. I hope that’s so.”
Trump emphasized that Iran needs to aim for peace since it will be much easier to attack them now. “This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days.” Trump also noted that there are other targets that the U.S. has in its sights if Iran does not come to the negotiating table. “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed, and skill.”
Trump sounded visibly moved at the end of the three-and-a-half minute address, saying, “God, I just want to say we love you, God.” He asked God to bless our troops, concluding, “God bless the Middle East, God bless Israel, and God bless America.”
Trump’s move may have upset some on the right who wish not to be engaged in the Middle East, as well as many on the left who have a soft spot for Iran, oppose Israel, or just reflexively oppose everything Trump does. But the President has been consistent over the years about the need to stop Iran, which, through its terrorist proxies has been maiming and killing Americans ever since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. That the Obama-Biden strategy of sending large amounts of cash did not appease or reform them was evident from the fact that, when the Biden administration resumed giving money to the country after the first Trump administration cut them off, they sponsored the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Trump’s moves found applause in perhaps unexpected places. CNN guest and retired General Mark Kimmitt told Anderson Cooper that the President’s moves were smart: “Well, I’m fascinated and candidly, I’m impressed. I never really could understand what the two week pause meant or what it was for, what was left to negotiate. What were we going to expect the Iranians to offer?… I think the use of deception and trickery in this case, first of all, was successful. But second of all, saved the potential loss of American lives.”
Will Trump be successful? Some skeptics say that Trump is being overly optimistic. Others say that we are now in danger from Iranian sleeper agents smuggled in through Biden’s open border. Both possibilities are real risks. But there was also a third risk – doing nothing and allowing the world’s leading state sponsor of terror to build a nuclear weapon.
Moreover, Trump’s resolve to do what it takes to tame the Iranian government—backed up by action that makes his threats of future bombings credible—gives hope that his optimism is also realism.
What Americans need to do right now is to turn, as the President did at the end of his speech, to God. We need to pray for peace in Iran and the Middle East. Peace not as the mere temporary cessation of hostilities, but as the classical understanding of the tranquility of order. We need to pray for the president and our generals that they would be given wisdom to decide what kind of military threats and diplomatic communications will best lead to this peace.
God bless the Middle East, Israel, and the United States indeed. We have destroyed the nuclear capabilities of Iran. May their leaders come to their senses and come to negotiate quickly.
David P. Deavel teaches at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. A past Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, he is a Senior Contributor at The Imaginative Conservative. Follow him on X (Twitter) @davidpdeavel.
im very proud of the president and think he did what was right, and GOD BLESS AMERICA AND OUR TROOPS.
Iranian religious zealots don’t care about anything but their ideology. They’ll kill complete strangers and boast about it. This mentality cannot be reasoned with, nor are they capable of diplomacy. Nuclear detant can never be achieved because the threat of atomic annihilation seems to have no deterant value to those who’ll would use a wmd first.
Great article outlining the issues with Iran & many other countries.
We are criticized for the decision made, or criticized for doing nothing.
I pray too for the great work, in assisting with the important, complicated and stressful maneuver.
Please, lord protect our servicemen and women and those behind the scenes.
May we move for peace.
I pray for peace in the Middle East of the World ???? Father God I ask for the Protection of all of the Military Forces that will be involved with this war that appears to be coming to the United States of America whether we want it or not my Father God. I pray we can help to make war to not come to our Country please almighty God bless our President Donald J Trump and all of our Military to be able to stop all the Nuclear threats that seem to be coming no matter how or what we do. Thank you God for your Blessings to our Military Forces. We need you Jesus please go with all of our men and women that will be thrown into Battle almighty lord and God bless us all mighty God. We want PEACE NOT WAR AND PROSPERITY WILL BE GOOD FOR ALL INVOLVED. THANK YOU GOD ALMIGHTY FOR YOUR HELP AND BLESSINGS TO OUR PRESIDENT.
I’m with Trump!!!
I think this was a great strategic move that I doubt any other president had the balls to do. I think all of us thought we and all our allies would just sit there and watch them build the bombs and threaten to use them. As far as Russia is concerned we should give Ukraine the same nuclear weapons they give Iran – if it gets to that point. We’re kind of at a cross roads, either it ends or it begins. And the winner will be China.
The Clerics in Iran will fight till the death. Their religion requires it. My question is for what? Dead is dead. Whoever survives is going to take over Iran. Showing off your might doesn’t solve anything. Death and destruction. Nothing more nothing less. Trump attacked the nuclear facilities not people. The clerics go for the people. In Israel and now for the US base in Qatar. People they are after. Why? So the survivors will put pressure on president Trump to stop. Iran can stop anytime as well. It’s a two way street. For 45 years the clerics have been preparing for this day and Oct 7 was the beginning to annihilate Israel by their proxy Hamas. Houthis were bombarding our military fleet in the gulf. It was an all
out attack on iIsrael.
AND the US. It was a matter of weeks till the n bomb would have been launched. One for Israel and one for America. If Iran is right in all this why is Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Oman and others in the Middle East not helping Iran. Because they have felt the wrath of Iran over the years. Lebanon and Syria and Yemen have been at war for decades. I think as long as when Khameini returned to Iran from exile in France. That was 1979. And the first thing he did was take Americans hostage at the US embassy. And told Carter he would decapitate one American if he didn’t fulfill their demands. But the hostages were left there for 444 days. Only most people who demonstrate for Iran don’t know this. It was before they were born. The same when they scream Trump is Hitler and his supporters Nazis. They have no idea what they are saying. They think gays and trans would be welcomed in Iran. Sorry people they won’t even let you into their country. You should thank God you live in America. You have no idea how much freedom you have here.
Obama sent billions of cash, 3 plane loads to Iran. Obama built the terrorist network and who knows how many are now in our country illegally now thanks to sidekick Joe, nobody knows. How this could be legal is beyond me but here we are. It needs resolved on multiple levels.
we need Iran ???????? to stop fighting. Our precious boys and girls are dying fighting for somebody’s freedom!
I guess God has appointed the US to attempt to destroy evil and keep peace in the world ????.
If Trump had gone to Congress first then Congress would have stalled and we would not have had the chance for surprise to destroy the evil ???? Iranians ability to make nuclear weapons of and use them against Israel and then the USA ????????.
Thanks to Biden we already have Iranian Sleeper Cells in this country. But now they lack funding from Iran, they have been discouraged by what happened in Iran and now ICE and other agencies are actively looking for them and not to just catch and release! Plus now we are on alert for their threat to our country. Let them try and let them die!
4 pm my time president Trump just announced a cease fire between Israel and Iran which will start in 6 hours. Or midnight eastern time. Can’t wait to hear the dems rhetoric. Because you know they will have some. President Trump once again was successful and thereby America, the Middle East and the rest of the world is safe once again. Putin and Xi saw the strength and capabilities of America they withdrew their support from Iran, quietly. Which let to this cease fire and hopefully to a lasting peace.
Yes Prep for War to achieve Peace
Trump did what was right!!!
Anyone with normal brain cells knows it was the right thing to do!!
Iran’s leader is a Nazis Bully
and Communist!!!
Up to this point Iran has never negotiated. It only stalls and our weak politicians have a long history of caving in on this. It has always shown Iran that we re weak and they have loved it. This time things are different. This time we’re applying “peace through strength” and Iran will be looking at things differently. Maybe, just maybe, they’ll even joined the rest of the civilized world in the end. Not saying that they will, just saying maybe.
Much of this conjecture is not as well informed as the President and Secretary of State and Defense. People who are just speculating and so opinionated ought to respect those who have more complete information. Pick the best and back them.
All the talking heads scream about Iran’s “sleeper cells” and how they are NOW going to call them into action ~ geesh… the fact they’re here is bad enough, regardless of WHEN they plan to strike! Flush’m out, neutralize them NOW!
Who are the Republicans that don’t want Trump to get rid of Iranian nuclear enrichment?? What the heck is wrong with them you need to get rid of these people they are nuts, they get a nuclear weapon they’ll use it on everybody. No debating about it. The whole country of Iran should be wiped off the map, this stuff has been going on for decades.
The Iranian government needs to be taken out or the job isn’t finished.
I heard on a radio program that Iranian officials were loading up their enriched uranium onto trucks and removing it before the strikes happened. If this is true, where is it?
We need to find out which Republicans are not in favor of taking out Iran’s nuclear capability. They need to be primary there’s no room for them. They just need to put a d next to their name
Asians [Mideast and Far East] respect STRENGTH! That’s the difference between a STRONG Trump and a WEAK Biden. The Iranian response? Give us a heads-up and throw a few missiles at Qatar to cover their SHAME. We do need to be alert for terror cells allowed to freely enter our country under Biden {and his handlers]. As usual, Trump knew what to do!
Iran started this war when they seized the embassy. POTUS after POTUS acted like Egyptians and went in denial. Trump did something about it. May the ayatollahs and ayatollah wannabes be buried in pig droppings!
Iran’s leadership are fanatics and terrorists. Now is the time to put an end to the current Iranian Leadership. Americans should not have to live in fear of Iran with its finger on the Nuke trigger.
The Iranian government has “played the U.S.” and talked until they had enriched nuke material and a good intercontinental ballistic missile design.
No one wants to attack the strong man. Peace through strength.
Thanks for drawing out our need for prayer and showing President Trump’s willingness to do it. I remember an old bumper sticker that fits here so well. “No God, no peace; know God, know peace”.
Had this been the Biden administration, this would have been a huge disaster, just as it was when he pulled out of Afghanistan. He would have totally screwed up the mission, or worse, let them know we were coming to bomb them! Had he done this, the Democrats would be all over the news, saying how great he was and praising the success, just like they did with the disaster in Afghanistan. We would probably have even more Gold Star families to mourn their fallen family members. Americans, you need to wake up and see this for what it is, and see the Democrats who scream the loudest for what they are: TRAITORS.
Was not Pakistan established so all the Moslems would not have to put up with other religions and live together in harmony and peace and brotherly love, creating the happiness and the bright future for their children, the heaps of money they received in foreign aid should have created that rose garden, I guess they are interested in that the same way Palestinians are.
Insect…..meet boot. Ya gotta love confidence and decisiveness all wrapped up in one president.
Whether or not peace breaks out in the Middle East is in the hands of the Iranian regime. Israel has been pushing for peace for decades but the terrorist regime in Iran has refused by sending Iranian proxies (chamas, hesbollah, the houtis and other terrorists groups) to attack Israeli civilian almost daily for decades. Time and time again Israel offered a gesture of peace to the islamists only to be rewarded with more attacks on civilians. When Israel retaliated, they were condemned by nearly every nation on the planet.
This time, Iran needs to be the one to make a GENUINE offer of peace by surrendering, unconditionally, and allowing Israel and the West to completely destroy all their nuclear sites, even the so-called “civilian” sites. The Ayatollah must surrender his regime and step down as leader of Iran. The exiled Crown Prince should come back and lead his people into a time of peace and prosperity. The current leaders should be tried for their crimes against the Iranian people and be subjected to the proper punishment. There will be no real peace if the Ayatollah is allowed to remain in power and the IRGC continues to function.
I enjoyed this article; it was right on. However, as we have seen over time, no matter what President Trump does, he cannot please the left & sad to say, there are some supposed to be on the right, but tend to go the other way.
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One of the most brilliant deceptions America has ever pulled off. The secrecy of the atom bombs development does compare. Iran is a good example of what happens when religious fanatics take over a government. Was working alongside some Iranian scientists when the Shah of Iran lost out to the Muslims and they were terrified to have to go back to Iran.
sometimes i just want a treat
I am so proud of President Trump for doing what no other commander would have had the guts to do. I also believe he should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. GOD BLESS THE USA & ISRAEL and the rest of the free world
“Walk softly ,but carry a big stick”, Teddy Roosevelt. And be prepared to use it if necessary goes without saying. Thank you, President Trump.
Because the Suni Muslims believe that the Quran tells them that it is not a sin to lie to the “infadels” that if they do come to the table and bid for peace, it will only be a delay tactic to allow us to become complacent enough for “sleeper cells” to get to a position to attack the US and one of the most vulnerable areas we have is the power grid that could weaken our entire country.
Whats your flavor of KoolAide? Shaved your head and started panhandling at airports yet?
Not to forget about a hundred thousand Iraquis killed in that war, and hundreds of Iranians just this week.
Who, exactly, is the bully of the Middle East ? And who was elected precisely to END wars, and PREVENT
others ?
SURRENDER UNCONDITIONALLY is the art of the deal ? Come to the table under fire is negotiation ?
How can any President “want peace” with any nation after breaking both US as well as international law by bombing that sovereign nation when that nation was in no way a threat to our country.
Our intel agencies, the International Atomic Energy Administration and many members of Trumps own cabinet informed Trump that there was no evidence of Iran preparing to make a nuclear weapon so what reason did Trump give for bombing Iran? He literally said it was because he had a “vibe”. One suspects that instead he had an order from his master, “Bibi” Netanyahu along with demands by his leading financial grifter, Miriam Adelson and any “vibe” he felt reverberated from his lobbyists cash register.
We were flat out lied to in the campaign leading up to the 2024 elections. It is difficult to find a single promise that has been kept and now as we all sit by watching Trumps political capital collapse, there is increasingly little chance that any of those promises ever will be kept.
Trump “screwed the pooch” in taking Israels interests before America’s interests. He also screwed his voters. Sure, he may keep maybe 60% of his more rabid core supporters but he squeaked out a win with close to 100% of that support. As for counting on any future support from the Islamic community in MIchigan, well folks, thats now gone forever as is MIchigan. The “we despise foreign wars” crowd in the all important state of Wisconsin also just got p**sed away so goodbye yet another swing state.
At this point in Trumps second term the only good thing about his Presidency is that it isn’t a Harris campaign, but at least where it comes to foreign policy it might as well be a Harris Presidency.
Lemme get this right. Supposedly all these bunker busters were dropped on 5 sites that were given ample time to relocate whatever Iran kept there to somewhere that Trump hadn’t allowed our media to paint a target on.
And now, after being illegally attacked we expect a nation we just bombed to not immediately steam full on forward on indeed developing a nuclear weapon to put a stop to Americas ongoing attempt to keep the military industrial complex steaming along at any and every cost.
And think about it, on the Sunday that followed the illegal bombing our folks were set to meet with Iranian leaders to come to an agreement about uranium enrichment. Good luck with that ever happening now.
Something broke in Trump from spending the last 4 years in courtroom after courtroom defending himself from false charge after false charge. The true interests of the American people seem no longer of import to Trump, unless Bibi and Miriam Adelson direct a bit of pity our way.
Israel has nuclear capability
Israel attacked Iran.
Israel answered the killing of more than 800 of their civilians, by killing nearly twenty times that many Palestinian CHILDREN.
Israel demolished Gaza.
Israel stopped Humanitarian
aid to Gaza, after destroying it
Israel seeks to permanently remove the
Palestinian population from Gaza.
Bibi was indicted for corruption in Israel .
Bibi was indicted for war crimes in international courts.
Bibi oversaw the false ” intelligence ”
that Iraq had weapons of
mass destruction .
America lost thousands of soldiers as a result of that invasion, and returned many thousands more, wounded,
maimed and burned .
Trump ascended by justly condemning that war, and the Bush, Cheney , and McCain dynasties.
And after following precisely in their footsteps, Trump addressed the American people, and closed with
” God Bless Israel ?!
Played by Putin, played by Xi, and now played by Netanyahu.
In all my decades in my city, only one person has lied to me several times. Last year, Donald Trump promised no more wars. I know he won’t be back because not only don’t Americans believe him, but most of the world.