We killed an Iranian general named Soleimani last night. For the MAGA cult, this is a U-S-A, U-S-A moment that will make their fervid support of Trump even stronger. It reminds me a lot of Reagan, the idea of this Rambo President who takes no shit. I admit, I was surprised that Trump did this. I had him pegged as an all-talk-no-action type, but he escalated things considerably.
One of the reasons I named Rise and Kill First one of my two books of the year last year was because the author spent chapter after chapter examining what happens in the aftermath of an action like this. Usually, a targeted assassination does not have the hoped-for result, which is deescalation. What usually happens is the whole situation becomes more unstable, not less, largely because someone else bubbles up to take the deceased's place and partly because leaders take advantage of these escalations to further inflame the passions of the people.
Of course, Trump is schooled in pro wrestling, where back in the 1980s it was easy to identify the heels - the Iron Sheik chanting IRAN NUMBER ONE makes for an easy foe while wrapping yourself in the red, white, and blue is always a smart decision. Politics does not do nuance, does not do analysis or long-term, it is sound bite driven and dumbed down. To question Trump, Republicans will say, is to question America itself (this worked to great effect after 9/11 too!) We are the infallible force for good in the world (according to them) so assassinating a general of a country we are not technically at war with is of no moment.
I have no idea how this all works out. No one on TV does. No one in the Pentagon does. And sure as shit Trump does not, but I would bet a dollar he does not care. All he cares about today is that he will be greeted rapturously by his fans while his detractors hand wring.
Follow me on Twitter - @scarylawyerguy
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