The Neocons Never Left
Waiting in the wings, they’re making their move to retake the throne.
One sign a movement may be weakening is when its most obnoxious opponents start cheering it on. Since the latest U.S. intervention into the war-torn MidEast, a veritable ‘who’s who’ of never-Trumpers are suddenly gung-ho on the administration.
Didn’t see that one coming.
But there he was, the veritable ‘architect’ of war with Iran, former national security adviser John Bolton, once fired by the President, writing in the Wall Street Journal (where else?) that Trump is so right not to end the war too early.1
The same John Bolton who allegedly “fabricated information and nearly caused us to commence military operations in Iran” during Trump’s first term, according to retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg.2
What’s next for the administration? An endorsement from Liz Cheney?
Understand, these folks have no time to worry about rising energy prices rippling through an economy struggling from an ‘affordability’ crisis. Or a resilient Iran willing to play the long game as Russia profits from $100 oil and the GCC contemplates an end to the Petrodollar.3 Or China, Japan and South Korea watching in amazement as U.S. personnel and military assets (including missile and drone defenses) are moved from the Pacific to the Gulf.
Nope, nothing to see here.
Well, except for large American firms telling their shareholders the longer the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 25% of the world’s oil and 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) flow—remains under attack, the more likely a return to 1970s-style, energy crises-induced stagflation.4
Average Americans are starting to get worried. In a just released CBS poll, 60% say the Trump administration is focused ‘too little’ on US domestic matters.5
Beyond the domestic ramifications, you do have to wonder what these geopolitical ‘experts’ were thinking. If at all. An emboldened hardline IRGC has predictably taken control and is blowing by Iran’s ballistic missile limits and most likely rescinding martyred Supreme Leader Ali Khomeini’s fatwas against nuclear weaponry.6
All of which begs the question whether the bluster about “warmongering neocons love sending your kids to die for wars they would never fight themselves” and how “Liz wants to invade the whole Middle East” was just cynical pretense?7
Why, it’s like Mike Pence never left.
