Netanyahu’s war, Trump’s big gamble

Donald Trump is not just Benjamin Netanyahu’s glove puppet, but it is remarkable how much influence the Israeli prime minister has over the American president.

- Gwynne Dyer

If you are seeking a reason why Mr Trump felt the need to attack Iran again, only nine months after he declared that he had eliminated any nuclear threat from that country, you need look no further.Mr Trump has a helpless fascination for decisive political strongmen like North Korea's Kim Jong-un and Russia's Vladimir Putin, but only Mr Netanyahu has persuaded Mr Trump to go to war for him — not once, but twice. Last June, it was only one day’s air strikes on Iran, but this time it could be the start of a “forever war"

Mr Trump is well aware of this risk. It’s precisely what he promised to avoid in his 2024 presidential campaign, and he imagines that he can keep that promise by achieving a swift and decisive victory over Iran like his recent triumph in Venezuela.

However, even that was not much of a victory. Killing Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is no more decisive than kidnapping Venezuela's President Nicolds Maduro. In both cases, the political system simply moves the regime's next most senior leader up into the presidency, leaving the oppressive system intact. And, in Iran’s case, still able to fight.