One loser in the Gulf war is President Trump

Today’s the 30th day since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran.

- Karan Thapar

Whatever its outcome, one man has been knocked off whatever pedestal he thought he occupied. And that man is the President of America, Donald J Trump, as he refers to himself.

For a start, Trump didn’t seem to know why he started this war. On occasion, he claimed it was to terminate Iran's nuclear programme, even though last year he boasted it had been obliterated. At other times, he said it was to end Iran's ballistic missile programme. On the day the war started, his explanation suggested regime change. This, he grandly said, will be the moment the Iranian people can take back their government. And no doubt speaking on his behalf, secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed it was a preemptive attack in case Iran struck America first. But now he claims he’s negotiating with the very regime he wanted to replace!

Over the weeks of its course, Trump repeatedly changed his mind about how the war was progressing. He first pronounced it would last for four to five weeks. Ten days later, he told the G7 nations that Iran was about to surrender. Butt didn’t. Last week, his administration announced it was sending more US troops to West Asia, but Trump tweeted the war is coming to an end. His views seem to change every day.