“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fu**in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”
— President Donald Trump, Truth Social, April 5, 2026.
Column By Mike Bibb
Doesn’t get much clearer than that.
I realize delicate ears have probably been offended, and Democrats and RINO Republicans are pulling their hair out, but, hey, it’s politics and international “diplomacy.”
At least, the way Trump envisions it.
Before a lot of folks begin screaming “Trump’s gotta go. Invoke the 25th Amendment or Impeach 47, now!”, it would be judicious to apply soft breaks and slow down a little before something really stupid takes place.
You may have noticed that Trump advised the Iranians to allow unrestricted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. If they didn’t, various infrastructure targets could be targeted.
That’s all he said — in an Oscar-winning theatrical way. His remark to destroy Iran’s civilization was, in my opinion, additional ad-libbing to juice up the conversation.
Obviously, not everyone thought so, as Cronkite News’ “Trump supporters shocked by threat to destroy Iran’s civilization” story revealed. — Gila Herald, April 8, 2026.
Seems a lot of folks have forgotten Trump’s previous admonitions in his “Art of the Deal” and ancient military strategist Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” advice: Keep the adversary confused, guessing, on edge, and strike when he least expects it.
Part of this method involves threats, maybe raving, ranting, yelling obscenities, and letting the opposition know they’ll soon be “living in Hell” if they don’t acquiesce.
Trump has summoned the military firepower to show he has the capability to follow through with his demands. If necessary.
It might be well to remember that Japan refused to surrender in WWII, even when it was apparent that the end was approaching. It took two atom bombs to change their minds.
Whether or not government authorities in Iran comply with Trump’s order remains to be seen. This is a part of the world that’s been quarreling among itself for centuries, long before there was a United States of America.
So, they know the intricacies of war and how to go about it, and how to survive it.
However, the U.S. has a few advantages: inventiveness, technology, and exceptional manufacturing capability.
We’ve demonstrated in previous conflicts our capacity to design, build, and deploy weapons of war in quantity, as well as quality.
Plus, our troops are well-trained and can be dispatched quickly.
Consequently, when President Trump finally retaliated to Iran’s decades-old prodding and shouting “Death to America,” then why is anyone surprised when he says “Enough is enough”
This is a contemporary version of President Jefferson sending our Navy, with a load of Marines, to Tripoli, Libya in 1805 to quell the piracy of our commercial ships in the Mediterranean Sea.
Similar scenario in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran demanding payments (tributes) to allow the passage of oil tankers and other ships.
Only, instead of wooden frigates armed with single-shot cannons, we now have nuclear-powered, 1,400′ long aircraft carriers, equipped with menacing fighter jets.
A significant difference, but still reliving the same old story 225 years later . . . Eventually, the local bully has to be knocked on his ass.
It may take several on-again, off-again, on-again cease-fire agreements to reach a final accord, but I believe Trump realizes this confrontation isn’t the result of a Pearl Harbor or Twin Towers moment.
More like a pimple that needs to be popped so the healing process can begin.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
