Column By Mike Bibb
“History never repeats itself but the Kaleidoscopic combinations of the pictured present often seem to be constructed out of the broken fragments of antique legends.”
— The Gilded Age, Mark twain, 1874
Suddenly, Democrats are now insisting that President Trump doesn’t have the authority to make war in the Middle East.
Strange, they didn’t moan when previous Presidents did the same thing, or when Biden uttered his intimidating “Don’t,” then promptly forgot, or when Obama unloaded pallets of cash in an Iranian airport.
Where was all the uproar then?
(Note: The $1.7 billion, including $400 million in cash, was made by the Obama Administration in early January, 2016, as settlement of an arbitration claim unfreezing Iranian assets. It was not an outright gift. Or, so we’re told.)
At any rate, why does Trump now need Congressional approval to declare war when not a single administration since 1942 — 84 years ago — has been bothered by such stipulations?
Including Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and others. Money and guns were being consumed faster than wieners at a Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
(Note: Under the Biden Administration, $188 billion was provided to Ukraine in its war with Russia. So far, the second Trump Administration has not designated additional funds. Although remaining funds and weapons from the Biden Administration/Ukraine agreement have been delivered to Ukraine during Trump’s term. — The Council on Foreign Relations, updated Feb. 23, 2026 @ 5:43 p.m.
What’s the difference between now and then? Not hard to figure out; Iran is Trump’s war. No other excuse is necessary.
On the other hand, Biden was just “an elderly man with a poor memory,” clueless about what was going on around him. To the extent, he didn’t bother signing his own signature to various papers and documents.
His handlers had an “auto pen” handwriting facsimile machine do it. Much easier, just as effective, and Joe didn’t even have to be present — physically or mentally.
In the political world, Trump is a pariah — an outsider who’s made it to the top without the approving winks of insiders.
Simple as that.
In return, he’s been scorned, cursed, impeached, indicted, shot at, his home raided by Joe Biden’s FBI, reelected, and it’s driving mainstream Washington bonkers. To such an extent, the previously scoffed expression “Trump Derangement Syndrome” has actually become a contemporary colloquialism for a mental disorder fermenting in the minds of hardcore Democrats, RINO Republicans, and media neurotics.
As a result, it’s not surprising when Trump approves retaliatory strikes against an adversary advocating “Death to America” for the past several decades, or that pacifists and Trump haters in Congress would suddenly insist he needs their consent before legitimately carrying out military action.
Further inflaming their passion, news reports that Trump, so far, has been extremely swift and successful in his campaign. Damage inside Iran is heavy, and our casualties are light. Many Iranian political and military leaders were extinguished in the opening hours of the conflict.
In response, Iran appears to be flailing in all directions, haphazardly shooting off missiles and drones everywhere— including into their neighbor’s backyards.
Not exactly a well-coordinated counterattack.
Nevertheless, Democrats are flustered. Maybe not as much as when they refused to stand during Trump’s State of the Union address and appreciatively acknowledge the Olympic success of our Men’s Hockey Team winning the Gold Medal.
Imagine disliking a President so much that many Congressional Democrats intentionally declined to applaud their victory, forgetting these athletes are American, too. Some are probably Democrats.
How messed up is that? What kind of convoluted thinking would conceive of such a twisted political stunt against a young men’s sports team whose only mistake was that they appeared for recognition in the chambers of Congress by invitation of the President?
Apparently, grateful endorsement of accomplishing a rare first-place finish — the last was in 1980 — was too much to ask. Guess it would subtract valuable time from bashing Trump. Which, as we see on almost an hourly basis, is about the only thing Dems can focus on.
Then, when Trump does something without prior consultation with Democrats, they practically dump in their shorts — requiring an immediate change of underwear.
“How dare he carry out military operations without telling us beforehand? It’s illegal. Impeach him, now!!!” goes the squawking.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah . . .
Maybe, Arizona Democrat U.S. Senator Mark Kelly could simply suggest — again — every military member involved in the Iranian operation should stand-down, ignore “illegal orders” and refuse to participate: No one drives a ship, no one pilots a plane, and no one launches a missile if they believe Trump’s orders, as President and Commander-in-Chief, are not lawfully issued.
Ironically, Kelly didn’t follow his own advice when participating in combat missions in the Gulf War in 1990-91. Congress also failed to declare a state of war in that tussle, and I didn’t hear Kelly bitching about it.
Of course, his Navy career was before he entered politics, where tactics and strategies are more about pandering and garnering party support than successfully carrying out a military assignment.
That’s the peculiarity of a fickle mind — it can change on a whim, depending upon the circumstances, perceived advantages, and social acceptance.
While Trump is considered a “Lame Duck” President — with less than three years remaining in his second term — he’s not acting like one.
Hardly a day passes that he isn’t conferencing with someone, giving speeches, press reports, endorsements, traveling, media interviews, overseeing construction of the new White House Ball Room, hobnobbing with foreign officials, and selling his “Red Beauty” watches on TV.
As if that’s not enough, now he’s commanding a full-scale military operation in the Middle East.
With only 24 hours in a day, it’s a good thing he can get everything done before squeezing-in 18-holes with professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau.
Nothing relaxes normal 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue stress like a little R-R (Recreational- Relief) on the links with a guy who takes fewer swings but is savvy enough not to make a big deal of it.
At least, not in the presence of the President!!!
Notice: This article is not necessarily an endorsement of our involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, rather recognition that this particular region of the globe seems to be perpetually quarreling among itself for one reason or another, for centuries.
Adding to the predicament, the lethality of modern weapons and the relative ease with which they can be delivered into areas of conflict almost make it impossible not to become involved in these skirmishes.
There have always been wars, and there will always be wars — that’s a fundamental law of history and human nature. Unless an intervening authority of superior force stops it.
Therefore, until that day arrives, it’s probably wise to follow the advice of the Second Amendment to the Constitution: “It’s better to have a gun, cannon, ship, airplane, drone, missile, satellite, and early warning system and not need them, than to need them and not have them.”
Or, something like that.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
