History records Roman emperors torturing human beings merely for “fun.” That such things could happen in our own days was unthinkable. So, it was shocking that President Trump could boast that he might hit Kharg Island just “for fun,” effect a regime change in Iran, and return home like after an excursion.
Resistance came as a shock for Trump. And when it proved too strong, Operation Epic Fury had to be let loose; Operation Roaring Lion gathered strength. Over 1,300 lives were wiped out and immense infrastructure destroyed.
Yes, America’s “Peace President” goes to war. The Nobel-claimant Trump bombs a girls’ school in Iran, killing 175. A head of State takes a pose as though he has no accountability to anyone, no social codes to bind him, no international agreement, no widely recognized ethical norms! What he decides is the wisest, most effective, best oriented to the wellbeing of humanity!
The elimination of the head of State in Iran was no problem for Trump, who did not believe in the rule of law. Lawlessness is his law. But the speed with which Mojtaba Khamenei assumed responsibility gave him a jolt.
The unprovoked US aggression on Iran at the prodding of Israel was bound to meet with a response. The new Iranian head of State refused to budge an inch: warning for warning, threat for threat, missile for missile. Israel has received heavy blows in diverse places, and American bases in allied states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, or the UAE have been hit hard continuously.
With Iranian resistance gathering strength, Trump called for a pause. Fearing foul play, Iran outright refused; ridiculed all American proposals; laid down highly demanding conditions. In the meantime, Yemen joins the war, Russia lends support to Iran, and China warns the United States. Oil prices rise worldwide. Airfares fly high. The global economy goes chaotic.
RULE OF LAW
Even a lawless leader longs for a manageable world order when things go beyond control. He longs for predictable relationships, meaningful conversation, reliable promises. He longs for some sort of law that everyone can rely on. Impositions do not work. Warnings remain unheeded. He realizes that his power has limits, that he can be victimized if everyone acts erratically, that boasts make him cut a bad figure. Trump’s earlier European allies stand aside watching, while he frantically pleads for help to open the Hormuz canal. No response.
Trump began his second term alienating everybody, including his NATO allies: tariffs, humiliations, lecturing on Western civilizational future. Now he stands alone. MAGA has come to mean LAVA (Leave American Vanity Alone).
More and more nations were already becoming inward-looking. Trump has accelerated the pace. Populist politics limit international interactions, concerns, and concessions. With Trumpian dramatics, says Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the “Atlantic trust” (the EU-US trust) has been wiped out. He calls for its revival, not certainly on Trumpian terms.
J.D. Vance had alleged that Europe was on a suicide path encouraging migrants. Trump has raced ahead attacking Iran. The Roman Empire lost energy fighting the Persian Empire. The Habsburg and Ottoman Empires vanished fighting World War I. European Empires breathed their last in their suicidal conflict in World War II. Western domination draws to a conclusion with World War III, or the irrational Iran blunder.
ASIA, BEWARE!
Many Asian leaders rejoice, admiring the determination of an Asian nation (Iran) to assert itself against the topmost World Power. There may need to be a limit to early rejoicings. Many Asians had rejoiced at the beginning of the last century when Japan defeated Russia in 1905. Such exultation ended early when Japan in turn began storming Asian strongholds and annexing areas from Asian nations; and later, when Mao hit India in 1962 and humiliated a friend that had systematically fostered happy relationships with pre-independence Chinese leaders; when India and Pakistan clashed; when tensions grew on several borders.
These happenings made it clear that the ‘suicide instinct’ is not merely a Western feature, but Eastern weakness as well. All humans are inclined to violence, but violence does not pay. Pope Leo XIV says, “Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace that people are waiting for.” A rule-based order is equally important to the West as to the East. Social order is for everyone’s benefit.
The world is slow to learn. As the US intends to spend one trillion dollars on defense in 2026, China has hiked its defense budget to $ 277 billion, a 7% increase. EU nations are furiously arming themselves. India has been the second biggest importer of arms between 2021 and 2025; Pakistan is in ‘open war’ with Afghanistan.
Carlos Santana says, “If you fight with anger, you are part of the problem”. We call for sober thinking, balance, moderation. When peace efforts fail, Thomas Edison whispers to us, “The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time”. Even Trump may have a soft corner in his heart!
