Like a kitten dazzled by teaser toys, President Donald Trump is easily distracted. One day, he is obsessed with firing the Federal Reserve Governors. The next day, it’s getting his name on the Kennedy Center and the Institute of Peace. Then it’s the Nobel Peace Prize, which he supposedly deserved to win but didn’t. Then it’s Greenland. Or Iceland. He has trouble getting the name right.
For much of January, Trump was preoccupied with a topic of far greater importance: Iran.
Following mass demonstrations across the country, Trump, on January 2, threatened the mullahs with intervention if they resorted to violent suppression. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he posted on Truth Social. He encouraged the protestors: “Iranian Patriots. KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS.” On January 13, he added: “HELP IS ON ITS WAY.”
But then new objects of fascination intruded, and it was time to scuff shiner objects.
Trump tried to rationalize the diversion by claiming that the regime had somehow moderated. “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings … have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!”
But this claim of mullah moderation was as untrue as it was unfortunate.
It was untrue. With the government shutdown of the internet, obtaining accurate numbers is very difficult, but it appears that the pace of killing continued unabated. On January 21, the Human Rights Activists News Agency announced that the death toll had risen to 4,560, and the number of arrests had risen to 26,500.
And it was unfortunate. The current unrest presents a real opportunity to finally topple the murderous mob that has misruled Iran since 1979 – but only if Trump can focus on the regime and the ways in which the United States might facilitate its overthrow. Failing to seize this opportunity because of trifling distractions would be a mistake of historic proportions.
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