Trump's decision to fight Iran is historic, but he must finish the job

By: Douglas Murray / The New York Post
Translation: Telegrafi.com

For years, hawkish figures have warned that any attack on Iran would start World War III. The fact that the regime in Iran has spent decades trying to develop nuclear weapons has always been a problem for these people. After all, if a terrorist regime is developing nuclear weapons and says it will use them, what exactly is the world supposed to do? Stand by and let it happen?

That's what a large part of the world seemed content to do. Or, more accurately, they hoped that someone else would take away this world problem for them.

And so it fell to the governments of Israel and the United States of America to act. To do what the German Chancellor recently called the world's "dirty work" for the rest of the planet.

But, there are reasons why World War III has not broken out at all.

The first is that over the past three years the Israelis have struck every single terrorist army of the Iranian revolutionary government.

They destroyed Hamas in Gaza, killing their entire top leadership and thousands of their terrorists.

They destroyed the infrastructure and leadership of Iran's terrorist army in Lebanon - Hezbollah. They did this from the ground, from the air, and through operations that made history, such as the pager attack, which killed or disabled thousands of Hezbollah terrorists.

They did this by striking the leadership and weapons depots of Iran's terrorist army in Yemen - the Houthis.

And now, over the past two weeks, with America leading the way, they have taken the battle to the head of the snake.

People should have no illusions. The success of this American-led campaign has been extraordinary.

The world's largest sponsor of terrorism has been hit everywhere it hurts.

The operation began by killing the supreme leader of terror himself - Ayatollah Khamenei. It also killed almost all the leaders of the Iranian terrorist regime and its dirty military and terrorist groups.

The campaign continued, striking remaining nuclear sites, weapons depots, missile supplies, and more.

The Iranian regime responded by doing one of the stupidest things imaginable. It retaliated not only against the countries that were attacking it. It decided to try to wage war against all of its neighbors. It sent drones and missiles to almost every country in the region. Which is a great way to make friends.

But these attacks were a demonstration of weakness by the Iranian regime.

Most of their missiles and drones have been shot down before they could hit their intended targets. This means that, for all intents and purposes, this war is now pretty much the mullahs against everyone else.

This week's ayatollah - the son of last week's ayatollah - is trying to speak out against all this. In a statement released yesterday, he vowed to "avenge" the blood of his regime's slain members. And he threatened to destroy the same amount of American assets that America and its allies have managed to destroy in his country.

I doubt it.

This week's Ayatollah is - as he said The New York Post - helpless. Maybe even literally.

Why didn't he read his own vengeful statement? Why was it read to him on Iranian state television? Perhaps because the Ayatollah is reportedly in a coma in hospital, having had a leg amputated after one of the US-led attacks.

There are other signs that the Ayatollah's entire empire of terror is falling apart.

What remained of his army in Lebanon made the mistake of launching “solidarity missiles.” In response, the Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah’s remaining bases in Lebanon — including in Beirut.

Now, finally, the Lebanese government has had enough. With Iran.

For four decades, Iran's military has devastated Lebanon. It has brought nothing but war and division to the country's suffering people.

And so, this week, the Lebanese government, led by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, announced that it was outlawing Hezbollah. They have banned the group's military activity inside their country and have promised to prosecute anyone in Lebanon who is involved in Hezbollah activities. Even groups in Lebanon that have traditionally been Hezbollah allies have supported this move.

Members of Parliament in Lebanon are even calling for this month's Secretary General of Hezbollah - Naím Qassem - to be tried for treason and inciting rebellion against the Lebanese state.

We'll see if the Lebanese government is able to follow through on these threats. But whatever happens, this is a reminder that President Trump's war against the regime in Iran is working.

In addition to military successes, it is causing a change in the entire region. It is uniting countries and parties against the terrorist regime in Iran. Partly because the region is tired of Iranian terror. And partly because of the old theory of the strong horse and the weak horse. This means that when people see a strong horse, they want to join its side. When they see a weak horse, they stay away.

Currently, America and its allies are the strong horse in the region. Meanwhile, the Islamic revolutionary government in Iran is becoming, day by day, an increasingly weak horse.

There are those who are understandably concerned about some aspects of the war. They are concerned that Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz will cause oil prices to rise.

But once this swift and tactical war is over, those oil prices will immediately fall.

Some people in Washington want hostilities to cease immediately. Others want them to stop before the operation is over.

Of course, no one wants this war to continue even a day longer than necessary. But this work cannot be left half-hearted.

Ultimately, a future American president may not have the resolve to stop the mullahs and their ambitions. One day we may have another Jimmy Carter or Joe Biden.

Trump rightly began this historic mission. And, also, he is the only person who will be able to finish it. But on America's terms. /Telegraph/