Opportunism redux:
This president is a pathological opportunist never before seen on the superpower stage. He first enlists Israel to help him savage Iran (even at one point telling social media audiences he intended to exterminate its civilization) only to then announce, a mere five months later, that he now wishes to send that bombed-out country billions in postwar reconstruction aid. All of this as part of a peace pact whose first phase makes little mention of the war’s original cause: Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It does triumphantly note that the Strait of Hormuz is now open to shipping, which, as I’ve written before, is merely a return to the status quo ante. As Vladimir Putin used to say in his heavily accented English, “Don’t worry, be happy.” But betrayed Israel is not happy and will continue to have at it in Lebanon. Not that the president any longer cares. He is also pulling a 180 toward UN agencies, pledging billions to UNICEF and the World Food Programme after 18 months of insults and neglect. Why all this sudden schizophrenia? In part because this president is erratic by temperament. In part because he wants to open new doors for American exports and, above all, tech companies, the true masters of this America. Finally, because his ratings are awful and he wants to hold onto both houses of Congress in November midterm elections. Opportunism is, of course, a political constant, but gross opportunism of the kind that leaves allies and enemies alike scratching their heads is something far rarer and unique to a White House inclined toward the worst kind of whimsy.