GWYNNE DYER: Why Trump is chickening out on war with Iran |
Newfoundland & Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador Opinion
Share this Story : PNI Atlantic News Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr
GWYNNE DYER: Why Trump is chickening out on war with Iran
Iran is holding the cards and is forcing Trump's hand
TACO! Of course. Trump always chickens out, but it’s a feature, not a bug. If his threats aren’t working, he will eventually drop them and try something else.
Subscribe now to access this story and more:
Unlimited access to the website and app
Exclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcasts
Full access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists
Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.
Unlimited access to the website and app
Exclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcasts
Full access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on
Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists
Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists
Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.
Access additional stories every month
Share your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting community
Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
The man has always been a real estate developer: he was born into it, and he knows no other way of interacting with the world. It’s all about deals, and the quickest way to win is to frighten the other side into submitting. Mutually profitable ‘win-win’ deals are theoretically also possible, but Trump prefers the thrill of a high-stakes showdown.
So Trump has subjected Iran to a month and a half of massive air attacks, blood-curdling threats and civilization-ending deadlines — to no avail. Not only is the Tehran regime still standing, but its ability to block the Strait of Hormuz gives it the upper hand strategically.
Trump’s instincts still function well enough for him to realize that his threats aren’t working. That’s why he imposed no new time limit after his most recent last-minute cancellation of a deadline. No more “by Saturday night” or “within two weeks.” Just “until such time as (Iran’s) leaders and representatives can come up........