Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trump, Iran, and the Theater of Moral Panic
American Greatness ^ | 12 Apr 2026 | Roger Kimball

Posted on 04/12/2026 7:12:45 AM PDT by Rummyfan

Trump’s “outrageous” rhetoric unnerved critics, but it masked a blunt strategy: overwhelm Iran militarily, force leverage at the table, and leave opponents scrambling to keep up.

Pearl clutchers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your credibility. A week ago, on Easter Sunday—Easter Sunday, forsooth!—President Trump horrified delicate souls by issuing this minatory post on Truth Social:

Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F–kin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. That meanie used a bad word, called the Iranian mullahs “crazy bastards,” and taunted them by saying, “Praise be to Allah.” How disrespectful can you get?

There was worse to come. On Tuesday, as zero hour approached, President Trump went whole hog. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

Oh, oh, oh! Can you believe it? He just threatened to destroy the storied civilization of Persia, Cyrus the Great, Darius, and the Achaemenid Empire! The collective knickers of the anti-Trump establishment were twisted tight. He’s an “unhinged madman,” skirled some. “Apply the 25th Amendment and remove him from office,” burped others. Bill Kristol, the smarmy Yoda of the NeverTrump coven, urged top military leaders to disobey any such orders the president might issue. The frenzied knot of moralizing mouthpieces competed mightily to show the world how lustrous their consciences were....

(Excerpt) Read more at amgreatness.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Miscellaneous; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: iran; kimball; pearlclutcherbait; trump

Click here: to donate by Credit Card

Or here: to donate by PayPal

Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794

Thank you very much and God bless you.


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: Miami Rebel
It wouldn’t gratify me to eradicate a civilization, but the threat of doing so has come and gone, and it’s not the first red line that’s evaporated in this war.

47 years of presidents kicking the can down the road.

Finally we have a president who is doing something.

I don't think Trump has taken anything off the table. Not sure why you think he has.

21 posted on 04/12/2026 8:22:17 AM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: FreeReign

Anything is possible under the sun.

Two things are true: since the inception of hostilities, we have not accomplished unconditional surrender of our enemy despite repeated claims of victory.* And we have made threats which we’ve backed down from.

* No, I didn’t dream that.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!

“After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.

“IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).”

DJT, March 6


22 posted on 04/12/2026 8:32:19 AM PDT by Miami Rebel (RE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: FreeReign

They still have multiple transit points by rail and trucks.


23 posted on 04/12/2026 8:32:33 AM PDT by DownInFlames (P)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: hotsteppa

Plus the Saudis opening up their pipeline makes the strait somewhat moot.


24 posted on 04/12/2026 9:14:58 AM PDT by Shady (#EnoughIsEnough, and we have HAD ENOUGH!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino

Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever you say… lol


25 posted on 04/12/2026 9:16:39 AM PDT by BB62
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: wardaddy

Team NeverTrump shows up as usual.

I can never decide if they are Bill Kristol stooges, or just useful idiots for Obama’s favorite Muslim regime.

Either way the Mullahs, the Squad, and Momdani should send them a nice Thank You gift.


26 posted on 04/12/2026 9:23:50 AM PDT by Pelham (President Eisenhower. Operation Wetback 1953-54)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

In conversation with Maria Bartiromo (Fox Business Channel) this morning, Trump commented on the reactions to his comment that the Mullahs in Tehran make peace or “a whole civilization will end tonite”. He noted that for 47 years the Mullahs have been saying “Death to America” , and the media just shrugged it off.


27 posted on 04/12/2026 9:27:28 AM PDT by Wuli ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DownInFlames
They still have multiple transit points by rail and trucks.

And we have full air space control over those transit points.

28 posted on 04/12/2026 9:27:58 AM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Miami Rebel

As I said, finally we have a president who is doing something.

I don’t think Trump has taken anything off the table. Not sure why you think he has.


29 posted on 04/12/2026 9:30:08 AM PDT by FreeReign
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: FreeReign

We have so many satellites covering Iran that nothing moves without us knowing it. Add that to air supremacy and this pause is little more than target acquisition.


30 posted on 04/12/2026 9:39:26 AM PDT by Pelham (President Eisenhower. Operation Wetback 1953-54)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Rummyfan

Iran has no morality panic not an issue.


31 posted on 04/12/2026 12:54:54 PM PDT by Vaduz (NEVER TRUST A DEMOCRAT)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson