Onumba.com —- President Donald Trump reached out to European allies for help in his war with Iran, but the response has been disappointingly cricket.
The president also sought help from China, but was handed a seismic turndown ——– these refusals fueled by profound raspberry.
It’s no rocket science, folks: This war is absolutely uncalled for.
All alone, pouting and seeking global affirmation and moral imprimatur to convey a sense of military coalition, Trump frustratingly alternated between projecting a bellicose posture about the United States going it alone on the one hand and requesting, often demanding help from European allies on the other.
“My attitude is, we don’t need anybody. We’re the strongest nation in the world,” the president said.
But that’s flat-out cap ——— not the part about being the “strongest nation in the world”, though. It is the part about not needing anybody. Why then is he begging for help? Couch Trump’s overtures as a request or a demand, whatever floats your little boat, it makes no difference. European leaders are having none of it as they have resolutely refused to be dragged into the military conflict with Iran.
But why would Europe ——- Britain, France and Germany in particular ——- kick the United States to the curb ——- a striking departure from the historical norm? The European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas framed the feeling of these European nations and their decision to sit this one out this way:
“This is not Europe’s war. We didn’t start the war. We were not consulted.”
The war ——- now three weeks in, although paused for five days to give a negotiated armistice a chance ——- leaves a lethal combo of United States and Israel to forge ahead.
In the weeks leading up to the suspension of hostilities, Iranian oil and military facilities were targets of ferocious bombardment. Trump had threatened more punishing attacks targeting Iranian oil infrastructures. Iran retaliated, unleashing fierce assault against Israel, US regional bases and nations in the region with ties to the United States, threatening to widen the orbit of the brutal conflict throughout the Middle east.
And speaking of help, more appropriately lack of it, Trump had initially expressed cinch level confidence about European nations quickly rallying to his cause, pointing to decades of United States bankrolling and guaranteeing their security. But that was all wishful thinking. It is true though that the United States had Europe’s back for eons ——– a fact Europeans leaders would nod in agreement ——- still, they came down in vehement opposition to this war ——— at best lukewarm ——- about being pulled into a conflict they had no heads-up was even in the making.
British snub was particularly jaw-dropping, so much so, that Trump admitted as much.
“I was not happy with U.K.,” he said. “They should be involved enthusiastically .We’ve been protecting these countries for years.”
Both the United States and the U.K. have enjoyed a long and deep history of rolling in tandem addressing a potpourri of global pursuits, but Prime Minister Keir Starmer disregarded all of that and made it abundantly clear his decision not to involve Britain in Trump’s conflict.
The Prime Minister noted his reasons: Britain “will not be drawn into the wider war,” adding: “British troops require the backing of international law and a proper-thought-through plan.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed parallel sentiments.
“It is not our war, we did not start it,” he said.
France passed, as well, but has since softened its tone after agreeing to help only when the conflict significantly ebbs. That could imply willingness to chip in only as a peace keeping force. But that’s half the story emanating from France. Sylvie Bermann, former French ambassador to China, the UK and Russia lampooned Trump’s insulting approach to asking for help ——— decrying it as a blend of hubris and brutal antagonism on the one hand and a genteel plea for genuine assistance on the other.
“You’re useless, we’re the strongest, we don’t need you, but come,” anyway.
It goes without saying that this is Israel’s war, even though big uncle United States has swaggered in to offer military support to the Zionist state while looking to deploy its global muscle to pitch for assistance from more nations. 
But as the conflict remains paused, and negotiations ongoing, where this is headed is anyone’s guess.
“We’ll see how that goes, and if it goes well, we’re going to end up settling this,” Trump said. “Otherwise, we’ll just keep bombing our little hearts out.”
We know where European nations stand on this war, but what about the countries in the middle-east? Major players ——- notably a trifecta of Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan had initially assumed a neutral posture , but would later shift allegiance to the United States after Iran bombed oil facilities of neighboring countries.
Iran weathered the blistering and bruising spate of the initial shock and awe that took out supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was summarily replaced by his son Mojtaba. As hostilities escalated, concern grew over the disruption of oil distribution globally. One-fifth of the world’s oil offered in the open market flows through Strait of Hormuz, which is the linchpin of the ongoing negotiations to end the hostilities.
Meanwhile, several key figures of the Iranian government have been killed. Trump’s mission was to crush Iranian fighting forces, decapitate the nation’s leadership and cause the regime to collapse.
Not so fast, though. The words of the dethroned Shar of Iran decades ago might prove prophetic. He warned that United States war with Iran would most certainly morph into a bitter, painful quagmire.
“We are not going to surrender.”
Now that I got your attention: If you are a Nigerian residing abroad and you do not own at least one plot of land anywhere in the nation’s 36 states and the FCT Abuja, dude, you will regret it. Given that, I strongly suggest you drop everything and start making arrangements to secure one ———- more if you can afford it. The Chinese, the Indians, the Lebanese and a host of other thirsty immigrants are pouring into the country and beating the heck out of you to the punch. Do it now and thank me later with a bottle of palm wine.
