Trump sends a message to ISIS in Nigeria
Trump put it this way, in characteristic fashion:
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” the president continued. …
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
This was done in coordination with the government of Nigeria, which provided the intelligence for the strikes.
When I emphasize the message aspect of this action, it’s because I think that was paramount. I don’t think it was so much about killing these particular individuals, but rather about saying, “You’re not safe anywhere, even if you’re not directly killing Americans.” I believe the goal is to have a chilling effect on the group as a whole, and on other similar groups around the world.
It’s also an interesting move of Trump’s in terms of the “America First!” part of the right that is also Christian. People such as the abominable Tucker Carlson focus on stirring up the idea that Israel is out to harm Christians in the Middle East, which is a preposterous assertion, and sometimes ignore – as Carlson does – the far greater war of Islamic extremists against Christians both in the Middle East and in Africa. This attack and these statements make it clear to people such as Carlson where Trump’s priorities lie, and challenges them to comment.
I am also struck by Trump’s language. It’s the sort of thing – the antithesis of diplomat-speak – that gets so many Trump-haters agitated and claiming that Trump’s a stupid boor. Here he speaks in almost cartoon-like language; one almost expects him to write SHAZAM!! However, I see this is very purposeful and part of his unequivocal message: I have power, and I mean business, and I mean for you to understand that.
“that gets so many Trump-haters agitated and claiming that Trump’s a stupid boor. ”
Just like a few days ago when they announced the building of next generation naval ships. Trump used the outdated term “battleship” which invokes Iowa or Missouri class ships which are obsolete. All my leftist people immediately jumped on how stupid he is saying battleship…he is so stupid he doesn’t know the difference between a battleship and a modern fast frigate.
They can’t seem to separate how he says and his general diction from what he does. Though they are so blinded by TDS his statements are immediately scrutinized for evidence of his stupidity.
… deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum…
Love it.
The same people complaining about Trump calling his proposed ship a battleship routinely call any tracked military vehicle, like the M-3 Bradley, a tank.
Finally, the US reacts.
Alan,
And they are the same ones who claim any semiautomatic gun is an assault weapon.
Calling a spade a spade, and calling scum scum. I’m all for it.
Re: “Battleship”: the worst offenders in the incorrect use of the term “battleship” are the novice journalists who think it refers to any ship capable of battle. No, that is a “warship”!
OT but related to the classification of ships: many years ago I regularly worked as an IT contractor for a client in Portland, Oregon. As I stayed there during the week, I rented an apartment and got used to listening to a local radio show every morning while commuting to work.
During my time there, a sudden flood occurred, and a visiting naval destroyer became temporarily “trapped” at its Willamette River berth, because it could not pass under a certain bridge to return to the main channel of the Columbia River, and thence to the Pacific!
Now this bridge as I recall was known as the “Iron Bridge”, and reputed to be exceedingly ugly (I don’t think I ever actually saw it).
When this news was announced on air, the host said to his on-air cohost “See this is the optimist in me! Everyone is saying that this is a problem… here we have a ship known as a “destroyer”, and in its way is the ugliest bridge in the known universe… this is NOT a problem, but a golden opportunity!!”
Needless to say cooler heads prevailed while the river went down, and the ship went on its way. But it was pretty funny around town for a few days. Okay, it was Portland, right?
Ps. Apparently there have been several “Iron Bridges” over the Willamette through the years, and this one may now be known as the Fremont Bridge.
The battleship is Trump laying down a marker to Xi and the CCP PLA (which includes its navy).
It was done in cooperation with the Nigerian government, which is currently headed by a Muslim. I think he sees the Islamists as a threat to his own position as well. Good.
And to those idiots who claim Trump is a racist, they should look at whom he just acted to defend: Nigerian Christians. May God preserve them. The same for Christians in the Middle East, China, India, Indonesia, and so on, where they are threatened and attacked.
It means nothing if we poop out a few missiles. We want to look like we are doing something when, typically, we are doing nothing. What do we hope to accomplish? This is a cultural/tribal/religious war. Unless the Christian side takes a more aggressive stance, develops a campaign plan, commits resources and personnel to it this is just a sideshow. I don’t thing the western nations really care because it’s Africa. As a former Africa analyst in the military I’ve seen this way too many times.
It was symbolic but I doubt it presages a focused campaign.
I suspect the ability of the “West” to effectively counter the deep belief systems and ideology of Islam (to thereby reduce or avoid violent terrorist attacks and related jihadi efforts) will have to focus on the historical gaps and scholastic flaws being discovered in the whole portrayal of Islamic history and the “unquestioned” nature of their scriptural documents. Only when their belief system can be effectively undermined will they lose the fervor with which they want to ride the world of the successful and prosperous “Satan” they see all around them.
I gather a growing fraction of Muslims are either ignoring real religious practices or only going through the motions to avoid social and personal difficulties from the more rabid of their peers. But 1300 million nominal and real adherents are still a great barrier to bring down.
Richard and Kate: I agree.
Richard,
You are absolutely correct. I would just point out that the US doing anything militarily in sub-Saharan Africa is very unusual. That we have done this at all is a message in itself. Will it reach its intended recipients? Don’t know.