In response to Simon Tisdall's article, readers challenge the notion that the current Iran crisis is solely the result of Donald Trump's presidency. David Eaton of Sunderland argues that focusing on Trump's personal defects risks overlooking the structural problems of US foreign policy. He writes: "If Donald Trump is uniquely reckless, that deserves criticism. Yet the article implies that America's present predicament is chiefly the consequence of his character, rather than asking why successive administrations, Republican and Democrat alike, have repeatedly resorted to military intervention in the Middle East."
Broader context of the Strait of Hormuz
Eaton further contends that the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz predates Trump and reflects a global economic order dependent on secure energy supplies and military power projection. He notes that history offers little comfort, citing the Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya conflicts under more conventional presidencies. "Trump may be the spectacle, but he is not the problem. The article focuses on the drama rather than the system that keeps producing it," Eaton concludes.
Continuation of American history
Blaine Stothard of London echoes this sentiment, describing the Trump administration's excesses as a continuation of American history. He points out that since World War I, the US has initiated wars for oil, against communism, drugs, terror, and Islam, all of which have failed to achieve their aims. "I'm not sure we should see Trump as an aberration – more as a more shameless manifestation of what has always been there," Stothard writes.
Who will stop Trump?
Harvey Gilbert of Milton Keynes agrees with Tisdall but questions who will stop Trump. He notes that while polls show Trump's weakness, upcoming elections may not resolve the issue due to weak Democratic opposition and Trump's tendency to confuse results. Gilbert suggests that the answer lies within the Republican party, where enough right-thinking Republicans could turn votes against him. However, he warns of further issues, including the potential for Trump to cause catastrophic damage before the November elections and the possibility of Marco Rubio taking over. "God save us all," he adds.
