Trump was right to bomb Iran. Even Democrats will be safer because of it.
The fact that progressives can't give President Trump this win − a win that will give us a safer world − is yet another indicator of why the Democratic Party continues to devolve into irrelevance.
While the Middle East slept early on June 22, the Islamic Republic of Iran discovered that the Trump administration's diplomatic efforts have an end date.
With a planned and precise show of controlled force, the U.S. military "obliterated" three of Iran's major nuclear sites.
In a June 22 news conference, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dispelled any notion that the strike on Iran was ad hoc or done to goad Iran into a full-blown war with the United States.
"The order we received from our commander in chief was focused, it was powerful and it was clear," Hegseth said. "We devastated the Iranian nuclear program."
That is good news for the United States and its allies. The fact that progressives can't give President Donald Trump this win − a win that will give us a safer, more stable world − is yet another indicator of why the Democratic Party continues to devolve into irrelevance.
With 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' Trump sent Iran a message
Trump is already receiving extraordinary criticism for this attack on Iran. Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York have called for his impeachment because Trump, like other presidents before him, launched the attack without congressional approval. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said Trump's decision displayed "horrible judgment."
Yet, there is ample precedent of presidents, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, ordering targeted military strikes without prior congressional approval under the War Powers Act.
Did Congress approve Iran bombing? AOC howls about impeaching Trump. But president had the authority to bomb Iran. | Opinion
Reactionary and partisan criticism from the left detracts from the success of this mission, which anyone, regardless of party affiliation, should appreciate.
It appears that Operation Midnight Hammer was an incredible show of the U.S. military's strength and precision.
"The scope and scale of what occurred last night would take the breath away of almost any American if you had an opportunity to watch it in real time," Hegseth said June 22 at the Pentagon.
He noted that America's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers "went in and out ... without the world knowing at all. In that way it was historic."
Iran's nuclear capabilities were a threat
Concerns about retaliation from Iran are serious, of course, and U.S. forces are braced for it. But the threat of Iran, a country that has long bankrolled terrorism in the Middle East and around the world, building nuclear weapons shouldn't be minimized.
That fact has nothing do with political ideology or partisan politics.
Hegseth reminded reporters the morning after the attack that Trump was "fully committed to the peace process" and gave Iran "plenty of time to continue to come to the table and give up enrichment" of nuclear materials.
Iran has a long history of attacking Americans, including holding more than 50 U.S. Embassy workers hostage in 1979 for more than a year. It's accused of bankrolling the 1983 bombing of the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed 241 American service members.
Now, the Iranian regime has orchestrated attacks against American interests and allies through its terrorist proxies.
Opinion: Trump must back Israel against Iran. 'Kooky' Carlson is wrong about nuclear threat.
Despite these facts, it seems that liberals hate Trump so much that they are loathe to acknowledge that this president has now done what other presidents have done − act boldly to protect our nation and its citizens.
Trump is a different president in many ways than any who have come before him. But like other presidents, he has shown he will do what is needed to protect America and our allies and to secure long-term peace.
For that, all Americans should be thankful.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
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