Trump’s War Harms Europe
As Yogi Berra said: it’s like déjà vu all over again.
Last year, the US and Iran were in the midst of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program when Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran, killing various scientists and military leaders and striking missile production facilities. After 12 days of fighting, Trump sent B-2 bombers to destroy Iran’s underground nuclear sites and supposedly left them “totally obliterated”.
Fast forward to this year. The US and Iran were once again in the midst of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme when Israel and the US launched yet another surprise attack, killing Ayatollah Khamenei and other military leaders. This was done, Trump explained, to ensure that “Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon” (even though its nuclear programme had supposedly been destroyed six months earlier.)
After just two days of fighting, the entire region is on fire. Israel and the US have been striking Iran relentlessly. Iran has retaliated by firing drones and ballistic missiles at Israel and US bases across the Persian Gulf.
What are the implications for Britain and the rest of Europe if the war continues? Overwhelmingly negative.
It’s often said that Iran supports ‘terrorism’. However, Iran-backed groups have not been able to carry out any major terror attacks in Europe (except for isolated incidents involving Israelis and Iranian dissidents). On the other hand, Trump recently boasted that he “essentially put” the new Syrian President into office. Al Sharaa, as he is now called, is a former leader of Al-Qaeda who once had a $10 million bounty on his head. And Al-Qaeda, of course, killed hundreds of Europeans in half a dozen major attacks across the continent.
If former Al-Qaeda leaders can be rewarded with presidencies, it makes no sense to start a war for the vague benefit of stopping ‘terrorism’. In fact, the war seems far more likely to increase the risk of terrorism against Europeans. Senior Shia clerics have, unsurprisingly, declared a fatwa against the US and Israel as revenge for the assassination of Khamenei. And random Shia Muslims who act on this injunction may interpret it as applying to Europeans too.
However, terrorism is the least of our immediate worries.
It has been obvious for months that, if the US attacked Iran, Iran might retaliate by striking energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf and closing the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Such retaliation appears to have begun. Qatar has already halted production of natural gas, sending natural gas futures skyrocketing. If strikes on oil and gas infrastructure continue, we could be looking at a second European energy crisis. Putin, meanwhile, will be laughing all the way to the bank.
The biggest worry of all concerns migration. A war lasting weeks, or even months, has the potential to create another huge refugee crisis. Iran alone has a population of 93 million people and if only 5% flee to Europe, that’s 4.6 million refugees. (About 5% of Syria’s population fled to Europe in 2015, so the figure is not unrealistic.)
European interests would be served by ending this war as soon as possible. Yet at the present time, both sides are digging in their heels.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Where to begin ? So much of this article is tendentious nonsense but I don’t have the energy to write a similar length article to rebut much of the many distortions in the article and, anyway, even if I did, no-one would read it anyway. I am really surprised, as I usually agree with most of what Mr Carl writes.
I would read it
I don’t have strong opinions one way or the other
People who engage in content-free labelling of political opponents don’t usually do that because they could actually argue their case instead. Or at least, everytime I’ve asked someone to do that (usually related to German discussions of the AfD), the outcome was only abuse and more BS, never anything substantial.
Thanks – I have now written something (see below). I hope you find it of interest.
Come on, I am sure you can muster up at least one cogent point, Jam
I shall write something and post it here tomorrow ……..
It has long been the case that Iran wishes to destroy, and I mean totally destroy, the State of Israel and do as much severe damage to the USA as may be possible (“Death to America”). This has had nothing to do with whichever party or person is in power in these two democratic countries — this desire has been uncompromising and fundamental to the purpose of the Islamic Republic. Faced with such a situation (uncontested), it is perfectly sensible and reasonable for both Israel and the USA to enact a policy which has as its aim(s) either or both the destruction of Iran’s offensive capabilities and a change in the regime which unceasingly promotes this agenda. Note : neither Israel nor the USA wishes to obliterate, destroy or break up the Iranian State – they just wish to live in peace with it for the long term and for there to be an intelligent and peaceable democratic government in control there. So, given that the Iranian regime’s whole psyche is bent towards visiting death and destruction on Israel/USA as soon as circumstances may permit, it makes eminent sense for I/USA to launch a surprise attack on Iran and attempt to eliminate both its offensive… Read more »
Thanks.
Has Iran explicitly stated they want to destroy the USA and Israel? I don’t think the destruction of the USA is a very realistic goal. I suppose they could try if they had nuclear weapons, though can they really believe it would end well?
It seems to me this is mainly about Israel and ensuring that they remain the most significant military power in the region (leaving aside states like KSA which is supposedly an ally of the US).
Yes, they have on multiple occasions explicitly stated that they wish to destroy and eradicate Israel. I did not write that they wished to destroy the USA and I agree that that goal would be completely unrealistic. But, as I wrote, they do wish to do as much severe damage to the USA as may be possible and have frequently acted upon that wish over the past 46 years. Thanks for reading. I maintain that the majority of Mr Carl’s article is tendentious nonsense.
Thanks. It could all be rhetoric.
When have they damaged the USA?
Well, it could be, I suppose – but it doesn’t read like that to me; it seems to me to be his sincere straightforward belief.
As for damage to America, where to begin ? The hostage-taking of the US Embassy staff right at the beginning might be a good start. Then, one of the most egregious instances was the two huge truck bombs that killed 241 US Marines in Beirut (as well as many French servicemen) in 1983. Regardless of the actual operative(s) who rigged the bombs and drove the trucks, this was 100% an Iranian funded and organised attack. Plenty more in the subsequent 43 years ………
Too many people are suffering with TIGS – Trump Is God Syndrome. It seems clear to me now that Trump is part of the global cabal. Cleverly appearing to be one thing whilst actually being something quite different. His goals are their goals – division, destruction and the end of the nation state, all to create a new world order. His approach is just different; by appearing to be for the nation state he can disrupt and dismantle other states with gushing reviews from those that believe the nation state is sacrament. He can oppose war whilst starting war, be for the people whilst pushing AI and supporting Big Business, be uniting whilst dividing, be building whilst destroying. I believe he’s the guy that’s wheeled out when too many patriots are staring hard at what’s hidden in plain sight.
Sorry mate but you are away barking up a brainwashed tree. Illegal Migration into the USA is now ZERO, while our squirmer’s stand by as hundreds of thousands of migrants just turn up expecting to be housed and fed. This continual flood of migrants is what is destroying National Identity, culture, tradition and history, and is being done deliberately by our One World Government UN Lackey Political Class. It is they who want Global Governance and the end of the Nation State. Because it helps them achieve their goals of open borders so we all just feel like good little global citizens. ——-Why do you think Starmer “Prefers Davos to Westminster”?
I’m not your mate. You’re obviously very clever; have you ever been to the theatre?
TDS sufferer.
Agreed!
Trump’s war?
If Iran got a nuclear weapon it was all of our wars.
Factor in decades sponsorship of global terror, you may wish to amend your headline.
When it comes to decades of global terror, some might think that the USA leads in that.
No. Unless you are a Communist or Islamist or Irish Republican.
I’ve just got a moral compass sunshine.
Give your fur a stroke. You’re obviously a better person than we are.
But you have left it in a steel box.
It’s defective.
Or Iranian bot
Oh please, don’t start all this bot rubbish. Are you unable to put together a cogent argument.
Why exclude the Russians?
This is a joke, right?
Without the USA we would all be overrun by the barbarian hordes, and before that we would have had a signed photo of the Fuhrer on our walls.
Thank God another gulf state with weapons of mass desctruction could be stopped in its tracks!
While I don’t claim to know anything the actual situation in Iran, I recognize “Terrorism! Gangster regime!! WMDs!!!” as the stock justifications they are.
Thank you, RW. We have memories, it seems.
So do you believe that USA should make a pre-emptive attack on Pakistan? They have nuclear weapons and offered them to Iran.
Even though I loathe Islam and the endless misery it has caused since it was invented, I don’t believe that nuclear weapons exist. I agree with those who say Hiroshima was just Firebombed like Dresden, and they called it a nuclear weapon. As someone said, “Everything we have been taught is a lie.”
Whilst I know that most official truths I am told about water are not true, I know water exists.
Yes, it does, and it is miraculous. See my post below about water & nuclear weapons…
What an odd thing to believe – or do I mean disbelieve? My father witnessed two nuclear explosions when stationed at Christmas Island (and was later treated for an aggressive skin cancer). Do you believe nuclear power exists or do they just have a coal fired power station under the dome?
The Physics of Fear: Why Nuclear Weapons Cannot Exist
“The physics tell a different story than the one we’ve inherited. Judge explains that nuclear chain reactions require thermal neutrons—slow neutrons that have been moderated down to speeds where they’re 500-600 times more likely to cause fission. In reactors, water serves this purpose, slowing neutrons by a factor of 10,000 through repeated collisions. But a bomb? No moderator, no water, just fast neutrons that zip away uselessly. The Hiroshima bomb, supposedly detonated at 1,800 feet after dropping from 30,000 feet, would have had less than a microsecond to achieve its entire chain reaction. Without slow neutrons, the reaction couldn’t even begin. This is why reactor meltdowns like Chernobyl melt into radioactive puddles rather than exploding—the physics simply don’t allow it.”
Lets be honest. This isn’t entirely about nuclear weapons, but it does have a lot to do with Iran being the progenitor of much of the impact of radical Islam on the west, never mind the ordinary Iranian. As much as we’d all like to see things concluded peacefully, I suspect that the only way to deal with this is in language that they understand, namely a good punch in the face. There are no morals in a bar room brawl.
Iran has been at war with, inter alia, the UK since 1979.
Anything negative affecting the UK/EU is self inflicted. Iran was warned several times, and many times over the last 40 years. It’s not a war, it’s justice. You need to decide what you stand for and what side you’re on Noah.
I think Mr Carl is on the same side as you and I. He may just have a different view to you on how best to further the interests of our side.
If you think this is Trump’s war, give your head a wobble.
As per usual this has got the Neocons/AIPAC/Israel written all over it.
“No more foreign wars” said Trump. Lol.
Did Bibi say they’d nuke Iran if the US didn’t obey, is a rumour doing the rounds (Carlson).
Making Israel safe is all that matters it would seem. That said, just see how many in the Middle East will hate Israel even more.
Nobody’s got a clue how this might end, but at least Ukraine should “lose” more quickly.
War and publication of the whole truth never fit well together. No doubt some will benefit from the shortage of gas supplies via that route – look at the share prices of some firms. However, apart from global marketing price wise, it appears that most of the Qatar output goes to Asia, not Europe. The Net Zero fans may benefit from it as well – unless the Treasury reaiises that it might be worth investing in extracting more oil & gas, maybe even coal, closer to home again.
“Qatar has already halted production of natural gas, sending natural gas futures skyrocketing. If strikes on oil and gas infrastructure continue, we could be looking at a second European energy crisis”
Britain receives 22-25% of our gas supplies through Milford Haven terminals from LNG terminals in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Gas is the only fuel that keeps the reserve generation necessary for grid stability. This could be the reality that our globalist placemen will need to confront. Its March. Winter isn’t over yet.
”Iran has attacked more Arab countries in the last 24 hours than Israel in the last 10 years.” Ahmed Al-Khalidi ”Trump’s war”? Trump is playing an integral part in dismantling a sadistic and brutal dictatorship, an Islamic theocracy which has occupied that country, persecuted the Iranians and been a massive funder of terrorism and threat to the wider world for many years. It’s a known fact that there’s jihadists and sleeper cells courtesy of the Regime already in European countries due to the porous borders and ‘free for all’ lax attitude towards mass immigration. They’re just part of the fixtures and fittings now. Speaking of jihadists being embedded: anyone in Crewe know what this is? I too would think this is dodgy AF if I was living nextdoor. People in the comments saying it’s Shia Muslims training but no confirmation. You know they always go extra psycho when it’s Ramadan, but it could equally be something entirely innocent; ”Update of the woman having to live next to whatever the hell is being allowed to go on here! It’s in Crewe an old orphanage bought up by You know who seems to be turned into some kind of training camp? Why… Read more »
They’re a different flavour of Muslims, apparently: ‘The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light’. Never heard of them; ”Yesterday, love conquered fear and hate: A planned protest was held opposite The Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Headquarters in Crewe, England by far-right activists. In response, anti-racism protestors came to the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Headquarters to stand against hatred, intolerance and racism. Activists from “Stand Up to Racism” and “Women Against the Far Right” joined us in our stand, as well as members of NORSCARF – “North Staffordshire Campaign Against Racism and Fascism”. The supporters of anti-racism were chanting slogans such as “Without love there is no life!” – a quote from Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan, one of the founding fathers of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light, as well as “Humanity First!” A principle and quote of the Qaim Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. Other slogans included “This is what community looks like!” And “No more hatred, no more fear – racism’s not welcome here!” The Hashem’s Choir also contributed with some songs that promoted peace, unity and love. We would like to thank these organisations as well as the Crewe police force and councillor Ben Wye… Read more »
The Ahmadi temple/mosque near us had no signage for years. Not for fear of far-right activists – many Muslims regard them as heretics.
I hadn’t even heard of them, and to be honest, I don’t blame people for tarring them all with the same brush, even though this is borne of ignorance. I think now people just hear the word ”Muslim” or ”Islam” and it immediately gives a certain impression, despite the fact we should all be treating people as individuals first and foremost, but I get how people would be naturally suspicious to begin with.
I went away and did a bit of research and it’s quite interesting;
”The AROPL began in Iraq and is now active across 40 countries. It estimates that 7,000 people have had contact with the movement. In 2018, the movement had a base in Sweden but, since 2021, it has had its headquarters in England.
The AROPL believes that 99 per cent of every religion is wrong, including Islam. It views itself as the true Islam and universal religion, claiming that the Quran has been corrupted. Rather than praying five times a day, members have no obligatory prayers but consider prayer as a constant state where believers talk to God from their heart.”
https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/factsheet-the-ahmadi-religion-of-peace-and-light/
“Trump’s War”??? Not really. It’s more like Israel’s Latest Grudge Match against different “Amaleks”, using America’s Armed Forces as proxies to fight this re-enactment to celebrate “Purim”, which began at sunset this very evening.
Remember Syria being attacked and destroyed, its rightful ruler driven into exile? That was also a kind of “Amalek” revenge match, because the ancient tribe of Assyrians did something or other thousands of years ago to annoy the Hebrews.
Now they’ve got the US President talking about American “boots on the ground”, with no mention of ISRAELI boots on the ground, and no mention of how Yet Another Foreign War will benefit America or Europe, or anyone but Israel. See the following Infowars article on this:
The Grudge: What Happens in Iran Next Will Decide the Fate of America First
—
Maybe it was Iranians who told them.
…that was my response to your original comment:
“I wonder who told the Iranians which skyscraper in Bahrain the US military command were staying, which has reportedly been hit by Iranian missiles and set ablaze?
Who told them?”
I removed my comment immediately after seeing conflicting information on a Bahrainian website about the photo evidence, making its veracity unclear.
I can see there are dangerous ethical precedents in the US/Israeli action, along with implications for international law (for as much as that is worth), and of course, a departure from President’s Trump’s USP of ‘no foreign wars’. I also agree that we need to look to our own interests. But the negatives you have identified for Europe in this situation are because of Europe’s powerlessness and the appalling decision making by our ‘leaders’ over the past few years (or longer). We all know how disastrous our energy and immigration policies are. As for Islamic terrorism, surely suggesting such a thing exists is pure Islamophobia.
The UK and EU establishment should be thrilled. It accelerates the transition to their renewable energy hellscape.
They cut us off on purpose from Russian oil and gas (or so they pretend anyway). This is just more of that. Even less oil and gas for the UK and Europe. Just the way they want it apparently.
The biggest worry?
Up to you, but this is my biggest worry:
‘It is not difficult to see that 20 to 25 kilograms of 90-percent enriched HEU could be used to make a first-generation implosion weapon similar in design to the “Fat Man” plutonium weapon that destroyed Nagasaki in 1945—albeit one that is larger in diameter and considerably heavier.
At 60 percent enrichment, the IAEA significant quantity corresponds to 41.7 kilograms of total uranium (or 1.5 times the significant quantity at 90 percent). This means that, at least for a specific weapon design, a fixed stockpile of HEU would support a smaller number of weapons at 60 percent than at 90 percent. An analogous Fat Man-type design at 60 percent could require about twice as much total uranium as at 90 percent. This suggests that Iran’s stockpile of 408 kilograms, as reported by the IAEA, could be used to make roughly 6 to 7 weapons of that type’
‘Iran’s longest-range missiles are reportedly capable of striking targets of up to 2,000 kilometers (roughly 1,240 miles) away, perhaps further, covering all of the Middle East and parts of Europe.’
Depending on how long the war lasts for the spike in LNG prices could temporarily push the cost of electricity from gas above the strike price for new offshore wind. Millibrain will ignore the fact that the price spike will only last a few weeks or months and we’ll never hear the last of him saying “see I told you renewables were cheaper”.
Allowing Iran to continue its malign activities would be seriously damaging to the whole western world and much of the rest as well. Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaB-GNL-dso
How long, do you think, before Milibandoffools realises the the energy security of the UK might be bolstered by the reopening of North Sea oil and gas fields?
Never. That would involve a change of stance of which he is totally incapable. He’s more likely to use the volatility of oil and gas markets as justification for moving away from oil and gas altogether. He doesn’t do logic when it conflicts with his net zero beliefs.
And what would you do Mr Carl, bury your head in the desert sand and pretend Iran isn’t a problem that needs to be dealt with?
You cannot negotiate with fanatical Islamists so what’s the option? Large areas of Britain and the rest of Europe are being colonised by Muslims. Do you make a stand against their radical leaders or sit back and wait to be stabbed in the throat?
What harms Europe is Net Zero and Mass Migration. So Europe is actually harming itself —–BIG STYLE. What also harms Europe and the World is having this State Sponsored Terrorist Regime in Power. It funds terror, and that directly affects us in the UK and Europe. For that reason alone that regime needs to be eliminated and if it were not for Trump then they would pretty soon have Nuclear Weapons and would be virtually impossible to dismantle. IT has to be done now before the hand wringing Democrats return, if American voters are so dumb as to vote for them that is.
Americans have written off Europe. Europe is going to be a third-world poverty-stricken caliphate. Some Europeans have begun to wake up and smell the coffee, but nowhere near enough. That’s why Trump is determined to secure Greenland. The impact of this war on Europeans is of little interest. If it causes more of them to realise where things are going, so much the better.
Harm Europe? You mean the self-harming Fourth Reich circling the drain?
The EU is busy implementing its Pact for Asylum & Migration where the distribution of quotas of migrants to ALL EU Member States starts in June this year. By now (I assume) that all member states have been told the number they are going to receive in the 12 months from June. The only figure I have seen is one given out by Viktor Orban at the beginning of the year – 23,000 for Hungary. When this idiocy was announced early in 2024, Orbans Government stated that they would NOT participate in this quota scheme and would put any migrants sent to Hungary on buses and send them back to Brussels.
In implementing this new system the EU claims it is going to control and reduce the flow of migrants crossing the EU’s external borders. The EU (when it wakes up) needs to recognise the possibility of a mass exodus of Iranians setting off to Europe and state that the EU borders are closed. Completely closed. Right now.
This isn’t an entirely accurate analysis in my view
Iran is the centre of evil on this planet. The demise of the Islamic Republic or Iran, would stop the funding of everything from Hesbolla to varied amount of home grown threats and well funded domestic groups no doubt.
The intention is is strikingly different…and the outcomes already so. Unlike Iraq the leader and much of the government is already dead.
It would at first glance appear to have been more successful instantaneously – much of the reason for this war wouldn’t exist if the Europeans and democratic US admins hadn’t been so limp wristed. He may not have wiped out the Nukes first time – who can know for certain – there are other ways of acquiring Nukes and. Is there anyone who would hole their hands up and say they approved of Iran having such weapons?
There is also strong support for a more liberal government in Iran and there should be no infidels on the ground to fight in the streets for another decade.
Actually…this was always going to happen. Either this or them using much worse a weapon against Israel. Imho.