Are We There Yet?!?
At war, I mean. Not yet, but keep your calendars open.
Things, as the kids say, escalated quickly last night, as the Iranians who have been attacking American troops via proxy for years decided to finally get their hands dirty:
Iran state TV reports that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was behind a missile attack on the Al Asad airbase in Iraq in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian commander.
Iran also attacked Erbil in northern Iraq.
The only thing anyone knew for the longest time was that the attack was underway. That didn’t prevent people from rushing to offer a seemingly endless supply of insufferable hot takes on Twitter to fill the news void.
MSNBC was provided an opportunity to commit journalistic malpractice and — true to form — pounced on it:
In the midst of watching virtually every liberal on social media say something stupid, President Trump made a Twitter appearance to clear some things up:
To make the night even weirder, a Ukrainian (“IMPEACH!”) passenger jet crashed after taking off from Tehran.
I’m no foreign policy expert, and I won’t be hazarding a guess as to how all of this is going to play out. My gut tells me that it doesn’t have the same ending that everyone in Ayatollahville thinks it does. Still, that’s just a hunch.
I am, however, capable of remembering history and the news last week as well. So I know that the notion that the United States provoked Iran and made it reluctantly come out of some gee-aren’t-they-nice reverie to attack us is absolutely absurd.
A week ago at this time, the American embassy in Tehran was under siege from militiamen who were backed by Iran.
The Iranians have been bankrolling violence against Israel and U.S. troops in the Middle East for so long that one could make the case that we’ve been at war with them for a while.
Trump Derangement Syndrome has now morphed into Iranian Apology and Appeasement Syndrome and, like every part of this Trump tantrum, is beyond wearisome.
No one wants another war, but that doesn’t mean that we have to pretend that the regime which came to power in Iran over forty years ago shouting “Death to America!” and calling the U.S. “The Great Satan” has mellowed with time. They aren’t now a bunch of cuddly teddy bears who can only be provoked because ORANGE MAN BAD.
This week is going to be a long year.
PJM Linktank
SUE ‘EM ALL. That’s One Down: CNN Settles with ‘MAGA Hat Kid’ Nick Sandmann
Iowa State Suppresses Free Speech on Eve of Iowa Caucuses, Lawsuit Alleges
Here’s a Look Inside LA’s New $600,000 to $700,000 Condos for the Homeless
Pray to Greta, Saint of Climate Change, for $18 Plus Shipping
Trump to Iran: Say Hello to My Little Friends
The Electoral Map Is Shifting in Favor of Republicans, But There’s a Catch
What BF Skinner and Richard Feynman Can Tell Us about Iran
Um…Judge Judy Backs Bloomberg, Says She Wants ‘The Greatest President’
Ohio Town Rolls Out Red Carpet for Homeless. Is Shocked When Stream of Homeless Show Up.
VIP
(Use promo code KRUISER to sign up)
The Kruiser Kabana Episode 11: Hollywood Needs Some Fiber and a Dean Martin Roast
Fact Check: Are Iranians ‘Black and Brown People’?
From the Mothership and Beyond
SAG-AFTRA Headquarters In L.A. And NY Evacuated After Phone Threat
For the cast of ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ the end is near. That means one thing: heartache
NYU Prof Slams SAFE Act As Example Of “Symbolic Politics”
Rhonda Mary: A Fresh Voice In The 2A Fight
Tedious. And fat. Michael Moore Tweets Apology For Death Of Soleimani In Farsi
“Less Stall And More Ball”: The New XFL Rules Are … Pretty Fun, Actually
Sacre Blecch: France Discovers Award-Winning Author Is Pedophile By, Er, Reading His Books
Bernie Sanders’ Escape Plan For The Impeachment Trial
Meghan McCain Has to Ask Elizabeth Warren Three Different Times: Was Soleimani a Terrorist?
As Promised, Duncan Hunter To Resign From Congress Amid Charges Of Stealing Campaign Funds
Bee Me
The Kruiser Kabana
Rickles, not war.
I’m going to swear only in British for a while.
___
PJ Media Associate Editor Stephen Kruiser is the author of “Don’t Let the Hippies Shower” and “Straight Outta Feelings: Political Zen in the Age of Outrage,” both of which address serious subjects in a humorous way. Monday through Friday he edits PJ Media’s “Morning Briefing.”