By Carol Lucas
So it takes a war to create the ultimate diversion? A war that has already claimed the lives of three of our military. An illegal war, I might add, but then, that’s a minor consideration to those calling the shots — no pun intended.
For those of you who still wish to defend the so-called leader of our country, I suggest you might want to review the United States Constitution. It takes Congressional vote to engage in wartime activity. I humbly suggest, dear reader, that bombing another country constitutes “wartime activity.”
In Article I, the Constitution empowers Congress to provide for the common defense through a set of enumerated authorities concerning war and national security. Central among these powers is Clause 11 of Article I, Section 8, which authorizes Congress to declare war. (Wikipedia)
But then remember Venezuela. First the attack on boats supposedly carrying drugs, something that was never proven. That, however, wasn’t enough to satisfy our warmongers.
On Jan. 3, 2026, the United States launched a military strike in Venezuela and captured the incumbent Venezuelan president and his wife; the U.S. operation was code-named Operation Absolute Resolve. The U.S. Armed Forces bombed infrastructure across northern Venezuela to suppress air defenses.
And let us not forget Greenland and the “threat” to overtake that piece of land.
White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said on Jan. 6, 2026 that President Donald Trump and his advisers are discussing a range of options to acquire Greenland and that “utilizing the U.S. military is always an option.”
“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” Leavitt said in a statement obtained by ABC News’ Rachel Scott.
She surely didn’t mean 47’s buddy, Vlad.
Denmark and its NATO allies pushed back after Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller claimed the U.S. has a right to Greenland and did not rule out the use of American military force to seize it.
Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, in a joint statement with Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said, “Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona said he would introduce a war powers resolution focused on Greenland.
“We must stop him before he invades another country on a whim,” Gallego wrote on social media. “No more forever wars.”
Newsflash! This most recent attack, with casualties already mounting, indicates very simply that 47 is willing to shift focus to another region. Furthermore, let me reiterate that the focus is AWAY from the Epstein files, 47’s Achilles’ heel, a bit different than bone spurs, but I digress.
Meanwhile, Somalia has become a lightning rod for MAGA Republicans, with Trump calling the country a “hell hole” and repeatedly attacking Somali immigrants in the U.S. as “garbage who contribute nothing,” comments that have sparked widespread backlash.
According to the think tank, New America, 47 has so far launched 135 strikes in that country in his second term, more than the entire Bush Jr, Obama and Biden presidencies combined.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched Operation Hawkeye Strike against Isis in Syria, in coordination with Jordan, in December of 2025. The most recent attacks took place earlier this month.
Yes, the operation was a direct response to the killing of two U.S. soldiers and a civilian U.S. interpreter. However, three additional U.S. military personnel and two members of Syria’s security services were injured in the attacks. 47 blamed Isis for the attacks, but Syrian officials said the attacker was a disgruntled member of the security services facing dismissal over allegations of holding extremist views.
On Christmas Day 2025, 47 ordered strikes against Isis targets in Nigeria after he accused the group of targeting Christians. The U.S. military confirmed “multiple fatalities” after camps in Sokoto state near the border with Niger were hit during the strikes.
U.S. secretary of defense Pete Hegseth said of the attacks: “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The Department of War is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.”
He added: “Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!” He then warned: “More to come …” 47 said the attacks were “powerful and deadly” and “at levels not seen for many years, even centuries!”
Superlatives continue to abound!
When 47 began his second term in office, it was on the promise of putting “America First.” For many of his MAGA supporters, that meant rejecting interventionist policies that had overextended the country’s military commitments across the globe. Where are you now?
His National Security Strategy, published last year, promised that “the affairs of other countries are our concern only if their activities directly threaten our interests.” (Independent-U.S. edition)
To say that 47 is playing fast and loose with our military is an understatement. None of what I have included in this piece had congressional approval.
Up to now, we have lost three members of our military, and let’s not forget the 100-plus Iranian school children.
Let me conclude with this: under this administration we now have a Department of War rather than a Department of Defense. Let that settle into your brain. To me, it speaks volumes. To those of you who support this, I have one suggestion — a vacation in Ukraine.
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”