Neocons rejoice!

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President Donald Trump’s Tuesday UN speech has neoconservatives giddy with joy. The president kicked open the door to bigger, better endless wars in the years ahead– and the military-industrial class is scrambling to offer the White House suggestions on who the U.S. ought to bomb first.

As I noted in my earlier report on Trump’s UN speech, one of the clearest takeaways is that the “axis of evil” created by the Bush Doctrine is still the top excuse for the U.S. to continue policing the world militarily. His neocon forever-wars endure, nearly a decade after George W. Bush left the White House.

Trump’s remarks regarding North Korea were especially telling because, without saying it outright, the president drew a red line he’s daring the Hermit Kingdom to cross during his Tuesday speech.

Trump said: “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.  Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.  The United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully this will not be necessary.  That’s what the United Nations is all about; that’s what the United Nations is for.  Let’s see how they do.

“It is time for North Korea to realize that the denuclearization is its only acceptable future.”

Could any reasonable international observer expect North Korea to accept that it must relinquish its nuclear capabilities? Certainly not.

And Trump’s do it, or else position means that it’s only a matter of time before the U.S. military gets involved.

The president also hit out at Iran, calling the nuclear deal brokered with the nation under the Obama administration an “embarrassment.”

“It is time for the entire world to join us in demanding that Iran’s government end its pursuit of death and destruction,” Trump said.

“The entire world understands that the good people of Iran want change, and, other than the vast military power of the United States, that Iran’s people are what their leaders fear the most,” the president continued. “This is what causes the regime to restrict Internet access, tear down satellite dishes, shoot unarmed student protestors, and imprison political reformers.”

If any of that seems a little familiar, it’s because it that’s the same sort of hyping we heard from top U.S. officials ahead of multiple regime change efforts throughout the Middle East in recent history.

Speaking of regime change, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad is still in the U.S. cross-hairs.

“The actions of the criminal regime of Bashar al-Assad, including the use of chemical weapons against his own citizens — even innocent children — shock the conscience of every decent person.  No society can be safe if banned chemical weapons are allowed to spread.  That is why the United States carried out a missile strike on the airbase that launched the attack,” Trump said.

Of course, it’s worth remembering that the jury is still out on whether Assad actually did use chemical weapons ahead of the Trump-ordered bombing.

The bottom line is that Trump’s foreign policy doctrine has morphed from calls to halt U.S. military adventurism and policing on the campaign trail to expressing a belief that demands, military punishment and preemptive strikes will make America great before the UN General Assembly.

It wasn’t long ago, remember, that the president was openly musing about the prospect of the U.S. leaving that body altogether to focus more intently on domestic issues while protecting the nation’s border and keeping U.S. guns pointed out.

And if you’re still unsure whether the new Trump actually is different from the campaign trail Trump, just take a look at some of his new supporters.

Like warmonger Sen. Lindsey Graham who shifted from criticizing candidate Trump’s every foreign policy proposal to cheering President Trump’s announcement in August that we will be doubling down on the endless Afghan war.

Graham said at the time: “I’m proud of the fact that President Trump made a national security decision, not a political decision. I’m proud of the fact that he listened to the generals, and I’m most proud of the fact that he showed the will to stand up to radical Islam. I’m relieved he did not take the advice to withdraw, which would have been disastrous, or create a mercenary army, so I’m very pleased. Very thoughtful, very inspiring speech, and I can assure you a lot of people in Congress will be behind the president.”

Sen. John “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran” McCain is also warming to Trump.

And why wouldn’t he? McCain’s spent decades attempting to drag the U.S. into military conflicts with Iran and North Korea.

When Trump said on the campaign trail that Americans are tired of endless, fruitless war, he was totally correct. But he’s in Washington now. He’s getting his insight from a different breed of Americans than the Main Street Joes he was talking to back then.

Personal Liberty

Sam Rolley

After covering news and politics for traditional media outlets, Sam Rolley took a position at Personal Liberty Media Group where he focuses on his true passions: national politics and liberty issues. In his daily columns and reports, Rolley works to help readers recognize lies perpetuated by the mainstream media and develop a better understanding of issues ignored by more conventional outlets. Follow him on Twitter @SamRolley