As we brace for the inevitable cycle of violent escalation with Iran, observers are looking at cowardly demagogue and pathological liar Donald "Cadet Bone Spurs" Trump's decision to assassinate Iran's leading general, Qassem Soleimani, a move that skipped several rungs on the escalation ladder and went right to the top. Heather Digby Parton writes in Salon:
"It’s been clear from the beginning that Trump had no real understanding of world affairs or history, beyond a vague notion that America has become weak and feckless due to our foolish adherence to silly legal and moral restraints on our behavior. Despite our economic and military dominance in every corner of the globe, he feels the U.S. has been humiliated by strongmen who think we’re soft. It is the worldview of a spoiled child.She cites his agitation over his impeachment, his anxiety over right-wing evangelical support slipping away, and his childish fascination with things that go boom and an interest in using them as contributing to the decision, which was reportedly presented to him by foolish Pentagon briefers as an extreme alternative which he then chose, to their shock.
It was inevitable that he would one day decide to demonstrate military strength to prove his mettle, and entirely predictable that he would do it impulsively at a moment of extreme political danger. His anger and frustration over the impeachment process have been palpable. He's been way in over his head from the start, and the stress of trying to do a job he is so clearly unqualified to do has undoubtedly frayed his nerves. He was going to lash out — it was only a question of when and where."
As a sign that he's unraveling under the pressure, Bone Spurs has tweeted threats to attack Iranian historical cultural sites -- an explicit war crime -- and doubled down on those same threats yesterday.
You don't do that unless you are in a narcissistic tantrum, ignoring the consequences of your actions and demanding attention.