General Discussion

onenote

(46,227 posts) Sat Jun 21, 2025, 09:57 PM Jun 2025

Not the first president to authorize military action in the middle east, not likely to be the last.

Presidents of both parties have authorized bombing against military targets in the middle east over the years:

Reagan: Libya bombing 1986
GWHbush: The Gulf War, 1990
Clinton: Operation Desert Fox in 1998; Cruise missile strike on Iraq targets in 1993
GWBush: Iraq War 2003
Obama: 2016 bombing of targets in Libya
Trump: 2018 bombing of targets in Syria
Biden: 2021 bombing of targets in Syria and Iraq; 2024 strikes on targets in Yemen, Iraq and Syria

Some of these were carried out by the US alone, others as part of multi-national coalitions. Some were targeting groups like Isis or Al-Qaeda.

But none of them triggered "WWIII" as some here are saying is the inevitable result of Trump's actions. And none of led to any form of lasting peace, either.

12 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Not the first president to authorize military action in the middle east, not likely to be the last. (Original Post) onenote Jun 2025 OP

True, but this is potentially much messier because Iran is supported by Russia. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #1

If Russia wasn't going to start WW3 because of the Western Proxy War in Ukraine... WarGamer Jun 2025 #3

Trump has taken Putin's side on Ukraine, but now he's gone and bombed Putin's ally. Ocelot II Jun 2025 #6

His middle name is "Complication" lol... WarGamer Jun 2025 #7

Good post. purple_haze Jun 2025 #2

So if the US bombing in the ME triggers world war Fiendish Thingy Jun 2025 #4

Right. It just undermines our own credibility and makes Trump look less crazy. onenote Jun 2025 #5

The iraq war is the only thing that comes close in my mind Tribetime Jun 2025 #8

yeah Skittles Jun 2025 #9

The usual suspects are out in full force tonight. W_HAMILTON Jun 2025 #10

Could you clarify? onenote Jun 2025 #11

None by a full blown psychotic nutbag though without consultation with anyone travelingthrulife Jun 2025 #12

Ocelot II

(131,218 posts)

1. True, but this is potentially much messier because Iran is supported by Russia.

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:00 PM

Jun 2025

Maybe it won't start WWIII, but it has the potential to be as much of a quagmire as Iraq.

WarGamer

(18,859 posts)

3. If Russia wasn't going to start WW3 because of the Western Proxy War in Ukraine...

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:02 PM

Jun 2025

Why would they start it over Iran? Seriously.

Ocelot II

(131,218 posts)

6. Trump has taken Putin's side on Ukraine, but now he's gone and bombed Putin's ally.

Reply to WarGamer (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:20 PM

Jun 2025

I don't think Putin will start WWIII either, but he's a complication beyond the Middle East.

WarGamer

(18,859 posts)

7. His middle name is "Complication" lol...

Reply to Ocelot II (Reply #6)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:22 PM

Jun 2025

purple_haze

(401 posts)

2. Good post.

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:01 PM

Jun 2025

Fiendish Thingy

(24,061 posts)

4. So if the US bombing in the ME triggers world war

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:04 PM

Jun 2025

That means we should be up to WWX (10) by now, based on the list above.

It’s a horrible event, but reacting with hysterical hyperbole, as some here have done , doesn’t help anyone.

onenote

(46,227 posts)

5. Right. It just undermines our own credibility and makes Trump look less crazy.

Reply to Fiendish Thingy (Reply #4)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:18 PM

Jun 2025

Tribetime

(7,145 posts)

8. The iraq war is the only thing that comes close in my mind

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:53 PM

Jun 2025

To this

Skittles

(172,852 posts)

9. yeah

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sat Jun 21, 2025, 10:56 PM

Jun 2025

but this is DONALD FUCKING TRUMP

W_HAMILTON

(10,435 posts)

10. The usual suspects are out in full force tonight.

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sun Jun 22, 2025, 12:21 AM

Jun 2025

If you know, you know.

onenote

(46,227 posts)

11. Could you clarify?

Reply to W_HAMILTON (Reply #10)

Sun Jun 22, 2025, 08:33 AM

Jun 2025

Am I one of the "usual suspects" or is that a reference to the folks predicting WWIII, ten dollar gas and soldiers on the ground in the next couple of weeks?

travelingthrulife

(5,572 posts)

12. None by a full blown psychotic nutbag though without consultation with anyone

Reply to onenote (Original post)

Sun Jun 22, 2025, 08:36 AM

Jun 2025

with whom he was supposed to consult.

Reply to this discussion

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.