President Donald Trump threatens Iran with infrastructure attacks if Strait of Hormuz is not opened. AP President Donald Trump’s threat to ramp up attacks on Iran, targeting its bridges and power plants, unless it agrees to open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. Tuesday is not just justified — it’s generous.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” Trump posted Sunday morning. “Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business,” the president added Monday.
Trump-haters and lefty media types claim such actions would constitute war crimes and he’d face justice at a Nuremberg-style reckoning.
“Many experts agree that such attacks would be war crimes,” huffed Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). Chris Van Hollen (D. Md.) agrees, as do Mehdi Hasan and Hasan Piker, the Dems’ new media darling.
But it’s utter nonsense. For starters, taking out bridges to hobble an enemy is a basic wartime tactic.
The Geneva and Hague Conventions do limit wartime attacks to military objectives, and protect objects “normally dedicated to civilian purposes,” like churches, residences, schools and medical clinics, assuming they are not also being used to further military ends.
Yet bridges and power plants are classic dual-use facilities. Crippling the Iranian military would naturally include attacks on this infrastructure, even if civilians also happen to use it.
Nor is it like Iran even remotely observes international law itself.
In the current conflict, it’s raining down missiles on Israeli population centers and Dubai high-rises, and targeting Kuwaiti desalination and power plants. Why should its power plants be immune?
Remember, too: Tehran has spent 50 years killing civilians around the world through its terror network; it backed Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which featured mass rapes, beheadings, burning bodies.
Hundreds of civilians lost their lives, and 251 others were taken hostage and tortured.
Heck, closing the Strait of Hormuz is now inflicting enormous pain on the entire world.
Look, Trump (and, presumably, the left even more so) wants to end this war soon.
Yet he can’t end it with Iran still able to close the Strait, let alone turn it into a toll booth.
Nor can he leave Tehran able to fire missiles and launch drones at will, rebuild its military and continue with its nuclear program.
Yet Iran has yet to open the Strait or agree to terms for a cease-fire that satisfies Trump.
Leaving him little choice: If this war is to end soon, the president must step up the pressure.
Yes, that may bring additional hardship to Iran’s civilians, but Trump is likely right when he notes that many of them would gladly endure the extra pain if it meant their ultimate freedom.
Besides, limiting Iran’s electricity may also curb the regime’s ability to terrorize its people, and even perhaps open a path for them to rise up.
In any case, Trump-haters will bash him no matter what he does. But he needs to do what he needs to do to get this war over.
