Trump, Zionism, and Endless Wars

I am making the following observations and predictions from the bleachers.

While Trump’s selection of ministers are overwhelmingly Zionists, I do not believe that Trump is, anymore than I would call him a man of great faith, though I imagine he has gotten some religion over the last eight years.  Walking through the valley of the shadow of death will do that to a man.

Yes Trump is vain and provocative.  But he also has core values that are commendable and I believe that first among these is his love of his America.  That is the America that he fell in love with growing up in the glow of our victory in WWII.  He believes in and loves the great American myths of freedom, equality, constitutionalism, republicanism, democracy, and the idea that in some way Americans are God’s chosen people.  

But while his sympathies may lie with Zionism, he is no Zionist himself.  If I am correct, then why has he gone all-in in his support of Israel?  I would say he is being pragmatic.

There are two great forces in America that Trump had to bow to if he was to be elected and then reelected in order to protect the America that he loves, namely, Jewish Zionists (aka the Israel lobby) and Christian Zionists.

The Christian Zionists believe that the modern state of Israel is a continuing fulfillment of Biblical prophecy that is leading to the end of time.  The ranks of the Christian Zionists are especially filled with the descendants of America’s original British settlers, including large numbers of Southerners.  

The ranks of the Israel lobby are filled with American Jews, the descendants of the great Jewish migration (along with other Europeans) of the 19th Century.  This demographic has prospered greatly in the intervening years and the Zionists among them are greatly attached to the state of Israel and will use their influence and resources to protect it.  

Trump had to have the support of Christian Zionists who are part of the backbone of the Old Republic that he loves.

He could not possibly cross America’s Israel lobby.  They are far too powerful.

As a result he supports the Zionists, in order to gain power, in order to protect the America that he loves.  

But he is, I believe, genuinely anti-war and loathes the military industrial complex, the Deep State, The Establishment, the neo-cons or just the entrenched interests that do not love his America and that he views as parasitic or far worse.  

As a consequence I believe that he will give the Zionists what they want but far short of full throttled support, while at the same taking every opportunity to bring about an end to the current conflict.

More specifically I predict he will avoid direct confrontation with Iran and draw down considerably our military presence in the Middle East by the end of his administration.  

I do very much hope that he manages to break the power of the neo-cons once and for all and bring an end the forever wars.

If you live by the sword you die by sword applies to us every bit as much as it did to the Romans or, well, just pick an empire. 

M.C. Atkins