_edited.png)
The Bombs Are So Bright, I Can See All The Lies
- Justin Horn
- Mar 8
- 7 min read
I’ve been a MAGA fanboy since before “MAGA” was even a thing. After hearing an interview with then Apprentice star – a show I never actually watched – Donald Trump, I wrote an email to my mother in 2011 saying there was a good chance Trump would be the next president. He talked about how horrible Obama was, how China was eating our lunch – and we should put tariffs on them – and how we looked weak on the world stage. I instantly recognized Trump’s flair, populists message, and unconventional approach that catapulted him to the top spot in the 2016 Republican Primary shortly after his coming down the “golden escalator.”
I say all this, not to prove I am some kind of political prophet. If I were truly that good, maybe I could have turned my prophecy into profit for me. I say this to show that I am not some “never Trumper.” I voted for Trump in all three of his election wins. The criticism I have for Donald Trump is out of a place for love. And the war with Iran is the worst foreign policy disaster since LBJ escalated in Vietnam.
“Turn the page forever on those foolish, stupid days of never-ending wars.” -Donald Trump, January 6, 2024
During my service in the US Air Force from 2012-2018, I was stationed with the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron based at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in 2015. During “ISIS Crisis” missions, the 37th EBS dropped 5,037+1 bombs on ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. During that time, news outlets in the States reported we were dropping so many bombs that the US was running out of bombs. That was 10-years-ago now. 10-years-ago, related to the “ISIS Crisis,” the US had a serious discussion about whether to intervene in Syria. The main argument which seemed to have stayed President Obama’s hand, the military claiming the US did not have adequate munitions to fight a war in Syria, as well as check Russian aggression in the Crimea region. But again, that was 10-years-ago, my info may be well out of date for a war with Iran in 2026.
Donald Trump may have had plenty of time in the last 10-years to rebuild the military as he claims. Unfortunately for Trump and America, it appears his claim to have rebuilt the military is lie number one. One week into our war with Iran, news outlets are again reporting the US is running out of munitions.1 Reports are also that General Daniel “Raizin” Caine objected to the Iranian war on grounds the US did not have a sufficient stockpile of munitions.2 A stopped clock is right twice a day, and this may be the time when Obama – as hard as it is to believe – showed more wisdom, by listening to the generals, than Trump.
This would not be the first time Trump has authorized a strike against the better judgment of Air Force generals. In 2017, the rumor mill was that General David Goldfein opposed Trump’s strike on Syria’s Assad regime. The scuttlebutt going round was that Trump was ticked off at the Air Force for having the nerve to stand up to him, and that is why the Navy carried out the strikes. Reports were it was Ivanka Trump who wanted the strike after seeing pictures of chemical weapon attacks in Syria (there is still debate on whether Assad or ISIS carried out the attacks), and Donald listened to his daughter over the military.3 After the political backlash from Trump’s conservative base, for, what up until a week ago was his biggest foreign policy disaster, Trump wanted to kiss and makeup with the Air Force. Thus, the President authorized the AF to drop the MOAB (Mother Of All Bombs) in Afghanistan. This apprised the AF and showed the conservative base the administration still had an eye on the radical-Islamic enemy.
If Donald Trump was influenced by his daughter Ivanka in 2017, it gets to the second lie. How persuadable is Donald Trump? Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Israel dictated the timing of this war.4 Was Donald Trump pushed into war by Israel? Oh no! Donald “Trump is strong and makes up his own mind!” I know this because Benjamin Netanyahu went on Sean Hannity and told us all.5 So, who is lying? Rubio or Netanyahu?
“We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action, we knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn’t preemptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties,” -Marco Rubio, March 2, 2026
In the late 1950s, Chiang Kai-shek attempted to drag the US into war over Taiwan.6 Kai-shek’s calculation was simple; if the superpower US got into a war with Red China, Taiwan would secure its independence. Eisenhower, five-star general, Supreme Allied Commander, and President who warned of the dangers of the “military-industrial complex,” did not fall for it. He was not willing to risk the lives of Americans to fight in a war started by Taiwan. In short, Eisenhower kept our client state in check.
Today, the American Empire is crumbling. We see this in the rat Zelenskyy's disdain for America as he attempted to drag us into open war with Russia for the last four years. We see this in Israel’s disdain for America. Already former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is calling for war on NATO member Turkey next.7 Which is lie number three. If only Iran were taken out, there would be world peace! No, unfortunately the Lindsey Graham faction of the Republican Party can never have their blood lust sated.
The blood lust, decline of the American Empire, and destruction of NATO will only weaken global security. One week into this war, and rumors are the Pentagon is already discussing pulling assets from USINDOPACOM to assist in the depletion of USCENTCOM. If true, this only weakens our defense of Taiwan. While the US should not be pulled into a war against its will in Taiwan, having the ability to defend Taiwan has kept Red China from invading for over 75 years. If America can’t project power in the Pacific, then the question “does the US defend Taiwan?” becomes simple. “No. Because we can’t.” I am sure Congresswoman AOC is wishing this war started two weeks ago. Because the question about Taiwan which made her gaffe at the Munich Security Conference would have been a layup.8
“Um, you know, I think…” -Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at the Munich Security Conference, February 13, 2026
It is not just in the Pacific the decline of the American Empire is felt. In the week since the US began striking Iran, allegedly because of the Iranian nuclear program, a nuclear arms race has kicked off in Europe. Polish PM Donald Tusk said, on March 3, Poland will begin work on its own independent nuclear deterrent.9 French President Emmanuel Macron has said, on March 5, that France will increase its number of nuclear warheads.10 Quite ironic that a war aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons will see its significant increase.
And this gets to the biggest lie of all. Was the war with Iran about nuclear weapons? In June 2025 President Trump authorized Operation Midnight Hammer. The B2 stealth bombers hit targets at Iran’s Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant. President Trump declared the strike “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities.11 Yet, seven months later, Benjamin Netanyahu is repeating his war cry of 40 years, that “Iran is closer than ever to getting a nuclear bomb.” The circle does not square. Did Iran rebuild its nuclear program in half-a-year? Unlikely. The closest the US administration can come is “they really really wanted to. They were trying really really hard.” But if Iran failed to build a nuke when President Obama was giving them pallets of cash… how much closer were they under President Trump?
“Poland takes nuclear security very seriously.” -Polish PM Donald Tusk, March 3, 2026
Let’s give the Trump admin the benefit of the doubt. Iran did NOT learn any lessons after Midnight Hammer. They were indeed trying really really really hard to build a nuke. Why should the US strike now? Why before the mid-terms?
Was it a political calculation to rally the base? Mid-terms are tough for the party in power. But a war president is popular. Was it an attempt to gain political popularity heading into an election? If so, it was also a grave miscalculation. Depending on which poll you cite, this war is unpopular. A FoxNews poll, found 57% of people either support the war or are unsure.12 Bad news for Trump, as the opening days of the war are when it will be its most popular. Just wait till reports of dead Americans start rolling in. And the Democrats were taken flatfooted as well. Right now the joke is that Karens in Minnesota are protesting against Iranian women’s freedom. But the Dems are smart. Give them a few weeks and they will figure out the messaging.
Was it an attempt to get the headlines off of the Trump admin’s mishandling of releasing the Epstein files? It couldn’t have been worse timing for that. Without a war in Iran, all media coverage for the last week should have been on Bill Clinton’s deposition.
Was it an attempt to focus on something other than the economy? Bold gamble. This gets to the pseudo-lie of the US being energy independent. What does it actually mean to say the US is energy independent? It means that we can produce and manufacture all the energy we need here in the US. It does NOT mean the US is immune to the global energy market. If oil stops flowing from the Gulf states, the US will have to supply more to our allies in Europe, the global oil prices will rise. Yes, the US can survive this blow. We will not run out of energy. But. It does NOT mean gas at the pump won’t rise to $5.00, $6.00, $7.00/gallon. Want to know how damaging high gas prices are politically? Just ask President George W. Bush.
One week in, and the solution is relatively simple. President Trump needs to give a speech in which he declares victory. Our goals were 1. Stop Iran from getting a nuke. Check. 2. Remove the Ayatollah and give the Iranian people a chance to take back their county. Check. 3. Prove to the world the unparalleled power of the United States Military. Check. All the never-Trumpers and all the “panicans” – with which I apparently am one now – were wrong. We won. Good job.
Comments