Trump: 9/11 may happen again

Muhammad Ali Baig
POWER can be characterised as the most dangerous entity on the planet earth. It demands certain decisions and actions which otherwise no one can even imagine thinking of. The history of the mankind is a witness to that unique yet treacherous phenomenon. While talking about power, the Neo-Classical realist school of thought of the realist tradition avers that leaders act under the influence of the opinion of the people at-large and give special attention to the domestic constraints. Also, the beliefs and perceptions of the leaders act as intervening variables. If one looks closely at the Trump Administration under this lens, then it would be clear that his decisions, actions and policies are completely overshadowed by his personality and are further amplified by the internal restraints and impediments. Trump has been pretty much unfortunate that though it was able to achieve relatively little popular vote in the American Electoral College, but it failed to attract the media and the American Diaspora in his favour. His nationalistic and patriotic fervour has been disseminated in a negative way due to his unique fiery speeches and lack of accurate knowledge about international and national incidents. Perhaps, it is one of the reasons that the travel ban imposed by Trump Administration was not received by overwhelming acceptance and recognition. It is pertinent to examine and scrutinize the people who have surrounded Trump from the time while he was campaigning and since he assumed the office. Apart from many, a few attributes are dominant in the Trump Administration i.e. nationalism and the feelings of being left behind or betrayed. These characteristics on the one hand are captivating, while, on the other they are reactionary and demanding to achieve ends “by other means.”
Historically, on 27 February 1933, the German Parliament (Reichstag) was subjected to arson and the responsibility was fixed on a Dutch communist named as Marinus van der Lubbe. Subsequently, on 24 March, the parliament passed a unanimous resolution known as the “Enabling Act” that suspended various civil rights and the press. Before that incident, Adolf Hitler was offered heavy resistance by the press and opposition parties. Many believe that Reichstag Fire was an inside job that was focused to bring desired results. Interestingly, false-flag operations have always served as a tool for leaders to mould or pave the public opinion in their favour and are ultimately used to achieve the national interest. Trump seems pretty much adamant of his ambitions to “Make America Great Again.” In this pursuit it would not be a surprise that he and his national security team, may devise a false flag operation just like the 9/11and the Reichstag Fire, orchestrated against the American people, to pave the way for public opinion and ultimately may enact another “US Patriot Act.”Arguably, Germans like Trump and Hitler have a lot in common; both adopted mercantilist economic policies with hyper protectionism and promised to bring the jobs back home with their respective “country-first policy.” Trump like Hitler is likely to precipitate an unfortunate event – whose magnitude could be comparable to 9/11. Trump’s “Reichstag Fire” could be an inside job or a door wide open for potential aggressors to strike. It is very much possible that Trump stirs things up with Iran or open up an entirely new front to gather public opinion in his support.
The recent operation in Baghdad, conducted by the unified combatant command of USSOCOM can be taken as an example of such measures. The assassination of Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani using an armed unmanned aerial vehicle on the one hand attested Trump’s motivation in keeping the Middle East hot. While, on the other hand, it was purely a provocative measure in instigating Iran and the Islamic Republican Guards Corps (IRGC) to retaliate. In other words, it is a check-mate situation for Tehran where it acts or reacts is likely to benefit a politically weak Trump, as the challenge of being re-elected is hanging over his head. It is one of the reasons that the true patriot American people have undying confidence in Trump that was shown by them in Nov 2016. Apparently, Ku Klux Klan and late George Lincoln Rockwell’s American Nazi Party is in power in America. Trump would do anything to consolidate power in its own hands, as, he is an ultra-nationalist and a patriot. It is predicted and assessed that people may find themselves wrong in believing that Trump would be impeached ever. Contrary to that, Trump would not only complete the first tenure but is likely to be elected for the next term as well – provided another 9/11. Undoubtedly, nationalism is only hope for America to bring it back on leadership stature in this anarchy-dominated growing multi-polar world. However, nationalism on one hand, Trump is anamateur ‘realist’ and many of his decisions and actions are abrogation of the dictates of realism. In this regard, I recently published a research article titled as “Trump’s False ‘Realism’” in International Bulletin of Political Psychology Vol 20 Issue 1 (2020), at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona, US, to further probe Trump’s motivation.
— The writer is freelance columnist based in Islamabad.