This morning marks 30 days since President Trump posted on Truth Social:
Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING — TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP
As many readers know, I am an irascible grouch with the naive belief that an American president’s promise of imminent help to those standing up against an oppressive regime ought to be kept. And while I recognize that there may well be legitimate reasons for the U.S. to be cautious in its actions regarding the Iranian regime, the time to consider those arguments is before the president pledges that help is on its way, not after he announces it to the world.
I noted the lack of any discernible help to the Iranian protesters on January 15, January 27, January 28, and February 2. After each post, I was assured by fans of the president that I was just being impatient, and that surely that pledge of help would be fulfilled, and it was just around the corner.
Over the past month, there has no doubt been a “robust” buildup of U.S. forces in the vicinity of Iran. (I would note that as much as I think highly of Noah Rothman, he shouldn’t be the only one recognizing the risks of not having a U.S. aircraft carrier group in the Middle East in January.) But when Trump said help was on its way, I don’t think any Iranian protester (or anyone else) thought Trump meant he would send Steve Witkoff, and Trump would come away concluding, “We had very good talks on Iran. Iran looks like it wants to make a deal very badly. We have to see what that deal is. But I think Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly, as they should.”