OPINION:
President Donald Trump unleashed a few furious rebukes against Iran on Twitter, telling the rebellious nation that its time of talking tough and issuing war-like threats against America had come to an end.
Shape up — or face the consequences of the sleeping America giant, he warned.
And kudos, double kudos, to this president. Thank goodness this White House’s idea of fighting off foreign bullies isn’t simply the strongly worded letter.
Trump’s Twitter remarks came in response to threats made by Iran’s Hassan Rouhani that went like this: We kill you!
Or, in his words: A U.S. war with Iran would be the “mother of all wars.” He also warned Trump not to “play with the lion’s tail, because you will regret it eternally.”
Think again, said Trump.
“To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WILL SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE,” Trump tweeted. “WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WILL STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!”
That’s called “America First” leadership, right there.
It’s like North Korea and Kim Jong-un — or, as Trump liked to call him, “little rocket man” — all over again.
And despite the diplomatic wins of the White House on the heels of Trump’s tough-talk against Kim, the critics of this administration will nonetheless and no doubt wipe sweaty foreheads and pine endlessly on television news over the similar tough talk against Rouhani.
But why should America suffer a bully in silence?
Trump’s absolutely correct in meeting Rouhani’s over-the-top rhetoric with similarly over-the-top rhetoric. Huddling in the corner in the face of enemy attack never ends well for the huddler.
The left doesn’t like to acknowledging that, preferring conciliatory tones at all costs.
But let’s not pretend that hiding is sound foreign policy. Trump’s in-your-face response to Rouhani’s arrogant threat is the proper way to deal here because it puts the ball back in Iran’s court and makes clear, hey — we’re not ceding any ground. Now Iran will have to put up or shut up. The rhetoric may ratchet for a while, but in the end, Tehran will be outed for its weakness.
Bold threats are one thing; backing the talk with action is quite another. And Iran just doesn’t have the goods to take on America.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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