Donald Trump always insisted it would be “Camilla” — his mocking nickname for Vice President Kamala Harris — who would light the fuse of World War III. Not him. He was the dealmaker. The peace-through-strength president. The smart one.
But last night, it was Trump who gave the order to bomb Iran, coordinating with Israel in a sweeping strike on multiple nuclear sites. And now the world teeters on the edge of a wider conflict — not out of strategy, or necessity, but ego, optics, and deceit.
TACO no more — but at what cost?
Mocked in recent weeks as “TACO” — Trump Always Chickens Out — the former president was desperate to shake off the label. This strike was his comeback moment. A flex. Proof he could still “act tough.”
But bombing empty bunkers in a battered nation isn’t strength. It’s theatre — and reckless theatre at that.
A war of ego, not defence
Let’s be honest: it doesn’t take bravery to hit a country already gutted by a year of silent warfare. One by one, Iran’s top military leaders — scientists, IRGC officers, intelligence chiefs — have been assassinated. Drones, car bombs, mysterious accidents. Israeli fingerprints, American silence.
Iran’s air defences have been degraded. Its readiness worn down. And yet, Tehran restrained itself. It chose diplomacy, even under crushing internal pressure. It engaged Oman, Qatar, and Europe. It signalled a return to talks.
Then, just as its delegation prepared for high-level discussions to salvage the JCPOA… the bombs fell.
A trap. A premeditated ambush disguised as diplomacy.
Deception — but to what end?
The world saw a state preparing for negotiations. It got missiles instead. What lesson does that teach future adversaries? That diplomacy is bait? That patience and restraint invite annihilation?
This wasn’t a defensive act. It was strategic deceit — designed to provoke, not protect. To dominate, not de-escalate. And for what? Iran’s nuclear ambitions won’t disappear. Its resolve will only harden. This was not a blow for peace — it was the death of diplomacy.
The myth of strength
Trump didn’t act out of necessity. He acted to kill a meme and revive a brand. But in doing so, he may have buried global trust in peaceful negotiation.
Let’s be clear: Iran will not surrender. It will hunker down, go deeper underground, and accelerate its nuclear programme. This strike won’t stop the bomb — it may guarantee it. And just across the border sits Pakistan, armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons and no appetite for Western lectures. Tehran won’t have to look far for expertise, parts, or political cover.
Meanwhile, China has quietly entered the frame. Military cargo planes with transponders turned off have been spotted flying into Iran — a clear signal that Beijing is now backing its partner in more than just rhetoric. While not supplying nuclear weapons, China is reportedly delivering advanced missile systems, air defence technology, and battlefield targeting assistance. The quiet part is being said loud — alliances are hardening, and the global balance is shifting.
Trump said Camilla would start the war.
He just did — not with reason, but with ruin. And now the world watches the fallout, not asking why, but dreading what’s next.
After the chaos of Iraq and Afghanistan, America now finds itself enabling an ally whose primary objective is not containment, but regime collapse. Israel’s long game has always been to destabilise Tehran — and now, with Trump’s backing, that goal inches closer. But haven’t we learned this lesson before? Toppling governments doesn’t create peace. It creates vacuum, vengeance, and violent blowback.
As ever: better the devil you know?
