CNN
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Amid the continued wave of intense blows between Israel and Iran, President Donald Trump has publicly and privately revealed his desire to remove him from the fight for now, and is sluggish in another Middle East war and highly regarded by his party’s changing politics.
Sources familiar with the issue told the US that Israel could increase its level of involvement, but Israeli officials warn that those conversations still do not include detailed “practical” debates. And while Trump wants to avoid long conflicts that could make the Middle East even more unstable, some administrations recognize that US military aid may help Israel reach a faster conclusion to its purpose, sources said.
“We’re not involved in that. We could be involved. But we’re not involved at this point,” Trump told ABC News Sunday morning.
Competing interests have created complex dynamics that will help the President eager to strengthen his pledge to bring peace to troubled regions around the world.
Since Israel launched its first attack early Friday morning, the US has provided defensive support to Israel and has hampered the onslaught of Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
However, Trump stopped joining Israeli forces in an attempt to demolish Iran’s nuclear facility and resisted pressure from fellow Republicans to take part in the fight.
He said in a social media post on Saturday that he felt the conflict “should be over” as he continues to maintain hope for a negotiated agreement that curtails Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, even after planned consultations in Oman this weekend in Oman.
What is at stake is Trump’s promise to act as a global peace superintendent. Or, as I told the first crowd in January, “bringing a new spirit of unity in a world that is completely unpredictable.”
That vow has already been tested by failing to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine and the inability to stop efforts to stop the fighting in Gaza. Now, as a new Flashpoint threatens to not control the Spiral with Trump’s watch, the commander is trying to limit our involvement.
“The US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran tonight,” Trump wrote about the true social later Saturday. “If you are attacked in any way in form, form or form by Iran, the full power and power of the US military will come down to you at a level you have never seen before. But you can easily make a deal between Iran and Israel and end this bloody conflict!!!”
The post sent the message that Trump’s line to be more directly involved in Israeli attacks would be an attack on American facilities or personnel in the region. Other than that, the US’s role in previous conflicts has been largely defensive.
Israeli operations against Iran are expected to take “weeks, not weeks,” according to White House and Israeli officials, and have implicit US approval.
Israeli officials told CNN that the Trump administration has not criticised the weekly time slot in personal debates. White House officials said the administration implicitly supports Israel’s plans. When asked about how long the conflict lasted, authorities said it depends on Iran’s response.
“I certainly believe that the Trump administration can resolve this by continuing negotiations with the US,” the official said, adding that the US is not intending to instruct Israel to do anything other than protect itself.
American military planners have long prepared options for joint US-Israel actions against Iranian facilities if the US president finally decides to try to take away Iran’s nuclear facilities.
However, there is little indication that Trump is approaching accepting such an option. Israeli officials say the possibility of offensive US support for Israeli strikes within Iran is “not practically discussed.”
“We’re not actually there,” said an Israeli official. “At one point, if the US decides to play an offensive role, we don’t think we’re in a position to give them a try, but that’s not our question,” the official said, adding that such a move is a decision on US sovereignty.
Officials explained that both nuclear and ballistic missile programs are to confirm that Iran is “no longer an existential threat” to Israel.
“It’s great if it’s happening with an alliance, but if it’s not happening with an alliance, we have to do it ourselves,” the official said.
Several officials familiar with the issue have continued to see intense skepticism within the White House about further involvement in the conflict.
Trump is worried that he will be dragged into a war he hasn’t started and wants to avoid, and is keenly aware of the complicated politics of play, officials said.
He publicly warned Israel to launch an attack on Iran ahead of Friday’s strike, but he supported the effort and said he was well aware that it was planned.
Photo: Escalating conflict between Israel and Iran
Trump has long been committed to not engaged in the adventurism of “national building” overseas.
“For at least 20 years, the political leaders of both parties have been dragging our troops into missions,” Trump told cadets who graduated at West Point last month.
“They sent warriors on the nation-building crusades to countries that had nothing to do with us, led by leaders who had no clue in the far land,” he said.
But now he is under pressure from some of his Republican allies to play a more interventionist role.
“If diplomacy fails, going to Israel shows that America has returned as a reliable ally and a strong force against oppression. It strengthens our hands in every corner of the world and every other conflict we face.”