Political science has a term for starting an armed conflict to distract voters: “Diversionary War Theory.”
It says that leaders facing domestic political crises are more likely to initiate military conflict to redirect public attention. Political scientists at both Rutgers University and Rice University have found that “there is significant evidence that leaders do sometimes use force externally to divert attention from domestic difficulties.”
The precedent most cited was Bill Clinton’s 1998’s cruise missile attacks on Sudan and Afghanistan, which were ordered three days after his grand jury testimony in the Monica Lewinsky investigation.
In Donald Trump’s case, the evidence that supporters of this theory point is substantial. The Iran operation was ordered just as the Epstein pressure had reached its highest point so far. Trump was pressured by bipartisan investigations and missing files that were specifically related to Trump himself.
When confronted with accusations, over both of his terms in office Donald Trump has adopted Bart Simpson’s defense strategy when accused of wrongdoing. “I didn’t do it, nobody saw me do it, there’s no way you can prove anything!”
Using his mentor Roy Cohn’s approach to adversity, Trump’s playbook revolves around deflecting criticism, controlling narratives and fostering a “us versus them” mentality that has been central to his communication strategy throughout his career.
He throws out outlandish claims about independent nations becoming parts of the United States. His America First campaign rhetoric, along with so many broken promises, has resulted in his approval ratings circling the drain. Even some of his staunchest supporters are beginning to appreciate the extent of his depravity.
Recent pedophilia accusations have become numerous, and it appears that no matter how many distractions he throws out or wars he starts, American citizens will not let these charges go unanswered.
If legal pressure becomes so intense that impeachment and imprisonment loom, what would this distractor in chief be capable of?
Rather than face a lifetime in prison with other felons would his trigger finger inch closer to The Button? Would he take the coward’s way out? On a scale grander than cult leader Jim Jones, would Trump take the population of our planet with him? Who among us could say?
Doug Findley
Randle
