Page 14 The Sun Bay Paper April 15, 2026 Forty-seven years ago, radical Islamists took control of the U.S. Embassy in Iran as they proclaimed, “Death to America.” Fifty-two Americans were held captive for 444 days. Here’s a short list of terrorism by Iran and proxies since that event: 1987-88, mined Persian Gulf almost sinking U.S. Navy ship; 1993, bombed Beirut embassy, killing 63, and Marine barracks, killing 241; 1996, bombed military housing in Saudi Arabia, killing 19; 1998, bombed embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 12 Americans and over 220 local residents; 2000, USS Cole bombed, killing 17; 2001, supported 9/11 attackers; from 2003 to and 2011, Iran sponsored IEDs, killing 600 Americans. Thousands of Americans have been killed and wounded by this Iran regime and its proxies. And don’t forget Iran’s involvement in attempts on President Trump’s life, and its sponsoring of the horrific October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. And the Islamist regime has been unbelievably cruel to its citizens. Children were used to serve as human “mine sweepers,” killing many. Last week, a 19-year-old world-class wrestler, arrested during recent demonstrations, was publicly hanged. Over 30,000 citizens were killed during those demonstrations. Iran sponsored terrorism has intimidated world leaders for decades, resulting in their reluctance to support American and Israeli military actions in 2025’s 12-Day War, and now in Iran. Iran recently fired missiles at the military base at Diego Garcia. We learned that Iran’s missiles have twice the range previously thought, able to reach London and Paris. This new information should encourage European leaders to provide support in the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump requested, but so far there’s been nothing significant. Iranian negotiators unexpectedly admitted during the last negotiation that Iran holds 60% enriched uranium, enough to adequately enrich and build 11 nuclear bombs within days, perhaps two weeks. That was a signal that negotiations should cease. Once a nuclear bomb is produced, America’s negotiating advantage would be diminished. Critics question Trump’s authority to take these actions. Article II. Section 2 of the Constitution divides war powers: the President, as Commander in Chief, conducts wars, and only Congress can declare and fund wars. However, when a threat is imminent, presidents can initiate military action without a declaration of war. In 2016 alone, Barack Obama, America’s “Nobel Peace Prize President,” dropped 26,000 bombs on Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen without congressional approval. Almost every President since WW2 has instituted military action without approval. The War Powers Act was the Congressional response limiting unilateral presidential authority, requiring Congressional approval after 60 days. Lacking a legal definition of “imminent threat,” Iran’s admission about enriched uranium, plus discovering their missiles could deliver bombs long distances, along with 47 years of worldwide terrorist activities, meets any reasonable person’s definition for “imminent threat.” Contrary to critics’ claims, I believe the President has been presenting clear military objectives. Realcleardefense.com recommended the following as the type of statement he should make: “Victory against Iran means the dismantling of the Islamic Republic’s ability to regenerate its ballistic missile and nuclear programs over the next decade.” That’s not as comprehensive as what Trump has been repeatedly stating. The accusation is without merit. Some Trump critics ask, “Trump scuttled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, provided by Obama.” As I’ve conveyed several times before, JCPOA was far less than democrats advertised. Numerous democrat senators, notably including Schumer and Menendez, opposed the agreement because it wasn’t based on “preventing nuclear proliferation.” JCPOA merely put off the inevitable and its operational flaws were many. The agreement allowed continued uranium enrichment and Iran wasn’t required to shut down any of its reactors. Iran wasn’t limited on its ICBM missile program, and there were no provisions for anytime/anywhere inspections. In the face of bipartisan opposition, in November 2015, a U.S. State Department official spun it like this: “The JCPOA is not a treaty or an executive agreement and is not a signed document. The JCPOA reflects political commitments……” Trump refused to support this ineffective agreement. Virtually every president and presidential candidate over several decades have identified Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism and should not be permitted to have nuclear weapons. The time of reckoning arrived, and the terrorist Iranian regime is being defeated. To his credit, the President took this action despite it being politically unpopular. Forty-seven years of international terrorism, cruelty beyond belief, and days away from a nuclear bomb with ballistic missiles available for their delivery. Military action by the U.S. was justified, inevitable, and has been successful. Paraphrasing former Congressman Trey Gowdy, “the conflict goes back 47 years, the only difference is we are now shooting back.” The President hasn’t started a war, but he’s stopping a big one. Perhaps there will be a negotiated settlement, either way, the big challenge is to make sure success endures – not an easy task. Steve Bakke Visit my website at myslantonthings.com Iran: Military success, but can it endure?
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