By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump announced on Thursday that he had ordered a strike against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria, citing the persecution of Christians as the reason. The US Africa Command confirmed the strikes in Sokoto state, coordinating with Nigerian authorities, and reported multiple ISIS terrorists killed. The strikes involved Tomahawk missiles fired from a Navy vessel, as confirmed by a US official. Nigerian officials, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, stated they approved the attack and emphasized the country’s focus on combating terrorism regardless of religious affiliation. This action follows Trump’s previous warnings and concerns regarding religious freedom violations in Nigeria, although security analysts suggest a more complex reality on the ground.
Read the original article here
Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria, and well, it’s a lot to unpack. First off, it’s a bit jarring, right? Especially when you consider that he’s repeatedly stated he essentially wiped out ISIS during his first term. The whole “ISIS caliphate defeated” claim was a big talking point. So, the idea of having to revisit this conflict, particularly in a new location, is immediately raising eyebrows.
Nigeria, specifically, is the setting for this supposed military action. It’s a country with significant oil reserves, which, in the grand scheme of things, might prompt some to question the motives. It’s tough not to notice the potential for resource-driven interests to intertwine with military actions, especially when a nation’s wealth of oil is involved. And with the Sahel region also seeing increased activity from groups like ISWAP and IS-Sahel, which have made the Sahel the area with the most fatalities from terrorism worldwide in recent years, one has to take a step back and consider the geopolitical implications.
Furthermore, there’s the timing. The announcement seemingly happened around Christmas, which is, well, an interesting choice. Some might view it as a complete contradiction to the spirit of peace often associated with the holiday. It’s hard to ignore the irony, or the apparent disregard for the optics of such an act during this period.
Adding to the confusion, there’s the question of whether this is a genuine military operation. There’s skepticism, especially given that official sources, like CENTCOM, haven’t confirmed any such strikes. The Pentagon or the Nigerian government would typically offer confirmation, and the absence of such validation makes it difficult to take the statement at face value. Also, and again, considering previous declarations about ISIS’s demise, makes this even more puzzling.
It’s clear that there are deeper issues that need to be addressed in the Sahel, where extremist groups have gained ground. But it’s also clear that this is not the sort of thing that Trump himself would do, if one were to go by his own statements on the issue.
The immediate reaction to this is one of disbelief and, frankly, cynicism. Many are pointing out the inconsistencies with Trump’s earlier claims of decisively defeating ISIS. Others are raising the specter of oil interests influencing the situation. It all feels like a story that’s still being written and might not be what it seems.
Another question that arises is how this aligns with the “America First” philosophy that was central to his campaigns. If the goal is to limit foreign entanglements and reduce military spending, then military action anywhere, especially in a region with significant oil reserves, seems to contradict that. It’s a point that many are likely to bring up.
And then there’s the question of Trump’s broader foreign policy approach. He’s been involved with Venezuela, among others, and now with Nigeria. It begs the question of what continents he *hasn’t* been involved in yet.
The potential for personal gain seems to be a recurring theme with some people, who believe Trump’s actions aren’t necessarily about national interests. The idea of using military force for anything other than those interests is certainly something that causes consternation.
And finally, of course, the ever-present shadow of the Epstein files looms in the background. It’s a reminder of a situation that seems far from resolved and that many would like to see addressed.
So, Trump says the US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria. The immediate response is complex, but it can be summed up like this: skepticism, a dose of irony, and a healthy dose of the political climate we find ourselves in today.