Jeez!

• It is important to remember that many players driving the Ramadan War, including senior members of the U.S. cabinets, are operating in a mental frame work of apocalyptic religious fervor, end-times eschaton and are gripped by doomsday delusions. . . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has enshrined evangelical Christianity at the uppermost levels of the US military, airing monthly prayer meetings throughout the Pentagon. Last year, the Pentagon confirmed that Hegseth attends a weekly White House Bible study. It’s led by a preacher who says God commands America to support Israel. . . Some Christians claim biblical prophecy requires Israel to exist for Jesus to return. But Hegseth’s Bible study leader teaches that the reason to support Israel is that God still blesses Israel’s allies and curses Israel’s enemies. After Israel’s attack on Iran last year, he dedicated 2 weeks of lessons to preaching support for Israel. His lessons went out to White House cabinet members and members of Congress even as Israel, too, was lobbying for U.S. engagement.
• Late last week, Senator Lindsey Graham claimed that the conflict is “a religious war” waged by “radical Islamic terrorists.

Of course, it’s extremely unlikely that Trump believes any of this religious nonsense. But he knows that much of his core vote does. And he’s desperate to please them. And Bibi Netanyahu too, of course.

More on the economic consequences of the war for the world in my later post today.