“George fought the ‘Battle of Bedford Falls.’ Air raid warden… scrap drives… rubber drives…” — Narrator, “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Once upon a time, Americans truly understood the meaning of wartime sacrifice. World War II rationing – not simply price hikes, but actual deprivation of goods – encompassed basic foods such as meats, butter, cheese, coffee, sugar, and canned, bottled, and frozen fruits and vegetables. Purchase-restricted necessities included clothing and shoes, metal goods and tires (hence scrap and rubber drives), and yes, gasoline.

Such selflessness was universally accepted as the price of ridding the world of the evil and disruptive influences of fascism and militarism as represented by the Third Reich and Tojo’s Japan.

Today? Presented with the opportunity to end a stubborn security threat and terrorist menace that has plagued the entire world not for four years but more than four decades, a nation of spoiled-rotten, ADD-addled soy boys and boss girls is throwing a toddler-type temper tantrum at fuel costs that are already headed back down to the historic, inflation-adjusted average of $3.61 a gallon.

Despite an armed conflict that has disrupted the flow of oil from the world’s most important energy artery, even nominal pump prices recently peaked some 30 cents lower a gallon than their height in the face of the net-zero nonsense peddled by the previous administration. (See “Yes, Today’s Gas Prices Are ‘Peanuts’.”)

What’s worse, a cadre of deranged, depraved, deceitful, and dangerously destructive Democratic demagogues is determined to pile up political points on this petulance as they undermine American interests and offer aid, comfort, and most of all, encouragement to our enemies via shameless slander of their commander-in-chief.  (Along with some stray RINOs who turned on their party leader to help House Democrats push through a meaningless resolution under the unconstitutional War Powers Act.)

Just last week, these querulous Quislings ambushed the supremely gifted Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio, in a Hill hearing with a performative spectacle worthy of a decade’s worth of Razzies. The smirky, sophistic pseudo-solon from the Springsteen State, kooky Cory Booker, further whipped up antiwar whining by wailing, “The American people see how we’re losing at the pump and with their costs, and yet this thing still hasn’t been resolved.”

Even more outrageous was one Chris Van Hollen, last seen embarrassing himself by sillily swilling margaritas with the famed gangbanging “Maryland dad.” The sorry sorta-senior Senator from the People’s Republic of Greater Baltimore exhibited the out-and-out chutzpah to accuse President Trump of being “stupid and reckless enough” to enter a “dumpster fire” of a fight to further Israeli war aims.

Totally, 180%, diametrically wrong. In fact, what an impetuous, impulsive, impatient U.S. of A. finally has is a leader displaying the insight, intestinal fortitude, and indefatigability not just to do the right thing by America’s strongest ally anywhere but also to act forcefully in America’s national interest.

The Donald is courageously enduring political fallout as he stands firm on one red line – the verifiable and permanent removal of Iran’s uranium stockpile, and the enforceable renunciation of nuclear ambitions. Even as he calmly (save the occasional Truth Social outburst) waits out an unorganized opposition with the aim of preserving its economic viability, even after destroying most of its military capability.

And in so doing, the chief executive for once really, actually is playing, as is so often asserted of him, “4D chess.”

Those “four dimensions” of The Orange Man’s approach of vacuuming up all of Iran’s “uranium dust” without resorting to bombing the Persian people back to the Stone Age?

First, untold security benefits. And it’s not just heading off the ayatollah’s aim of being able to wipe an ally’s major city off the face of the earth, not to mention lob a nuke at or place one in the Big Apple. Anyone actually desiring to understand the timing and success of this conflict would acknowledge Secretary Rubio’s explanation just days into it:

(T)here would come a point where (the Iranians) have so many conventional missiles, so many drones, and can inflict so much damage, that no one can do anything about their nuclear program. That is what they were trying to do….

They are producing, by some estimates, over 100 of these missiles a month. Compare that to the six or seven interceptors that can be built a month…. not to mention the thousands of one-way attack drones that they also have.

Worried about the Iranians ability to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? Imagine if that scenario had been allowed to come to pass.

Second, a potential economic boon. Ideally, the president would like to find an Iranian Delcy Rodriguez and be able to control the flow of oil from Iran. But even short of that, he recognizes that if the uranium is removed, sanctions can be as well – for the first time since they were imposed by Bill Clinton in 1995. The global oil price will plummet, and with it, the costs of thousands of other inputs.

Third, the broader strategic implications. As oil costs crater, so will Russia’s economy – and its ability to continue its already-stalling war effort in Ukraine. Energy-starved China will no longer have exclusive, discounted access to Iranian petroleum, on the black market or otherwise. And as suggested by the ultimate art-of-the-dealer, a peace agreement can be the downpayment for wider diplomatic efforts across the Middle East, perhaps additional signees to the Abraham Accords.

Last but not least, a powerful political payoff. A historic military and diplomatic victory with the promise of more to come? A defanged Iran for the first time in two generations? Plunging gas prices and deeper disinflation? How do those midterm prospects look now?

But The Donald’s challenge is clear. Even as he plays 4D chess, that other 4D game will continue to play out: Democrat Demagogues playing Dumb and Dumber to further incite ADD America’s angst and anger, not to mention Iranian intransigence and inflexibility.

How long can the president hold out? One can only hope: until checkmate, on all fronts.

Bob Maistros, a regular contributor to Issues & Insights, is a messaging and communications strategist, crisis specialist, and former political speechwriter. He can be reached at bob@rpmexecutive.com.

Views expressed by guest contributors to Issues & Insights are their own and don’t necessarily reflect the views of the I&I Editorial Board.