Guy Ciarrocchi: America cannot be great again until we are safer

President Trump’s decisive actions unleashed the American military to make America safer —  greatly reducing the risk of random acts of terror against Americans, our interests, and our allies. For the foreseeable future.

Iran is now years away from ever — if ever — having a nuclear bomb. Iran is now years away from being able to threaten neighbors with an invasion — and virtually incapable of protecting its military, energy, or way of life. If the United States were to so decide, Iran could be left with little to no electricity, running water or oil to use as fuel — to sell for its way of life or military. And the Iranian government and oligarchs are being decimated to the point where it will be impractical and almost impossible to continue to be the world’s leading funder, trainer, and provocateur of terrorism.

Those are undeniable facts — even if you watch MSNow or read the New York Times.

We are just over two weeks into this military campaign and the stated goals are largely being achieved. The American military has performed with bravery, dedication and with extreme effectiveness.

If the President were to suspend further attacks now, America, Israel, the Middle East, and much of the world would be safer and less vulnerable for years to come.

Yet, there are additional longer-term objectives to achieve: having genuine oversight in place so Iran does not try to re-start its nuclear program, ensuring that oil may travel safely and timely, protecting Iran’s neighbors, and replacing the leadership so that Iran does not butcher its citizens — for not being devout Muslims, for being homosexuals, or for being a female who dares to dress “improperly” or attend college. 

Yet that goal does not require America to establish a Thomas Jefferson-inspired democratic republic. Rather, the leadership — whatever it may look like — that takes over the new Iran should be focused on Iranians — not Westerners — respect basic human rights and focus on rebuilding Iran of the 21st — not 12th  — century. America’s focus should be on Iran’s behavior, not its process or constitution.

This is now attainable.

To not recognize these as admirable — if not essential — goals, and to not recognize that they are exponentially more attainable today than they were in February is to live in a world of delusion and denial.

Yet, there are those who disagree — to varying degrees and for varying reasons.

If you are someone who is genuinely an isolationist, or a loyal supporter of President Trump who is disappointed he launched this campaign as you see it as deviating from his platform, I respect your perspective. And respectfully disagree.

This operation is not a battle of choice. The reality is that since 1979 and up through the very recent past, Iran has directly attacked America and used its proxy terrorists to attack Americans, our interests and allies. And their passion to acquire and threaten to use nuclear weapons is matched only by their fervor for Islam. Unlike battles of the distant past, the United States cannot simply sit back with an isolationist-attitude of only fighting if we are fighting back or if an enemy attacks the territory of the US. 

We saw the butchery of Iran’s proxies as recently as October 7, 2023, as well as the intelligence revealing that even after “Midnight Hammer” in June 2025, Iran was already trying to reconstruct its nuclear weaponry. Iranians confirmed this in the negotiations earlier this year!

Isolation doesn’t work with terrorists. 

Nor does appeasement. We learned from the Obama/Biden and Biden/Harris administrations that bribery and closing our eyes doesn’t work either. Allowing Iran to have “safe” nuclear materials revealed that Iran’s objective was not electricity, but nuclear bombs. Bribing the Ayatollah, the mullahs and their oligarchs — recall the pallets of cash! — whether we call it compensation or buying peace was an abject failure.

The bribery proved foolish — and deadly wrong. As appeasement always does when dealing with butchers.

Respectfully, our military attacks are not (merely) payback for 1979 — though that’s an understandable rationale.

It’s for Hezbollah’s attacks in Beirut, Hezbollah-al Hejaz in Saudi Arabia, Shia militias in Iraq, countless car bombs and suicide missions across the Middle East, and October 7, 2023.

And, yes, two attempts to assassinate the President — plus numerous attempts to kill our diplomats.

To fellow Americans who are isolationists: it’s no longer possible in a world of terror attacks and cyber warfare.

To those Americans who see themselves as part of a MAGA movement opposed to unnecessary, never-ending wars: this is not like Korea, Vietnam, or even Afghanistan. This is like Grenada, like Venezuela.

President Trump never promised to never get into battle. He pledged that he would make sure that America had the best-trained, best-equipped military on Earth. The goal: peace through strength. But if anyone dared to threaten us, he would not hesitate to use it. And he would use overwhelming force. Achieve our goals and leave. Ground troops are a last resort. Local allies must help us. And we leave after mission-accomplished — nation-building is not our task.

He promised to “make America great again.” We cannot be great if we are not safe.

Securing the border. Removing illegal immigrant criminals. Making us energy independent. Reviving American manufacturing — especially for technology, weaponry, and medicine. Removing a narco-terrorist in our hemisphere. Eliminating the leadership and capabilities of the world’s leading sponsor of terror. Making sure that the communist threat 90 miles from America is removed.

He is making America safer for us, our children and grandchildren. Promise made. Promise kept.

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania.A Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.