How Quickly They Forget
- jim Young
“It has been said that the sin of ingratitude is worse than the sin of revenge. With revenge we return evil for evil. But with ingratitude we return evil for good.” - W. Eugen Hansen
Is anyone else getting tired of Trump’s constant whining about how no one will help the U.S. in their war with Iran?
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened to leave NATO, complaining that no other countries would come to the aid of the U.S. if they ever needed it.
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| Trump seems to forget how often the whole world has been there for the U.S. in their hour of need. |
But Trump isn’t very well informed. And neither are his MAGA supporters who believe everything Trump tells them.
What Trump doesn’t seem to understand is, the mandate of NATO is to come to the aid of any NATO country that is under attack, not to support them in wars that they start. The U.S. is NOT under attack. They are the ATTACKERS in this war!
Had Trump expected NATO countries to support his war in Iran he might have been well advised to at least give them the courtesy of consulting with them first.
And in spite of how Trump seems to be hell bent on destroying the U.S.'s relationship with every other country in the world (with the exception of Russia and North Korea) Trump seems surprised that no other country even wants to get involved in his dirty, little, illegal war. Of course to keep face, Trump claims he doesn’t really need any other country’s help… it was just a “test” to see if they would.
SURPRISE!
Ever the narcissist, Trump now is using this to try to prove he was right when he suggested at the WEF in January 2026 that no other country would ever come to the aid of the U.S. in their time of need. But Trump isn’t right - again.
In Davos, Switzerland, Trump said,“The problem with NATO is that we’ll be there for them 100% but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us if we gave them the call.”
Could Trump have slapped every NATO country in the face a little harder?
Article 5 of NATO states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against ALL member countries at which time member countries will assist the attacked party by whatever means necessary including the use of armed force.
Let’s not forget, the U.S. is not currently under attack - but they once were.
Article 5 has only ever been invoked ONCE in NATO’s 77 year history - when the U.S. was under attack on September 11, 2001.
Did NATO come to the aid of the U.S.? You bet they did. And it WAS automatic. The U.S. did not have to ask for help - it was just there.
The 18 other NATO countries at the time, which included Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom ALL sent troops to help the U.S.
In addition to NATO, many non-NATO countries such as Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Ukraine, Yemen and over 100 other countries ALSO jumped in and supported the U.S. in their time of need - ALL without being asked.
Gander, Newfoundland accepted 38 planes carrying almost 7,000 passengers. Residents provided food, shelter and comfort in their homes, schools, churches and community centers for 5 days.
The events that took place in Gander are just one of many gestures of kindness and support that were offered to the U.S. by countries all around the world.
And in spite of how poorly Trump has recently treated countries like Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand, these countries continue to send firefighters to battle wildfires in places like California every year whenever the need arises. Even countries like Brazil, Costa Rica, and South Africa have in the past helped out.
It doesn’t even take a political coalition like NATO for countries to come to the assistance of a friend and ally who needs help. Other countries around the world have ALWAYS been prepared to help out the U.S. regardless of their politics and their formal agreements. These are just a few examples.
1871 - Chicago Fire
The United Kingdom provided private and civic donations particularly from London and Scotland. Canada sent supplies and relief donations. Aid was sent from Europe. Sometimes more than just money is needed when a disaster strikes. Architects and builders from around the world came to help rebuild Chicago once the fire was extinguished.
1906 - San Francisco Earthquake
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) China, Cuba, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom all provided help following the San Francisco Earthquake. Foreign aid from even more countries was turned down by President Theordore Roosevelt who said it wasn’t needed. However, many international donations were still sent, received and put to good use.
1941 Pearl Harbour
Canada declared war on Japan on December 7, 1941 - the SAME day as the attack and the day BEFORE even the U.S. declared war on Japan!
Canada bolstered North American defense by protecting the Pacific coast, aiding in the defense of Alaska, securing critical raw materials, and supplying manufactured weapons. Support was also received from Australia, China, Netherlands, New Zealand, Soviet Union and the United Kingdom even though some of them were already at war with Germany and Italy.
1980 - U.S. Diplomats Rescued From Iran
Canadian Ambassador Ken Taylor and his wife hid 6 U.S. diplomats at their home at great personal risk before they and other Canadians working with the CIA helped smuggle them out of Iran using false Canadian passports.
2005 - Hurricane Katrina
When 80% of New Orleans was flooded after Hurricane Katrina, countries around the world reached out to help the U.S. Although somewhat weakened by the time Katrina hit Cuba, Katrina forced the evacuation of 8,000 Cubans in Pinar del Río Province. 90% of the coastal town of Surgidero de Batabanó was under water. Even so, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, Cuba was one of the first countries to offer to send 1,586 doctors and 26 tons of medicine to assist the U.S. The U.S. government however declined the offer of help, choosing to put politics over the health, safety and well being of their own people. The U.S. did need help though and gladly accepted the outpouring of assistance from Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, China, Columbia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Greece, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and even Venezuela. None of this is intended to suggest the United States has not likewise reached out to other countries when they needed help nor should it diminish the humanitarian aid generously offered so many times on behalf of the U.S. Under past presidents the U.S. has been revered for their strength, kindness and generosity. The U.S. was once a nation that could be relied upon. But it’s more than a little disheartening when the President of the United States so blatantly slaps every NATO member country with one hand and then back hands the rest of the world with the other. How dare Donald Trump suggest that no one would come to the aid of the U.S. if they needed help? Ingracious ingrate is just one of many words that come to mind to describe Trump’s refusal to acknowledge the help and support the U.S. has received from around the world over the years. Feeling Great Again Yet, America?
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