Trump Has Authorized Strikes on Seven Nations

President Trump declared in his State of the Union speech last month that he had ended eight wars in 10 months, notes the Guardian. But there's a flip side: A number of outlets are pointing out that with the military operation in Iran, Trump has now authorized military strikes on seven nations in his second term.

• The seven: Yemen, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, and Venezuela have been the targets, and a post at the Council of Foreign Relations has the details on all of them. Trump also has authorized strikes on suspected drug boats, floated the idea of taking Greenland by force, and threatened a military operation in Colombia.
• Context I: Axios, in a piece headlined "Trump's lethal presidency," declares that "no president in the modern era has ordered more military strikes against as many different countries as Donald Trump." The CFR analysis frames it differently: "Many of his actions mirror those of previous administrations, but diverge from the president's past opposition to foreign military commitments."

• Context II: The latter point by CFR is one being frequently brought up in coverage. Trump campaigned as an anti-war candidate, and his critics say he's going back on his word, per CNN. However, the White House argues that Trump's end game is always to secure a more lasting peace.
• Churchill rule: A New York Times analysis by David E. Sanger also takes note of the seven military attacks, and it suggests that the operation in Iran in particular will ultimately be judged by the "Churchill rule." It's a reference to a line from the former British leader: "Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter."