• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Patrick Murphy is an Irish News columnist and former director of Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education. WHEN Micheál Martin gives Donald Trump a bowl of shamrock around St Patrick's Day, should he mention the war? Indeed, should he even bring shamrock, or maybe just stay at home? Trump loves toadying and fawning from his visitors, so a serving of shamrock, with a bit of "the top of the morning to you" and a sickening dose of plámás (fake flattery), should see the taoiseach safely through his visit. All very pragmatic, but should Micheál opt instead for principle, since many legal experts believe that Trump's Iran war is illegal? He did not have approval for the war from the United Nations or Congress and the US was not under imminent threat from Iran. Trump himself claimed to have obliterated Iran's nuclear capability following US bombing raids there last June, so where was the threat? Among the buildings hit in the first bombing raids was a primary school where more than 160 people were reported killed, mostly girls aged between 7 and 12. The media network Al Jazeera reports that they were mainly the children of servicemen in the Iranian navy. If that was a war crime (and it is hard to see how it was not), should Micheál be fawning over Trump? This is the man who sulked because he did not win the Nobel Peace Prize, while launching attacks on Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Venezuela and most recently, Iran. Should "neutral" Ireland not also bring shamrock to President Putin? Micheál might like to follow the lead of the Spanish prime minister, who condemned Trump for playing "Russian roulette with the destiny of millions". Trump replied by threatening to cut off all trade with Spain. So why has Trump started this latest war? Some suggest that he suffers from malignant narcissism. That means he loves himself, lacks empathy and has a sadistic desire to cause psychological or emotional harm to others for personal gain or pleasure. Others suggest that his killing of Iranian civilians aims to divert attention from the claim that he is mentioned over 5,000 times in the Epstein files. Then there is the suggestion that it is an attempt to prevent the Republicans losing seats in the mid-term elections in November. Any or all of the above theories might account for Trump's Rambo-style government, but the core explanation for his latest war lies elsewhere - in Gaza. Israel's expansionist policy in Gaza and the West Bank requires acquiescent neighbouring countries. Although Iran is in no position to condemn anyone in view of its repressive policies at home, it is the only Arab country which has opposed Israel's genocide in Gaza. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists has revealed that even as key Arab states were condemning the war in Gaza, they were quietly expanding their security cooperation with Israeli military. They included Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with Kuwait and Oman as "potential partners" - countries at which Iran is now firing missiles. So bombing Iran is an extension of the genocide in Gaza. Trump has already changed his reasons for the war, but his constant message has been for the Iranian people to "rise up" together. Can you imagine Sinn Féin and the DUP rising up together in a population of less than 2 million? Well, multiply that by 45 for a population of 90 million in Iran, which consists of about eight main ethnic groups, including Persians, Azerbaijani Turks, Kurds and Lurs. Trump also encouraged the Akhvakhs to rise up, even though the Akhvakhs live in Dagestan, which is part of Russia. This is not surprising from a man who imposed tariffs on the Heard and McDonald Islands in Antarctica, where there are loads of penguins, but no people. The inevitable outcome in Iran will be that same anarchy which followed the US/British invasion of Iraq. With Iran in chaos, Trump's "Board of Peace" can implement his plan for a "Gaza Riveria", where Trump will presumably own large portions of real estate as part of a US takeover of the area. Palestinians will be absent, or second-class citizens employed as cleaners, doormen and waiters. With Israeli expansion into the West Bank at the same time, there will no longer be a Palestine. It is unlikely that Micheál Martin will raise that point. Prepare yourselves instead for the stage version of the film Darby O'Gill and the Little People, starring Micheál Martin and Donald Trump, live at the White House. Source: https://www.irishnews.com/opinion/patrick-murphy-dont-worry-donald-i-wont-mention-the-war-EWXYIUNTYZH7ZKOPHPABCPJIHY/