Donald Trump’s allies are more afraid of him than his enemies are. There are plenty of examples in Washington DC of former critics who now serve at his court, so crushed that they would clean his shoes for him in public if asked.
Last week he treated the US constitution like a used paper bag, making a lawless attack on Iran which he was specifically not allowed to do by an overwhelming resolution of Congress, passed when that body still had some guts, in 1973.
Hardly anyone stood up to him. They’ll regret that in 2028 when he once again starts saying that he’d like to carry on being President after his term is legally over.
He also wiped his nose on what remains of international law. The next time some lawless despotic slum invades or bombs a sovereign country out of the blue, one country that won’t be able to protest is the USA.
Another is Britain, which lodged no objection to this act. Sir Keir probably wishes he had been invited to send one of our biplanes or rowing boats along to show support.
But these were just foreplay for His Whimsical Majesty’s imperial visit to Europe.
On his flight over he pretty much dissolved NATO. Yes, that’s right, even though its chief, Mark Rutte, had sent him a letter full of Hard Core Fawn, slurping: ‘Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do. It makes us all safer.’
Hardly anyone stood up to Donald Trump. They’ll regret that in 2028 when he once again starts saying that he’d like to carry on being President after his term is legally over
And this from the chief of an alliance which claims to be defensive.
Mr Trump pocketed the pathetic flattery. Then he publicly exposed the emptiness of the alliance that everyone reveres so much. This was far more important than what came next.
Look at what he said, aboard his flying palace. Asked if he was committed to the Atlantic Pact, he did not, as expected, thunder nobly about how it stood like a rock. Instead he said airily: ‘Depends on your definition.’
To rub this in he added: ‘There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends.’
Ah, well, then he’ll come to our birthday parties. Great!
But somebody has plainly explained Article 5 to him. And he has grasped that it commits the USA to two parts of nothing at all. Yes, everyone is supposed to take action if a NATO member is attacked. But what action? I will tell you: ‘Such action as it deems necessary.’ It’s a bit vague.
That action could, of course, be a nuclear strike or a couple of armoured divisions. But it might also be a tough speech to the UN Security Council, or a grim-faced TV address from the Oval Office.
Trump pretty much dissolved NATO. Yes, that’s right, even though its chief, Mark Rutte, had sent him a letter full of Hard Core Fawn
The nations of Europe should grasp that, if they really want to continue their weird, nostalgic brawl with Russia, they’re on their own – literally.
And what about that 5 per cent we have to spend on our militaries, plucked from the Magic Money Tree? Where do you think most of it will go? Why, on buying American planes and bombs, which I suspect is Mr Trump’s real concern. Once again, I have to wonder where the grown-ups have gone.
Now tell me that cannabis use and ultra-violent crime are not linked
It has been quite obvious for many years that the use of the drug marijuana is linked with mental illness.
This is worst of all among the young, a serious problem now that it is widely sold in schools in the form of sweets.
The mental illness can take many shapes. For some it is failure at school, and then at work, sometimes accompanied by persecution mania. For others its use leads to a general descent into self-centred failure and lassitude, accompanied by angry displays of temper.
Many parents know these symptoms all too well. But for others – and this has been documented in this country by my friend Ross Grainger – it is associated with crazed ultra-violent criminal actions.
It has been quite obvious for many years that the use of the drug marijuana is linked with mental illness… and now we have the grisly case of Marcus Monzo
I have listed here before the major supposed terror incidents, here and abroad, including the London murder of Lee Rigby and the Charlie Hebdo outrage in Paris, where the culprits have been users of this drug. They kill with knives or with motor vehicles or guns. They would kill with ballpoint pens or screwdrivers if they had no other way. You can’t ban all possible weapons.
It is not that they are intoxicated at the time, but that they have become mad.
Now we have the grisly case of Marcus Monzo, convicted of the plainly crazy and unspeakably cruel killing of 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin.
In the course of 20 minutes, Monzo drove a van into a 33-year-old pedestrian and then chased him, slashing him in the neck. Then he attacked Daniel, and is said to have ‘screamed in delight’ and smiled (smiled!) as he hacked at the schoolboy with his 2ft sword.
Monzo then entered a nearby home where a couple and their four-year-old daughter were asleep. He demanded to know if they believed in God and then slashed a man on the arm.
There is no motive for these actions, whatever political or pseudo-religious drivel may have come out of his mouth.
This time at least we know what the police generally do not even bother to check (why the hell not?). He was an undoubted user of marijuana.
Possession of this drug is a serious crime, though you’d struggle to realise it.
Will this episode in any way lessen the demands of airhead billionaires, thick-as-mince MPs and journalists, and elite drugtakers that marijuana should be legalised? Nope.
So let’s not have any fake mourning from them for poor dead Daniel Anjorin. They all helped to kill him.
I see that the e-scooter ‘experiment’ in my home city has been yet again ‘extended’, well into 2026. What more do they need to know about the danger, nuisance and criminal use of these nasty toys? Can we please see the notes they have taken, and the evidence they have gathered?
Listen to Peter Hitchens and Sarah Vine debate the biggest talking points of the week on Alas Vine & Hitchens. Available wherever you get your podcasts now.
