At CPAC, 'America First' Faithful Split Over Trump's 'Ass-kicking' in Iran

In a panel titled "No Nukes for Jihadists," Mark Wallace, CEO of United Against Nuclear Iran, argued that Trump's attack on Iran wasn't "continuing the forever wars. He's ending them." Speaking to Haaretz, Wallace pushed back on the notion that Trump had acted rashly and had no exit plan. "Military planning and intelligence have been on the books for a long time," he said. "There has been a loss of life in Israel and elsewhere, including Americans, but we have to be frank: It has gone unbelievably well. "I don't usually use terms like this, but the fake news coverage around the world makes it seem like World War III is breaking out." Wallace sees two potential outcomes. "First, if we can neutralize the regime to the point where it can no longer threaten Israel, the United States or our allies, that's one viable outcome," he said. "At that point, some third- or fourth-string regime figure may decide he doesn't want to die. "The second alternative is that the regime falls through kinetic action, combined with the Iranian people rising up. Ultimately, no matter what Israel and the United States do, the Iranian people have to be ready to act." Wallace also rejects the notion in some of the MAGA base that Israel pushed the United States into the war. "I'm Jewish and I love Israel. But Israel didn't tell Trump what to do. The idea that Jews or Israelis are somehow manipulating America is an antisemitic trope," he said.