Burgers, then war: Trump’s bluffs before Iran strikes
The Straits Times
“Hamburgers for everyone!” Mr Trump declared to cheering customers, before striking Iran hours later. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PALM BEACH, United States - On a visit to Texas on Feb 27, US President Donald Trump gave a raucous speech on the economy and then stopped off at a fast food joint.
“Hamburgers for everyone!” Mr Trump declared to cheering customers at the Whataburger restaurant in Corpus Christi, before the 47th president left clutching a bag with the order number 47.
Nine hours later, in the dead of night, Mr Trump announced from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida that he had ordered the start of a major attack against Iran.
It was the culmination of a series of feints and bluffs in the preceding hours and days as the former reality TV star kept the world guessing.
The smokescreen even featured daily schedules that appeared to leave time for weekend golf games, and announcements of meetings for his senior officials.
Perhaps the weekend at Mar-a-Lago should have been the giveaway.

BRUSSELS, March 17 - A Brussels court on Tuesday ordered a former high-profile Belgian diplomat to stand trial over the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of Congo, in a final attempt to shed light on the still murky circumstances surrounding his murder. Read more at straitstimes.com.

WASHINGTON, March 17 - The head of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most senior member of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States. Read more at straitstimes.com.











