As the US ceasefire with Iran hangs in the balance following another weekend of tit-for-tat hostilities between the two countries, Vice President JD Vance is articulating the view that whatever happens, “America wins either way”.
The man who is a heartbeat away from the presidency is touring the United States, promoting a new memoir about his decision to convert to the Catholic faith. Few interviews have been more toe-curling than his appearance on HBO’s weekly talk show hosted by comedian and political commentator Bill Maher.
“If we make the final deal, then great,” Vance said of ongoing negotiations with Iran that are now in significant jeopardy as the two sides accuse one another of breaching the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed just over a week ago. “If we don’t make the final deal, their nuclear programme is still destroyed. They’re still much weaker as a country. So my attitude is America wins either way.”
It is always tempting to look at life through rose-tinted spectacles. While the Vice President’s claim might make good material for a satirical monologue on late night TV, the administration’s critics argue it does not contain the ingredients for a mature national security strategy.
