Trump’s end-the-war count now stands at eight, according to the president himself. Matters on the battlefields of the world, however, sometimes get in the way of his bragging.
Take the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. Trump held a big ceremony in October to announce a deal between the two countries that he said he had negotiated.
Oops, sorry, that deal didn’t hold, and fighting recently resumed. Trump once again phoned over and threatened tariff damnation if the fighting didn’t stop. It didn’t.
The fight continues today in the border provinces of Sisaket and Surin, Talks between opposing military leaders began yesterday, but they are not expected to lead to a ceasefire. They’re more show than go, as the ultimate solution ties in the capitals of Bangkok and Phnom Penh.
In Cambodia, there have been at least 21 civilian deaths and half a million displaced. In Thailand, at least 65 have died and 150,000 have been displaced.
“We strongly urge the immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and for both sides to fully implement the ceasefire and the other de-escalatory measures outlined in the October 26 Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords,” states an email from the U.S. State Department to the warring parties.
Meanwhile, peace-deal number eight between Israel and Hamas is still tenuous. There have been skirmishes but not outright confrontations, but Hamas refuses to lay down its arms as part of Phase Two of the peace deal. For its part, Israel says it intends to build settlements in parts of Gaza rather than withdrawing to fulfill its part of Phase Two.
So, what’s the real end-the-war count, six and a half?
[PICTURED: Displaced Thai civilians huddle together for shelter]
