US President Donald Trump has characterized America’s allies as “cowards” because they won’t help him with his war against Iran. You could make a stronger case that it is Americans who are the cowards.

“Cowards. We will remember,” he said on social media. Too bad his memory is so short.

After all, the USA has a history of not showing up to fight when their friends are threatened. Trump probably doesn’t know that.

The First World War started in 1914. The USA entered the conflict in 1917.

The American public (and their leaders) saw that war as a European conflict. Nothing to do with them.

They changed their minds after suffering shipping losses due to unrestricted submarine warfare. But nobody called them cowards for staying out of the conflict.

The Second World War started in 1939. The USA entered that one in 1941.

The American public (and their leaders) saw that war as a European conflict. Nothing to do with them.

They changed their minds after the Japanese attacked Pear Harbor. Hitler was bent on world conquest, but no-one called Americans cowards for not fighting to remove him.

The countries Trump calls cowards have arguably a much better track record of standing up for freedom and democracy than the United States. History shows that.

Declining to take part in Donald Trump’s Iranian adventure isn’t cowardice. It is a recognition that this is Trump’s war. The UN hasn’t given its blessing. NATO hasn’t agreed that Iran is an imminent threat. Even the US Congress has not declared war. countries like to have a legal justification for their actions.

Iran hasn’t surrendered. It is becoming increasingly clear that to accomplish Trump’s aims the US will have to do more than just pummel the country from the air.

Trump doesn’t want to do that. He may be hazy on history, but he remembers the Vietnam war. He avoided having to serve because he was a university student, but he knows people die when there are troops on the ground. he won’t look good to the American people if that happens.

Are other countries cowards for not joining Donald Trump’s war? Not according to history. If Americans were not cowardly in not leaping into two world wars at the first opportunity, then those not rushing to join the Iran conflict today are showing the same prudence.