Did you think at all about the dead Americans killed in action at a remote base on the Jordanian-Syrian border, and the dozens wounded by an Iranian drone yesterday?
Republican’s failure to support American ally Ukraine is a signal to foes like Iran that it is an open season to attack the US military. It sends a message that Donal Trump lead Republican coalition is weakening the US ability to respond to challenges abroad. Anyone with less years of experience than Joe Biden would have blinked and made terrible decisions. But Biden will never lose his composure. Look at all his enemies. Look at Putin, who is now begging at the doors of North Korea and Iran. No doubt all of the consequences in the Middle East are because Vladimir Putin could not win in Ukraine. Look at China. It no longer dictates trade decisions, the control on trades is slowing moving back into the hands of the US and its allies. The republicans and Mr Putin will now bury the almost a thousand Russian daily death in Ukraine with this news about American loss in the Middle East. We can all rest assured and sleep well knowing that it is Biden not Trump at the helm and that he is beating Putin and that he will end this tumultuous world being rocked by Putin and Iran even while Trump is trying to sabotage American aid to Ukraine and openly promoting Putin. Biden was in the room that decided to end Osama Bin Laden. His age and demeanor has made his enemies to underestimate him like Putin did from day one when Biden answered a reporter that he thinks Putin is a killer. Putin was going to show who was the boss by going into Ukraine the second time and getting away with it. But it is the Russian empire that is crumbling not Joe Biden because the US is now much stronger, richer and more powerful than when Biden said Putin is a killer on the first days of his presidency. We all know what Iran is doing, but no one knows what Joe Biden can and will do because he likes it that way. But rest assured he also will triumph over that at Iran’s expense even if Trump wishes the other way around.
How dare McConnell and Cotton utter a single criticism of President Biden's foreign policy when they betray our allies to improve the likelihood of restoring a traitorous, incompetent criminal to the White House.
Exactly, and my renewed hate of the gop is through Cotton's traitorous actions:
"legal scholars are raising questions over whether Sen. Tom Cotton and the 46 Senate Republicans violated the Logan Act when they penned a letter to Iran’s leaders on Monday, undercutting President Barack Obama’s efforts to negotiate a nuclear agreement with those same leaders."
Steve, what is your 2024 view and did you know of John McCain's position back then?
"Cotton is frank about his intentions, but he certainly doesn’t think he broke the law, nor do the other signatories like Sen. John McCain, who said he didn’t think the Logan Act applied."
It used to be that at times of conflict that we rallied around our President. We spoke with one voice. What we are witnessing is a continuation of party over country. We’ve known that McConnell is all about power. He is as much responsible for the downfall of our federal judiciary as trump. Cotton is an insurrectionist. If there is a list of unindicted congressional co-conspirators, he would be on the list, no doubt. What legislative accomplishments does he have to his name? The President has to walk the fine line of response and not escalating the Middle East conflict.
“Shouldn’t there be a basic recognition across America at this point that it is much easier for this nation to start wars than figuring out how to win or end them?”
And therein lies the rub! America is never fully prepared for the consequences. Or I should say we are, but republicans always find a way to exploit any war for the military and reconstruction Industrial Complexes’s gain (or shareholders).
In Iraq, we prepared for the war, and even though the State Department spent two years on an occupation plan, Rumsfeld and Cheney convinced our genius commander in chief that it should be the Pentagon’s purview; they ripped up the state department plan and spent 30 days preparing for the occupation.
How’d that work out for America? An insurgency that cost the lives of thousands of Americans and over 50k American casualties. Not to mention, over 500k civilian Iraqi deaths and even more casualties.
This is another emotional response that will cause chaos. What Cotton, McConnell, Bolton and the rest of the neo-cons don’t tell you is that Iran controls the Straight of Hormuz; a ninety mile strip of sea that connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. It’s between 52 miles wide at its widest, and as little as 21 miles in length at its narrowest point. In other words, Iran could mine the sea, and or use drones and helicopter attack ships to stop all shipping in the Persian Gulf.
The consequences would send oil prices skyrocketing and economies, already burdened with debt into free-falls, including our own. This could escalate the Israeli/Palestinian War into WW3.
Trump and his minions claim that it’s Biden’s policies that are at fault; WRONG! In fact, it was Trump that pulled out of the JCPOA, and now Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to build six nuclear weapons within weeks. If anything, it emboldened Iran to believe that the US can’t be trusted. Trump’s assassination of General Qasem Soleimani (head of the Quds force), escalated Iran’s support of every terrorist organization in the world that opposes the US.
Iran even elected its most hardline government since the Iranian Revolution in 1979; causing decades of reforms to disappear overnight.
Iran also responded to the killing of Soleimani by launching a barrage of missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq (proxies), causing hundreds of American servicemen to suffer severe brain concussion injuries. Thank god, none were killed.
As usual, republicans only solution to any problem is an emotional response, without any thought to the unintended consequences, or any plan whatsoever.
Biden needs to be strategic and respond only with the best intelligence available. And as to Biden informing Iran of a possible terror attack by ISIS in January 2023; was the right call.
The warning was delivered a week prior to dual suicide bombings at a ceremony for the anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani. Had we not warned Iran, we would have been blamed, and more terror attacks would have ensued.
I agree with most everything you wrote today, except your reference to "decades of reforms." It was indeed a serious mistake to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord. (Of course, Trump had no foreign policy except "Obama bad, me good.") However, tolerance for dissent was minimal since the 1979 revolution. There was little freedom of expression, religion, etc. Life in this regard could be characterized as "difficult" and "worse" IMHO.
I agree that tolerance and dissent was minimal; however, real reforms were made over time. And the Theocratic state was allowing more reform minded candidates to run for office; including creating the conditions for better relations with US.
Don’t forget, after 9/11, the Iranian government and its people were with America against Al Qaeda amd the Taliban, and even helped kill and capture Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives during our initial invasion into Afghanistan.
It wasn’t until Bush named Iran as part of the Axis of evil, and neo-con’s started demanding that Iran was next (McCain with his “Bomb, Bomb Iran message), did Iran decide to harbor Al Qaeda operatives, instead of detaining and jailing them..
I’m not saying the reformed government was great, but it was certainly much better than Iran’s present government, and over time; who knows.
Instead, since Raisi’s election in 2021, he cemented hardline control over all three branches of government – the executive branch, the judiciary, and parliament; jailing and detaining members of the reformist movement or forcing them into exile.
That said, it has always been America (democrats) that continue to make deals, and then we break them when republicans come to power.
I agree with most of what you have had to say Robert except soleimani, we owed him big time, he was in part responsible for the Marine barracks attack in Beirut where we lost over 200 men, along with many other attacks. While I loathe with every cell of my being the insipid clown, the only thing he did as president was to authorize the killing of soleimani, who is no doubt rotting in hell with so many of his friends.
I don’t disagree with your point, but even Reagan negotiated with the Iranian’s after Beirut and the death (torture) of a friend of Reagan, CIA officer William Buckley, who was kidnapped. In the end, you don’t make peace with your Allie’s; you make peace with your adversaries.
My point isn’t whether he deserved to die, but after the US pulled out JCPOA, and Biden came into power, he was trying to reduce tensions between the two countries. Soleimani was dead. This was a memorial service in Iran with many members of the government and Quds Force attending. And don’t forget, it was US policy going back decades to alert even adversaries of terror attacks in advance.
Obviously, Iran didn’t heed the warning since over 90 people died, and another couple of hundred were wounded.
That said, I agree Beirut marine barracks, US Embassy three months later, and a host of kidnappings, all attributed to Hezbollah with support from Iran, have been a thorn in our side, but I just think it was the right decision at the time to thaw the hostilities.l after the train wreck we call Trump just shot at the hip, with no concern of the unintended consequences.
Additionally, you also have to consider our role in this conflict since 1979. Remember, we were also supporting Saddam at the time in its war with Iran in 1980, so we weren’t exactly impartial actors, or on the sidelines either. Many of Iraq’s weaponry and some training were being provided by the US.
That was my point, but I also get your point, and well taken...:)
I have personal Marine colleagues (S/F) that survived the Beruit bombing and are still living that horrendous act of war that Reagan dismissed. We are all suffering the 80's illicit acts across the globe as precursors to today and many just want it to continue.
What a beautiful thing to say to me Rev. You have a gift! I have often wondered if a being like say Hitler, (a personification of evil IMHO), would not eventually work through payment for his evil deeds and exist with the rest. The Buddhists think there will be an end to the punishments of hell although it could be eons of eons long. You probably know about eons, when I was first taught about them it blew my mind. If you took only one second out of a rare day in a leap year, say a full moon or a blue moon and added them up enough times to make the amount of seconds in a calendar year and then you could take a billion billion of those years to make an eon and then you could have an eon of those eons, that's a long long time. I couldn't agree with you more about the need for each of us to have actions that are true, beautiful and good, and it is my fervent hope that mine will outweigh the bad. I have been trying to preach that through my actions for years now, and you know what, I'm not near as stressed as I used to be. I look forward to seeing Joe Biden, shaking his hand and thanking him for all he has done for our nation. Peace be with you Rev. Marian
Irony - "hawks" demanding Biden "fix" the effect of their cause.
Although I really want to punch down, I understand the Republican one trick war party's conflating of real and manufactured issues is goading us into a fight.
Mitch and Mike, stop whining and behaving as if you do not hold a position of power and authority. YOU fix it. Whip the votes NOW. End your party's self imposed insanity - do your f'ing jobs.
We can no longer pay attention to anything Mitch says. He's clearly losing it, and now he's calling for all-out war on Iran. Yes, we lost 5 good people and some were wounded due to what I think must have been a serious miscalculation on Iran's part. It's not time to start what will be equal to WWIII. But it is time to show military strength and hit Iran's minions heavily, but not Iran itself. Hit Iranian military, sure, but not Iran and risk killing innocent Iranians for which the Trump backers will use against us.
It clearly doesn't take many men to start a war and, as long as there are bodies of almost any age left, never really finish them. The real madness is that any people anywhere put up with the accompanying delusion, yet here in the most democratic, albeit unenlightened, of nations we have by far the largest "defense" budget in the world which some in our Congress cannot wait to draw down. Would they serve? Would they actually engage in the literal murder of peaceful families?
War is the deadliest and most destructive of men's games yet we have been playing it for millennia asking the women who survive our endless onslaught to provide the needed bodies of their children. If there is a good definition for war it is found in one word; insanity
Steve, just reading your true assessment of what may come makes my stomach churn with the very thought of our future. I’m almost 78; yet my grandsons are of the age to be drafted if that is reinstated. I believe President Biden is the best for our country and has the best people with him. And yes it pains me to hear of our soldiers dying, being wounded and possibly more coming. And worse if the “T” wins in November.
In what is otherwise a strong admonition, you suggest America is belatedly taking Iranian aggression seriously.
Even Trump did so, but his foolish decision to abrogate the nuclear accord with Iran has only made a bad situation worse. This is acknowledged by "The Gatekeepers," a compelling documentary in which all of the then-living heads of the Mossad were interviewed at length.
Trump can’t post the appeals bond or write a check for $85,000,000.
No surety would write $5m original bond without extremely tough terms: underwriters demanded 150% collateral and high premiums, that’s why he posted cash.
In this case he will need to post At least $130,000,000 and a premium of at least 3% per year up front for 5 years minimum.
If he can’t post he is left with making a check out for $100,000,000!
What if he can’t, because of state monitor auditing every transfer, no assets in personal name to make him judgement proof, if he declares a dividend to himself, big tax hit!
Like “Drippy Rudy” Alex Jones; Newsmax and others, he will need to declare bankruptcy, which is the end of his apprentice image, even MAGA sees a FAILED EXPOSED GRIFTER!
He will get the nomination, but by July polls will show no more than 40% support leading to a right wing third party move OR a floor fight causing demonstrations in the hall and skinheads, nazis and militia going to the streets!
All portends end of MAGA and death of Lincoln’s GOP
We’ve got to do something in the Middle East. Iranian back terrorism is increasing. After seeing the barbaric attack on Israelis, do we really think Iran will sit down and talk with Blinken? Biden needs to do something more than being present in the ME. Or big daddy Trump will swoop in and “save” the day.
Tom Cotton, "senator" from Arkansas. What's the point of saying what you did about President Biden? Does that help the United States or the dead American soldiers?
The division of this country more than any one presidential decision has signaled our foe that we are weak and can’t function. Republicans can put aside their tribalism for the good of the country.
If Trump is president again, he will pulled out troops from everywhere, leaving a vacuum of power around the world that Russia and China are only too happy to fill.
MAGA create and demonize problems that exist and they create to create fear. Interestingly they never have a solution and are unwilling to come to a solution.
MAGA have no platform, have no guiding principles and no respect for law, civility, honor, morality, or facts.
They yell “fire” then block the fire department from putting it out so they can say how inept the fire department is.
MAGA is simply about greed and power at the top at all costs. The “cult” are simply useful idiots who will be far worse off if they succeed.
A well thought out measured response is what is called for. That does not mean a hasty response that could open us up to further escalation because Republicans have now found their backbone. I believe if the Republican party did not block military aid to Ukraine and Israel then Iran would have thought twice about attacking us. However, you are correct they sense weakness by the Republican party and they are exploiting our infighting.
Republican’s failure to support American ally Ukraine is a signal to foes like Iran that it is an open season to attack the US military. It sends a message that Donal Trump lead Republican coalition is weakening the US ability to respond to challenges abroad. Anyone with less years of experience than Joe Biden would have blinked and made terrible decisions. But Biden will never lose his composure. Look at all his enemies. Look at Putin, who is now begging at the doors of North Korea and Iran. No doubt all of the consequences in the Middle East are because Vladimir Putin could not win in Ukraine. Look at China. It no longer dictates trade decisions, the control on trades is slowing moving back into the hands of the US and its allies. The republicans and Mr Putin will now bury the almost a thousand Russian daily death in Ukraine with this news about American loss in the Middle East. We can all rest assured and sleep well knowing that it is Biden not Trump at the helm and that he is beating Putin and that he will end this tumultuous world being rocked by Putin and Iran even while Trump is trying to sabotage American aid to Ukraine and openly promoting Putin. Biden was in the room that decided to end Osama Bin Laden. His age and demeanor has made his enemies to underestimate him like Putin did from day one when Biden answered a reporter that he thinks Putin is a killer. Putin was going to show who was the boss by going into Ukraine the second time and getting away with it. But it is the Russian empire that is crumbling not Joe Biden because the US is now much stronger, richer and more powerful than when Biden said Putin is a killer on the first days of his presidency. We all know what Iran is doing, but no one knows what Joe Biden can and will do because he likes it that way. But rest assured he also will triumph over that at Iran’s expense even if Trump wishes the other way around.
How dare McConnell and Cotton utter a single criticism of President Biden's foreign policy when they betray our allies to improve the likelihood of restoring a traitorous, incompetent criminal to the White House.
Shameful!
Exactly, and my renewed hate of the gop is through Cotton's traitorous actions:
"legal scholars are raising questions over whether Sen. Tom Cotton and the 46 Senate Republicans violated the Logan Act when they penned a letter to Iran’s leaders on Monday, undercutting President Barack Obama’s efforts to negotiate a nuclear agreement with those same leaders."
Steve, what is your 2024 view and did you know of John McCain's position back then?
"Cotton is frank about his intentions, but he certainly doesn’t think he broke the law, nor do the other signatories like Sen. John McCain, who said he didn’t think the Logan Act applied."
https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/10/politics/tom-cotton-iran-letter-logan-act/index.html
Cotton is really sticking his neck out! :-)
Well said, May. Thank you for an articulation of some much needed strength based in fact and optimism.
Thank you May
Ditto
Well said...:)
May, thank you. You helped me get perspective on a number of important things going on.
It used to be that at times of conflict that we rallied around our President. We spoke with one voice. What we are witnessing is a continuation of party over country. We’ve known that McConnell is all about power. He is as much responsible for the downfall of our federal judiciary as trump. Cotton is an insurrectionist. If there is a list of unindicted congressional co-conspirators, he would be on the list, no doubt. What legislative accomplishments does he have to his name? The President has to walk the fine line of response and not escalating the Middle East conflict.
“Shouldn’t there be a basic recognition across America at this point that it is much easier for this nation to start wars than figuring out how to win or end them?”
And therein lies the rub! America is never fully prepared for the consequences. Or I should say we are, but republicans always find a way to exploit any war for the military and reconstruction Industrial Complexes’s gain (or shareholders).
In Iraq, we prepared for the war, and even though the State Department spent two years on an occupation plan, Rumsfeld and Cheney convinced our genius commander in chief that it should be the Pentagon’s purview; they ripped up the state department plan and spent 30 days preparing for the occupation.
How’d that work out for America? An insurgency that cost the lives of thousands of Americans and over 50k American casualties. Not to mention, over 500k civilian Iraqi deaths and even more casualties.
This is another emotional response that will cause chaos. What Cotton, McConnell, Bolton and the rest of the neo-cons don’t tell you is that Iran controls the Straight of Hormuz; a ninety mile strip of sea that connects the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. It’s between 52 miles wide at its widest, and as little as 21 miles in length at its narrowest point. In other words, Iran could mine the sea, and or use drones and helicopter attack ships to stop all shipping in the Persian Gulf.
The consequences would send oil prices skyrocketing and economies, already burdened with debt into free-falls, including our own. This could escalate the Israeli/Palestinian War into WW3.
Trump and his minions claim that it’s Biden’s policies that are at fault; WRONG! In fact, it was Trump that pulled out of the JCPOA, and now Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to build six nuclear weapons within weeks. If anything, it emboldened Iran to believe that the US can’t be trusted. Trump’s assassination of General Qasem Soleimani (head of the Quds force), escalated Iran’s support of every terrorist organization in the world that opposes the US.
Iran even elected its most hardline government since the Iranian Revolution in 1979; causing decades of reforms to disappear overnight.
Iran also responded to the killing of Soleimani by launching a barrage of missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq (proxies), causing hundreds of American servicemen to suffer severe brain concussion injuries. Thank god, none were killed.
As usual, republicans only solution to any problem is an emotional response, without any thought to the unintended consequences, or any plan whatsoever.
Biden needs to be strategic and respond only with the best intelligence available. And as to Biden informing Iran of a possible terror attack by ISIS in January 2023; was the right call.
The warning was delivered a week prior to dual suicide bombings at a ceremony for the anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani. Had we not warned Iran, we would have been blamed, and more terror attacks would have ensued.
Just some thoughts...:)
I agree with most everything you wrote today, except your reference to "decades of reforms." It was indeed a serious mistake to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord. (Of course, Trump had no foreign policy except "Obama bad, me good.") However, tolerance for dissent was minimal since the 1979 revolution. There was little freedom of expression, religion, etc. Life in this regard could be characterized as "difficult" and "worse" IMHO.
I agree that tolerance and dissent was minimal; however, real reforms were made over time. And the Theocratic state was allowing more reform minded candidates to run for office; including creating the conditions for better relations with US.
Don’t forget, after 9/11, the Iranian government and its people were with America against Al Qaeda amd the Taliban, and even helped kill and capture Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives during our initial invasion into Afghanistan.
It wasn’t until Bush named Iran as part of the Axis of evil, and neo-con’s started demanding that Iran was next (McCain with his “Bomb, Bomb Iran message), did Iran decide to harbor Al Qaeda operatives, instead of detaining and jailing them..
I’m not saying the reformed government was great, but it was certainly much better than Iran’s present government, and over time; who knows.
Instead, since Raisi’s election in 2021, he cemented hardline control over all three branches of government – the executive branch, the judiciary, and parliament; jailing and detaining members of the reformist movement or forcing them into exile.
That said, it has always been America (democrats) that continue to make deals, and then we break them when republicans come to power.
That was my point...:)
Could it be? We're actually on the same page...almost.
Hey, I agree with you often. I even click “like” most of the time. So we agree more than not; obviously with some nuances...:)
I agree with most of what you have had to say Robert except soleimani, we owed him big time, he was in part responsible for the Marine barracks attack in Beirut where we lost over 200 men, along with many other attacks. While I loathe with every cell of my being the insipid clown, the only thing he did as president was to authorize the killing of soleimani, who is no doubt rotting in hell with so many of his friends.
I meant to say that the only thing the insipid clown did as president that I thought was right was authorizing soleimani’s ignominious end.
I don’t disagree with your point, but even Reagan negotiated with the Iranian’s after Beirut and the death (torture) of a friend of Reagan, CIA officer William Buckley, who was kidnapped. In the end, you don’t make peace with your Allie’s; you make peace with your adversaries.
My point isn’t whether he deserved to die, but after the US pulled out JCPOA, and Biden came into power, he was trying to reduce tensions between the two countries. Soleimani was dead. This was a memorial service in Iran with many members of the government and Quds Force attending. And don’t forget, it was US policy going back decades to alert even adversaries of terror attacks in advance.
Obviously, Iran didn’t heed the warning since over 90 people died, and another couple of hundred were wounded.
That said, I agree Beirut marine barracks, US Embassy three months later, and a host of kidnappings, all attributed to Hezbollah with support from Iran, have been a thorn in our side, but I just think it was the right decision at the time to thaw the hostilities.l after the train wreck we call Trump just shot at the hip, with no concern of the unintended consequences.
Additionally, you also have to consider our role in this conflict since 1979. Remember, we were also supporting Saddam at the time in its war with Iran in 1980, so we weren’t exactly impartial actors, or on the sidelines either. Many of Iraq’s weaponry and some training were being provided by the US.
That was my point, but I also get your point, and well taken...:)
Great dialog.
I have personal Marine colleagues (S/F) that survived the Beruit bombing and are still living that horrendous act of war that Reagan dismissed. We are all suffering the 80's illicit acts across the globe as precursors to today and many just want it to continue.
What a beautiful thing to say to me Rev. You have a gift! I have often wondered if a being like say Hitler, (a personification of evil IMHO), would not eventually work through payment for his evil deeds and exist with the rest. The Buddhists think there will be an end to the punishments of hell although it could be eons of eons long. You probably know about eons, when I was first taught about them it blew my mind. If you took only one second out of a rare day in a leap year, say a full moon or a blue moon and added them up enough times to make the amount of seconds in a calendar year and then you could take a billion billion of those years to make an eon and then you could have an eon of those eons, that's a long long time. I couldn't agree with you more about the need for each of us to have actions that are true, beautiful and good, and it is my fervent hope that mine will outweigh the bad. I have been trying to preach that through my actions for years now, and you know what, I'm not near as stressed as I used to be. I look forward to seeing Joe Biden, shaking his hand and thanking him for all he has done for our nation. Peace be with you Rev. Marian
Well thought out and said perfectly.
Irony - "hawks" demanding Biden "fix" the effect of their cause.
Although I really want to punch down, I understand the Republican one trick war party's conflating of real and manufactured issues is goading us into a fight.
Mitch and Mike, stop whining and behaving as if you do not hold a position of power and authority. YOU fix it. Whip the votes NOW. End your party's self imposed insanity - do your f'ing jobs.
This is one BRILLANT post, Steve! Bravo, and keep up the great work!
We can no longer pay attention to anything Mitch says. He's clearly losing it, and now he's calling for all-out war on Iran. Yes, we lost 5 good people and some were wounded due to what I think must have been a serious miscalculation on Iran's part. It's not time to start what will be equal to WWIII. But it is time to show military strength and hit Iran's minions heavily, but not Iran itself. Hit Iranian military, sure, but not Iran and risk killing innocent Iranians for which the Trump backers will use against us.
It clearly doesn't take many men to start a war and, as long as there are bodies of almost any age left, never really finish them. The real madness is that any people anywhere put up with the accompanying delusion, yet here in the most democratic, albeit unenlightened, of nations we have by far the largest "defense" budget in the world which some in our Congress cannot wait to draw down. Would they serve? Would they actually engage in the literal murder of peaceful families?
War is the deadliest and most destructive of men's games yet we have been playing it for millennia asking the women who survive our endless onslaught to provide the needed bodies of their children. If there is a good definition for war it is found in one word; insanity
Scares the hell out of me. Has for months.
Steve, just reading your true assessment of what may come makes my stomach churn with the very thought of our future. I’m almost 78; yet my grandsons are of the age to be drafted if that is reinstated. I believe President Biden is the best for our country and has the best people with him. And yes it pains me to hear of our soldiers dying, being wounded and possibly more coming. And worse if the “T” wins in November.
I fear a war that is far more encompassing than others. Who will drive us to it? Who will stop it?
In what is otherwise a strong admonition, you suggest America is belatedly taking Iranian aggression seriously.
Even Trump did so, but his foolish decision to abrogate the nuclear accord with Iran has only made a bad situation worse. This is acknowledged by "The Gatekeepers," a compelling documentary in which all of the then-living heads of the Mossad were interviewed at length.
Off subject
A Long Shot hypothesis:
Trump can’t post the appeals bond or write a check for $85,000,000.
No surety would write $5m original bond without extremely tough terms: underwriters demanded 150% collateral and high premiums, that’s why he posted cash.
In this case he will need to post At least $130,000,000 and a premium of at least 3% per year up front for 5 years minimum.
If he can’t post he is left with making a check out for $100,000,000!
What if he can’t, because of state monitor auditing every transfer, no assets in personal name to make him judgement proof, if he declares a dividend to himself, big tax hit!
Like “Drippy Rudy” Alex Jones; Newsmax and others, he will need to declare bankruptcy, which is the end of his apprentice image, even MAGA sees a FAILED EXPOSED GRIFTER!
He will get the nomination, but by July polls will show no more than 40% support leading to a right wing third party move OR a floor fight causing demonstrations in the hall and skinheads, nazis and militia going to the streets!
All portends end of MAGA and death of Lincoln’s GOP
We’ve got to do something in the Middle East. Iranian back terrorism is increasing. After seeing the barbaric attack on Israelis, do we really think Iran will sit down and talk with Blinken? Biden needs to do something more than being present in the ME. Or big daddy Trump will swoop in and “save” the day.
Tom Cotton, "senator" from Arkansas. What's the point of saying what you did about President Biden? Does that help the United States or the dead American soldiers?
Please don’t quote anything from Moscow Mitch.
The division of this country more than any one presidential decision has signaled our foe that we are weak and can’t function. Republicans can put aside their tribalism for the good of the country.
If Trump is president again, he will pulled out troops from everywhere, leaving a vacuum of power around the world that Russia and China are only too happy to fill.
MAGA create and demonize problems that exist and they create to create fear. Interestingly they never have a solution and are unwilling to come to a solution.
MAGA have no platform, have no guiding principles and no respect for law, civility, honor, morality, or facts.
They yell “fire” then block the fire department from putting it out so they can say how inept the fire department is.
MAGA is simply about greed and power at the top at all costs. The “cult” are simply useful idiots who will be far worse off if they succeed.
Similar to Israel. Looked weak because of internal strife brought on by Bibi and far far right fundamentalist Jews.
No one attacks an enemy when it looks strong, never!
A well thought out measured response is what is called for. That does not mean a hasty response that could open us up to further escalation because Republicans have now found their backbone. I believe if the Republican party did not block military aid to Ukraine and Israel then Iran would have thought twice about attacking us. However, you are correct they sense weakness by the Republican party and they are exploiting our infighting.
That's not backbone. they've found their consistent politics of fear and loathing of others to run on for games to return to power.