“His own hopes notwithstanding, Donald Trump does not run the world. By extension, he does not run Iran’s foreign or defense policy. And while it is true that nations good and bad calibrate their actions around the world’s superpower, it is also true that their first order of business is their own interests, and in the case of Iran, their own survival. Understanding that, the headlines this weekend in major papers tell us more about the politics of journalists these days, and less about what’s happening with Iran. The Washington Post announced that “Trump’s consistent criticism of Iran pushes US to the point of potential conflict.” The Financial Times (which I generally read for a less biased take) went above the fold on the front page with this: “Trump inflames Gulf heat with Iran accusation.”
Sorry, Charlie. This is not about Donald Trump.This is about the Islamic Republic. First to Iran:
– Iran violated its commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which led to sanctions, which led to negotiations, which led to a deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA);
– The deal was weak, with provisions that allowed Iran to continue some of its nuclear activities; even those weak limitations sunset according to the JCPOA, which meant substantial opposition within Congress to the deal when unveiled by the Obama administration. The JCPOA left few real strictures on missile range or conventional weapons acquisitions;
– Because the JCPOA was unpopular with Democrats and Republicans in Congress, team Obama signed onto it as an executive agreement. This was proper, but risky. And… executive agreements can be ripped up. So…Donald Trump ripped up the JCPOA, arguing he wants a better deal;
– Even Team Obama admitted the deal only covered Iran’s nuclear program, ignoring Tehran’s support for terrorism, regional destabilization, and abysmal human rights record. Which Tehran promptly took as license to go to town;
– Since the JCPOA, Iran has aggressively stepped up support for Hezbollah, for Assad in Syria, for the Houthis in Yemen and worse;
– There have been multiple Houthi attacks into Saudi Arabia, including recent ones on Abha airport that reveal new and improved targeting capabilities given to the Houthis by Iran (watch thisvideo…), and
– There have been severalattackson shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, likely committed by Iranian Forces, and drone strikes on Saudi pumping stations.
These attacks are not Donald Trump’s fault; Iran has consistently used proxies to further its regional agenda and regularlythreatensshipping in the Strait.Iran has upped the range and accuracy of the missiles it shares with its proxies. Yes, Iran is suffering under sanctions, renewed since the end of the JCPOA, but those sanctions are not causing Iran’s malfeasance; they are a result of it.While the press may wish to deny agency to the Islamic Republic of Iran for its own reasons, the rest of us need not sign on. And when Iran violates the terms of the JCPOA later this summer, that will be its choice, not Donald Trump’s…
…the Democrat-Republican divide over the Middle East. Trump derangement has reached such proportions that too many of the party opposing the president have decided that the opposite of what he wants is always best. How else to describe the almost fanatical hostility to Saudi Arabia (a reasonable level, sure, but we are well beyond reasonable); the growing animosity to Israel; and the almost incredible desire to ascribe to anyone other than Iran attacks so obviously committed by Iran in the Gulf? Most serious Middle East experts on the Democratic side of the aisle see these problems as well, but are at a loss for a solution. The lack of consensus over the challenge posed by Iran is a serious problem for the United States. Right now, the Democrats are in the position of tacitly encouraging the Islamic Republic to wait out Donald Trump in the hopes of something better in 2021. That is hardly the right message to be sending to a country that is escalating threats to US allies and pledging to once again violate the NPT.
Perhaps it’s time to set aside politics and recognize Iran for what it is?…For, you know, the good of the nation?“
More like the good of Western civilization, if not the world. But hey, what’s long-term benefit to the planet compared with short-term political gain for Progressives?!?
Here’s the juice: reasonable people can reasonably disagree over many political policies. But like unrestricted, on-demand abortion which includes infants who somehow survive their own execution, the Iran deal ain’t one of ’em!!! It is utterly indefensible, and the degree to which Progressives continue promoting it bespeaks their widening detachment from reality.
Since we’re on the subject of those increasingly detached from reality, courtesy of Balls Cotton, an anonymous contributor to One Political Plaza explains why…
“I hope that the House of Representatives impeaches Trump. Let me tell you what will happen next:
1. The House can pass articles of impeachment over the objections of the Republicans, and refer to the Senate for trial.
2. The Senate will conduct a trial.There will be a vote, and the Republicans will vote unanimously (maybe, maybe not), along with a small number of Democrats, to not convict the President.Legally, it will all be over at that point.
3. However, during the trial, and this is what no one is thinking about right now, the President’s attorneys will have the right to subpoena and question ANYONE THAT THEY WANT. That is different(very different!) than the special counsel investigation, which was very one-sided. So, during the impeachment trial, we will be hearing testimony from James Comey, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Bruce Ohr, Glenn Simpson, Donna Brazille, Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Christopher Steele, Hillary Clinton, John Brennan, James Clapper, and a whole host of other participants in this whole sordid affair and the ensuing coverup activities. A lot of dirt will be dug up; a lot of truth will be unveiled. Finger pointing will occur. Deals will start being made, and suddenly, a lot of Democrats will start being charged and going to prison. All this, because, remember, the President’s team will now, for the first time, have the RIGHT to question all of these people under oath – and they will turn on each other. That’s already starting.
4. …Nothing will happen to Trump. Most Americans are clueless about political processes, the law, and the Constitution. Most Americans believe that being impeached results in removal from office. They don’t understand that phase 2 is a trial in and by the Senate, where he has zero chance of conviction. Remember, the Senate is controlled by Republicans; they will determine what testimony is allowed — and **everything** will be allowed, including DNC collusion with the Clinton campaign to fix the election in favor of Hillary, the creation of the Trump dossier, the cover-up, and destruction of emails that very likely included incriminating information…
…After the Senate declines to convict the President, we will have an election, and Trump will win. It will be a backlash against democrat petulance, temper tantrums, hypocrisy, and dishonesty. Even minorities will vote for Trump, because, for the first time, they will see that Democrats have spent 2+ years focused on maintaining their own power, and not doing anything at all about black murders in Chicago, homelessness, opioids, and other important issues that are actually killing people. (We’re not gonna bet our life on that particular assertion!)And, we will spend the following four years listening to politicians and pundits claim that the whole impeachment was rigged.“
Of that we have NO doubt!
Turning now to the EnvironMental Moment, in a measure certain to make the state’s economy even less business-friendly than it already is, Drudge is reporting how…
“Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) (That’s “D”, as in “Dipsh*t”, “Dunce” or “Dimwitted Dimocratic Douche Pump!”) said yesterday he has reached an agreement with legislative leaders over a bill to slash New York’s greenhouse gas emissions, setting the stage for one of the most significant state climate victories since President Trump took office.
The announcement, coming just days before the close of the legislative session, represented a big victory for climate activists, who have spent three years pushing for major legislation to curb greenhouse gases in the Empire State.
Lawmakers were still working on final amendments yesterday, but the outlines of the deal were becoming clear. The legislation calls for reducing emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% by 2050. The remaining 15% of emissions would be offset, making the state carbon neutral. The bill would also require that all electricity generation come from carbon-free sources by 2040.
AClimate Action Council would be establishedto ensure the state meets its targets…”
Imagine for a moment, if you will…and yes, we’re asking you to totally disconnect your brain…the “thought process” behind this legislation:
“Yeah, let’s add another unnecessary-but-costly government bureaucracy to the sky-high energy costs this bill already necessitates; that oughta slow the flood of citizens fleeing the Empire State for less taxing climes!”
Which brings us, appropriately enough, to The Lighter Side:
Then there’s this truism from our sister-in-law Amy:
Finally, we’ll call it a day with News of the Bizarre, and this item just in from Portlandia via People.com:
“…“[The 911 caller] said she was down near the garbage collection area and she was barely conscious,” [Portland Fire & Rescue spokesman Rich] Chatman says. “We have reason to believe there was a mental health component involved.”
It is unclearwhy exactly the woman entered the chute.(“Unclear”…really?!? Did the reporter not read the quote she herself recorded immediately prior to her rather curious conclusion?)
Authorities got the call around 12:20 p.m. and rescuers carefully removed her from the bin, working to not worsen her injuries and pain, Chatman said…”
As opposed to rescuers who deliberately inflict additional injury and pain on accident victims in their haste to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Then again, the victim might simply have watched Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory…
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