The Spanish Steamroller

I will concede that France is the more athletic side, They are faster than Spain, yet the Spanish have dominated them of late. The reason for this is simple. It is discipline. While the French with great elan are sometimes haphazard in their play, Spain rarely makes mistakes, not never, because the Spaniards are of course human, but when they do, Spain has the concerted effort team mindset to overcome whatever error an individual competitor has made. Does that mean Spain will trounce England or Argentina? Not necessarily because a different opponent offers unique challenges, but I would not bet against the Spanish side. 

Mullahs Missed Mark

All the theocratic tyrants that enslave Iran needed to do to survive was be patient and bide their time until Trump left office, and then they likely could have continued their project to make the rest of the globe submit to Shiite Islam, but they apparently can't wait to bring their Twelfth Imam from his hiding place in the well and must immediately foment the world chaos and violence to bring him forth now. They had to have realized that continuing attacks on shipping would place the bullseye on them, yet they are so fanatical that is exactly what they want. To them the seventy-two virgins are real and an incentive to have thousands (if not millions) killed, and Trump is reluctantly accommodating them after offering lifeline after lifeline to spare their lives and even let them keep their oppressive power, but these fanatics would not take "yes" for an answer. So I think Trump has little choice but to wipe them out. 

An Outstanding Actor

Long before the movie "Jurassic Park", I discovered Sam Neill in "Riley, Ace of Spies", then a television series being broadcast on our local PBS station. I though he was a fine actor and saw most of his performances after that. I read the sad story this morning. Of course with AI, we might see new work from Sam beyond the grave. 

A Tragic Passing

America lost a fine leader with the sudden passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. While we might not have agreed on everything, Senator Graham was always stalwart in supporting the Jewish State. He was as vocal in backing Israel as any American politician ever, and his advocacy for America's one true ally in the Middle East is irreplaceable and will be missed. G-d bless Senator Graham, who always blessed Israel. 

Gritty Little Belgium

You have to hand it to the Belgian side- they gave mighty Spain quite a tussle. If Belgium had been fully healthy with all players available, they would still have been an underdog to the formidable and deep Spanish, but they were far from one hundred percent yet gave a tournament favorite all they could handle. If the Spanish do bot smooth out the rough edges against the French, France will thrash them, which is my prediction- the French side will advance. 

Never Casualty Averse

Those supporting Ukraine frequently mention the large number of Russian deaths in the war against Kyiv. They have to know and remember that in the World Wars Moscow's soldiers fell by the millions, stacked like cordwood across the Motherland. In the First World War, the Czar did not seem to care how many conscripted serfs died, and Stalin never was particularly troubled by widespread carnage in World War II or any other time in his evil reign. So suddenly Putin is going to be dismayed that his troops are being sacrificed? No, while Russian soldiers as individuals do not want to die, just like any sane person would not, their leaders have never cared. 

Finish Iran's Tyrants

America does not need boots on the ground to take out the mad mullahs. It just needs to train and arm the freedom-seeking Iranian People. They are more than happy to do the hard part.