Someone Likely Lying

The conflicting stories between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America remind me of the two boys who tell the principal mutually exclusive stories after a schoolyard scrape. Trump contends Tehran has agreed to give away everything while whoever is the surviving leader of the day in Ayatollah Land claims his mighty nation has not agreed to any concessions. In a way, both sides could be speaking truth if the "negotiating team" of the mad mullahs has no authority to bind that country to a truce because they were not sent by anyone with real power, and are either free agents or so low level that nobody in the higher ranks of the theocracy cares what they have committed to because they actually do not represent whoever is left to oppress the Persian People and other freedom-seeking non-Shiite fanatics. Otherwise, if Trump is just making up the supposed peace agreement that nobody on the other side has agreed to, America is in real trouble because our leader would then be a raging lunatic, which I pray is not the case. 

Disservice to Humanity

If the mad mullahs are left in power in Iran and if Hezbollah remains an armed force dominating Lebanon, there will be no question that the United States and Israel were defeated in this war. Trump is NOT a strategic thinker as he supposes himself to be, but an ego-driven megalomaniac who wants the Peace Prize more than he ever wanted actual peace. Netanyahu is the one Israeli leader since Shamir willing to go against the diktats of Washington when they threaten Israel's existence, but this is not really about leaders but about the tragic consequence to the Persian people who were oh-so-close to freedom. Nations have their own interests but liberty is a universal desire that tragically all too often remains elusive and unfulfilled. Trump should not end action against the Ayatollah, whoever that happens to be, and the Jewish State must not placate America if what Trump is demanding compromises Israel's safety. 

Madison Cawthorn's Claims

The more denials from other Representatives that sound off about knowing nothing about Eric Swalwell's alleged conduct, the more it makes me believe what former Congressman Cawthorn claimed about being invited to an orgy with other politicians. What colleagues of Swalwell are saying now sounds like Germans in 1946 who swore they were completely unaware of Nazi atrocities. We seem to have a House and Senate full of Sergeant Schultz and Colonel Klink who "see nothing", particularly when Swalwell's supposed best friend, Representative Ruben Gallego, feigns outrage and claims ignorance about the Representative to whom he was thought to be like a brother. 

Representatives Should Resign

I am absolutely in favor of Congressmen and Senators accused of sexual impropriety resigning. Now let's do financial impropriety, but we can't do that because with all the self-dealing and insider trading we wouldn't have anyone left to "represent" us. 

The Fallen Edifice

Multilateral bodies meant to ensure peace and security and international law have collapsed and become an affront to humanity. The United Nations is beyond worthless. It is harmful and should be dismantled. NATO has demonstrated it is now totally one-sided with America expected to defend allies who will not return the favor if the United States is under threat. International courts guard rogue nations and terrorist entities while trying to strip decent nations of the ability to defend themselves from evil actors. See the lawfare against the beleaguered Jewish State as the first example. The very entities established at the conclusion of World War II to prevent crimes against humanity, now cover them up or by siding with the perpetrators, actually facilitate them. 

Freedom of Navigation?

America imposing a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz might set a bad precedent. Red China may decide to impose their own crackdown against shipping into Taiwan or just send huge portions of their navy toward Iran to break America's line and go collect the oil they are buying. Either way it escalates the conflict and brings us closer to World War III. 

Losing to Iran?

Of course, America wants and the world would benefit from regime change in Tehran, but that laudable goal was not stated as a war aim and can't be done without bloody armed revolution by the Iranian People or troops on the ground from America and allies that no doubt would lead to hundreds of thousands deaths (at least). It sucks to think the ayatollah regime will survive this conflict and crow that they have "won", but that dreaded outcome is a real possibility.