21 Comments
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Ely's avatar

I wouldn't trust Trump as far as I can throw him. He'll throw whoever under the bus to feed narcissism, Israel included. Mark my words he'll get unstuck as he did in 2020.

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Landscape Artist's avatar

Your comment is indicative of your lack of evidence in DJT’s history with Israel. It is this type of predictable claptrap that elected Trump. When you come to the table with facts that support this contention, I will gladly read your position. Biden and Obama are the reasons that the US and Israel have the Uranian problem they have.

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Ely's avatar

Donald Trump’s first loyalty is to himself. He’s not the most humble person in the world. Anything or anyone that he perceives as contradicting him he views with disdain. In other words unless you toe the line with him he can get quite abusive. I used to be a staunch supporter but his actions are demonstrating his true self. It was always there but as he ages it’s becoming more apparent.

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Landscape Artist's avatar

You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I am more concerned with outcomes than with personality.

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Sheldon's avatar

TDS

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Ely's avatar

TDS can go both ways.

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Hugh Nemets's avatar

Disagree 1000% with your opinion. Narcissistic presidents in the last 30 years imo are Clinton, Ovomit, and Biden the sniffer. All dems… gee go figure??

And you know the old adage about opinions… that being said, you are certainly entitled to yours.

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Ely's avatar

Oh I had no use for those Democrats. However, irrationality can lead to adverse outcomes. I have a business acquaintance and consultant who knows him quite well. I'll leave it at that.

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Brian Katz's avatar

Ovomit.

Thank you.

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User's avatar
Comment deleted
Apr 10
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Ely's avatar

Diplomacy? Remember Iran fired 300 missiles at Israel. Who would tolerate such an assault. Meanwhile they're on the march to a nuclear device if they don't have one already.

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Kiki R's avatar

Not another nuclear deal!!

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Tomas Pajaros's avatar

Your mother sounds like a very wise woman and I think most of us would agree that "the problem is Iran." Gaza, Houtis, Hezbollah, Hamas, the PA, what problem in the mideast DOESN'T connect back to Iran?

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It is definitely unnerving to know these talks are taking place, to be concerned that President Trump sometimes presents himself as barely more rational than the Iranians . . . and just have to wait to see what they come up with playing "Let's Make a Deal."

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I do have a lot of faith that Israel at the top is being included in the discussions. Indeed there would be little point to USA and Iran making an agreement that Israel disagrees with.

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color me hopeful.

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Sheldon's avatar

I have an uneasy feeling that Trump shoots from the hip. Whether it’s international trade, domestic politics, inflation, immigration, or whatever. On one hand, if Trump doesn’t at least appear to try diplomacy, it will be another reason for his detractors to criticize him. Or could this be part of Trump’s Art of the Deal? I’m sure even his most fanatical critics don’t believe he will trust Iran no matter the outcome. Personally I don’t know if there will ever be a better time for Israel to neutralize Iran’s nuclear program and oil production with the US ready on standby. The delay just gives Iran and the weakened bad actors in the Middle East more time to rebuild..

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Frau Katze's avatar

He can’t resist trying to make a deal. He doesn’t seem to realize that you can’t make deals with the Ayatollahs.

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Diana Kelly's avatar

I completely undertand the Israeli concerns, I do not for one minute believe that Trump will not follow through his promise that Iran will never be permitted to have a nuclear weapon. As he has proven, promises made, promises kept.Just maybe not on a the timeline you might want, or as may be affected by other world event. (I am pretty sure Ukraine/Russia items still be worked on, but other events in press put it on back burner & thus unseen. Doesn't mean it is not happening, doesn't mean it is happenening).

That being said, Israel felt on several occasions during Biden's office during this conflict, that it would &did act on its own. So IMO I think it is not fair to say that Trump cannot try to engage is nuclear disarmament talks directly with Iran. All other forms of "negotiation" through third parties have failed. And certainly, as you point out, Israel surely knew of these negotiations before hand. It is not going to be negotiated in the press, and most certainly not in the press by Trump.

I do not know how this will ultimately play out, Iran, like Hamas, has not shown itself to be a trustworthy party to anything. They say one thing to appease and then continue to do whatever the opposite they wish. I think that is becoming increasingly difficult for Iran to do without it being seen plainly for what it is, and it cannot blame any other parties.. But if Iran does not give this up, Trump has been pretty clear of potential results. The "breakout period" is, IMO, what is underlying this process. I do not think Iran will be able to string it out, I do not think that the US will let that happen, & I think Trump has made pretty clear that Israel will not let that happen.

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Mr. Ala's avatar

Not only correct on all points, as usual, but accompanied by a photograph showing a strong new fashion in menswear.

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David Harold Chester's avatar

I fail to understand why Iran is seriously wishing to pursue its nuclear weapons programme. Surely its leaders know that if they were to use such weapons in any developing war, that the result would be an immediate return and destruction of their country by much more sophisticated and effective but similar kinds of weapons, that will be much more deadly than what they have only just managed to employ. There is no sense in trying to eliminate another country when the result is bound to be suicidal.

The deterrent effect of nuclear weapons during the cold-war between the USA and the USSR of the precious century, clearly shows that the countries which build these weapons are only intendeding them as a means for NOT actually using them in anger, but only to show how advanced is their technology and how strongly they can make such a threat, without actually having a need to carry it out!

It is all a bluff, which at last the Iranians have now almost caught onto and decided to join in. Even with the Muslim belief for eternal paradise to those who surrender their lives in holy battle, in support for their religious ideology, their responsibility for their other citizens who are not such brave heroes, must surely comprise a sensible deterrent too. There is no point in being an oligarch when there are no remaining enslaved citizens who can serve your needs.

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Brian Katz's avatar

I believe the negotiations will be short. The US offer: the Mullahs must dismantle the nukes and then take safe passage out of Iran to exile. If they choose no, the bombs start falling. The US has 6 bombers in the Indian Ocean and lots of floating / air born assets in the Middle East. Iran has no air defenses.

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Ian Mark Sirota's avatar

Well, color me surprised (not).

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Al Dente's avatar

Netanyahu has made himself into Trump's pet poodle and this is the result. He came away from the latest meeting empty handed, humiliated, and looking like a fool. Any nation--Israel, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc.--that is depending on the US to guarantee their security is delusional. Each nation must take responsibility for its security and act accordingly. In the present case this means Israel must plan for and implement the military elimination of the mullah regime. By any means necessary.

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John Hardman's avatar

The “presenting problem” is Trump fiddling with things he doesn't understand and causing a worldwide financial crisis with a huge diplomatic fallout. As I mentioned before, with a friend like Trump, Israel needs no enemies. Trump (and the U.S.) have no dog in this fight. Any deal struck will only benefit Trump’s sociopathic ego, not International security. Even if a deal is made, without cooperative international support, there can be no enforcement of the agreement. There is no substance to the negotiations, all smoke and mirrors designed to inflate Trump’s flaccid ego.

Let’s take a peek at the real problem beneath the presenting tariff problem. Netanyahu left the White House meeting empty-handed. Pragmatically, Israel is now, more than ever, a liability than an asset. The shameful Gaza operation has made relations with Israel difficult both domestically and internationally. The meeting could only happen in Washington DC because the U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court and not obligated to arrest Netanyahu and deliver him to the Hague for trial. With friends like Netanyahu and a president like Trump, the U.S. doesn't need enemies. Is there a suicide hotline for nations?

Frankly, there is a lot of crazy happening in both countries and lunatics are running the asylums in all three countries. The first Iran agreement was crafted by an international coalition with some sane adults in the room. That certainly is not the situation today and it is madness to assume any good outcome. Move along, nothing to see here…

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