The criticism for Obama is well deserved!
2
We can only hope we will never see another example of this in our lifetime: A Presidency defined exclusively by opposition to every idea, policy, and concern expressed by the prior occupant of the White House.
1
Let's see ... Ms. Sanders, our so-called president's hack apologist and chief propagandist, has listed the following reasons the people of Iran are protesting ... they are tired of an authoritarian government that does not respect their rights ... they are tired of a regime that has embraced terrorists ... they are tired of economic injustice ...
So, fast-forward to what used to be my country, before we elected a dictator with the help of dictator. The American people are getting tired of an authoritarian president who has ripped apart many of the protections for workers, the environment and the poor and defenseless. We are getting tired of a regime that embraces dictators around the world and the Nazi movement within our own borders. We are soon going to be very tired of the economic injustice of a president who just cut a tax deal for his own company ... so what will Ms. Sanders say if we have Iranian-style protests right here in the United States?
3
Americans now have their own ayatollah with which to deal.
The infant-in-chief should not be allowed out of his crib much less to speak the name Barack Obama. Unlike the petulant baby who simply derives a great deal of enjoyment in disruption, Obama sought to unify for the sake of prosperity. Any badly chosen and horrendously applied words that this embarrassing entity currently occupying a seat he simply doesn’t deserve might use to convey support for the Iranian protestors are simply byproducts of his true desire and ambition- to watch it all burn with he himself standing on top of the smoldering heap.
The more I read the more about this moron, Trump, the more it becomes very evident that this Narcissist in the Oval Office doesn't have any idea what being President is all about, it's not about being a big mouth or a just a heckler from the peanut gallery, it is about being responsible and thoughtful with sound, competent judgment, and the doing hard work behind the scenes, not golfing, waving, tweeting and continually being obsessed himself, and with blaming President Obama for everything.
It seems like what really bothers Trump, is that he knows he will never be as well liked, well respected or as popular as President Obama, and that makes me wonder if his temperament is so unstable and that he is so insecure that he could do something really stupid with a nuclear option.
I hope if we get through this disaster of a mistake with our country still intact that this will be a warning for future generations to learn from, never let an incompetent man with a P.T, Barnum complex ever get close to the Whitehouse.
1
An immature, unstable narcissist harboring a boat load of debilitating insecurities and crippling inadequacies possessing a pathological need to demean and denigrate everybody else so as to delude himself, and a few others, that he's other than what he is...small, weak and inadequate. Oh, jolly day Republicans...
Trump by the day is becoming more unhinged. Attacking Obama, Clinton, FBI,CIA, National Intelligence Agencies, the reputable News Media, World leaders and Allies. He seems to be in arrested development like about a 13 year old mentality. “His button is bigger” etc....All republicans should be voted out of office for dragging the US through the mud and the embarrassment of the trump circus side show! We the people are the MAJORITY, over 3 Quaters of Americans disapprove of this extremely distrubed person! They have not even addressed his sexual predator allegations! He is foul!
2
Sorry Trump, kicking the guy you replaced over a year ago ain't gonna do it. You are now being held to your promises to "quickly" resolve problems with ISIS, Iran, China, North Korea, etc., etc., ....... May God help us all.
The more I read the more about this moron, Trump, the more it becomes very evident that this Narcissist in the Oval Office doesn't have any idea what being President is all about, it's not about being a big mouth or a just a heckler from the peanut gallery, it is about being responsible and thoughtful with sound, competent judgment, and the doing hard work behind the scenes, not golfing, waving, tweeting and continually being obsessed himself, and with blaming President Obama for everything.
It seems like what really bothers Trump, is that he knows he will never be as well liked, well respected or as popular as President Obama, and that makes me wonder if his temperament is so unstable and that he is so insecure that he could do something really stupid with a nuclear option.
I hope if we get through this disaster of a mistake with our country still intact that this will be a warning for future generations to learn from, never let an incompetent man with a P.T, Barnum complex ever get close to the Whitehouse.
1
Somebody put a big fake red button and a closed circuit Twitter feed in the Play Pen and let's seal off the White House Rubber Room. Trump doesnt know Iran from a hole in the ground, he just likes reaction. He is training everyone to ignore the President of the United States.
1
"Trump reiterates support for protesters" but the idiot with a 1960's bachelor 's degree and to lazy to read an article or book--surely knows nothing of life in Iran or why the protesters are upset. The protesters he claims to steadfastly support hate him and Americans and are included in the people he wants to keep out of country. Before this administration gets too excited, they should use some of our intelligence organizations --
that he has attacked and insulted-- to understand what is happening in Iran before they act against the nuclear deal that has likely exposed the corruption of the Iranian government. The nuclear deal's easing of sanctions has lead to higher expectations by the unemployed and underemployed in Iran and made it harder to blame outside forces for their corrupt government's failure to improve their lives. Trump should shut up and stop tweeting!
In the 1960's our universities were filled with Iranian students, who our own students sometimes referred to as "camel jockeys", although the Iranians are not Arabs. I met quite a few who were engineering, math and science majors. They were open to Western ideas and in general,liked America. Almost all of them hated SAVAK, the Iranian secret police, who made people disappear.
We in the U.S. still have a kernel of good will in Iran among the middle class, who aspire to a more liberal society. We should encourage those people in every way we can, and avoid making Iranians our enemy.
Set the record straight. Prez. Obama did not give Iran $$$ after the Iranian nuclear deal. It was Iranian money frozen in U.S. banks for years because of sanctions. Obama gave them their money back.!
Now Trump is saying, "Never had much to do with Steve Bannon and he's lost his mind."
∑Whom the Gods would destroy, they first give a Twitter Account.
Bannon read ¶3Article 3 of the US Constitution. That could be a real "precedent killer."
"Bannon? He was a distant aide" - Trump
"No he wasn't, Dotard, he was your National Security Special Advisor."
The GOP has to really ask itself how fast the Titantic is sinking if Steve Bannon is paddling this fast with a life preserver as his whoopie cushion.
1
Trump is creating another North Korea after President Obama defanged Iran and delayed their nuclear capability for at least ten years with the Iran Deal. If we don't keep up with our side of the bargain, we will become the lonely Pariah, the axis of evil. Instigating protesters in Iran would only destabilize Iran, with terrible outcomes for Iran and us. How many wars are we going to be in? Our fingers seem to be in all war pies. Definitely it will be a terrible outcome for us.
At times it's hard to tell whether President Trump is running the country or still running the last election. His base didn't vote for him because of the wall, health care, taxes, or the Keystone Pipeline. They voted for Trump because he was white, and didn't like anyone who wasn't. This is why he can't do a simple thing like pick a side in a distant uprising without beating a beaten horse. It's all about the base and bigotry - and that's a shame.
See:
RevolutionOfReason.com
TheRogueRevolutionist.com
1
President Obama abandoned Iraq invoking some legal fiction, while turning an about face on Afghanistan. He then encourages the populations of the region, resulting in the Arab Spring, turmoil in Egypt and the collapse of Syria. Unable to come up with a plan he abandons the region, allowing ISIS to fill the vacuum. Finally the debacle in Libya coupled with the threat of oil shortages in Europe convinces him to attempt a half-hearted response. Too little, too late. The resulting stream of refugees from the region into Europe has given way to a right wing shift in European politics that we haven't seen the likes of since the rise of the Third Reich. Which part of his diplomacy are we supposed to adhere to? Thankfully, we are now questioning all of it.
It's not simply that Trump is off his rocker, but that he has no understanding -- he didn't, he has no interest in understanding -- the geopolitical mess that is unfolding in Iran. Obama certainly didn't handle it perfectly, and had us embroiled in far too many conflicts that he'd promised to extricate us from -- but a lunatic like Trump is actually using this gripping and volatile situation to score some inanely unneeded payback punches at our ex-president and making the possibility of a conflagration in Iran exponentially more likely.
3
The president should wait and see if the protests continue and flare more. If so, warn the Mullahs, set conditions and if not met;; cancell the treaty, impose the most severe restrictions. The move has inherent risks but one thing is sure the Mullahs will fall. And, the biggest threat in Middle East would be gone. Is the risk worth it? ABSOLUTLEY, YES.
One of the many problems is that Trump has no clue who the protesters are, and is too ignorant to try and find out.
3
When it comes to "strange", I believe that our so-called president fits the bill. I do not understand - do you?- why he consistently criticizes and finds fault with Obama and HRC: neither person is holding any political office. Yet Donald Dumb continues to attack them, probably to divert attention from something he himself has done or failed to do. What next I wonder..........
2
We really need to look at Trump and how he is so obsessed with Hillary Clinton and President Obama, rather than, oh say, infrastructure for the US and maybe the fact that half of our territory and citizens of the US in Puerto Rico have no power?
These people are our US citizens.
Oh right, they speak Spanish, and they are a territory, so they didn't get to vote in the federal election. I know, let's throw paper towels at them! That will solve the problem! Sad.
2
Iranian protesters: Do not trust Trump. He will change his story tomorrow. Betcha! Sad!
3
"Contrary to received "wisdom", the absolute worst thing that the United States can do for the Iranian people is NOT to stay silent. Iran's problems are problems for the Iranis to solve and the US would be wise to stay our of someone else's domestic quarrel.
1
War between Iran and the US - either directly or using Saudi and others as a surrogate would mainly benefit Putin via a spike in oil to above $100 PPB.
This has been Putin's primary objective all along.
Sanctions lifted would facilitate money laundering for Putin surrogates, but that's largely a symbolic victory. A double or triple in oil $ppb would help Russia's Economy get out of Depressionheaded into its fifth year.
A war with Iran would be major and convulsive. Why would Saudi Arabia and its allies seek it - aside from the theological aspirations or prejudices held by clergy? Control of OPEC and the future direction of Arab states v. Its age old inferiority complex to the Persian civilization comprise Saud's illusory stakes.
It would be a stupid catastrophic war,except for Putin and his puppet, who hopes to survive scrutiny in the shadows of war's distractions.
14
The deeper cause for the Iranian unrest is a 14 year drought that drove rural people off the land and into unemployment in the nearby cities. That drought, of course, is the result of global warming and climate change. For Trump to cheer the protestors while denying the climate change which is the underlying source of their pain and suffering is typically ignorant and hypocritical.
4
Why is it that the US feels it has a right to comment on another sovereign nation's politics? A respectful silence would be more apropos. Political unrest in Iran is nothing to gloat over. In any case the Iranis must solve their own problems. The US might express sympathy and concern but, as every cop called in to referee a domestic quarrel knows, not intering is usually the best remedy.
1
Those protesters who Mr. Trump claims to support are speaking out against a system in which the rich get richer and the poor get a few crumbs. I suspect the irony is totally lost on him.
2
What can we say? Donald Trump makes a daily mockery of the position of presidency of the United States.
And the Republican Congress thinks that is fine.
Twisted, embarrassing, unsafe. That is the making of America Great.......Gee thanks.
2
If Trump wants to see some mass protest against autocratic behaviour at fist hand let him come to the UK on his 'state visit'. He won't; it's never going to happen. He may bluff and bluster from the safety of his phone but he's too vain and too much of a coward to face the people of London.
2
Trump is partly carrying out the wishes of the National Missile Defense lobby, so why have an agreement with Iran? Instead, the missile lobby wants to add a new ring to an already ineffective missile defense system, and charge America billions for it. This is precisely what Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney did to thwart the efforts of Bush II, Clinton and Obama to carry out an effective agreement with North Korea. Killing the agreement by the non-performance of the United States, led to North Korea’s’ accelerated missile development.
Quoting former America’s Ambassador to Israel, Mr. Daniel Shapiro, who now works as a “visiting fellow” for the National Security Studies in Israel? Whether Mr. Shapiro’s ethics is problematic here,it simply does not look well nor speak well of his previous service. If anything, it underlines how problematic it has been just to have an honest broker representing the United States on the two-state solution
The hilarious part here is the total opposition of the P5+1 signatories to Trump’s efforts to terminate the agreement. Sure, America can tear up the agreement and Iranians cannot travel to America, big deal. Fundamentally the real issue is not the joint agreement with Iran, rather it is Iran’s opposition to Israel’s apartheid state of the Palestinians—who can blame them? Less propaganda, more voices and more facts please.
2
Trump is correct to praise the antigovernment protesters in Iran.
And yet, what a spectacular irony.
For little does this American despot care, as he condemns the corruption and rule by intimidation of Iran's governing administration, that democracy-minded antigovernment protesters right here, in the U.S., are condemning these same injustices that characterize his own administration.
13
I confess ignorance of the strategy of game player Trump.
The man is vulgar and inept in his handling of world affairs.
There has been public comment from a former Deputy Prime Minister that the US has no Ambassador to Australia anymore and is viewed as quite inappropriate diplomatically.
What of the friends "WOTF". One can assume that Mr Trump overlooks Australia in his calculus. Puerto Rico is a national tragedy.
Perhaps Mr Trump should appoint an ambassador to Australia before he unilaterally destroys relationships with Pakistan, the Palestinians, the Koreas, Mexico, Israel ,Iran and other nations.
The point is that Australian views do not matter.
What of the Friends, WOTF
4
The point is that nobody's views matter to Mr. Trump...not even American's.
On the surface of it, supporting Iranians protesting for a more open society and at the same time attacking a treaty that leads to more openness seems like something an incoherent person would do.
But no one plays 5 dimensional chess like Donald J. Trump. Of sure, it may *look* as if we elected a shallow, purely reactive, and easily manipulated President, but aha, that is where he has fooled us all. Just wait till tomorrow's tweets as he watches Fox and Friends and all will revealed.
2
Whatever the merits of President Obama's effort to convince the Iranians to stop work on nuclear weapons, it is unproductive, unstatesmanlike, and unclassy to accuse the man of having done so for corrupt reasons.
There is zero evidence to support that claim.
Moreover, Trump is not helping those he professes to be interested in helping - the Iranians who want a change in regime. He is encouraging the mullahs there and the conservative elements of that theocracy to tie the protesters to American influence, which will not help their cause.
Does this man Trump have any actual clue about how to handle foreign affairs?
3
President Obama's lifting of the economic sanctions in Iran two years ago has not produced economic benefit to the Iranian people. The Iranian people have seen their government for what it is, either inept or corrupt or both. This is the catalyst for the current mass protests against the Iranian government. By this measure alone, lifting the sanctions has been a success. trump is a cheerleader for the Iranian protesters. That is all.
2
Iranian mullocracy goes down by the same economic processes that crashed the Soviet Union. The regime is overextended in expensive weapons production and funding for foreign military adventures. Rockets for free to Gaza and Yemen and Lebanon, instead of flour and meat to the citizens in Iran. Beer and wine are expensive contraband, forbidden by Islamic law. Just like the Soviet people were demoralized by their youth dying in the Afghanistan war, so now the wars in the ME sponsored by the twin headed hydra of the mullocracy and IRGC, are taking their bloody toll both on the well-connected and the less-connected in the Iranian society of today. The action item remaining for the top mullahs and top IRGC commanders would be to find safe havens for stolen money they'd now try to smuggle out of Iran, perhaps to Russia. And the people of Iran know of this "small detail" too. It has been in the making for a long time.
1
What Trump doesn't understand is that this is not a real estate deal where, according to his play book, someone wins and the other side loses. The Iranians are proud people. The majority of them wants more personal and civic freedom and a better life. Who wouldn't! But they also want to be respected and treated as equal to other powers in the region. Cancelling the nuclear deal will drive them to resume their program aimed at getting the bomb. The tragedy of Trump is that he can't be nuanced, diplomatic, and polite and therefore he alienates about everybody except for his core supporters who ironically couldn't care less anyway what happens in a region many of them wouldn't be able to locate on a map.
3
Who on the world stage puts any value on United States rhetoric. It has become a non world leader. Yje people of Iran are more likely looking to China for support and leadership as is the rest of the world. The US is false, weak and immoral. Why even report on the failed state. Let's hear what the real world does.
1
Trump is correct, and was worse than he outlined. Obama signed off on sending 1.3 billion--all in cash, and in attempted secrecy--directly after the release of four American hostages. In short, Obama paid ransom, which confirmed the Mullahs' suspicions of him as a weakling and was all to their advantage in negotiations. Strongmen like Putin, the mullahs, and N. Korean dictators respond only to strength, resolve, cunning, and firmness: words that seem to send the feminized media into fits of apoplexy.
2
First of all, there's no evidence to support your cockamamie story. Frozen assets were released, not in secret, per the agreement, after Iran complied with its terms. Not to have released the funds would have been a breach of contract.
Second, Obama is not the point. He's Trump's obsession; the single best predictor of his action is whether it negates something Obama did. Any question of what to do now should be based on the situation now, not then.
1
"In short, Obama paid ransom,".....You have it exactly backwards. When Iran released four American hostages, Obama returned their money. He returned their money, do you get it? Obama was holding their money hostage.
Dont yall have real newspapers in Ohio?
Frozen assets that are thawed do not belong to the President in the Real World.
How hypocritical #45 is to support Iranians in their efforts to live with dignity while he marginalizes American citizens who use constitutionally enshrined rights to achieve the same ends. Such people are subject to dehumanizing tactics such as those employed by Myanmar towards the Rohingya people. Also #45 shows his lack of intellect by reflexively attributing malfeasance to #44 since he is unable to articulate a coherent policy for the present.
2
The protests could also be caused by a poor economy rather than just a sudden fear of authority. After the price of oil collapsed a few years ago, Iran's economy was reduced dramatically.
Demographics have also been causing stress, with 40% of the population under 25, yet with a youth unemployment rate close to 24%. Since 1970 the population has mushroomed 270%, from 30 million to 82 million. So income is becoming very tight and spreading thin. The youth don't fear any invasion from anyone, but they fear spreading poverty. Tell them that their supreme leaders are going to pump the nation's wealth into nuclear weapons, instead of giving to the people, and more trouble will result.
But the most ominous fact is that like Venezuela, Iran depends on oil and related biproducts for over 80% of its exports. And although that income source has shrunk, the current regime still foments trouble in a dozen other countries. Instead of investing its wealth internally to diversify its oil dependency, it's been investing in arms and militarism.
Iran used to be a major ally of the U.S. when the Shah was in power. He was friends with and traded with Israel. The average Iranian has no gripe against freedom or Americans. And the population won't respond well to their government's nuclear nonsense if Trump gives them an ultimatum.
1
We are in the midst of a Grand Experiment to see if the United States can survive without a functioning executive branch. It would be interesting to know what sort of contrived bets are being placed over at Goldman Sachs.
As for New Year's Eve hopes that 2018 will be less traumatic than 2017 I can only assert that an avalanche never reverses its course mid-way down.
2
It would appear that Trump's disdain for Obama is based on petty jealousies of the former presidents relative popularity and success in dealing with turbulent situations. The nuclear deal concerns one issue and that is limiting Iran's nuclear development. From that perspective it has been successful and should not be tied to to issues of human rights which are addressed by independent sanctions. Where would we be if we refused detente with the USSR because of our disapproval of their government. As a side note one reason HRC deservedly lost the election is because she failed to learn the lesson of futile attempts of the U. S to implement change such as the chaos that her advocacy in Libya wrought. After we reached a nuclear agreement with them she advocates regime change that is partially responsible for North Korea's reckless escalation as they assume any nuclear agreement will go for naught.
1
I want to point out t..that almost every country with even minimum business infrastructure is making BIG,BEAUTIFUL deals with Iran, except for our getting- bigger and less- beautiful Greatest deal-maker. ever.
Besides the fact that it would have had positive results for our economy, it would have supported Rouhani's reform position, rather than give the hard-liners..their "I told you so about trusting America position.
2
My mother, more polite than I, would have called Donald Trump a prevaricator.
Nothing, see for his juvenile tweets to Kim Jong Boom, is more dangerous to America than Trump's crazed denunciation of the Iranian nuclear agreement. The most dangerous thing about Iran was its nuclear program, for Iran's Arab neighbors, Israel and the U.S. Revolutionary Guard support for Hezbollah is a threat but nowhere near as dangerous as Iranian nukes would be..
Arguably the President's vocal support for Iranian protests, probably begun as a hard line provocation meant to bring down Rouhani but which quickly tapped into widespread public discontent, is misguided. For us to back them, when we don't know what they stand for, is a foolish as the Obama administration's early infatuation with the Arab Spring. Moreover, there is danger of repeating Dulles mistake with the Hungarian revolution.
Trump's support for demonstrations could be a kiss of death. International reporting makes clear many Iranians want to be friends with America but Trump's near hysterical desire to welsh on the nuclear deal has made him Iran's most disliked foreigner.
If the President keeps quiet while events unfold, the demonstrators might force political changes but not if hardliners can portray protesters as American lackeys because of Trump's intemperate support for them.
Last point. If the administration could have gotten a deal with North Korea similar to the Iran accord, Trump would be in tweet heaven.
1
It is not Obama's fault that the Iranian money that was being held by us, then released in accordance with the nuclear deal, was not used by the mullahs to help their own people. They wanted to fund terror incursions in Syria, Yemen, and Gaza. It is Obama's fault that Americans still being held by Iran were not released also in accordance with the nuclear deal.
But for Trump to take credit for tweeting support for the protesters and blaming Obama for doing nothing is pretty rich. But then again, Trump just took sole credit for the US having no commercial airline fatalities last year. Next year he'll tell us he's the reason asteroids haven't crashed into the Earth.
4
I'm sure that the last thing the protesters would want is a Trump endorsement.
3
Whether Obama’s freeing up monies to the Mullahs has anything to do with the current unrest is not at all clear. If there is any connection, I suspect it is minor. The Iranian people have been economically and civilly oppressed for years. Their desperation has finally reached the point where they are willing to risk their lives protesting. Obama has no hand in this desperation and Trump’s support is, for the moment, laudable but not particularly effective.
At the same time, Western leaders had best not forget Obama’s miscalculations when dealing with a terrorist state. The monies he freed were, in great measure, used for killing in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere. The Mullahs miscalculated how the money should be used. But this in no way lets Obama off the hook for giving it to them in the first place.
1
We really need General Kelly to step in and tell Trump that he's only allowed to tweet-create one unnecessary major international incident a week.
1
It was a fake deal from start, masking ransom money in the billions, cold hard Euro cash trucked to Tehran, coupled with last-ditch attempts by GPS-less Mideast backpackers Kerry-Obama, furiously pedaling the world stage in futile bid to claim Statesman status, not to mention Nobel Peace Prize, before their time finally ran out.
That’s the stark truth being told by the president, except he’s doing it in less than 140 characters. But yes, very definitely, it needs to go. The sooner, the better.
The Europeans? They’ve bought themselves terror insurance. Let them. We have no need for that.
1
Trum must keep quiet, and stay out of iran's political discord and pay attention to what is happening here. If he spends half as much time as he is bad mouthing president Obama, and study foreign policy and how to get along with others, he might accomplish something.. it must hurt to hate someone so much.
Iranian people are not paying any attention to Mr. Trump's twitters or see him as their savior. They're educated, politically informed, and would like to be in charge of their own destiny.
1
We miss Obama! He was a real president, not a whiney tweeter. He solved problems, like the Republican-caused recession, not created or inflamed for personal attention or aggrandizement. It's the cold winter of 2018, but, hey, it's 2018. Time to turn Congress. How many more months of darkness? Iran has its own mess to solve as have we. People everywhere want freedom and economic justice and prosperity.
5
I don’t know whether Obama’s response was correct... that’s for history to decide. But I sure am tired of Trump moaning, groaning and sliming Obama tweet after tweet. We know Trump and his followers don’t like Obama’s or Hillary, but, enough already. It really gets old, it really does, and at this point it accomplishes nothing. Obama has not one iota of power at this point, neither does Hillary, and the buck stops with Trump, not anyone else. Trump seems to be really fearful of this fact and does everything in his power to deflect attention to the fact that problems end up at his rickety doorstep.
3
The lives of millions are on the line. Young, brave Iranians are desperate for much of the simplest advantages that we in the West take for granted. It takes a firm, knowledgeable leader, with deep insight of both the history of the region, and the advantages and disadvantages of any type of response. The right response from the US President can alter the course of events, save lives, and (more importantly) save the Peace.
Trump has yet again responded in total, complete, abject ignorance... while grinding one of his many private axes against his personal demons - namely the far wiser and more able US Presidents that came before him. His alternate universe, created by fear, ignorance, mental imbalance, and the alt-right blizzard of Misinformation and Fantasy he constantly taps into, has interfered yet again.
Once again, we have to ask: Can't this President even once open his mouth and say the right thing? Has he Nobody with a shred of true diplomatic and regional expertise that he will listen to? Can he Ever say or Do anything that isn't about him?
Another day, another disaster in the Oval Office!
2
Trump is right to support the Iranian people.
He is also right to point out Obama as a weak and timid leader.
Many of us are very happy that's over
1
There are a lot more of us who will be very happy when Trump is over.
Kids like to boast, My brother is stronger than yours. Adult kids like to boast, My nuclear button is bigger than yours. They're still kids, though.
There's an interesting politico article about this administration's foreign policy. It describes how foreign leaders have learned that flattery works. Also any proposal that allows Trump to overturn the work of his predecessor works. Otherwise, the discussions with him are next to useless because he won't stand by his word.
Enter our non-friends and "friends" who are really rank opportunists to take advantage of this very personal, narcissistic foreign policy. The worst rise to the top under such a President. It'll be a stinking badge of shame to survive in this White House.
Is it just me, or do words like, "anger," "impatience," and "resentment," come up an awful lot when people are talking about Trump's thought and actions?
And no, it's not just ye olde MSM.
A President does not have the right to be angry, to be impatient, to be resentful about important things. Or to be ignorant of them, for that matter.
This is bad.
Many of Trump’s political decisions seem to be based on, “ whatever Obama did I’m going to undo.” Sometimes I believe that if Obama had discovered a cure for AIDS and cancer Trump would now be declaring those treatments illegal. It is difficult to believe that much thought goes into any of Trump’s policies and that they are only based on his petty rivalry with Obama.
2
The petty nonsense that comes from Trump continues to get worse. I live in Queens, which has very good points and some not so good. It seems that Trump hasn't shed his feeling of inferiority at being a Queens boy. He got no respect from the Old Money of Manhattan. He'll show them who's boss! God preserve us and God preserve America from this man who is about to enter on the Terrible Twos.
2
"But they fear that if he acts now, it would shift the blame from the Iranian government, which is besieged by the protests and charges of corruption, to the United States, which would be seen as forsaking an agreement with which Iran is complying."
I don't believe that Trump fully understands the nuances of this delicate situation. Should he blow up the Iran deal, I agree with analysts that it would simply allow the Iranian government to deflect blame onto their favorite nemesis: the United States.
Maybe his advisers can get Trump to at least see which option would be most favorable to the US and to the Iranian protesters.
But the problem is, in any situation, Trump loves simple situations with clear-cut antagonists he can use as a cudgel for his American-grown grievances.
Because Trump wants to do the polar opposite of what Obama did, and would do, I'm inclined to think the deal may soon be dead.
At the very least, lifting the travel ban on Iranians would help our position there, but just because it's a simple way to show support, it would deprive Donald Trump of one of his biggest campaign promise--preventing "would be" Muslim terrorists into this country.
1
I haven't started the article yet but just the title says it all: Trump supports the Iranian protesters (which is something he never supports at home) and "criticizes Obama".
"Criticizing Obama," or Clinton, or whomever is enemy du jour is part for Trump's course (courses, that is).
The more he does this, will we soon see this:"Trump orders nuclear strike and criticizes Obama"?
7
Remember that when Trump goes into a Twitter meltdown, it means that Robert Mueller is close to filing more charges, which is the only thing left that genuinely frightens Trump. Yes, he wants to rip up the Iran nuclear deal, but not before he rips up his oath to defend the Constitution. He is frightened and it shows.
7
He hasn't yet read nor could he comprehend the Constitution if he tried to read it. We certainly don't need a second-grade narcissist pushing any buttons, literally or figuratively. But he claims to have money and that thrills a lot of people, even though I don't believe he has a dime which prompted the tax lies.
Far from serving the cause of reform in Iran the Trump tweets aimed to fuel street protests and direct his ire against the nuclear deal might prove rather counterproductive strengthening the hands of the hardliners and weakening the cause of public protests.
3
Or could it be that President Obama's deal with Iran led to the current unrest? The population did not have the US to blame for their economic problems. The mullahs could not hide behind hate while continuing to squander resources on causing trouble in nearby states. Reinstating those sanctions would give the Iranian government the enemy it needs to repress its citizens.
17
I sadly and respectfully propose that President Trump is sick in the head. Among his obvious mental afflictions is an inferiority complex. He compulsively displays a need to measure himself against the last adult president our nation enjoyed, Obama. Trump's obsession with Obama would trouble Trump if only he possessed healthier mind.
36
Yes, I could not agree with you more. It's a hard time, but we will get by it.
1
“This could allow them (Iran) to make the U.S. the enemy.”
- Philip Gordon, senior National Security Council, Obama administration.
Really Phil?
The US might become their enemy?
Gosh, what would they do then? Burn the American flag? Maybe their senior government officials would lead shouts of "death to America" in the streets.
Perhaps they might even do something more drastic like threaten Israel, the US's closest ally in the region, with a nuclear war that would "wipe Israel off the map."
The nuclear deal your team created didn't even require Iran to officially recognize Israel's right to exist. The whole reason the nuclear agreement was written was because they were threatening Israel. You guys didn't even make them recognize Israel.
Oh wait! Maybe the Iranians would do something even more extreme like take 52 Americans hostage for a couple of years.
Let's hope we don't make them mad! That would be scary!
13
If you read other things then maybe you will see that without the sanctions, the Iranian leaders could no longer blame the US for its economic problems. Therefore, the people are blaming its leaders for their economic woes, not the US. If the US re-imposes the economic sanctions, then they will again be able to blame the US for the economic problems.
I do not understand your comment about their recognition of Israel in connection with the nuclear deal. If you believe that Israel is in danger from Iran, then I would think that you would support the nuclear deal. I will also point out that they could always recognize Israel but still act aggressively towards the country.
1
It's a deal on NUKES, okay? Not on Israel, not on their government, and not on your granny's high-top shoes.
And so far, it has done what President Obama said it'd do: freeze Iran's nuclear program, get them to give up their fissionable materials,mget them to agree to inspections.
By the way, "negotiations," doesn't mean you go in a room and scream at people until they burst into tears and surrender. It means you give some, they give some.
DebraM, I read lots of things on the energy markets - I was an energy analyst for about 13 years.
To your less snarky comments:
"without the sanctions, the Iranian leaders could no longer blame the US"
- The sanctions - supported internationally and ratified through the UN - came about as a result of the nefarious actions of the Iranian government. They can't legitimately "blame" anyone other than themselves. What came first? The hostage taking, the funding of terrorism, the threats of nuclear war or the sanctions?
As to Israel, the nuclear deal came about as a result of Iran's threats to Israel. They repeatedly said they wanted to wipe Israel off the map. They were building a nuclear program to make good on those threats - at least that's what the Obama administration believed.
The nuclear deal provided great benefits to Iran. In lifting the sanctions on Iran the US transferred over $1.5 billion (that's $500 principal held in escrow, plus compounded interest from 1979). It also frees Iranian oil to the trade in international markets. The total estimate windfall to Iran is about $150 billion.
Asking them to at least recognize Israel's right to exist - the entire reason the deal was structures - wasn't too much to ask. The fecklessness of the Obama administration is the driving factor to the right's displeasure with the deal.
1
Trump's entire raison d'être is to avenge the Correspondents Dinner shaming and ridicule at the hands of Obama. Beyond that, Trump has personal enrichment and nothing else. Absolutely nothing. Oh, and golfing.
52
Golfing, you mean, cheating at playing golf.
Why can't Trump just stay in his Florida Play Pen and play golf for the next 3 years.
His numbers go up when he leaves the White House and people can ignore his
ignorance for a few seconds.
29
If imposing sanctions on Iran really hurts them and their dictatorial regime and gets the Iranian people really riled up I'd do it.
This uprising in Iran is taking place because finally the Iranian people are fed up with illegitimate, unelected, Twelver religious-fanatic dictators in their little costumes and 6th century headgear who illegally rule over them and who discriminate against women and gays, curtail human rights, and execute on average 2 people a day.
Whatever wen can do to throw fuel on this fire let's do it. When the ayatolas and the moolas are gone we can be best of friends.
You think the Shah who was around for about 20 years with our misguided support was bad? These guys who have been around for 40 years are worse. The Iranian people need a break.
5
Among the many points of light in this little missive--like spelling--may I throw one triviial little technical detail?
If you're gonna yell at 6-12th century headgear on guys who oppress women and gays, curtail human rights, and execute people, you may want to not do it when you're from a country whose dominant religion is older than that amd whose practitioners have also been known to dress funny, a country that frequently badly treats those women and gays you care not at all about, a country that still executes and has Willie Nelson do videos about how great that is.
Oh, and did you know we've had some pretty ugly demos in America? Swear to Gawd.
Comparing the size of buttons with North Korea now. He's hideously out of control.
Next tweet will no doubt include a selfie of him dropping trousers in the Oval Office. This is getting sicker and sicker by the minute.
For the love of your country and your own families, is there no one in Washington willing to step up and start the proceedings to rid us of this un-diapered infant?
He’s making a mess of the entire world that may never get cleaned up.
35
His party likes a lot of what he's doing and trying to do. Honestly, if he'd just stop Tweeting I think the GOP would mainly be very, very happy with the man.
From the picture it is clear someone called him an imbecile and is looking to see who it was so he can exact revenge. Trump should go back to reality TV and leave the WH to intelligent people. For starters someone should tell him that Obama is no longer President and Hillary lost the election and is now a private citizen.
13
You're right. There could be no other possible explanation.
Whenever Trump ventures into foreign policy, one always gets the distinct impression that it's all way too complicated for a poor, dumb billionaire who's stuck in some perverse time warp.
Does he realize that the hostage crisis is long over? Does he realize that there's a different Ayatollah? Could he point to Iran on a map?
If only there were experts to help him understand. Oh but wait, as long as he has his own instincts, there's no need for experts.
If only he realized that the government isn't a business and can't be run like one. For one thing, foreign policy failures don't have an easy out like declaring bankruptcy multiple times until something works.
Is idiocy a high crime or a misdemeanor?
15
Man, Trump is utterly obsessed with Obama. Clinton, and all the other "enemies" on his enemies list... What a twisted psyche he displays, even unintentionally.
What is it about peace and stability in the world that he hates so? Or about anything/anyone decent or good?
26
Has there ever been a sitting president who so relentlessly attacked a former president, or his former presidential rival? I think not. It's always someone else's fault. Just another example of the classlessness, cluelessness, and utter lack of character or any trace of statesmanship demonstrated by this "president."
22
Very true. Obama never blamed his economic problems on Bush, nor Iraq, nor the environment, or education, health, school lunchs, stds, infra-structure, the state of the military, general civility, religion, Yes, I recall very clearly the Obama years as a time of good will when 'decent' Republicans and Democrats never impugned the integrity of the other and the rule was always civil disagreement, but never disagreeably. In fact, Obama is not even making robo-calls for Democratic candidates, doing celebrity interviews, or suggesting that America is on the wrong track. He's in Africa with his wife painting houses and building schools.
3
I have never understood why conservatives want to give Iran the ability to convert civilian nuclear development to military use. The treaty does not require that we love Iran but the mere fact of an international treaty seems to make American conservatives want to shoot themselves in the foot
8
And yet there is "love"" for Iran although not "required"
the current situation it's all on Bush and maybe Reagan (republicans). Reagan for not addressing Iran while they were weak and Bush for invading iraq and killing Saddam Hussain. while the Iran republican guard is strong, the people have no chance. just like we have no chance while the republicans are strong.
8
The President opined early Monday morning, mistakenly stating "All of the money[sic] That president Obama so foolishly gave them[sic] went into terrorism and into their 'pockets'". Iran received no money from the de-nuclearization process. Economists state that deferring money from the nuclear program would boost Iran's economy.
When our President lies to the nation, the Paper of Record should not go out of it's way to find conforming facts before highlighting lies, inaccuracies, and misinformation. Front-loading articles with inaccurate information is intellectually dishonest, and muddies political discourse.
I think it's very clear that the Trump administration is itching to fight a war in the middle east, or to destabilize the Korean peninsula during the Olympic games. For me, this is clearly a story about a PR-obsessed president who is flirting dangerously with war and potential mass death, merely to improve his polling numbers.
Since fabricating claims for war has historically been regarded as a crime against humanity, and "waging aggressive war" was the premise for the Nuremberg Trials, it would make sense to view our own country under the same lens that we apply to our international allies and rivals alike.
The U.N. reports that a huge swath of Alabama is in conditions similar to that found in third-world countries. We have huge problems within our borders.
Outside of our borders, we must stop the President's unchecked power to wage war without congress.
12
Iran did indeed get back money that we had seized. Seems reasonable to me, but they did.
It is very clear, after a long year of observing this man, that he has no compassion for Iranians. His is incapable of both love and empathy. He cares not one whit for OUR health and welfare. Why would this bigoted and racist being care about the human rights of an oppressed people who happen to be Middle Eastern?
No, his "support" is, I believe, based on yet another lie. The truth most likely is that these rightful and justified protests give him an excuse - a means to manipulate, if you will - a way out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. If that is his motive, and he does succeed, not only will it further weaken our standing in the world, but also it will in essence say to North Korea, "Go ahead with your nuclear program. But remember our "button" is bigger than yours."
6
He also cares naught for his own grandchildren who are going to inherit the devastation to the world his policy destruction produces. Why would he care about anyone that doesn't sit on his lap... In nearly every picture he is either giving the death stare or the spoiled child pouting pose.
45's standard line is everything is everyone else's fault and I'm the only one who can fix it.
16
Unlike you, of course, who isn't crippled with anti-Trump bigotry. You can see the good side of a troubled man, think charitably of him and can name at least ten things you like about him, cause unlike Trump, you're not blinded by hate. Right?
Course, if you do hate him, it's almost certainly his responsibility, not yours.
trump continues to blame others and makes others pay for his continuous failures and takes credit for things that happen despite him, just as he always has. and just as bankers refuse to do business with him, so do world leaders refuse!
11
Obama was blaming everything on Bush and has been criticizing Trump for months. Are you seriously that uninformed?
Trump never misses the chance to blame Obama.
This is disgusting. Obama was elected by the people
twice. Trump, although not his habit, should respect
his predecessor and choice of the people. Obama
has maintained his dignity by withholding criticism
of Trump although there is plenty to criticize. Can't
believe Trump is so uncivil.
14
Here's what DT tweeted earlier:
"“North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the ‘Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times,’” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter. “Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!”"
Okay, off-topic to this article, but still germane because it speaks to the unacceptable behavior of this person for the position of president. Other than in a closely held family business, where I assume you can abuse your relatives and blurt out what ever pops into your head with no filter, Donald Trump would have long ago been retired, fired, or removed by his board of directors and enraged stockholders. If he treated his customers in this manner, no one would be willing to buy his goods or engage his services. Other vendors would refuse to do business with him.
Not only is he not a good fit for the position, he is detrimental to the entire organization. I'm a member of the organization. As a stockholder in the United States of America, I expect the Directors to document his transgressions, implement a course of action to change his detrimental behaviors, and present this recommendation to him for consideration.
Should he choose not to implement the changes, I would insist that the Board remove him.
He wanted to run the government like a business. I believe that's how a business would do it.
5
And will someone in the White House PLEASE restrain Trump's use of capital letters, e.g. "Nuclear Button.".
This is my President! Thank you Mr. Trump for not pulling any punches when dealing with the thugs running Iran.
When I voted for Trump, everybody was asking, "but how can you, coming from Iran, vote for Trump?" Well, because democrats created this mess in the Middle East starting with Carter abandoning the Shah.
7
You can't blame either party for the issues in the middle east, they both have to share that, I guess unless you have selected memory and forgot the Bush years and the Iraq war that should have never happened. That is when the instability went through the roof and ISIS was born.
1
I forget--how many people has, say, Duterte shot in the head at this point? Last I heard, he was bragging about 6000 or so: no trials, no discussion, just shot.
trump clinked glasses with him, as he has with Vlad the Putin
1
First, do you really think that firing off wacko tweets at 4 AM means you're a tough guy?
Second, apropos of Carter: we should have invaded? Would you go fight? Bet not.
Wow, is the world sick of tough guys.
Trump should be commended for many of the stands he has taken on issues. But he should be careful about supporting protesters in Iran that are using violence. The war in Syria started the same way and could have been stopped at any time, if Saudi Arabia and Western nations would have stopped supporting the violent rebels. Over 400,000 people were killed in Syria. Hopefully the U.S. and other nations will be more responsible in their relations with Iran. Iran should be commended for allowing peaceful protests, something that would be immediately banned in Saudi Arabia.
3
What in the world?
How could the war have been stopped and any time? Secondly, the rebels did not get any real Western support until much later in the war, and almost all of that went to the YPG which is the only group in the region worth anything.
It was a rebellion against a dictator. Unfortunately, as is so common in that area of the world, religious extremists hijacked the rebellion and there were very few "good" guys apart from the YPG.
There were no big wars before the advent of worldwide fast communications. Television is sensational and aggravates people emotionally and they react, sometimes violently with resulting dominoes of war. The military and State Departments know this, so why are they instigating a Revolution against a Revolution, a battle of wolves that want to dethrone the older wolves? Because they are trying to start a war. I would expect this behavior from Trump as I have been waiting to see what war(s) he starts, but to see the State Department and fatigued Military doing it is disheartening. What kind of nation are we where half wants wars and half wants Peace? The leaders know that social media in Iran will spark a war. Our children will suffer and die under these madmen. War is the insanity of humanity and humans are a self-limiting species. Iran is a diversion by Trump away from rumblings of internal discord. It's been done for many centuries.
1
There were no big wars before global communications.
Good grief.
1
There were big wars. Whole empires were crushed by other empires and whole continents fell to invading armies.
That Trump seems to enjoy strutting about proclaiming his big nuclear button is deeply, deeply troubling. The man may not be clinically sick but he appears to be seriously amoral. But, again, to your point: big wars? Not new at all.
1
Trump's tweets are usually full of lies and deception. I have added to my New Year's resolutions to ignore Trump's fake news reports and to refrain from watching cable news coverage of Trump. Networks such as CNN has been covering Trump 24/7 for over a year. It only serves to empower him while ignoring critical news stories happening on a daily basis world wide. Yes we need to be informed and must be vigiliant. But it is far better to put our energy and time in working towards defeating the GOP and Trump in the upcoming elections
15
Hint - it's not working. Try taking a break from commenting on anything for a couple of days, then try a week. There are lots of irrational folks shrieking daily about Trump's out-of-control behavior. Not you, of course. Your comment confirms the strength of your grip on reality. 'This is me not freaking about Trump!' See? I'm FINE, reaeellly! OK.
The Republicans in Congress and Trump himself are all for getting tough with Iran. I have no problem with that but where is the outrage and concern about Russia interfering with our elections and those in Europe? Where is the outrage about the inhumane bombing in Yemen by the repressive Saudi royal family?
12
Long on facts but short on wisdom. Trump is trying to start a war in Iran with the help of the corrupt militarized State Department and the Military itself. So tell the Iranians to defuse any war or revolt. How Casually we start conflicts. It's our Children that will die for the insanity of Trump and his cabal.
7
Now his goal is basic human rights? I could've sworn this president has made it his policy of not policing the world on human rights? I guess when it suits him, it's great to play politics.
8
"Despite their fears about the fate of the deal, some Obama officials endorsed Mr. Trump’s vocal support for the protesters, favorably comparing it with Mr. Obama’s muted response when thousands of Iranians took to the streets in June 2009 after a rigged presidential election. ......With hindsight, some say, that was a mistake because the protesters deserved the United States’ public backing....Hillary Clinton, then the secretary of state, has described it as one of her greatest regrets from that period."
"Military commanders and Pentagon officials say they are drafting plans to counter what they call Iran’s “destabilizing” activities, like supporting Hezbollah and other militant proxy groups, supplying missile technology to Houthi rebels in Yemen, and carrying out cyberoperations."
I think that pretty much sums it up. The Obama administration was soft on Iran, making serious mistakes, blinded to the Iranian government's terrorism and support for terrorism by its lackeys and blind to the opposition of the Iranian people to oppression: "Not Gaza, not Lebanon and not Syria" as they chanted in their protests.
2
Yet in actuality, the Obama administration was cultivating the rise of moderates that has seen Iran pull back from the extremism our government helped usher in to power just a few decades ago.
It's never a good idea to cheer civil unrest on other countries, as if they were simply divided into two teams, our team and their team, when neither team is ours and no such simple division exists. This is something we should have learned long ago, but was taught to us once again during the Arab Spring. Civil unrest is civil unrest, rarely the sign of a new day dawning. It is unstable and unpredictable, promising nothing to no one, except greater fragility. If it continues long enough, approaching revolutionary conditions, it, like war, tends to bring not peaceful democrats with a small "d" to the fore but the most ruthless true believers and cynical power seekers.
5
There were no big wars until after the advent of worldwide mass communication. I truly believe that Television is a Cancer that will inspire wars then the destruction of the world given how it sensationally drives people to emotions of the moment. And Trump is the Television Man.
Regarding the idea of inspiring the Iranian Demonstrators, we all want them to succeed, but we are sanely keeping quiet, unlike Trump and those war lords who support him.
Trump is inspiring a Revolution against a Revolution. It's irrational to think it is worth fighting to see another crop of wolves leading a nation after deposing other wolves. It's crazy even to those unaccustomed to basic psychology.
Please ask Erdbrink to leave the country for his safety to return another day when there is not as much danger.
As for the president's pretense of standing for democracy and against a "brutal and corrupt regime," that is a bad joke, as he embraces just about every other brutal and corrupt regime.
As to what is really happening, we ought to remain skeptical of the analyses by supposed Middle East experts. We don't even understand the Trump phenomenon here. In a way they may be similar. Supposedly, the Iranian public is tired of Iran's foreign adventures. But one of the important elements in the 2016 election here was people getting tired of US foreign adventures and over commitment abroad that Hillary represented, with neglect of our own country. Trump promised to end all that. It turns out he lied and he is doubling down on wars all over and threatening everyone (except Russia and Israel). The right lesson for Trump from Iran may be that if the economy falters, or even if people begin to understand what is being done to them, there could be a nasty reaction here, too.
5
Iran is a country that has more in common with the US than we like to believe. It is possibly an unwanted mirror to our state of political and cultural divide and both presidents see that and have respond as they feel required in the face of uncomfortable truth. Iran has things we want: oil, consumers, technology and location, as opposed to North Korea. And we have been a great ally to Iran over the last 3 decades. We have finished 3 of their wars for them (we should have such good friends!) and kept the Palestinians in need of their help for direct access to better know Israel's mood and political circumstances. The travel ban was harsh and should be rescinded, but so are Iran's domestic policies. Will two wrongs make a better treaty?
Trump can tell the iranian people that if they overthrow the regime and form a democratic government, the travel ban will be lifted the next day.
If the people of iran are so eager to visit the US, perhaps that will provide a significant incentive to do so.
Trump's rhetoric drove South Korea into negotiations with North Korea.
He will probably unite the Ayatollahs and the resistance in Iran before he's done.
Everything he touches turns to dung.
65
And what is the downside of South Korea negotiating with North Korea? Won't that reduce tensions and the risk of war?
1
The downside is that the idiot didn't use diplomacy to encourage the negotiations. He instead raised the prospect of nuclear war - thus forcing an ally into a potentially bad deal in an effort to keep their country from being obliterated in the aftermath of an American miscalculation. And make no mistake: Trump's entire business career has been marked by miscalculation (like the time he bought the two additional hotels in Atlantic City, in the process taking on dangerous amounts of debt, while jeopardizing the profitability of his existing casino).
Trump is a dummy who is rich today - assuming he really is rich - due to inheritance and a willingness to do deals with even the scum of the earth. This man has no bottom. He goes lower than anyone on the planet. And all his followers are following him into infamy.
7
Well said you!
It's Obama's fault...it's Hillary's fault...Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi...it's Obama's fault...it's Hallary's fault...rinse repeat...repeatedly....oy
66
Where I an Iranian protestor the ‘support’ of one so morally vacuous as your President would offer me no succour. I’d assume it to be the equivalent of his ‘suuport’ of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital- absent of any genuine meaning save appeasing his Evangelical base.
11
Recognizing a sovereign state's designation of its capitol city is a reasonable and straightforward thing to do. Would the U.S. deal with any nation that denied the capitol city is Washington?
Just give him a few minutes and Trump will switch sides. He feels better with dictators than with regular people.
1
Reasonable & straightforward no doubt. Also absent of any meaning save appeasing his Evangelical base.
Trump tweets and people die. Does he care? Of course not. It's all about him.
47
Trump pointlessly, provocatively and unilaterally recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Dozens of Palestinians die in protest, hundreds more are injured. Does he care? Ditto, of course not.
5
Hey Iran, stop overtly restricting access to social media! Just delegitimize anything you don't agree with by calling them fake news, like we do here in America!
16
The grievence described as the as the catalyst for revolt in Iran are analogous to the grievances of the working class right here in amerika. We the people should be inspired by the Iranians taking to the streets denouncing their leaders kleptocracy and the debateless military budget. The courage displayed by the Iraninans exposes amerikans as craven.
7
Trump will do anything to discredit President Obama. And he doesn’t care who he hurts or what he tramples on in the process. What a petty man. Is it pure malice? Is it jealousy? Is it just plain old racism? Can someone enlighten me?
55
trump just tweeted that his nuclear button was bigger than Kim Jong Un's, and that his works.
Congress, it is time to get trump out of the WH!
55
There is nothing more depraved, classless nor just embarrassing about Trump's behaviors than his relentless attempts to insult Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Of course, if he wasn't an intellectual and emotional Kindergartner, Trump would realize that his every utterance just bespeaks his childish stupidity. Given his moral, intellectual, ethical and aesthetic status, Trump cannot besmirch anyone. But he sure can look pathetic trying to do so.
43
Sounds like the “the precariat,” identifying the enemy – the state. Happening everywhere and no foreign influence needed. In the U.S. it became an element in the election of Trump. Societies perform for the elite and ignore the “unimportant” and the results are cooking up an unstable stew. Iran one more example.
Re-imposing sanctions would heighten tensions and that may be view as desirable for American policy where playing with Iran a long-time favorite.
I will always be grateful for the support of the Iranian people after 9/11. They went into their streets by the thousands holding candles in honor of the dead. Their support was a welcome counter to seeing others in the Middle East cheer at the deaths. Iran has a long and remarkable history back to ancient Persia with its great culture. The young people of Iran are open to change and new ideas.
Trump is acting like a kleptocratic dictator in this country. He attacks the press; he mistreats minorities; he shows bigotry against immigrants and others; he doesn't support the Americans in Puerto Rico during a time of catastrophe; and he attacks the justice department while trying to weaponize it against his political enemies. His obsession with President Obama combines bigotry and jealousy. Trump has no moral authority, and definitely does not represent American democracy.
I wish the people of Iran well. May freedom and democracy bring rights to everyone.
59
Let’s not forget that Iran is our ally against ISIS and al Qaeda.
2
True. Diplomacy is international civility with a purpose. Trump has no civility and no purpose other than "Look at me, mine is bigger than yours, and I have more money than you. So there. Let's you and him fight."
1
Of which important point, Obama was acutely aware.
2
This story highlights two early tweets of today's Trump Twitter storm. So far 16 messages, most of them dangerous and inflammatory or just plain screwy. We must not become inured to the inanity and the insanity. We must not just laugh it away. This isn't funny, people. It is patently obvious that President Trump is deranged. In my opinion even Vice President Pence would be safer for America and the whole world. Press for invoking the 25th Amendment.
32
With Pence, we can put a REAL theocracy in place--just like Iran.
1
if a sitting president can't stop criticizing past president(s) when there is no election campaign going on why shouldn't past president(s) criticize the sitting president - especially when there is oceans' depth of well deserved criticism to be made?
27
It will be an uphill battle for Mr. Trump to convince Iranian demonstrators that his expressions of sympathy and support are actually sincere. The average Iranian who, believe it or not, is pro-US has not forgotten that just a year ago Mr. Trump was accusing Iranians of being terrorists and happy to ban them from entering the US.
The same equally applies to Mr. Trump's UN representative, Nikki Haley (aka, Nimrata Randhawa). She has absolutely no credibility when she presents herself as the champion of human rights and tries to condemn Tehran's government for violating protesters' human rights. She needs to explain first why she has been utterly silent in the face of what has been taking place in Egypt, Turkey, and Philippines. After all, what is going on in Iran in the last few days are in no measure comparable to the carnage of Egyptian protesters by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in the streets of Cairo or arrests and imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens in Turkey by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Moreover, everyone at UN, if not the world, is dumbfounded why Ambassador Haley does not see any problem with the poor human rights records of pro-US governments in Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia and Israel. What is particularly astonishing is that she has chosen to look away when, as in the case of Saudi Arabia, it is the women of that country whose rights are flagrantly violated.
14
Obama's foreign policy was based on the belief that if you engaged tyrants and gave them what they wanted, they would join "the community of nations". There was no recognition of the nature of these regimes, how threatened these regimes are by their people's aspirations, and the basic idea that the civil rights and freedom of Cubans or Iranians are in our national interest. As a result, Obama's foreign policy from Libya which now has slave markets to North Korea was a miserable failure.
Obama opened relations with Cuba in exchange for nothing. Not a single dissident was released and no freedom was provided to the Cubans. He then went to Argentina and told students both systems (Communism and Capitalism) have good and bad points and it is their job to pick the features of either. Apparently, Obama forgot Communism killed 100 million civilians through starvation and oppression not to mention terror. If there are good parts of Communism I am not aware of them.
Iran is a tyrannical regime which openly espouses genocide of a UN member state. Obama surrounded himself with Iranian "moderates" who only moderately took over the government of Lebanon, "moderately" murdered hundreds of thousands of Syrians, and is now "moderately" murdering its own civilians. The entire Iran deal was a travesty from the beginning. Ending sanctions and giving billions to tyrants only increases tyranny.
We have a leader who understands the difference between good and evil.
Godspeed Donald.
6
"Obama's foreign policy was based on the belief that if you engaged tyrants and gave them what they wanted, they would join "the community of nations". ....Let's see. Obama put together a coalition of nations and established a verifiable agreement with Iran that pushed their development of a nuclear weapon back for 6 months to 15 years without giving up anything. The agreement is widely lauded around the world. Either all the rest of the world is too dense to recognize this as a bad deal or you missed something rather important.
Obama opened relations with Cuba in exchange for nothing. Well not exactly. Prior to opening relations, Cuban expats were not allowed to return to Cuba. When cruise boats wanted to make a stop in Havana, Cuba saw the light and changed the law, so now expats can return. But you probably didn't know that.
"If there are good parts of Communism I am not aware of them."...Well hello. "the best example of communism.."to each according to their need, from each according to their ability.....is the nuclear family; so often lauded by Republicans. Do you have something special against families, or were you unaware that nuclear families are really practicing a form of communism?
7
And then there is Facism which killed million through war and gas chambers. As to Cuba, have you been there? I have shortly after the opening and saw what progress the people were making toward the improvement of their lives. Thanks to Trump, that is all going backwards.
3
@jkemp, BRAVO!
First of all, if this uprising succeeds in overthrowing the "Islamic State" of the Ayatollahs, we must at least try to make certain that Donald Trump is made to understand that he had nothing to do with it, and therefore that he cannot claim credit. Of course we know he will insist upon claiming credit, and of course we know that we will not hear the end of his confabulations until he is removed from the White House in a straight-jacket.
That said, it is an absolute mystery to me why the Iranian regime has been tolerated for so long. The Ayatollahs and Revolutionary Guards deserve the same fate as that which was meted out to Benito Mussolini.
Now, for the Big Question -- what will follow? It would be tempting to say that whatever follows could not possibly be worse, but we know that "Worse" is not only a theoretical possibility but the predictable outcome -- given the stupidity of people in general.
As a cautionary example, we should view the brutality and the fanaticism of the Ayatollahs and their henchmen as an illustration of what we would expect to follow in the United States if the Evangelical Religious Right were to seize power. Pence is potentially far more dangerous than Trump.
11
Simple question: Will Trump open US doors to Iranian dissidents when some ask for refuge? If the answer is "no", which I suspect it would be, POTUS has no right or authority to involve himself in this situation.
24
I'm glad POTUS likes protests against authority. I have a feeling he'll be seeing some a little closer to home real soon.
39
Anyone else remember that scene in Star Wars when Luke Skywalker is ready to kill Darth Vader? Every time Luke's ready to lower the hammer, I mean light saber, the bad guy emperor breaks Luke's resolve and concentration by egging Luke on . . . seems kind of like Trump's twitter "support" for the protests in Iran. Just when the protests begin to establish their scope, their credibility and resolve, good ole tone deaf Trump eggs them on. He kills two birds with one stone: breaks the concentration of the protests and insists on proving that the protests have outside support as the dictators of Iran insist. Isn't there a saying about with friends like that, etc., etc.?
1
It's so frightening. I knew it would be bad but I could not imagine this. It's unbelievable!
If Twitter cut off Trump's account he would have no celebrity at all except for what CNN and Fox afforded him during the campaign, and without celebrity and his disrespect his supporters might have to start taking what they learned in civics class seriously again. This is no arena for airing their irrational grievances and exacting their "punishment" against the Clintons and Obama. This is the world stage.
11
Trump continues to criticize the nuclear deal with Iran, threatening to undermine it by re-imposing sanctions. He says he would have negotiated a better nuclear deal - like the one he's negotiated with Kim Jong-Un?
His empty bluster about the nuclear deal is dangerous.
7
Among Trump's problems in negotiating complex situations, and especially when they have a dimension he can exploit in relation to Obama, is that when the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Were Trump in control of himself, he would simply note how unpopular the Iranian leadership is, how it's time that they addressed issues that would reduce sanctions and how eager he would be to facilitate such changes in the name of lessening tension in the Mideast. But he can't help himself, thus these bombastic tweets.
9
From vocabulary.com:
"To trump is to outrank or defeat someone or something, often in a highly public way."
When our President runs out of someones he attacks indiscriminately, many times taking positions seemingly contrary in interest as he has done here. It comes off as strategic illiteracy but I don't believe it. It may be, as his supporters say, just "Trump being Trump" but I think more likely these are impulses, born from long ago, that he simply cannot resist. He may not even be able to recognize them.
Thankfully, so far, he is just using words.
4
The United States has a sordid history of interfering in the affairs of Iran, including helping orchestrate the 1953 coup that overthrew their democratically elected president and installed the Shah. In the 80's we also supported Saddam Hussein by supplying billions of dollars worth of arms to Iraq in their war against Iran (this was, of course, before we decided to invade Iraq ourselves).
Anything Trump says will hurt the cause of actual reform in Iran by destroying the credibility of the protesters (undoubtedly some of whom are working for the CIA and Mossad.) Trump's words are a gift to the hardliners.
6
Trumps proclamation has nothing to do with policy, because he has no notion of what policy means. Typical grandstanding by a meglomaniac
31
I don't feel like Obama spent much time criticizing George W. personally or invoking his name in the press. I seem to recall a couple of events where Obama honored one or both previous Bush presidents for their service to the country.
Do I have that right, NYT?
Does Obama just SEEM to compare favorably to Trump or did Obama actually try to burnish the legacy of the office rather than tear down his predecessors? Disagree without being disagreeable, and all that.
7
You have to love Don and Nikki constantly telling people they don't like "the world is watching". Kind of ironic, isn't it?
9
So petty and spiteful this continual sniping at his predecessor. Not to say ignorant. A sign of monumental insecurity.
20
Trump is actually criticizing the Obama deal with Iran to keep it a top priority needing to be addressed
1
Extreme right in the US, only can enable the right-wingers in Iran. Trump desperately needs a war, and Mullahs desperately need an excuse to crush the seed of discontent and uprising. They are each other's best allies, have always been.
7
Donald Trump has yet again displayed that he does not understand what "country first" means. His number one enemy appears to be President Obama and he will do anything (including cooperating with Putin, endangering lives, and our national interests) just so he will have a chance to criticize President Obama. When will the Congress finally take the necessary action to remove this completely unqualified buffoon from office before he further jeopardizes our national security and destroys our constitutional system?
16
If Trump used his brain before he engaged his mouth he'd realize that he's acting contrary to US interests. That he needed to try to blame Obama for something totally irrelevant to what Obama did o didn't do, further illustrates the petty and vindictive nature of Trump. He will constantly be trying to get back at Obama for the ribbing Obama gave him (and the rousing lighter at Trump's expense) at the last Press Club dinner they both attended.
11
Well, it's very good to see Mr. Trump speaking up against "corruption" and people "lining their pockets." Let's just put a pin in those comments and come back to them in a couple of years, shall we?
6
And I’m sure that Trump supports the rights of Saudi citizens to protest. Oh...
“The people of Iran are finally acting against a brutal and corrupt Iranian regime,” Mr. Trump said. “All of the money that President Obama so foolishly gave them went into terrorism and into their ‘pockets,’” he added, apparently referring to the Iranian funds that were freed up when Iran agreed to constraints on its nuclear program.”
Again, apparently Trump doesn’t know that Al Qaeda is Sunni, while Iran is mostly Shiite; he’s about as believable on “terrorism” claims as W or Cheney.
8
Why doesnt some reporter ask Trump to explain the difference between the Sunnis and the Shiites?? Donald could not find Iran on a map with help most likely.
In the Trump centered universe, the possible consequences of his support for dissidents is never considered. Bush tried a similar tactic with Iraq after the 1990 gulf war...it did not work out well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_uprisings_in_Iraq
3
Iranians seem to be protesting their country's economic inequality... its concentration of power and money in a few hands. That, of course, is Trump's agenda.
"Now the bricks lay on Grand Street
Where the neon madmen climb
They all fall there so perfectly
It all seems so well timed
And here I sit so patiently
Waiting to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all these things twice"
4
Trump continues to find ways to back himself into a corner and alienate us from our allies. We all support the Iranian people but ripping up a deal that is the first step towards change (much like taking two steps backwards in our relations with Cuba) simply shows cowardice and weakness. We need to build on the deal by working with Rouhani until someone better is elected by the people of Iran. Instead we play into the hands of the hardliners who are maligning him in public because he is a reformist; and, of course, we take the bait, which will backfire on us. Payslip-gate, one of the issues at the core of these protests showed some bankers and insurance workers make 50 x’s more than the Iranian average wage. (So how is that worse than our bankers and execs who can make up to 300 x’s more)? So while it isn’t ideal for the Iranian people, they need to learn to use the ballot box to create change. A revolt will only end in bloodshed and a clampdown by the hardline religious leaders, who will use this as propaganda to show that western value lead to corruption while they rollback reforms. (And by payslip-gate standards, if anyone should be protesting corruption in the streets, it should be us.. Instead, we elect a bunch of posers who call themselves tea-party activists , and say they are going to Washington to drain the swamp, and instead, give away billions to their corporate donors).
In Trump’s own word’s, “You think our country’s so innocent?”
3
Trump makes it so obvious that his only interest is in settling political scores, and not in democracy, human rights or economic welfare of the Iranian people.
13
Mr. Trump’s full-throated support can actually hurt the protesters, not help them, giving the regime the necessary justification for a strong crackdown.
Can the WH not see past the gate?
11
Mr. Trump's inexperience, coupled with his arrogance is resulting in disastrous international relations. His very public war with Secretary of State Tillerson and most of our allies is clearing the stage for Russia and China to replace us in
the roles of world leaders.
7
"...is resulting in disastrous international relations." Exactly how is our rivals recognizing that we will no longer be a doormat a "disaster"?
1
I believe Trump has had one "solo" news conference in the year he has been in office. Yes, one news conference where he would actually be questioned by the media which he so abhors. Yet, he continues these obnoxious and dangerous tweets knowing that they'll dominate that day's news cycle. He is a real coward, a poseur, afraid to face the media. What a phony, afraid to face anyone who dares to question him, to confront him. He's no better than a petulant 7 year old.
35
Based on how Mr. Trump has handled North Korea, I could imagine how this man would have handled dual nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran. Through Twitter, I presume.
At some point, the President has to realize that his Twitter posts work his base, not foreign heads of governments.
3
Any president should be wary in this situation as support can easily backfire by giving the Iranian government an excuse to label the protesters as stooges of the US, but it may be appropriate in some cases.
However, there is NO WAY it is appropriate in this situation. Trump is hated around the world and particularly in the Islamic world. Furthermore, they guy who smooches up to Putin and other dictators, constantly lies, cheats etc. has ZERO moral authority.
His support of the protesters is a sad, pathetic joke that will only hurt their cause.
4
I suppose, that at some point in the future, when we have big protests in our country, Iran's leaders will stick in their "two cents" about it. And when that happens, I have every confidence that some Americans will express outrage about a foreign government weighing in on our affairs.
There is. of course, no International Law that prevents one country from commenting on the affairs of another country - it's actually a totally normal part of what we call "free speech", and protected by the First Amendment to our Constitution.
2
The critique of Mr T is appropriate, but to say that President Obama handled Iran correctly is blatantly wrong. Our country was walked off a cliff by the previous administration when it comes to Iran. We gave up everything, and as a practical matter received nothing in return. We can not even inspect their facilities. They are cheating just as North Korea cheated and got away with it. Now north Korea does have nuclear weapons and it either has or will have soon the ability to attach the US anywhere. Expect the same from Iran.
"Mr. Obama withheld criticism, in part, because dissidents warned them that Tehran would use that endorsement to discredit the movement.'
This was a reasonable concern given that the US CIA had once organized a coup in Iran to overthrown an elected leader.
[From CNN 13 Aug 2013] "Sixty years after the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, a declassified CIA document acknowledges that the agency was involved in the 1953 coup."
Banty rooster Trump believes his crowing makes the sun rise in the morning. He also blames Obama when it sets in the evening. But if he were smarter than a rooster, he would know more about the history of Iran and the US.
His support for the protesters is just as suspicious to the Iranians as his angry denials, threats and firings over Russian involvement in 2016 elections is to the majority of Americans.
And as the first year in the Trump Administration reaches its end, the Iran Nuclear Agreement and Paris Climate Accords look pretty good compared to what Trump has negotiated on any foreign policy front, which is a big zero.
But he has managed to unite much of the world against him. And they are getting tired of the crowing. Anyone who has spent any time on a farm knows what happens to noisy roosters.
78
Please stop. Obama's foreign policy was a disaster. Period.
Please also stop. Such a general blanket statement is not helpful, nor remotely intelligent.
2
Trump's moral credibility as leader of the so called free world is absolute zero. In Iran it is less than absolute zero and that is an impossibility.
133
Trump is unpopular with nearly 2/3 of our nation. He should get the message that many of us are totally sick of his behavior. He is a divider and acting like a 3rd world dictator.
Time for the Congress to oppose him if for no other reason than to save their own skins at the next election.
9
This is the meddling we need.
The POTUS is right on the money in putting heat on Iranian government.
And he is laying the groundwork for ripping up the so called Iran nuclear deal.
I also need to say that these advisers quoted here of the 44th - not one resigned over lack of support to the protesters in 2009.
And only in DC - the swampland - you get more moral superiority in now criticizing the 45th - because he could have calibrated his tweets better.
If nothing else that can be said about the POTUS - he definitely does not head to a dictionary to parse words.
From what we know about her campaign - her tweet on an urgent topic like this would at least be 2 months late. That is after each word is parsed to ensure she offends none of her moneyed donors.
6
He is about to hand the ayatollahs a two-fer:
The nuclear deal he wants to rip up is very popular with the Iranian people.
The added sanctions will make their lives worse off.
Who do you think will get the blame? The Great Satan.
This guy is nothing but words. How many of his red lines has NK crossed already? That's why he hides behind twitter.
10
Agree on the point: "he definitely does not head to a dictionary". Wouldn't know what one looked like if he needed it to swat a Florida mosquito while golfing. Aside from that, this is just more "Drain the Swamp" drivel while oblivious to its current occupants.
4
Trump, on the other hand, give money and opportunities to make even more to his moneyed donors.
So Mr. Trump does not like the repressive government of Iran. I expect he soon will condemn the repressive government of Saudi Arabia, too? And Russia?
167
Repression is ok with "the president" as long as the leaders are his buddies and they stroke his ego.
Sticking his nose into Iranian affairs could well lead to their becoming another North Korea.
He shouldn't be giving Iran the opportunity to use us as a scapegoat. Shut up and let the protestors do their thing.
He just doesn't get it!
2
Don't leave out Turkey and Egypt!
3
94% of terrorist acts in this country are done by Egyptians, Saudis or U.A.E'ers.
So, let's go after Iranians and Syrians.
2
Earlier today I watched Obama's thoughtful, rational, strategic statements from 2009 about dealing carefully and intelligently with Iran, and I almost burst into tears.
A year of Trump's blustering, incurious, incoherent foreign policy feels like a lifetime, and as awful as it may seem, I fear we are becoming desensitized to just how dangerous it is.
Contrasting Obama to Trump on Iran made me realize much I took Obama's sanity, eloquence and class for granted, how quickly it's faded in memory, and how far we have sunk.
I console myself with a fantasy scenario wherein the house flips in the fall and Mueller takes down both Trump and Pence, leaving Nancy Pelosi next in line to be president. Otherwise, the future is too fearsome to contemplate.
190
The Congress will only flip once they see that it is to their individual interest to do so. The courageous Republicans have either left or are on their way out.
Nice fantasy though!!!
4
Nancy Pelosi? God forbid! How about someone with some workable ideas and a chance to get real change?
2
It's definitely a fantasy scenario...
Trump writes mean tweets about Huma Abedin, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, as 3 million Americans go without electricity, potable water and emergency healthcare on the still devastated island of Puerto Rico. Trump spent a few hours on the island months ago and tossed out some paper towels.
If you were Trump you'd be talking about anything but suffering & the likely rising death toll on Puerto Rico months after the hurricane.
Not because Trump cares if those people die. He doesn't. But he constantly makes distractions from anything that doesn't reflect well on him.
It's easier to tweet insults at Huma and Hillary than to get more aid to Puerto Rico. Trump always does what's easy and hope nobody notices.
People are dying on Puerto Rico because of Trump's cruelty, callousness and neglect. By this time next year, the death toll may be astounding. But we might hear nothing about it because Trump will still be gassing on about Hillary or taunting Kim Jong-Un, grabbing another news cycle.
This is the execrable Trump presidency.
206
yes his smoke and mirrors show is 24/7 365 . when things don't go his way, BAM! He attacks.
4
I can't describe how distasteful Trump's activity here seems to me. Clearly, any diplomat with any sense would advise Trump not to give the hardliners a target they could use to distract support from the real grievances of those who are protesting. The fact that he's trying to make himself the face of the opposition, a truly laughable act if it wasn't so dispiriting, points to his absolute need to be at the center of everything, even when its against the interests of the country he purportedly serves.
83
Once and for all, it is time for Trump to stop using President Obama as a foil. It has been almost one solid year since the White House changed hands. Trump has shamelessly scapegoated President Obama and his policies, including the Iran deal, to score cheap political points.
It is also pretty striking that Trump does not go after the other signatories to the Iran accords, particularly Russia.
It is time for Trump to assume responsibility for his own use of power, as such, and stop swiping at President Obama.
117
obama's nuclear plan was inadequate. paying 400M to Iran for 5 americans was bizarre. that's why he did it in secret. we are lucky to have trump.
It wasn't Obama's plan...there were 5 countries involved, including the beloved Russia. The 400M payment was Iran's own money which we withheld from them for years.
1
The American Ayamofo is well versed in the high rates of divorce, violence, immorality, corruption, criminality, embezzlement and corruption and would make the perfect negotiating partner for the Ayatollah Khamenei.
14
What a two face. He claims to support these protestors, but sought to have his own protestors jailed and punched in the face.
145
If there is one thing to be learned from 2017, this is neither news nor policy. By reporting and analyzing every single thing that comes out of that dark corner of the country, the Times is continuing to be used as it was during the 2016 election. It is laughable for someone from the Pentagon to say that they want to hold Iran "accountable for the things they're doing". Remember the Iran-Contra affair? That was Iran after their revolution. Who was accountable then? First rate journalism means that the Times does not have to feel compelled to report on everything that was blurted out!
13
Yes. the Iran-Contra Affair was when Reagan went against US sanctions and sold weapons to Iran after he sold weapons of mass destruction to Iraq to be used against the Iranians.
3
I want to know what Trump has to tweet before the MSM decides it is no longer in the public interest for them to report on it.
The tweets are becoming incomprehensible yet the MSM treats them like a State of the Union speech.
The hypocrisy is galling.
You got the Trump compadres in gold, glitz and polished marble lording it over their fellow citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States as they brook no opposition to their despotic, greed-filled rule, let alone elections even comparable to those in Iran. Yet our own money boo-boo not only says not a word about those phony sheikhs, he literally glows in their fawning presence (remember that glowing orb?).
Please Lord, deliver us soon from this global embarrassment.
71
Trump is showing the kind of leadership Obama should have showed in ‘09. By remaking silent, Obama tacitly gave his imprimatur to the mad mullahs.
Obama blew it. Trump is not squandering a second chance at American leadership.
9
Uh, No.
Trump is "tweeting". That is by definition NOT leadership.
9
Meanwhile, Iran was at the top of the travel ban. Go figure.
3
How about trump giving his imprimatur to Saudi Arabia
4
What a hypocrite! Trump featured Iran on his severe immigration ban, but now fakes solidarity with the citizenry. He can't have it both ways - treating the people of Iran as terrorists, now pretending to champion them.
81
@NM: Do you truly believe Donald remembers which countries are listed under his ban? I swear his thinking process runs on the loop "control, alter, delete." Next?
'But killing the deal now, Mr. Gordon said, could enable the Iranian government to galvanize domestic support against the United States rather than face questions about why it has not been able to improve Iran’s economic conditions. “Right now, they cannot blame us or the international sanctions,” he said. “This could allow them to make the U.S. the enemy.”
This is something Trump will never understand, the power of soft power, diplomacy and firm but gentle resolve that President Obama displayed consistently during his administration. Trump nearly always causes agitation and alienation whenever he speaks out, his technique of blunt provocation has not gone over well, from criticism of allies to the relationships that the United States and former presidents have cultivated over generations with nations around the world.
164
We can only hope that the president's advisors will repeat the idea that his words could so easily deflect the Iranian protests against their government to the "evil" United States and its policies. "Soft diplomacy" is called for from our government, not bluster and bravado.
6
He is probably the most ignorant and destructive president we have ever had. He is on his way to turning Iran into another North Korea and he doesn't get it.
Anything to distract from the Mueller investigation.
6