So is this imaginary war between Iran and the USA going to start already? I've been waiting 15 years for it to happen!!
Trump does not like criticism or told he has failed. You would think he would have learned from his failures after several failed businesses and bankruptcies which would normally cause one to assess and proceed with caution. But he has learned the con; the cards are slightly curved, the corners are bent, and his name in gold letters conceals any slight-of-hand. His base only recognizes the deflection, dazzled by his limited vocabulary, simple words, and his imagined genius.
1
I agree with many of the commenters, this is just
a misdirection, a diversionary tactic to get attention
away from the Russian Thing and he may go so far
as to bomb the mother out of Iran if the rest
of us do not let go of the Russian thing. Though, read
this on Yahoo just now that latest tweet is how Trump
has been harder than anyone ever has been on
Russia, guess today it is no longer a hoax. And
He knows that Russia hates how tough Donald has
been and he is sure the Russians will hack our mid term
elections and get Democrats elected. Since GOP may lose bigly his base will blame the Russians and crooked Hillary. It will not be considered be a legitimate victory by his base and they will come after the rest of us with vengeance in
the name of their slimy savior. Wait, didn't he claim if he
lost the presidential race it would be because of foul play?
Well there is always Ivanka for president to keep his base
happy, now that she has given up her clothing company, and
wants to remain in government and public service, ha ha!
After her plan for those who want family leaves diminishing
their retirement benefits, I cannot wait to see her future public service plans. And I can bet you she finds the cutest ways to somehow enrich herself and her family while she is at it. Don't any of them fear prison???
1
Israel's in-power Likud party is committed to keeping Iran crippled, as it does not want a rival in the region. Israel is already in war with Iran in Syria, and Israel is pressuring US to join Israel in attacking Iran. The whole charade with Trump breaking the Iran nuclear treaty is only a precursor to falsely declaring Iran a nuclear threat, just like the weapons of mass destruction were a false excuse for a war with Iraq. Bolton, Pompeo, an Trump are ratcheting up the propaganda noice and accusations. It's all part of the plan. The familiar script is running again, we all have seen it before. Declaring Iran a nuclear threat is next, leading to a boycott of Iran's ports, escalating to war. The USA will be directly attacking Iran soon.
2
what does the Treason Caucus, aka GOP, think about this?
1
The solution in Iran-regime change! Why not- it worked out so well in Iraq.
1
Well, at least President Trump has the ear of a person who's expert at election meddling. The student, though, is not showing the subtlety of the master.
1
Distract at ALL costs. It's the Trumpian way. Never mind how much damage it does to the nation, right??
1
Well, well ,- POTUS finally gets credit for what he has known intutively from his TV days.
Our media has an attention span - of what, say an ant.
Headline writers, op-ed pages are always chasing that ever present presidential tweet.
So, he is playing a game that our media has perfected rules for.
A 15 minute fame is as ephemeral as a 50 word tweet.
It's a world we live in - and this POTUS is exploiting it for his benefit and reaping rewards.
Having said that I approve of his Iran focus. Perhaps, this topic came up in Helsinki. And the POTUS has concluded his meddling, colluding buddy is gonna of no help on Iran.
And he needs to go solo.
So, may be something good did happen in Helsinki.
The World's most corrupt dynasties of fanatic ideological mad-men, who when-ever they finally sit in the criminal Glass-houses of money laundering, treasonous colluding with the enemy and dangerous Nazis-like policies will ALWAYS, like Hitler sitting in his bunker, resort to widening their insanity-driven wars into world wars just to evade punishments.
You American are - sadly alike Russian and all of the Middle East, extreme dumb ignorant for generations now religions-brain-washed and represent the latest generation of definitively opportunistic misinformed and chemically over-drugged people, who are obviously incapable of predicting the most predictable gambling empty-minds, until far too late.
IMMINENT Fact is: Putin' NRA-Trump-Republicans will get the Middle East nuked and then America too! While accelerating so Global Warming, because the TWITS think it results in "cooling" or some imaginary White Jesus-nonsense.
Fascinating is that you Americans all know that nuclear world war is inevitable as long as those criminals hold the nuclear codes, yet you are all powerless against the NRA-Mafia or so megalomaniac arrogant o your imaginary military superiority, while you forget that Putin could already hold U.S.A' nuclear codes?
Such hyper-positivist ideological self-declared "Geniuses" of grandiose megalomaniac pills-drugged religious fundamental Amoeba brains as so many Trump-Republicans are fascinate me. As Scientific study-objects mere.
Best,
A.E.
Projectheureka LLC
TR: Walk softly and carry a big stick
DT: Make a lot of noise and hope something sticks
" ... [Trump's] decision to respond in such fiery terms was driven almost entirely by his search for a distraction from questions about Russia." It is unacceptable for the sole source of decision making regarding threats of military action to be the fevered mind and itchy twitter fingers of Mr. Trump.
Every time Trump attempts to change the conversation, our free press enables and cooperates by going right along with him. Over and over. Every single time.
Mr. Rouhani’s words of war had no historical perspective: Did he forget that Alexander defeated the Persians (outnumbered no less) with swords and shields, no bombs, rockets, or nukes necessary? Of course, this was pre-clerics and imams.
1
And it happened more than 2300 years ago... The world today is a bit more complicated, I fear.
Yes indeed Trump is changing the subject but this time there are many fewer outcries for there is a strong anti-Iran lobby in the US and on this the serial liar ticks all the boxes: he is in line with the uber-hawks in his administration, Pompeo & Coats, he appeals to the Israeli far-right (Netanyahu just bragged HE got Trump to scrap the Iran deal --so brilliantly negotiated by Obama and 6 other countries) and the military-industrial complex is already salivating as well as MBS in Saudi Arabia. This of course makes the world a much more dangerous place and the US deficit is in danger of skyrocketing even more. The warmonger in chief has tweeted and the echo chamber this time is not telling him it is crazy.
For those who are questioning whether Mr. Trump has a well-thought "Iran Policy", the answer is clearly "yes". It is called "Whatever Netanyahu Says and Wants".
1
Trump is a master manipulator and creator of histrionic fake news akin to tabloid-like sensationalism—a spoiled little rich kid throwing an “I’ll show you” tantrum. When is the real news media going to learn to ignore this red-faced, egocentric buffoon’s rantings and stay focused on the real news of the day? And today, the focus needs to remain sharply on Trump’s selling out of American ideals to a tyrant like Putin.
First, Trump became Xi Jinping’s patsy, then Kim Jong-un’s patsy, and now Putin’s patsy. Why are we so willing to let him sell out America in the name of Trump’s self-grandiloquence.
He’s the President of the United States of America, not the Emperor of the American Empire.
We need to begin tightening his Constitutionally mandated Presidential reigns before it is too late. Let’s begin by staying focused on the real news of the day and ignoring all these fake whims Trump keeps casting about.
All offers are available for a limited time only. If you don’t act now, America will.
I'm tired of being badger about kowtowing the Vlad. I know, I'll kill a few endangered species. No wait, how about dising the last half dozen leaders of the Intelligence Community. No, I need something really distracting - maybe threatening to start a war would do it?
Yeah, that's what I'll do.
Is there an adult left in the Congress? We we may need an intervention...
5
If Trump says it's black I know that's it's white. He confuses friends for foes and foes for friends and has had his head up narcissistic alley for so long he can't even differentiate right from wrong. Guess he's been worried about midterms at this point since he recently tweeted his concern that Russia would hack the election in favor of the Democrats! How transparent! We know he's just setting the stage in case the Democrats win, so he'll have an artificial ax to grind. Talk about a hoax, that's Trump's middle name.
1
Is Kim serious when he threatens to push the nuclear button? Is Trump serious when he threatens to push the nuclear button?
Is Rouhani serious when he threatens to push the nuclear button?
Is Trump serious when he threatens to push the nuclear button if they even suggest it again?
If the answer to even one of this questions is yes, we, the people of the World are in deep trouble, too close to a nuclear war.
1
What does he have to lose? No matter the outcome his followers either cheer, excuse , or forgive. They have no backbone. Common sense and facts bear out he is no leader with standards, morals, ethics. Fear is all he knows and likes. Just like Germany in the 30s and 40s. I look forward to the day(hopefully) when we live in a country not on the edge. Hated for our greed and selfishness. Enough already with Me,Me,Me. We look like the bully on the playground with all the play centered on him. When will America grow up again?!
This is nothing more than the next manufactured distraction by Trump to draw the attention of his base from one disaster to the next. He has to move so quickly form one concocted enemy to the the next because these distractions are just knee jerk reactions of a profoundly Ill president, suffering from a complex combination of narcissism, histrionic tendencies and an ever present persecution complex. There is no grand plan. The distractions don't hold up for long. There is a mad man at the helm, and a good chunk of the country is in denial, rationalizing, in complete disbelief or to dumb to know.
President Tweet, trumped today...
there "is" Russian meddling and it's to help democrats in the midterms.
(Surely bff Vlady Putin wouldn't double cross dapper Don that way)
Trump tariffs are so "incredibly" successful he's gonna bribe farmers with $12 billion in support.
Wow! Another cool example of how trump is "saving" US money (while enriching himself). It costs US tax payers over a million dollars in "savings" every time the Liar-in-Chief visits Mar a Lago (or as I call it Con-a-Largo).
Oh what a tangled web he weaves whenever trump tweets or opens his mouth to deceive. Which, let's face it is 99% of the time.
Like that old lawyer joke, "How can you tell when trump's lying? Easy, his lips are moving."
Time to end his treasonous travesty.
VOTE for Democrats in November.
It really is the only viable option for those of US living in reality as opposed to the trump base fantasy.
5
Obfuscation won’t deter from the Russian investigation. Period.
1
So, are you going to let him change the subject?
You know what he's doing and you nod and say, "okay"?
1
Trump's dismal performance in Helsinki where he continually badmouthed America and kissed up to our enemy, Putin, is again trying to divert our attention to a new crisis. That is the only thing he is good at. Throw a grenade at us and change the subject.
2
Someone said that Trump was our journalists' assignment editor. Truer words have never been spoken.
Hey!
Wanna make America great again?
Shut down Twitter. Or at least shut down Trump's twitter account.
Of course a better solution would be his resignation or impeachment...
4
California better straighten up. Trump will be attacking them next. This clown is going to get us into a war yet.
2
Like to read it, those accusations of the Iranian clerus as hypocritical holy men benefiting only the top layer of their society. Who's even having the nerves to talk in such a way about another regime, while every decision of DT only benefits the one percent riches of his own country. Where is the real hypocrite? Disgusting.
1
Please ignore the Iranian distraction and focus on Trump and Russia.
Our country was and continues to be attacked by Russia. Why hasn't the NY Times and MSM asked for a report of what Trump and Putin agreed to in their private meeting in Helsinki?
How involved is Israel in this?
1
Yesterday it was North Korea, today it's about Iran, tomorrow the UFOs...
Tweet-in-Chief thinks to be the master of deception and distraction but eventually his credibility is close to zero.
Comrade Trump is desperate to change the topic from Russia to anything else. His trickery is wearing thin; the Michael Cohn tape release by Comrade Trump FAILED and the ALL CAPS tweet against Iran has failed. "Color us unimpressed!" tweeted Iran.
Perhaps Comrade Trump can release 30 years of his TAX RETURNS? That would do the trick!
1
The country and the world is on to you Mr. Trump. Your huffing and puffing only prove one thing---you're clueless, unstable and insecure. Do us, and yourself a huge favor and resign, right now. Save us the time and expense of throwing you out of office.
We don't want a dictator in the White House. We want a sane and capable man that cares for all Americans and who cares for the country and the world, not just those that have money and power.
You are a failure, a charlatan and a Russian sympathizer. Please go away. You don't deserve to be an American
5
I am not sure why no body pointing that Putin or Russia did not immediately accept to visit WH !
Putin is playing his "Trump" hand very shrewdly.. he does not want too much issues for Midterm election and he wishes Trump to stay so he controls USA till the final kill!
1
This has become a game of whack a troll.
2
so now he's giving farmers 12 billion? moochers, welfare kings and queens. corporate welfare at its worst.
if they were poor and minorities he'd tell them tough luck.
3
Can somebody please check with Putin that he gave his puppet to launch a war against Iran?
I suspect Putin gave his OK with the use sabre rattling to distract stupid Americans from the act treason his puppet committed in Helsinki. But war? Definitely not.
1
Put a dunce cap on Trump and set him in the corner. This petulant, spoiled brat is really getting on my last nerve. Enough already. Send him to bed without supple and take his phone away.
3
@Doremus Jessup Dunce? Do you think that is fair? He is much worse than that!
1
There are two main things to consider in this. The first and most important is the absolute fact that maybe Iran is not an enemy whatsoever. It is only the machinations of Israel in the Middle East that have produced that narrative. You have to study the region in considerable depth to know what/who is right and wrong.
The other important point is that Trump and his thugs have studied nothing in depth; they have a schoolyard notion of Middle East relations. But even a moron can grasp that Iran does not threaten the US even one micro-meter. Trump could care less about the facts, as he loves to throw our weight around -- thinking he's employing some art of some deal.
3
This unfit, ill prepared and even stupid Nut, may yet bring on a shooting war to the whole world's detriment. We must get him out of office!
6
Trump tells it like it is and Iranien dictators think hell is upon them... and they're right. The free ride is over... now it is up to the repressed people of Iran to revolt... and the US is on their side.
1
We have a Gas Bag for a president with a small "p", who is a Buffoon.
1
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT: The president THREATENS Iran not to THREATEN us again. is this evved up, or what?
By hammer tweeting Iran, the GOP administration accomplishes another goal: oil prices are going up. Ideally this would mean that renewable energy investments would become more attractive. But, the GOP administration intervenes again. It is doing all it can to not only raise the price of fossil fuels (helping Putin BTW) but discourage renewable's.
8
Thomas Stroud--Renewables being an industry that has way more jobs than any in fossil fuels. Pretty sharp, that tRump. Oh, I forgot. He's INVESTED in the oil industry.
Trump groveled to Putin and what does a bully do? he comes home and picks on a weaker target. He hates Muslims so Iran is an easy one to start threatening. And it takes the focus off his troubling capitulation to Russia.
5
What happened in the secret meeting between two leaders? President Trump after his inauguration sold billions of dollars of weapons to Saudi Arabia and other players in Mid east who hate Iran. Now Putin wants to sell his arms to Iran and other players on the opposite side. The coming war is not between U.S. and Iran, there is no match. However, Saudis and Iranians can fight each other with supplies from U.s. and Russia. Follow the money. That was the discussion in the meeting, let me get mine as well Mr. Trump. Go back and change the narrative. Let us put on our thinking caps.
3
I've been waiting since the beginning of this century for the inevitable US vs Iran showdown. Bring it on.
You go on ahead with that. Personally.
Very reminiscent of 1998 when Lewinsky scandal was cresting, Bill Clinton bombed an aspirin factory in Sudan.
I suppose Presidents do these things.
At least Trump didn't bomb anybody.
4
Except TRUMP did bomb somebody . Syria .
1
Not True. He was chasing Bin Ladin which the scandal distracted our attention.....9/11?
1
Tuco--Tuco--Maybe not THIS time.
1
About 45 years ago, I was an Air Force Officer with the duty of determining which personnel could be awarded a Top Secret compartmented security clearance. Based on his history of bankruptcy, Trump would never have qualified. His personal history would have not enhanced his chances. He lacks any evidence of personal integrity.
18
@James S Kennedy - I had a top secret/special intel clearance in the service because I was in the military branch of the NSA. You nailed it.
They laid that out very clearly in the application process. Lying on the application was pretty much grounds for denial, excessive debt, anything that could make you a target for blackmail all equated to a no go. By those requirements, Kushner should never have gotten cleared, and after watching triump's bizarre, fawning submission to Vlad, there is no doubt that Putin has got the goods on him.
2
James S Kennedy--Maybe the next president can remove tRump's security clearance, as well as those of his family and cronies. Its only fair, and risk reducing, for the country. I understand that intelligence people have decided not to tell him much of anything, because he can't be trusted. He is a traitor, after all.
2
This is a repeat of the fiasco in Iraq pepetrated by George W. Bush to cover for his failures in preventing 9-11 and not capturing Ben Laden. Trump wants to distract from his treason with Putin by acting tough on Iran. Israel and Saudi Arabia cheer and are ready to start a war with Iran.
Did Putin give the green light in exchange for concessions on Ukraine and Syria? will this distraction take the brain dead supporters of Trump look aside at his criminal exposure? Will same supp[orters look aside at the disaster Trump crreated with NATO and out European allies.? Will this diversion save both Trump and Natanyahu's administration?
7
No U.S. war for Netanyahu !
Trump refracting attention away from his inept self management with Putin and spinning about the Russians attempts to drag the world into the same miserable mess that it's been enduring for centuries, prime example of a 'wag the dog' tactic by the 'Stable Genius'. We must take note but never trust what Trump says.
4
No doubt Iran and its leaders are in a state of shock over Trump's nonsensical twitter remarks, because they were all caps. We can be certain the president has studied the Iranian problem through his perusal of the one- page intelligence report designed for him. And forget about the historical aspects therein. The president doesn't read history, he makes it as he tells anyone who will listen. Forty percent of Americans agree totally with their populist leader. We should be proud.
5
Rumor has it trump receives briefings in the form of a 6 Page coloring booklet with 3 crayons. Red. Black. Gold.
We've seen this episode before. Just an old re-run.
3
No only was Trump’s twitter attack loud but it was stupidly unnecessary.
5
The last thing the USA needs is a war, especially with an unstable leader like Donald Trump against a country which would not be a pushover. If there is war, it would be our young boys and girls who would be fighting against Iran's boys and girls, while Donald tries to pretend that this makes up for his cowardly decision to be a draft dodger decades ago. Who knows, he is just crazy enough to drop a few A -bombs, and we would all be in trouble, especially the young people fighting his war and all of those people forced to inhale atomic dust.
Why doesn't he just spend the rest of his miserable life playing golf and leave the rest of us in peace?
3
“Hypocritical holy men guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves” is a great way to describe Trump, his cronies, his cabinet, and the GOP leadership. Thanks, Mike Pompeo!
Oh, wait. You were talking about Iran?
4
Trump is so transparently narcissistic, Now he's willing to risk war, which would only kill his supporters' kids, to distract from his staggering number of scandals, blatant racism, daily violations of the constitution he swore to uphold and defend, and his sordid personal life, more about which is revealed every day.
When I think about how openly repulsed and contemptuous republicans were toward trump before he won the nomination, I am appalled by their spinelessness in standing up to him.
It's patently obvious that the press and "fake news media" isn't the enemy of the people - that title is now reserved for the republican party.
7
If he keeps putting on weight he'll be able buy Jerry Nadler's old suits.
8
@Bob
And here I thought his legs were getting skinnier.
Iran is more trouble than it's worth.
So typical it hardly needs commenting upon...a new
narrative thread for the loyalist propaganda chains is clearly
called for, and it's always helpful to have a few
arrows in the quiver at the ready in case too much
pushback is detectable from current story plotlines.
What more suitable target for a new display of venom from
the vile one is there in any case. The cabal is sure
that Iran is vulnerable to social upheaval, and that
an external oomph to that end from its historical satanic
opponent is just the ingredient to perturb things therein.
Since the Iranians are not the idiots our idiots in charge think they
are, they will not seek to up the ante. Ignoring the
bluff is a far more prudent action to take since its motivation
is completely obvious to everyone...goofballs in charge
have no coherent plan about much of anything, they're
scrambling around like rats in a sewer searching for
anything to counteract the historical debacle of the preceding
two-three weeks, and the Iranians know that they're the
obvious perfect target for a distraction from the
tweeter in chief.
So what would any intelligent opponent do in such a
context but lie low and murmur sweet vapidities to keep
the lid from blowing off?
In the meantime, we really need to be focusing upon
how the environment is in the process of being thoroughly
soiled by well planned multi-pronged assaults on
all things needed to reduce pollutants, including
CO2 (despite Kavanaugh' "skeptical dissent" about it).
5
Putin did it, clearly. Told the Iranians to say something at once foolish, outrageous, and suicidal to change the international news-feed. Worked, but the Israelis are Iran's greater problem, not Trump. They'll make quick work of them if the "Mother" of all wars ever breaks out.
3
Why should Iran be any different from the rest of the Middle East?
In 2003 the United States invaded Iraq for regime change. Iraq is still an economic and political shambles.
Syria has been fighting what is in effect a civil war which has laid waist the country. We never could figure out how to deal with that.
Egypt use to be or maybe still is our ally but it is dysfunctional.
Pakistan use to be or maybe still is our ally but it is dysfunctional plus it actually has nuclear weapons.
Afghanistan is our longest war with no end in sight but some people say that Afghanistan still manages to be the world's leader in the production and export of opium.
Saudi Arabia is one of our key allies but they are (with our support) conducting a horror story with bombing and destruction in Yemen.
Iran, while I admit they are not by any means a model democracy, is a stable country that is not a threat to the United States or anyone else. There are a lot of countries in the world that are not model democracies and we have business and diplomatic dealings with them -- one example is Saudi Arabia.
Judging from the result, I take it that our policy is to create an entirely unstable and dysfunctional middle east. We have had quite a bit of success.
I agree with one of the commenters -- Mr. Adams from Texas. We should stop meddling and mind our own business.
2
So the US wants to topple a foreign government in a sovereign nation?
A government that has been elected by the people of this sovereign nation.
Is that the CIA led coup of 1953 again or a much bigger affair?
But of course, others like Russia, are the bad guys because they meddle in foreign affairs of sovereign nations.
Also, the hawks in the US government shout "war" and threaten nuclear destruction whenever they can.
Looks like the US is a rogue state and a terrorist state at that.
People like Trump and his warmongering cronies should be impeached and tried in a court of law and I don't mean a US court but at The Hague for crimes against humanity.
So when will the people of the US get rid of him?
Before or after he has starts a nuclear war?
And isn't that a good reason for a foreign military and/or secret forces intervention against the US president?
The US has killed politicians around the world for less.
Sorry, but the US has become the world's terrorist number one, next to Saudi Arabia.
And we are not even yet talking about their trade wars.
2
look at our history . hypocrisy is our middle name.
2
Why is it OK to try and topple Iran's government, when there is such a fuss about Russia's supposed efforts to get Trump elected? It is the same thing...
The mullahs in Iran are only in power due to the US support of the Shah decades ago, whom Iranians hated. In other words, it is the US' fault that Iran has the government it has these days.
So, first thing the US should do is apologize to Iranians.
And praise Iran for their ancient culture including Zoroastrianism, which has had a profound impact on the entire West, via Judaism and Christianity. Without Iran/Persia the West would not be what it is.
Actually, I wish Iranians would return to their own sophisticated religion of Zoroastrianism and abandon Islam which was forced upon them. They would be soon be leaders again, and make peace with the Jews, who historically owe a lot to the Persians.
Trump and his silly, absurd politics are stealing way too much attention from what is really important. Climate change for instance, oceans full of plastics that will end up in our food, nano particles, giant wildfires and increasing drought, etc.
But Trump is an utter egoist, only thinking of short-term profits because he doesn't have the brains to tackle real problems, not even to be aware of them.
5
"The White House scrambled to lend a veneer of coordination to Mr. Trump’s outburst."
Mr Landler, this line alone is rich. I can imagine the next tell-all book by a former Trump WH staffer would use "A Veneer of Coordination" as a chapter heading. But it is a very apt description of what gets thrown together and deemed policy in this unorganized operation that is the Trump administration.
Trump, like his GOP predecessor W, doesn't understand the complexities of Middle Eastern culture and societies. By his own verbal outbursts and Twitter puffery, he doesn't understand the intricacies of immigration, either; that alone should be a basis for a concerted effort to keep his hands off sculpting policy in that arena. Starting a war would be dumb, for the reasons I just gave, and for the reasons you've clearly stated in this article.
He and Pompeo would be better advised to try to find native Farsi speakers to start their Radio-Free Teheran 24-hour propaganda channel. It will be a nice pet project for them both. I'd be interested to learn if that program gets off the ground, but it won't stay airborne for long. The noise that that program's failure will be make will be akin to the percussive belly-flop competition at Georgia's Redneck Olympics. I wish them luck with any diplomatic efforts - - they're going to need a lot of it if they hope to succeed in doing whatever-it-is they plan to do with Iran.
6
I find it interesting that Twitter banned Milo Yiannopoulos for hassling Leslie Jones but allows leaders to threaten each other with Armageddon.
Can anyone explain to me why adults use Twitter? I still don't get it.
5
Trumps sudden focus on Iran contradicts all of his statements and actions regarding his foreign policy and his domestic policy of "America First". Braking trade agreements and creating "deals". Abandoning long standing work with the United Nations and bullying Nato allies, all in the name of we take care of our own first. Why meddle with Iran? To divert our attention away from the fact that he is under investigation for collusion with a foreign government and to advance Putin's agenda of destabilization of the Middle East and the ruination of the west.
3
We’re always calling Iran and the Middle East a powderkeg and have coddled it like it was and they’re played it for all it’s worth. So now Trump comes along and says let’s light the fuse and really find out, in all likelihood it’s just a dud. If it really is a powderkeg waiting to explode it’s then just a matter of time anyway. Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today, it does future generations hardly any service leaving it to loom heavy over them as well, they have enough of their own already to fear without all our added acquired baggage.
1
Ok, here we go again, another tweet as a treat to distract. After this will be the next one, and the next one. What I find amazing is that people, intelligent caring folks are treating these incidents like they are valued moments worthy of discussion and debate. Don't get me wrong, what this huckster does is important, he is destroying all of us after all, but I am hoping all this energy gets off the tweet train and stays on the get him out of office asap thread.
I was a teen during the Nixon years, and pretty green, but that episode awoke me to politics. You knew when the man said "I am not a crook" he was. The focus of the press was relentless, taking over most of the front and editorial pages, until we had the whole story and a deep throat. I truly hope that we can focus this type of energy toward finishing this scourge, and empower those who are on the inside to step forward and be heard on the record.
I know you have to stay on these outbursts NYT, and you do good job, but they are all distractions. Following the overarching story line of this man is hard, the chronology so massive. I for one will continue to read and support all efforts to tie knots together and uncover the nooks and crannies laying out in time and space in a milieu of hate, greed and lies.
My panacea is that we can find the information that will energize and focus us on fighting for the last walk to the helicopter, sans the peace signs.
4
Just what we need, another war in the Middle East. Haven’t we learned anything since the disastrous invasion of Iraq and the ongoing presence there and in Afghanistan of American troops?
Well, Trump’s tweet was just meant to take some focus off his ugly performance in Helsinki. Sorry Mr. Trump, that won’t be easy to forget.
4
“This is moving quickly,” Suzanne Maloney said, “and the president has an establishment around him that seems eager for some kind of dust-up with Iran.”
Now, Ms. Maloney, "an Iran EXPERT and deputy director of the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution," uses the word "dust-up"—dust up!—to encompass Trump's threat of nuclear war. That's the type of person, and the quality of thought, standing between YOU and YOUR FAMILY and nuclear war. She thinks we're headed for a dust-up; as though John Wayne on his trusty horse and some Iranian dude on his faithful camel are going to meet at the Golden Oasis and have a fist fight. Her language is detached from reality; it's actually silly.
It's just depressing. "Psychologically" unqualified people in charge of absolutely everything! Not to mention the fact that THE ENTIRE STORY is not AT ALL about Iran but the INSANE behavior of Trump! He is going to trip us into war.
3
My plea to smart, reasonable, influential people - former presidents, cabinet secretaries, military leaders, philanthropists: a lunatic inhabits the Oval Office. I beg of you: save us. Activists are working on the ground all over the country, at all levels of politics. We're doing our parts. But it will take power and money to fight power and money.
4
Former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper admitted in a CNN interview Saturday that former President Obama instigated the ongoing investigations into Donald Trump and those in his orbit.
Speaking with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Clapper said:
"If it weren’t for President Obama we might not have done the intelligence community assessment that we did that set up a whole sequence of events which are still unfolding today including Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation. President Obama is responsible for that. It was he who tasked us to do that intelligence community assessment in the first place."
The inadvertent confession starts at about 2:50...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=171&v=G0faQMpFWFk
1
that was before the buffoon was a candidate. so that's beside the point
1
@Senate27
Uh, no. Obama instigated an investigation. Investigations go where they lead. The key phrase here which you seem to have missed, even though you typed it, is: "set up a whole sequence of events." IOW, no one knew it would lead to Trump.
There is no "confession" here. On the other hand, if Obama did initiate an investigation directly into Trump then kudos! Good job, Obama!
2
Summary of Trump foreign policy: Distort, distract, obfuscate, and earn profits for the Trump Organization.
2
Trump clearly wants to divert attention from his performance as Putin's Puppet.
7
More hyperbole and superlatives, no nuance.
1
What would happen if the NYT ran an entire front page without the word "Trump" on it?
No headlines, no videos, no tweets, no nothing about Trump.
Being ignored is the one thing this narcissist cannot tolerate.
5
Lost in the crisis du jour is the the crisis ensemble -- the meanderings of a rat looking for a place to hide when the light strikes.
1
it's obvious tyrump's all over iran to fog his 'loyal consitituents' from thinking about what he's done to them v. putin.
We’re talking about “hypocritical holy men”?
Really?!?
Until November, 2016, we atheists were the most mistrusted group in America. I can’t begin to describe the relief I feel now that every hypocritical phony-baloney pastor of the countless congregations who voted for Trump have removed that burden from us.
Hypocritical holy men, Mr. Secretary? Look to your own house. It’s overrun with them.
8
Iran has not threatened our ships since Trump was elected. So his "school yard threats" are working...
Did I misread that, diplomatic breakthrough with NK? More like a diplomatic farce. C'mon NYT , keep it honest.
1
The Times writes, "Criticized About Putin Meeting, Trump Changes Subject to Iran"
Let's consider a few other times that Trump has changed the subject, shall we?
1.
Criticized for pulling out of Obama's Iran deal, Trump threatens to annihilate Iran and changes subject to himself.
2.
Criticized about lack of initiative on U.S. infrastructure repair, Trump changes subject to himself.
3.
Criticized for pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, Trump changes subject to himself.
4.
Criticized for condemning Obamacare, and then doing nothing to improve the Affordable Care Act, Trump changes subject to himself.
5.
Criticized about U.S. companies increasingly moving their business overseas, Trump changes subject to himself.
6.
Criticized for increasing tariffs on imports, Trump changes subject to himself.
7.
Criticized by his base for delays on building the Wall, Trump changes subject to himself.
8.
Ad infinitum.
10
@Ken
His favourite topic- himself.
The problem with this is, Iran would take the money and use it to create/support more chaos in the middle east. So many militant groups are backed by Iran and by proxy, Russia -- a close friend of Iran. It is not that Trump or America does not want peace with Iran. Far from it. What we know and what the European Union ignores to acknowledge is that, Iran's long-term goal is nefarious. It wants money, channels through its massive oil reserves so that it can continue to create and support chaos in the middle east. Regime change is not what I want. Facilitate the funding of Iran's military dream is not what I want either. Until then, we must let Iran know we hold a bigger stick that we wish to never use but if we need to use it, it will hurt badly.
1
Words do matter. Trump’s “distraction policy” is a dangerous game. Obama’s quiet diplomacy was essential to stabilize Iran/US relationship and was working. The Iran hardliners will use Trump’s threatening twitter as a tool to pressure Iran’s leaders into retaliation that is likely to be escalate to a war. Trump needs to be gagged by the GOP now.
7
Yes he can be the tough guy with Iran. Nothing will happen, we will not get into another endless expensive war and Trump will be off to another subject tomorrow.
2
I have ceased to obsess over anything that trump tweets/says. He tends to contradict himself the next day (or in the same sentence). Other times he just lies or continues to repeat lies, assuming that his followers will believe him no matter what he says. Let's not fall into that trap.
4
This was about Russia, not Iran.
5
I just went on down to read an article about wild dogs in Mozambique. The author mentioned that the dogs were "tweet-yipping". It hit me. That's what Trump is doing. At the end of the day, or after he grabs a few zzzs, he tweets out his latest thoughts/fears about whatever is on his mind. No particular method to his madness.
7
I couldn't get past this as it seems to so perfectly describe the current state of OUR OWN leadership...."A few hours before Mr. Trump’s tweet, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed...that the United States would work with the Iranian people to undermine their clerical leaders, whom he described as “hypocritical holy men,” guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves"
6
Our Secretary of State says that Iran is run by “'hypocritical holy men,' guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves".
Compare that to the USA, which is presently run by hypocritical unholy men, guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves.
No, Mr. Trump, we're not distracted from your recent conduct with Putin, which forms part of the gigantic snowball of your misdeeds rolling along behind you and , soon, we hope, to flatten you.
17
Go to war with Iran and then what?
Create another failed state, like Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, now open to countless factions and terrorist groups?
Reward the Saudi's, a dubious ally at best, by taking out their main rival? To what end?
What will the mountains of dead get us?
Pure evil and utter insanity.
5
The front page headline for this article is excellent because it keeps the previous antic in the public eye: "Criticized About Putin Meeting, Trump Changes Subject to Iran". But what happened to the "antic" before that--an actual atrocity--where migrant children were taken from their parents and in many cases still have not been returned, despite a court order? The only antedote is to keep it ALL on the front page.
6
Try to keep up - that was yesterday. Today we're back to the Russians, who Trump preposterously claims are intervening in the next election - on behalf of the Democrats!
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701...
4
Why does the Beatles song, "Nowhere Man", enter my head every time Trump does something like this?
5
It will be good to see Jared, Eric, and Jr. in battledress soon.
6
So now we can criticize him about Iran. He threw out a perfectly good nuclear agreement so he could negotiate the same deal he gave North Korea?
2
Maybe Pompeo can deliver the cd he was going to give to Kim Jong-un to Rouhani. Cds and upper case Tweets are a definite threat.
Good on the NYTimes for recognizing and stating as fact that Trump did his entire routine as a diversion. His schtick is getting old.
22
traditionally the United States has nominated nations which are not obedient to its own hegemonic purposes over the world as "rogue states". Iran and North Korea might be symbolic in this context.
and then, Donald Trump has nominated nations which are not praising him as foes. that might be why Iran and North Korea took a different path on Trump's twitter now.
it's ridiculous, but what if Trump shows the iconic version of the foreign policies of the United States since 1945 ?
1
Our country deserves much better than this. He uses prejudices against Muslims as a way to distract when things fall apart and they are always falling apart on him. Look how the market has floundered after President Obama's budget ended last fall.
1
".....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......"
Bob Dylan
3
Whenever something bad happens, the man with the attention span of a gnat and the level of knowledge of someone who has been locked in a cage for 50 years with no outside information, finds another thing to rant and rage about. And his supporters who share his ignorance and the Congress of Republican sycophants run to either ignore him or pretend to swat the insect.
6
I know that the media has to fill columns and articles...but one thing really confused me. Why does everyone keep talking about Trump's "policy"? He HAS NO POLICY. He has reactions to perceived slights and criticism. He creates distractions that he feels protect him from his perceived "enemies". His ego gets in the way of anything being about anything other than himself. And his insecurities inspire his chest-thumping bullying. He is not complicated and his actions don't require parsing. There is nothing of substance to parse.
12
Forget the nonsense with Iran for a moment although it should be noted that never has Iran hurt the interests of the US. Instead, historically we have meddled constantly with that nation starting with the overthrow of Mossadegh and the installation of the Shah. Targeting Iran has always been done for one and only reason - A US appeasement of Israel. Nothing more and nothing less.
This "kick the Russia can down the road" by this administration should fall right into the Dems strategy for the upcoming mid term elections. So long as they can make Russia an issue front and center at the mid terms, Trump is in danger. There is only possible way to get him removed from office. Win the House and the Senate. Trump continues to be a threat to both our democratic foundations as well world peace and stability. Eject him from office.
10
Deflect. Deflect. Deflect. Whenever this president does or says something questionable (often), on cue comes the bluster and the threats. Never mind the international consequences, the ever diminishing role of the U.S. as a world power and it's faltering relationships with its former allies. All Trump cares about is his image and his legacy.
6
Is this policy copied from Wag The Dog?
3
Listen up, serious media: No longer should you treat Trump tweets as news. Rather, report the tweets once in a 24-hour cycle, as the last item (NOT the latest item) of information, and mark it "Noteworthy". The tweets are simply the man's efforts to change the subject and that works only if the media reports them as news. Doing so cojoins you as partner to Trump's permanent disinformation campaign.
7
Trump's all-caps tweet about Iran was so obviously designed to end the conversation about "Trump as Putin's poodle." The headline aside, the Times appears to have taken the bait. While people like Putin and Kim Jong-Un have figured out how to control the conversation with Trump, the American press continues to allow the manipulator-in-chief to control our public discourse.
7
Let's repeal the AUMF before our unhinged leader gets us into something that kills a lot of young Americans.
4
This is so infuriating, my patients is running thin. How long do we have to wait for Iran to actually do something wrong? Perhaps we could just lie again.
Accomplishing nothing with Kim Jung Un, attacking NATO allies, abject failure with Vladimir Putin, Trump now wants to deflect to his next disaster, Iran. Careening from one fiasco to the next, the profound incompetence and menace of Donald Trump, President of the United States, is clear.
3
What about the huge meteor hurtling towards earth? Maybe he'll use that excuse next month.
4
I'm not forgetting Russia even if Trump lap dances naked on the mullah's of Iran.
9
When I visited Iran in 2014, some of the things that impressed me the most (besides the incredibly warm welcome we Americans were met with by everyone we interacted with, including clerks in bookstores and baristas in coffee shops), was how outspoken people were about how dissatisfied they are with their government ("It sucks," said one young military docent at a museum on the Shah's old palace grounds), how little many of them care about religion, and how much they fear another violent and disruptive revolution. I can't help but think that after Trump's threats to attack North Korea with "fire and fury the likes of which the world has never seen" and then cozying up to, and even stating admiration for murderous Kim, that Iranians are just rolling their eyes as his latest bluster.
13
In the good old days, when Trump wanted to build himself up and show what a big man he is he cheated subcontractors or exhibited fake Time Magazine covers or dumped and replaced wives.
What a treat it must be for him to have the power to attack entire countries.
And what a nightmare for Americans.
9
David Eisenberg, does your long memory extend to the 1979 hostage crisis and make Iran the “bad guy”?
Search your feelings, you know it to be true.
we should bring democracy to Iran, just like we did in Iraq.
Meanwhile my neigborhood roads are similar to Mogadishu's but hey we all are equals.
5
Michelle Goldberg in her NYT editorial is correct—the Democrats should run Bernie Sanders in 2020.
1
"Criticized about Putin Meeting, Trump Changes Subject to Iran."
Now, that's a headline that has its focus on the real issue--thank you, Gray Lady!
5
I’m sorry, but this article lost me at, “the same approach that he took to engineer a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea.” Trump sat down with a brutal dictator, giving said dictator the legitimacy he has craved for years, and after said dictator already achieved his goal of obtaining nuclear weapons that can be delivered by long-range missiles. Moreover, the so-called “breakthrough” was largely engineered by South Korea and enabled by China. Finally, the meeting between Trump and Kim produced no verifiable results or plans. Was it better than the nuclear war both leaders were dancing around? Absolutely. Was it a “diplomatic breakthrough” engineered by Trump’s statecraft? I remain unconvinced.
11
Perfect headline.
2
Thank you for stating the obvious: this is to distract the media from the Russia fiasco, and it's working perfectly.
Jon Stewart: "The media is like the dog from UP-- squirrel!"
4
The man must think we all have the same attention span that he does, and that we’re all as easily distracted as he is.
Antagonzing yet another foe by reckless language, all because he messed up — again. Poke enough dogs with sticks, and one of them is bound to snap. Trump would do well to remember that.
10
Doctors often have a high threshold of other people's pain.
Cowardly leaders always are brave with other people's lives.
9
Let us give the President some credit. He controls the news cycle. It is all about him. He is an incompetent, self-obsessed, narcissistic President who fancies being a dictator. But, he knows how to market and sell himself and control the narrative. We cannot help but talk about him. We are obsessed with him, and he takes us along on a leash whether we realize it or not. Democrats, beware!!
3
Unfortunately, what you say is spot on. I really thought that disaster in Helsinki would hurt Trump even with the spineless GOP and his lap-dog “base.” Not so. His poll numbers didn’t go down, even though he is sucking up to one of America’s greatest adversaries.
What gives? Is our collective memory that short, or is Trump that convincing? A little of both, probably, but certainly not good for the US.
Find candidates with policies that help all Americans for the November mid-terms, and go out and vote. Yes Trump has a strong base, but it’s a plurality and not a majority. There is room, and a need, for new, well-qualified candidates who will actually protect our Constitution.
14
Trump's narcism is the press' failure.
We, along w/ our European allies, plus Russia, had a (im) perfectly good deal w/ Iran which took years to negotiate, and DJT ripped it up because it was Obama's. When he gets played by Kim Jong Un, gets nothing but pie in the sky promises, he declares us safe from nuclear Armageddon. What a disgraceful LOSER!!
10
The only thing that worries my about the Muller investigation is that the closer it gets to Trump's inner circle, and sooner or later charges somebody from his cabinet or family, the likelihood of a war with Iran increases dramatically.
3
Since it is clear that Trump is trying to distract the narrative, thoughtful reporting should not bite on the next shiny object he tosses out. Otherwise they are enabling him just like Fox and Friends.
Report the news yes, but keep the focus on competency, disastrous decisions and double dealing. NYT and others need to drive their news - not leave it up to Trump.
1
Sabre rattling with Iran serves Putin well. The Russian economy is propped up by oil. Tension with Iran sends prices skyrocketing.
5
Trump is desperate to change the topic, find an enemy he can thoroughly beat, or at least humiliate. Pretty soon he will start a war ... Grenada better watch out.
3
No one is fooled by adding glaring incompetence to outright treachery.
The only acceptable response to this desperate attempt to change the subject is investigation into why Trump is trying so hard to hide the facts of his association with Putin's Russia.
4
Thank you NY Times for leading the story with the distraction angle. The media needs to keep pointing this out especially as he gets more and more desperate. Please keep on it with regard to Giuliani as well!
2
As this article notes, Mr. Trump is Tweeting up a storm trying to find topics that he can use to distract from his slovenly, kittenish snuggling up to his handler; Mr. Putin. He is looking for a topic where he can try to appear strong to his base. (In reality Mr. Trump is a very weak man by almost any measure.) Have we perhaps reached a point where the Times, CNN and other news organizations should stop reporting on these Tweets?
4
Yet another Trump rabbit hole. I appreciate The Times calling out his manipulative behavior for what it is. Seems that MSNBC and CNN can only ask 'why' he continues to do these things. I'm waiting for someone to call it like it really is - 1) he's an unstable, unreliable, reckless person who is over his head every minute, 2) Faux News is anti-American - why? Buddies with the Russians? Ask Murdoch, and 3) McConnell and Ryan took money from the Russians for the GOP - that's why they didn't do anything about the information they were given by Obama/FBI about Russian meddling. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
2
Saudi Arabia hates Iran because it sees everything through the lens of the original schism between Sh'ia and Sunni branches of Islam. It also hates that Iran is actually a democracy -- a highly imperfect one, but one in which women vote and run for office and which puts up with some level of dissent. Unlike SA. Israel hates Iran because it funds Hamas (Sh'ia as well). Influencing Iran to moderate its funding of Hamas and to reinforce its democratic institutions would materially increase peace in the world and the Middle East but it would create a democratic rival to Saudi Arabia, which, naturally, Saudi Arabia doesn't like. It's not 1979 anymore. Most Iranians alive today were not even born then. It's time to move forward.
1
I can't remember the last time I read a NY Times article that didn't include the statement "left the White House scrambling"
3
Trump's tweets are like his thinking, very muddled indeed! Problem is that 90% of Republicans still think he is doing a great job as POTUS but he is only stirring up chaos around the world in order to cover his total inability to read other world leaders' intentions accurately. This doofus is so out of his depth as a world leader that he doesn't even understand what he is doing wrong. We Americans are in very dangerous place when the class clown becomes the head of our government.
Trump's Tweet sounded very much like the attack he made on Justin Trudeau after the G7 summit. Since nothing that Trudeau said was new it is obvious that it was a setup in order to change the subject and allow DJT to sound "tough" just before the meeting with Kim. Likewise the actual text of the speech, which on its face was fairly benign and basically said "Iran's power is deterrent and we have no fight or war with anybody but the enemies must understand well that war with Iran is the mother of all wars and peace with Iran is the mother of all peace. We have never been intimidated and will respond threat with threat". There was no cause for DJT to threaten nuclear holocaust on the Iran people for this. We may therefore conclude that it was also a setup and had nothing to do with the Iranian president's speech but had everything to do with changing the subject. Trump is the hero of everyone who wants to make America weak and isolationist.
8
YOU write the headlines. Trump can't change them unless you permit it.
1
Well, Mark, of all the words in all the world, I agree, "vituperative" best describes Trump's threat of nuclear destruction. O it sounds so something sweet, "a vituperative Tweet."
4
Yeah sure , changing subject. he is laying ground work for Putin. So when he will come Washington In fall, he will be at least tolerable. create a fake crisis with Iran, then Putin puts hand on it and make intermediary appeals with both sides, voila Putin in Washington for preventing war between USA and IRAN.
Trump is supposing that we the American's are special kind of Stupids.
we will see GOP and TRUMP in Midterm election.
Oh boy you just do not know where is the line.
1
The headline should read: "Media ALLOW Trump to Change Subject to Iran."
12
Trump = bombast, bluster, hollow threats or worse, reckless threats. North Korea was not a break through, it was a Vegas floor show, and Trump is the woman on the pole. Iran is a challenge way over his capacity. It requires history, understanding, nuance, and intelligent analysis and courage. Mr tweet has none of the above.
7
Trump is a smart operator; he has probably discussed the Middle East issue with Putin and how to sort out Syria, Israel and such and prevent large scale escalations, that will invariably put US against Russia. Bot Trump and Putin are helpless in ME.
Putin is releasing the discussed information in his way that Iran has to be asked to go back from Syria, and Trump is releasing his information his way that 'or else'.
So far there's been no direct evidence of trump being a smart operator.
4
Excuse me, but I have to question "...his determination to use the same approach that he took to engineer a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea." It seemed to me that North Korea engineered the approach all along by lobbing a few weaponless missiles into the sea. If I was the supreme leader of a state on the outs with America, I would want to keep Trump as president because I would know that I could manipulate him. He is too shallow to be a real threat to anyone. He's also doing a great job of isolating the US from the rest of the world and tearing us apart from within. Why would anyone who has issues with America want to see that end? North Korea will make the overtures because it shows they mean well, and because it lets Trump claim victory to his base...but they are playing their own game and have a different goal in sight. There never was the nuclear threat that we all imagined.
7
I was brought up to love America. I am a Canadian and a Jew and never thought i would think some of the thoughts I am thinking now. I am frightened of the the political and social ideas of the country just south of mine. My ancestors fled the Pale of Settlement a century and a half ago and I see the USA turning into Russia. Nobody understands Russia like my Minister of Global Affairs the Honorable Chrystia Freeland who spent much of her life as an economics journalist in Moscow and had the privilege of being banned from Russia by Vladimir Putin.
Freeland grew up in Alberta near where I lived for 15 years. Freeland is of Ukrainian descent and maintains property in Kiev. Sask/Alberta is home to much of Canada's oil resources and is home of Canada's Bible Belt.
It is hard for me to accept my new nationalism and think that the population of Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan are loyal to their ancestral homeland the USA. The "Colorado" Christians and Mormons are loyal to another country it values and ethics more than to Canada. They vote for their GOP parties and see our liberal democracy as the enemy. I am 70 and was not brought up to think this way but with the GOP in the hands of people who use our basest instincts to divide us I am very much afraid.
When Trump came to office Iran was on the back burner with the heat off and Canada was close family today I worry we are the Ukraine and Alberta and Saskatchewan our Crimea.
6
@Memphrie et Moi
For those unfamiliar with our Wildrose Party it is straight out of the Colarado Springs "conservative" "Christian" evangelical literalist tradition. Its commissars are part and parcel of our far right. It might have called itself the Colarado Conservative Christian Party but for those old enough to remember CCCP just didn't seem a good idea.
1
This is policy by distraction. He did this with Kim and accomplished nothing. It was only a month ago but it's down the rathole.
6
CAPITOL LETTERS, oh my!!
4
Trump complains that the US has mettledl in the politics of other countries but yet they are trying to topple the government in Iran.
3
Impeachment!
8
The rage against Iran is typical Trump bluster.
He will not dare go up against his mentor and Head Capo, Putin.
6
I could not stomach listening to Pompeo calling the Iranian regime corrupt, when Pompeo is aiding and abetting an equally corrupt regime in the White House.
16
Saudi Arabia wants Iran destroyed.
Trump may be willing to spend the life of every active and reserve member of the military, and the entire US budget to achieve that goal.
In return for red carpet receptions with military parades pandering to his ego.
Oil no doubt plays a large role, too.
6
By " hypocritical holy men". Does he mean the "Christian conservatives" who look the other way when Trump show his real moral character?
5
Trump with his man-child Iran threats is a typical fascist theme of distracting the masses from the issues of failed governance be it Orwell’s “1984” or 20th century war crimes. Republicans & AIPAC want war with Iran, then REINSTATE THE MILITARY DRAFT! Whatever forces of moderation exist in Iran will vanish when the first missile/ bomb strikes and the Iranians will prove to be a most difficult enemy as Saddam Hussein/Iraq learned! If WAR, will the Republican & AIPAC youth enlist or shall we once again leave the military combat to the less than 1%, Romney’s 47% Americans who have been disenfranchised of their social and economic opportunities by Republican policies? NO WAR WITH IRAN!
This is the NYT headline:
"Criticized About Putin Meeting, Trump Changes Subject to Iran"
How about this:
"Criticized About Putin Meeting, Trump TRIES TO Change Subject to Iran"
He can't change anything without your cooperation. Stay in the Putin story no matter what he Tweets. You can do that.
12
He's trying to change the subject but no one with a brain is listening or distracted by his worn out tactic of yelling "squirrel" in order to get people to take their eye off of the fact that he is a traitor beholden to Putin and the Russian oligarchs.
I want a headline consisting of the Iranian response -- in a tweet that mocked him and begins with "Color us unimpressed" and ends with "Be cautious."
Trump is a buffoon -- our allies and our enemies know it -- including his controller -- Putin.
7
Iran is a Putin client state. Trump is allowed to talk but its hands off. He has his orders from the boss. They will review the policy when they meet alone in Trumps White House.
1
Per Donald Trump’s Iran foreign policy manual, CAPITALIZATION >>> CAPITULATION. If only that were true.
1
great headline change! from just tweeting about Iran to recognizing out there for all to see that Trump is manipulating the press with the shift to the Iran threats to get away from the Putin criticism. Keep up acknowledging his attempts to control the narrative!!!!!! That's real news!
3
Trump's days seem to be numbered. Eventually he will go, not with a whimper but a bang. As things come to a close he needs a major distraction and his harebrained Twitter attacks on Iran suggest that he may be already be preparing the mother of all distractions.
3
are we talking about starting a nuclear conflict with Iran?.....even a regular armaments conflict with that country will NOT be an easy win........that is a real country and they have real weapons which they absolutely know how to use.....!
Trump shoots from the hip, doesn't think things through and doesn't follow through on his pronouncements. He often states policy without consulting aides who are more well versed on the matter at hand or he ignores their advice. He leaves the impression that he is erratic and doesn't really know what he's doing.
If that is my impression, I can only imagine what world leaders think of him.
2
I like the Times- quite a bit. But is the opinion or news?
Sourcing articles with "people who know Mr. Trump," is vague and reeks of questionable sourcing. Who? People in the administration? Congress, congressional staff? Friends? His 4th grade teacher?
Given the premise that his tweet was meant as a distraction, some indication of who the sources are would be helpful.
3
If THEY try to start a war with Iran WE will take to the streets and shut this country down. I'm 64 and serious. I can respect a hawk and I can even respect an honest chicken, but this collection of deeply hypocritical chicken-hawks deserves no one's respect or obedience. Who's with me?
5
Me & a whole lot of us!
Look at the Women’s marches for ideas and inspiration The cowards will run
Honestly, I found myself laughing, when, soon after starting this article, I read that Pompeo had described Iran's clerical leaders as "hypocritical holy men." No doubt an apt description of Iran's clerical leaders, those words apply, as well, to most of the the leaders of the Evangelical Christian movement here in the US, who support - and who direct their congregations to support -our own extremist autocracy. I say down with hypocritical holy men and women of all stripes, be they Roman Catholic; Greek, Russian or Eastern Orthodox; Protestant; Mormon; Muslim; Hundu; or any other religion.
8
Imagine this President pretending to be smart enough to think that he can wag the dog. Laughable.
1
Change the subject, throw off the hounds.....
1
I don't know about other readers but lines this one are not worth the electrons used up in sending them electroniclly:
"But it only deepened questions about the long-term direction of Mr. Trump's Iran policy."
What is the writer talking about? There is no policy. There has never been a policy. There won't be one. Mr. Trump is entirely incapable, and I suggest he is intellectually incapable, of holding even a consistent position, let alone a principled position on anything at all.
5
"Vali R. Nasr, the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said: 'The endgame for Trump is different than it is for hawks like Bolton and Pompeo. Trump is much more interested in what comes out of it for him personally, in terms of a Nobel Peace Prize.'"
Trump is in his bipolar high once again, imagining a Nobel Peace Prize. A Nobel Prize for Trump will codify vile sleaze as a geopolitical policy. To do Prof. Nasr one better, I'll say that, more important for Trump than the Nobel, he will use the Nobel Prize to validate his churlish behavior, a validation for which he continually looks, a behavior that started in his childhood. This idiot isn't going to get one.
And, were there a Bolton war in Iran, I'm sure that all the little trumpkins in trumpland will gladly volunteer someone else to go... and gladly pay taxes to fund it.
One of the very many problems with Trump is that he writes nothing down, a trait of his disorganized mind. Any action in Iran has to be carefully planned. Trump just shot his fat mouth off on Twitter with no consultation with DoD strategy and tactics experts. And Trump never served in the military, so he has no idea of the consequences of what he's saying about engagement with Iran.
Dumb trumpkins just love all off this Trump reality TV, but someone has to secure the loose cannon on the S.S. Trump.
6
Yes, Charles. The Con Don has committed treason. Our five Past Presidents must step up - together- put The Con Don and his Robber Baron brethren operatives in OUR government under Citizen's Arrest for treason, lock them up until Mr. Mueller completes his investigation and take over management of OUR United States of America - together - until WE elect new democracy-loving leaders in November and 2020.
7
Dream on secure what?
@njglea 25th Amendment!
What could Putin be waiting for? Perhaps Trump is destroying the institutions of the country more thoroughly and quickly than anything Putin could achieve by removing him from office. It is hard to imagine Putin will pass up the chance to install and remove an American president.
6
To divert attention from his dismal fawning display in Helsinki, Trump starts a juvenile fight with Iran. Didn't he complain of Obama doing the same? Does he really want to destabilize another ME country. It worked so well last time. But then he'll declare victory and walk away from whatever disaster he created, again. Just like the blowhard coward he is: Shout and scream at people from a distance, and from behind multi-million-dollar security, then be a fawning, subservient wimp when next to them. Trump is a pitiful example of a man, let alone a leader of a country, any country. The world is making a fool of him, and America, too, and he cannot even fathom it. Perhaps he doesn't care to, being too engrossed in his own bitterness and self-serving narcissism.
10
Deflect, distract, create more chaos and confusion.
The man needs professional psychological help.
6
Don't look over here - look over there!
8
What is not clear is how an extremist, criminal regime installed by collusion between a foreign power and representing a minority of citizens, supported by fascists and religious extremists, racists, barbaric misogynists, nepotists, and self-serving grifters has any credibility to direct Iran toward "Democracy," and "Representative Government." Trumpywise's clown act is dripping with hypocrisy and dangerous provocation.
9
Do as i say
Iran and the world say NO WAY
@Wolfgang Rain Now he is conducting his own witch hunt, against Intelligence agencies. He will probably hold a summit with Iran and reveal the names of perhaps agents working for Israel. He himself is the biggest security threat. Iran was more or less contained so what does he do? He uncontains them because Obama set up the restraints on Tehran. Don is an egomaniac. He is not a racist- he just can't stand African Americans.
2
@Bob Guthrie in particular Bob, he cannot stand the very idea of a successful black president.....and his vile supporters most certainly cannot..!!!
Given Donald Trump’s atrocious spelling, it’s not surprising that he would confuse the concept of US foreign policy being conducted from the Capitol with the concept of conducting foreign policy through the use of capitals. But somebody ought to gently explain to him that it’s not the same thing so he doesn’t continue to look like a foreign policy idiot.
8
Nobel Peace Prize for Trump?
As Trump’s garish tweets unsparingly reveal, Trump is a unique and utterly uncritical celebration of many things nasty and humanly degrading.
And yet Trump’s fan-base loves him for hating the right people.
Trumpites revel in their hero’s political incorrectness.
—
That Trump insults America’s friends and embraces America’s enemies bothers Trumpites not.
If Trump says NATO is bad and Kim Jong-un is suddenly a great and clever guy (after previously mocking him as “little rocket man”), that’s all his slavish fan-base needs to hear. If Kim Jong-un puts one over Trump, Trumpites still believe Trump’s claims of having achieved a great and glorious diplomatic victory.
That Trump seriously endangers the rightful security interests of the USA bothers Trumpites not. If Trump says Putin is a “good guy” and sides with him on stage, publicly denigrating the USA’s own security and intelligence forces, then that’s all his slavish fan-base needs to hear.
—
That Trump has twisted the conservative values of the GOP beyond recognition bothers Trumpites not. They would follow Trump to the gates of hell (which some believe is where the USA is heading) and even go back again for more.
That the GOP has become Trump’s poodle (and that Trump has become Putin’s poodle, thereby also turning the GOP into Putin’s poodle) is not the public view of most Republicans.
4
@JMC - really? I sure don't see any republicans speaking up for what they "really believe"......where are they?
I simply fail to understand how anyone, anyone at all, can refer to Trump's "Iran policy" or "North Korea Policy" or "(insert whatever) policy". There are no Trump policies. A "policy" implies a rational course decision based on a process of examination, consideration and conclusion. Trump does not examine anything except "ratings", he considers nothing outside how his "base" might view his actions and as far as conclusions are concerned, the only conclusion Trump has arrived at is that he can pretty much do or say as he damn well pleases and he'll come out the other side smelling of roses, while fact based commentators, pundits and critics authenticate his blather by trying to make it fit into "conventional" political terminology.
To suggest there is any Trump policy for any given matter, foreign or domestic, is disingenuous and plays right into his hands. Trump shouts "squirrel" and everyone else runs to find meaning in the word "squirrel"; how best to understand and interpret what he really means by "squirrel"; is the same "squirrel" as last time, or is this a bigger "squirrel". The most squirrelly squirrel the world has ever seen.
"Squirrel"! " No colusion!" (sic) now go write your opeds and fire up your pundits, this man's got a round of golf to play.
Stuff to make one weep.
6
The first step in mending relations and encouraging reform in Iran is for the US and UK to issue a formal apology for overthrowing Iran's democratically elected secular government in 1953. Put the religious despots on the spot and see how they respond, both to us and to their own people.
3
My mom uses all-caps in emails sometimes, but it's because she's a Baby Boomer; I think she may not know that all-caps means yelling. When she was little Presidents held press conferences and stuff and the government wasn't a TV show.
But maybe all-caps just signifies importance?
Do you think Trump also sends angry texts to other countries too? If it isn't on Twitter, we'll never know the foreign affairs workings/official position of his Administration.
4
" vituperative tweet ?"
Not really, it was a violent provocation against a nation of millions, who are on the brink of nuclear armaments.
Do all of President Trumps Evangelical supporter have a clue that Jesus thought highly of "peacemakers", not belligerent idiots who are attempting to bring about Armageddon?
16
@Steven of the Rockies They want to bring about Armageddon!
1
Will no Republican rid us of this troublesome president?
6
Dear NYT, please begin to finally reflect what most of the USA knows by now about trump and his tactics and stop jumping every time he yells "Boo!". He's only tossing another feeble distraction from his treason out there and you jump all over it like it's something real (by filling in the backstory and speculating on strategies) - thus serving his slimy purpose.
8
And the response?..... “COLOR US UNIMPRESSED”. Best Twitter line I’ve seen in 18 months. Everyone has his number, they see him as the fool. Trump wants to be a hero president who saves the US from the brink of war, but his antics and insults may get him and us into trouble.
All Democrats (Progressive & Moderate) along with “Never Trump”ers & wary Independents need to find common ground and create a block to stop this insanity.
9
The longer Trump remains in office the likelier our nation is to descend into internal violence and bloodshed. Lock him up now.
7
Why waste money on infrastructure when you can bomb another country and declare mission accomplished.
8
How do you even do all caps? I would have to press the little arrow key before every letter I type, I would lose my train of thought... This trump guy is quite the twit!
4
double tap the Caps key if you have a Droid. don't know about iPhone!
1
[...]“hypocritical holy men,” guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves[...] sounds like the G.O.P. to me.
6
Sadly, Trumpistas do not care what he says or tweets, they believe Donald is "strong" president! They are mistaking bullying tactics for ....strength!
Pathetic!
8
Russia is our enemy. Russia attacked our elections. Russia attacked America. Trump still denies Russia attacked America. Trump attacks our intelligence services. Please stand for America . Sanction Russia for their attacks on America. Ray Sipe
5
No. YOU -- the media, the New York Times are ALLOWING him to do this. He's just being an idiotic manchild. You're feeding the fire and allowing it. Dump his tweets to some inner section. Don't let up your coverage of the real issues. If your child plays with matches, don't hand them gasoline. Take the matches away.
6
The End of the World will begin with a Tweet: #sosad
3
Yup. The standard MO for Trump. Make a mess, have staffers run around like headless chickens trying to clean things up, and when all else fails, distract by dropping another bomb.
We had a disgusting CNN report from "The Villages" a wealthy white retirement enclave in Florida, where everyone votes for Trump. It was really another useless exercise trying to see if MAGA-heads were coming to their senses (they weren't), but one white guy said he loved Trump because "he played the press like a Stradivarius." As stupid a reason is that is for supporting Trump, it has an element of truth. Trump has learned that there is no good news, or bad news, just news, and as long as he keeps tweeting and attacking, he will be on the front page every day.
This latest attack on Iran is pointless and ridiculous. It accomplishes nothing, EXCEPT it changes the story for Trump to something bright and shiny and new for sensible people to excoriate, and all the drunk uncles in America to cheer, 'cause he whacked them Muslims upside the head."
This is so shameful a spectacle. If America doesn't wake up in November, we are truly going down the sewer. We are well on our way now.
10
He's got to be able to declare martial law somehow. North Korea didn't work out so he might as well go for Iran. Look for war to be declared with them soon.
1
A simple case of saber rattling meets Wag the Dog. POTUS needs the distraction from his ever-enlarging train wreck. What’s more disconcerting is if he ever makes good on his threats; we don’t need another unnecessary conflict.
1
Hey, remember when President Donald J. Trump held an unnecessary meeting in Helsinki with the same authoritarian foreign adversary that meddled in our election in his favor and then sided with that authoritarian foreign adversary over our own intelligence agencies about whether that adversary meddled in our election in his favor?
I remember, too. Don’t let this weasel change the subject.
5
Let us not forget that when Trump abandoned the Iran Nuclear deal, our most important allies remained in it--France, Germany and the UK. Together they emphasized their continuing commitment to it: "This agreement remains important to our national shared security."
Will Trump's or Pompeo's possible diplomatic talks with Iran invite our most historically loyal partners to the negotiating table or will he just 'go it alone' and further widen the tenuous wedge between them and the US?
Do our allies even know what Trump's strategy is so they can bring their seasoned diplomatic expertise to the negotiations and contibute to such an important policy that can have far-reaching and dire consequences in the Middle East for decades to come? We Americans are even having a hard time understanding the Iranian strategy (if there is one) with the conflicting messages we receive from the president's advisors (just as with N.Korea).
A blustery tweet in all caps is not sensitive diplomacy but rather the bullying tactic of a man who probably never even read nor analyzed the treaty in all of its complexity. It is just another egotistical fulfillment of his promise to his base to rip up this "disgrace of an agreement" that Obama (his favorite scapegoat) made with the Iranians.
How very interesting it would be to be in a room with our allies as they attempt to dissect Trump's latest tweet!
3
@Helen, Trump threatens to sanction other countries that don't go along with his Iran policies.
1
I'm continually amazed that people listen to the vitriol spewed by a a supposed American citizen who couldn't get out of his own cushy family home and wear the uniform of this country like many other young men did. Senator McCain for instance, who he insulted. That should have showed all Americans just what kind of man they elected. Shameful. Where were his loyalties then, now? Oh yes, that's right he and his ilk pledge allegiance to the almighty dollar.
6
Iranians looking at Trump's non-deal with North Korea could only conclude that their mistake was sitting down to deal with the United States before actually POSSESSING nuclear weapons.
1
"succeeded in changing the subject"
Trump has only succeeded in changing the subject because the media follows his antics like a salivating dog looking for his next treat. Do better!
7
Whenever it gets too hot this president jumps out of the kitchen. But let's stay on topic . . .
Trump and his Administration continue to allow Russia to define and control American policy towards Russia. Is this just another example of the Trump Administration's radical incompetence or is his hands-off policy toward Putin and his agenda quid pro quo?
Whatever is motivating it Trump's conduct is inexcusable. Putin's narrative at home and abroad has been advanced by his country's cyberattacks on our election processes; by his country's exploitation of our social media platforms; and, for some inexplicable reason(s), because of Trump's "forgiving," almost apologetic, rhetorical generosity toward Russia and his alienating, sharp-as-flint, rhetorical flourishes against our NATO allies.
Why would an American president lay himself and our allies and our democracy at Vladimir Putin’s feet? Why would his political party -- the GOP -- hide under the covers, hoping against hope the whole "Russia thing" will diffuse into nothingness?
Why would President and Party *not* put America first on matters of national security?!?!
Perhaps the $30 Million the N.R.A. spent to elect Trump explains this seemingly inexplicable conundrum. Was It Russian Money? If so, it would sure go along way in explaining Trump's proclivity for Putin's Russia and the GOP's patriotic cowardice for not holding Trump's "feet to the fire."
Big BUCKS at stake, not to mention . . .
2
My first thought when I saw Trump's idiotic tweet was that this is part of what he and Putin discussed privately. Trump promised Putin that the US would not get involved with Crimea and Ukraine as long as we could mess around with Iran without any interference from Russia.
I hope I'm wrong.
5
Personal Protection against personal exposure equals corrupt intent which translates into obstruction. The man in the oval office is stirring up war fever to cover his crimes against the United States= obstruction The man Trump used imprisoning children on the border as a means of distracting us from his crimes against the Nation= obstruction. The president had his spokesperson Giuliani make statements about Cohen tape to distract us from his crimes against the Nation = obstruction. The man in the WH will do anything and everything to distract from his crimes against the Nation. This president would threatened the First Amendment to distract against his crimes against the Nation= obstruction. And these are only a few events that occurred over the last 30 days while he also aided and abetted our enemy, Putin and his henchmen.
On June 27, 2016 the man Trump invited the Russian Military to attack us. Over the next few months he knew that our sacred liberty, to a free and fair election, was being undermined for his benefit, he would be president. This liberty has been paid for in blood for 250 years. No one in the Trump family has served in the US military and yet the Republicans tout him as a great patriot. CNN reported on air today that only 27% of the electorate are self-identified as Republicans and 84% of those think he is doing a great job.
2
Mark Landler's analysis follows a familiar pattern. Tragically in this case the end result will be horrific- a senseless fabricated war killing thousands- Americans and Iranians:
1. Trump diverts press from Helsinki debacle with Iran tweet.
2. Looking to use American military power to crush Iran, Israel creates an incident (similar to the Gulf 0f Tonkin incident) to begin a war immediately drawing in the U.S.
3. U.S. attacks Iran
4. Republicans support "Stormy Trump's War" with flag waiving jingoism.
5. Thousands of American troops are killed or disabled for life. Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iranians are killed or homeless.
Who wants to be the first killed in "Stormy Trump's war" ? Who wants to be the last killed in "Stormy Trump's war" ?
3
Yes, Trump continuously changes the subject. My question to the press is -why do you indulge him?
9
@S North Agree. Although in this case the headline writer acknowledges that Trump's unhinged Iran tweet was intended to distract from Trump's very public debasement at the Helsinki Summit.
1
That OUR U.S. Iran policy is being communicated by tweets that sound like the sandbox rants of a 5-year-old speaks volumes of the mess that Trump voters and this administration have put us in.
3
Trump should change strategies from threatening Iran to Putin. "I AM NOT AFRAID OF YOU OR THE TAPES AND YOU CAN SHOW MY TAX RETURNS ANTIME THE IRS IS DONE WITH THEIR AUDIT!"
3
There comes a time when an experienced politician versed in diplomacy knows that you do not have to shoot every dog that barks at you especially when there is no clear imminent threat. Sometimes a bark is defensive and just a show and not actually an indication of attack. The Iranian bark is no different than Trumps bark which is designed to draw attention from other dire matters. However by barking back, we energize the Iranian and Mideast Shites to ignore their daily plight and hate America. Counterproductive at best, childish definitely. Wish we had a diplomatic person in charge.
1
trump is one long never-ending series of episodes of The apprentice in which he diss' everyone he can to take attention off his never-ending series of PRESIDENTIAL BLUNDERS. I wonder if he knows the story about the boy who cried "Wolf"?
1
Anything to distract us from his finances and judicial appointments.
5
Even talk of pushing for "regime change" in Iran is a fool's mission. I hope that the American people have learned in blood and wealth that it is politically ridiculous for a Western, mostly non-Muslim country or alliance to try to destroy a regime in a predominantly Muslim country, no matter how horrible, these days. Such outbursts by Trump only serve the interests of Islamic militant and terrorist organizations. George W. Bush stupidly called for a Crusade in the Middle East. Let's hope that no one suggests using such a term re Iran to our history-deaf president.
1
"Other people who know" "Trump said his decision to respond in such fiery terms was driven almost entirely by his search for a distraction from questions about Russia."
If the Free Press could just avoid publicizing every stupid statement that comes out of trump's hands or mouth, the world would be a better and safer place. I watched CNN last night where they showed clips of trump's rise to fame questioning President Obama's birthplace - network after network, giving voice to a man they KNEW was mouthing rubbish, yet they still gave him a voice - and continued to give him a voice till the unthinkable happened and he actually BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE US. While a lot of blame for this so-called presidency undoubtedly falls to meddling by the Russians, more blame falls to the press legitimizing this excuse for a president, bringing him to the attention of his basket of deplorables, and keeping him there.
I might suffer (for a day or so) withdrawal symptoms if I didn't see this constant barrage of trump coverage (yes, I admit that I look for the next stupid thing he has said or done). Basically burying my head in the sand by not looking at this non-stop coverage does not make him go away. Being assured that he doesn't receive coverage of every little stupid and "headline snatching" thing he says - that would be priceless.
7
I long for the days when I felt that I had a president in the White House who understood America's place in the world and the president's role in it.
7
A Russian agent doesn't make US Foreign policy.
3
@dd Are you sure?
2
Wag the dog redux, again.
6
Donald the Destroyer wants a war with someone, anyone. Remember, he's smarter than his generals.
Nuclear war? Let's hope Trump isn't even that stupid, then again.
Are his generals going to obey him? Let's hope cooler and smarter minds prevail if such an order is issued.
Trump is moving this country inexorably to the abyss. Things have now gotten very very serious.
We can't much wait longer. Impeach and convict, now!
2
“suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before,” Really? Worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki? If so, we're in deep kimchi.
4
Our current President is like a neighbor's dog that never stops barking. Loud, incessant, beyond irritating. Can someone please muzzle the thing or take him inside? Was he never trained? Was he never sent to his cage when he misbehaved? Or did they think it was cute?
5
Trump uses a lot of deflection and "hey look over here!" to distract people. He also uses a lot of KGB whataboutism. Him and Putin count on American stupidity. November cannot come quick enough.
1
The Con Don is very dangerous. Every time he fears Investigator Mueller is getting closer to exposing his treason and corruption he raises the threat level. I believe he would try to launch a nuclear attack on some country just because he can and can only assume there are smarter, courageous, democracy-loving people who would refuse to launch them.
WE ARE IN A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS
The Koch brothers-led Robber Baron/radical religion cabal who installed him in OUR white house, through a 40+ year hostile financial takeover, are raking in the money but want WW3 to try to rob us further blind and control the world.
They think they have "won". Boy, have WE THE PEOPLE got news for them. Together WE will purge them from OUR governments at every level and save/preserve/restore true democracy in OUR United States of America.
Every single American citizen who loves OUR country must step up right now and save it. NOW is the time. There may not be another time for centuries.
4
You know we're in deep trouble when Iran's supreme leader tweets more believably than the President of the United States. Wait, did I just say the President of the United States and Iran's supreme leader are in a twitter battle?! Somebody please wake me up; I'm having that nightmare again where Donald Trump won the election.
47
Every time I read of what this man (trump) is doing, I want to weep.
36
@Jeff P I don't know whether to weep, scream myself hoarse or wander into the desert and never come back....or all 3.
threatening to who?
impeach now.
28
I wonder how long does it take until his right hand thumb becomes immobile for a repetitive strain injury caused by unvarnished rubbing of terminal screens. Perhaps someone ought to make an effort to alienate the good man from the bad habit.
2
The USA is in no danger from Iran but I live in the one country that is a real danger. The GOP understands the only way the USA remains the wealthiest most powerful nation on Earth is if it is the next Russia and every day government of the people is diminished and government of the .1% dominates all aspects of your executive, legislative and judicial branches.
Every day I wake up worrying about when we will become your Ukraine and our oil producing areas become your Crimea.
12
It is hard to believe in a nation that was once upon a time a world leader we have reduced our presidency to a series of ongoing distractions. Vote in November, end this horror movie.
34
Trump's tweets are normalizing nuclear holocaust. He is preparing the way.
20
A few things occur to me while reading this and other articles.
1. trump wants the oil. In the 2015-16 campaign, trump said "we should have taken the oil" and Guilanni reinforced that sentiment on a talk show when asked if the US could simply "take another country's oil" by replying with that smug smile on his face while saying "...all's fair in war..." trump has long wanted that oil, just like Cheney and Bush did but failed.
2. The US has never changed presidents when the nation is at war. The US had a deal with Iran and trump scraped it because it didn't give trump enough latitude to do whatever he wanted. Now, he can provoke Iran and chum the waters so he can have his war just before the elections.
3. trump wants to increase US-shores off-shore drilling. By provoking Iran to close the Straits and artificially causing an oil "shortage," trump can argue that we need to increase US off-shore drilling for "national security" and force states to drill.
4. A repeat of the North Korea hoax. This could all be a manufactured in order to repeat the North Korea exercise: Tweet vile threats at each other creating a false emergency, then trump can "go in and fix it" and offhandedly suspend military exercises - On behalf of Russia.
As the Complicit GOP is paying $12 million for a military parade while getting ready to reduce Social Security, MediCare and Medicaid, in order to fix a budget issue.
23
In some situations ambiguous threats are more effective than specific threats...
The NYTimes likes to refer to a "policy" on Iran. There is no policy, simply an attempt to hold up other countries in an alley. It's as much of a policy as holding up a stage coach.
Please don't dignify the President's explosive, ALL CAPS tweets with the word "policy."
I just hope the Iranians have the common sense to ignore the hyperbole.
That said, if Bolton and Pompeo are cooking up some kind of Iraq-style war, they need to look at a map. Iran is the size of Alaska, or more than twice the size of Afghanistan where we are bogged down and which is itself the size of Texas. It is very rugged countryside.
In addition, we have lots of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who are damaged and begging on the street corners, and the current crop of military age kids is smaller than it was during those conflicts. When employers have problems finding enough employees who can pass a drug test, do they think recruiters will fare any better? Have Bolton and Pompeo even thought to ask the U.S. public if they want another war??
Good luck!
12
@Human
Chicken-hawks have never worried about those who actually do the fighting. They're too busy pampering their fighting-aged kids in college or their careers.
3
@dmckj
Trump had 4 deferments and bone spurs — cluck-cluck!
Trump continues his reign of chaos with each idiopathic event overtaking the previous and thereby clouding every problem he has caused. A brilliant strategy that he has honed for more than 40 years. . .and most Americans fall for this ploy.
7
Comparing the North Korea’s situation with Iran is a wrong comparison. For Iran we have countries like Saudi and Gulf countries who have spent billions in the election of our president (as reported by NYT) and are lining his pockets (and let’s not forget Bibi) . In return for their investments, they are itching for a war with Iran. They have wanted this war for years, but they don’t have the boots on the ground. They want our young women and men in uniform to shed their blood and give their lives for their benefit and political goals. The countries who have given us the 9/11 terrorist have bought our president and the GOP, now they are waiting. We are slowly moving forward towards a confrontation with Iran. Have we thought about the consequences of such war?
16
@Setareh Couldn’t agree more.
1
Trump tweets and the NYT parrots. He capitalized his tweet to deter your great newspaper from focusing on Putin. Keep Putin and Russia in that important upper left hand corner of your front page! Our country is being deeply threatened by this Putin-Trump alliance. Keep helping clarify and fostering the needed change!
16
Distraction from disasters of the last two weeks to get the media to talk about something else other than Trumps failure with Putin or his campaigns legal problems.
7
Also his failure with NATO, his failure in Great Britain, and his attempt to make the bald eagle extinct.
2
Did anything in particular prompt Trump’s gratuitous outburst? With Yosemite Sam Bolton in Trump’s ear I really fear that he will intentionally provoke a war with Iran.
25
Though the Times’s attempt to offer thoughtful analysis of our leader’s intentions is noted, a search for insight in Trump’s statements will be as fruitful as one for integrity in Mitch McConnell’s.
His latest round of tweets was as clear as the addled, self-absorbed brain that generated them.
27
THE WSJ reported today that "After Iran leader refers to ‘the mother of all wars,’ president warns of consequences such as ‘few throughout history have ever suffered’" I dont see any reference to this threat in your article. Why not?
4
@Phil Downey
Because we expect more from the President of the U.S. than we expect from Muslim clerics who, as well, are appeasing their base.
1
Trump is throwing the American weight around in order to achieve what he has for several decades considered the 'right' world order. He's using what he considers his authority to use the powerful (and bloated) US military to threaten and cajole whomever he pleases.
What is particularly nauseating about this 'worst aspect of Trump' is that there is no set of checks and balances in play: he threatens destruction in his generally illogically applied 'artful' deal making.
Do as I, Donald Trump, says you'll do, or face ultimate destruction. This is the leader the GOP has gifted with total control of the New Roman Order.
Queen ... save the God!
3
It is not so much the threat toward Iran, although loud and stupefying, that concerns me, it is the loud, silent, and clear threat Mr. Trump poses to the United States that appalls and shocks me. It may be intoxicating to some, but to me it is simply toxic.
24
Trump's "warning" to Iran, notwithstanding its merit or timing, should make us remember that Iran has been a global terror financier/enabler/abetter from day one of the 1979 revolution, spreading terror from Lebanon to Argentina and 'in between' !
tweet smokescreen
22
Why do I have this feeling that Trump told Putin that we will get out of Syria but we are going into Iran?
14
Trump doesn't know anything about Iran that he hasn't seen on Faux New.
Want to know what his Iran "policy" is? Ask Bibi Netanyahu
19
And ask Americans to sacrifice the lives of their loved ones
Ya know like the sacrifice Donny made for Vietnam?
2
An escalating twitter war. What comes after caps? Who has bigger fonts?
17
Hardly clear. What is abundantly clear is that Trump has no idea what he is doing. Just one more in a long line of examples manifesting his incompetence and the steady progression of the American empire's march toward its nadir.
4
Since when do threats of ware warrant a Nobel Peace Prize?
4
Distraction tweet if i ever saw one.
What trump says is essentially meaningless - it's all lies and puffery.
14
Yawn. The Trump show has jumped the shark...
9
We must keep in mind that Trump is only conversing with FoxNews and his supporters. The rest of us in the US do not exist for him, except when we get outraged daily, which makes FoxNews and his supporters even happier. The country, with the help of Russia, has undergone a hostile takeover by the minority. Vote!
13
Although the all caps tweet was outrageously juvenile and unhinged, the word that stood out to me was “demented.” Trump continually engages in projection, attributing his characteristics to others. His increasingly erratic conduct, his short fuse, and words are reminiscent of behavior I have seen in people with early stages of dementia. Just a thought.
15
"Diplomatic breakthrough" with North Korea? Not even close. Trump already gives himself credit for things he hasn't done. This latest tweet is just Trump yelling "Look over there!" to distract attention from his deplorable performance in Helsinki. We need to deliver ourselves from this menace, now!
12
So Iran is still adhering to the nuclear deal ?
"Mr. Trump’s unilateral decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal gives the Iranians little incentive to negotiate with the United States, especially since the other five signers — Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — are still adhering to it."
I don't understand the effect of the U.S. pulling out of the deal. Can someone help me with that ?
3
@MC
The effect is that it demonstrates Trump can't even lead from behind.
2
Being loud but far from clear is not unusual for Trump.
14
Yeah okay whatever. So back to the original question: where are the tax returns?
37
In a safety deposit box in Russia
5
Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz with Soviet era with the SS-N-22 "sunburn" missile. Look it up. In thirty minutes, Iran could close down shipping, specifically oil in transit, and throw the United States into a deep recession.
5
The president of Iran's comments were mild and ambiguous. But like a street thug picking a fight, Trump said "Hey man, what did you say?" and threatened to beat him bloody. If Trump has to drop a nuclear weapon on someone to deflect from his traitorous behavior, he just might. And I thought "Wag the Dog" was a satire.
www.newyorkgritty.net
8
OMG, here we go again, another"...The-Likes-of Which-You-Have-Never-Seen" threat from this chest pounding "Me, He-Man", Donald Trump.
But to BFF Putin, Trump simply coos.
20
Pompeii at the next cabinet meeting:
“We are hypocritical men looting the country to enrich ourselves. Skip the holy part.”
4
You have to wonder if Trump is really losing his marbles. Could be one of his impulsive tweets after meeting with Bolton or watching Fox News, but either way, it's disturbing. Maybe his meetings with Putin and Kim have inflated his ego beyond the usual blustering. Sounds like he's itching for a fight.
3
the USA couldn't win in Iraq and it won't win in Iran.
16
@David Robinson We toppled Saddam and his regime.
@William Smith
So what? Dicatators die everyday. Iraq is worse now than under Hussein. What is your point?
1
And in the process created ISIS, a massive political vacuum which forced Iraq into alluance with IRAN, and killed a million innocent civilians. Congratulations on your great victory.
2
Bombastic Bloviation. It's his style, it's his way. Do you fall for it? I don't.
Waste no time or energy attempting to parse these empty words. They are meaningless to the issuer. There will be more bombast. There will be more hyper-bloviation.
Robert Mueller III is quietly, steadfastly, doing his work, and our Bombastic Bloviator In Chief is panicking.
7
Wall and War. I guess the blue suits and long ties will be replaced by a uniform with medals rivaling those of Brezhnev and most banana republic dictators. Military parades too. But, we won't be able to see much of what republican leaders are wearing, 'cause they will be supplicating, heads bowed, and front-facing-ground.
4
Reading the comments on this article gives me a good sense of where the idea of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" comes from.
You'd think that poor little Iran was our greatest friend, and now they're being thrown under the bus here by a capricious and callous president who is putting at risk "all that we achieved."
People, we're talking about a country whose ruling class literally invented the phrase "Death to America." The president of the country is considered at "moderate" because he only repeats this phrase half as often as the ruling class.
Iran is not our friend. Neither are the Iranian people. One day they very well might be, but let's stop pretending that there's some longstanding "special relationship" between the Iranians and America that Donald Trump is somehow destroying...
1
Trump, aligned with Bolton, are very dangerous to Iran because of their extreme right, warmongering stances.
The U.S. has nothing to fear from Iran. Their nuclear program is at rudimentary baby steps, compared to North Korea's more developed one.
Trump, Bolton and others claim Iran is fueling terrorists. Some Iranians may be, but the majority are not. The population wants peace, trade and respect.
For Westerners, it's difficult to understand this religious government, but unlike the U.S. and Israel, no other country condemns them for it. And remember, the U.S. personally helped install this regime.
Trump and Bolton's vague threats only serve to stimulate Israel to kill more than just Palestinians. This bloodlust and needless killing serves no one in the Middle East.
The U.S. does not need to be drawn into, or leap into, another Middle East war. Have we not caused enough destruction there?
Trump needs to lower the bombast and negotiate again with Iran. They were our friends, and their culture was cosmopolitan and educated.
Bolton stimulates Trump to war. His views have become increasingly hawkish over the years, verging on obsessive. His position now is a danger to the U.S., as he guides an unknowledgeable Trump, eager to prove his manhood, toward war.
5
Trumps' 3 card monte routine. Move the shiny object so often no one knows what anyone is taking about and he wins. Keep looking at his next shiny object. Follow his lead into the abyss.
7
The hardest part of this situation, as described by Mr. Landler in the story, is to figure out this:
As among Trump, Bolton and Pompeo, which is behaving like Larry, Moe or Curly. Certainly, Bolton must be Moe and Pompeo Curly; and that would leave Trump as Larry, instigator and chief imbecile.
Sadly too, it's doubtful that the POTUS even knows that the US has been in the business of regime toppling (South America and Iraq in the 70s) and it's not a good business, for returns or moral standing. But maybe that's why it's so appealing the Trump - being a terrible business man is second nature for him.
Oh, I'd hate to forget the underpinning of this story - diplomacy by Twitter. Thanks Silicon Valley for not having the courage to ban Trump - he's using the most powerful position in the country to belittle and badger individuals (e.g., NFL players, commentators and anyone else he disagrees with) in the most blatant form of bullying, and yet the Twitter sits on its hands. Shameful.
8
"Trump is much more interested in what comes out of it for him personally, in terms of a Nobel Peace Prize.”
Utter nonsense and PRUE SPECULATION.
Seriously, this "expert", why is she an "expert" we are never told, except she works for the liberal anti Trump Brookings Institution, honestly believes that?
The Stupid is Strong.
The stupid will run like mice when actual threats show up. You're talking about people who never fought themselves. Their biggest concern is STDs.
2
I assume you are referring to Donnie and his inner circle?
Turn it OFF. Please make it stop!
6
Trump has only one idea for solving problems: loudmouthed bullying.
Do you seriously believe threats "engineered" a "breakthrough" with NK? Kim calmly finished his testing, then—when HE was ready—asked for an unprecedented summit with a US president. He got it. We got... nothing.
Does he really think caps-lock tweets are going to intimidate the Iranian government?
What's next? Even bigger letters in crayon?
10
Your headline tells the trump tale perfectly. Whatever he lacks in knowledge, accuracy and leadership, he makes up for with noise.
5
Trump said, in 2011, that Obama wanted a war with Iran so he would get re-elected.
Hmmm....
8
"Trump’s Twitter Threat vs. Iran: Loud but Hardly Clear"!
And now, nobody is talking about the Helsinki fiasco.
When will the media learn?
Please stop reporting on Mr. Trump tweets.
10
Not really a threat, just more distraction.
15
Let's see those tax returns!
21
@psp Rich don't pay taxes
2
You certainly have no idea as to President Trump's plan here, Mr. Landler. As usual, the Times reporters submit their knee-jerk, anti-Trump response to everything the President does, and apparently with little real thought. And all the speculation, all laced with the typical liberal judgements and smug loftiness, is just you spinning your own wheels...
3
Everyone knows Trumps plan. Deflect, distract, golf. The grand strategy comes from Fox News and their intellectual heavy weights, Hannity and Carlson.
4
Secretary of State said that the "clerical leaders, whom he described as 'hypocritical holy men,' guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves." (NY Times)
Replace "hypocritical holy men" by "hypocritical religious right politicians and Big Businessmen appointees" and you have a very good description of the Trump Government which government is bringing the USA back to the Gilded Age and trying to build a theocratic state. And do not forget the looting,
10
Trump's twitter threat against Iran is loud, but far from clear. The title of this article seems to summarize the Trump presidency, but is understated to the extreme. If anyone can show us what Trump stands for she is reading taro cards. The only thing that Trump stands for is himself and bleeding the country dry as he misdirects us with his slight of hand foreign 'policy'.
7
We've gone from the New Deal to the Great Society to Morning in America to Upper Case. Aren't we lucky?
10
For the safety of our nation, I believe that Trump should not be permitted to Tweet. Period.
15
This "strategy" was so "successful" with North Korea that it was inevitable that Trump would try it with Iran, too.
No doubt we'll soon get treated to another reality bending summit, this time with Rouhani and Trump, after which Trump will make ridiculous, unverifiable claims about how Iran has agreed to end their nuclear program and that Rouhani is a great, super guy and that Trump trusts him.
5
Trump's aggressive threats to Iran have defined his candidacy along with his subservience to Putin and Russia, and they now define his presidency as a package of self-destructive policies he has embraced as a traitor to our nation and allies.
The one party that unquestionably benefits from Trump's positions on both Russia and Iran, is Russia, despite its protestations that it is "Iran's Ally."
Russia will benefit from a catastrophic war between Iran and the United States and/or its surrogates and Middle Eastern allies, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Israel. The prices of oil and natural gas will break through the barriers that world wide oversupply have kept in check the past five years. Europe's economy will be adversely impacted. Russia will reap profits it has not seen since oil was $100+p/p/b.
Russia will further profit from arms sales to Iran. The United States will lose lives for nothing. We will have engaged in war of fruitless aggression, as we did through a surrogate war using Iraq under Saddam. And, that adventure did not end well, either, nor did it promote stability in the Middle East. Iran withstood chemical weapons then, and it will withstand attack again.
Trump may hope that Iran provides his bridge to martial law, establishing dictatorship and evading charges of being a Traitor, but he is actually just provided yet another reason to Impeach, charge and convict him of treason.
5
Diversion Diversion Diversion
ANYTHING to take the spotlight off the Helsinki debacle.
Don't fall for it -- Trump upheld the Russians' attack on the United States last week and we're not done discussing the fallout.
9
Mueller must be getting pretty close for Mr. Trump to move the whole world closer to a third world war.
Republicans are either responsible for supporting his actions or irresponsible for failing to control them.
America was warned he would be terrible and he is.
9
Oh, the message was clear. It was: "Hey, look over here!" And it worked. The above-the-fold headlines have nothing to do with Trump's disastrous week with Russia.
Congrats, we fell for it again.
4
Theocracy can no longer remain survive in Iran. Trump's tweets are just helping the mullahs to suppress Iranians.
Mullahs will be going down with or without Trump's actions.
Not a fan of Irans leadership but at least they make their threats in front of a microphone and cameras.
13
TRUMP is out of control. DJM
8
considering all the terror Iran is perpetrating all around the med-east it's very hard to believe they could possibly be "the mother of all peace".
President Trump is right in putting them on their heals. Tough talk is much more effective than pallets of cash.
Considering the terror we have fomented all over the Middle East, the US certainly is not the mother of peace. And at least Iran is surrounded by real enemies. We have no such excuse.
3
This story's blurb says that Trump's tweet "succeeded in changing the subject". When we can see through his motivation, why do we let it succeed?
10
A tweet in ALL CAPS does not a forceful leader make. In fact, it just shows Trump's cowardice. Sad.
23
This irrational rant from trump is an example of how he will start firing in all directions to distract from his obvious attempt to cover up his corruption.
With Cohen's tapes in the possession of the feds, trump knows that his illegal acts are likely going to be revealed in the near future, and his house of cards will fall.
10
Putin warned any more bombs from America aimed at its allies will be met with severe consequences. This GOP hot head last year wanted to invade Venezuela when they were having domestic problems. Rex Tillerson quit because he did not want to go down in history as being responsible for mass casulties and for what should have never been allowed to happen. Our Catholics and evangelical need to study who they are voting for and just not who supports tax breaks yearly for them. That is buying votes and is illegal.
9
What "policy?" Only if one considers inconsistency, fabrication in lieu of facts or truth, and threats instead of diplomacy a policy can the Trump administration be considered to have one. There is also nothing new in this conduct from Trump or others in his circle.
6
The man occupying the White House who commands the greatest military machine in history and controls the world's largest economy tweets that starting another war in the Middle East that will take the lives of another million people and cause tens of millions more refugees, is a 'good deal.' He reached that conclusion not by a deep understanding of history, politics, and diplomacy, but because his son-in-law via the leader of the Israeli Likud party wants to wipe out every country in the area that is not bought off by the United States and is not at peace with his country. These are the same people who crafted the 'Ultimate Peace Deal ' for the Middle East.
6
I read the article by Max Boot wishing we had Obama back. Are we all having fun watching the Trump Show? While we watch our Salesman in chief try to sell the world a Brooklyn Bridge, we cringe at the thought that he is actually squandering the political, cultural and moral standards that we alone have marshalled for the world. Didn'd we all feel great about the rescue of the Thai soccer boys? Using technologies and techniques that we have developed and given the world, like Navy Seals? Shouldn't we be happy that Mexico has a better economy because of NAFTA, and the immigration from there have often reversed? Isn't there a happy world out there? or do we have to watch the Trumps, Putins and Dutartes of the world make us hunker back toward the days when the Sheriff of Nottingham chased Robin Hood into the forest? War? Trade
war? insulting allies? military buildup? kow tow to Russia?
These are the same guys that gave us the Iraq War, lots of fun then! Yeah, I miss Obama, I believe he was honest.
24
Allow me to contextualize, rationalize, and provide informed speculation about Trump's genius - for foreign policy, long-game strategies, and gunboat diplomacy.
Iran is not North Korea and Kim, the dictator, is not Rouhani the democratically elected president of Iran.
The key player here is "The Shadow Commander" of the Ouds Force - Soleimani - who reports directly to the Supreme Leader Khamenei, and is responsible for Iran's clandestine extraterritorial military network - Hezbollah - and the military operations being conducted in Syria, etc.
Soleimani is key political figure in Iran too: all of the Iranian ambassadors to Arabic countries are appointed by the Quds Force. He is also a strident supporter of Assad.
Insulting, antagonizing, threatening, provoking the Iranians, and abrogating prior US treaties arbitrarily and capriciously, is not much of a "strategy" for getting them to the bargaining table to make new treaties that, in theory, will be more favorable to the US.
What this inane, incompetent, disorganized pseudo-foreign policy does in the final analysis is strengthen the hard-liners' (Soleimani and Quds) power - the international terrorists' power - and undermine the more moderate actors like President Rouhani who holds out the olive branch for peace while Trump and Bolton are threatening to bomb Iran Libya-style and institute regime change.
12
More "Look a squirrel!" And "Give me a Nobel Prize!"
Where are the responsible Repubs in Congress? Anyone????
15
The Iran rant? Another fool's game from our bellicose, unhinged president, Of course his tirade was an adolescent effort to detract from walls that are squeezing his ego inflated head more each day that passes.
18
Distraction!
7
Just a ploy to shine light somewhere else. Trump uses the light to hide just as a cockroach which rubs from the light to avoid being seen.
4
Personally, I am more concerned about the hypocritical holy men in the US than those in Iran.
73
Could it be that the most noteworthy aspect of this tweet is what it might reveal about the status of Trump's mental health? Maybe that should also be a focus of this analysis. He truly seems to be going off the rails.
9
Another wretched move by the wretched man in the White House. Why does he want to start World War III so badly? Distraction from his illegality and immorality? A sop to arms makers? Ego writ large? All are logical in this dreadful administration; none are valid. Time for a Democratic Congress, our last hope of saving our country from Trump and trumpism.
10
Must have been a tough choice deciding whether to aim his tweets at Iran or Montenegro.
12
This is not hard to figure out. Trump has put war with Iran inside the presidency, and they will have war. Trump himself will try to cut a deal if he can:"I'm Donald Trump, and I'm hearing Iran has a really great leader, a really great country. Maybe we can build a casino here." We will hear this about a month before a summit. The only problem: Bolton and friends will ensure a war with Iran before that meeting.
1
Trump has to keep shouting war to justify his parade and distract his followers from the sellout of our democracy to a foreign power. It is disappointing he has been able to line up so many Republican members of Congress to support him and his one percent Cabinet in dismantling the government. Can the country survive a full term of Trump?
13
Too bad Pompeo won't help us undermine our hypocritical holy leaders who support Trump.
8
His tweets are are trying to divert the media from its intense focus on his strange relationship with Putin.
15
The president is addicted to social media like many people. His finger just itches to send out tweets. He picks the latest subject discussed around him and fires one off. Each message reflects his frustration at the pace of progress on national or international issues that he doesn't understand outside of an initial instinct to end the Obama legacy.
Like any addict, he is instantly gratified by a sense of accomplishment and personal power. But that feeling quickly fades and he must do it again.
He has the same problem with McDonalds. The more burgers he eats, the hungrier he gets. He can never satiate his hunger for a big Mac or twitter.
Iran's people shouldn't be concerned about Trump tweeting but they should be concerned about who is doing the feeding. His addiction makes him take any bait lured out there by his advisors who each have a personal agenda that is counter to the interests of the US.
1
I think Trump's warnings are quite clear, as was his refusal to re-certify the Obama/Kerry agreement. His policy goal is 1) to assure Iran never has atomic weapons and 2) to stop Iran from supporting terrorism, and 3) to ensure that Iran is not a threat to our national security. His strategy is to speak loudly and to carry a big stick. That is refreshing after years of apeasment. So far he has achieved more clarity with his visable "Tweets" than Kerry did with his secret transport of $150 billion + cash. The media would love to have foreign policy eminate from its editorial board room, then announced in public. I would love to see your editors and writers run for public office-that would be an honorable way of offering the public a "clear" choice.
1
@logodos -- Just watched the film "Shock & Awe" -- a refresher course on the 18-month-long run-up to the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Americans were told by another Republican administration that Hussein had stockpiles of nuclear weapons -- a charged based on ginned up intelligence -- which was patently false.
And all the while, Republicans leveled the charge of "unpatriotic" at any who questioned the fake intel and the wisdom of invading Iraq. I remember it well.
So...here we go again. Do we NEVER learn from the past (Vietnam AND Iraq and now Iran)?
5
There is a sleeping giant out there somewhere that just may take on Trump and his idle threats someday; could be an ally, a foe or combination thereof, only time will tell. Throughout history, every great super power has fallen and we are no exception. President Trump, his administration and GOP are abusing their powers and the fact that we have the strongest military in the world with an arsenal of nuclear weapons which can destroy the planet. The irrational threats he is promoting (fire and fury; suffering consequences of which few throughout history have ever suffered before, etc) are mind boggling and can only lead to one outcome, the destruction of life as we know it now. Where is the outrage from all the clergy especially the right to life, the politicians that have normalized the President’s actions, the 49% of voters that put him in office?
To the President; this is not reality TV where you can do as you please. There will be real and devastating consequences resulting from your entire bullying antics, inept and self-serving decision making.
8
Every day I commute to Manhattan, I pass on the right the narrow channel of water that made Manhattan easily defensible against invasion by the sea, and thus attractive for developers. Easily defensible no more against its own "Manhattan Project" weapon, our small, but massively concentrated, colossal community is the prime candidate to “suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before.”
2
Mr. Trump tweets demands and threats as though he were a sovereign. But it seems more likely that he's a functionary for those who bankrolled his political career and control a large block of the Republican Party. The thought that the government is again considering "regime change" in a Middle East nation is terrifying. The cautionary examples are close at hand.
2
Nepotism,Bolton ,mad man tweets equal how we make foreign policy. The Israeli Government would like us to strike Iran. If it happens our abandoned allies can make a fortune selling arms to the middle east for the next 30 years or more,and do not mention the nukes already in the middle east.
So Secretary of State Pompeo wants to "work with the Iranian people to undermine their clerical leaders." Why? Because we love a liberal democracy? We did not love it when in Iran it was led by an elected Social Democrat. When will we ever learn to keep our hands off the governments of other countries?
Aside from Iran's bluster, which happens to match that of our President, what threat does Iran pose to the United States. Is its navy plowing the waters off the coast of North Carolina? Can its air craft carriers and nuclear submarines deliver devastating bombs to coastal cities in New England? Do they have military bases in Mexico or Canada? What is the threat other than the bluster of its religious leaders, like the ones we have that pray for Armageddon?
Oh yes, they support military elements in countries in their backyard. How is that a threat to the United States, whose current President withdrew from a hard won agreement by 7 countries including some of our most loyal allies on Iran's nuclear development and now threatens to impose crippling sanctions on her economy.
Who may I ask is a real threat to peace?
4
The article states that President Trump's tweet "only deepened questions about the long-term direction of Mr. Trump’s Iran policy." What direction? Haven't we learned by now that President Trump has no long-term strategy for anything? Yes, he has general goals - eliminate North Korea's nuclear arsenal; cut taxes; roll back environmental protections, etc. But this President is incapable of long-term planning and thoughtful strategy. He famously can't even pay attention to anything for more than a few minutes. This is why Twitter is his chosen medium for communicating anything of import - immediate, ephemeral, and completely lacking complexity and nuance.
President Trump thinks being unpredictable makes him "smart." In the realm of diplomacy and world affairs, it makes us all vulnerable to the whims of a petulant man who cannot keep his emotions in check.
3
Trump's rant is an attempt to deflect attention from his collusion with Russia. Then, if he gets his way, he will start a war with Iran to save his presidency because he believes that if he is a "war president," he can't be impeached. Think again, Don.
2
Everybody likes a John Wayne. However, when it comes to matters that could easily escalate into a military matter, such as belittling a national leader in front of the world, what is in fact happening is raising the likelihood that your kid may be fighting in what could have been a completely avoidable altercation. Anyone can puff up their chest and send the children of others to die, but only a true leader can induce calm in a heated situation and work things out.
Trump was just rattling the saber with Iran to distract the media from the Helsinki news cycle mess he got himself into. That's also why he released the Carter Page FISA documents. This all about show with him. Like North Korea nothing of substance will be accomplished especially since in this case Iran has an agreement with the rest of our allies. Trump also won't deliver on his military threat either. People need to remember Iran has a friend and military ally, Mr. Putin of Russia. Think Syria.
3
Trump could not allow the Iranian regime to threaten annihilation of our nation and closing of a critical waterway without responding and reminding them that he is no Jimmy Carter. The Iranians will think at least twice before engaging in aggressive acts since they know this President means business.
@alan brown
I'm sure the Iranians are very afraid *snort, laughter* . Really, DJT is so ...... well if our right wing is impressed with how tough DJT is ( such an easy task to accomplish) the Iranians must be scared. After all, DJT used all caps! He means business! Stop laughing, Iran! Or DJT will get really mad!
Donald Trump is tweeting behavior is dangerous and irresponsible. The President of the United States should not be using Twitter to communicate with the leaders of foreign countries period but especially with the leaders of countries who have tenuous relationships with our country and our government. What is even more alarming is that Mr. Trump wasn't really communicating with the leader of Iran. His real audience was the American People. I believe his Twitter directed at Iran was intended to pontificate, bluster, and demonstrate his ability to intimidate. He is acting like an out-of-control adolescent who is a spoiled brat. I believe he knows very little about the complexities of our current relationship with Iran. What is even more alarming is that I am concerned that Trump believes he doesn't need to consult any military or intelligence experts who do have important knowledge about Iran. His goal is to create chaos in the world. Simply put, Donald Trump is dangerous, irresponsible and a threat to world peace.
2
Trump's tweets can no longer be considered news but are no more than Trump-initiated "distractions" -- in which the sad, wreck of a man plays the media only because he can. In fact, the serious media do dangerous disservice by reporting them as "news". Suggest a different approach by all news media: Lump the tweets into one newsbite/column/opinion and report them once in a 24-hour cycle, at the tail end of each publication/broadcast. They are noteworthy in that they show the tangled thoughts of an unstable WH temp.
Some observations that seem to be getting short shrift here:
- Heightened U.S.-Iran conflict is in Putin's direct interest, guaranteed to pull Iran closer to Russia.
- The tweet came out of the blue less than a week after Trump's one-on-one meeting with Putin, where we'll never know what was said.
- Historically, overseas wars are very good for US businesses -- especially big businesses, and most especially big defense contractors.
- And historically, overseas wars prompt voters to wave the flag & spout nationalist nonsense & rally around the leader.
Coincidences? Seems dubious.
3
Let's remember the old saying, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Seriously, must we focus on impulsive verbal threats? Let's focus on human welfare How about offering Iran some good food or something positive that they need?
2
so much fake news in this article ... by Trump.
he who complains the loudest will be the most guilty of doing the same when in a position to do so
and Trump is the master of fake news .. a true world leader.
I was expecting Rouhani to tweet back: "You're not the boss of me".
3
The world awaits while the US allows an unfit POTUS to continue to destroy not only our democracy, but relationships with our allies and even some of our enemies. We're making "friends" with some of the world's worst bad actors at the same time.
Removing Trump and his cronies who are working for the Swamp that he declared he would remove (though he just instead cemented them even with more power) is not going to be easy but it must be done. If we do not we will lose not only our democracy, but our economy will suffer greatly.
The latter might be something someone who supported him only cares about at this point.
VOTE IN NOVEMBER!!! (yes I'm shouting it)
9
Impulse tweeting by the president of the United States should be outlawed. Such outbursts can shake the world and cause unrest when well thought out, diplomatic, communications would be far more effective and rational. It's as though Trump has Twitter Tourette's Syndrome. Make him stop!
12
Here comes another Trump con, using the same playbook as his N Korea con: Create a crisis, then ride in on his gilded horse to defuse the situation. He's the arson who puts out the fire he started, making himself the hero in the process. How long can the people be fooled?
6
As predicted.. new week, new shiny object for the president to deflect last weeks bungling. No need to do analysis on this weeks idiotic tweets. I used to say, we will survive this president but now will the presidency survive this person.
“President Trump’s vituperative tweet against Iran late on Sunday showed his determination to use the same approach that he took to engineer a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea.”
What kind of a “breakthrough?” As far as I can see the North Koreans played Trump like a fiddle and have done absolutely nothing.
Once again, our "kid" president throws a tantrum No fan of the Iranian regime here, but the way to change that regime is by lessening tensions and quietly encouraging more liberal factions. Stupid, childish tweet in caps reveal more about the sender than the intended reader.
Make no mistake, Iran is not North Korea. it is has sophisticated, but crippled economy. It's people are better educated and want more contact with the outside world. The Iranian leaders have one weapon they can use right now. It would be the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which would cut off access by sea to Iraq, Kuwait and the Gulf States.
2
Regime change. Sounds nice.
Back during the second Gulf War, a cartoon appeared. The war (at the time) was going well. Mr. Assad and Mr. Kim Jung-Un were shown as naughty schoolboys, glowering and seated outside Principal Bush's office, where Mr. Saddam Hussein was being sternly dealt with.
Boy! That war didn't turn out so well.
The Iranians don't have happy memories of us and our regime change sixty five some years ago.
When we saw to it, their parliamentary democracy was overthrown and the shahs were installed.
Along with their secret police. . .instruments of torture. . all the tried and true apparatus of tyranny.
We tend to forget this. They don't.
Our President. He does this. He does that. He goes here. He goes there. An odd whim comes into his head. He ACTS on that whim. Some blistering words of denunciation or mockery come into his head. He writes theml out in one of his innumerable tweets.
Or speaks them aloud during a speech. Or a campaign rally. (Though the campaign ended in 2016.)
And it may come out all right. The economy is humming along. The stock market seems to be okay. (Which affects me personally. As a retired person.)
And here North Korea may be dismantling some nuclear missile sites.
But we, the people of America.
We're just along for the ride.
Watching the antics of our President. Watching. and wondering. . . .
. . .and waiting.
Waiting for what?
If I knew, I would tell you.
3
America is a few hundred years old, and the degree of blind patriotism here is staggering.
Tehran has four thousand years (?) of culture which the Iranian people have every right to be proud of, regardless of the fairly modern theocracy which emerged after a revolution to remove the American puppet regime.
Nothing is as simple as it seems.
First, Pompeo never served in the Gulf war, he only claimed he did. Second, he has the tact and diplomacy of an actual hog running around on the set of Hee Haw; and last but not least, every time he opens his yap about Iran, it sounds like he's declaring war. In his most recent "tought-guy" talk, he inadvertenly referred to Iran soil as "Iraqi soil" - was that a Freudian slip from Captain Obvious?
8
NOVEMBER 29, 2011 "In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran." - @realDonaldTrump
If we ever need to understand what Trump is doing all we have to do is see how he projects himself on to others. That "lock her up" chant was really about his own money laundering with the Russian and Chinese mob (as noted in the 1980's Senate investigation on organized crime).
2
Trump's threat reminded me of some of the hyperbolic and bombastic threats of Sadam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. Has the US lost so much respect in the world that we can no longer speak softly while carrying a big stick?
5
This Iran threat is one of two things--a shiny distraction object or a promise to Putin being kept. Trump desperately wants to turn attention from himself and his legal problems--which grow larger daily. What better way is there than to threaten a country his base hates--Iran! In addition it becomes a two-fer if he also promised Putin that he would start a war with Iran. Efficiency, you know. Leaves more time for golf. Actually Trump is all loud and never clear. I guess that's what his base loves about him.
1
Dear NYC, It only succeeded in changing the subject because you and the other major news outlets helped! We haven't forgotten about his Helsinki remarks and Russian collusion - the subject to which the news will shortly return.
America's hunger for conflict seems to have no horizon.
I submit that if one ran across Trump’s all caps tweet on a political discussion board one would discount it as just another angry post by an unhinged and unbalanced poster.
10
"...you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before..."
Pick up a history book, Donald. This culture survived the ravages of Genghis Khan.
5
Vali R. Nasr said: “The endgame for Trump is different than it is for hawks like Bolton and Pompeo. Trump is much more interested in what comes out of it for him personally, in terms of a Nobel Peace Prize.”
Trump is itching for another diplomatic coup, applying the same formula he used on North Korea – first imposing stringent sanctions, then suggesting his readiness to meet President Hassan Rouhani, without knowing that Iran isn’t North Korea. Iranians certainly don’t believe that Mike Pompeo has their well-being at heart. They feel the economic pain and loathe the travel ban. This makes the leadership not at all receptive to Trump’s diplomatic opening. His unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal provides hardliners the evidence that the Americans can’t be trusted.
4
The child is annoyed because his European friends don't want to play with him anymore, but with Iran.
4
@James B.:
Absolutely spot-on.
Sad. Bigly sad.
What kind of U.S. president blast tweets cell phone foreign policy off-the-cuff with no consultation from advisors?!!! … Oh, yeah, THAT ONE.
9
Oh boy, yet another country to destroy! And who is the biggest, loudest cheerleader of them all? Why, once again, it's Bibi! Haven't we seen this horrible, disastrous show before? If he hates Iran so much, go it alone and leave the US out of it, please.
4
It is quite amazing how often his stooges say that the president has made something very clear when he never makes anything clear. Why can't the loud mouth braggart just be quiet for a day and just listen?
He is always frustrated, fuming and angry as he recklessly blunders around with our lives in his tiny hands.
6
@Bob Guthrie:
Because he's NOT a man, but rather an acutely narcissistic man-child who is pathologically driven to garner accolades and affirmations in order to protect his fragile ego and compensate for his deepest hidden senses of adolescent insecurity.
Sad. Bigly sad.
3
Once again, all hat, no cattle.
4
@Jimmy:
Outstandingly accurate summary and assessment.
I'd laugh were the national situation so sad.
1
Look, If Iran didn't understand what all CAPS means then Trump can always look for a good meme or gif to convey his thoughts.
1
The best thing the NYT and other media could do is ignore Trump’s tweets.
He does this for attention and to change the subject, and to please his base. Let Fox do the publicity stunts.
8
Trump probably does not know that the USA and its CIA brought about regime change in Iran by deposing the democratically elected President Mohamed Mossadegh in 1953. That was one of several factors setting the stage for the 1979 revolution that brought Khomeini from exile in France. Results of that regime change? Worst possible.
Pompeo, Trump, and Bolton want a 2018 revolution? Insanity on display.
All too many of the reports quoting Rouhani's reply to Trump leave out the key first phrase. Here is NYT reporter Rick Gladstone doing just that:”“On Sunday, Mr. Rouhani told Iranian diplomats in Tehran that Mr. Trump risked “the mother of all wars” with Iran”
Here is what Rouhani actually said: "America should know that PEACE with Iran is the mother of all PEACE, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars."
Trump was not the first to threaten destruction, Hillary Clinton promised to demolish Iran, not even blinking long enough to think of the unintended consequences of such destruction. If Trump and company carry out Clinton’s threat, then not only much of Iran but also the rest of the Middle East will lie in ruins.
The USA, still separated from the rest of the world by oceans can perhaps then choose, as Israel seems to be choosing, to become a theocracy where only a subset of people called white are welcome.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Citizen US SE
3
Note to news media: Hello, McFly? Is anybody home? Think, McFly, think. Stop focusing on Trump and his stupid tweets and look at what he and his administration are doing. First, Trump bragged during the campaign about opposing the Iraq war but has put the same neocons that started the war into key positions. These people have been hoping to start a war with Iran for decades. Second, you continue taking Trump's bait, thus allowing him to change the discussion. Now, rather than having to answer questions about Trump's treason, they get to go on cable TV and bang the war drums.
Please, NYT, be clearer in your presentation of the facts. The message was clear, even if we don't want to interpret it clearly. In beating his chest and declaring war on Iran, Trump is just doing his thing, and we are numb and helpless in his wake. I really wish your headlines weren't so afraid of calling a spade a spade. I really think it would help the world if you would be bolder in your statements, clear in your meaning, and not hedge the facts. People need to wake up.
1
Trump, as brutus ignoramus as he is, is a master in distracting us from his vainglorious achievements...to destroy even the appearance of world order. And after his complete rendition to Putin and his nefarious aims to destroy the free world alliances, no credibility is available even within his ongoing bullying of the truth.
4
Please Twitter, cancel this crazy man's account. He is bullying people, groups, tweeting racists comments, and hate using Twitter. You have a bigger responsibility than to serving this man, like the whole world. If you don't, then obviously you cannot be serious about your "Terms of Service".
Everybody knows this just a diversion tactic from all his other mistakes!
The anguished comments and responses I’m reading here indicate (to me) that POTUS’s approach is still effective. Whenever he has a bad week, he rants at favorite targets that are sure to draw the usual responses: supporters cheer, and opponents foam at the mouth. The same approach is used by “three card Monty” scammers on every street corner in NYC: lots of movement, lots of distraction, watch my hands, etc. Look!! Over there, it’s something shiny!! Look over there, it’s Crooked Hillary!! Both his supporters and his opponents fall for it every time. He is a devotee of the greatest philosopher of the 19th century: P.T. Barnum, who famously and accurately stated: “There’s a sucker born every minute”.
6
Flogging Iran appears to be a US obsession. I don't see the point of alienating its younger people who are as disgusted with religion as I am.
Would it be out of the bounds or reality to see Trump start a war to deflect in the investigation into Russian collusion? The answer is clearly there in his typical behavior. And with a President that has no knowledge or interest in the Constitution or American history, the answer is surely yes. To many of us who are combat veterans (Vietnam 1969-70), this all seems too familiar with the dictatorial twist of an insane and narcissistic President.
1
Trump has no policy. He's simply ranting. And the world shakes, the way nervous parents cower in front of a toddler's tantrums.
But as we all know, the grownups have left the room.
It's time to stop reading the tea leaves. He's mad.
15
Trump is an ego maniac incompetent demagogue but he is not stupid when it comes to making himself look good.
Look for the de facto traitor to be propped up by his puppet master Putin who also controls Iran.
Putin will tell Iran to cool it a bit re any threats/wars etc. to make Trump look good but then Putin will continue to support Iran in the Middle East so Russia can get influence.
The demagogue Trump will then declare victory.
3
@Paul: yup, absolutely spot-on.
1
@James-That is why it is so difficult to beat a demagogue. Throughout history from the first one Alcibiades in classical Greece to one of the last ones Chavez in Venz., they can have some staying power until they ruin their country usually economically.
This is a bunch of juvenile nonsense. The Iranians are just making schoolyard taunts which is something that Diaper Don does on an hourly basis. Instead of just ignoring them, Trump has to issue the a bigger taunt of threatening a war. Trump has the judgment and emotional control of a third grader.
7
Sheldon Adelson, AIPAC and Israel are the tail wagging the American dog. We, American people of the 21st century, have no gripe with Iran.
10
The American people will not fight Israel’s wars any longer. Resist!
7
This Chicken-Hawk (see Jesse Ventura’s explanation) tweet sounds like Stephen Miller talking.
Maybe he has replaced Bannon as Trump’s brain.
6
Trump's childish bluster and the administration's hard-line policy toward Iran shows how little they understand the country, the history, and the people they are claiming to empower.
And it shows little intelligence, however the word is defined.
Much of this country's volatile relationship with Iran stems from the same failures this government seems hell-bent on repeating: dictatorial intervention in the Iranian government, manipulation of its resources, and total misapprehension or ignorance of the national character.
Trump once again sends America backwards. There will be no gain and there is much to lose.
3
@Nereid:
AMEN.
Hey, Secretary Pompeo, “Who will help us get rid of OUR ‘hypocritical holy men’”?
9
@Maxie:
That would require genuinely honest self-assessments and deep inner reflection on the part of virtually every Trump administration official . . .oh, and Trump voters as well.
Don't hold your breath.
So tired of this corrupt real estate person, DJT, putting my grandchildren in peril with his totally irresponsible, immature actions.
5
@MIMA:
If you're truly sincere in your sentiment, then DO SOMETHING about it during the next election cycle: get out there in the field and get out the Vote!
Funny, as a New Yorker who survived 9/11, I have always wondered why we are more hostile towards Iran than Saudi Arabia.
No Iranians were among the hijackers. For that matter, no Iraqis were involved either.
15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. Osama bin Laden and the bin Laden family were wealthy Saudis. And yet, our government protected the bin Laden’s immediately after 9/11 by flying them out of the country. 9/11 victims were told the US gov would not allow them to sue the Saudi government, and now we are rubbing orbs and shoulders with these maniacs?
But the “truthers” are called crazy when they say the 9/11 attack was an inside job?
Ok, but no one can explain this relationship we have with Saudi Arabia.
As a New Yorker, I am disgusted by the gas lighting. Why did we not attack Saudi Arabia after 9/11? Can anyone answer that question?
The conflict with Iran just shows me that if you attack the US, the government will go soft if you can pay them a. Heck, they will attack your enemies for you. Dead Americans be damned!
5
@Kat:
You can't possibly be actually mystified and dumbfounded about our lack of punishment to Saudi Arabia for 9/11 . . . can you???
C'mom: just pause a moment to really reflect on the possibilities.
Still plea cluelessness?
One simple word:
OIL.
There now, that wasn't so hard, now was it?
2
Trump's diversionary Iran threat dominates the NYT front page, along with online and cable news outlets, just as revelations unfold concerning Cohen's twelve secret recordings.
Mission accomplished!
7
The “president” and his “advisers” seem oblivious to the reality that it took incredible diplomatic skill to get Iran into negotiations to achieve the nuclear deal, which nobody thought was perfect but assumed it could be used as the platform for better agreements in the future.
It’s all too clear now that Trump’s only negotiating skill is to threaten and then use his wealth and reputation to force people to comply with his wishes. That’s not how global politics works.
We all know that under Trump you can become BFF even after a history of disaster movie title tweets.
Or aren’t Don and Kim now best buddies?
I am sure if Iran would open up for some Trump Hotel investments and golf courses in Shiraz or Isfahan (it’s nice there Don!) - the hate speech would become Love letters. Diplomacy has never been easier. Or let’s say it like that: Business is diplomacy with other means.
3
I understand that as a newspaper you have to take Trump's tweets seriously and try to analyze what he means. He is the president, after all. But c'mon, we all know what this tweet is:a means for him to show the world how touch and mighty he is.
2
An Iran “policy” shaped by Mike Pompeo and John Bolton? Will they call in Dick Cheney to serve as a consultant? These people still seem to think that seeking to effect regime change in Iraq by military force was a good idea.
3
@Wmc:
Yep, it's all really about testosterone. And deep, deep immaturity and insecurity.
Sad. Bigly sad.
1
Anyone who thinks war with Iran will be a Maverick “walk in the park” should look at what Marine General Van Riper did to the Navy in a war game in 2002. Using tactics Iran would likely use, Van Riper sank 16 navy ships including an aircraft carrier. Iran is willing to take massive casualties to inflict thousands of casualties on the US. They have been practicing speedboat attacks against the US navy for years. The US navy doesn’t take them any more seriously today that’s it did in 2002.
2
"Leaders like Mr. Rouhani, who was once viewed as a moderate, have become more hawkish."
Please, let us not be fooled by Iranian theater. Mr. Rouhani looks like such a nice fellow, doesn't he? Kind, understanding eyes, a nice smile... yet he participates in a regime that supports the terror group Hezbollah and seeks to destabilize the region. We American's like to project our own sentiments onto others, but it this case, doing so is a monumental error.
As for the "relatively calm" Iranian reaction to Mr. Trump's all-caps threat: like bullies everywhere, the Iranians do not know what to make of the sudden US challenge, given how accustom they are to throwing around with impunity their own threats. I believe they are confused and more than a little discombobulated.
And its about time.
1
@Frank J Haydn What a bunch of neocon K street blather. Sounds like you work for a weapons contract or AIPAC.
2
Clearly no degree of misstep and miscalculation is off the table given the Trump-Bolton tag team.
Throw in Netanyahu and the burning desire to destroy Hamas and the same thing that happened in 2003 with the invasion of Iraq and the toppling of Saddam could materialize in the twinkling of a jaundiced eye. Iran could make the disastrous Iraq misadventure look tame by comparison.
The President has no reliable calculus of real consequences, its all emotive response and bloc-headed, bulldogging intimidation and midnight threats.
Doesn’t get much crazier than this.
1
Trump's breakthrough with North Korea is mentioned several times in the article. What breakthrough? Trump lied when he said the crisis is over. Nothing has changed except that North Korea has stopped testing and threatening. But they haven't stopped building nuclear weapons and missiles, much less begun to disarm, which is the real test.
7
@Mark Lobel, The site in question was used for testing liquid fueled rockets. The technology has moved on to solid fuel rocket engines.
Mr. Bolton: "....they (Iran) will pay a price like few countries have ever paid before.”
We dropped two nuclear weapons over Japan in 1945...Is that the "price" this Administration is talking about? The Iranians know this Administration has no appetite for war, that it's all hat and no cattle, and a Tweet in capital letters is merely one in the innumerable series of efforts to divert attention from the incessant scandalous developments affecting the White House.
The "roaring" Tweet has diverted our attention, much like shaking a set of keys captures the attention of a baby...we are being played...and we know it...and so does Iran.
4
Not a very good idea. We can achieve our goals with Iran without violent confrontation. Slow and steady wins the race.
2
It's amazing how far people are willing to go to desperately make sense out of DT's nonsense. Most everyone I know and from comments I see on social media platforms are saying he's out of his mind.
1
With ancient civilisational roots, burgeoning Middle class, functioning state apparatus, and military prowess, Iran is not an outlier nation like North Korea that could be coerced into compliance with Trump's hollow twitter threats that often remain misfired and off the targets. Even the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un had earlier agreed to a summit meting with Trump, it was mainly to end international isolation and gain legitimacy but not under the fire and fury bombast of Trump who remained essentially a loser and at the receiving end during the 90-minute Singapore summit--high on the optics but empty with substance.
7
So now we go to war in response to a threat from another country. Ridiculous by any other name is still ridiculous.
8
Let Israel do it's own war thing. They got us to invade Iraq. Remember our reason for killing hundreds of thousands of human beings. But at least we have the feel good, "wounded warrior blankets". The Iranians do not want war, but the Israeli's do, with our economy and youth being ruined.
11
@one percenter, George W. Bush pulled the trigger on Iraq to preclude a successful demonstration of a UN disarmament agreement enforced by inspections.
1
@one percenter Exactly.
Iran's response to Trump's tweet - "Color us unimpressed." Iran probably watched the Trump/ Putin press conference and realizes Putin is the puppet master.
8
After the North Korea baloney, there's no need for Iran or any other country to heed anything Trump says, now or ever.
9
The headline says it all: loud but hardly clear. Sums up his entire presidency. The lunacy heard round the world.
15
Can we stop focusing on this? It's just noise. Trump is obviously just trying to look strong again and make us forget his wimpy lapdog performance with Putin. Please, NYTimes, don't keep falling for this bait!
16
Iran has never started a war with anyone.
8
Trump's idiotic, ignorant, insomniac tweeting should be ignored much as one would ignore a toddler throwing a tantrum in a supermarket. He has no plan besides self-enrichment and self-aggrandisement. We should paying him much less attention and focusing much more on the motives of the men behind him, as they're they ones telling him what to think. All presidents have advisers but this presidency seems very much like just the vehicle to carry out the wishes of others
This seems as relevant a story as any to mention the documentary 'Why We Fight', originally made about the Iraq war but every bit as relevant now as it was in 2005. The military industrial complex's need to justify its expense existence grows ever larger.
9
Trump's empty threat to Iran is reminiscent of Jackie Gleason bellowing, "To the moon, Alice!" It's easy to feel powerful next to a perceived weaker opponent. The difference is, this is no television show. It's a terrifying reality, made scarier every day by an unhinged lunatic, a spineless Congress, and an ill-informed base.
23
Teddy Roosevelt said it best,"Speak softly & carry a big Stick."
Where have all the great Statesmen gone.
12
Any analysis of what the Trump Administration is likely to do with or against Iran that does not mention the influence of Sheldon Adelson on mideast policy is incomplete bordering on useless.
John Bolton owes his job, in part, to the Adelson assisted campaign to get rid of Bolton's predecessor, H. R. McMaster.
Pompeo started his career with the support of the Koch Brothers. He's fully aware that there is no future in today's Republican Party for anyone offensive to Adelson.
A sure way to incur the wrath of Adelson is to talk about a two state solution to the Israel-Palestinian problem OR to talk about seeking peaceful relations with Iran.
11
Sometimes it's not meant to be clear. I wouldn't worry about Iran not understanding President Trump. His words do not ned interpretation.
Iran will not be ignored or spoiled by this President. He is not like his predecessor who gave billions and got nothing including no respect!
3
This report, seeking to ridicule the Trump campaign on Iran, is all over the place, citing Democrat Party efforts, and their flawed deal with Iran, a deal which thanks to Israeli efforts, has shown that certain of their deeply secret ongoing plutonium enrichment efforts, could only be for nuclear weaponry purposes.
Look, we all know that Pompeii is 100% accurate in his assessment, as has been the case with the Mullahs since forever -
" ... he described as “hypocritical holy men,” guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves and finance Islamist terrorism around the world."
I dare anyone, other than the Mullahs and Democratic perception managers, to prove otherwise; think about the ludicrous gift given the Mullahs, in the thankfully, dead agreement, which allowed the Mullahs the opportunity to start the nuclear production line a few years down the road, restoring the threat of Israeli annihilation, and a regional war sure to draw in all world powers, given the incontrovertible fact that world energy needs would be seriously affected, the second Iran made good on any facet of its threats, especially in the beginning with the blockade of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
The tweet is grandstanding, and an effort to shift focus from this never-ending political reality show, but believe me, when it comes to the Middle-Easts' smoldering fire, always ready to become a wildfire, and the Iranian threats, it's past time we threatened to become every bit as medieval.
2
Loud and clear plus north of 3000 lies in a year and a half and you're still surprised that he alone can't fix anything.
6
The president’s outburst at Iran was just another Oval Office tantrum by an enfant terrible who knows nothing about diplomacy or reaching out to friend or foe. He desperately needs a stark headline or talking point to put the Helsinki summit on the back burner and he found his perfect foil in Iran.
After walking out on the Iran Agreement of which the country was in full compliance, the president picked a fight with Iran for no other reason than to suggest the possibility of another Gulf War. Such an explosion from an unpredictable and unstable president would immediately change the national conversation from Russia-related matters to another military face-off that would put the world on edge.
With the midterms only a few months off, the president doesn’t want the country and even his own party to be engaged in conversations about presidential treason. In that case, even for this unfit president, war would be preferential to peace.
11
Iranian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major Gen. Mohammad Bagheri said U.S. threats against Iran will bring "strong, unimaginable and regrettable" response from Tehran. Time to get the show on the road?
Perhaps, the nation's "paper of record" should pay less attention to this man's words (which are worthless) and more attention to his administration's disastrous policies and the overwhelming amount of personal corruption staring us in the face.
32
"But it only deepened questions about the long-term direction of Mr. Trump’s Iran policy."
The problem for trump is that Iranian beaches are not as inviting as are North Korea's so no condos or hotels. Also the Iranians are not as open to a trump golf course as is Kim. He will have to assign this task to Jared to figure things out.
11
It is interesting to note that this article claims that the POTUS and his aides have a scatter shot approach to Iran.
Yet, one so called expert says that the POTUS may have difficulty overcoming objections from his aides on a diplomatic engagement.
And another expert claims Iran fears that his aides are "goading" him into a war.
It is the experts who are all over this issue.
What is exactly happening is what happened with North Korea when the POTUS accepted an invite from North Korea on the spot without consultation with his aides. His words matter.
It is also clear that in his early days, he kept complaining that he was being forced to sign a waiver and had asked his aides to prepare a position paper to deny a waiver.
Also, this POTUS in his campaign constantly disparaged this so called agreement.
Again, as it was said in the campaign, his enemies take him literally but his supporters take him seriously - including me.
Finally, this POTUS may actually be doing his successors a favor by creating a Trump doctrine as it applies to DC' s so called experts.
"don't trust but challenge."
3
@Neil, Trump does not even begin to have the wide-ranging technical expertise to challenge experts intelligently. The man does nothing but shake things up and say "let's see what happens." He is a spoiled child.
6
@Neil
“His words matter.”
A hilarious assertion in the wake of his lame post-Helsinki attempt at damage control.
1
Another instance, this latest Trump bellicose Tweet, besides being the umpteenth 'rabbit hole' distraction, is just that. This is another of Trump's attempts to distract everyone from Robert Mueller doing his assigned job. That being his getting to the bottom of things as he investigates all things Trump. Period!
20
This newspaper would have leaked any collusion by now. There isn’t a shred of evidence pointing to collusion. The only evidence on collusion points directly to Hillary and the prior administration.
Should Trump have drawn an Obamacare “red line” that the entire world sees as laughable?
Ironic that Mike Pompeo called Iranian clerics, “hypocritical holy men”. That’s an accurate description of Christian TV evangelists so beloved by Trump’s administration and base. The main goal of these sharks is to line their own pockets by preying on the gullible.
64
Right, just like the Democrats do to minorities?
Donald Trump's vituperative threats -- issued to us and the world in his Tweets -- hark back to the demagoguery of pre-WWI, pre-WWII, pre-Korean and Pre-Vietnam America. There is no direction or sense to president Trump's foreign policy by Tweets. "Fire, fury and frankly, power"...give us a break. Trump's advisers - John Bolton and Sec. of State Pompeo are regime-change hawks. The president's vomitrociously belliocose tweets and rants won't stop till he is removed from our presidency.
"The World is Waiting for the Sunrise" -- a brilliant song written in 1916 by Canadian songwriters, Ernest Seitz and Gene Lockhart (who became an American citizen) was reprised in 1951 by Americans Les Paul and Mary Ford, recorded by America's greatest singing stars since that time, and mentioned in Tennessee Williams's "The Glass Menagerie" by Tom, who hears that song from the dance-hall next door and says "the world is waiting for bombardments". The show opened on Broadway in March, 1945, the month before Victory in Europe and the dropping of American atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
The American people (and peoples in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa) are already feeling the dire consequences of our 45th President's demented and relentless foreign policy decisions and daily hideous distractions from the business of governing by his constant tweets, rants and rallies to his ignorant and bigoted M.A.G.A, base. We are all waiting "for the sunrise".
34
Can we just stop trying to parse our the meaning behind Trump’s thinking? Bottom line: he doesn’t think before he tweets or speaks. There you go.
70
There are very basic differences between Trump's bellicose threats against N. Korea and his recent conduct toward Iran.
All of America's Asian allies wanted to see some form of peaceful resolution, especially China and S. Korea.
There is no similar 'peace camp' in the Middle East. In fact, with Israel the opposite is true. Netanyahu has made it clear that he intends to "eliminate the Iranian threat" by having the US go to war with Iran.
Despite the language used by Iran's former president, there's no real evidence of any Iranian aggression towards Israel.
Even our own CIA recognizes that the Iranian terrorist attacks, and there were several, were in response to the Israeli assassination of Iranian scientists.
Iran has maintained this "if you hit us, we'll hit you" policy toward Israel, but has been very careful to use measured force and not escalate these confrontations.
On the other hand, Israel would like to see Iran become what Iraq is, a broken state, divided and for some time occupied by the US.
This expansion of Israeli influence is inconsistent with American interests and an Iranian war would by all accounts be disastrous for the region, for world oil prices and for American lives and treasury.
But Netanyahu plays Trump like a string and there are elements within the administration that still want to engage in regime change, despite its obvious consequences.
Unlike N. Korea, there are few elements on either side to pull back from this madness.
52
I absolutely agree with your analysis.A meet and greet between Kim and Trump was encouraged by all the players in the region.It was " slam dunk" diplomacy.The Middle East is a minefield- no easy answers.
Trump wants to be a war president. Just look at the the approval rating George W Bush got when he started the war with Iraq based on lies and cooked up intelligence. Except with Iran, it won't be a cakewalk.
15
@Paul It's about re-election. If the US isn't at war with someone by 2020, he most likely loses re-election, the same way bush would have in 2004 if he hadn't invaded Iraq.
If you look at American History, there are ZERO instances of a sitting President running for re-election and losing while the country is at war. You can argue that LBJ would have lost if he had actually run in 1968, and that's why he chose not to do so, but even then, it's only one instance, the war had dragged on for a decade by that point and was already deeply unpopular.
For some reason, Americans are just reluctant to vote against a "War President"; I guess the whole "continuity of leadership" is more important during wartime.
4
@Paul
I served in Iraq, it was many things, but certainly not a cakewalk.
9
@Steve K It was and is a total waste of resources and people and and has caused a profound weakening of our country. It is the worst foreign policy decision in our history. The effect of little Bush was far worse than Trump can deliver.
With Trump becoming increasingly unravelled, and talking and stalking about in a purple rage—
Can we imagine a closing scene?
After the recent 12 Russian indictments, Special Counsel Mueller now indicts "the American" side, including the likes of Kushner, Trump Jr., Roger Stone, Carter Page et al, and finally—Donald John Trump (or at least named as an un-indicted co-conspirator).
I'd be in favor of direct indictment of Trump instead of the Nixon-era "un-indicted co-conspirator"—we're talking treason here. Certainly aiding and abetting and giving comfort to the enemy. Let the indictment go to the Supreme Court—
Meanwhile, with Special Counsel Mueller's final report to Rosenstein and then to Congress, can we imagine Ryan and McConnell making a trip to the White House to inform Trump that they have the votes to remove him? [With President Pence, they can then just concentrate directly on their overriding goal of cementing church-state arch-conservative Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court for thirty years.]
14
@srwdm
Pence was in on the conspiracy. No one could be such a sycophant as Pence unless their was something very big being held over their head.
8
Er...NK hasn't bent to pressure.
18
Can we be clear about this, President Trump does NOT have a policy on Iran- or on anything else, either. He is a ragbag of impulses, 'facts' he has gleaned from Fox t.v, suspicions of old allies and a deep dislike of traditions and norms that have kept America safe, and its political machine working. He has a range of skills- those of a demagogue like Mussolini- which enable him to game the media and disrupt political processes. But he has no plans or aims. America is caught up in this nightmare as he does everything he can to disrupt and challenge political norms. Eventually he will overstep his powers- perhaps Helsinki was that moment- and then his fall will be precipitous. But looking for intelligent, sustained planning or thought- out responses is pointless.
84
@rosemarypet
Exactly. No policy except that driven by impulse and ego and enabled by toadies posing as cabinet secretaries.
29
@rosemarypet True, Trump has no policies as such. Except one: He consistently trashes the very global system which has been the main source of wealth peace and power of the Western alliance - and even trashes the alliance itself. Whom does this serve? Only Putin. That's all you need to know about 45's policy: 'make Putin happy again'.
Whatever one’s political ideology or stance on Middle East geopolitics, can we perhaps all agree that we’d be better off with a sane, informed grownup as Commander-in-Chief?
45
&25,000,000 in campaign contributions and $3,000,000 in inauguration funding from Sheldon Adelson...all you need to know concerning Trump's Iranian motives.
67
Can we please stop using the threat of war as though it's some trivial event.
46
The Dept of Defense used to be more honestly called the "War Department". That was more accurate and honest because the idea that the USA ever fights a "defensive" war is a canard. Americans, mostly ignorant of history, happily send their young off to fight these foolish and criminal wars of aggression, only to have their children come back broken or in body bags. After the absurd wars against Vietnam and Iraq, the people here never seem to learn from their mistakes. The West from Britain to the USA have meddled in Iranian affairs because of the vast oil wealth there, stealing the oil and undermining any prospect of a nascent democracy. What a sad state of affairs. Our supposed ally, Israel, wants the whole of the ME paved over so they can expand geographically and create a "greater" Israel. A contemporary version of Lebensraum.
15
Couldn’t agree more as an a American Jew I see self destruction coming...and don’t cry for me is my motto
2
Been to Iran recently. Lovely people, so friendly and welcoming. Interestingly, all the people that I met were quietly working towards the type of society that the White House says it is prepared to go to war to establish. All Trump has managed to do is set them back years.
83
Even the mighty Soviet Union couldn't hold it together with one of the largest and most powerful militaries ever assembled. The people revolted and its empire was lost. John Bolton's bellicose fantasy that the U.S. military can force the world to do its bidding is exactly that--a fantasy. An extremely dangerous fantasy. Bolton and Trump ignore two critical factors: 1) the Iranian people, for or against the ruling religious regime, are all on the same page when it comes to their own country. The U.S. can nuke Iran into temporary submission but it will never destroy it and the nation will rise again. 2) Bolton and the Trump administration fail to look behind the cover of the Iranian book--Iranians ARE working to replace the mullahs with their own version of a democracy. It will happen eventually. But the behavior of the U.S. pushes that vision to a back burner because first and foremost Iranians are for Iran, regardless of its government.
Just ask yourself how our military "diplomacy" worked in Vietnam, Haiti, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. Not so great--60,000 dead Americans (and 600,000 dead civilians) in Vietnam alone and we still lost. It will be much worse in Iran. Much worse. And such a tragedy because Iran, given half a chance, would make a great ally for the U.S. in the Middle East.
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Chip, great reponse; however, it won't go over in Trumpotipia because you make logical sense, a language not spoken there.
The so-called bully DJT can’t even fire his appointees face to face
Why would Iran be worried? They (like China, North Korea, Russia, Turkey, Philippines) have his number.
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Rouhani should proceed with caution. He could end up sharing the same fate as Kim Jung Un; a picture of him and Trump shaking hands splashed across across all the media and Trump declaring the threat from Iran is over.
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@Tom Q To be honest, that would be a lot worse for Rouhani than it was for Kim, based on the differences in the people and governments they rule.
1
If this is the response to a two minute recording on one Michael Cohen's tape, imagine what Trump could do with all the tapes
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Nothing in the Middle East is worth one drop of American blood, nothing at all. Iran isn't our enemy, it is defending itself against American hypocrisy, past American CIA collusion, and Israeli nuclear weapons of mass destruction aimed straight at it.
But I am a poor man, unable to buy politicians like Trump, as the special interests in the Middle East can. So America seems intent on muddling our way into another ground war to bankrupt our treasury and kill hundreds of thousands, all for the profit of the war lovers and far right Israeli interests.
But a war with Iran would turn Trump into a war President , like George W., our last war criminal leader, and maybe stop the Mueller investigation.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
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@Hugh Massengill I agree, except for the part about the "last criminal leader". You leave out Obama and his crime in Libya, and and drones that killed civilians indiscriminately.
1
@Jorge Rolon Yeah. I love Obama, but I still can't deny the fact that he literally assassinated American Citizens without due process via the Drone Program, not to mention the HUNDREDS of foreign civilians and noncombatants who were killed or wounded as collateral damage in our drone strikes.
With the possible exception of Jimmy Carter, I'm pretty sure you have to go back a century, maybe more, to find a President who WASN'T a criminal in some way.
Not wanting to defend the Lybia intervention per se, if you recall Gadaffi was about to kill thousands of his people. the Europeans were saying they were going to do something even without the US. There was no plan other than the driving need to stop a genocide.
Of course, it was a disaster because of the governing void that was left. But if nothing had been done while the world watched, imagine what the pundits would say.
Who is to blame - the industrial military manufacturers (and many years of gov't support) who push the weapons into countries that are lead by criminals and megalomaniacs. Without the overwhelming fire power of these rich oil countries to kill their people, the people would have a fighting chance.
1
Why are US holy men in their turn so enthralled with the prospect of overturning Roe v Wade, curtailing female reproductive rights and enforcing their own religious beliefs in a country which is supposed to separate Church and State?
All this cognitive dissonance and primitive belligerence gives me a headache even so far away. I have to play Gilbert and Sullivan parodies on YouTube like Randy Rainbow's A Very Stable Genius to tune out from worrying about another Iraq -style debacle.
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The all cap thingy was rather touching.
Like a screaming child thinks he's getting his way.
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Once again we have elected a man who was ridiculed by his parents. Once again, we will have "Mission Accomplished" banners and a victory parade for a president with very low self esteem. Yet another quagmire will last a lot longer than the ones in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet, Donald Trump will gloat, believing he has the adulation of our entire nation.
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@bnc
Last I heard he does still have the adulation of the vast majority of Republicans.
1
I used to take the tweets from trump as having some meaning beyond what they actually said, giving him credit for having some sort of plan. Well after his famous meeting with the Putin and his frantic attempt to change the subject since I have come to the conclusion he is just an unbalanced wind bag. Now he turns to Iran. He seems to think its great to go from country to country saying one liners that his base loves makes him a great man while it really makes him and us look like fools. Its very sad when the leaders of NK, Russia and Iran show more class than our dear leader.
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Mueller getting ready to unload on the White House or something? Perhaps another former Trumpian is "cooperating" with federal prosecutors...
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So Trump's Iran "policy" has devolved into the single objective of drawing media attention away from his ongoing Russia failure. By that standard, brilliant diplomacy would consist of going on Fox News and dropping his pants on camera
Ugh!
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@Robert Sherman If he drops his pants, I'm hoping that he is censored.
Is it too soon to speak of the emerging Entente Cordiale in the Middle East? Trump is committing the United States to a new de facto alliance in that region even as he destabilises the traditional trans-Atlantic alliances formalised by treaties, such as NATO. Trump is more comfortable with his Saudi Arabian, Emirati and Israeli counterparts than he is with the G6 and the Washington Consensus. He has designated his son-in-law Jared Kushner as his primary negotiator, another political novice who is also dedicated to John Bolton’s conspiratorial vision of Iranian influence, which sees an Iranian hand behind every other obstacle, from Hamas and Hezbollah to the Houthis. If a confrontation is not brought about by the Iranian hardliners who are now sidelining Iran’s more moderate president Hassan Rouhani, Saudi Arabian or Israeli provocations will provide a pretext for American led regime change.
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Add reasons number 4 and 5: the U.S. engineered overthrow of the democratically elected Mossadegh government in 1953 and decades of British and U.S. imperialism which poisons U.S.-Iran relations.
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@Tom Miller; And it was the republican D. Eisenhower that was president at that time that dumped Shah Reza Pahlavi, who was no better than Saddam, on the Iranian people. No wonder they do not like us. I don't blame them.
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@USMC1954 Republican or Democratic, U.S. imperialism acts regardless of which party is in the White House.
Trump is totally out of control. He does not act or speak based on any specific political or philosophical agenda. He acts out of anger, greed, massive egotism and instructions from Vladimir Putin.
Trump's traitorous behavior in Helsinki, his threats against the US security agents that have justly criticized him, his loud threats about starting a war with Iran are all symptoms of Trump's instability and failure to be a president of the United States.
Republicans who stand with Trump, who is frothing at the mouth like a mad dog, are violating their oath of office under the Constitution.
We must all work together to remove these threats to our national security, to the lives of our children and grandchildren.
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Constitution? If Americans cared about the Constitution, Trump would have never become president. We are a nation of know-nothings, and those who who do know something are looked at as uppity, educated, socialist liberals.
We are neck-deep in Republican dung, folks, don't you smell it?
I suspect a deal to keep the Persian gulf a nuclear free zone is loud and clear. I suspect Iran and the USA will get back to the negotiating table and within a year there could be a summit between the presidents of Iran and the USA. Just like Trump did not ignore the nation of Russians , he will not ignore the nation of Persians. I doubt whether Trump will engage the USA in a war of regime change in Iran. The uprising against the Iranian government has been crushed twice in this decade. The Europeans and the BRICS countries are dependent on Iranian oil and gas and will push for a new peace deal with Iran. A military confrontation with Iran would be a foolish misadventure just like the one Jimmy Carter ordered to bring back the hostages in the last century or the shooting down of a civilian Iranian plane by the US. Peace is the only sane option.
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I urge all readers to reread "Whose War? The Loudest Clique Behind the President’s Policy" by Patrick Buchanan. It was published in March 2003 just as we started the shock and awe bombing. With the eager help of our K street wingtipped, draft deferred, legal warriors Riyadh and Tel Aviv control our lawmakers and have put our children in the military in harms way. I can only imagine the anger of an Iranian parent towards the US who lost a son fighting ISIS in Iraq. Unfortunately, the US reaps what the Israelis and Saudis have sown. Trump wants tariffs. I want a hefty gas tax....the only tax that mideast potentates would pay as consumption decreases.
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Ha, talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
What Pompeo describes as “hypocritical holy men ” guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves" can easily describe the current administration and its enablers – who inadvertently "finance Islamist terrorism around the world" with their moral turpitude and duplicity.
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Trump is the first US President to have not a single friend on the entire planet. He is crazy and a product of a capitalists system operating in a state of selective-ignorance long enough to destroy a planet.
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@NewsReaper
Trump actually has more than one friend on this planet. They're all people on his payroll but heck, beggars can't be choosers.
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@NewsReaper
You're right....in reality, he does not have any friends. His personality disorders -- classic combination of narcissist and borderline -- prevent him from ever having real friends and relationships with reciprocal loyalty.
The first problem is that same personality disorder leads him to believe that people are desperate to be his friend and loyal to him, including the likes of Putin.
The bigger problem for our country is that people like Putin -- despite their own personality disorders and megalomania -- are still shrewd enough to understand the concept that they have no real friends or loyalties.
@NewsReaper The real problem is his base LOVES his insanity. How can we make real progress when such a large percentage of our country supports his madness?
It looks a lot like a "Look over there!" exercise to divert attention away from his Helsinki debacle.
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Fortunately the Iranians, a sophisticated people know what a lunatic with whom they are dealing so will likely react appropriately.
Hope Europe buys more of their oil and drives Trump more crazy.
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One of these days the bellicosity of the administration may backfire into a conflagration that nobody wants. Then what? More lives lost? To switch up the latest news cycle?
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Maybe depend on our allies......uhm, wait a minute....
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Trump had a “strategy” towards North Korea like schoolyard children have a “strategy” when shouting how strong their daddy is.
In the end, as is so far visible, Kim won the spiff, getting international respect at a summit & gaining the concession of having joint US/South Korea military drills cancelled.
Iran must be hoping his current strategy yields similar results.
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What's amazing is that Trump ripped up the Iran nuclear accord, which was hammered out carefully, while he'd agree to something with a fraction of its exacting details without a second thought. And claim it was the best deal ever.
Shoes wait to fall, in North Korea and Iran. Neither respects Trump. Once Donald gets a whiff of North Korea's real intention, who knows how he'll keep his head from spinning. If he wants to use Iran as a tail to wag a dog, he'll find he holds the tail of something more ferocious. Ah, the summer of 2018 will seem like such a happy time.
If Iranian leaders were as devious as North Korea's, they'd reel Trump in, too. In this imaginary world, we could watch Netanyahu apoplectic after Donald buys Rouhani's pledge to dismantle Hezbollah. But the Middle East ain't East Asia. Trump is no diplomat.
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Iran often rattles sabers. The threats are reminiscent of Saddam Hussein, who continued his rhetoric until his end. The U.S. sometimes rattles too. In Trump, there is a president who many people, including foreign leaders, think will act impulsively and violently. I think he likes that impression, although there is little real evidence of it. In fact, his response to Syria's most recent use of poison gas was mild. But, what should we do with countries that threaten us or take our citizens hostage, like Iran? Our last president seemed to believe in a humble approach, with some exceptions (e.g., the raid on bin Laden). We essentially paid to get the hostages back from Iran separate and apart from the nuclear deal, and it was hidden from us. There are times and places humility can be effective, but it didn't seem to work with our friends or enemies in foreign policy at all. Every major "foe" grew braver - Russia, China, Noko, Iran and Syria, plus ISIS. I'd rather have our leader bark back, although you do want to avoid looking erratic and he often says foolish or volatile things (e.g., calling the EU a foe). I don't think much of the tweeting and wish it could be done otherwise. Unfortunately, the media is invested in his destruction and tweeting is how he gets around them.
If some country threatens us, I don't mind him threatening back. Nor do I accept the arguments of some that b/c we intervened in Iran in 1953, 75 years ago, that we are somehow the "bad guy."
@David H. Eisenberg
"Nor do I accept the arguments of some that b/c we intervened in Iran in 1953, 75 years ago, that we are somehow the "bad guy." "
The Iranians do. They accept that a coup orchestrated by the West in 1953 does in fact make the instigators the "bad guy". That's just the way it is, whether you "believe" it or not. With unintended, unforeseen consequences. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/30/weekinreview/ideas-trends-iran-guatem...
We need to fix major problems in our own backyard first before meddling in the affairs of other countries on behalf of giant corporations.
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@David H. Eisenberg,
65 years (not 75) is just a blip in the history of Iran/Persia, which stretches way back to even before Alexander the Great.
So yes, they would infer that of the 1953 Intervention.
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@Madeleine Rawcliffe Madeleine, I'm well aware the Iranians believe that. unfortunately, some Americans too. We could still fight with Britain over burning Washington, D.C. or Vietnam, etc. The Iranians are bad actors now and we confront them now. You think it is a better world if they close the straights. The U.S. is the only hope and sometimes guarantor of peace in the world. If we retreat from the world until we fix all our major problems (which is never - utopias don't exist), our borders will close in on us. There is no one else to stop countries like Russia, China, Iran, etc. We couldn't do it alone, but we are the indispensable country. And we do it at great cost.
Government by Twitter?? I believe there is nothing in the US Constitution to provide for the dismissal of a president for actions beneath the dignity of his office. There should be!
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Trump has a policy? Is it "Foreign wars are easy to win"?
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Iran is a bigger country than most Americans think. A war with Iran would be a major mistake. Further, all Iran has to do is wait until the 2020 election. By then there will be a new President. Rex warned us that Trump is not very bright.
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@Alan
Indeed. I think the entire world (excluding Russia, China and North Korea of course ) are all just biding their time until this administration is voted out. (or impeached)
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@Alan Williamson "Major mistake" doesn't even begin to describe what a war with Iran would be. It would be a catastrophic use of resources on our part for zero benefit.
2
"Trump is much more interested in what comes out of it for him personally, in terms of a Nobel Peace Prize," according to one expert quoted toward the end of the article.
Doesn't that say it all? For Trump, when hasn't it been all about what's in it for him? That's the way he ran his businesses and it's the way he runs the country. A more self-serving leader of a democratic nation the world has never seen.
He's also vain beyond belief. That could also be the reason he "seems eager for some kind of dust-up with Iran.” His vanity and pride were wounded when he pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and the rest of the world, perhaps with the exception of Israel, rebuked him by making it clear the deal was working and still on.
Every day with Trump you wonder how can things get any worse, but they can, and I hope we as well as the people who elected him don't come to regret having given this man the nuclear codes when it's too late.
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@JHM "We the people" did NOT elect him; the Electoral College did.
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@JHM Nobel peace prize? Ha!
There was a deal in place under which Iran handed over its fissile nuclear assets and shut down its centrifuges; Iran was in compliance with that deal according to inspectors who WERE given unfettered access. Donnie 2-scoops reneges on the deal despite the pleadings for him to stick with it by all our allies except Israel. So now Iran says there could be a big war or there could be a big peace and Cadet bone spurs threatens to nuke them.
Not exactly Nobel Peace Prize earning performance from our so-called president. And isn't Congress the only one allowed to start wars?
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@JHM Good post. I agree with you that this is all about trump, as is everything this 'president' does. The fact that he believes he will ever win the Nobel Peace Prize, let alone be nominated for it, is a sure sign of the obvious mental illness many of us believe he has. Unfortunately, this man knows nothing about history, especially our history in the Middle East. His Idea of removing religious leaders in Iran is even more ridiculous than our invasion of Iraq. What worries me (this list is long with trump, and longer every day), is that he has itchy little trigger fingers he desperately wants to try out with his big button. He appears to enjoy the chaos he creates, but it is never enough for him. A little nuclear strike might appease this clearly erratic and unreliable man. What a mess we are in.
7
He threatens Korea,
He threatened Iran.
He knows even less about war than Bush did.'
At least Bush II had military experience and a Daddy wo had WAR experience ..
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Great. Like the threat of war is going to solve our issues with a country with a working infrastructure, a functioning education system, people with access to real information and what was a pretty good pact: one in which Iran promised to NEVER develop a nuclear weapon. But all of that is based on reality, something our president has a poor relationship with, to put it mildly.
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@SUERF
You mean he’s a liar!
2
Let's take a look at history. In 1913 the British grabbed Iranian oil and made it their property. Six years later, Britain imposed another agreement and took over Iran’s treasury and the army. During the Second World War, Britain’s requisitioning of food led to famine and widespread disease. Shortly after that war, Iran’s own efforts to establish its nascent democracy and nationalize the oil industry were thwarted. And by whom? Uncharacteristically, Eisenhower joined the systematic British looting, and, sadly, by 1953, the blossoming Iranian democracy was completely destroyed by the covert operation of the American CIA and British MI6, known as Operation Ajax. In place of the democracy was installed Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, a US-British puppet, a despot deeply hated by his own people. His fall to the Khomeini’s mullahs was so precipitated that even today Iranians see it as a British plot, branding Britain as “Original Satan.”
AND NOW TRUMP WANTS WAR!
What can Iranians think?
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@Nicholas I believe it was operation TP Ajax. The US murdered Iran's democratically elected prime minister Mohammad Mossaddegh and installed the Shah Reza Pahlavi. They then returned control of the oil to private companies. At the time of the Iranian revolution in 1953, it was said that everyone there either had a family member or knew someone who had been tortured or killed by the Iranian secret police, the Savak. The Savak was set up with help from the US.
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@Nicholas Correction: the Iranian revolution in 1979.
@stewarjt
minor correction - Mossadegh died while under house arrest several years after being overthrown, not sure you can say we murdered him.
Tweets and noise aside, the sad fact is that the U.S. has shown it cannot be trusted by anyone, least of all by Iran:
To refresh memories: In the aftermath of 9/11 Iran's President was the first world leader to offer condolences, Iran then proceeded to assist the U.S.-backed Northern Alliance in kicking the Taleban out of Afghanistan (fully documented by U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan James Dobbins) and was promptly rewarded with the 'Axis of Evil' epithet ...... while the Saudi perpetrators of 9/11 continued Business As Usual.
The same happened with ISIS, created by U.S. ally Saudi Arabia, whom Iranian ground troops bravely fought with scant recognition from the Western media, let alone from the Congress/Senate.
The history of U.S. betrayal of Iran is too lengthy for this post. Suffice to say I met with many Iranian government officials during my decade (2000 - 2009) as head of a major European bank in Iran, and the term 'Neocon-Zionist Conspiracy' came up time and again as the stumbling block to peace between Iran and the U.S.. The belief is that even the most well meaning U.S. President will/would be powerless to oppose the agenda of the Kochs, Adelsons, AIPAC, etc.,.
So we are literally at a stalemate, one that can be broken only if the U.S. makes the first move and terminates sanctions. More threats will only bring us all closer to Armageddon.
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I have to agree that at this point the US can not be trusted. I have found it very hard to understand why any country would make a deal with trump seeing how he is willing to lie and break the deal at any whim. I also believe it is almost impossible for any well meaning president of Iran to buck the religious right that wants to support terrorism around the world.
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@Hamid Varzi
Sir, your view of the history between the US and Iran would be better served if it included the enrichment of those who control Iran, under the false guise of "religious leadership".
trump is a fool, and deserves to be called out for his stupidity and lies. But your friends in Tehran do not have "clean hands" sir.
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Which of James Dobbins' works are you referring to in your post? I'd like to read them. Thanks!
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Re Trump’s “determination to use the same approach that he took to engineer a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea.”
I don’t think it’s accurate to call the North Korea fiasco a “diplomatic breakthrough.” Kim Jung Un had been desparate for recognition from world leaders since his reign began. Not long ago he rolled out the red carpet for none other than Dennis Rodman in order to get that legitimacy he desparately needs. But presidents prior to Trump steadfastly refused to give the North Korean leader or his father recognition without a verifiable abandonment of nuclear aspirations.
Trump simply decided to cave, handing Kim Jung Un not just diplomatic recognition but even outright praise, without a single verifiable concession in return. Trump strapped a saddle on his back and let Kim Jung Un mount him, entrenching Un’s power and cementing Trump’s own legacy as the greatest diplomatic buffoon this country has ever seen.
Diplomatic “breakthrough”? Try “mule ride.”
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@Kevin
Trump's NK "breaktrough" consisted of just standing here and nodding. All the action was from Kim.
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Diversion Diversion Diversion
ANYTHING to take the spotlight off the Helsinki debacle.
Don't fall for it -- Trump upheld the Russians' attack on the United States last week and we're not done discussing the fallout.
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@Kevin The NYT consistently adopts Trump's own description of his actions. I wonder if they even notice.
There is no "Iran policy". There also is no NK policy, or trade policy or immigration policy or any coherent policy of the Trump administration. Trump's "policy" involves whatever strokes his ego at the time. Anything that plays well with the base and gets attention. He revels in creating a crisis (more press) and then "fixing" said self-created crisis (a win). North Korea is the clearest example.
His motivations are either his ego, or deflection from some other crisis he just created. For example, we are no longer talking about the Helsinki debacle, we are talking about Iran. Mr. Trump has nicely deflected the conversation and we follow along like labradors chasing a tennis ball wherever it is thrown.
Trump's interest always has been and will be himself. He cares not two hoots about the US and the majority of it's citizens. The sooner we realize this and stop attributing his random actions to some coordinated policy the better. This dangerous clown king needs to go. Vote!
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@TW And yet our GOP Congress continues in complicit silence & inaction.
@TW. His gutless Congress follows along and they need to go too. In fact, they need to go first.
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@TW
Absolutely. Unfortunately, it's time to realize that much of the DEM leadership has NO PLAN. They are expecting us to do their work by voting the GOP out. This stinks. Talk about a continuing problem. At least we wouldn't be drilling another hole in the boat to let more water out. I like the Bronx Cheer. She's thoughtful enough to know she doesn't have all the answers. WHO DOES? But she's honest enough to say so straight out AND her brain is engaged. Evangelicals are now wedded to Corruption. IF the DEMS would go Life fro Conception, WOW! They would Blow The Doors Off America. Imagine Moms saying, That's MY BABY FROM DAY ONE! Simple as that. I mean, When wasn't I, Mom? See what I mean. I'm a guy. Let me speak for Husbands who don't get it yet:
A man who isn't busy lifting up his wife is letting her down. GET IT NOW? You heard it here...TX!
World politics cannot be solved with a tweet or many tweets. It takes hard ground work and compromises by both sides. This tweet like many others from Trump was aimed at being a distraction, what we don't know and should be very concerned about, is how far will Trump go with his distractions? Is he willing to start a war with Iran if it helps him stay in power? Whether we like it or not Trump is the President and what he says or tweets will affect this country. Impeachment or the 25th Amendment is the only way to remove this incompetent threat from our country.
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@VMG Back in 2011-2012, Trump sent out dozens of tweets predicting that Obama would start a war with Iran. Like these, “I predict that President Obama will at some point attack Iran in order to save face!” and “In order to get elected, @BarackObama will start a war with Iran.” Foreshadowing? They certainly provide a window into Trump’s thinking about Iran, and the value of a war to save a threatened presidency (his own, today).
2
@VMG
Yes, but watch out for Pence, BIG TIME! .
Just hope that by the time the Trump-stir is out, Pence is not seen as as a remedy not given a fair shake and worthy of a a chance of his own. The DEMS Are sitting on their hands & Pelosi os just waiting to come in and "Play it again, Sam', with no plan; nothing to offer but worn out cue cards. Shees. Get her off the stage, too!
We must remember that the Iranian government is trapped by its own ideology. The Iranian people are largely innocent bystanders to the activities of their heavy handed theocracy, which is the unintended consequence of the CIA engineered the overthrow Iran's nascent democracy in 1953.
Iranians are a sophisticated people with a rich culture, and a lively interest in western ideas and cultures. When Tehran and Washington try to demonize each other, we should remember that the threats and vituperation are coming from a small minority of motivated by their own interests. The bad blood being ginned up by despots on both sides should not, and does not necessarily reflect an enmity of the Iranian or American people for each other.
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@Reed Erskine The situation you describe in your post is exactly what is happening in America. I recognized it right away, didn't you? Iranians and Americans appear to have much in common these days.
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@Reed Erskine Many Iranians feel the way anti Trump Americans feel. So much you don't like and no way to change it at least for now.
I was in Iran just before the revolution and you're right, sure, many simple folks but lots of extremely educated and sophisticated people.
@Reed Erskine Absolutely, Reed. I traveled to Iran 2 years ago and spent 2 weeks there, a wonderful country and history. The people are well educated and often better informed than most Americans. They are very aware that all the 9/11 killers were Sunni Muslims from Saudi Arabia and other Muslim Countries, not Shia.
The people desire peace.
Trump has no Iran policy except destroy any good will Obama created.
Iran is a low hanging fruit for peace, Trump is too ignorant to understand that.
1
I am horrified that a relatively mild comment by the president of Iran ("the mother of all peace" or "the mother of all wars") would evoke such an angry response from Trump while the actual attack of our democracy by Russia under Putin's direction has elicited nothing in response at the instigation of Trump. All sanctions were either congressional or by Obama in origin while Trump equivocates. Add that much of the ire of Iran is because of the Trump administration dismantling of the accord achieved by the negotiated settlement during the Obama administration. He is a danger to us all as global citizens.
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@Hla3452
that was to be expected by a person whose only education is a third class military school and who has asked such question like "Why don't we use these nukes more often?" and who has only warmongering cronies like Bolton to "help" him.
@Hla3452
If I were president I would focus on the
"Mother of all peace". But I'm not and he is.
Let’s suppose that the foreign minister of Germany gave a speech in which he pledged that Germany would work with the American people to undermine the government of the United State, which was led by a “hypocritical corrupt businessman” (since money is in many ways the god of American capitalists). How would Trump, Pompeo and Bolton regard that kind of threat? And let’s not forget that as much as Iran has meddled in the affairs of their neighbors, our hands are not exactly clean in Iran during the pre-Islamic Republic days. As much as these tweets are worrisome, let’s not forget that they are designed to take attention off the collusion with Russia investigation.
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@Ockham9 well it wasn't Germany it was Russia. Russia worked with the American people (via facebook, bot accounts, trolls) to undermine the government (our voting process and democracy) so that a "hypocritical corrupt business[person]" (Hillary Clinton) would be blocked from government.
@Ockham9 If I were an Iranian, I would remember the take down of a popular leader, Mossadegh, who wanted to nationalize Iran's oil resources, much to the chagrin of the CIA and BP Oil. Perhaps the young do want to participate in a wider world; that does not mean they should link up with a tainted Administration which received 3M fewer votes then the opposition. I would not recommend jumping on the train wreck in D.C.
I have a great idea for Trump. A peace treaty with Iran, where they agree to give up their nuclear program in exchange for a commercial opening. In fact, there is a really well thought-through draft already prepared, which the Iranians would accept. He could boast bigly about how he created peace with Iran, and just not mention to his supporters that the treaty was negotiated by Obama and the same he tore up without cause a few months ago.
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@Guy Moore Wonderful idea but I'm sure you realize that trump is motivated by hate, particularly for Obama.
Many of us believe that he is mentally unbalanced and should be replaced ASAP.
Time will tell!
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@Guy Moore
Won't happen. The Saudis and Emiratis are well invested in the Trump/Kushner businesses to prevent exactly this.
@Guy Moore
It takes two for a tango !
So let me get this straight. Iran is bad because of “hypocritical holy men,” guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves and finance Islamist terrorism around the world. But North Korea and Russia, also led by hypocritical cult figures guilty of looting their country to enrich themselves and finance murderous shenanigans around the world, those guys are A-OK. Got it.
I know, I know, it's all part of Trump's double-secret intricate plan to bring jobs to America. Or something.
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@Three Bars
And the thing is Iran doesn't "finance Islamist terrorism around the world". They support a few local groups that rattle sabers at Israel and takes sides in regional civil wars, but thats about it. Iran is Shia most of the " Islamist terrorism" around the globe is Sunni based. THAT is backed buy the Saudis
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Oh and don't forget the hypocritical holy men of America looting while creating social and economic stress here and around the world.
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For that matter, America is guilty of letting hypocritical holy men, like Pence, loot the country to enrich themselves and sell munitions around the world.
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Make no mistake - Trumps' tweet was "LOUD and CLEAR"
Iran gets it, and will continue to get it. Two Things are headed their way. Regime change (protests are still happening) or capitulation. Sanctions are working, and Russian abandonment has happened. Also Israel's recents devastating strikes against IRANIAN forces in Syria have been the icing on the cake. Their economy is tanking and businesses are avoiding IRAN like the plague. Iran's Government sees the writing on the wall, and for all the tough talk, they know the U.S. will make good on it's threats. It's only a matter of time before positive change happens.
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@SkyBird Right...lol...because Trump has such a track record of reliability of his tweets...
@SkyBird -Anybody sending messages in capital letters do this because of desperation caused by running out of arguments. (If there ever was any such discernible or based on some morally spotless cause(that was a joke, think collusion/money laundering)) Trump in a nutshell.
Everything in this statement is completely lacking in factual backing. Protests always happen in Iran, and the government always viciously suppresses them. The sanctions don't appear to be working and Russia still supports Iran. Lastly, there is nothing Trump can do to bring about positive change in Iran. He appears to want to nuke the nation, and that is not a positive step.
The Trump administration is more of a TV series than a government. At some point in time, the public, even his base, will tire of “The Trump Show”. He will run out of ready foreign villains (there are only so many countries) to vaguely threaten, he will run out of domestic villains(animals, parks, immigrants will be gone) to demonize and people will quit being distracted by the daily shiny objects. Iran is this week’s distraction which ticks many of the Trump base boxes; foreign, Islamic, mysterious, vaguely threatening. What better country to vaguely threaten in a copy of last summer’s episodes of vaguely threatening North Korea. The season ended with a shocking finale with Kim and Trump becoming friends. Although awfully derivative, a similar ending with Iran would be welcomed.
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@DO5 It's like a second rate reality-tv show, which is the only thing Trump has experience in. I sincerely hope it will not be renewed for a second season.
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@DO5 Unfortunately Trump's base will never tire of the Trump Show if they haven't done so already. They live in the same delusional world as Trump and believe all of the fantasies he delivers. Unfortunate they also have the right to vote.
The Trump administration is more akin to the Theatre of the Absurd and/or the Comedy of Errors.
Mr. Trump’s threat that Iran would “suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before”.
But it only deepened questions about the long-term direction of Mr. Trump’s Iran policy.
What policy? Schoolyard threats are not policy.
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@DENOTE MORDANT
Do you wonder how a five time draft dodger with fake bone spurs acquired knowledge of combat realities? Iran might not be the pushover No. Korea was. The American public might not be all in to support what the Saudis want, given that it was a Saudi who financed the atrocities on 9/11. Not to mention Trump's business interests in SA. We already had one unjustified war for oil in Iraq with a cost of 1 trillion. We might want to address our deteriorating Federal highway system, dams, bridges etc. before we launch another war on a credit card. We might want to address the empty military bases in each Congressional district which require maintenance and minimal staffing. Perhaps a bigger bang for the buck would be to upgrade our inner city schools, provide better housing and opportunities for those who are poor, under served, and bright. Just a thought.
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What's unclear to me is why the US would even feel threatened by Iran. Iran can barely fight off attacks from it's weak neighbors, much less a superpower. For the love of all that's holy, we need to quit meddling in everybody's business. Leave Iran alone and stay out of the Iran-Israel rivalry. It's a deadly trap that will just consume American lives and treasure with zero benefit.
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@Mr. Adams Read this article again. Iran is just the latest firecracker Trump is using to detract us from his total failure as the great deal maker in his meeting with Putin who allowed Trump to show the world what a naive fool he has proven himself to be.
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@Mr. Adams
The military contractors and billionaires who buy our government want more money, Mr. Adams.
Cherchez l'argent.
Oh. And the manchild has to cry wolf again.
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@Mr. Adamsle tweet....his threats are for just threatening the US. I bet he wishes he could make the same threats at Comey, Brennan ET AL.
Ok, then please do not chase the "bait" (the upper case Iran tweet). Stay focused on 1) the stinky in Helsinki, 2) Storm Daniels, 3) Michael Cohen, 4) his tax returns.
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@PlayOn
And the kidnapped Hispanic children.
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