An ancient proverb says, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” This is true until the common enemy is no longer a threat. I was hoping our recent friendship with Iran would grow into a nonaggression pact. Unfortunately, Iran sponsored demonstrations at the United States embassy in Iraq indicates that Iran did not care to be friends with the U. S. anymore. They were not even trying to hide their contempt for the United States. Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded Wednesday by taunting Trump, declaring, “You can’t do a damn thing.” For a country that could not do a damn thing, killing General Soleimani was a pretty impressive rebuttal. Iran and the United States have lost that loving feeling. It would be wise of Iran to be careful with their taunts and actions going forward. President Obama is gone. There is a new sheriff in town.
foreign policy
What Lord Palmerston Might Say About The Peace In Syria
Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.”— Lord Palmerston
I find it somewhat surprising to hear the pundits talk so glowingly about the US-Kurdish friendship. In the past, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran warned the United States about getting too close to the Kurds. As a result, the United States does not directly supply weapons to the Kurds. Both the United States and the Kurds understood that this friendship was never meant to be permanent. Turkey and Syria would determine when peace in Syria could occur.
If Saudi Arabia Wanted Khashoggi Dead, Why Did They Do It At Their Consulate?
Am I the only person who thinks it strange that Saudi Arabia purportedly assassinated Khashoggi in their consulate? Both North Korea and Russia assassinated citizens they did not like in foreign countries but they were not foolish enough to do it in their consulate. It is called plausible deniability. The assassinations by North Korea and Russian sent a clear message to potential enemies of the government that they will never be safe. What message does an assassination at a consulate say? If Mr. Khashoggi has done something that violated Saudi laws, why not have someone in the consulate arrest him and put him on a plane back to Saudi Arabia for a trial? In Saudi Arabia, they could legally interrogate and condemn him to death. Killing him in a consulate makes no sense.
The US Bombing Attack Of A Syrian Airfield Reminds Me Of The Grenada Invasion
When I first heard of the US bombing attack it immediately reminded me of the Grenada Invasion early in the Reagan administration. After a botched rescue attempt during the last days of the Carter administration, there was a lot of concern in the first days of the Reagan administration whether the US could maintain its control of the Caribbean and its stature as the preeminent world military power. The American swagger was gone. The Grenada Invasion demonstrated to the world that cowboy diplomacy was back. Despite the craziness of invading a small Caribbean island with no strategic interest, the world was happy. America was back. Probably the same feeling you got when you heard John Wick say: