My grandpa, and later my father, used to say something at particular moments that generally annoyed me but turned out to be entirely accurate, much to my youthful angst… “Well, hang around a one-legged group long enough, and you’re eventually going to end up limping.”
Yup, I learned to hate that lesson because the truth of it was always annoying.
This is perhaps the first time in memory when I look forward to Donald J Trump getting out of the Mar-a-Lago bubble and back to Washington DC. Good grief, just typing that I can’t believe I’m saying it. Here’s why:
Having followed and written about the optimal solution approach within the Trump Doctrine, a process that assigns responsibility to regional actors, then exits while providing support but not direct involvement [the delegation metric of high-support/low-direction], perhaps that is unfolding again in the background. However, it seems like Trump is accepting the annoying Iran monkey problem on our behalf. [REF: How to Make The Monkey Jump]
To be clear in my personal position, charity begins at home. (1) I don’t want conflict with Iran, nor do I really care about their internal political struggles; most of my day-to-day contacts feel the same. (2) At the same time, yes, I can imagine a scenario where Venezuela represents a threat to our continental objectives and national security, but would prefer to see them isolated from the outside. Embargo them, stuff them inside an economic confinement zone (if needed), tell them why, then let the internal mess work itself out; most of my day-to-day contacts seem to feel the same.
Granting President Trump the long view of support; I mean, we don’t know what he is aware of; I sure hope all of this Iran stuff has a direct connection to American strategic interests.
Simultaneously, I can certainly see where deconflicting the USA, vis-a-vis Ukraine (literally London and the EU) from friction with Russia, has a strategic interest and factual bearing on the dollar-based trade system. Attention on the Ukraine vs Russia stuff does have direct, albeit complicated outcomes attached to the economic standing of the average American. Iran less so.
Pictured Center: a one-legged man.
Looking at it from a geopolitically logical approach…. President Trump and Marco Rubio need Syria to remain stable.
Secretary Rubio has explained this aspect very well when he summarized the reason for President Trump lifting the sanctions against Syria. I get that part. But is this “locked and loaded” simply a brush back pitch against Iran to stop them from disrupting Trump’s Gaza objective. Maybe so, it does make sense; thus, we extend the benefit of doubt.
If Syria destabilizes the tenuous Israel/Gaza stuff gets more complicated. Iran can destabilize Syria. Therefore, putting pressure on the Iranian regime while simultaneously telling Israel to cool it over their Turkish opposition to the Gaza assist again does make sense.
Benjamin Netanyahu dislikes Recep Erdogan immensely and doesn’t trust him an inch. I get that part also, but Turkey is a weird place held together by Erdogan’s very specific brand of Muslim Brotherhood patriotism.
In very direct ways keeping Syria stable helps Turkey and by extension the EU.
If Syria erupts, the refugee exodus heads north, and cunning Erdogan – a tenuous NATO member seemingly never giving up on his Ottoman Empire rebuild – will play his “I can only absorb so much” card, thereby opening the gates for more authentic Islam travel further north into Europe.
[Our solid contacts in Istanbul have confirmed around 5 million Syrians have repatriated since President Ahmed al-Sharaa started his agenda to stabilize the region. The busy former al-Qaeda guy, 43-years-old, is also a bridge between Trump and Putin. So, there’s that.]
Keeping Syria stable also permits Trump’s Arab state coalition to deal with Gaza/Hamas in a constructive way. Trump told Netanyahu this publicly during the recent visit, essentially rebuking Israel’s justification for more IDF military action in Gaza. Again, President Trump is dancing through the minefield here with the long game to get us the f**k out of it, while Netanyahu is hugging Trump to pull the USA deeper into it.
If you understand the Iranian tentacles that still remain in Syria (see recent ISIS attacks), confronting Iran makes Israel very happy; however, it’s not Netanyahu’s happiness that stands behind Trump’s motive for the confrontation. Ultimately, the motive is Syria’s stability, Turkish Gaza support and the Arab money/engagement needed for the Mideast mess.
If our suspicions are correct, we should see Team Trump leaning toward Recep Erdogan, toward the Arab coalition and toward Syria at the same time he is managing Iran, managing Israel and managing a U.S. congress.
If the Ayatollahs are busy tamping down street protests, they are less likely to be poking Syria.
All of that is giving President Trump the maximum benefit of the doubt combined with the application of common sense.
♦ Meanwhile inside Russia, you might not hear about it from western media, but Ukraine and NATO are striking non-military targets, civilian areas, throughout Russia currently focusing heavy drone fire at Kazan, Russia’s third largest city.
STATE DEPT: “There have been drone attacks and explosions near the border with Ukraine, and in Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, and other large cities.
Russian citizens are now very familiar with the sound of air raid sirens as increased drone attacks from Ukraine are extending into Russia. This noticeable increase in activity is happening in combination with U.S/Ukraine strategic discussions on an EU created ceasefire agreement.
The Rubio state department has now updated the Russia advisory summary warning all Americans of the danger in traveling throughout Russia.
The update is also timed with the increased drone attacks into Russia’s main population centers and is likely due to concern that Americans would be street targets for angered Russian nationalists.
If President Trump walks away from the EU/Ukraine peace agreement construct, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin will likely increase retaliatory attacks against Ukraine by significant levels. One of my good contacts shared, “if Trump walks away, Kiev will now be leveled.”
Apparently, despite the incoming fire increasing, Putin is holding back his response to give Trump room to operate, while still carefully managing the Kremlin politics and striking into Ukraine to appease those in Russian government who want the full weight of the Russian military to come down hard on Zelenskyy.
…”If Trump walks away, Kiev will now be leveled.”
Venezuela hit/Maduro captured? Iran/Syria/Russia…..holy hell what is going on? It has a crescendo feel to it all. Perhaps my pessimism is showing.
Safe to say we have no idea what is going on behind the scenes.
Yep, Breitbart is reporting that Maduro has been captured and is en route to the US, where he is expected to face drug-related charges.
Hopefully, the Venezuelan people will take this opportunity to form a more sensible and less totalitarian government.
Hopefully Americans take this opportunity to save America. Oh wait Republicans are 99% uniparty and won’t address election fraud.
They fear us and election fraud is the only way to protect the status quo.
The question is that percentage, 99%. Is it 99%? 97%? We know that it is too high, but the real percentage is the question.
The ’26 elections are coming.
I would love to know if this is Trump’s message to the Ceyea that he is in control of our military and is disrupting their supply chain of money……Hence the Venezuela capture. Is this a war with the above mentioned?
If true, that would be a good sign. Trump needs to be in control of the CIA.
I think that is correct.
Great observation. Not only a message to the Cee Eye A, but a message to the world & the DS (hopefully). Hegseth clearly has Trump’s back, and Trump is clearly in control of our military. This is very good for we Patriots. Ratcliffe was standing in the rear at the press conference. Golly. I wonder what Monday will bring? 👍❤️🇺🇲
Venezuela—>Hezbollah—>Iran—>state-sponsored terrorism/criminal organizations
Read “Operation Cassandra”
Dismantle idiot Jimmy Carter’s most idiotic mistake of installing radical Islamic jets in Iran….>45 years late but better late than never
Venezuela is only part of the puzzle…the bigger puzzle/picture…and the root of a very large problem….is Iran.
Looks like Trump had a better idea in Venezuela.
Interesting take.
It’s a shame President Trump has to navigate such tangled webs, on his way to eventually cutting the Gordian Knot.
Peace Is The Prize.
He has the most amazing ability to dislike people without them knowing. Even making them believe they are the world’s greatest! 😂 love him
That 2016 photo of newly elected Trump sitting at the table with Secretary of State wanna-be Romney comes to mind.
Can you just imagine if Pierre Delecto was our SoS? What a goof he was to even think he stood a chance.
.
If Kiev must be leveled, then Kiev must be leveled. … Just make sure Zelensky is found beneath the rubble.
In a flattened train carriage with all the leaders of the coalition of the willing and their bag of crack!
Can’t get that drug filled train carriage out of my mind along with the Satan’s Last Supper at the Paris Olympics. An evil has fallen over the continent of Europe and the sooner we exit, the happier I will be.
It might be the ruin of Europe will be our final warning. We need to throw out the Communists and Islamists and seek salvation before it is too late.
Somehow letting a communist muslim take the mayorship of NYC does make our criticisms of the muslim take over in London and other parts of England seem hypocritical. Why isn’t Ilhand Omar being charged and deported for her treason?
Think about it. Texas is under threat from all the muslims and their mosques being allowed there, too. Our country is being invaded.
Too much concern for Ukraine and very little concern for the invasion going on in our own country. America First.
Crooked judiciary and Congress here makes things tough going. Also China’s influence in South America is countered.
America First, America Only.
No doubt .. even my little hole in the wall town in Texas has a mosque
100 million armed Americans and the invasion continues.
Although we have the 2nd amendment, it does not seem to be used in this invasion and the court system is compromised.
The cops in every town in America are not on your side, they are on the side that gives them their paycheck.
Never mind the judges and politicians.
Wish it weren’t so, brother very old white guy.
Stay strong and ready to make a difference with our time that is left us.
Texas is one of the 3 states allowing the muslim invasion. The other two are CA and NY.
And they already have Minnesota and probably Washington state, so when they start closing us in, where do we go?
And Michigan
And the state of washington.
I hear the methodist church here recently sold out to a mosque. No doubt our unelected politicians were in lockstep, maybe they even strong-armed the sale. Muh diversity.
Why would Christian churches allow such a thing? Oh yes, how can I forget our churches are thoroughly corrupted! Catholic Charities and Lutheran Services are on the front lines trafficking these border jumping grifters into our communities under the refugee resettlement program. Now they are taking over the churches!
Nice. Is it not a sin to mislead the flock?
‘Christian’?
Unbelievers in religious robes.
NYC should be the next place cleansed of Islamic communism.
It doesn’t seem like America is first on the things to do list!
THIS!!! Peace wins for stating the obvious!!!
Perhaps if we stated the obvious more often, even President Trump may hear of what is really going on here in the USA.
Yes I wonder about it too. As President Trump was giving his press conference , the things he said about the cartels running the country I thought what about our own cartels the deep state and their strong arm the c/a. Then I thought if the strong arm was involved with Venezuela and benefiting by $$$$ then it was PT’s attack on them as well. That Venezuelan cartel is supposed to be the largest and operates worldwide. Well then America first and MAGA makes sense.
My husband is yelling the exact same thing. He doesn’t understand why key figures in our country aren’t facing military tribunals, the marines aren’t out in full, rounding up our top criminals, illegals, fraudsters etc…I’m teetering on the fence. Corruption is rampant here at home, we’re sick of being tax slaves. All I can say is Trump is only one man, there has to be a reason he’s starting on the outside first. Will we ever get to clean out our country? Idk. There is so much corruption everywhere. I do know the hubby gets on fb too much and there’s a lot of baloney on there, getting him riled up. Arrests that haven’t happened, evidence they don’t have etc..
And nobody important (i.e. Trump) seems to care.
Invaded with a nod and a wink from States’ governors and legislators…funded as well with grants and loans (from whom, God only knows).
I’m in Texas, and I cannot believe how far the welcome mat has been rolled out for Islam and its adherents.
All well and good for Abbot to sign a bill which prohibits Sharia Law. How does he intend to stop it? A question we all have which so far has no answer.
And so while we wait, the “Religion of Peace” (hat tip George W Bush who also has a big ole soft spot in his heart for Afghan “refugees”, and has tweeted as much), Islamists carry on getting permits to build more mosques, education centres, housing estates which no sane person would seek to buy a home in (so all Muslim communities), halal butchers, and attempt to infiltrate your legislature.
Which legislature seems all right with as they proclaimed and celebrated ” Pakistan Day” this year to celebrate all the contributions those Muslims have made to our State….spit.
In the meantime, on with the breeding of future little jihadists at a pace which is frightening.
As a faithful Cardinal Sarah who would have been a Holy Pope were it not for his age and faithful obedience not God and his faith has tweeted,…
“The enemy is inside the city.”
.
We can only hope President is exactly aware of what is happening.
On his State Visit to the UK in his first term he sat in Winston Churchill’s chair. I can only hope once more that he is familiar with Churchill’s accurate description of the invasionary forces of Islam down the ages…which is making fast, steady progress here towards their centuries old intifada.
Dearest Lord, I pray he is 🙏🏻
One more time…
I’m hoping we’re coming around to that eventually.
You make a good point.
Right on. The scourge of Europe is becoming the scourge of the United States. Maybe not apparent to Democrats, but swelling ominously nevertheless.
Yes to Zelensky and the rubble. Is it bad to wish to see several congressional leaders joining him. After all, they have had their hands in the money jar for a very long time.
Several?
IMO, it’s most of them with whatever letter is behind their names.
For some, it’s large-scale grifting, and for others, moderate to small-scale grifting.
I spent some time working on Capitol Hill.
You don’t ever want to look behind the curtain because you can’t unsee what you’ve seen.
To wit: Bongino?
Zelensky is just a puppet – just temporary. If taken out would quickly be replaced.
Our congressional leaders, who are keeping us in this mess, need to be the ones punished and, so much so, that it would be hard for them to be replaced!
Only God could do that! So we need to pray!
Those politicians need to be arrested. Hope that is in the cards.
Should have happened a long time ago…the dancing dictator needs to go. He has watched as the people of Ukraine suffered and I don’t believe he cares one bit if he rules over ashes and toppled buildings as long as he is the chief.
🎯
Russia probably wants Zelensky alive. Look for a Maduro-like extraction.
now your are talking Monkey Management…1 down 4 to go… Bravo
Thanks, Jimmy F’ing Carter! After 66 years, your Middle East Doctrine is still haunting our lives.
The real shame of it is no one remembers why.
Carter was, until the two must recent D presidents, the worst President in the last 50+ years. But never forget what we know now: he was a puppet for those who run things-the deep state isn’t new, just larger, more entrenched, and more powerful. Evil isn’t new, just less concerned about hiding for a while.
The Deep State has been around at least since the Wilson administration.
I agree but President Trump also makes George H.W. Bush look like an amateur too.
The U.S. invasion of Panama, known as Operation Just Cause, began on December 20, 1989, and concluded with the arrest of Manuel Noriega on January 3, 1990, taking about two weeks. The operation resulted in the deaths of 23 U.S. soldiers and an estimated 514 Panamanian soldiers and civilians, with some reports suggesting higher civilian casualties
for Iran – I initially thought the Trump message was a reminder of how precise we could be aka the Nuclear installation strike to the mullahs so they would NOT shoot civilians protesting. The longer it goes with implied support the more likely the mullahs will lose control. It was achievable under Obama yet he turned away from the people of Iran.
One of the truly evil things Obama the Muslim did. Turned away from the people of Iran in their hour of need when freedom was within reach.
But, but, but….that ice cream cone just couldn’t wait! 🍦
Weeds are too deep for any comment regarding a lot of what is written, however, it is upsetting that Russia and Ukraine are the pawns of UK/UK etc. While these two countries are being killed, the other warmongers are feeling little pain. Whatever we did to begin/aid all of this, may God have mercy. Whatever, whoever is keeping it alive, the devil is dancing.
The legacy media was quick to assume “locked and loaded” meant military intervention. Maybe, but Sundance stated the likely arsenal: “Embargo them, stuff them inside an economic confinement zone (if needed), tell them why, then let the internal mess work itself out; most of my day-to-day contacts seem to feel the same.”
Thank you for attention to this matter.
Insider Paper: BREAKING: Full-scale military operations appear to be underway in Venezuela, as dozens of U.S. Army helicopters and aircrafts are reportedly seen over the capital Caracas. (View the posts above and below)
https://t.me/insiderpaper/40301
Iran is the key, remove the Mullah’s influence and overnight the proxy threats around Israel disappear, as do that country’s justification for using military solutions to, what would now be, purely political problems.
Remove Iran and Venezuela will fall, remove Venezuela then Cuba is next in line for the squeeze. I see this as the US securing its previously soft flank, but also another disruption of the DS’s ability to influence domestic events by using foreign proxies.
China might want to intervene and become these regimes sugar-daddy, but they have problems of their own and it’s debatable they could act quickly, given the people they’ve carefully cultivated would probably be swept away in the transition.
Whatever the motivation one thing’s for certain, the DS’s plans for the year are dislocated and they’ve had another covert funding stream, for their transformational project, threatened.
If the President can quiet the world. The CIA can become a lot smaller.
If the CIA got smaller, the world would be quieter . . .
President Trump has the power to delete the CIA… Why he hasn’t done so is beyond my power of comprehension.
Last time that was tried it got someone a ride in a convertible.
If the Iran boogie man is neutralized who does Benny have in line to fund next?
There has to be a boogie man or the US taxpayer $$$ has no justification, no sales of US arms and all the related kick backs, etc.
Don’t stop the carnival.
Just remarked to a friend that without Venezuela $$$ Cuba will be next, if Cubans break the chains of their gov the investments will be huge.
It will have to be closely watched as to keep Chyna out as has happened through out the the other islands.
Before Hugo there was a huge economy at the marinas with the sport-fishing crowd, it was the go to location, replacing fishing out of Cancun and Belize. With it came all the flights, taxis, local restaurants, cantinas, fuel, dock workers, etc.
Cuba will see this rise also if a change happens.
The sport-fish boat industry has exploded, the boats are bigger with a longer range, owners are looking for the next “to be” spot.
This also brings more jobs to this US based market.
Cuba should have been a State a long time ago.
I agree. Venezuela has a large resistance movement. They will be allies instead of being strangled economically, a far better option then Sundance’s preference. This operation cost us nothing and canbring us a democratic country with which to trade. It lessens China’s influence and counters the drug dealers export of drugs to the US. What’s the problem? This ain’t Vietnam folks
Granting President Trump the long view of support; I mean, we don’t know what he is aware of; I sure hope all of this Iran stuff has a direct connection to American strategic interests.
I know you’re not only board with Jews, but that statement is ridiculous. You know, better than most that Iran is the head of our Muslim terrorist problem.. BTW,Did you see the unique gift Bibi gave Trump?
Apparently you’ve not been keeping up with what’s been going on in Minnesota. You know “our Muslim terrorist problem.”
On board with the Jews? They are doing the fighting against the Islamists for real. You prefer Mamdani and the Texas mosques?
“I know you’re not only board with Jews”? Who, what, where, why, when? Please explain your post. Thank you.
2026 will be interesting, if nothing else.
It’s off to a wild start.
I trust PDJT, though.
If anyone can pull all the strings at the same time, it’s him.
Not hearing anything about NK, China, Russian nukes.
It’s all the non nuclear players that are getting roughed up.
You listening, Mexico?
I hope Mexico is paying attention!
Sheinbaum now knows she’s not going to get a favorable deal in usmca redo unless…..
Trump has all the cards!
Thank you Sundance. You have helped me see more of the pieces. It does feel like Trump is dancing in minefields. Obviously there is a strategic plan that is so complicated I cannot understand it. I support Trump, but I sure as hell prefer an isolationist approach. Perhaps it is naive to even think we can “isolate” and not protect our hemisphere. Trump sure is busy taking out the trash within our borders, while simultaneously picking up the trash that threatens us elsewhere.
It seems it would have been easier to get rid of Zelensky than skirt all around him. I don’t know how Putin can have the patience as Russia’s cities are targeted. That makes no sense to me, but I don’t have all the facts. I still think we should withdraw from NATO or hold NATO to account.
It “feels like” we are very close to “everything all at once”, and not in a good way.
The idea is to make moves which help us and do not kill our young soldiers. Trump is doing just that. No more mullahs means the Islamic invasion of our country loses its biggest financial backing and organization
In my opinion, that is Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Iran (Shia) finances terrorism everywhere and Middle East proxies but the invasion is the Wahabi/Sunni plan as it is in Europe and UK.
President Trump cannot withdraw us from NATO. The recalcitrant uniparty senators made sure of that….And Rubio was one of the original sponsors of the so-called “bipartisan” bill. It was a uniparty bill written by and for the money-seeking and power-seeking uniparty adherents.
B.S. of the Nth Degree of Magnitude!
Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty (signed in 1949) explicitly allows withdrawal…
Also, a quick reading of the National Defense Authorization Act, will clearly indicate that the Act is full of loopholes big enough to drive a Mack truck through, leaving the President with leeway to cancel the USA’s NATO membership at any time he so chooses…
Should President Trump decide not to withdraw from NATO, he also has the right to stop ALL NATO funding and support, provide NO more weapons, ammunition or intelligence to NATO, to withdraw ALL USA Military Personnel from Europe, and tell the EU to “Go to Hell”.
Re: “gang of eight” rubio… He is another Pence, just waiting for the right time to “stab President Trump in the back”.
I’m sure he can do some other things that pretty much put the USA on the back burner with NATO involvement for as long as he wants to.
Sundance
Yes Iran is a direct threat to the USA, they helped with the 2020 election, have operatives in the USA homeland, and need to be taken care of. The USA is the WEF’s big prize,and they will use all tools available to get that prize. Communism was always off shore, till it wasn’t!
Exactly right
Sergio Gor gives me the creeps–is that Mark Levin next to him? Both are in the middle.
Levin helped to cancel one of our prophets and 2 of the best Populist writers there ever was.
Who are you talking about?
In the interest of asking the “right” questions…
No one is asking, “who’s behind the Iranian protests?”
It’s not like we haven’t seen this play run a thousand times…
It’s really no different than Syria a couple years ago.
Tell me that you’re throwing a color revolution without telling me you’re throwing a color revoultion.
Perhaps, but these demonstrations have occurred before and the government cracked down on the people, putting them in Evin Prison and threw away the key, torture, etc. These demonstrations are different in that the regime is very weak. The country has literally run out of water due to poor management of their reservoirs. Inflation is about 50%. And this time the IRGC are fleeing from the protestors. The people are calling for a return of Reza Pahlavi and for the Khomeini government to fall. Khomeini has fled Tehran. This has not happened before in prior demonstrations.
The Iranian people have been suffering under totalitarian rule since 1979! This has been a long road to freedom for them. Yes the people are asking for other countries to help them overthrow the government. But they are not asking for other countries to come in and do the whole work to set them free: they are willing to do everything possible to bring down the Khomeini government.
The ongoing drought is accomplishing what Clark failed at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tehran-s-water-emergency-iran-s-capital-could-be-dry-within-weeks/ar-AA1T1kmu?ocid=BingNewsSerp
Kiev is a cherished part of Russian early history. I doubt the city will be “levelled”.
what a MESS
Let me see – NOT in our strategic interest (WOW)? A peaceful Iran (like when there was the Shaw) is not in our strategic interest? The President said; “we would protect “PEACEFUL” protesters IF they are violently attacked (news reports are about a lot of un-peaceful ones). Yesterday Pompeo was quoted as saying “next to each protester is a Mosad agent. Also noteworthy, Just last weekend the Israel Prime Minister met with Trump and it was announced that ISRAELI bombing could continue if Iran continues it’s military program. BTW which website/commentator excoriated Obama when the Iranians tried this last time and Obama said nothing?
what a MESS we are in. Glad Trump is at the helm
Coincidentally, January 3rd is the 36th anniversary of Noriega’s capture in Panama.
Their playbook
Was Rubio a Senator then?
And of course everyone remembers the
US coup of Venezuela in 2002….🤣
It lasted 47 HOURS!
Pedro Carmona did manage to dissolve Venezuela
National Assembly and Supreme Court…..and then
events afterwards.. ..I am sure everyone remembers.🤣🤣
Guess that is why they had to make sure whoever the leader
was in Venezuela…..eliminate them one way or another –
just make sure they weren’t in the country during the next coup!
A new excuse by each Administration….different attempts….
sanctions, blockades, special ops….
rinse….repeat…rinse…repeat
Not drinking the kool aid on this one going down now.🧃
When researching I found 90% of what we were told -propaganda.
Thinking that the youngsters will not be very “enthusiastic.” about this.
Venezuela Petroleum (Spice) reserves are so vast they could negate the importance of the Middle East and relegate it back to the backwater sandbox it was and should be. I think that is the bigger picture in regards to the country. Its always about Energy (Spice). Venezuela as well as Quantum (Tesla) energy can do that, hopefully it will be in time.
How do we ignore the cry of the Persian people to be free of monsters?
I hear America First, I understand it very well, including the potential migrant situation.
I would prefer Persians to Somalis BTW.
However, we do need to walk the walk if we talk the talk.
What kind of country would we be if we did not lend support to these people?
We damned Obama for not lending some support for them when they rose up.
What about Tienamin Square…what did we do instead of pressuring the regime? We sent in Bush Sr to smooth things
over with the Chinese regime, and thus began a long legacy of ignoring human rights there.
Sometimes, we need to step out of our own bubble to consider another perspective.
Rejecting and facing the Muslim Brotherhood is one of our goals is it not?
I found this conversation extremely insightful!
David Wurmser served as Middle East Adviser to former US Vice President Dick Cheney, as special assistant to John R. Bolton at the State Department
I know we are no fans of those two Neo-cons, but I understand the situation better for watching this.
I know Bannon likes to call the Middle East a side-show, and Israel a side show to a side show, and I am no great political thinker or historian, I just know as a human who has been paying attention for over 30 years, that there is much I do not know as a layman who has never negotiated with anyone. I think Bannon’s dismissal of the area is folly.
Bannon is terrified of a second Vietnam and a second Iraq. He has blinders on and cannot permit himself to understand that an intelligent use of force can promote a peaceful prosperous world, which is to our advantage. The alternative is the Muslim and Communist thugs.
That is true, he is terrified of the quagmire and “Forever” wars. His blinders indeed cloud his judgement.
Bannon is a big mouth, who believes his way/opinion is the only way! The guests he has on usually offer interesting insights which can be very informative…if he actually lets them speak.
I can’t help but think defunding Hezbollah is a part of the reasoning. You can’t have peace in the Middle East as long as Hezbollah is being funded by drug smuggling. Obama let them off the hook. I can’t imagine this drug smugglers have gone away since this article was written
https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/obama-hezbollah-drug-trafficking-investigation/
imagine the Middle East without Iran funding terrorism and Hezbollah and Hamas neutered for the next few decades!
These horrible attacks will be coming to the United States. We will not escape the blowback. We are unable to stop rearranging the world. It all seems so foolish and reckless.
Doing nothing is worse
This is why we need FISA-702, for our safety. /S
Looking up, but no sky falling.
Not sure if you’ve paid attention, but the ‘horrible attacks’ arrived a couple decades ago….
Apparently, despite the incoming fire increasing, Putin is holding back his response to give Trump room to operate, while still carefully managing the Kremlin politics and striking into Ukraine to appease those in Russian government who want the full weight of the Russian military to come down hard on Zelenskyy.
I agree. Putin is navigating his own minefield. A direct attack on a head of state is literally an act of war. I’d expect there’s a lot more internal pressure on him now.
Why wait until Monday to make things interesting?
What I don’t get is why take the M-Fer to the Southern District of NY?
No friendly judges, politicians, or jurors.
Why not Florida, Texas, heck even Alabama? Why not central Pennsylvania where every family has a Fentanyl death to mourn and consider?
Anything in New York is a minefield.
Right?!? They’ll order Maduro expatriates and returned to power. Judges control foreign policy now, national defense.
Not only have they made that clear in their rulings – with John Roberts’ blessing – but Trump has obeyed the anti-Constitutional rulings usurping his powers. He has made the office of the President inferior to the Judiciary, ceded the co-equal stature it once had.
There has always been push-pull tension between the branches, some eras where one branch dominates the other two. Strong presidents are able to dominate. Weak presidents get dominated.
Trump’s refusal to assert his authority where the US Constitution is explicitly clear renders him a weak president in the push-pull relationship between the branches. The judiciary will gladly humiliate him by ordering Maduro returned.
If Trump obeys, as he has consistently done, he will be humiliated on the world stage as the president who speaks loudly but carries a small stick. The anti-Teddy Roosevelt. Which may very well be the plan of the jackals and snakes in his administration.
In PT press conference he did mention Miami as an alternative.
I was wondering about that too. Why the heck bring him to NYC of all places. They just elected a communist as Mayor. Mamdani will probably invite Maduro to stay at the governor’s mansion and then send him on his way home after a judge orders it.
Maduro possibly turn evidence/witness on topic of voter machine software out of Venezuela?
Possible ties to a certain political party? Or two? In several states?
Just asking.
My knowledge of history is not extensive, but I know that bullies and thugs have always bullied other people and stolen those people’s things, and sometimes their lives.
Thats on a tiny one-to-one scale, all the way up to an empire scale and everything in between.
So now we find ourselves with a President who is willing to step in and say “enough”.
I’m not sure if what Trump is doing is legal. But I sure admire his willingness to try.
Time will tell what impact Trump’s intervention(s) will have in both the short and long run.
I admire him for trying.
Ask Noriega if what we did was legal.
Results will be the same.
Dimm tears and Maduro die in prison.
USMC Bronco said: “I’m not sure if what Trump is doing is legal.”
The first few paragraphs of today’s Coffee&Covid provides food for thought/clarification. Mike Lee was wondering the same and SecState Rubio responded.
https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/lessons-leared-saturday-january-3
Maduro has been indicted…..thats why law enforcement was involved in arresting Maduro
I hope the Iran saber-rattling was to distract from the Venezuela operation.. OTOH if the mullahs attempt to re-start their nuclear program, then it needs to be knocked down again.
Nothing good can come from playing around in Chaostan. Those people have 1,000 year grudges and have been fighting each other for longer than that.
The spasm of action to eliminate/mitigate destabilizing actors that threaten peace efforts makes sense to me, but liberaltarian scum like Massie and Paul will definitely get their panties in a bunch. Stand by for high comedy on the Sunday talkies.
Dollar Store and Crock – a – Sh*t will be busy this week. I’m already seeing the predictable “there should have been more transparency” B.S.
Here are my two cents.
My first response is some appreciation for a flawless Delta Force Operation.
I have said for a while that the whole Israel subject is a distraction from the real burning issues of the US. The education, the drugs, the Progressive/Islamist alliance, etc…
100,000 Americans are dying from overdose per year in the US. For comparison in WW2 about 400,000 Americans died in 4 years. The drug epidemic is more devastating than WW2 numerically in the long run.
So Venezuela was involved in flooding America with heavy drugs. This is enough to justify the use of force.
Venezuela was also collaborating with Iran on weapons development such as drones.
I see it kind of entertaining that Maduro the Communist will be tried in NYC the place of the new Communist Mayor. Maybe it’s a hint for him to watch.
As to Iran, I see it in a much less complex way than Sundance. Iran is an adversary of the US. They chant regularly “Death to America”, they were involved in abducting Americans and their Hezbollah proxy has the blood of hundreds of American Servicemen on their hands in Lebanon. Suicide exposition on the Marins base and more. Iran also declared more than once on the intention to revenge the death of Sulemani that Trump ordered his execution. They have long memory and there is a direct future threat to Trump. Iran is also behind the whole war in Gaza and they didn’t let go of their nuclear ambitions according to them.
So there is an unrest and it is not only an Israeli interest but also American interest to see the Iranians succeed in their revolt.
The only reason the Iranian regime is still in power is by the use of fear against the people. In 2025 alone they executed some 1500-1900 people.
Iran is in a major economic trouble with their currency crushed 90% down in a few years and drying rivers and water sources, rising prices and shortages in energy. Partially because of the sanctions and mainly because they take the resources and use it against Israel and to expand, financing Hezbollah, Houthis, Hamas, etc… nuclear and missile programs and other things that do not benefit the citizens.
The protests expanded to many cities and the Ayatollahs started to kill protesters. The moment Trump issued the warning to Iran, it fueled the protests. If this will be a revolution or not is yet to be seen. But there is a chance. Iran and the world will be a better place if it happens. As a note Iran in its currant state is not really a factor in Syria.
And this is my update about Syria. Syria is virtually in a Civil War. This is not reported at all on Western Media. I watch videos almost daily. The new Syrian President is an ex-Al Qadea but not only him, also his Defense Minister and many of the soldiers.
In many cases they are involved in massacres against minorities and if they were for “stable Syria” they would protect the minorities who are under daily massacres, the Christians, the Allawites, the Druze and Kurds are all under Jihadi attacks with atrocities that I would rather not share here. The President is not controlling most of Syria and his own regime is making Syria into a Taliban style nation. I see the videos of the extreme Jihadis education and the suppression of women etc…
So this President is not in control of even a half of Syria. He is not likely to make it anyways.
As to Gaza, Hamas is not giving up its weapons and no one but the IDF is capable of disarming them. This is a condition of the Trump plan and there is no rebuilding of Gaza or anything with Hamas still in power. So you can guess where this will go eventually. It’s a matter of time. Turkey and Qatar are Muslim Brotherhood ideologically and so is Hamas so there is no way Israel will let them in.
Delta Force on their way out.
https://rumble.com/v73td10-american-delta-forces-flying-away-after-capturing-the-venezuelan-president.html
People of Venezuela celebrating .
https://rumble.com/v73tdis-celebrations-in-venezuela..html
Blessings to you and yours.
David! Thankful to hear from you!
BLESSINGS on you and your family,!
Thank You for this update.
Continued BLESSINGS!
Looking forward to that “book “…
Thank you friend. I am considering making a website and I am collecting key essays that I have done and doing. It will be interesting. God Bless you and yours.
Excellent move south of the border!
Our enemies are shaking in their boots, the libs and RINOs are beside themselves and God’s still in His Heaven.
DEFINITELY
The LORD is in control!
Continued PRAYERS for President Trump!
May he always seek The LORD’S Wisdom and Guidance,
AMEN & AMEN
[…] we should see Team Trump leaning toward Recep Erdogan, toward the Arab coalition and toward Syria at the same time he is managing Iran, managing Israel and managing a U.S. congress.
Just reading this exhausts me! Lord, grant our President your grace, wisdom and refreshing sleep nightly!
In JESUS MIGHTY & HOLY NAME,
AMEN, AMEN & AMEN
Perhaps in order to stabilize the Middle East, Westerners should make colonization great again! We can start in Syria! As we know all their military aged males are now fully entrenched in Europe, so the place should be ripe for settlement.
The real culprits are the wizards behind the curtain..who all hold UK passports is my suspicion. Take the gloves off PJT. I still remember the treasonous members of the 5 eyes. Australia and UK will never be the same in my mind. Those autocrats who abused th=eir own citizens during Covid and continue the abuse today hate Americans. I’m sick and tired of them. And yes the traitors who hold US passports..the IC, CIA and many many FBI. No one has been prosecuted. That is my main frustration. NO ONE HAS BEEN PROSECUTEDF FOR TREASON.
All because of just one stolen election.
If you believe it’s only one stolen election…..
VAAS…..
Votes As A Service….
This was the heart of it….
Nothing was done, or done right in years.
We know 12 years, Obama Biden, and we also know more during the Bush era.
So step back and look at what our great President Trump has done, managed in LESS THAN ONE YEAR.
He is amazing.
Anyone that can picture a building built prior to building it and then actually doing it from scratch and it is big and beautiful. AMAZING MAN.
Military actions against Iran and Venezuela are being done at Israel’s behest.
Post your facts or call out your opinion, else you’re wasting our time.
lol at you. If Israel was so all powerful, why would they need the USA at all?
Having worked and lived in Israel for 2 years, I am here to tell you that the IDF DOES NOT NEED the USA’s Military assistance, and actually wishes we (the USA) would just get out of the way and let them take care of Iran or any other country in the middle east that threatens their right to exist.
How would you know this?
Yeah! Let’s wait until they get nuclear weapons and attack us before we do anything.
The chessboard has many pieces.
I have only played chess at the novice level.
However, some people play it like grandmasters.
I have to have confidence Our President has a firm grasp on all the moving pieces.
Amazingly complicated.
I will continue to pray for both Trump and Putin -for their conversion and discernment during these insanely complex times with Satan on the rampage. This is something we the people of God can do-pray, pray, pray for world peace and that means the leaders who can help make this happen. PRAYER IS A POWERFUL WEAPON.!
LOL…
2026 is going to be really interesting…..
I can’t WAIT!
All these foreign affair violence situations are just squirrel distractions. What are we even doing here year after year? Just get out of all of them and close the thousand empire military bases around the planet.
Paraphrasing: the sun never sets on the U.S. military.
A point that needs emphasis is that Presdient Trump is serious about the war on the drug cartels. For the first time, we have a President who is actually fighting a war on drugs. No phony war this. If I were a drug lord in Mexico or Columbia I would be very nervous today. Don’t forget the justification for much of the tariffs and policies against Canada and China and Mexico relate to the drug business that kills thousands upon thousands of Americans each year. Too little attention is paid to the President’s actions being focused upon eradicating the scourge of drugs that has decimated a generation of Americans. The Democrat Party gives all appearances of being in bed with the cartels. The illegal drug trade fuels big city crime and criss-crossed America into rural areas. The enemy actors behind this are: China, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia facilitated by the Democrat Party, Canada, the IC community and others. It undermines the rule of law, our school system, our universities, our music and movie industries. It is a big deal and Trump is addressing this gorilla on America’s back.
I agree. First time we are seeing a President taking concerted action against the scourge of nation-destroying illegal drugs by destroying the State sponsored manufacturing infrastructure at its heart and the supply chain. This will help small, weak States in the Caribbean too.
It’s certainly better than the Just Say No or DARE. Drugs will probably always be around, but if this saves one family from the pain my family has endured, I’m all in.
Yes, Monday will be very interesting…
It is my opinion that money laundering is the largest single industry worldwide. Is there any information to refute that claim?