OPINION:
President Trump expressed optimism Wednesday that the Iran war ceasefire will usher in a golden age in the Middle East. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claims that Iran begged for the ceasefire. He said Mr. Trump has achieved victory with a capital V.
Yet I read that, also on Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates’ air force intercepted 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones originating from Iran.
Early the same day, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued this statement: “The enemy, in its cowardly, illegal, and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historical, and crushing defeat. By the grace of the pure and holy blood of the Martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei the prudent measures of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Commander-in-Chief, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and the struggle and bravery of the warriors of Islam on the fronts Iran has achieved a massive victory and forced criminal America to accept its 10-point plan.”
To me, this is a failure of political will and is too much like Vietnam. I realize, though, that there is a difference. Both the North Vietnamese and the Iranians are ideologues, but Iranian leadership also meets the definition of sociopaths by exhibiting patterns of antisocial behaviors and attitudes, including manipulation, deceit, aggression and a lack of empathy for others.
With these creatures, you can begin negotiations only after you remove their ability to project terrorism beyond their physical borders.
NOLAN NELSON
Redmond, Oregon
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