Desperate For A Deal

Below is an article I found on a reputable web site that gives a interesting view of Trump’s past statements on the “deal” with Iran. I voted for Trump 3 times, I still support him, but…his constant clambering for the deal of the century is getting old. Time frames, red lines in the sand etc, with no repercussions for Iran will not work. Iran is stalling for time, knowing that the US has mid term elections coming up. Economic restraints weigh heavily on a free flow of oil. I even posted an article about needing to secure Kharg Island for an ultimate victory. Soon we saw a halt in hostilities. Finish the job Mr. President. Your weakness is showing. Rh

A careful review of President Trump’s public statements over the past several months reveals an unprecedented pattern: on no fewer than 37 different occasions, he claimed that a deal with Iran was essentially complete and ready to be signed—what now appears to have been a messaging campaign largely disconnected from developments on the ground.

Trump’s virtual diplomatic campaign began as early as March 23, less than a month after the war began. Speaking to reporters outside Air Force One, he claimed that major points of agreement had already been reached:

“There are major points of agreement—I would say almost all the points of agreement.”

The following day, the president began repeating a familiar theme: that Iran was desperate for a deal. On March 25, he said Iran wanted “to make a deal so badly,” and a day later, during a Cabinet meeting, he escalated the rhetoric, claiming that Iran was “begging to make a deal.” When asked aboard Air Force One on March 29 whether he expected an agreement within the coming week, he replied confidently:

“I do see a deal with Iran, yes.”

As time passed, Trump’s predictions became even more emphatic. On April 6, he said the parties had been “very close to a deal” before a minor delay. The next day, April 7, he announced on social media that negotiations were in a highly advanced stage:

“We’re at a very advanced stage, but we need two weeks for the agreement to be completed and implemented. It’s a great honor to see this long-standing problem so close to being solved.”

When those two weeks passed without an agreement, Trump continued making optimistic declarations. On April 15, he told CNN:

“I think it’s close to being finished. I see it as very close to being finished. We’ll see what happens. I think they desperately want to make a deal.”

On April 17, during three separate public appearances, he claimed that Iran had “agreed to everything” and that the deal would be signed “within a day or two.” On April 20, he posted on Truth Social:

“Everything will happen relatively quickly!”

On April 30, he again insisted that Iran was “dying to make a deal.”

On May 18, when announcing a postponement of military strikes at the request of regional countries, Trump partially acknowledged that his earlier predictions had failed, but immediately qualified the admission:

“There were times when we thought we were very close to a deal and it didn’t work out, but this time it’s a little different.”

It wasn’t.

On May 23, he again claimed that the agreement was “mostly negotiated and drafted, pending final approval.” More recently, in an interview with Axios, Trump blamed both Israel and Iran for undermining his efforts because of what he called a “side fight,” declaring:

“We’re very close to a final deal with Iran. It’s going to be a good deal. I don’t want it to blow up because of what’s happening now.”

The latest installment came last night during a conference call held on behalf of Senator Lindsey Graham, where Trump repeated the promise for the 37th time:

“We’re negotiating right now. They want to make a very good deal. They’re willing to give us everything.”

According to this analysis, Trump’s determination to sell the public on an agreement that has yet to materialize appears to stem from two primary motivations.

First, he is attempting to prevent a sharp spike in global oil prices and major turbulence in financial markets, especially in light of Iran’s official threats to target regional energy infrastructure belonging to the United States and its allies.

Second, Trump appears to believe that by repeatedly declaring in public that Iran is “desperate” and “ready to give us everything,” he can pressure the parties back to the negotiating table and, in effect, create a diplomatic reality through persistent messaging.

Follow The Money Trail

We have seen how European Union has fallen to the Islamic immigration policies allowed by the various nations in Europe. Here in America we too have allowed our values to be put under attack as well. Our main source of invasion has been a money trail to collages and universities. Training and influencing young skulls full of mush, as Rush Limbaugh used to say. Below is a link to a fascinating article week worth the long read. Please enjoy Rh

Mapping Qatar’s $400 billion footprint in the US

For the full FFD Commentary click here

Why has a country of just 330,000 citizens that is half the size of New Jersey anda leading patron of the Muslim Brotherhood plowed $400 billion dollars into the United States? This amounts to approximately $1.2 million per Qatari citizen — an enormous sum.

FDD’s Natalie Ecanow has labored for more than a year, collecting the receipts for these Qatari transactions, most of which have taken place over the past decade. But as Natalie notes, $400 billion is a lowball estimate. She erred on the side of caution. If you take the word of Qatari government estimates or even the White House, the total number may exceed $1.2 trillion.

Some Americans may welcome the generosity of the Qatari regime. After all, one could argue that a great many of these investments — spanning energy, defense, biotech and other important sectors — serve to benefit the U.S. economy and U.S. citizens. One could also argue that Qatar, like Japan, Canada, or other countries that sink billions in the United States, simply seeks return on investment.

But Qatar is different. There are more than a few reasons to question the largesse of the Qatari government. At the end of the day, Qatar is ruled by an Islamist, autocratic regime; Freedom House consistently ranks the country as “Not Free” in its annual Freedom in the World survey.1 And Doha’s failure to guarantee the rights of its citizens is not the biggest problem. Rather, it is the country’s tendency to support jihadi causes in the Middle East that raises significantly more concern. The country’s horrific track record in this regard distinguishes Qatar from other Gulf states that spread their wealth in America.

Though the U.S. government has delineated Qatar as a “Major Non-NATO Ally” and has positioned its Combined Air Operations Center at the Al-Udeid base in Qatar, this regime may qualify as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism.” The regime has sheltered Al-Qaeda.2 It was a patron for the Taliban before the group recaptured Afghanistan, ending America’s intervention there.3

The government is a longstanding patron of Hamas, the terrorist group that plunged the Middle East into violence on October 7, 2023.4 Finally, it is the primary patron of the Muslim Brotherhood, a global network of violent and nonviolent Islamist groups that seek the downfall of the West.5 Several branches of this network have recently been sanctioned by the U.S. government.

Beyond that, the regime in Qatar has been embroiled in other scandals that should give Americans pause. Qatar bribed its way to hosting the World Cup in 2022. Later that year, the scandal known as “Qatargate” rocked the European Union when Qatari bribes to European parliamentarians were exposed.6 The bribes were reportedly designed to buy influence to rehabilitate Qatar’s image amid reports that more than 6,500 migrant workers had died during the construction of the country’s World Cup stadiums.7

To whitewash these and other offenses, the Qataris wield the Al-Jazeera Media Network, which broadcasts in multiple languages and multiple formats, to spread the regime’s messages.8 Al Jazeera’s U.S.-based affiliate, AJ+, has defied U.S. law for over five years by failing to register as a foreign agent.9

It is for these reasons, and perhaps others, that Qatar’s massive investments in the United States should be scrutinized. Some of these investments include naked influence-peddling — from sponsorship of the annual congressional baseball game to annual White House correspondents’ dinner parties.10 The Qataris spend an enormous amount on lobby groups and public relations, which helps ensure that their investments continue with minimal scrutiny.

Perhaps most disturbing is the massive amount this small Islamic state has invested in American education. Qatar has half as many citizens as Washington, DC, has residents. Yet somehow, it has surpassed China as the largest foreign funder of American colleges and universities. This is baffling. It is safe to say that the regime in Doha is not a stalwart champion of traditional liberal arts education curricula. Even more disturbing: the regime is funding public K-12 schools, engaging American children in the classroom at a young age.

War Update

Trump capitulations on a fantasy deal with Iran has emboldened them to re start the missile launches toward Israel. Once again how does one make a deal with terrorist? This should have been finished. Rh

Israel’s finance minister Smotrich intends to demand in this morning’s security cabinet meeting to turn the equation that Iran tried to create between itself and Lebanon on its head and focus mainly on a strong response in Lebanon. For every Iranian missile, dozens of buildings in Dahieh should be taken down.

According to his equation, two or three hundred buildings in Beirut should have fallen last night. This is much easier, more accessible, and more effective than a response in Iran, including taking advantage of the opportunity with long-term gains for the security of northern residents, like the “money plow” under which the IDF destroys the contact villages in southern Lebanon, so that Hezbollah will beg the Iranians to stop.

Conversely, this could also bring the Iranians to be flexible in negotiations with the Americans, after a month and a half of their insistence and American backing down. In such a case, Trump would also appreciate it, and Israel would again earn points with him for initiative and boldness that change reality. Trump always likes to take credit for others’ successes, and this is not bad for Israel.

Smotrich suggests saving the armaments and efforts against Iran for the moment when we decide to go after the energy infrastructures that will paralyze Iran and cripple its economy. In his opinion, it is a shame to waste capabilities on exchanges of blows within standard equations. In cost-benefit tests, strikes in nearby Lebanon are much more efficient than strikes in distant Iran that are not part of a comprehensive move where you go all the way without limitations.

An interesting thesis. Even more interesting if Netanyahu adopts it or if he has another ace up his sleeve.

(Amit Segal)

Trump on Israel

Seems that Trump is feeling his oats tonight, a deal is a deal but victory is still a victory. Why he hasn’t let israel finish the job in Gaza and Iran. I just don’t understand. How many red lines does he have in the sand anyway, kind of reminds me of Obama. Just a little disgusted with my President tonight. Rh

Trump:

Asked what would happen if any such deal failed “on its merits,” Trump said he would consider a commando raid on Iran.

“It means [one of] two things,” he said.

“Number one, it would mean that possibly we would go in and take care of the rest of the place that we didn’t take care of militarily. Or it would just mean that we would keep the blockade on Iran because the blockade has been probably more powerful than any attack that was ever made on that country.”

Trump says a failed Iran deal could leave the U.S. with two options: military action against Iran’s remaining nuclear infrastructure or continued economic pressure.

America 250 vs. Freedom 250: What’s Going on with the Fourth of July?

On one point, at least, both those who mourn the loss of a society alive with love of their nation and those who encourage a return to the laws and principles w
— Read on washingtonstand.com/article/america-250-vs-freedom-250-whats-going-on-with-the-fourth-of-july

It’s time to celebrate America! What started as an upstart experiment in self governing, has lasted 250 years with no sign of ending. We are the best and greatest example of freedom, whether religious or personal the world has ever known. We are fundamental to the freedoms of the world. If America ever falls the world will degrade into chaos. We are what is holding the world together, and it is because of the Christian influence not only of our founders, but of the remnant of Christians praying and interceding for our nation. God bless the United States of America. Let your Spirit renew us and change us into your image is my prayer. Rh

Secretary of State Rubio

Marco Rubio says the U.S. will not give sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

If Iran wants to be able to move its oil again through the strait, they will have to reopen the straits.

If they refuse to do so, then we have other options available to us, but we would prefer to negotiate the opening of this.

Marco Rubio says there are indications that Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and becoming increasingly involved in decision-making.

A final thought from Mark Levin. Don’t always agree with Mr Levin, but he is right on this post. I totally agree. Rh

Mark Levin criticized President Trump’s demand from Israel to halt attacks on Hezbollah in Beirut:

WHAT IF HEZBOLLAH WAS A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL FIRING MISSILES INTO OUR COUNTRY?

Simple questions:  What would we do if Mexican drug cartels fired thousands of missiles into our country, depopulating the Southwestern part of the United States?  Would we limit our response to defensive military action?  Would we halt attacking their main location because it was near a city?  What would we do?

Diplomacy By Peddlers

Trump is making the biggest mistake of his Presidency by allowing one failed, (Witkoff) and one connected (Kushner) real estate peddler to conduct foreign policy in the Middle East.  They have no clue to the mindset of the radical Islamist.  They don’t want money to rebuild their country. They can’t be trusted, they only stall and re-arm.  They lie and promise to compromise only to gain time to strengthen their position.

These two carpetbaggers negotiated the deal of the century with Hamas.  Really?  Now we see the same Barney Fife like mentality exhibited with Iran.  We call it a deal when we stop (supposedly) fighting to talk?  Evidence is clear that Iran has already started re-building some of the previously destroyed missile launching facilities.  We have pictures.   The art of the deal is not the important part, the actual deal is the primary issue.  There is no deal, none that Iran will actually agree to and most certainly none they will abide by.  Marco Rubio, where are you? We need an adult in the room.

We will once again leave a country in the Middle East the same as before.  Nothing changes.  Regime change needs to happen, but who?  The Middle East is a quagmire and always will be.  Age-old customs, rivalries, and religious wars have dominated the region.  I feel for the Iranian people who have been subjected to such horrors over the last 40 years.  Their plight is worthy of much prayer.  There is a revival happening in Iran now!  But can it overcome the evil power embedded in the elite?  Probably not.

The Biblical perspective is Iran will never be completely destroyed, because they play an integral part in prophecy.  Russia, Turkey and Iran will lead an axis of evil to attempt to destroy Israel in the future.  We don’t know exactly when, the Bible only gives us limited information.  We do know it will be at a time that Israel is living in some sort of peace and will seemingly be surprised by the invasion attempt. Peace and safety is the only clue the Almighty gives us in Ezekiel 38.  

God will fight for Israel to make his name known to all the world at that invasion, and then Iran will meet its day of destiny.  It won’t happen in this action, but someday…. Rh

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has announced the creation of a new naval force to challenge Houthi control of the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

▪️ The force is backed primarily by Saudi Arabia, with political support from the United States and other Western countries.

▪️ Its mission is to secure shipping lanes, combat weapons smuggling, and restore government authority along Yemen’s western coast and key islands.

▪️ The Houthis and Iran have condemned the move, warning of escalation and threatening maritime traffic if pressure on them increases.

▪️ For Israel, the development is strategically significant because it directly challenges the Houthi maritime threat to Red Sea shipping and the route to Eilat.

▪️ A stronger pro-government Yemeni presence could help weaken Iran’s regional influence, reduce Houthi smuggling operations, improve freedom of navigation, and lessen the need for direct Israeli military involvement in the area.

▪️ In short, Israel has a clear interest in seeing this force succeed, as it serves as a counterweight to both the Houthis and Iran while helping keep the Red Sea open and secure.

(Nziv. Net)

Nothing is ever easy in the Middle East. Rh

Baseball Fans Erupt over Washington Nationals’ Treatment of Christian Players

The Washington Nationals might have beaten the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 on Tuesday, but that wasn’t what fans were talking about. In D.C., the biggest baseball n
— Read on washingtonstand.com/article/baseball-fans-erupt-over-washington-nationals-treatment-of-christian-players

Christian baseball player essentially “black balled” by its own organization because of his faith. Hey, let’s see what happened if that were a Muslim? Boycotts and riots probably. The anti-christ spirit is alive and well in D.C. as well as other radical left wing states. Sign of the times. We may be a Christian nation at our founding, but Christians are nonetheless discriminated against in many states,from adopting babies to education of their children. Re-dedicate 250 sounds like an idea we can all get behind. 2 Chronicles 7:14…..If my people shall humble themselves and pray…..

Rh.