TRUMP CALLS OFF IRAN ATTACK—RENEWS CONFIDENCE IN LEADERSHIP

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED OFF IMMINENT ATTACK ON IRAN

PROVES HE IS NOT A TOOL OF THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT

THAT IS WHY HE WAS ELECTED.


Late last night President Trump did something almost unheard of, he acted independently-“presidentially”—against the advice of his military and foreign policy advisors to end an attack in progress.  Think back to President Obama and the more egregious example of George Bush jr....both of whom were tools of the military establishment, and who were led around by the nose by Pentagon brass and hidebound by establishment protocol...Not President Trump.

Yesterday (June 19-20) one of our drones—the size of an airliner— was shot down by Iran—in what clearly appears to be Iranian air space.  It was downed about six miles into Iran’s recognized  international border—not over land, but over the Straits of Hormuz.  This is an area—not in dispute—but only marked by navigation instruments.  Navigators on US planes could make mathematical errors and find themselves in the wrong place—over the border. But the undisputed fact that the drone’s location sensors were turned off (a violation of international flight rules) and that it was accompanied by another US plane (also with tracking instruments turned off) —a manned aircraft with 35 aboard—points more to USA spy mission than an accidental incursion.

The Iranians had a choice—but they chose to shoot down the drone and not the manned aircraft.  They showed restraint.  It was correct for Trump to show similar restraint in his response by courageously calling off what was clearly a typical  “knee-jerk response” attack that was expected from the US military and encouraged by the neocons and war hawks in DC.

Now Trump has again pulled a rabbit out of his hat showing his ability to be flexible and to act courageously.  With this act he opened an opportunity—-a monumental near 40 year old historic opportunity—for meaningful dialog with Iran.

Let’s hope that both sides can make that leap.