The Middle East (again)

The Suffering and Deaths Mount

As if soaring energy costs, food shortages, massive debt loads, and rapidly evolving AI weren't enough for humanity to deal with, a serious hot war is now setting the Middle East aflame.

Just the other day, God said to me (or was it Claude or Gemini—I forget), "John, look at the Middle East. Full of talented, great people. They have more in common than differences! Why can't they just settle down and chill? Try living in peace, no?" Well, I am no demagogue, and God does not frequently engage me in philosophical or geopolitical dialogue—much less in social patter more akin to X, TikTok, and the like. So when he does, I listen.

I wanted to appear thoughtful and contemplative, which wasn't hard, because I was. With my head bowed in respect, I asked, "Then, pray tell, what about President Trump and the US armada?" It took serious meditation to quiet my overactive mind. But after about 20 minutes, his reply came, as if no time had passed: "Maybe it would be best for everyone if they just stood down and went home to their families."

That made me pause and consider the alternatives and outcomes. Meanwhile, I worked up the courage to ask the good Lord for his reasoning. This time, the reply came much faster, almost instantly: "When you can't win or break even, don't play the game."

Wow, this is great fun, I thought. A bit indignantly, I challenged, "You think the greatest military in the world can't win a war with Iran?" I waited anxiously, sitting on pins and needles, wondering if I had lost my connection to the divine. But no—I noticed three little clouds moving across the firmament and inferred that God was thinking or otherwise occupied.

Finally, a reply arrived: "What does victory look like? What is the mission?"

Then, just a few seconds later: "I regret to inform you that you are out of tokens. You can purchase more at … or a year's worth for a mere $299.95. Bless you!"

I wrote at length about the conflict back in March—you can read it here: The Israel-US vs Iran War—I don't have much to add.

NATO vs. Iran

The Limits of a Defensive Mandate

The geopolitical chessboard of the Middle East is shifting toward a dangerous precipice. As tensions escalate between Western powers and Tehran, a fundamental question looms over the North Atlantic Council: Where does the alliance’s responsibility end? While the strategic importance of the region is undeniable, NATO must remain anchored to its founding identity. NATO is, and must remain, a defensive alliance.

Background

To understand the current crisis, one must look at the stability that preceded the recent escalations. For decades, the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most crucial oil transit chokepoint — remained open to international maritime navigation. Despite years of "maximum pressure" campaigns and proxy friction, a functional status quo allowed the global economy to breathe. That equilibrium was shattered only after offensive maneuvers by Israel and the United States targeted Iranian interests, triggering a predictable and volatile reaction in the waterways.

The Scope of Article 5

The North Atlantic Treaty was ratified on April 4^th of the year of my birth with a specific, noble purpose: collective defense against aggression. It was never intended to be a blank check for "out-of-area" offensive expeditions or to provide cover for the secondary consequences of unilateral strikes.

• Defensive Nature: NATO’s legitimacy rests on its restraint. It reacts to aggression; it does not initiate it.
• Geographic Limits: While the world is interconnected, the alliance’s core mandate is the security of the North Atlantic area.
• Precedent of Autonomy: Member states acting individually in the Middle East do so outside the formal NATO command structure for a reason.

The Risk of Mission Creep

Taking an active part in offensive actions against Iran — or being drawn into a conflict sparked by such actions — is a bridge too far. If NATO allows itself to be pulled into a war of choice in the Persian Gulf, it risks delegitimizing the very principles that have kept Europe peaceful for over seventy years.

"Participation in offensive maneuvers far from the North Atlantic borders doesn't just stretch resources; it stretches the legal and moral fabric of the treaty itself."

Conclusion

The preservation of international shipping is a global priority, but it cannot be used as a backdoor to transform a defensive pact into an offensive tool. If the United States or other allies choose a path of kinetic confrontation with Iran, they must do so as sovereign nations, not under the banner of the alliance. NATO’s strength lies in its predictability and its defensive posture. To stray from that path is to invite a global instability that no treaty can contain.

No Kings

The Vacuum of "No Kings": Why Opposition Is Not a Philosophy

Context

"No Kings" protests [video] are sweeping across the United States and several European cities today, fueled by a visceral reaction against one-person rule. Organized by heavyweights of the liberal establishment — ranging from the U.S. Democratic Party and the 50501 Movement to the Open Society Foundations — the movement taps into a deep-seated anxiety: the fear that the individual voice is being silenced by the shadow of autocracy.

Background

On the surface, 'No Kings' is a masterclass in what American political strategists call 'Motherhood and Apple Pie' politics. It is the art of choosing a position so fundamentally unassailable that opposition becomes unthinkable. Just as no sane politician would campaign against 'peace,' 'the children,' or 'safety,' no modern citizen identifies as a willing serf to a feudal lord beholden to a king. By framing the conversation around the rejection of a monarch, the movement occupies the ultimate moral high ground.

However, this strategy reveals a hollow center. There is a profound logical fallacy — and a fair criticism — at the heart of the 'No Kings' banner. It is a movement defined entirely by what it opposes, rather than what it proposes.

An Alternative

True political maturity requires more than just pointing at a villain; it requires a rigorous dialogue about the mechanics of a "sensible" government. To move beyond slogans, a movement must champion the difficult, granular work of ensuring transparency and accountability. It must fight for the independence of the media and the judiciary, for the stability of currency, and the efficiency of low-tax frameworks that provide genuine security. For an essay of what honest government might be like, read my blog post.

As the crowds disperse today, the question remains: Is it enough to simply shout "No Kings"? History suggests that if we focus only on the autocrat we despise, we may neglect to build the institutions we actually need.

Israel-US vs. Iran War

Updated on April 20, 2026.

Current negotiations are at a standstill, as is maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Nuclear enrichment and weapons seem to be the central issue. This feels off, because:

1. a souvereign nation has the right to defend itself, and
2. nuclear weapons are defensive by nature, as claimed by all the countries that possess them.

Therefore, the issue is not nuclear weapons but Iran's policy which states that Israel has no right to exist. Thus, a regime change is indicated. If Iran abandons its policy stance, recognizes Israel, and opens diplomatic relations with both the US and Israel, it can then go about defending itself.

Context

The armed forces of Israel and the United States have attacked Iran. Neither has formally declared war. Every sovereign nation has the right to defend itself. One of the defensive moves Iran has made was to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel

Iran has consistently maintained the position and policy that Israel has no right to exist. Obviously, Israel has a problem with this, especially as the Iranian regime openly sponsors its various proxies to wreak havoc on Israel — Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, etc.

While often seen from the outside as imperialistic for its incursions into Lebanon and Gaza, as well as the killing of civilian Palestinians, Israel's rhetoric is, "We just want to be left alone and live in peace." Israel claims that hey were neutralizing threats from one of the aforementioned Hs.

The United States

The US' problem with Iran is not the Ayatollahs, or Islam, or theocracy in general, but the fact that Iran was and is willing to sell its oil in currencies other than the US dollar. The US cannot tolerate this, hence the reason for removing Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and Saddam Hussein of Iraq from power. The US must defend the dollar hegemony and the rule of the petrodollar.

So far, Donald Trump has declared victory seven times, yet the bombings continue. Trump has also said that he wants a say in who will lead the next Iranian government, which would require Iran's unconditional surrender. The US cannot ask for surrender, unless it has officially declared war, which requires an act of Congress.

Iran

Minneapolis, MN

Context

CNN is airing its breaking news videos of events in Minneapolis. What can be seen should be deemed unacceptable in civil society. In a larger sense, is our country tearing itself apart - because of one man?

President Trump

If I understand the federal government's position clearly, it is this. Specific responsibilities have been entrusted to the federal government by the US Constitution; among these are immigration, border control, and customs enforcement. Congress has delegated these to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The individual states and their cities are required to enforce the laws and regulations. However, if they fail to do so, then DHS and its agencies will.

The US Congress

The US Congress is the legislative arm of the government, responsible for enacting laws governing the constraints (term, cost, purview) of DSH. Hearings are planned on the matter.

Minnesota

Law enforcement is the responsibility of city, county, and state authorities, police, and sheriff's departments. There is no need for armed and masked federal storm troopers here.

The people

The people support the state's position, although they think that if an illegal commits a crime, then (s)he should be arrested and deported in a peaceful and orderly manner.

The US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court will have to eventually decide this constitutional tug-of-war between the federal government and the individual states. They will probably limit the reach and authority of the feds.

Greenland

Noble intent, horrible packaging

Background

Greenland is a sovereign, autonomous territory of the kingdom of Denmark. Under the auspices of NATO membership, The US is free to build military bases on Greenland. It has made offers to buy the island from Denmark, all of them have been rebuffed with "Greenland is not for sale."

The Arctic Ocean is dominated by Russia and exploited by China for shorter delivery routes between Asia and Europe. Therefore, it is of strategic importance for the US to have defensive installations around Greenland, especially along its northern coastline. The US calls it the "Iron Dome".

Messaging

The strategic intent is clear. The messaging was horrible and inexcusable. One does not threaten one's allies with military force and punitive tariffs, TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) or not.

Had Mr. Trump described his vision for Greenland more accurately, detailing the changes that he envisioned, perhaps the resistance from Europe would have been less. Greenland, just like Puerto Rico, is an autonomous territory with local government, flag and legislature. I doubt that this would change under US ownership. Perhaps the money would become the US dollar instead of the Danish krone. There would be an influx of investment in the form of academic research institutions, education and healthcare organizations and various commercial enterprises creating many jobs. Maybe the US would even pay big money to Greenlanders for their vote to join the US and similarly compensate Denmark for their territory. Maybe the US would build up the infrastructure of Greenland — roads, bridges, airports, ports and alike.

Would this be so bad for Greenland, Europe, US, NATO, and the world?