IRAN PEACE DEAL. THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

As always, the contents of this blog constitute a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Apparently, after several months of fighting and several weeks of on and off negotiations Iran and the US have agreed on a deal to end hostilities. (Sort of, maybe, kind of, perhaps.) Vice President J. D. Vance said the U.S. signed a peace agreement with Iran “digitally” on Sunday. He characterized it as a major step toward peace. He stated the deal “ensures that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened, and none of the frozen funds has been released to Iran yet. He added the deal would “change the Middle East” (predicated on Iran’s compliance with it). Major allies, including France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom praised the announcement and agreed “to lift relevant sanctions in response to clear, verifiable steps by Iran on its nuclear program.”

At first blush, this is good news, however, given Iran’s negotiating history I wouldn’t get too excited yet. I, for one, am skeptical. Even after the final agreement has been signed as planned, I will remain skeptical. I just don’t trust Iran to live up to whatever agreement it signs. In my opinion it will lie, obfuscate and cheat. Moreover, I am not the only one who has expressed that opinion. Independent verification of compliance to the terms of any agreement will be crucial.

The initial reaction of the financial markets has been very positive. Both US and foreign markets have posted sizeable gains. The price of U.S. crude oil declined over 5% in early Monday trading to around $80 per barrel, while international Brent crude fell about 4.5% to $83 per barrel. For both benchmarks, these levels were the lowest since the first week of March, just days after the war with Iran commenced. Heating oil declined 3%, while wholesale gasoline prices dropped 4%. Natural gas futures fell 3%. This was in addition a 6% decrease in oil prices during last week in anticipation of an agreement. In addition, I have noticed a drop in the price of gas at the pump, which is very discernible to voters.

Not everyone is so ebullient. For example, various Israeli officials have criticized the deal. Israel has consistently been more aggressive toward Iran than the US and, given their hostile history, for good reason. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to comment on it (the word is he hasn’t been provided a copy yet, which is curious since Israel has been our principal ally in this war), but Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that IDF forces will not be withdrawing from Lebanon despite whatever the deal may say. That could be significant as discussed below.

Many news outlets are referring to the deal as “preliminary,” which is disquieting in and of itself. Even VP JD Vance, in an interview with CNBC, described the agreement as but “a major step towards peace,” not a “done deal.” In addition, he declined to divulge specific details of the deal. Again, the devil is in the details. The full text of the agreement has not been made available yet, which is suspicious in and of itself. But emerging details have suggested that some of the most difficult issues, including the fate of Iran’s nuclear program, have been deferred to future rounds of negotiations. Absent a resolution of the central issues how can the negotiators maintain that there is a deal?

In my view we are still a long way from a final agreement. There are a plethora of issues and details that still remain to be finalized. I will outline some of these below. As I said in the title, the devil is in the details. For instance:

  1. According to many analysts and commentators it is likely that negotiators on each side will interpret the vague language differently, either intentionally or unintentionally leading to misunderstandings and worse.
  2. It does not address, in sufficient detail, the US’s primary objectives of the war, namely eliminating Iran’s prospective nuclear capabilities, the surrender and disposal of its “nuclear dust,” and Iran’s terminating its support of “proxy” terrorist groups. Those were the main purposes of the war. Any deal that excludes acquiescence with respect to those issues would be worthless.
  3. The United States and Iran have reached a preliminary agreement to cease hostilities for 60 days, but how will the cease fire be monitored, by whom, what will constitute a violation, and what will be the penalties for said violations? And what of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon? Iran has continually insisted that that conflict must be included in any deal, in which case the cease fire would already have been violated, whereas the US has insisted it is a separate matter.
  4. Since its commencement on February 28, the war has not produced many of the results President Trump had vowed to achieve, such as overthrowing Iran’s autocratic, theocratic leadership and liberating its citizens, which are among the most oppressed in the world. Will those issues be included in any deal or not?
  5. The language regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is extremely vague. For example, when will it reopen? Who will ensure all the mines have been removed or destroyed? Who will govern the passage of ships through it? Will Iran be precluded from charging fees or not?
  6. There are questions regarding the US’s blockade of Iranian shipping. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Group, which acts as the chief point of contact for merchant ships liaising with military forces in the region, warned that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports will remain in effect until the peace deal with Iran has been signed. The UKTMO then followed up with a memo warning all vessels not to attempt a crossing until “explicit direction is given” (presumably by them and presumably not until the cease fire is in effect).

Conclusion

President Trump has invested a considerable amount of military assets, time, money, materials, goodwill, prestige and political capital in this venture. His overriding objective that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon is a righteous one. However, apparently, we are still a long way from a final settlement that the US and its allies in this war can live with. It is crucial that we attain our objectives. This will likely be our one and only chance to resolve this issue. Trump will not be president forever, and there are no assurances that his successor(s) will have the nerve, the fortitude and the domestic and worldwide support that Trump presently has to see this through.

Due to the foregoing, I would characterize this as merely the first step toward a lasting peace agreement, nothing more. That’s fine as far as it goes, but there is still much to do. The situation is very fluid. By the time you read this it may very well have changed.

Due to the impending midterm elections, I believe these negotiations need to show tangible results quickly. I further believe that the short-term key is the reopening of the Hormuz Strait. That will lead to the free flow of energy and a reduction of the cost to businesses and consumers alike. The price of energy affects the cost of all goods and services. Remember history has demonstrated repeatedly that the number one issue for voters in every election is the economy.

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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART 2

In celebration of America’s 250th birthday I am posting a series of three quizzes. Part 1 covered the Revolutionary War. Below please find Part 2, which covers the 19th century.

  1. Which president prosecuted the wars against the Barbary Pirates? (a) John Adams, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) James Monroe, (d) Andrew Jackson.
  2. The land acquired by the Louisiana Purchase included each of the following present-day states except (a) Iowa, (b) Kansas, (c) Wisconsin, (d) Nebraska
  3. The massive Louis and Clarke expedition covered sixteen present day states including each of the following except (a) Oklahoma, (b) Montana, (c) Iowa, (d) Oregon.
  4. Which state was admitted with Missouri as part of the “Missouri Compromise” of 1820? (a) Michigan, (b) Tennessee, (c) Maine, (d) New Hampshire?
  5. Which president was captured and detained by the British during the RW as a young boy? (a) James Madison, (b) James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, (d) Andrew Jackson.
  6. Harriet Tubman was famous for (a) being the first women to attend Harvard University, (b) being a famous “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, (c) writing poetry depicting slavery, (d) being the first female member of Congress.
  7. Who was the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms? (a) Franklyn Pierce; (b) James Buchanaan; (c) Abraham Lincoln, (d) Grover Cleveland
  8. “Custer’s Last Stand” was fought in which present day state? (a) North Dakota, (b) South Dakota, (c) Montana, (d) Wyoming?
  9. Each of the following presidents was assassinated except (a) James A Garfield, (b) John Tyler, (c) William McKinley, (d) Abraham Lincoln.
  10. Which famous frontiersman perished at the Alamo? (a) Jim Bridger, (b) Davy Crockett, (c) Daniel Boone, (d) Sam Houston?
  11. Susan B. Anthony was known for (a) women’s suffrage, (b) founding the Red Cross, (c) pioneer surgeon, (d) politics.
  12. Who was president during the purchase of Alaska (aka “Seward’s Folly)? (a) Abraham Lincoln; (b) Grover Cleveland; (c) Samuel Tildden, (d) Andrew Johnson.
  13. The “Golden Spike,” which symbolized the union of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads, is located in which state? (a) Utah; (b) California, (c) Wyoming; (d) Colorado.
  14. Who is widely credited with inventing the original, commercially successful electric telegraph? (a) Guglielmo Marconi; (b) Alexander Graham Bell; (c) Samuel Morse; (d) Eli Whitney
  15. When did the “Pony Express” commence operation? (a) 1850, (b) 1860, (c) 1870, (d) 1880.
  16. Who was the first American woman to earn a medical degree? (a) Elizabeth Cady Stanton, (b) Mary Smith, (c) Elizabeth Blackwell, (d) Lucretia Mott
  17. In what city was Francis Scott Key when he wrote the “Star Spangled Banner?” (a) Washington, DC; (b) NYC; (c) Baltimore; (d) Charleston
  18. Which Native American tribe never surrendered to the US? (a) Seminole; (b) Apache; (c) Sioux; (d) Comanche
  19. The Battle (Massacre) of Wounded Knee took place in which present day state? (a) Texas; (b) Colorado; (c) Montana; (d) South Dakota
  20. Who founded the American Red Cross? (a) Florence Nightingale; (b) Clara Barton; (c) Wilma Rogers; (d) Josie Wales
  21. Prior to the Civil War which was the first state to secede from the Union? (a) Alabama; (b) Mississippi; (c) Virginia; (d) South Carolina
  22. Pike’s peak is located in which state? (a) Wyoming, (b) California, (c) Arizona, (d) Colorado.
  23. Who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin? (a) Louisa May Alcott, (b) Susan Allen, (c) Harriett Beecher Stowe, (d) Veronica Lake
  24. This president had the shortest tenure in office. (a) Zachary Taylor, (b) Chester A. Arthur, (c) William Henry Harrison, (d) William Jennings Bryan.
  25. Which territory was the last to gain statehood during the 19th century? (a) Utah 1896, (b) Arizona, (c) Alaska, (d) New Mexico.
  26. Each of the following was infamously known as a “robber baron” except (a) Andrew Carnegie, (b) Jay Gould, (c) Samuel Gompers, Leland Stanford

Answers

1. (b); 2. (c); 3. (a); 4. (c); 5. (d); 6. (b); 7. (d); 8. (c); 9. (b); 10. (b); 11. (a); 12. (d); 13. (a); 14. (c); (15) (b); 16. (c); 17. (c); 18. (a); 19. (d); 20. (b), 21. (d); 22. (d); 23. (c); 24. (c) (31 days); 25. (b); 26. (c)

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D DAY

D Day. That’s all one has to say. Most everyone knows what it was and what it meant. Just the very name conjures up remembrances and images of one of the bloodiest battles and one of the turning points of WWII. The battle has been memorialized in numerous books and movies, and who can forget the poignant image of countless crosses and Stars of David neatly lined up in military cemeteries in Normandy.

Today, June 6, marks the 82nd anniversary of this epic battle. The Allied Forces included 156,000 troops from various countries, including the US, UK, Free France, Canada and Norway, among others, 5,000 ships and landing craft, 11,000 planes, 50,000 land vehicles, and coordinated landings over a 50 mile stretch of beaches code-named Juno, Omaha, Utah, Sword and Gold, truly a massive undertaking. Allied and German casualties have been estimated as high as 20,000 killed, wounded, missing and captured. Many of those brave souls were mere teenagers.

If you were involved in the actual landing, whether you lived or died was largely a matter of luck and happenstance. Two men could be sitting side-by-side in an LST, and a German bullet would find one and not the other. Think about that for a minute.

In addition to the German guns the soldiers had to deal with the rough surf.  Wearing their battle gear made them heavy and unwieldy, and many of them actually drowned.  The movie Saving Private Ryan depicts this grisly scene clearly.

If you were lucky enough to survive the landing, you became a “sitting duck” on the beach. Then, if you managed to fight your way off the beach you had to charge into several thousand heavily armed German troops, which were placed strategically in fortified bunkers. Once you fought your way past those, you were ready to commence the real battle to liberate France.

Planning for the operation began as early as 1943. Russia, one of our allies at the time (“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”) had been lobbying strongly for a second front to alleviate some of the pressure from the Russian Front. Military leaders on both sides recognized the significance of a second front and expected the Allies to attempt to open one at some point. The question was where and when. The Allies were not prepared to attempt such a massive landing until early 1944 primarily because they needed time to build up levels of men and material. Remember, the Allies were fighting in the Mediterranean and North Africa as well. Plus, the US was involved in the Pacific War against the formidable Japanese. Finally, Britain’s fighting capacity had been severely damaged in the debacle at Dunkirk in 1940.  Only a remarkable evacuation, aided by thousands of small boats piloted by civilians prevented the Germans from capturing or destroying the entire British army on the beach.

The Operation was code-named Operation Overlord. The landing, itself, was code-named Operation Neptune. General Eisenhower was in charge. Indeed, he was in charge of the entire Atlantic Theatre. As the story goes, when he was put in charge his orders were very simple – “Win the War.” No confusion; no limited rules of engagement, which hampered us in Viet Nam and other future conflicts.  “Just win, baby.”

The Allies considered four possible landing sites: Brittany, Cotentin Peninsula, Pas de Calais and Normandy. The first two were eliminated primarily because they were located on peninsulas, which would have afforded very narrow fronts that would have enabled the Germans to trap the soldiers in a counterattack. That left Normandy and Calais. Once the Allies decided on Normandy there were many attempts to deceive the Germans into thinking the landings would be at Calais. Historical evidence indicates that the Germans thought Calais the most likely site anyway, possibly because it was closer to England, but both sites were heavily fortified. Indeed, the Germans had planned to fortify the entire coast from Norway to Spain, a so-called “Atlantic Wall.”  This would have included concrete emplacements, barbed wire, booby traps, mines, the removal of ground cover, and, of course, troops and armored equipment. Luckily for us, these fortifications were never completed. Interestingly, although most of the German High Command viewed Calais as the most likely landing site, General Rommel, perhaps the best general on either side, surmised correctly that it would likely be at Normandy.

Accordingly, he increased fortifications in the area, but, luckily for us he was out of favor for political reasons, so some key elements of his plans for defending the area were ignored or overruled. Most notably, some panzer divisions, which he had wanted to place in the Normandy area were, instead, retained in and around Paris.

In addition, the German Army was stretched very thinly. Much of its manpower was committed to the Eastern Front and had been depleted by heavy casualties after five years of fighting. Finally, it was relying on captured equipment, which was not of the highest quality.

One of the biggest unknowns, and one that the Allies could not control, was the weather. Keep in mind, at the time the meteorological instruments were not nearly as sophisticated as they are now. The weather in the Normandy area was very unpredictable. At many times, forecasting the weather was no more than an educated guess. The various meteorologists advising General Eisenhower could not agree on the weather forecasts, which frustrated the military officers responsible for planning and executing the landings.

Due to the complexity of the operation weather conditions had to be just so, including the tides, phases of the moon and the time of day. Additionally, dawn, which was between low and high tide, was the preferred time of day. That way, as the high tide came in it would carry the LSTs farther in on the beach, and the men could spot obstacles, such as land mines, more easily. High winds, heavy seas and low cloud cover were not favorable. The planners were determined to wait for a day with ideal weather conditions that would satisfy all of the above criteria so as to maximize the chances of a successful landing. Only a few days of a given month satisfied all criteria. In fact, the operation had been postponed several times before June 6.

On the other hand, the longer they waited to launch the greater the chances of an intelligence leak, which would be disastrous. The Germans had an extensive network of spies. Moreover, despite warnings people talk. (Remember the famous admonition “loose lips sink ships.”), and there was the very real danger of an inadvertent leak. This conundrum was depicted brilliantly in the 2026 movie, Pressure, a true account, starring Brendan Fraser as General Eisenhower.

As we know, the operation was a success. Some of the major reasons for this were:
1. The aforementioned missions to deceive the Germans forced them to spread their defenses over a wide area.
2. The German’s much-ballyhooed “Atlantic Wall” was only about 20% complete.
3. The Allies achieved air superiority quickly.
4. Much of the transportation infrastructure in France had been damaged by Allied bombings and the French resistance, which hampered the Germans’ ability to move men and material.
5. The German high command was disorganized and indecisive, and their most brilliant general, Field Marshall Rommel, believing the forecasted severe weather and rough seas would prevent a successful Allied invasion, was on leave back in Germany to celebrate his wife’s birthday, which by happenstance was on June 6. Thus, he was unable to communicate with his notorious panzer forces effectively. On such minor events are wars sometimes won or lost.

CONCLUSION

If, as many historians believe, winning WWII was one America’s greatest achievements, then it can be argued that D Day was one of its greatest victories. Certainly, its success shortened the war in Europe and, in the process, saved countless lives (combatants and non-combatants alike).

There is no exact figure, but according to the National WWII Museum with the passage of time only a few thousand D-Day veterans are still alive worldwide, which is a shame.  Even the youngest ones are approaching 100 years old.

In WWII we had a clear-cut goal, win the war; the nation was united in support of the war, our government and our troops; we knew who the enemy was; we knew the Axis Powers were evil (Hitler, in particular, was one of the most despicable men ever to walk the face of the earth.); and there was no holding back. Sadly, we have never had such clarity of purpose again, and, perhaps, we never will.

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AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY QUIZ, PART I

In honor of America’s upcoming 250th birthday I will be posting a series of quizzes over the next several weeks. Time to test your knowledge (or lack thereof) of American history. The first one deals with the formation of our country. In recognition of the fact that there are different levels of knowledge among the readers I have tried to moderate the difficulty of the questions. The answers were drawn primarily from and confirmed by Wikipedia and other internet sources and publications.

  1. The Revolutionary War began in what year? (a) 1774, (b 1775, (c) 1776, (d) 1777
  2. The primary author of the Declaration of Independence was (a) George Washington, (b) Thomas Jefferson, (c) Alexander Hamilton, (d) John Hancock.
  3. Each of the following is recognized as a “Founding Father except (a) John Jay, (b) Alexander Hamilton, (c) James Madison, (d) James Monroe
  4. Each of the following states was one of the 13 original colonies except (a) Rhode Island, (b) Georgia, (c) Vermont, (d) Delaware.
  5. The British general who surrendered at Yorktown thus ending the Revolutionary War was (a) Howe, (b) Burgoyne (c) Mitchell, (d) Cornwallis.
  6. Who was known as the “Swamp Fox?” (a) Francis Marion, (b) John James, (c) Jim Duffy, (d) William Tarleton.
  7. George Washington led troops across the frozen Delaware River to defeat the opposition at the Battle of (a) Yorktown Heights, (b) Monmouth, (c) Trenton, (d) Brooklyn Heights
  8. Who was the leader of the Green Mountain Boys? (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Roger Miller, (c) Ethan Allen, (d) Charles Lee.
  9. Which battle is generally considered to be the turning point of the RW? (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Albany, (d) Charleston.
  10. Each of the following was a colonial RW general except (a) Henry Clinton, (b) John Knox, (c) Nathanael Greene, (d) Horatio Gates
  11. What is the origin of the term “Uncle Sam?” (a) a famous army general, (b) a meatpacker, (c) a financier, (d) a politician
  12. What is the origin of the term “Yankee Doodle Dandy?” (a) a musical comedy; (b) a term to insult a person, (c) a British army tune, (d) a popular song.
  13. Who said, “give me liberty or give me death?” (a) Patrick Henry, (b) John Hancock, (c) John Adams, (d) Nathan Hale
  14. Who said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country?” (a) Benedict Arnold, (b) Nathan Hale, (c) Henry Lee, (d) Crispus Atticks
  15. What battle is generally considered to have been the turning point of the RW. (a) NY; (b) Trenton, (c) West Point; (d) Saratoga.
  16. When asked to surrender who said, “I have not yet begun to fight?” (a) John Paul Jones, (b) Ethan Allen, (c) Gerry Mander, (d) George Washington
  17. During the RW many cities served as the capital city. Basically, the capital was wherever the Continental Congress was in session at the time, and it had to move on several occasions to avoid the British Army. Each of the following served as the capital of the colonies except (a) Philadelphia, (b) NYC, (c) Lancaster, (d) Princeton.
  18. Which was the first colony to sign the Constitution? (a) Delaware, (b) Virginia, (c) Rhode Island, (d) NY.
  19. How many signatories of the Declaration of Independence were there? (a) 52, (b) 26, (c) 56, (d) 13.
  20. Who was the first President to occupy the White House? (a) George Washington, (b) John Adams, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) James Madison.
  21. France “officially” presented the Statue of Liberty to the US in (a) 1776, (b) 1880, (c) 1884, (d) 1888.
  22. What RW battle was precipitated by “the shot heard around the world?” (a) Lexington and Concord, (b) Saratoga, (c) Yorktown, (d) Baltimore
  23. In what year was the constitution finally ratified? (a) 1787, (b) 1788, (c) 1789, (d) 1790.
  24. Who was the King of England during the RW? (a. George I, (b) George II, (c) George III, (d) George IV
  25. Who was the first colonial fatality of the RW? (a) Crispus Attucks, (b) Jeffrey Kent, (c) Jeremiah Langley, (d) Edward Smyth
  26. Who was the head of the “Sons of Liberty?” (a) James Otis, (b) John Hancock, (c) Paul Revere, (d) Samuel Adams.
  27. Who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense, which was first published on January 10, 1776, widely disseminated and presented the case for American self-government? (a) Thomas Paine, (b) Benjamin Franklyn, (c) Thomas Jefferson, (d) Alexander Hamilton.

Answers: (1) b; (2) b, [Jefferson was assisted by a committee which was appointed by the Second Continental Congress that included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman.]; (3) d; (4) (c); (5) d; (6) a; (7) c; (8) c; (9) b; (10) a.[Clinton was a British general]; (11) b. [Samuel Wilson was a meatpacker from Troy, New York, who supplied beef to the U.S. Army.]; (12) b. [ ‘Yankee” was a contemptuous term used by the British referring to American colonists. “Doodle” was slang for a simpleton, country bumpkin, or fool. A “dandy” was a man who is overly obsessed with his appearance.] 13. a; (14) b; (15) d; (16) a. (17) b; (18) a; (19) c [Few persons signed on July 4. Most signed on August 2 or later.]; (20) b; (21) c; (22) a; (23) b; (24) c; (25) a; (26) d; (27) a.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the many females who also contributed to the cause in a variety of ways. Some, such as Molly Rinker, Anna Strong, Anna Bates, and the mysterious “agent 355,” posed as loyalists but, in reality, operated as spies right under the noses of the British. In addition, the following deserve special mention for their heroism:

  • Deborah Sampson – Disguised herself as a man named Robert Shurtleff and enlisted in the Continental Army in 1782. She fought in several skirmishes and afterwards became one of the first women to receive a full military pension. 
  • Margaret Corbin – Fought at the Battle of Fort Washington in 1776. After her husband was killed, she took over operating his cannon and was severely wounded. Later she became the first woman to earn a lifelong military pension.
  • Anna Marie Lane – Fought alongside her husband in the Battle of Germantown (1777). She also earned a military pension for her service.
  • Sybil Ludington – Though only 16 she rode 40 miles through the night in 1777 to alert local militia that British troops were burning nearby Danbury, Connecticut. 

Conclusion

As America’s 250th birthday approaches the country finds itself in a state of turmoil. A small, but vociferous portion of the people, who are disaffected and hate America, are finding it necessary to criticize, denigrate and tear down our way of life and what the country stands for. They will likely try to disrupt the various celebratory activities. Yes, America has flaws, but they do not obscure the multitude of benefits, which make it the greatest nation in the world and one to which millions of foreigners aspire to emigrate.

In addition, let’s remember and pay homage to the tens of thousands of patriots who fought and died in various wars so that we may enjoy all the freedoms we often take for granted.

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DON’S DEFICIENT DEAL

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Obviously, I have no inside knowledge of the ongoing peace negotiations among the US, Iran, Israel, and other interested parties. All I know is what I have read in the news and seen on tv. The following opinions and comments are based on that.

As most of you know, I have been an avid Trump supporter since 2016. I haven’t agreed with everything he has said and done but based on his many accomplishments I have always given him the benefit of the doubt. All that said, I am appalled at the terms of the proposed peace agreement as disclosed to date. For months Trump has reiterated that the purposes of the war were (1) to prevent Iran from ever having a nuclear weapon; (2) Iran must surrender its cache of enriched uranium; (3) there must be a reliable methodology to independently verify Iran’s compliance with #s 1 and 2; and (4) Iran must allow all ships free and unfettered passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

There are significant inconsistencies with respect to this “deal.” Trump has been saying that a deal to “end the war” has been “largely negotiated.” Only some details remain to be resolved, and they will be announced “shortly.” In addition: (1) Iran is reportedly committing to abandon the pursuit of developing nuclear weapons; (2) it is negotiating the surrender of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium; and (3) the Hormuz Strait will be reopened completely. In return, (1) Iran would be able to resume free oil sales; and (2) billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets would be released contingent upon reaching a final nuclear agreement.

Sounds promising, except just today an Iranian spokesperson issued a statement that totally contradicts Trump’s statement. He told a USA Today reporter anonymously that Iran has NOT committed to giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium as part of any settlement. Furthermore, Iran’s Fars news agency reported early Sunday that any agreement would have to continue to allow Iran to retain control of the Strait of Hormuz; Iran is continuing to deny claims that it has pursued or is pursuing nuclear weapons other than for “peaceful purposes,” and it has the right to do so; and it wants an end to the U.S. blockade on its ports and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

Also, what will be the procedures for inspections of nuclear sites. For example, who will perform them, how often, will they be surprise visits or scheduled, will the inspectors have complete and unfettered access, and what will be the penalties for noncompliance. Truly, the devil is in the details. Does the foregoing sound like an agreement is “imminent,” and just a few “details” remain to be ironed out? I think not.

Trump’s and Iran’s positions are miles apart with significant unresolved differences. In fact, they are mutually exclusive. Both cannot be true. Since Iran’s militant leadership has adamantly and consistently stated it would never give up its stockpile of enriched uranium I believe it is more likely that its statements are more accurate.

One glaring omission from the proposed deal is Iran’s ballistic missiles program. Its missiles represent a clear and present danger. Iran already possesses missiles that can reach all of Europe. It will not be long before it develops missiles that can reach parts of the US as well.

There is also the matter of Israel, which may have different goals and a different attitude toward Iran and its proxies. In my view, there are signs that Israel is more cognizant of the dangers Iran and its proxies still present. Indeed, Israeli media has reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told President Trump that Israel must “maintain the freedom to act against all threats, including in Lebanon.” I’m not sure if this signifies a slight difference between Trump and Netanyahu or an actual rift.

Conclusion

History tells us that Iran has consistently negotiated in bad faith. Its representatives say one thing and do another. Their negotiating strategy has been to lie, obfuscate, deceive and delay, delay and then delay some more. This strategy has been very successful for 47 years with multiple Administrations. Trump has repeatedly denigrated these negotiating tactics and derided those who have fallen for them. Yet, it appears that he may be falling into the same trap.

If we were to agree to Iran’s current terms the war will have failed to accomplish any of our main objectives. In fact, I could make a case that we would be worse off. Iran would still have its stockpile of enriched uranium; we would not be certain that all of its nuclear material was destroyed; we would have expended a goodly portion of our weaponry; Trump would have dissipated much of his political capital; and many people would perceive Iran to be the winner thus raising its status and diminishing ours in the eyes of the world.

Finally, let’s not forget that we won the war, not Iran. Thus, we should be dictating terms not getting bogged down in prolonged negotiations with murky details. Trump has said he is reluctant to attack in force. He wants to give the negotiations a chance. He wants to avoid killing innocent Iranians. I agreed up to a point, but we are well past that point. The longer these negotiations drag on the more it will hurt our economy. When all is said and done elections are always about the economy. A problematic economy will likely spell defeat in the midterm elections. Remember, America first!

These negotiations have not and will not bear fruit. It’s time to lay down the hammer and end this once and for all.

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MEMORIAL DAY

On Monday, May 25 millions of Americans will celebrate Memorial Day.  Traditionally, most of us have viewed MD as a day off from work, part of a three-day weekend, a day to gather with friends and relatives, watch sports, barbecue, go to the beach or pool club, or maybe go away for a mini vacation.  Regardless of the calendar MD is generally considered to be the unofficial start of summer. Wherever you go and whatever you do expect travel delays, crowds, frustrations and undue stress. Of course, we don’t like those inconveniences, but they are acknowledged and tolerated as an integral part of the holiday weekend.

Normally, Memorial Day weekend is the busiest travel period of the year. According to AAA in 2026 a record 45 million persons are expected to travel 50 miles or more. This would surpass the current record of 44 million established in 2025. The majority of travelers (87%) are expected to travel by car. AAA advises that the worst period to travel is Friday, May 22 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Monday, May 25 in the afternoon. In any event, it is advisable to allow extra travel time to account for delays due to heavy traffic and/or inclement weather. Moreover, in order to mitigate the prospect of delays I recommend using your friendly GPS to help you navigate around trouble.

The cost of gas at the pump is an issue. It is higher than last year primarily due to the war with Iran and the resulting disruption of oil shipments through the Hormuz Strait. As I write this, the average price nationally is $4.529 per gallon compared to $3.197 in 2025. If you think that price is excessive, and it is, consider that the price in CA is considerably higher ($6.115).

The National Safety Council (NSC) warns that MD weekend is one of the most dangerous periods for traffic accidents. It is predicting a total of 393 fatalities during the 2026 MD holiday period. This represents an 11% decrease from last year, but it is still too many. Everybody says, “watch out for the other guy.” Don’t be the “other guy.” Drive with extra caution. Don’t become a statistic!

The TSA is predicting some 3.61 million people to travel by air over MD weekend, which would be a 2% increase over last year.  Allow extra time as one can expect the usual heavy crowds, overbooked flights, delays, cancellations and inclement weather. Be courteous to airport employees, flight attendants and your fellow passengers. Everyone is doing their best to deal with a most stressful and frustrating situation. Don’t be “that guy.”

One TSA Senior Official is, in my opinion, overly optimistic. He has told various media outlets that, thanks to President Trump and Secretary Mullin settling the government shutdown of Homeland Security “TSA teams are completely staffed, so passengers should experience a smooth screening experience [with minimal wait times] and have an enjoyable trip through our airports and on to their travel destinations.” I hope he is right, but seasoned air travelers know that unforeseen events, such as the weather, can cause significant disruptions.

Some TSA travel tips to expedite your travel experience: (1) be sure to carry your passport or “REAL ID,” (2) utilize TSA PreCheck,  (3) ensure your carry-on bags are organized and comply with TSA regulations, and (4) most of all, allow plenty of extra time to account for unforeseen circumstances both on the road to and at the airport. The TSA advises travelers to arrive at least 2.5 to 3 hours before their scheduled departure. A wise credo is to hope for the best but plan for the worst. There’s nothing worse than spending a chunk of your vacation at the airport because you missed your flight.

Back to the holiday, itself. How many of us actually stop to ponder the meaning of MD? What does it signify? What is its etymology? Well, I’m glad you asked. Read on and be edified.

According to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs the purpose of MD is to honor veterans who have died in the service of their country.  (Some people confuse it with Veterans’ Day, celebrated in November, which is to honor LIVING veterans for their service.)  MD is celebrated on the final Monday in May, which, as stated above, is May 25 this year.  As I said, it has also evolved into the unofficial start of summer and Opening Day for beaches, pools and vacation homes.

The original name for MD was “Decoration Day.”  The custom of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers is centuries old.  Its origins are murky, but after the Civil War it became customary to “decorate” soldiers’ graves with flowers as a way to honor those who had died in that war.

Several cities claim to be the birthplace of MD.  Warrenton, Va. claims that the first CW soldier’s grave was decorated there in 1861.  Women began decorating soldiers’ graves in Savannah, Ga. as early as 1862.   Boalsburg, Pa. and Charleston, SC, among others, have also made claims.  NY became the first state to recognize MD as an official holiday in 1873.  In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY to be the official birthplace of MD.

The basis of Waterloo’s claim is that in 1865 a group of locals, including a pharmacist, Henry Welles, General John Murray, a CW hero, and a group of other veterans, simply marched to the local cemeteries and decorated the soldiers’ graves with flowers.  What gave Waterloo an edge in the birthplace battle was that Murray was an acquaintance of General John Logan, the general who issued “Logan’s Order,” the proclamation that declared “Decoration Day” should be celebrated annually nationwide.

At first, MD was celebrated on May 30 every year.  The date seems somewhat arbitrary as it was not the anniversary of any famous battle or military event.  Perhaps, it was chosen simply because flowers with which the graves are decorated are in bloom and plentiful at that particular time of the year.  The name, “Decoration Day” was gradually replaced by “MD” beginning in 1882, and in 1887 MD became the official name.  In 1968 the Congress moved the holiday to the last Monday in May.  This annoyed many traditionalists, but the lure of a three-day weekend overcame any objections, and the Monday date has prevailed.

There are some MD traditions worth noting:

  1. Flying the flag at half-staff.

Most of the time one will see the flag flown at half-staff all day; however, technically, this is not proper.  The flag should be raised to the top and then lowered to half-staff.  This is intended to honor those who have died for their country.  At noon, the flag is to be raised again to full staff, where it remains for the rest of the day.  This is to recognize that the deceased veterans’ sacrifices were not in vain.

  1. Poppies.

Poppies have become the official flower of remembrance, declared as such by the American Legion in 1920.  This is derived from WWI and the Battle of Ypres (English pronunciation is “Wipers.”).  Apparently, a proliferation of poppies grew on that battlefield around the soldiers’ graves.  These poppies were featured in a famous poem by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae called “In Flanders Fields.”  This poem caught peoples’ imagination and popularized the custom.

  1. Sporting Events.

No American holiday celebration would be complete without a sports connection. MD weekend features the Indianapolis 500 and the Memorial golf tournament, among others.  Also, until recently there was the traditional Memorial Day MLB baseball doubleheader.  Alas, due to economics, scheduled holiday baseball doubleheaders are all but extinct. 

4. Parades and ceremonies.

There will be parades and ceremonies in virtually every city and town of any size. Washington, DC will feature the National Memorial Day Parade, which will be televised and streamed live nationally and around the world.

CONCLUSION

I hope the foregoing has enhanced your understanding and appreciation of MD.  As a veteran, myself, I find it most gratifying that, in recent years, most Americans have come to recognize and appreciate the service and sacrifice of our country’s veterans.  I can remember a time (the Vietnam War period) when it wasn’t so.

So, whatever you do this weekend, however you celebrate, try to pause for a moment in honor of the many veterans who have given their lives so that the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.

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THIS MONTH IN HISTORY – MAY

Ready for your monthly dose of history? Below please find an outline of the significant historical events that have occurred in the month of May:

May 1 – Since ancient times, a day for festivals celebrating the arrival of the Spring season. Today, many socialist countries celebrate “May Day” on May 1 as a holiday to celebrate workers.
May 1, 1707 – Scotland was combined with England and Wales to form Great Britain. The later addition of Northern Ireland formed the UK.
May 1, 1931 – the Empire State Building opened.

May 1, 1960 – An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down over Russia on the eve of a summit between President Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev. The incident caused the cancellation of the summit and increased Cold War tensions between the two countries.
May 2, 2011 – US Special Forces located and killed Osama bin Laden at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.

May 3, 1860 -The Pony Express made its inaugural run from St. Joseph, MO to CA.
May 4, 1494 – Christopher Columbus, still seeking the Northwest Passage, discovered the island of Jamaica.
May 4, 1970 – Ohio National Guard troops fired into a student demonstration at Kent State University killing four students.
May 5 – Mexican holiday, commonly referred to as “Cinco de Mayo,” celebrating Mexican forces’ defeat of a numerically superior French invasion force in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
May 5, 1865 – Celebration of Decoration Day honoring soldiers killed in the Civil War. Eventually, morphed into Memorial Day.
May 5, 1961 – Astronaut Alan Shepard completed a 15-minute suborbital flight, thus becoming the first American to fly in space.
May 6, 1937 – The German blimp, Hindenburg, burst into flames killing 36 of its 97 passengers.
May 7, 1915 – The shocking sinking of the Lusitania, a British passenger ship, by a German U-boat hastened the US’s entry into WWI on the side of the Allies.
May 7, 1954 – The French surrendered at Dien Bien Phu, ending their colonial presence in Indochina. Eventually, this event led to the US’s ill-advised involvement in Vietnam.
May 8, 1942 – The Battle of the Coral Sea, which historians consider to be the turning point of WWII in the Pacific, commenced. US naval forces defeated Japan for the first time and began their inexorable march toward the Japanese mainland.

May 8, 1945 – V-E Day- The formal acceptance by the Allies of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender.
May 10, 1869 – The Union Pacific and Central Railroads joined at Promontory Point, UT (symbolized by driving a golden spike into the roadbed), creating the Transcontinental Railroad, which linked the entire US.
May 10, 1994 – Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as president of South Africa, bringing an official end to Apartheid.
May 12, 1949 – Russia ended its blockade of West Berlin.
May 14, 1607 – The first permanent English settlement was established at Jamestown, VA.
May 14, 1804 – The Lewis and Clark expedition of the northwest, which lasted some 18 months and covered some 6,000 miles, departed St. Louis.
May 14, 1796 – English Dr. Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine. He coined the term, vaccination, to describe his method of injecting a weakened version of the disease into a healthy person, who would then fight off the disease and develop an immunity.
May 14, 1948 – The State of Israel declared its independence.
May 15, 1972 – While campaigning for the presidency, George Wallace was shot and paralyzed from the waist down.
May 17, 1792 – Some two dozen brokers and merchants began meeting under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street to buy and sell stocks and bonds. Eventually, this led to the establishment of the NY Stock Exchange.
May 17, 1875 – The initial running of the Kentucky Derby took place at Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY.
May 17, 1954 – The Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, Brown vs. The Board of Education (Topeka, KS), ruled that school segregation based on race was unconstitutional.
May 20, 1927 – Aviator Charles Lindberg took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island for the first solo non-stop flight between NY and Europe (landing in Paris).
May 20, 1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1937, while attempting to fly across the Pacific Ocean, she was lost at sea, and her fate remains shrouded in mystery to this day.
May 21, 1881 – Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
May 22, 1947 – Congress approved the Truman Doctrine, which provided foreign aid to Greece and Turkey, which was necessary to prevent the spread of communism in that region.
May 24, 1844 – Samuel Morse, inventor of the telegraph, transmitted the first telegram (“What hath God wrought?”).

May 24, 2022 – A crazed gunman engaged in a shooting spree at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX in which 19 children and two teachers were slaughtered.
May 26, 1940 – Great Britain commenced the evacuation of its army trapped at Dunkirk.
May 27, 1937 – The Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco.
May 30, 1783 – The Pennsylvania Evening Post became the first newspaper to be published in the US on a daily basis.
May 30, 1922 – The Lincoln Memorial, designed by architect Henry Bacon, was dedicated in Washington, D. C.
May 31, 1889 – The infamous Johnstown Flood of 1889 killed some 2,300 persons.

Birthdays – Niccolo Machiavelli – 5/3/1469; Golda Meir – 5/4/1898, Prime Minister of Israel 1969 – 1974 in Kiev, Russia; Karl Marx – 5/5/1818; Sigmund Freud – 5/6/1856; Nellie Bly – 5/5/1867, journalist, social reformer and human rights advocate in Cochran’s Mills, PA (as Elizabeth Cochrane); Harry S. Truman (33rd President) – 5/8/1884; Israel Isidore Beilin (aka Irving Berlin – songwriter) – 5/11/1888; Martha Graham, modern dance pioneer – 5/11/1893 in Pittsburgh, PA; Florence Nightingale – 5/12/1820; Gabriel Fahrenheit (physicist) – 5/14/1686;  Nguyen That Thanh (aka Ho Chi Minh – 5/19/1890; Malcolm Little (aka Malcolm X) – 5/19/1925; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes creator) – 5/22/1859; Laurence Olivier – 5/22/1907; Arabella Mansfield first female attorney in US, 5/231846, near Burlington, Iowa (as Belle Aurelia Babb); Ralph Waldo Emerson – 5/25/1803; Al Jolson- 5/26/1886; James Butler (aka Wild Bill) Hickok – 5/27/1837; Hubert Humphr (1846-1911) – 5/27/1911; Jim Thorpe – 5/28/1888; Patrick Henry – 5/29/1736; John Fitzgerald Kennedy 35th President) – 5/29/1917; Walt Whitman – 5/31/1819.

Interestingly, according to Wikipedia, May is the only month in which a US President has not died.

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ANTISEMITISM IN AMERICA

The contents of this blog are a compendium of various media reports supplemented by my personal opinion where indicated.

Antisemitism is not a new phenomenon. In my view, its roots go back thousands of years, and it has persisted to the present day. At times, it has been covert, hidden below the surface like a simmering volcano. At other times, it has erupted suddenly and violently, often precipitated by a misfortune such as a famine, a plague, or the king’s desire to divert criticism away from him onto someone else. An example of this overt violence would be the pogroms, which essentially were organized violent riots against Jews, that occurred chiefly in Eastern Europe and Russia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Kristallnacht in 1938 in Germany was an example with which most of you are familiar.

In my opinion, there are various reasons why some people hate Jews, but they all boil down to one commonality. Jews are different. Not better nor worse, just different. Not all of them, but enough of them to feed into the stereotypes. Many of them look different and dress differently. They have an entirely different culture; they worship a different God, and on Saturdays rather than Sundays; they speak a separate language, and until recently they often resisted assimilating. Many people hate and mistrust those who are “different.” (See the historical treatment of Blacks, Hispanics, Gypsies and Kurds, among others.)

Throughout history, due to ignorance, certain myths and stereotypes have taken hold, i.e. Jews are loud, arrogant, noisy, cheap, eat Christian babies and, worst of all, killed Christ, to name a few. Many of those who feel that way have rarely if ever even met a Jew, much less spent time with one. As recently as the early 1960s a Jewish friend of mine was asked by an acquaintance if she could touch her hair to “feel her horns.” An acquaintance of another friend requested to look inside her refrigerator. Why? She wanted to see if the friend kept Christian babies in it. In modern times these myths and stereotypes have dissipated somewhat but not disappeared.

In America Jews have grown too comfortable. They feel safe and secure. They are not cognizant of the degree of antisemitism extant among the general population. Recent events, such as the conflicts in the ME between Israel and Muslim terrorist organizations, have caused it to erupt into the open most violently. Many espouse hatred of Israel as “cover” for antisemitism. Many of our politicians, leaders and other influential people have failed to condemn this, and some have even openly supported it. For example, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish and represents a heavily Jewish populace, has not only remained silent but he also has been openly hostile to Israel and its President Benjamin Netanyahu; NYC just elected an openly antisemitic socialist/communist as mayor, and in Maine Dem US Senate candidate Graham Platner sports what appears to be a Nazi tattoo on his chest.

The recent surge in antisemitic incidents in the US commenced in the wake of the heinous terrorist attacks by Muslims against Israelis on October 7, 2023. In 2025 the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors acts of hostility against Jews, recorded in excess of 6,000 incidents for the year including harassment, vandalism, physical assaults, destruction of property, rape and murder. The ADL’s report disclosed the following breakdown:

  1. Total incidents – 6,274, the third most for any year.
  2. Violent attacks – 203 (a record), 32 of which involved a “deadly weapon.” According to the NY Post NYS accounted for 44% of these.
  3. Fatalities – At least three.
  4. Physical assaults rose to the highest total since 1979.
  5. States with the most incidents – New York (1,160), California (817), and New Jersey (687).
  6. Most targeted areas – schools, synagogues, and public spaces.

Additionally, according to the ADL some 45% of these incidents were linked to Israel or Zionism. Many perpetrators use Israel or Zionism as “cover” or “code” for antisemitism much like segregationists in the South in the “Jim Crow” period espoused “states’ rights” as code for bigotry.

The list of antisemitic hate crimes is too extensive to list them all here. Hardly a day goes by without incidents, but according to the NY Post some recent ones just in the NYC area include:

  1. In Williamsburg a Jewish woman was dragged to the ground by her hair and tossed into a pile of trash.
  2. In Brooklyn a man knocked on his Jewish neighbor’s door and told him: “We didn’t kill enough of you Jews.”
  3. A group chased two Jews with a knife while yelling “Heil Hitler” and “Free Palestine.”
  4. There were a plethora of incidents in which vandals scrawled swastikas and hateful messages on windows, businesses, cars and garage doors owned by Jews as well as on various synagogues.

In addition to the foregoing there are the ongoing incidents of harassment, assault and verbal attacks prevalent on college campuses. I have described these in a series of blogs over the past two years. It is an engrained part of the college culture created and sustained by college administrators, professors and students. Despite an initial burst of publicity, the Federal government has done little to rectify this. The Ivy League schools are the worst, but they are by no means the only ones.

It is so omnipresent that many Jewish students are loath to wear anything that identifies them as Jewish such as a Star of David or a yarmulka. That is so sad. I don’t understand why a Jewish parent would send their child to any of these schools. Why pay up to $100,000 a year to have your child endure that hateful atmosphere. There are a multitude of equally outstanding schools that are far more tolerant.

Conclusion

I could go on and on. I could write a book about this topic and not cover it in the detail it deserves. Hate and intolerance by some against certain groups have long been engrained in our society. Sadly, I believe it is part of human nature. Some people feel compelled to blame others for their own inadequacies or sad circumstances of their own life. I believe that although it can and has, at times, been controlled or mitigated it can never be eradicated.

Finally, a word of caution to American Jews. Compared to other countries they have had it good. They have enjoyed the protection of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. That said, I fear that Jews have grown too complacent. They can’t imagine that what they have taken for granted can be snatched away in the blink of an eye. The current rise of the far-left socialists and communists is a foreboding portent. Remember, before the rise of the Nazis German Jews had been living comfortably in Germany for some 500 years. They were prosperous and safe. Many of them had become an integral part of the financial, political, economic and social fabric of the country. We all know how that ended.

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ENOUGH ALREADY

As always, the contents of this blog are a compendium of multiple media reports supplemented by my personal opinion, where indicated.

Like many of you I have become extremely frustrated by the lack of progress regarding the negotiations between Iran and the US. As you know, we quickly and easily defeated Iran militarily, destroyed its Navy, killed several layers of its leadership, knocked out its communications systems and have been choking its economy through the blockade of the Hormuz Strait. Some of you may recall that in a previous blog I opined that the military victory was the easy part. Now comes the hard part – winning the peace.

Negotiations have dragged on for weeks. At the present time, they are at a virtual standstill. We have made our demands clear, which include, among other things, no nuclear weapons, no enriched uranium, cease fomenting terrorism, and allowing free and unfettered passage through the Hormuz Strait. These are non-negotiable. They are the main reasons for the war in the first place. If we don’t get them, we will have wasted our time, money, and political capital for nothing.

Iran has not made any meaningful, substantive counteroffer. It is not even clear that its negotiators have the authority to agree to a legitimate deal and enforce Iran’s side of it. Iran continues to insist it will not negotiate the above issues. Instead, it wants to discuss the possible reopening of the Hormuz Strait, which, under international law, it had no legal authority to close in the first place. Its latest proposal called for the complete withdrawal of US forces from the area as a prerequisite for further negotiations. Naturally, Trump dismissed this sham proposal out of hand, characterizing it as “unacceptable.”

In my opinion Iran has no intention of acceding to our demands. Its strategy is what it has always been, delay, delay, delay and delay some more. And, from their point of view, why not? This “rope-a-dope” strategy has been successful every time with previous Administrations. Iran is betting that at some point public opinion, the rising price of oil, and the impending midterm elections will pressure the US negotiators to accept an inferior deal. Currently, according to the AAA the price of oil at the pump is hovering in the $4.50 range, and history tells us it will increase even further over the Memorial Day weekend. Before the war the price averaged $3.00. This is unacceptable.

Oddly enough whereas our allies are mostly supporting the Administration’s war efforts it has been getting strong (and inane, I might add) criticism from the Dem Party politicians, their allies in the media, and the anti-Israel/antisemites. Many Dem politicians have been characterizing the war as “illegal” due to the absence of Congressional approval and “reckless.” For example, Senator Tammy Duckworth and Rep. John Garamendi have characterized the war as a “quagmire.”

One problem for the Administration has been the contradictory messaging. For example, Trump has always described the war as a “short excursion” that would end in a “matter of weeks.” It has been almost three months, and the end does not appear to be in sight. Indeed, recently White House deputy press secretary, Anna Kelly told Fox News that Trump “is not in a rush” to end the war.

The latest Pew Research poll disclosed that Americans now disapprove of the war by 61% to 37%. This is exactly what the Iranians are banking on. In my opinion this level of disapproval will increase if the negotiations continue to drag on and the price of oil remains high, in which case it would likely impact the midterm elections.

Conclusion

Normally, I agree with Trump’s policies and actions. With respect to the Iran War, I agree it was necessary for all the reasons that have been cited in my previous blogs and elsewhere. I applaud his desires to try to reach a negotiated settlement to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. However, in my view the negotiations have gone on long enough.

It is clear to me that Iran will never agree to cease its nuclear ambitions, surrender its enriched uranium, allow free and unfettered access through the Hormuz Strait, nor cease fomenting terrorism throughout the ME and the world. Trump gave negotiations a chance. It’s becoming apparent that they will not culminate in a satisfactory deal.

I say, don’t fall for the “rope-a-dope.” Why are we negotiating anyway? We won; they lost. This should be an unconditional surrender where we tell them what we want and they comply, or else.

This may be our one and only chance to settle things with Iran in a manner that ensures a non-nuclear future. I say, stop “pussyfooting around.” Now, is the time to “drop the hammer.” I say employ any and all means to confiscate the enriched uranium, verify that Iran’s nuclear program has ended, and open the Hormuz Strait.

Enough already! We are on the one-yard line. Punch it in!

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MOTHER’S DAY

On Sunday, May 10, most Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day. Notice the singular possessive form of spelling. This is the standard and generally accepted usage. It was the format favored by Anna Jarvis, the acknowledged driving force behind the creation of the holiday, as you will see below, rather than the plural possessive. Her point was that each family should honor “the best mother, yours” rather than all mothers.

MD is celebrated all over the world in some form.  Different countries have their own way of celebrating the day and even celebrate it on different dates.  Some countries have replicated the US traditions – hallmark [or email (tacky)] card, flowers, chocolates, and family outings or gatherings; others have incorporated it into other holidays honoring women or mothers; and in still others, a combination of the two has evolved.

According to The National Restaurant Association based on decades of research MD is the busiest day of the year for restaurants.  Nearly one-half of customers eat out for dinner, but many opt for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Reservations are highly recommended, unless you don’t mind waiting an hour or more for a table. The traditional custom is to give mom a break from kitchen duties and take her out to a nice restaurant to celebrate. And why not? Doesn’t she deserve it?

According to a recent poll of some 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted by Lifeway Research MD is the third busiest day for attendance at church behind Christmas and Easter (no surprise there).

According to multiple media reports Mother’s Day 2026 is expected to be the most expensive on record, with total US spending projected to amount to a record of $38 billion up from $34.1 billion in 2025. According to the website “RetailMeNot” the most popular gifts are greeting cards, flowers (roses and carnations being the most popular), chocolates and gift cards. According to the National Retail Federation virtually everything will cost more. No surprise there. All in, Americans will spend approximately $284 per person on gifts and celebrations. For example, the average restaurant meal is expected to cost $67, 4% more than last year; the cost of a medium-sized floral arrangement is projected to increase $5 – 10 over last year; a combined gift package of flowers, jewelry, chocolates, a spa treatment, perfume, and a card will cost about $543 compared to $514 last year. Jewelry? Forget it! The price of both gold and silver has increased dramatically since last year. Why is everything more costly? As political analyst James Carville might say: “It’s the economy, stupid.”

As always, traffic on the roads will likely be heavy during the holiday weekend. So, plan to leave early, and use your trusty GPS. Additionally, one can expect the usual extensive delays at the airports and train and bus stations due to weather complications, security concerns and heavy usage.

In the US MD was first celebrated continuously in 1908 when the aforementioned Anna Jarvis held a special memorial for her mother, although some sources credit Julia Howe or Juliet Blakely for celebrating MD in the 1870s.  Ms. Jarvis had been campaigning for the country to recognize a day to honor mothers since 1905 when her mother had passed away.  In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson signed an official proclamation establishing the second Sunday in May as MD.  It was to be a day to honor mothers and the concept of motherhood and their contributions to society.

Eventually, Ms. Jarvis became disillusioned with the commercialization of the holiday.  By the 1920’s the greeting card, retail, candy, and flower industries were all marketing their products aggressively to take advantage of the holiday.  Jarvis strongly advocated that people should demonstrate their love and respect for their mothers through personalized, handwritten letters instead.  Being a person of action, she organized protests and threatened boycotts of these industries.  At one point, she was arrested for disturbing the peace at a candy manufacturers’ convention.

Despite her efforts, commercialization of the holiday has continued to grow.  Americans, in particular, tend to demonstrate their love in tangible, material ways through the giving of gifts.  According to a recent National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, some 84% of U.S. adults plan to celebrate MD this year.

As I stated, MD is celebrated in many countries in different ways and at different dates. For example:

1. The most common date is the second Sunday in May, which is May 10 this year. Beside the US, some of the countries that celebrate it on this date are Canada, Italy, the Peoples Republic of China and Turkey.

2. Some countries, such as the UK, Ireland and Nigeria, celebrate it on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The UK incorporated it into a previously existing holiday called “Mothering Sunday,” which originated in the 16th Century.

3. Many Arab countries, such as Egypt, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia celebrate it on the vernal equinox (March 20 in 2026). (For those of you who do not remember your astronomy, an equinox happens when the sun’s rays are directly over the equator, resulting in approximately equal hours of daylight and darkness.)

4. Russia used to celebrate MD on March 8 in conjunction with International Women’s Day, but in 1998 the date was changed, by law, to the last Sunday in November.

5. Bolivia celebrates it on May 27, which is the date of an historically significant battle in which women played a key role.

6. Since 1950 France has celebrated MD on the fourth Sunday in May, except when the date conflicts with Pentecost in which case it is delayed to the next Sunday.

7. Hindus celebrate MD on the new moon day in the month of Baisakh (April/May).

CONCLUSION

As I said, MD is one of the few truly internationally recognized holidays.  As delineated above, one of the charming features of the day is the variety of ways and dates on which it is celebrated.  This is derived from the differences in customs and cultures around the world.

One thing is certain now and will remain so prospectively: on this day the mother/wife is truly in charge.  Men, remember the adage “happy wife, happy life.”

Finally, men, all together now, let’s repeat the two-word mantra for a successful marriage:

“YES, DEAR!”

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