The U.S./Iran Peace Plan, pre-signing.

Response to a Facebook post.

I DON'T condone the IRGC's massacre of thousands before the U.S./Israel launched a military operation in February that took out the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. But the media effectively covered up or diminished the large-scale evil of that slaughter of Iranian protesters by pointing at the drained nuke/WMD issue (and at civilians that were hit in the initial U.S. assault). 

       Let me respond to your points as a foreigner in America but a close watcher of geopolitics as an (old) journalist. <>The $24 billion (set to be released) is a frozen Iranian asset. Plainly, it is Iran's money, not America's taxpayer money or part of Washington's astronomical military budget. You seem to suggest Washington should keep it, instead? Because we are holier than thou headmaster? I also disagreed when Joe Biden froze the Afghan Fund in 2021 (still frozen). 

       The Shia humanity of Iran, no matter how we hate them (as they hate us) are People in distress because of a war that punishes them (whoever started it). In fact, UAE (a traditional Iranian rival) pledged $15 billion for Iran's reconstruction from war ruins and to aid economic recovery, before this peace deal came out (to be signed on Friday). China, which rescued Iran, following years of sanctions, by steadily buying Tehran's oil, is expected to help as well. The Sunni majority Arab League pledged a gargantuan $300 billion economic investment, spread through years, if Iran concurs with all the points in the agreement, including the one that pertains to the critical nuclear weaponry. 

       Iran and neighbors UAE and Egypt are members of the BRICS trade bloc, which China/Russia lead. You see, China/Russia with India would have easily punished Iran's IRGC after the massacres but they "allowed" the U.S. to do it instead, pummeling their ally? 

       What would we say if China did it? World War 3? What would we say if Mr Trump ignored the carnage? He doesn’t care at all? I came from a 20-year dictatorship. The total official deaths inflicted by that regime? Less than 4,000. The IRGC wasted 6,000 to 36,000 in a few days! 

       <>Why are we dragging Barack Obama's name here? If so, why don't we also mention that it was him who upgraded the U.S. military aid to Israel to $3.8 billion annually before he left office in 2016? Israel is undaunting in its assaults because it has the unwavering backing of this side of America. The more Israel goes to war, the more it gets U.S. military juice. So while Don tried to avoid the February attack, Bibi was hot to do it. Meanwhile, before this new pact, Israel was still fighting with Hezbollah, the reason why the U.S. and Iran was to/fro in agreement to a real ceasefire. 

       <>What are the U.S. goals in Iran? Obviously, the traditional template? First, a nuke whip? Well, 9 countries keep nuclear warheads. It's like telling Iran only the U.S., Russia, the UK, Israel, China etcetera can play with fire but not them? Or regime change Iran outright? America would exalt that? This: Mr Obama put the U.S.-educated and reared Ashraf Ghani in Afghanistan yet the war continued then. Why? The people didn't approve. Remember, the Taliban rose from the mujahideen that Carter's Operation Cyclone trained and financed, to drive Russia out of the country and from its massive opium/poppy plants etc so the U.S. can take over. 

       The U.S., of course, still wants an inside track into Iran's oil (same with the Venezuela story). No argument there. But The D is sharing it with BRICS or China (not Europe), instead of competing with these superpowers. Pragmatically, that is The Universe. The West used to "own" the world until the 21st century strode in. China et al or BRICS leveled the playing field. 

       That is good for the world. Now the poorer countries have options for loans and FDIs. Mr Trump talked with China before he arrested the Venezuelan dictator Nicanor Maduro and before he took out Mr Khamenei. I concur with that. Both Venezuela and Iran are sitting on massive deposits of oil (China is their top buyer) but the people are fantastically suffering from economic pain. Venezuela/PDVSA's oil revenue went to the dictatorship and the Cartel delos Soles; Iran's to the IRGC's military programs. Corrupt governments.

       But I am against foreign intervention (my country was colonized by Spain for 3 centuries and America, over 50 years) yet when gargantuan evil happens in a country, the people need help. China rescued "rogue" countries (add North Korea) that are sanctioned by the UN via trade or economics. The U.S. deals with the dirty work of "cleaning" up the mess first. That was the Philippines in 1986. But after that tempest, it is the country's leadership and people to do the next. That is they need their money or assets that the U.S. froze. ☮️☮️☮️

THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

Associated Press: “U.S. strike killed Tren de Aragua leader, Trump says.” Time and again, I reiterated my stance on drug cartels. They are not “the people,” they are anti-people evil. Not counting those who perish with drug addiction and the families that get ruined by the scourge, drug cartels waste human lives in an execution SOP that is more gruesome than what usually shocks us in slasher cinema.

      Tren de Aragua is a transnational organized crime syndicate that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela. Starting in the notorious Tocorón Penitentiary in the state of Aragua, it grew into one of the most powerful homegrown criminal groups in Venezuela. With the Cartel delos Soles, these monsters were a significant influence in bankrupting Venezuela, pushing the people deep in unbelievable poverty, regardless of the country’s massive oil deposits. 🏛🗽🏛

Time: “U.K. Defense Minister John Healey Resigns Over Military Spending Dispute With Starmer.” Since the resignation of Theresa May in 2019, amidst the Brexit withdrawal issue, the UK hasn't really settled its leadership crisis. The economy is at 0.6 percent, consistent with the EU's 1 percent average. That rate isn't necessarily “that bad,” but compared with Asia's 5 percent and the Middle East's 4.2 percent before the Hormuz drama, that pace is “slow.” (The U.S. growth is very fluid, due to the Iran war.)

      But the UK or EU per se has more problems than the economy, of course. Yet despite all these, their leaders are still hot and high on military brawn, while tossing arms aid to Ukraine nonstop, pumping up NATO, and continually fondling their paranoia that Russia will invade them. The majority people (those who are stereotypically branded, populists) are not diggin' it. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 

New York Sun: “Italy’s Largest Bank Launches $35 Billion Bid for World’s Oldest Bank, Eyeing Eurozone Banking Crown.” For now, the top 4 biggest banking countries in Europe are the UK, France, Spain, and Germany. At #5 is Italy. But since the 21st century marched on, China has ruled the global banking roost. Beijing's Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is the largest bank in the world by total assets. Completing the "Big Four” are the Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, and Bank of China. All state-owned, these banks have hugely weakened the universal clout of the IMF and World Bank. (Visual: Finance1950.) 🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

New York Times: “China’s Rise in Drug Development Looms Over U.S.” And adds: “Clinical trials in China are getting attention at an international oncology gathering in Chicago. China’s surging biotechnology industry is fueling alarm that U.S. dominance in the field is waning.” 

       Currently, there is no Chinese drug company that is ranked in the Top 20 Global Pharma, that is traditionally dominated by U.S. and European giants, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Roche. But it won't be long till Beijing's top drug companies like Jiangsu Hengrui, BeiGene, and WuXi join them. Remember the Chinese have the APIs and the global trade momentum. 🩺💊🇨🇳

The Hill: “Senate GOP support erodes for Trump's Iran war stance.” Hypothetically speaking, or if ever there is a time machine, it would be interesting to see how’d Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George dad and George W., or Joe Biden deal with Iran–after the IRGC massacre of thousands of protesters prior to the U.S. military strike that took out the Supreme Leader in February. Would they do a Donald Trump operation or would they simply shrug off and ignore the horror? 

       I am consistently against all wars. Yet how’d I feel after Iran’s IRGC mowed down thousands of protesters? I survived a wicked dictatorship that took out (official estimate) 3,200 people. But that was spread in 20 years. Tehran’s dreaded military wasted 6,000 to 36,000+ protesters in just a few days! Must a POTUS ignore the carnage because that’s just the way things are? And because Mr Trump, after negotiations (to avoid a U.S. armed response) failed, did what he did, he is evil? Left-wing media now talks more about “Trump’s war” over Iran’s magnificent slaughter of its own people. ☮️☮️☮️

THOUGHTS About The News.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

NBC: “Vance refers Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and attorney general to the DOJ for fraud probe.” Only now? But better late than never. I guess, the "Minnesota vs. ICE" street drama is over, for now? Government corruption, such as the state’s billion$ social security scam, is the dirt that needs digging. And the perps hurled to court, and whatever the next punishment would be.

      Yet Justice these days is fantastically focused on crucifying Donald Trump for the 01/06/2021 Capitol theater, which is defined by Left-wingers as “insurrection.” I covered that story in the 1990s in Asia. Guns blazing, bombs exploding, and body bags. Those were pro soldiers, not street hooligans dressed in Burning Man outfits. The Capitol, with an over $500 million security budget, let these clowns in?!? And the Manhattan civil jury’s $88+ million to writer E. Jean Carroll for The D’s alleged “defamation” case? Defamation? Jimmy Kimmel defames Mr Trump in his show in each episode, and then earns millions$! Meanwhile, Minnesota’s murk needs to come out. That’s the real crime. 🏛🗽🏛

USA Today: “Supreme Court declines to review 3rd grader's 1st Amendment case.” An 8-year old’s Freedom of Speech?!? Why would the Supreme Court even be involved in this no-brainer? The story: A Michigan school banned a third grader from wearing a hat displaying an AR-15 rifle and the phrase "Come and take it.” The lower court ruled that the school's actions did not violate the student's First Amendment rights.

       My take: The parents must be investigated by social services. Especially in these times of random mass shootings, to expose children that early and allow them to display in public what their dad and/or mom may believe per First Amendment–is child abuse or parental recklessness (a.k.a. irresponsibility). Need I go on? ☮️🗽☮️

Politico: “The world leader that took on Trump over Iran sees his strategy paying off big.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took on Donald Trump over his military offensive in Iran and is now seeing his strategy “validated,” uh huh? Where is the validation? The PM previously barred U.S. warplanes from Spanish airspace, and condemned the military actions as "illegitimate.”

       Who is/are talking? Europe? Don’t Spain and the majority of the European Union blatantly toss money for nonstop NATO expansion and in support of Ukraine’s lost war versus Russia? And that’d be regardless of the region’s collective economic murk that hasn’t improved from 1 percent. What is “paying off big,” I ask. With oil shipments barred per Strait of Hormuz and, of course, Russian energy imports remain off-Europe, how’s the EU doing? ¿Cómo es eso. Senor Pedro? ☮️☮️☮️

CNET: “Russia hijacked vulnerable home routers across 23 states. Check if yours is on the list.” I don’t really believe this so-called news. What do I deduce? This is part of an orchestrated media pitch to justify the new (U.S. taxpayers' money) to Ukraine? This: Since 2022, the U.S. has already given Ukraine $127 billion (from the $188 billion appropriated by Congress in Joe Biden's time). Another $9+ billion new aid is set to be handed through the new Ukraine Support Act.

      Mr Trump would thumb this down, sure. But you know the bottomline. The eerie contradiction: Congress limits the President’s war powers in Iran, but hey, go ahead and bomb Russia? Or toss more military juice to Ukraine--to keep the war "alive," uh huh? 🤨😞🤨

USA Today: “U.S. boat strikes killed over 200 people. Service members have questions.” Or do the media have questions? Of course. This: The U.S. has always been at war, for centuries. Pursuing (geopolitical) "enemies," where wasted civilians are simply listed as stats in news reports and history books. Collateral damage in huge numbers. So why don't the media talk about those more? 

       If the U.S. or Donald Trump didn't (militarily) respond to Iran's massacre of thousands of street protesters, we are still counting body bags or corpses tossed in mass graves, right at this minute–because I don’t think Tehran’s public rage will subside as the IRGC wouldn’t cool down. 

       Meanwhile, in my old age, I haven't seen a POTUS pursue humanity's real enemies, such as drug cartels, the way President Trump does. Yes, including the Clinton/Arango Plan Colombia in the late 1990s. But I don't think Bill was demonized then the way Mr Trump is these days. So am I sad that 200 people were wasted in "boat strikes" that targeted narcos? Why were they in those boats, in the first place? Obvious. But I am very sad about civilians killed in Mexico as cartels hit back. Have the media talked about those in length? 🏛🗽🏛

TENNIS is Peace. Sports is Peace. Meanwhile, I do get Marta Kostyuk’s tearful words following her French Open QF victory against fellow Ukrainian Elina Svitolina. Marta noted the match was played the morning after deadly bombings in Kyiv, stating her goal was to use her platform so the world does not "get used to this terrible life.” I do understand. But let me just say...

       Nobody gets used to war-pummeled terrible life. The Russian people are easy victims of this 4-year war as well. You see, while Vladimir Putin was cooling out, after a visit to Beijing (on the heels of President Trump’s trip), Volodymyr Zelensky ordered a vicious drone attack in Russia. So Russia responded. 

       Anyhow, this crisis should not translate in the sports arena. I am sorry to say, Ms Kostyuk, that this is NOT the platform. Instead, this venue should quietly inspire or bridge peace. So what do we expect from her semifinals match tomorrow with Russia’s Mirra Andreeva? The tennis equivalent of the Ukraine/Russia war? There is no protagonist or antagonist here. This is sports. You win, you lose–then you shake hands. Peace! (Visual: Basel Peace Office.) 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

WHAT is “lost” or has considerably subsided or lessened in just a few years? Human engagement. Or person to person interaction. These days, people are more impatient, unfriendly, distrustful, and worse, (politically) hateful. The internet is a major culprit as we spend more time seated and indoors, alone or with just our family? Which also widens the divide in society, of course.

      Meanwhile, foreigners are more stereotyped, it’d seem. In case you look like you just crossed the border illegally, you could be easily suspected as pushing fentanyl or planning to climb up someone’s window. The “interaction activity” is gone, when peeps like me engage whites, blacks, browns, yellows, reds etcetera in a more open-minded conversation.

      Moreover, most “aliens” act and react based on their cultural conditioning back home. I myself had to (frantically) translate English to Tagalog to English “instantly” while in a face to face conversation. I (quietly) panic. I have certainly “forgotten” how to “communicate” with Americans, though I have immensely improved my relationship with dogs and cats. 🙀😿😾