To the editor:
Donald Trump is like the person who has been rude, antagonistic, and insulting to his next-door neighbor and lets his dog poop on his neighbor’s lawn without picking it up. He is throwing a party and asks if he can use his neighbor’s driveway for his guest parking. Trump is tone deaf. After constantly bullying and hurling insults at our allies and NATO, he is feeling unappreciated to hear they will not join us in opening the Strait of Hormuz and seems to be the only one surprised by this. (In the same sentence, he says we don’t need their help and then chastises countries for not helping.)
Trump unleashed war on Iran without seeking congressional approval or consulting with our allies. Instead of trying to coerce their cooperation by quietly offering to lower tariffs, Trump resorts to threats that he will get even with those who denied his request.
Trump loves to bash Joe Biden, but Biden managed to map out a strategy with Congress, our allies, and NATO to assist Ukraine against Russia. This kept our troops safe while Ukraine did the heavy lifting with a heavy loss of Ukrainian lives while fighting Russian aggression. Biden didn’t have to use threats to win people over. He presented facts, something Trump isn’t known for. But there is a way for Trump to seize an opportunity, although I doubt he will recognize this.
There are Russian oil tankers on the high seas trying to figure out how to avoid U.S. sanctions so their cargo can make its way to China. Rather than using this as leverage to keep China from stepping in to help Iran (his words), Trump is giving Russia 30 days to deliver oil to China—effectively paying Putin handsomely in the process—in. a move that has left many baffled. Trump should recognize that China is the one with the problem, so China should be the one to figure out a way to deal with it. By allowing the oil to be released without conditions, Trump has given China no incentive to do anything.
Trump often boasts about his relationships with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. If true, now is the time to put that to good use. He has leverage to cobble together deals that would potentially stop the wars in Iran and Ukraine. To do this, Trump will have to put his ego aside and rely on others. He should ask Xi Jinping to convince Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz, halt their missile and drone attacks in the region, stop supporting their proxies, and reinstate the former nuclear agreement that Trump ripped up, which included verifiable inspections. In exchange, the U.S. sanctions on Iran would be lifted, allowing Iran to sell their oil and rebuild their economy. The current government must agree to free and fair monitored elections. Otherwise the fighting will continue, and no matter how long it takes, Iran should recognize it will likely lose the war, leaving them in a pile of ashes.
If Russia does not cooperate, U.S. sanctions will continue, including blocking the delivery of the oil in those Russian tankers that are bobbing in the water. Russia must unconditionally declare a ceasefire in Ukraine and withdraw their forces. If this happens, Ukraine will be barred from joining NATO.
Should Putin agree, all U.S. sanctions will be lifted and Russia will once again be part of the world community. By showing he was able to halt the U.S. sanctions that were crippling the Russian economy and not have Ukraine be part of NATO, Putin can claim victory. (In any other country, Putin would be arrested for his folly in Ukraine, but in Russia, if you complain too loudly, you will likely be thrown out of a window from a high floor.)
By not seeing a regime change in Iran, Israel will be hugely disappointed, but there is a bigger prize that can be achieved: Arab and non-Arab states recognizing Israel’s right to exist. Furthermore, as a condition, Iran must disarm Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, removing the threat those Iranian proxies pose. If independent actors choose to go it alone, Israel will be allowed to deal with them as it deems necessary.
The Palestinians will not be left out. The West Bank and Gaza will need to be reimagined as a Palestinian homeland with a significant buffer zone separating it from Israel. A security force comprised of Arab states to ensure the peaceful coexistence of Israelis and Palestinians must be part of the overall plan.
Donald Trump will be seen as the hero in all of this. He can boast that once again he stopped a war (although in Iran it was one he started), which should surely lead to him receiving a Nobel Peace Prize, the difference being that this time it will actually be deserved. As gas prices plummet along with inflation and the price of groceries, you will hear Trump crowing about his prowess as the consummate deal maker, and if he actually does all of the above, he will have earned that title. Need I say what the odds are of all of the above happening?
Frank Gunsberg
Great Barrington
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