| Commentary | April 17, 2025
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The revelation that President Trump “waved off” an Israeli-led strike on Iran’s nuclear program is the second-most newsworthy part of the big New York Times scoop that broke yesterday. More significant is the fact that the article exists at all, and was published at this moment.
By Marziyeh Amirizadeh
Evin Prison (Photo By Koosha Mahshid Falahi/Mizan News Agency, Attribution)
As an Iranian-born Christian who survived the brutality of Iran’s Evin Prison because of my faith, I’ve witnessed and suffered the Islamic regime’s cruelty firsthand: their lies, their oppression, their unrelenting hatred for, and repression of, any freedom. When I hear about the United States negotiating with Iran’s Islamic leaders, my heart aches for both my homeland and my adopted country, America. Negotiation with this regime is not just futile—it’s dangerous. Those who champion an “America First” approach, yet shy away from maximum pressure on Iran are mistaken, either avoiding or ignorant of the truth that the regime’s very survival threatens us all. The only solution for Iran, for America, and for the world is regime change—a new Iran, free from misogynist Islamic extremism, that will align with the values of liberty and peace for which America stands and should be supporting.
Peloni: I think the simultaneous assertions made by the State Dept, Trump’s Press Secretary, and Witkoff’s own reversal have made Trump’s position clear. Iran will not be permitted to pursue its nuclear program, period. This is because Trump recognizes Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to both the Big Satan as well as the little Satan. He has also noted that he will not allow Iran “tapping us along” with protracted negotiations. He prevented Israel’s attack pending the current negotiations, and the release of news about this attack will provide an added context to the Mullahs’ calculus in proceeding with the negotiations, along with the assertions about ending Iran’s nuclear program. There is a deadline in place, so we will see how the Mullahs ultimately proceed, but Trump has made his position clear, and it is quite distinctly different from the Biden proposals which Witkoff has recently recanted.
Is Witkoff breaking new ground or repeating Biden’s errors?
by Daniel Greenfield • Gatestone Institute • April 17, 2025
What new solutions has Steve Witkoff come up with? The Obama ones. Negotiate with terrorists. Pretend they’re reasonable. Give them what they want. Act confused when it doesn’t work out. Pictured: Witkoff on the grounds of the White House on February 4, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Photo By Unknown author – Facebook, Public Domain)
Peloni: The false flag attempts made by the US against Israel were an intolerable betrayal. I look forward to seeing what the US Congressional investigations turn up. The ensuing fallout in both the US and Israel will likely be quite considerable.
Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya | X | April 17, 2025
Demonstrating against Bibi’s and Yariv Levin’s plans to suppress the Supreme Court (Photo By Oren Rozen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
U.S. Funds Used to Undermine Netanyahu Government
A new Wall Street Journal report reveals that the Biden administration directed U.S. taxpayer money to Israeli NGOs that were actively involved in protests aimed at toppling Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Diane Bederman | April 15, 2025
Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville is universally regarded as one of the most influential books ever written about America. The greatest danger Tocqueville saw was that public opinion would become an all-powerful force, and that the majority could tyrannize unpopular minorities and marginal individuals.(emphasis mine)
Peloni: This provides greater clarity on the situation erupting in the US State Dept and Rubio’s changing position.
Reagan Reese | Daily Caller | April 16, 2025
Secretary of State Rubio being sworn in as Secretary of State (Photo by By Office of Vice President of the United States – Twitter, Public Domain)
Inside the State Department, a battle is brewing over how to implement President Donald Trump’s agenda to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Peloni: With Trump’s diplomatic initiative in play, the notion that Israel would gain US support in attacking Iran was not realistic, and the simple reality is that Israel needs US support, if not during an operation against Iran, certainly during the aftermath to help deal with the expected missile barrage. While Trump made known his own efforts to re-engage with the Mullahs, Bibi afterwards made his own Red Lines crystal clear: Iran must not be allowed to maintain its nuclear program. And on this point at a minimum, Trump and Bibi are completely in sync. This fact has been made certain for all in the aftermath of the critical missteps and corrections made by Witkoff in recent days.
Notably, when, more likely than if, US negotiations fail with Iran, Israel must act to end Iran’s nuclear program, with or without US support. But it would be better with US support, as the fallout would be less catastrophic and the success of the operation will be greater.
Israeli opposition leaders criticize PM Netanyahu for empty threats against Iran
Donald Trump (Photo By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Arlene Kushner | April 16, 2025
Israel Tour Guide
As I write, it is chol hamoed, the intermediate days of Pesach – in the nature of a half-holiday. School is off, some people take off from work. Families go on day trips – Israelis are very family-oriented.
The mood is more relaxed than would be the case during a “regular” week. And oh, do we need every one of these relaxed intervals – they sustain us during times that continue to be fraught with tension and confusion.
Peloni: Highly recommended video. Note full text and correction below tweet.
Masha Kleiner | X | Jan 18, 2025
At a time when Israel is being attacked by the Islamic regime and its endless proxies, and while the Jewish diaspora is facing an unprecedented rise in antisemitism in modern times, both in Canada and worldwide, some Jewish organizations and activists choose to support BDS and… https://t.co/PSMoNhj5Cq pic.twitter.com/RSxcZDIupR
— Masha Kleiner (@mashakleiner) January 19, 2025
Text:
Peloni: Is Rubio a changed man, a former member of the Republican wing of the Uniparty turned into a MAGA faithful? Or is he merely positioning himself for a better grasp as Trump’s successor over the clearly outmatched Vance, in hopes of leading the Deep State back to power after Trump term ends? As is true with the removal of the Censorship Apparatus, Rubio’s pursuit of the MAGA agenda will only last as long as he wants it to, making the issue of his sincerity in becoming a MAGA devotee overnight a critical point of interest to Trump’s supporters. Choose carefully what you take from this.
Sundance | April 16, 2025
The State Dept. Global Engagement Center was the epicenter of the Dept of State operation to control speech on social media platforms. Following revelations from within the Twitter Files, and facing increasing scrutiny, the GEC operation was shut down – but the remnants of the operation remained active within the State Dept.
Thomas McInerney LTG, USAF (Ret) & Paul E. Vallely MG, US Army (Ret)
Guest Editorial: Bill Gertz | April 15, 2025
The new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has warned that the U.S. military currently is unable to deter China and other adversaries and called for urgent defense reforms. Gen. John Caine, who was sworn in as chairman on Monday, stated in recent Senate testimony that the weaknesses include an inability of the military system to support and respond rapidly to a conflict. “The U.S. does not have the throughput, responsiveness, or agility needed to deter our adversaries,” Gen. Caine stated in written answers to the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The disclosure comes as the U.S. military is facing potential conflict with China in the Taiwan Strait where the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command has said China has been rehearsing for large-scale military operations against a key U.S. partner, Taiwan. Adm. Sam Paparo, the commander, told a Senate hearing last week that China is engaged in “unprecedented aggression” against Taiwan. Adm. Paparo said U.S. forces can deter China and prevail in a conflict but warned that “the margin is eroding.” The command needs “additional sustained investment” in long-range weapons and a strengthening of air and missile defenses with drones and artificial intelligence, Adm. Paparo said.
By | April 15, 2025
The Israelis are constantly working to improve their weaponry, both as to performance and as to cost. The Iron Dome anti-missile system, first introduced in 2006, has been impressive enough, capable of intercepting more than 90% of the missiles launched toward Israel. However, it is expensive: each interception requires the firing of two Tamir missiles. Each Tamir missile costs $40,000, meaning that each interception costs $80,000. But now the Israeli scientists at Rafael and Elbit have developed a high-energy laser system that will reduce the cost of such interceptions to the scarcely believe price of two dollars. Here are some details from an October 2024 story that remains pertinent:
Tariffs built America
by | April 16, 2025
The Father of the Constitution was also the father of tariffs. Indeed, the first piece of legislation passed was James Madison’s Tariff Act. Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, saw tariffs as a driving purpose of the Constitution and a sustaining force of the new government.
Peloni: Gabbard’s rather consistent pro-Iran stance has seemingly borne fruit with the successful appointment of her pro-Iran appointment of William Ruger to replace her initial appointment of the pro-Iran Daniel Davis, after the latter appointment was reportedly cancelled by Trump himself.
This is how administrations are hijacked from within.
by
Charles Koch (Photo By Gavin Peters – Gavin Peters, CC BY-SA 3.0)
This is how administrations are hijacked from within.
The Abraham Accords were the greatest foreign policy accomplishment of Trump’s first administration; he has made it clear that his new administration will seek to expand them- Forbes, March 8, 2025.
Two recent media reports underscored the emerging international stature of the Caucasian republic of Azerbaijan and its ties to Israel.
By Andrea Widburg | Am Thinker | April 15, 2025
Image by AI.
Before Israel was founded, the State Department was anti-Zionist. Since Israel’s founding, the State Department has been hostile to Israel in ways great and small. (Marco Rubio seems to be a wonderful exception to this rule, helped by a pro-Israel president.) And, of course, the Democrat party and its media outlets hate Israel. That’s why two former State Department employees have taken to the pages of the New York Times to complain that, with Israel achieving military victories, the Trump administration must force it to surrender.
Peloni: In the aftermath of Witkoff’s statement of capitulating to Iran maintaining a nuclear program, Witkoff, the State Dept and the White House have all made statements making it clear that Trump’s position on eliminating Iran’s entire nuclear program is unchanged. The simultaneous reproach of Witkoff’s previous statement should demonstrate the need for Witkoff’s replacement. This debacle of misstating the US position on this basic issue betrays the very real reality that correctly broaching the US position to friends and foes alike is Witkoff’s only purpose in his role as the US Middle East Envoy. Indeed, his statements will have only served to embolden the Iranians, while projecting US weakness in place of US resolve. His utter failure to accurately and resolutely describe Trump’s true position on this point in the early hours of negotiations on the very point of the negotiations would seem to demonstrate the impossibility of him continuing in the sensitive position for which he was unfortunately appointed.
FDD | April 15, 2025
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