The Direst of Straits (or, Bolton the Door to Peace)

You may call me the most voracious egotist you've ever met. But there are times (especially lately, I notice) when I do wish I was something on the order of a genius. More specifically, I wish I was one of those brilliantly imaginative observers of the world scene who can envision not just dozens of possible real scenarios and motivations among the globe's big players, but also the many different ways in which their various moves can interlock with, and feed off of, and even inflame each other. Rather like in a chess game?

At the same time, the fact that I'm obviously not - er, any of those things - may be one of the reasons why the following logic keeps on being inescapable to me, no matter how many different angles and perspectives I try to approach it from:

First off, let's suppose you're an individual of real geopolitical/geo-economic influence on a global scale. Let's say you're also of those American patriots (your word, not mine) who believes that America not only should but can become more or less the whole world - or else simply pick it up and put it in our pocket? - in much the same way that Guatemala belongs to us now. And all within a timeframe of not more than a generation or two. And yes, by all means "let's do this," you say - even if it should seriously risk bringing the rest of the world to the threshold of something like thermonuclear war. (And you know, really you may have a point there: I mean, given how thoroughly (hyper-)rational, roboticized, global-reach and "economistic" we Yanks have become, if we can't flawlessly fail-safe/backstop that particular countdown, who can?).

Secondly, suppose also that for one reason or another you feel morally obliged to hate, or loathe, or despise, or morbidly fear and distrust, not just the regime but - well, more or less the entire people of Iran. So much so, in fact, that your real aim - long-term or otherwise - is to unite all the variously skeptical, disaffected, dissident and even Western-leaning elements in that country solidly behind the mullahs' rule, with hardly a murmur of dissent left over (so that the famous metaphor of Caligula concerning the people of Rome in this case all but literally comes true, and the whole Iranian people fuses into one head on its massive body that you're now free, as never before, to cut off at one stroke. Amen.)

If those are your aims, then yes, however little short of a catastrophe their attempted execution is likely to prove for the peace and security of the world, I can find no logical reason why you shouldn't back to the hilt the current Iranian policies of Bolton and Pompeo.

On the other hand - and however little you may like or trust the regime of Iran - if the above three paragraphs do NOT describe your real positions, views and concerns, then I can see no reason why, frankly, you shouldn't be doing everything Divinely and humanly possible to send those two Maddest of Men, as the saying goes, packing and off to Cucamonga on the very next train. But maybe you can come up with one.

In any case, and regardless of where your animosities may lie, be sure to pray as never before for the peace of the Persian Gulf. And of course, as always (however it can be found these days), for that of Jerusalem.