THE WORLD TODAY

     Well, as far as I am concerned, we might as well include a picture of Obama next to that of Chamberlin in the museum of stupidest moves ever by a politician. Sometimes, in the blind frenzy of a leader to find his "legacy' or signature deed during term of office, that leader signs off on a dangerous deal. Just as Chamberlin's famous treaty with Hitler did nothing but allow Hitler to surge ahead and gain more advantage and take over countries and did NOT prevent WWII, so, too, will this nuclear deal with Iran prove to be a dangerous one for the world, never mind just the Middle East.
     The policy of sanctions against a rogue nation was working. It could not spend its money freely, arms deals were embargoed and while Iran stuck its nose in everywhere in the Middle East, it was not fully powered but now, after a few years, there will be nothing to stop it. Previous attempts to monitor it through inspections proved futile; extremist planning for ten years ahead is nothing new for them as they have patience to wait and plan and have done so before.
     This is the same Iran that continues to hold Americans of Irani ancestry in prison or imprisoned inside the country, their "trials" are a sham and mimic the trials at the heights of Communist Russia and will this treaty free these prisoners? Who knows- no details forthcoming. This is the same Iran that still rails against the USA and Israel, the same Iran that danced in the streets yesterday because they knew they had gotten the better of us.
     Now the USA has to send letters and diplomats to allies in the Middle East, and I mean Arab allies who were rightfully afraid of a nuclear Iran, and explain the unexplainable to them, assure them of safety even as only a day or so ago a high ranking US armed forces person warned against a major clause of this deal. I do not have to repeat the terms as they are listed in every paper, but suffice it to say that this treaty will now separate the children from the grown ups, the morally brave from the weak or the wrongfully motivated by thoughts of power if one goes along with Obama. (Hmmm, sound familiar? Just substitute a few names.) World safety vs. political ambition. Wonder how that will work out for us?
     When desperation drives someone it is not a good situation, whatever the desperation is - be it for fame, for legacy,  or fear of armed conflict. I do not see that any of our so called treaties and decisions have kept us out of war what with members of our armed forces still dying over there, more forces being brought in under the illusionary terms of "advisers" and that whole area is in worse situations than it was before we invaded on false information.
     But my biggest question is the world here in the good old USA. Why do we still have people without clean water, without free access to it and not in  Africa, but here, in small mountain communities, in the Southwest, in communities where ancient pipes and conduits are breaking down. Why do we have thousands and thousands of children going to bed hungry, or their parents having to decide which of them skips the meals that day in order to provide food for the children? And no, it is not a racial or ethnic issue. Check the hills and hollers of Appalachia where people are still living as in two centuries ago. Even check in the middle class enclaves where people were laid off, no money coming in and the poverty and the need kept hidden behind a curtain of silence and shame.
     And why, because we are still thought of by the world as the great fixer upper of world messes and all we get in return are curses and threats, more demands on more of our resources. Perhaps it is time to spend more time in think tanks looking at our domestic situation and for real and practical ways to help, maintain a steady hand on the till of the ship of the world without making huge deals with unknown consequences and unenforceable contractual terms and get back to a policy of reality, of clear vision as to our main goals, our true friends, and the needs of our population and citizenry.
     And by the way, lest you think I have forgotten our own smaller world here in CV, I have not. While we have no need of nuclear treaties here, we do have need of new people with fresh vision, people who are driven by reality and true needs, not whims and desires. If only......is played by children. WE can....We must....is recognized by adults. Fervor driven by a person or people who are blinded by their own monomania has proven to be dangerous throughout the history of the world. Let us make sure we get rid of it here.