Our latest war seems to have stalled out in a Memorandum of Misunderstanding where both sides realize they cannot win so they are trying to divide up the losses.In this writers experience most “memorandums of understanding” in any administration were Rorschach tests of language designed to disguise terminal disagreement on the core issues. That is why this new “peace” with Iran parked under such language leaves the reader wondering where is the victory being celebrated by two nations who lost so much and accomplished less than the previous status quo engineered by the an earlier administration. This looks like two nations agreeing with  forced smiles to pull their broiling hands out of a hot oven they mutually lit: one nation being offered ointment while American voters are promised cheaper gas and higher debt.

Thousands of people have died and while almost all were Iranian, thirteen Americans have died as well.   The cost of this war for America to taxpayers is estimated conservatively at 132 billion dollars.  The President being the sole architect and instigator by his own claims has ballooned in his private personal wealth while the nations coffers are being drained along with our oil reserves meant for defense. The outlines of this catastrophe couldn’t be clearer. And somehow the word “victory” is being pounded into this log of a disaster like a splitting wedge preparing tomorrow’s fire wood. This flimsy  Memorandum of Understanding is a misunderstanding of the nature, shape, and feel of peace.  

Modest Proposal for Good

If someone puts a knife to my throat I suspect I would negotiate.  But if I lived and escaped, whatever my relationship to the attacker would be, peace would not be the word I choose. Peace could only come with a full understanding how the attacker’s motivation occurred and the work of understanding my attacker would be long and painful. Understanding comes from ‘standing under’ a person’s or nation’s full circumstances and witnessing 360 degrees what motivated the behavior. A man whose only skill is aggression will never be able to understand his opponents.  Leaders in Russia and the United States, and therefore the people they dictate to, are experiencing the consequences of that blind spot as this is being written.  In global politics, a deep understand of the history, religion and daily tribulations of the potential enemy is absolutely essential.  If we have come to understand anything we must vote for and decide finally to elect people who are capable of understanding more than their own well being. You can’t have a memorandum of understanding if neither party understands the history leading up to the moment.  Let’s vote for the person who can deliver a genuine peace accord.  Disciplined intelligence is not a disability or a cause of shame.  A knowledge of history, and the human arts of survival is essential for being President of the United States.  That would be good.