ASSOCIATED PRESS
In this picture released on April 29, 2019, by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reads part of a book while visiting Tehran’s book fair in Tehran, Iran. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, June 24, 2019, targeting Iran’s supreme leader and his associates with financial sanctions, the latest action the U.S. has taken to discourage Tehran from developing nuclear weapons and supporting militant groups.
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I admit to being very suspicious of President Donald Trump. Right now, he is acting as if he is hesitant to go to war with Iran. But going back to one of his first acts as president, he canceled the agreement to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions signed under President Barack Obama.
Then he hired John Bolton as national security adviser. Bolton has wanted war with Iran for more than 20 years. Mike Pompeo, another hawk, is secretary of state. And just recently he appointed a former Raytheon lobbyist, Mark Esper, to be acting secretary of defense. Raytheon is one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the world.
There have been 2,500 troops sent to the Middle East so far. Could the scenario be a confrontation in time for the Fourth of July? Trump already is having a military parade and giving a speech. Could a national emergency be declared and voting suspended for the 2020 race?
Judith Pettibone
Makiki
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