Op-ed:

Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part Two

By Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

The article posted here is the authors opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

In 'Part One' of this series I began by stating that I voted for Donald J. Trump three times, and would vote for him a fourth time if it was constitutionally allowed. And know I still stand by those words even though I disagreed with his putting the “tariffs” before the economy itself. Here you can read why in 'Part One.'

In this 'Part Two' I will delve into why I believe President Trump made a second mistake regarding the logistics of the Israel/Hamas ceasefire being a pathway to peace, as well as briefly touching upon a possible third mistake being made...one that might or might not happen...in regards to the 2028 Republican presidential ticket.

So let me begin by saying that while our president's intentions were both honorable and just, his mistake regarding the ceasefire was made by his breaking one of America's cardinal rules, as in America does not...I repeat does not...negotiate with terrorists. And while this has technically been a long-standing but unwritten core principle of U.S. foreign policy, the reality is that said rule has sadly been broken before, often with disastrous and/or questionable results.

One such example took place in 2014, when then President Obama made the highly questionable “5-for-1” prisoner exchange with the Taliban. Briefly, Obama's deal, made courtesy of a third party nation, saw five top level Taliban commanders being exchanged for American traitor Bowe Bergdahl... who upon being returned home faced charges of “desertion and misbehavior before the enemy.”

And while prosecutors at his court-martial did seek a sentence of 14 years in prison, Bergadahl was given no time after having submitted so-called “evidence of torture” while being held by the Taliban. However, Bergdahl was dishonorably discharged (rightfully making him ineligible for health services and disability benefits), and ordered to forfeit $10,000 in pay. All but a slap on the wrist, in my opinion, because he knowingly and willingly put his fellow American soldiers lives in danger when he deserted and went looking for the enemy, but Obama obviously saw the situation differently, and we all can surmise why.

Now as for the five Taliban commanders, their punishment was indeed but a mere slap on the wrist for after being subjected to a one-year travel ban and monitoring in the nation Obama turned them over to, these five terrorists were back out on the field orchestrating and succeeding in the killing of more American military personnel.

Now here is where it gets interesting for the nation that helped in Obama's brokering of the infamous “5-for-1” prisoner exchange is the very same nation that helped to broker President Trump's what is now turning out to be anything but a “ceasefire deal.” And that nation is Qatar...the very nation Obama transferred the custody of the Taliban commanders to back in 2014, and we all know how well that turned out to be, now don't we... sarcastically said of course.

And know this is the same Qatar who willingly gave “safe harbor,” and still does, to top Hamas officials before, during, and now after the Trump initiated Israel/Hamas ceasefire went into effect...a ceasefire whose conditions Hamas has broken time and time again. And Qatar also played a central role as the primary mediator in the negotiations for the said “ceasefire.” Now rightfully facing criticism and pressure from Israel and as well as from some here in the U.S. regarding its continuing ties to Hamas, one must remember that Qatar also supported Hamas' governance in Gaza, and remains dedicated to Hamas' goal of there being a “two-state solution” to said war.

Simply, Qatar...just like all muslim dominated islamic nations... will do and say anything, including making promises and faux gestures of wanting peace if it helps to push forward “radical islam's” ultimate objective of total world submission to islam...a world that obviously would be minus Christians and Jews. And with Trump's bringing Qatar into the ceasefire fold, he has now also allowed...albeit unknowingly...Qatar to succeed in their quest of becoming a “player” on the world stage, with their added bonus being a hoped for drawing of a wedge between Israel and the U.S. 

And why is this disturbing... because Qatar still maintains open communication with not only terrorist groups like the Taliban and Hamas, but has diplomatic and economic relations with Iran as well. No wonder Israel is not happy with Qatar having been any part of the ceasefire deal, especially since Qatar had established unofficial trade relations with Israel in 1996, but “permanently” severed those relations in 2009, and to date has still not normalized nor even attempted to normalize relations with Israel.

And that's not all, for while Qatar and Putin's Russia are not “formally recognized” as allies, they do nurture a growing strategic partnership along with shared political and economic ties...ties based upon a diverse range of issues including, but not limited to, energy, trade, and the allowing of both countries to have a hand in profiting from Middle East regional conflicts.

Qatar...no matter it technically being a U.S. ally...no matter us having the “AL-Udeid Air Base” (the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East) in Qatar for over two decades...Qatar still cannot and should not be trusted as a main player in the still ongoing Israel/Hamas peace process let alone in the Middle East region itself. And why...because with Qatar having adopted what's called an “activist foreign policy,'' it allows them to actually play both sides against the middle as they continue to help fund certain terrorist aligned nations, even if its under the radar so to speak, while at the same time playing the part of being a peace negotiator. And not to be forgotten is that the UAE and all important Saudi Arabia both share a deep disdain for Qatar. Why so... because Qatar is the main financier of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they rightfully deem to be a direct threat to both their monarchies and to Middle East peace. 

Simply, in their playing both sides...impartiality be damned...Qatar remains in the media spotlight which alone helps in their quest to gain more and more influence in the region itself. But in reality Qatar's role is really that of being the “devil's advocate”...one just has to look at the aforementioned  “5-for1” Taliban prisoner exchange coupled with its outcome to see that as being truth.

President Trump has to see this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has to see this as well (and if anyone does it's him), but for some reason Donald Trump either does not see it or, like Qatar he is also playing, to some degree, both sides against the middle, but with the hope that it brings some semblance of peace to the Middle East.

I truly do believe that President Trump is dedicated to making peace happen, but the fact remains that dedication alone is not necessarily a harbinger of peace. And I hope that he is not totally counting on Qatar's promised trillion dollar investment in the U.S., especially since Qatar still has not ended its ties and support for a number of terrorist groups nor has it...and this bears repeating again...made any concerted effort to normalize relations with Israel...the very country they are playing...or supposedly playing...mediator for. Simply, I have a very uneasy feeling about this what well could be a mistake on President Trump's part, but only time will tell whether it is or not.

A possible mistake indeed. A mistake that if it is made, could well have serious ramifications in regards to the 2028 Republican presidential ticket.

 

How so...because if the Trump brokered Israel/Hamas ceasefire deal in the end falls apart with Saudi Arabia possibly becoming the deciding factor in which way the Middle East will go... as in will threats of war with the Jewish State always be on the horizon or will we see a Saudi brokered shift towards peace? However, Saudi Arabia, to date, has yet to sign the “Abraham Accords,” and you just know how the leftist media controlled “court of public opinion” will jump all over that point as they place the blame for the ceasefire deal's failure on President Trump and Israel, and not on Hamas and its supporters where it would rightfully belong.

And this would affect the 2028 presidential race how...because as Trump's vice president, JD Vance...the Republican's current heir apparent...would then be deemed as carrying on what would be seen as Trump's failed foreign policy initiatives. Forgetting our president's other successful peace deals, the focus would remain on the Middle East and on Russia who have yet to see a deal being brokered to end its war with Ukraine...a war Trump and his team thought they would bring to a successful conclusion that both sides would accept in a relatively short period of time. But to date, as I write this, that unfortunately has not happened either, even with all Trump's good intentions and open ended gestures.

 

And then there's this important historical fact that many Republicans and Democrats have overlooked...the fact that only once in our nation's 250 year history has a vice president been able to see what would be their own two-term presidency. And that honor goes only to Thomas Jefferson who served twice as vice president and then went on to be elected to, and complete two terms as president.

And why is this so...because by the time the once vice president has served his own first term in office as president, the country itself would likely be ready for some vestiges of political change. And this could well be the case if the then new one term president was deemed to be but a continuation of his former boss's presidency, especially if the public deemed the former president's failures to have outnumbered his successes, and that the new president was carrying over the same failed policies into his presidency.

Now here please understand that while I believe JD Vance...Trump's seemingly designated heir apparent...has done well as vice president, he is not as well versed in foreign affairs as is Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and foreign affairs in today's volatile world is indeed as important as domestic issues. In fact, in some cases, foreign affairs directly affect our domestic issues more so than it affects the world at large.

“If they ever formed a group, it would be unstoppable. I really do. I believe that.” - So said President Trump just a few weeks ago when the idea of a Vance/Rubio 2028 ticket was being floated around.

And while I like those two names linked together, I do think Trump could be making a mistake in not making the ticket “Rubio/Vance.” Why so...because “Rubio/Vance” is a politically stronger ticket due to Rubio's 15 years in the U.S. Senate; his current position as Secretary of State; as well as his being a leading figure on foreign policy including the fact that he was a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee; and served as Vice-Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

J.D. Vance, had only served two years in the Senate before becoming vice president, but he does have one important credential I think all president's should have, as in hands-on military service...whether they be a veteran or former member of the National Guard. JD Vance is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and I truly honor him for that. 

However, JD lacks something important that Rubio has, as in the ability to bring Independents and even moderate Democrats over to his side. Remember, Rubio was the only Trump nominee who sailed through the process with both Democrat and Republican support which bodes well with Independent voters. And it's these very voters who do not view Vance well, but see him as an opportunist after his having switched from being a Trump hater to a Trump loyalist.

But if the 2028 ticket is Vance/Rubio that is the ticket that gets my vote. However, my dream ticket would be DeSantis/Rubio...the best governor in the country paired with the best Secretary of State ever. Talk about a politically strong ticket...Trump would make no mistake with a ticket like that. Case closed.

Copyright © 2025 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

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For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article Release the Conspiracy Kraken.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                     Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 2nd from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part Two'; 'Release the Conspiracy Kraken'; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE' starting at 6:50pm EST, show begins at 7pm EST.