Just a Thought

Op-ed: 

Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This opinion piece is my opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com.  

Let me start with these three facts. Fact One: I totally support our and Israel having gone to war with Iran. Fact Two: I voted for President Trump three times. Fact Three: I believe Trump has done amazingly well regarding the border, the illegal issue in general, and that he's for the most part been successfully tough on crime...drug and otherwise. But when it comes to the economy and the war with Iran I do have a few bones to pick.

And while in no way do I question President Trump's loyalty or love for our country, I do find that some of his choices and decisions have left me to wonder who exactly is he taking advice from, and more importantly...why.

The man who promised to fix the economy has really done nothing of note as prices at the pump and at the grocery store continue to rise, fallback a bit, then rise again. And it's not because of how the stock market or the oil industry itself responds to whomever is in control of the now morphed into “Strait of Hormuz” oil war with Iran, but is manly due to the fact that when you exceedingly raise tariffs on the countries we trade with, those countries in turn must raise prices on what they sell to we American consumers in order to pay for the imposed tariff increases that cut deeply into their all important profit margin.

Simply, our president seems not to understand that the success of the “Art of the Deal” in the real estate/construction market does not automatically result in one having success in both the global economic market, and in the game of war...most especially when deals brokered with an enemy are not the victory “We the People” had been promised and counted on.

The game of war, if played correctly, has for the most part obvious winners and losers, but sometimes we see the good guys having to leave the battlefield with their tails dragging behind them, so to speak, and it's not because they could not win the physical aspects of a given war, but because they were politically and militarily not allowed to do the job needed to win said war. Such is the case in regards to the Korean War which ended in a quasi-stalemate of sorts; the Vietnam War which if not an outright defeat, was not even close to being a victory; and not to be forgotten is Afghanistan where our then President Joe Biden willingly turned the country back over to the enemy, the Taliban.

Now for comparison, think back to the days of World War I and World War II when if not for U.S. entry into both wars we, at least those of us still alive, would probably be speaking either German or Japanese right now. But thankfully, those were the days when wars were fought to win with the enemy rightfully reduced to bended knee...a time when negotiating with the enemy was never an option...surrender or die was the only choice given.

And while some will say that the war with Iran we now find ourselves in is different than any other war we've previously fought in, because we're dealing with not only the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, but with hatred so overwhelming that it is being fueled on by both bloodlust and a religious calling...as in “jihad.” But please tell me how today's “jihad” now differs from Nazi Germany, the Third Reich, and of course the nefarious deportations, gas chambers, and ovens constructed to commit mainly, but not solely, Jewish genocide.

The difference, as I see it, is but two-fold. First, the “modus operendi” sees Nazi Germany's ovens vs. today's mega bombs and drones...coupled with the mindset that to die for the cause is now, for the IRGC, as much of an honored cause for Iran today as it was for Hitler and the Nazis, as well as for the Japanese kamikazes of the 1930s and 1940s.

And the second difference as I see it being, is the fact that during World War II surrender...“unconditional surrender”...was the only way the war would be allowed to end...after the military might of the United States rightfully gave both Germany and Japan no other choice. Remember, Trump originally gave that very option to Iran, and then basically took it back, choosing instead to go the diplomatic route coupled with extension after extension, which knowingly or not, has allowed the enemy time to regroup and rearm to some degree...as well as to play the victim game.

Simply, Trump's negotiating with terrorists for a deal... which includes his current so-called “Memorandum of Understanding”...is not now nor will it ever be a victory, and in my opinion even his willingness to negotiate with terrorists... with the enemy...is a sure sign of subliminal weakness. And with Trump's continuing to negotiate for a deal instead of going for an outright victory, is what has allowed Iran to do what Germany and Japan could not do...as in make our beloved America...the world's number one “super power”...look both weak and indecisive, in certain so-called courts of “public opinion.”

And that part has come to light courtesy of the 'Jerusalem Post” who reported last week that an older Iranian professor was able to get a letter smuggled out to Israel stating that, “The people of Iran are in a very bad psychological state and have little hope for the future,” and “are fearful that the sacrifices they made in demonstrating against the regime will be erased if US President Donald Trump makes a deal with Tehran.”And this is the very thing that I, and a growing number of Americans, fear as well.

So as this latest Iranian cease-fire deal now appears to be near “finalization,” as per Trump on “Truth Social,” the truth is that as I started to write this the negotiations were stalled yet again. Why so? First, because Trump's latest addition thrown into the peace deal mix now includes having the regions other Arab nations “simultaneously” signing onto the “Abraham Accords.” And while this is truly a noble idea...it is being presented as an all or nothing mandatory component...as in sign on or its back to bombs falling and bullets flying.

Threats might work for some Arab nations, but surely not for all. And besides, even if certain key Arab nations...like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan...did sign on to the “Abraham Accords”... which is highly unlikely...there remains no guarantee it won't be with fingers crossed behind their backs. And while most Arab nations are not terrorist supporting nations, they all remain bound to the words and discourse as laid down in the Quran.

Second, while a deal would bring peace with Israel at first, it does not mean said peace would be long lasting, as a untied Arab front would always pose a danger not just to Israel, but to we in the western world as well. Remember, the “Abraham Accords” are but a signed piece of paper...a promise brokered to help keep a snaky peace...and yet the Arab hatred for Israel and the Jewish people will not disappear overnight as it goes back thousands of years.

And third, can this deal's promised economic incentives override what is an ingrained mindset after the initial“glow” of peace wears off? Simply, can what would become a Middle East “economic power house”...driven mostly by oil...ever be truly accepted by both Israel and the sum of the western world? We need an answer to that before any deal is made, before any deal is signed, especially with Iran now demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets held in Qatar as a precondition for even continuing these talks.

So while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the negotiations are "still a work in progress,” and that there is a “pretty solid thing on the table in terms of getting the strait opened," one Esmaeil Baghaei (a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry) said that, “Iran is ‌negotiating an end to the war but is not discussing its nuclear program,” and that even though “progress has been made” it does not mean that, “the signing of an agreement is imminent.”

And that says it all for what we now see is but a ping-pong type of back and forth game of vocalized word semantics being played between President Trump and his team of diplomats vs. what's left of Iran's hardline islamist regime. And the game got more interesting when last week Iran accused the U.S. of a “grave violation” of the ceasefire after the U.S. military initiated "self-defense strikes" against Iranian forces, but with measured "restraint."

Simply stated, no matter the media's discourse, the fact that Iran still stands, the fact that Iran has yet to be fully defeated and shows absolutely no sign of surrendering... unconditionally or otherwise...coupled with the fact that the Iranian people are still not free...in fact, their plight has been lost in the Hormuz oil shuffle...means “Houston we still have a problem.” 

A problem indeed, especially now as Trump's people and Iranian negotiators have supposedly reached an agreement...yet unsigned as I write this...regarding the 60-day “Memorandum of Understanding”...the very same “understanding” which would extend this current anything but true ceasefire...while starting negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program...the one issue which should never be negotiable as far as I'm concerned.

So just maybe the problem's solution is Israel to the rescue. Remember, Israel was ready to finish the job last summer, but Trump was decidedly against it. And now Trump says he is in “no hurry” to make a deal he seemed so anxious to make, and so the problem does remain. Case closed.

Copyright @ 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All Rights Reserved. 

************************************************************************************************** For more political commentary please visit my RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS partner Craig Andresen's blog The National Patriot to read his latest article, Operation Let Them Talk.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2nd from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Diplomatic Ping-Pong Run Amok'; 'Operation Let Them Talk'; and important news of the day. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.'