Op-ed: 

Unresolved Issues x Three

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      

As I write this, three important issues remain on the table, one whose resolution is yet to unfold; one rife with emotions, old hatreds, and untruths; and the last one hopefully in the process of being resolved.

Issue One: “The latest anti-Iran sedition was different in that the US president personally became involved.” So said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding that “actors” linked to the United States and Israel were responsible for killing “several thousand” Iranians during the past few weeks of anti-government protests.

 

And so the man who issued his fourth death threat against President Trump has now started referring to Trump as a “criminal,” because Trump told the protesters...whom Khamenei calls “terrorists and armed rioters”...to physically take over state institutions. Calling their actions “sedition”...what Khamenei did was “absolve” his and the Revolutionary Guard's role in the massacre of what could, by some accounts, be upwards of 12,000 protesters and non-protesters alike. 

 

And while the killing of protesters has supposedly stopped...for now anyway...the problems that led to the protests still remain, as in Iran's economy tanking; soaring inflation levels unseen before; the “rial's” (Iran's main currency) collapsing; workers on strike coupled with demonstrations against what they call “systemic mismanagement and government corruption;” plus a lack of political and personal freedoms. And when melded together it appears that what the Iranian people want is full regime change but the question is, will it happen on its own or only with U.S. intervention.

Personally, I've always believed that Iran's people must rise up from within... like our forefathers did in regards to British crown rule some 250 years ago. And while we have witnessed an Iranian “populist” uprising, the problem is that not enough people joined in to successfully remove the current oppressive and murderous regime.

Remember, history has shown that freedom tends to belong to the strong...to those who put their lives on the line, and to those who die in the name of freedom...while the masses sit back and wait to garner the fruits of what is usually the freedom fighters bloody labor.

And history has also shown that a dictatorial regime often does truly appear to be...in regards to their public persona...at their strongest, most powerful, and most controlling right before being overthrown. And such a fall could in time happen in Iran, but logically something must happen first in order to successfully secure what is lasting regime change and one's personal freedom.

So what exactly must happen? Simply, the Revolutionary Guard (the IRGC) must turn their backs on Khamenei...like the Russian Bolshevik's did in 1917 against the Czar...for I believe there is no other way that the Iranian people acting solely on their own can secure a lasting win without some semblance of Iran's military...hence its military power...being on their side. I do believe President Trump likely knows this as well, but has yet to say it publicly.

Why so...because Trump knows that a revolution's success works best when it not only comes from within, but when the “game plan” is not publicly divulged until said plan is well underway...if even then.

So what exactly is the “game plan” for Iran and what can Trump do about it? It's uncertain, and probably unlikely, that the sum of the IRGC turns on Khamenei, but some Middle East so-called “experts” believe that a “succession crisis” is inevitable due to Khamanei's age and health issues which does seem to be a possibility, However, said possibility comes replete with problems of its own, as certain top tier Iranian military leaders could themselves take over and continue Khamenei's hard line regime, or so could those we would not normally expect, like the Kurds, which could see Iran's future being tenuous at best.

But one thing I do know is that if the Iranian people do secure their freedom, whether with Trump's help or on their own, the end of Iran's terrorist driven, theocratic dictatorship will see the entirety of the Middle East start falling into place for like in dominoes when one tile falls others soon follow. But what I hope is that our likely intervention does not come too late, for if it does not only will the Iranian people suffer tenfold, but Iran will become President Trump's Tiananmen Square.

Issue Two: Last week while in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, President Trump presented his “Board of Peace” charter that is bringing “peace in the Middle East.” Saying that the Gaza war is now “down to little fires,” this plan is basically his 20-point plan for Gaza on steroids as the charter does not appear to limit its role to the Middle East alone.

Now seeing 50+* world leaders having received invites to join the “Board of Peace” ...including Vladimir Putin...with over 35 already having signed on, we find our NATO allies France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, and Canada declining, with Trump rescinding Canada's invite. And while some signers do question the board's “three-tier governing structure,” where Trump and pro-Israel officials sit at the top, others question why the Palestinians have little say in deciding Gaza's future governance. I say that's a good decision on Trump's part for not one Palestinian leader has yet condemned nor apologize for Hamas' actions of October 7th. Remember the old adage, “If you don't condemn you condone,” those words fit these folks to a tee.

So what exactly will the “Board of Peace” do? Right now said board will be a transitional administration for Gaza's redevelopment until 2027, and is tasked with overseeing reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and being an international stabilizing force for the region, while at the same time striving for broader global conflict resolution...sort of doing the job the U.N. refuses to do. And this has me believing that if the “Board of Peace” is successful that its ultimate goal is to either work side-by-side with the U.N. or possibly even replace the very organization that has truly become derelict in its duties.

Now as for the key to the board's success, we see the“Founding Executive Board of Peace” being rightfully chaired by President Trump, who alone retains full veto and purse string power, as well as having the sole authority to remove members, set the agenda, and override decisions.

The other Executive Board members who hold voting rights are U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio...one of the most pro-Israel officials in Trump's administration as is fellow board member U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Then there's staunch Israel supporter Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and one of the driving forces behind the “Abraham Accords,” as well as pro-Israel businessman Marc Rowan, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, one of the world’s largest investment firms; Ajay Banga currently the World Bank's president; former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a staunch supporter of both Israel and the “War on Terror;” and Robert Gabriel Jr., a deputy national security adviser in Trump's administration.

This no nonsense executive board is surely needed what with Turkey, Jordan, and Qatar, having signed onto the “Board of Peace.” And thus this question,”Why did Israel-hating Turkey, Jordan's Muslim Brotherhood supporting “kinglet,” and Hamas' sanctuary Qatar even receive invites to join the board? And the only answer that makes any sense has to do with money as those wealthy nations wanting permanent board seats must pay $1 billion for said seat, with those monies being used for Gaza's reconstruction. And with none of the three having yet to become permanent members, one has to wonder why they signed on, for I do not believe peace is their objective...trying to derail the plan's goal seems more likely to me. Best the board keep an eye on these three is all I have to say.

So what was Israel's response to the plan after having originally criticized the inclusion of Turkey and Qatar? Israel, as expected, did agree to join the “Board of Peace” no matter that Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials felt that parts of said plan were contrary to Israeli policy, but it was made clear that at no time was not participating ever an option. Why so...because for Israel, who truly wants lasting peace, to do otherwise would find certain foxes guarding its hen house so to speak.

And while I hoped that neither Turkey nor Qatar would be allowed to hold any positions on the “Peace Board,” I still hope that Trump does not allow either nation's troops to be on the ground for neither can be trusted to follow through on Gaza's disarmament plan. Why so... because both nations gave “safe harbor” to Hamas officials before and after October 7th and still do, thus proving with whom their true loyalties lie.

But the bottom line for me is this...if Trump's “Peace Plan” is not successful a failure would see us bearing witness to not just a continuation of regional instability and conflict, but a renewal of fighting where Israel rightfully holds nothing back. This land belongs to Israel and the Jewish people, and it's time the world understands that as fact, after all the Palestinians...who are at the crux of this matter...do have and have always had a homeland, it's called Jordan, and that's where they belong, “Peace Plan” or not.

Issue Three: This issue can be sunned up in one word: Greenland, the island nation President Trump has long been trying to acquire and for all the right reasons yet, in my opinion, he was using all the wrong tactics to accomplish that goal. But that has now been remedied as his latest tactic regarding tariffs being imposed on any European country...including Greenland's owner Denmark...who voiced opposition to his doing so has now been removed from the discourse. And why so...because last Wednesday at Davos it was announced that a “framework deal” had been reached that would make all parties involved happy.

But first, why really did Trump want Greenland besides what has always been its strategic military location regarding the controlling of the Arctic and North Atlantic against any threats by either Russia and/or China? Simply, because Greenland has a huge amount of untapped “rare-earth mineral resources” which if we owned Greenland would be a huge economic win not unlike the Venezuelan oil industry now basically being under U.S. control.

But Trump never really wanted Greenland to become another Venezuela for Denmark is a NATO nation, and resorting to military action against a fellow NATO member would not have served Trump well. But history shows that threats only work when backed up by military action...one just has to look at both last summer's military action against Iran's nuclear plants, and Trump's recent ouster of Venezuela's dictator Nicholas Maduro, and try to imagine said action being used in regards to Greenland. Common sense alone shows it would not sit well in the political court of public opinion, plus the fact that a “January 16 - 19, 2026 Economist / YouGov Poll” showed that a only 9% of Americans across all party lines approved of Trump using military force to take control of Greenland.

And why is this important...because when even Republicans are vehemently opposed to such action, and if said action were to be taken it could see Republicans losing the House. And Trump obviously knowing this thankfully saw him changing his what were bully tactics, and with said change came a “framework for a future deal,” a deal reached after his having met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

So what exactly does this “framework for a future deal,” or as Trump now calls it “the ultimate long-term deal,” include? These are the top three framework issues that would give the U.S. “everything we want,” as per President Trump.

First: In return for Trump's canceling his threatened tariffs on Europe and ruling out taking Greenland by force or by “excessive strength,” and with Denmark insisting that its “red line” sovereignty over the island was not up for discussion, there will be ongoing discussions regarding the “Golden Dome” (the $175 billion multilayered missile defense system that would include space-based components and utilize Greenland's strategic location).

Second: We would see an increase in U.S. Arctic presence to ensure that both Russia and China do not gain economic or military footholds in the region (something both Denmark and Greenland agree with); along with joint defense renegotiations between us and Denmark relating to the 1951 defense pact and our expanding U.S. presence at the strategic Pituffik Space Base. 

Third: The U.S. would be given unfettered mineral resource mining rights as well as access into perpetuity to Greenland's rare-earth minerals...minerals which are much needed in the manufacturing of today's modern technology. An announcement not totally unexpected, but one that is surely welcomed, and should be beneficial to all the parties involved.

And so with this latest announcement at Davos, and with neither of the other two issues presented having been fully resolved yet either, all are at least on their way to resolution. But as with most issues of importance only time will tell how each will play out. The clock is ticking...cases closed.

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Footnote 

* As I was writing this article this was the 'latest list of countries' who had signed on to President Trump's “Board of Peace” plan. 

 

Copyright © 2026 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 Doomed If They Do…Doomed If They Don’t.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                  Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'Unresolved Issues x Three'; 'Doomed If They Do…Doomed If They Don’t; and important news of the day. Hope you can tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE'