Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com   

 

[[[ So while Trump claims he and the U.S. has complete control of the Strait of Hormus, and that we will remain in control even after the war ends, he can bloviate all he wants, but the fact is that the Strait of Hormuz is a "shared global highway" and as such is NOT the property of any one nation. And even while both Iran and Oman each claim a 12-nautical-mile territorial limit off their respective coasts...as most nations do off their coasts...the Iran/Oman limit runs across the 21-nautical-mile width of the strait. But no matter for the fact still remains that under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), commercial and military vessels from ALL nations "retain the right to transit" said Strait no matter what Donald Trump says.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens when Russia, China, and maybe even Israel, try to cross the Strait...quite interesting indeed. ]]]

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

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com

 

[[[ As we run down our U.S. weapons stock in Iran, Russia is doing the same in Ukraine, while China is busy building up theirs…think about that. ]]]

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

Just a Thought

This thought below is my {Diane Sori) thought alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.or google.com 

 

[[[ Something to think about…the reason Russia still has not won against Ukraine is because Putin still thinks he has the might of the old Soviet Union…he does not. The reason we have not yet won in Iran is because Trump still thinks ‘The Art of the Deal’ easily translates into ‘The Art of Wars Won’..it does not. ]]]

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

Op-ed:

New Alliances vs. Reality 

By: Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

This op-ed is the author's opinion alone, and does not necessarily represent the views of blogspot.com or Google   

“Keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.” The actual origin of this famous quote derives from Machiavelli in "The Prince," the definitive primer on how to acquire and maintain political power.

It used to be easy during times of both war and peace to delineate between one's friends and one's enemies, but it does not seem to be that way anymore, at least not in regards to our and Israel's current war with Iran. Sadly, our friends, allies, and enemies are not only subject to change, but actually in some instances have indeed changed.

Gone are the days like when in World War II America's closest allies included not only the United Kingdom, but both the Soviet Union (now Russia) and China as well, and yet today Russia and China are our enemies so to speak, as is Iran thanks to the Islamic Revolution of 1979. And Iran, the very country who before the war we now find ourselves in, was under the Shah's rule a very pro-western and pro-American country. Also during said war, Germany, Italy, and Japan were our enemies, yet now they are some of our closest allies.

Odd how alliances do change in what seems to be on whim, yet some stand strong with America no matter the issues at hand, One case in point is the Jewish State of Israel, the only democracy and true friend to the United States in the entirety of the Middle East region. And we now together with Israel's “Operation Roaring Lion,” and our own“Operation Epic Fury,” hope that Iran, for their own good, at least on some level is finally starting to understand who are the real bosses in the region right now.

And while some of Iran's neighboring Arab nations...nations once no friend to Israel and barely a friend to the U.S...are now starting to align with our and Israel's side after having experienced first hand Iran's misplaced fury...a fury consisting of Iran and/or one of its proxy armies, lobbing missiles and drones into civilian and industrial areas of their countries. And if this alone did not wake up their people to the reality we and they currently face, then they should at least consider the fact that their countries leaders are tired of Iran's continuing threats voiced against them by the radical regime in Tehran, which itself actually does add credence to why this new and growing in number alliance mix is starting to take hold.

In fact, this new Middle East alliance is being forged not just with the U.S. but with Israel as well. For example, Saudi Arabia is now not just forging a defense pact with Pakistan and the UAE...one of the original signers of the “Abraham Accords”...but is also forging a defense partnership with India as well...the same India that now has open ties with Israel...the very same Israel that the Saudi government now sees as having a potential shift towards formal relations and normalized ties with the Middle East. 

Simply, a quantum shift in Middle East alliances is indeed unequivocally now forming...alliances that are not solely dependent on the U.S. to police the goings on and happenings in the region, but are alliances that are unified together to willingly help keep Iran in check after the war does come to an end...alliances that will help assure the betterment of the region long after we are finally militarily gone, but still with a much deserved modicum of so-called “skin in the game.”

And this latest alliance turn of events...if it does lastingly hold...indeed bodes well for the Iranian “freedom fighters” even while their true freedom has not yet been achieved. Why so...because they know that the governmental chaos they are now bearing witness to not only comes courtesy of Israel and the U.S., but that Israel itself has been highly successful in “taking out” the regime's islamist leaders one by one...something not unlike the proverbial falling of a carelessly stacked deck of playing cards.

And when you couple that with the fact that some of Iran's more modernized Arab neighbors are themselves now starting to understand that it is way past time to not only put the old rivalries, hatred of Israel and Jews, and past conflicts aside, but that the long hoped for diplomatic shifts the region itself is now seeing, truly does reflect what appears to be a strong desire for normalization agreements, stability, economic cooperation, and strategic alignment not just with key world powers, but will help in gaining both regional and economic stability. Simply, to basically reset, in full, the overall region's economic foundation if you will...and that said reset would actually become the jump off point upon which freedom itself can finally be garnered.

And these Arab nations know well that when freedom is coupled with economic stability that not only will the country of Iran gain entry into the 21st century world, but so too will the people of Iran...something unfairly denied them for the past 47 long and arduous years.

So while all this is truly something to hope for...something that if it does become tomorrow's reality we still will find others, like our aforementioned former World War II allies now enemies like China and Russia, continuing to work against peace as they vie for influence in the Middle East as well as in our own western hemisphere. And with that being the case, we find some now questioning these new emerging Middle East alliances as they juggle the options between peace and war...questioning not only how said stabilization would logistically occur, but how said alliances would actually effect what are the current geopolitical alliances...whether it be for better or for worse.

And with that said, case now 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, A Week of Astonishing Absurdity.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE! 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'New Alliances vs, Reality'; 'A Week of Astonishing Absurdity'; and our joint special report on Iran. Tune in to RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS on https://rspradio1.com Click 'LISTEN LIVE.'

 

Op-ed:

The “Donroe Doctrine”...Cuba or Bust

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   

 

..After all, Maduro’s recent capture has effectively not only taken away Cuba’s closest ally, but it's much needed oil source as well, thus allowing the Cuba/Russia ties to grow even stronger, and hence geopolitically more dangerous to us.  

 

And so Russia will continue to provide Cuba with both vital economic supplies...including oil supplies...as well as military support as Cuba continues to face one of its worst economic crises since the 1950s. And in return Cuba will continue supplying Russia with strategic access and a geopolitical foothold in the Americas...a rebirth not unlike that of the “Cold War,” albeit somewhat more silent in rhetoric yet possibly more deadly in application.

 

This is exactly why Cuba must be dealt with either now or possibly in the not so distant future for application of rhetoric does at times tend to lead to military intervention. And I do not mean “limited military intervention” as was rightfully done in Venezuela, but intervention as in “boots on the ground” full-scale invasion, something both President Trump and the American people surely, at least at this point in time, do not want to see happen, especially with Cuba being so close to the U.S...Read entire article here.

Op-ed:

The “Donroe Doctrine”...Cuba or Bust

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   

The “Donroe Doctrine,” Trump's newest catchphrase...a catchphrase initiated by the 'New York Post' after the toppling of Venezuela's dictator Nicolas Maduro...is a phrase one either likes or hates, but either way has to admit that it works for now and hopefully into the future.

Built on a foundation of righteousness, peppered with a healthy dose of ego, the “Donroe Doctrine” is sort of like the “Monroe Doctrine” but on steroids. The “Monroe Doctrine”...written in 1823 by then President James Monroe ... did officially affirm that European powers should not colonize or interfere in the then newly established independent nations of the Western Hemisphere, while also stating that in return that we...the now United States of America... would stay out of European affairs.

So now the question becomes, have we or Europe been faithful to the very document we and they signed...with the answer being not really. Why so... because said document was routinely ignored by both sides most especially during the 19th century in regards to European colonization, intervention, and occupation in Latin America, with one key case in point being the 1845 “British and French Blockade of Argentina.” This is where both nations  imposed a naval blockade on Argentina to enforce trade access, thus basically ignoring the doctrine's key components.

But the past is the past, and both we and Europe should have learned from mistakes made, as well as now understanding that in today's highly volatile world that sometimes the rigidness of the past, as laid down in the “Monroe Doctrine,” should become more flexible in its need to be updated in both its implementation and its corresponding actions taken. This is exactly what President Trump has done in widening the scope of said doctrine by his bending its original scope to now include that neither Russia, China, nor Iran will, on his watch, be able to move their anti-American scope of influence into the Western Hemisphere.

Simply, what Trump just did with his “Donroe Doctrine” moniker was give the “Monroe Doctrine” a 21st century update. And by doing so President Trump sent a stern warning to our enemies...both foreign and domestic...that America will no longer sit idly by...as did the Biden administration...and watch our Western Hemisphere nor our America's interests, both foreign and domestic, be corrupted by those trying to encroach upon us economically, militarily, or in Maduro's case via the smuggling of drugs into our country with the goal of killing Americans.

And in Trump's saying that he will use a mix of military pressure, strong economic coercion, selective alliance-building, and what can be assumed to be rightful score-settling...with score-settling being quite unnerving and worrisome for some foreign adversaries...a roadmap of sorts as to Trump's next actions has been laid out that some of us clearly see. How so...because with Trump having already set his sights on removing the dictators physically near to our country, can the communist dictatorship that is Cuba be next on his list...I believe it is. but when is the question.

Why so...simply because Cuba...the country once called the “Key to the New World" and the “Key to American Commerce”...the now communist run country but a mere 90 miles from our shore...has been a thorn in America's side for over seven decades...a thorn thanks to Fidel Castro and now thanks to it's so-called president, one Miguel Diaz-Canel. And when you add in that according to current satellite imagery China is now in the process of both expanding and upgrading its already in existence network of electronic Cuban based spying facilities...facilities near both Havana and Guantanamo Bay...and possibly even has started to build a military base of operations in Cuba, one can see why Cuba must be dealt with now before it is too late to do so.

And now when you also add in the fact that not only is Cuba's economic crisis growing, and along with it the suffering of the Cuban people, and that Cuba's reliance on subsidized oil from Venezuelan along with their government's outward support for Maduro's dictatorial regime should, when melded together, make Cuba Trump's next target, if you will. Why so, why now, and will it actually happen are the questions now coming into play as Trump has been afforded the opportunity to do what needed to be done, but was not done with the “Bay of Pigs” invasion failure so many decades ago...as in return Cuba to its once “favored nations” status. Remember, Cuba once was a U.S. de facto “protectorate” with deep economic ties between our two countries. Google it if you don't believe me.

And then there's Russia...both Putin's current Russian involvement with Cuba as well as the old Soviet Union's involvement in Cuba back in the days of the “Cold War.” Remember, the “Cold War” was when the old Soviet Union became Cuba's main economic and military partner, and when Russia not only built key strategic military outposts in Cuba...outposts like the Lourdes SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) station near Havana...but was the time when Russia paid Cuba a $200 million annual subsidy from 1962 to the outposts closing in August 2002. But know that in July 2014, reports did start to surface that Russia and Cuba had agreed to reopen the facility for usage by Russian intelligence, which they did then and still do today.

Interesting I'd say, especially in light of the fact that Russia's ties with Cuba currently remain strong as Russia...as Putin...continues to give Cuba massive amounts of economic aid as well as major military cooperation...a security guarantee of sorts if you will.

And why exactly does Russia...why does Putin...continue to aid and have ties to Cuba? It's not just because the two nations share anti-American geopolitical interests and sentiments, nor is it because said ties work to counter U.S. influence in the region while helping to secure Russia's strategic presence in our not their Western Hemisphere. And it surely is not just because Cuba has actively supported both Soviet and now Russia's operations in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America by their sending troops and supplying intelligence information.

So why then the ties...because Russia...because Putin...will have Cuba's back as long as Cuba continues to have their back, which is akin to camaraderie... misplaced camaraderie running deep even amongst those unsightly sorts who are thugs, thieves and despots. After all, Maduro’s recent capture has effectively not only taken away Cuba’s closest ally, but it's much needed oil source as well, thus allowing the Cuba/Russia ties to grow even stronger, and hence geopolitically more dangerous to us.

And so Russia will continue to provide Cuba with both vital economic supplies...including oil supplies...as well as military support as Cuba continues to face one of its worst economic crises since the 1950s. And in return Cuba will continue supplying Russia with strategic access and a geopolitical foothold in the Americas...a rebirth not unlike that of the “Cold War,” albeit somewhat more silent in rhetoric yet possibly more deadly in application.

This is exactly why Cuba must be dealt with either now or possibly in the not so distant future for application of rhetoric does at times tend to lead to military intervention. And I do not mean “limited military intervention” as was rightfully done in Venezuela, but intervention as in “boots on the ground” full-scale invasion, something both President Trump and the American people surely, at least at this point in time, do not want to see happen, especially with Cuba being so close to the U.S.

And while Trump himself stated on January 4th that, “I don’t think we need (to take) any action, Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall,” he forgets that Cuba has been failing to some degree ever since New Years Eve 1959 when Fidel Castro took over, and has gotten steadily worse since Castro's death on November 25, 2016, as the impoverished and suffering Cuban people were still forced to live under yet another oppressive dictatorship led by Castro's brother Raul. 

So what exactly can or should President Trump do in regards to Cuba now that it appears, at least for the time being, that he has ruled out military intervention? Knowing from history that the most successful regime changes start and happen from within, Trump could start subliminally encouraging a populist uprising to overthrow the Cuban government, and pepper it with a promise to help end their lives of basically no food, no power, and no money. Remember, Trump also recently said that, “I don’t know if they’re going to hold out, but Cuba now has no income. They got all their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil,” a key fact that many have overlooked.

Simply, Cuba needs money not the nickles and dimes that Russia continues to throw at her, but hard core American dollars in order to help them rebuild what was once a prosperous and free nation. For Cuba that freedom involves more than just fuel for power plants or the return of basic services...it involves changing the mindset of the Cuban people themselves...changing three generations of people who know nothing except communism for those oldsters still living in Cuba today who remember Cuba before the revolution are mostly in their 80s or 90s by now.*

So this is my suggestion to President Trump, the man I voted for three times, and whom I would vote for again if it was Constitutionally allowed. First, I would wait to see how the Iranian protest situation turns out, to see if their populist uprising was successful or not without our intervention...militarily or otherwise. Why so...because it's success would solidify the true will of the Iranian people, and maybe then light a spark of hope in oppressed people everywhere, including in the Cuban people.

Second, I would then decide, again based upon the Iranian outcome, to either go into Cuba militarily or leave Cuba to its own devices...no limited in scope involvement...it's an all or nothing situation...no gray areas involved. Why so...because Cuba has been under strict communist rule for 66 years, meaning the Cuban people are too far gone to understand any other kind of rule whether said rule be benevolent or not... time alone has proven that.

Simply, we cannot nor should not be the world's conscience nor its police force unless absolutely necessary, for today's world is a different and more dangerous place than it was even a generation ago. We need to choose and prioritize both our battles and actual involvements more wisely, after all “America First”... MAGA...was Trump's and our election battle cry...hopefully we can keep it that way. Case closed.

_____________________________________________________________ 

Footnote:

* For those who want to read the truth about Castro and the Cuban revolution read my husband's family's story here: 'A Personal Glimpse Into Castro’s Hell' ... it is as relevant today as when I wrote it back in November 29, 2016 following the death of Fidel Castro.

 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, The Minneapolis Domestic Terrorist Mom.

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                              Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'The "Donroe Doctrine"...Cuba or Bust'; The Minneapolis Domestic Terrorist Mom'; 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. 

RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...Podcast                              Here's the podcast of last nights 'LIVE' radio broadcast where RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discussed 'Even Great Presidents Make Mistakes...Part Two'; 'Release the Conspiracy Kraken'; Witkoff holds additional talks with Russia; MN govt. employees warning to Kamala Harris and the DNC; and affordability pressures continue to rise. Listen to it on https://rspradio1.podbean.com 

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    

...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...Read entire article here.

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.