Just a thought...

Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor

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

From ‘unconditional surrender’ to a 2-week cease-fire deal brokered by Pakistan..a country that doesn’t really like us very much and who has deep economic ties to Iran…to Iran still lobbing missiles/drones into both Israel and the UAE…I say ‘Houston we have a problem’…what say you dear reader?

 Copyright © 2026 Diane Sori / The Patriot Factor / All rights reserved.

Just my opinion...

Just a thought...

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.

Op-ed:
First Step Taken…More Steps To Come
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 Googl

  

Author's Update: Early this morning, October 13th, Hamas started to release the 20 living hostages with the first seven released at around 1am EST with the others soon thereafter.

 

...So as I started to write this article, both Israel and Hamas have agreed on the “first phase” of what in actuality is a Gaza “ceasefire deal”...with the word “ceasefire” being key as in no way is this yet an actual finalized, signed on the dotted line, peace deal. Why so...because Hamas is still getting away with issuing demands that they say must be met most especially before all the hostages, both dead and alive, are released. Also, Hamas is still vacillating on full disarmament as well as their being banned from holding any office in what will be Gaza's new governing body.

Simply, while agreeing on a “ceasefire” and a few other points, Hamas has yet to formally surrender. And while some try to claim that in their agreeing to some things Hamas, in a way, is surrendering while at the same time “saving face,” but that is actually not the case. Why so...because when an enemy officially surrenders to the victor...which is the true first touch point to peace...it transfers control of its combatants, territory, and armaments to the now victor...think World...Read entire article here.

Op-ed: 

First Step Taken...More Steps To Go   

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 Googl

  

Author's Update: Early this morning, October 13th, Hamas started to release the 20 living hostages with the first seven released at around 1am EST with the others soon thereafter.

Let me start by saying that I herald President Donald J.Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and all others true friends of the Jewish State of Israel who had a hand in brokering this what has now turned into a “phased-in” peace deal. And I herald Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for this one man tried to save a nation against what seemed to be, at times, insurmountable odds including opposition from certain segments of the Israeli people, with some hostage families sadly included. And while it pains me to say this, the fact does remain that sometimes one must unite behind their country's leader no matter the personal circumstances involved, and understand that sometimes the horrors of war alone dictates that some of the few might have to be sacrificed in order to save the many.

And also know I firmly believe that Israel has no better friend than our great President Trump who worked tirelessly to bring an end to the Israel v. Hamas war...a war started solely by Hamas...a war whose end no matter signatures placed on a piece of paper still do not assure that a lasting peace will take hold...a war that if not for Barack Obama's and Joe Biden's terrorist appeasement and deals done while they were in office, is a war that might never have happened in the first place.

So as I started to write this article, both Israel and Hamas have agreed on the “first phase” of what in actuality is a Gaza “ceasefire deal”...with the word “ceasefire” being key as in no way is this yet an actual finalized, signed on the dotted line, peace deal. Why so...because Hamas is still getting away with issuing demands that they say must be met most especially before all the hostages, both dead and alive, are released. Also, Hamas is still vacillating on full disarmament as well as their being banned from holding any office in what will be Gaza's new governing body.

Simply, while agreeing on a “ceasefire” and a few other points, Hamas has yet to formally surrender. And while some try to claim that in their agreeing to some things Hamas, in a way, is surrendering while at the same time “saving face,” but that is actually not the case. Why so...because when an enemy officially surrenders to the victor...which is the true first touch point to peace...it transfers control of its combatants, territory, and armaments to the now victor...think World War II here. And only after actual peace treaties are signed...as in the “Paris Peace Treaty of 1947” regarding the European theater of war, and the “Treaty of Peace with Japan” signed in 1951 regarding the Pacific theater of war...is lasting peace between former enemies assured.

Simply, what we are currently witnessing in regards to this what is, at least for now, but a “ceasefire” deal is the hoped for possibility for peace. And with the word “maybe” now coming into play one must understand that only treaties between once enemies formally ends a war. In fact, without a  true “treaty,” without its legally binding agreements which do encompass international law, peace itself is not really attained. Words semantics to some, but reality's sad truth.

Now as for the hostages themselves...specifically the remaining hostages soon to be released along with the remains of those starved and tortured who died while in captivity...Hamas has told the hostage negotiators that they may not immediately or ever be able to locate some of those persons remains. In fact, Gal Hirsch, senior Israeli official in charge of hostages, has stated that in the coming days an “international team” will be formed to try to locate and recover the bodies (or more likely the body parts) of any Israeli hostages still unaccounted for. And to that might I add that if the Israel-hating U.N. is involved in any way in said search team, you just know it will not turn out well for the hostage's families still awaiting the return of their lost loved ones remains.

And in Hamas then not affording the hostage families any physical and emotional closure it becomes but an inhumane victory of sorts for Hamas. And this, in my opinion, is but yet another way of Hamas channeling their still all-consuming inner hatred for both Israel and the Jewish people.

Why so...because like with Hitler's Nazi Germany, degrading the physical being of the person themselves is part of the calling card of Hamas as well as other Jew-hating groups like them. And said hatred is ingrained so deep within their very being that said hatred will continue on, in one form or another, probably for generations to come. No simple “ceasefire deal”...no what is erroneously being heralded as a “peace deal”...will ever be Hamas' “come to Jesus” moment if you will. Nor will it soften the hearts and minds of the almost two thousand Palestinian prisoners and detainees (security prisoners they're being called) being exchanged for the now believed to be but 20 still alive hostages...with many of those exchanged being Hamas sympathizers, convicted terrorists, October 7th operatives, and other assorted Palestinians detained since the start of the war.

However, and thankfully, this prisoner exchange does not include notable terrorists Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Sa’adat, Hassan Salameh or Abbas al-Sayed, the very four persons whose releases Hamas had desperately sought.

But what should not be forgotten in this discourse, whether it be the peace deal itself or even just its implementation, is the fact that those with a still 6th century mindset cannot seem to exist...or even want to exist...in what is a 21st century world.

Why so...because lasting peace, let alone acceptance of one another's differences cannot be obtained by those whose 6th century mindset is still that of what it was when they were captured...simply stated, “leopards cannot change their spots” as the old and ever truthful saying goes.

But now, and again as I write this, we await what should be Monday's agreed upon date for the hostage and prisoner exchanges; Israeli's partial IDF withdrawal from Gaza; the increasing of humanitarian aid into Gaza; and President Trump's trip to both Israel and Egypt where he on Netanyahu's invitation will address the Israeli Knesset and then go to Egypt to be present for the said hostage and prisoner exchange. And here know that while President Trump was foolishly denied the Nobel Peace Prize, the world certainly knows that without Trump's tireless efforts, this what is in actuality a “ceasefire/phased deal” would not and could not have been reached.

And to that being said I add that the U.S. is currently in the process of deploying up to 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor both the “ceasefire deal” and Hamas' at least stating to disarm after Netanyahu rightfully declared that, “Hamas will be disarmed in the upcoming stages of the agreement—either the easy way or the hard way,”

 

Simply, threats and a show of physical strength do work especially when justified, for in this case Hamas still cannot be and probably never will be trusted to abide in full to any deals made. Why so...first because no matter how it appears on the surface Iran still pulls Hamas' strings, and second because as tens of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to what is left of northern Gaza, numerous media and eye witness verified accounts and reports confirm that among the returning are some Hamas police officials who are trying to “reassert their authority,' something that must never be allowed to happen.

 

Also, certain remaining factions of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are still saying that they reject “any foreign guardianship” of the Gaza Strip, while a number of Gaza officials continue calling for an independent, international investigation into what they consider to be war crimes and genocide committed by Israel during its war with Hamas. And something not to be forgotten, especially now, is that the “United Nations Relief and Works Agency” (UNRWA) has called for all crossings into Gaza to be opened, saying that there are 6,000 aid trucks ready to reach Gaza in hours...that is if one believes anything the UN has to say...that is unless the remaining Hamas operatives don't “appropriate,” if you will, the aid for themselves as they have done so over the years.

 

But instead of worrying about what the UN or any of their organizations think, what needs to be worried about is the fact that Palestinian sources in Israel have reported what they call “growing security chaos” in the Gaza Strip, with Hamas gunmen... obviously Hamas has not yet and probably never will surrender their weapons... now clashing with local “clans” in both Gaza's Beit Lahia and Sabra neighborhoods, with the son of a Hamas official reportedly being killed in said clash. Bet it's only a matter of time before Israel will somehow be blamed for that.

 

“To all the Hamas rats, your tunnels are destroyed, your rights no longer exist. Repent before it’s too late — there is no Hamas from today onward.” So said one Hussam al-Astal, commander of an armed group now opposed to Hamas in Khan Yunus in southern Gaza.

 

And while it is a hopeful sign that there are Palestinians who are now rising up against Hamas, and with a growing number of Palestinians simply tired of a war they know that they cannot physically win, the fact remains that unless true peace comes to the region more blood will most certainly continue to be shed, and it won't be by Israel's hand, but by the Palestinians people themselves.

 

So now as the Trump brokered, Netanyahu backed “ceasefire”...replete with hoped for future steps soon be taken...starts to take hold and slowly inches its way towards its ultimate goal of peace and stability in the Middle East, remember all players involved are not truly on the same page. For example, Qatar, the country who gave safe harbor to cowardly Hamas leadership who hightailed it out of Gaza when the going got tough...nor will true peace itself ever be attained as long as fundamental issues and differences remain unresolved between Israel and Hamas.

 

And here let me say that what really is needed, in my opinion, is for an actual long-term political based framework to be brokered solely by the two main parties involved...as in Israel and Hamas...to help in trying to resolve what are their still ongoing deep-seated differences no matter the “ceasefire” now in place, for unless they do so one-to-one the risk for potential future conflicts most assuredly still exists.

Remember, as I previously stated, it's treaties that actually bring finality to a given war with everything else being but window dressing to some degree that helps to hide important truths that do need to be told. Peace through strength is what ends wars, peace through forced capitulation only sweeps one side's bloodlust temporarily under the proverbial rug. 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 The Old Status Quo vs. The New Doctrine. 

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RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS...LIVE!                                                  Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 14th from 7 to 8:30pm EST, RIGHT SIDE PATRIOTS Craig Andresen and Diane Sori discuss 'First Step Taken...More Steps To Go', 'The Old Status Quo vs. The New Doctrine'; 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.