This Week in the World Affairs Brief

TRUMP BOMBS IRAN — THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES

For now, Trump’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities has brought Iran to a ceasefire with Israel, despite the controversy over the leaked US intelligence assessment that questioned how far Iran’s nuclear program was at the time and how far the bombs set it back. But by intervening with US military power, without proper justification, Trump made several mistakes which will negatively impact America’s reputation as a moral leader in the future. First, he used the promise of a two week delay in any decision to induce both sides to begin negotiations for a peace settlement. Both agreed, and the day they were to begin, he attacked anyway and declared, “now we are ready for peace!” Who will trust America’s word again after such a betrayal of diplomatic overtures? Second, his use of force was a clear violation of the War Powers Act, which only gives the president the power to respond militarily to an imminent threat. Otherwise it must wait for a declaration of war by congress. In this case there was not a direct and imminent threat to the United States even if Iran possessed a nuke since they lacked the means of launching it against the US. This pre-emptive strike on a foreign nation allows the leaders of Russia/China/Iran and the BRICS alliance to again paint America as a military bully of the world, and harden the world into two poles of nuclear armed combatants. Rather than hinder WWIII, it will only cause our enemies to lay low for now and build more rapidly for the inevitable nuclear conflict to come. To his credit Trump is not taking the bait for a wider war, and is pressuring both sides into a peaceful settlement but with the black eye Iran just received, and Israel itching to take the fight further, tensions will continue to simmer under the surface. To receive a free one-time sample of this brief, along with options on how to subscribe, click on Request a Sample on the left.

Also:
  • The Intel Leak that Cast Doubt on the Attack
  • Trump and Netanyahu Hatch A New Deal for Gaza
  • Trump Dominates NATO Summit

Daily News

Senate Passes Megabill With Vance Casting Tie-Breaker

The Epoch Times

Vice President JD Vance broke a 50–50 tie to secure passage of the bill. Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) voted in opposition. Other holdouts, including Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), ultimately supported the legislation despite misgivings.

RFK Jr. Unloads Disturbing Vaccine Secrets on Tucker

Vigilant Fox

To the claim that the vaccine–autism link has been “debunked,” Kennedy had a message for Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, and everyone who smugly insists on it. “None of the vaccines given to children in the first six months of life have ever been studied for autism.”

Senate Version Of Trump Tax Bill Adds $3.3 Trillion To Deficit, $500BN More Than The House; Debt Ceiling Raised By $5 Trillion

ZeroHedge

The Senate version of President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill (BBB) will add nearly $3.3 trillion to US deficits over a decade, according to the latest estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, half a trillion more than the $2.8 trillion in deficit expansion under the House version of the same bill. That’s from a starting point with debt to GDP already in excess of 120% and the fiscal deficit sitting close to a peacetime record.

Trump Pivots To Pressuring Israel For New Ceasefire Deal In Gaza

ZeroHedge

Naturally, the Palestinian side remains doubtful that any real progress will be made, given especially that the Netanyahu government has repeatedly refused to steer away from its primary war aims in the Gaza Strip of utterly destroying Hamas, and ensuring it can never come back to lead.

As a New York Resident Here Is My Biggest Worry About Mamdani’s Socialism

The Daily Signal

Mamdani’s government-run grocery stores will likely just end up being a taxpayer-funded joke rather than being truly disastrous. In a sea of other, almost certainly more functional privately-run businesses, I’m guessing New Yorkers will generally avoid the government option. Where Mamdani will have a great deal of power to do damage is with his ideas about the police. Though he’s tried to soften his position about defunding the police a bit in recent days, Mamdani has made it clear on social media over the years that he’s hostile to traditional policing.

Russian Military Instructs China How To Beat US & NATO Weapons

NewsWeek

Russia plans to train hundreds of Chinese military personnel this year on lessons learned from its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the Kyiv Post reported. Instructors will cover methods for countering weapons systems used by Ukrainian forces that were produced by the United States and its NATO allies, a source in Ukraine's top intelligence agency told the outlet.

1900 Scientists Say 'Climate Change Not Caused By CO2' – The Real Environment Movement Was Hijacked

Reality Books

Are you aware that almost 2,000 of the world’s leading climate scientists and professionals in over 30 countries have signed a declaration that there is no climate emergency and have refuted the United Nations claims in relation to man-made climate change? See https://clintel.org/world-climate-declaration/ 2. I have also signed this declaration. How can I make such an assertion? I have experience in the field as a former scientist at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK Government; and as former staff member at United Nations Environment, where I was responsible for servicing the Pollution Release and Transfer Register Protocol, a Multinational Environmental Agreement, involving the monitoring of pollutants to land, air, and water worldwide. Real pollution exists, but the problem is not CO2.

Pentagon Creates New 250-Mile Military Buffer Zone At Texas–Mexico Border

The Epoch Times

The first national defense area was designated in April, a 170-mile zone in New Mexico, attached to Fort Huachuca in neighboring Arizona. The following month, a 63-mile section was set up in West Texas under Fort Bliss. Combined with the new Texas stretch, the total area under national defense area designation now exceeds 480 miles. The Texas–Mexico border extends 1,254 miles.

US Military Scrambles for Ways to Protect Bases From Drone Warfare

The Epoch Times

U.S. military leaders are increasingly concerned that similar attacks, which leverage low-cost commercial drones against expensive weapons systems, could pose a lasting threat to bases and critical infrastructure throughout the country. However, the Army and other service branches are struggling to design and deploy appropriate technologies to defend bases on U.S. soil, owing to variables that do not need to be considered in a war zone.

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