Dear Editor:
TAKE-AWAYS FROM “Rebuttal to Nonsense” Letter of 9/13/23.
TAKE-AWAY 1: Letter author El Sellers (hereafter referred to as E.S.) seeks to cure being “woefully ill-informed” and “close-minded,” but succeeds in only confusing issues.
TAKE-AWAY 2: E.S. contends freezing Iran’s assets was in response to a “crisis,” but does not mention that crisis was CAUSED by then President Trump, when he pulled out of an already negotiated deal to stop the expansion of Iran’s nuclear abilities. As part of having America, against international consensus of our allies, renegue on the deal, Trump promised a “more comprehensive deal” which would cause Iran to “return to negotiations.” That “deal” never materialized, was a broken promise by Trump, and left Iran with ZERO restrictions on their nuclear ambitions.
TAKE-AWAY 3: E.S. contends that freezing Iran’s assets was necessary, in order to “dampen the enemy’s ability to harm Americans.” If this is true and legitimate, it’s very puzzling that E.S. THEN states that Iran is only our “second worst Foreign enemy,” with “communist China being the first.” If E.S.’s (and Trump’s) asset freezing foreign policy is necessary to protect Americans, E.S. doesn’t explain WHY Trump did not freeze the assets of America’s #1 enemy, China. Such selective application of sanctions is both confusing to the world, and dangerous. Or, alternatively, it’s just E.S. who is confused.
TAKE-AWAY 4: E.S. asks, “Why… our own government deal(s) with criminal regimes like Iran… is a mockery of American principles.” E.S. completely ignored that I documented where Republican President Ronald Reagan admitted to “trading arms for hostages,” preferring to continue to bash President Biden. In this, E.S. confuses “strength” with capitulation, which is what Reagan did (E.S. wants you to falsely believe Regan showed “strength”.)
TAKE-AWAY 5: E.S. says, “Negotiating also doesn’t work.” Negotiation has been the mainstay of American foreign policy throughout our history, and it goes without saying that we negotiate with our friends, but MORE IMPOTANTLY with our adversaries, because negotiation is the only alternative to their WAR, or surrender.
TAKE-AWAY 6: E.S. says, “Crime today obviously pays very well. Ask the Clintons or Bernie Madoff. Better still, ask Hunter and Joe Biden.” I understand E.S.’s need to attempt to smear those he considers political enemies, but We Americans are in the midst of seeing clearly how well crime pays. Hundreds of Jan 6 insurrectionists are in prison with long sentences. Trump’s accountant Weisselberg just finished his prison sentence. Thump henchmen like Manafort, Bannon, Stone and Flynn would be in prison today if not for pardons. And we will soon see trials unfold in 4 jurisdictions seeking to convict Trump and dozens of his coconspirators of various crimes including RICO conspiracy. So, no need to ask Clintons or Bidens, who don’t even have any charges made against them. We have Trump and his cadre. And they are learning that crime DOES NOT pay at all (other than last-minute cynical fundraising the supposed billionaire Trump has engaged in, or perhaps the $2 Billion Jared Kushner received from the Saudis upon leaving “government service.”).
Jeff Harrison
Buffalo, Texas
