It seems my Whac-A-Mole blog post didn’t land as intended with a few folks. It may have come across as too lighthearted for the seriousness of the topic. For those who feel I wasn’t fully engaged with the actions of our government, I’d like to offer a more thoughtful perspective. Let’s dive in.

When assessing individuals, actions are a more reliable measure of character and intent than words. While words can be crafted to influence perception, actions provide tangible evidence of priorities and values. Observing behavior allows for more informed judgments about trustworthiness and fosters meaningful connections. Ultimately, actions reveal the essence of an individual’s principles and objectives, often outweighing the reliability of verbal declarations.

Watch what they do, not what they say.

Regarding Iran, its historical and contemporary actions underscore its role as a state sponsor of terrorism. Over the past four decades, Iran and its proxies have been linked to approximately 625 American deaths, with many more injured. This figure likely underrepresents the full extent of harm due to challenges in attributing certain attacks and the ongoing nature of proxy operations.

The 1979 Iranian hostage crisis exemplifies the breakdown of U.S.-Iran relations. Fifty-two Americans were held for 444 days in retaliation for the U.S. granting asylum to the deposed Shah. This event not only strained diplomatic ties but also had significant domestic political repercussions, contributing to President Jimmy Carter’s electoral defeat.

Iran’s leadership, particularly Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has consistently expressed hostility toward the U.S. and Israel. Chants of “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” are common. While such rhetoric is sometimes framed as opposition to Western values, Iran’s actions—such as enriching uranium to 60%, far exceeding the 3% required for civilian energy purposes—suggest intentions inconsistent with its claims.

The regime’s treatment of its citizens, including the execution of women for minor infractions, highlights its oppressive governance. These actions, rather than rhetoric, provide a clearer understanding of the regime’s priorities and objectives.

Given the lack of public access to the intelligence that informed this decision, one must assume the information provided to President Donald Trump was credible and that his response was both decisive and proportionate. Uranium enrichment at levels far exceeding the 3% required for civilian energy raises legitimate concerns about potential military applications.

Centrifuge technology, central to the enrichment process, can be reconfigured to produce weapons-grade material, blurring the line between civilian and military use.

The hope remains that such actions will deter Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons and encourage the regime to adopt a more cooperative stance in the region. However, as history has shown, Iran’s nuclear program has been a persistent source of international tension, with disagreements over its right to enrich uranium complicating diplomatic efforts.

Whether this intervention will lead to a long-term resolution or further entrench hostilities remains uncertain.

Ok, enough blogging for today. I have books to edit…Blah!