Aristotle, prudence, and foreign policy decisions

On Tuesday’s Mark Levin Show, for the media, and now for most politicians, what's most important is not winning this war against Iran AND ensuring it's not replaced by another monstrous regime, but the price of gasoline on a daily basis. If this military campaign is ended prematurely, and the second phase of ensuring the institution of a civil government is not accomplished, chances are this entire effort will be for naught.  The economic, geo-political, and national security gains, which have been immense, and the stated goal of liberating the Iranian people, which initiated this process, could become a disaster in every respect -- including political. After we destroyed the Japanese regime in WWII, the U.S. wrote their constitution and installed a government that would be aligned with us.  We must give very focused thought to what comes after the Iranian regime's navy, air force, missiles, and top leadership are destroyed.  It still has a standing army, secret police, and an entire Islamist-supporting infrastructure.  There are many approaches to dealing with this short of a democracy project or sending hundreds of thousands of soldiers.  But to be clear, if a void is created and left there, and we do not fill it (perhaps with our allies) or significantly influence how it is tilled, it most definitely will be filled by the forces in Iran that remain from the old regime with the support of their allies, including China and Russia. Also, polls show that 91% approve of President Trump's handling of the Iran situation among MAGA supporters and 83% among Republicans. Since Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Steve Bannon, and Candace Owens opposed this military campaign, their audience must largely consist of leftists, anti-Semites, foreigners, Islamists, Marxists, and Democrats. Later, Democrats fiercely oppose voter ID requirements, particularly photo IDs, despite broad public support across all races.  Photo IDs are routinely required for everyday activities, yet Democrats claim they are too difficult to obtain, especially for Black people and married women, which is inherently racist and condescending. Without photo ID verification, there is no reliable way to confirm a voter's identity, prevent double voting, or stop impersonation, particularly in the 11 states (mostly Democratic) that do not require any ID.  Finally, Dr James Lindsay calls in and argues that efforts to drive a wedge between Jews and Christians, and to redefine Americanism, stem from multiple interconnected motives. Primarily, opponents of President Trump are now attempting to weaken him and his agenda from within by fracturing his coalition. This includes pushing the Republican Party toward a more radical, identity-based politics inspired by failed European conservatism, moving away from the traditional American ideal of equal citizenship regardless of background. Influencers driving these narratives are motivated by a mix of genuine ideological commitment to paleoconservative or Buchanan-style views, financial incentives like chasing clicks, payments, bot amplification, and foreign boosting, all converging to reorganize the Republican Party and sever U.S.-Israel ties to diminish America's global defensive posture.

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