I have a great deal of respect for the journalist Emily Maitlis and I followed her latest podcast on YouTube. Last night she was giving a most informative analysis the purport of which was that most European societies (and particularly European members of NATO) were effectively rebuffing Donald Trump’s call for assistance in helping to main the Straits of Hormuz to allow for oil shipments. Her view was that the Europeans had discovered some backbone and were,in effect, saying to Donald Trump ‘you got yourself into this mess, now get yourself out of it’ Another analysis on Sky News argues that the USA might have made some massive miscalculations. By organising a swift and decisive military operation to decapitate the leader of Venezuela and to install the deputy as an American puppet, Trump may have thought that Iran was more of the same – but the societies are very different. At the time that there were massive street protests in Iran, the USA was preoccupied with Venezuela and its military forces were focused in the wrong direction. Had they at that time focused on Iran then it is possible that regime change might have been possible but as it is, the Iranians feel they are achieving victory the more they resist the might of the US and can keep the Straits of Hormuz as a strategic weapon. Returning to more mundane and domestic matters, I was somewhat dismayed when my email client found it difficult to load and the problem was identified as an out-of-date browser. So on my principal desktop computer system which is now about 10 years old I have managed to update the operating system to one that is less than two years old and seems to run more crisply than its predecessor. So now I am in a situation where my email client works satisfactorily and my system can limp on for another month or so. But once I have got holidays out of the way, I am going to bet an up-to-date because once even a MAC gets more than about 10 years old, although still usable for simple tasks, the operating systems do not get updated and security issues addressed so it is time to think about a replacement model. Apple do maintain operating systems for their less than up-to-date versions of their hardware but a point comes at which they do not release further updated versions of the software and the time is ripe for a change. Later on today, I have my Pilates class and then possibly the AGM of the U3A group to attend straight after my Pilates class so I may make myself a sandwich and see if I can attend the U3A immediately after my Pilates session, even though I shall arrive 30 minutes late. Spring is very definitely in the air at the moment because we are promised quite a warm spell soon. Temperatures in parts of the UK are set to rise close to 20C this week and bring the warmest weather of the year so far.
Later on in the day, I chatted with our domestic help when she called around and then delayed going into town. Then I picked up my newspaper and attended my normal Pilates session. Knowing that I was going to try and pull in two commitments today, I had made myself a cheese and beetroot sandwich on sourdough bread which I consumed in the car park of the Methodist Centre. Then I attended the last few minutes of a talk that was being given to the approximately 75 members who were attending the U3A Annual General Meeting. The talk was given by a local solicitor and was all about the importance of setting up Lasting Powers of Attorneys and Making Wills – both subjects upon which I happen to be informed enough already, Then I had a coffee with the ‘mid-atlantic’ acquaintance with whom I had a coffee yesterday and took the opportunity give her details of the coach trip which I am shortly to undertake at the start of April in the off chance that she might be tempted, even at short notice, to join up for the same trip. I know she has used this company before when she took her mother on holiday so she will know what expect from this particular holiday. I also took the opportunity to get my name forwarded onto the ‘Curry Club’ which, as its name suggests, is an outing about once a month to explore the curry delicacies of the area. As I have cooked myself a meal of curry once a week for the last sixty years, I thought this was an opportunity not to be missed. So after this I got home and had a quiet time reading the newspaper until my son and I cooked an evening meal together.
Events are startling to unravel as the lack of clarity over the planning, goals and execution of the Iran war are becoming more apparent to the Americans. Donald Trump is under pressure to explain his motives for starting the Iran war, and the resignation of a senior counterterrorism official will not help, US correspondent David Blevins reports from Washington. Joe Kent was not just director of the National Counterterrorism Centre in the United States but is himself a retired combat veteran. For someone of his rank, position and experience to be questioning the motivation for the war will be a major problem for the president. Trump is likely to be questioned on the matter when he holds several events at the White House later this afternoon. One does wonder what sources of advice are now available to Trump as in both the Pentagon and the White House, seasoned and experienced personnel with no particular axe to grind have been replaced by Trump loyalists who are not very competent or experienced. On this side of the Atlantic, there is even speculation whether Trump had heard of the Straits of Hormuz and whether he was actually given advice that any attack on Iran would immediately result in Iran deploying the strategic stranglehold that they have over the Straits. Past presidents have no doubt been given military briefings about all of this which is why, until now, a direct attack on Iran has never been seriously contemplated. There are persistent rumours that Trump may have been given some such advice but decided to ignore it anyway but we might have to wait some time to ascertain of this is the case or not.