Today, I was listening to another person explaining why individual 1’s decision to ASSASSINATE the “number 2” person in the hierarchy of Iran because “There were plans for the Iranians to attack Americans” (or something of that sort) as being legal and justified. He mentioned this as if to suggest by killing Qassem Suleimani the Iranians would call off the expected threats. Personally, that made no sense to me. My cynical thinking goes like this: Those attacks are now more likely – and, very possibly, more intense. Of course, individual 1 is threatening to destroy up to 52 cultural sites in Iran if there’s any retribution to Suleimani’s ASSASSINATION. Again, here’s how my thinking is evolving: War is on the horizon.

I have to wonder how many Americans are comfortable with individual 1 as our “commander in chief.” I don’t believe I’m the only American who’s been concerned for the day when there might be a crisis with individual 1 in charge. Members of the administration of our so-called president continue to say “the threat was imminent” – leading to this decision to ASSASSINATE Suleimani. That response to whatever the “threat” actually was, makes no sense to me. Based on what I’ve heard and read, Suleimani could have been killed at any time over the previous 20, or so, years. There have been, actually, some reports of Suleimani working with Americans in the fight against ISIS – so, there’s a lot of confusion over all of this – and, coming from individual 1 and Mike Pompeo, there’s likely been a continuation of their mountain of LIES.

I wrote about this the other day, but using the justification Suleimani had “American blood on his hands,” is hard for me to swallow. Just look at this from the point of view of the Iraqi’s and the Iranians. How much of their “blood” is on the hands of American leaders, generals, etc. For heavens sake, did you read about Abu Ghraib? Did you ever listen to both GW Bush and Dick Cheney admit, publicly, to authorizing the TORTURE of (likely thousands of) Iraqi’s – many who had nothing to do with the conflict THE UNITED STATES started in Iraq back in 2003. Again, Suleimani was a general in a war zone and his MURDER was likely “legal” – based on the rationale we get in America assuming our troops are justified being there. (Obviously, Suleimani didn’t think so)

Here’s what seems possible, if not likely, based on individual 1’s decision to authorize this ASSASSINATION – a “tit for tat” escalation which could easily result into a full out war. There’s a lot the Iranians can do which would affect America in a variety of ways. Take for example the oil flowing out of the Middle East. They can put a virtual halt to that flow without this escalation I’m talking about. They have strong “cyber” capabilities and their number one ally is Russia – think about that one. Their “revolutionary guard” has militias stationed all across the region with the capability to reach, from what I’ve read, virtually EVERY base of Americans in the area.

Keep in mind, many of those in the background of individual 1’s administration are veterans of the Bush/Cheney regime. They went into Iraq (based on LIES – of course) and they had no idea what the consequences of their decisions would be. In one book I read, about HALF of Iraq’s population was dislocated during the “Iraq war” (which was NEVER a declared war) and, at least, a couple HUNDRED THOUSAND Iraqi’s DIED along with the 5000+ Americans who died, not to mention ALL the people who were injured – this being the result of acting with no idea what would be the “level 2” consequences. Is this “deja vu all over again?”

I remember asking myself the same question in 2003 – “is this deja vu all over again?” I graduated from High School about the time of the Gulf of Tonkin resolution which was the LIE used by LBJ to escalate the Viet Nam War. Obviously, the Bush/Cheney regime LIED America into the invasion of Iraq, based on the claim there were “weapons of mass destruction” – WMD’s which didn’t exist. Now, when you listen to Mike Pompeo going onto TV programs to justify what individual 1 authorized last week – the ASSASSINATION of Suleimani – his words just come across as hollow. Pompeo had forfeited his own credibility based on his willingness to LIE to the American people before – and, it appears, he’s continuing this disgusting behavior.

It’s true we (humans) ALL have lied to some degree in our lives. Not only do we have a tendency to lie but it’s understandable we all see things differently. But, for most people I know “lying” is more like “spinning” – that is, looking at things with our own biases and perspectives. Personally, I try to tell the truth – even in circumstances where it might not be advantageous. If I say something which I later determine was not “truth” I try to go back and correct what I said. The people we have “running” our country at this point in time LIE with impunity. Expressing an opinion is not LYING, but saying something you know is untrue IS lying.

That being said, there is something called FACTS. And, I’m suggesting the idea of “alternative facts” is the world in which people like the Russians who are working to undermine our republic as I’m writing this – via cyber tactics – and, republicans weaponizing misinformation are practicing their belief the “end justifies the means” in order to retain POWER. To them, LYING is the “cost” of doing business. What they’re really talking about is a justification for strategic LYING. We’re likely never to know actually what the rationale for the ASSASSINATION really was, but if you haven’t thought about the possibility individual 1 is trying to get the headlines off the IMPEACHMENT process – well, I can’t help you. For me, there’s not a shadow of doubt.

In fact, I’ve written on many occasions I believe individual 1 would resort to the traditional republican strategy for mobilizing public support – and that is to start a WAR. And, it usually works for, at least, for a short period of time – which individual 1 may very well think is all he needs. Obviously, his strategy for dealing with the Mueller report and the Ukraine investigation was to “STONEWALL” as a way to “run out the clock” toward the 2020 election preventing “we the people” from hearing the TRUTH – and, thinking “we the people” will vote him back into the “White House” next November. I, certainly, have no idea how this situation with Iran will play out nor how “we the people” will react if we end up with another FIASCO in the Middle East.

I’m just finishing the book written by one of the original members of Cambridge Analytica (CA) which, I’m sure you know, is the company that pilfered DATA from approximately 87 MILLION Americans from Facebook – data “analyzed” and organized into “neighborhoods” based on the tendencies of the people who had their data stolen. They (the “neighborhoods”) were then fed a “diet” of targeted misinformation over their Facebook feed designed to exacerbate their tendencies. For example, if they were determined to be a latent racist, they were fed information suggesting how “whites” were under attack from “the other.” If you are African American you got information suggesting Hillary Clinton hates Blacks – with the idea to cause Blacks to stay home and not vote. There was a variety of “wedge issues” which were attacked and exacerbated. It worked!

Of course, you probably also know Steve Bannon was right in the middle of CA’s use of that data and their organized weaponizing of it – as they were using misinformation to influence the beliefs of MILLIONS of Americans – likely in concert with the Russian cyber warriors. This misinformation campaign is ongoing and, I’m guessing, MILLIONS of Americans are being BRAINWASHED in regard to what is happening in the Middle East right now. All of this “deplorable” purposeful LYING will likely continue at least until the November election. If Americans, somehow, decide this all is “OK” then God help us! (Well, actually, I’m praying for that daily regardless)

Look at this from individual 1’s perspective. Almost the day he leaves office he’s going to be potentially facing numerous legal issues. So, he’s really got a serious motivation to not only get “we the people’s” attention off IMPEACHMENT, but he’s also desperate to find a way to “win” again in 2020 – likely with MILLIONS of votes fewer than whoever his opponent may be via CHEATING. I’ve already read numerous reports individual 1’s “campaign” is targeting Facebook users through MILLIONS of dollars worth of “advertising” – which is another word for misinformation. (Yes, I know “everyone lies” – I just don’t know of anyone who is as proficient – well, there is Vladimir Putin)

And, finally, while I don’t use Facebook, almost everyone I know does. I’ve come to the conclusion Facebook is a very dangerous entity and their CEO Mark Zuckerman is a great example of a human being who becomes driven by GREED. Obviously, he’s created a very effective money making “machine” and, from what I’ve read, the FACT the data of Facebook users is easily “pilfered” (if Facebook isn’t even enabling the pilfering) is due to, again from what I’ve read, Facebook is able to monetize the “sharing” of this data. In other words, they’re making MONEY by allowing YOUR data to be easily stolen! And, the misinformation? Well, they seem to be OK with that as well. After all, according to Forbes, Zuckerman is now the third RICHEST person in the world. What’s the saying? “It’s all about the Benjamin’s!”

Final Thought: Today, I listened to excepts of interviews given by Mike Pompeo regarding the ASSASSINATION of Suleimani. I was a sixth grade teacher for the last 23 years of my working life and I learned to identify LYING pretty much “on the spot.” When you look into Pompeo’s eyes as he’s LYING it’s obvious. Usually, he’s unable to actually put his eyes on whoever it is he’s LYING to. He claims to be a “Christian” but, apparently, he hasn’t read the “Ten Commandments.” It’s been reported over and over Pompeo is an Iran War Hawk.

Tonight, the Iranians launched about a dozen ballistic missiles into a couple Iraqi bases in Northern and Western Iraq and there’s been no report of the result – that is, whether or not there were any casualties. These are Iraqi bases which house Iraqi troops along with American troops and those of some of the other “partners” in the region – although, many of the other countries with troops in Iraq have been calling them home. It appears to me, at this time, the Iranians targeted a very large base where they could avoid killing Americans – quite possibly as a way to satisfy their people that there’s been “retribution” for Suleimani’s Assassination and, at the same time, giving individual 1 a way to get out of this “mess” without it turning into an all out war. Stay tuned!!!

One more thing: Keep in mind the Iranians have developed very precise missile capability so if there really are no casualties, it very well could be because that’s what the Iranians wanted.