WWIII

It looks like once again we (narrowly) avoided World War III. For now.

It probably wouldn't surprise you to know that I'm anti-war.  Any wars.  All wars.  So I'm glad that this young year's tensions between the United States and Iran apparently didn't escalate much further than a drone-enabled political assassination and a bloodless bombardment of two military bases.

(But a Kyiv-bound passenger plane blew up after take off from Tehran airport?  What happened there? What was that about?)

I don't want to see more civilians and soldiers killed in this endless war in Iraq.  I don't want to see the war extend into Iran.  I don't want bombs to fall and I don't want terrorist violence and counter-terrorist repression.  Here or abroad.

(But cybersecurity experts report recent malicious activity from pro-Iranian forces and are warning that Iran has the capacity to do real damage to American computer systems?  What's up with that?).

Trump needlessly and recklessly initiated this latest crisis, and is trying to run a victory lap over the fact that the world didn't end due to his incompetence.  This time. 

Trying to end violence with violence has always had violent results  ("These violent delights have violent ends").