What Can Peace Through Strength Mean?

The President has been trying to justify his actions and his new $1.5  trillion DOD budget by saying he plans for peace through strength. Of course what that means is implied rather than spelled out. What the President wants Americans to believe that, for him, it means that for him, as the Commander and Chief,  that he is defending our nation from aggression. That our nation must be militarily strong enough so that no nation would dare to attack us. But such an understanding assumes that 'peace through strength' can only have one meaning. My suspicion is that that saying has  more than one meaning. 

To decipher what 'peace through strength' can mean requires that we define what the words 'peace' and 'strength' could mean. And the problem with that is that each of those words can have at least 2 meanings.

For example, how could peace come through strength? We should note that how strength results in peace is that strength acts as a form of intimidation. That if we are strong enough, others would be too afraid to attack us. But such a use of strength is a passive form of intimidation. Passive intimidation means that the mere existence of our state of strength can make others to afraid to attack us. 

Active intimidation is when a group or nation exercises force to show its strength and what could happen if attacked. In other words, a nation or group will exercise that force again unless a given nation or group complies with the stronger one's demands. And so when we look our President's policies, he seems to be employing both forms of intimidation.

As for peace, we can see from America's culture wars, that peace can mean being coerced into complying or to peacefully coexist as equals. Note that with the first form of peace comes hierarchy. That is the peace being sought is when one nation or group is dominating, in varying degrees, over another nation or group. 

The latter is what we see how. some Christians approach their role in society. That these Christians want to have a certain measure of control over a society that consists of non-Christians and Christians. An alternative to fighting culture wars is for us Christians to decide to coexist as equals with unbelievers in society. That is, we will disagree with the cultural values of many unbelievers, but we will defend their equality in society by defending their right to live out those values. That we will not try to coerce unbelievers to at least behave in ways that follow our own cultural values.

If we look at Trump's attempts to rewrite trade deals, we find that Trump used both forms of intimidation to coerce complieance with his demands. Trump used the economic dependence that other nations have with the U.S. as leverage, which would be passive intimidation. He then employed active intimidation by issuing new tariffs to further his advantage over America's trading partners. It isn't that his tactics always worked; it is that that was his approach.

Trump has used his military capture of Maduro from Venezuela and his attacks on Iran as active intimidation over other nations so that they could see what could happen if they either don't comply with his demands or thought about attacking us. His new $1.5 trillion DOD budget is to provide a passive form of intimidation.

What is most dangerous here is the form of peace that Trump is pursuing. Though he is always marketing his actions and those of his opponents in ways to make it appear that  he is seeking the kind of peace that most people want in the world, in reality, as the National Security Strategy of 2025 (click here for the document) reveals, Trump's peace through strength means coercing other nations, especially in the Western Hemispher, into some level of compliance. Such a peace is, more often than not, a peace without justice. And that kind of peace often begets future conflicts.

Peace through coercion is what we see in Trump's attempts to get a deal with Iran to end the war. Trump is not in a hurry to end the war, because, IMO, both the Stock Market and major businesses are benefiting from the war and ceasefire. Those businesses include those that belong to the oil industry and the Military Industrial Complex. That means that he doesn't appear to care about the economic hardships that most American citizens,as well as those around the world, are suffering from. Nor does he appear to care about the war victims. And so what kind of peace can we expect if Trump has his way with Iran?

The kind of peace we pursue says much about what 'peace through strength' actually means.

Views From The Outside For May 12, 2026

 Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. A Ceasefire In Name Only: People Are Still Being Killed By Israeli Forces In Southern Lebanon
2. Syria: MSF Concludes Three Years Of Support To Darat Izza Healthcare Centre
3. Joint Call By The ICRC, WHO & MSF For States To Uphold Resolution 2286
4. MSF Brings Support To Newly Arrived Refugees In Benin
5. Attacks On Healthcare: Medical Staff Deserve More Than Empty Words

• UN News
1. Gaza flotilla: Aid Delivery ‘Not A Crime’, UN Rights Office Tells Israel
2. Hantavirus Outbreak: Another Passenger Contracts Disease
3. Safe Pathways Key To Reducing Risk For Migrants
4. UN Leads Call To Prepare ‘For When Digital Systems Fail’
5. Education Or Food? Funding Shortfalls Force Sudanese Refugees In Egypt To ‘Make Very Difficult Decisions’

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Québec Mise Sur Des Soins Médicaux Pour Sortir De La Rue Des Gens Avec Une Dépendance
2. Que Faut-Il Savoir Sur L’hantavirus?
3. Un Juge Divulgue Une Potentielle Lettre De Suicide Écrite Par Jeffrey Epstein
4. La Cour Suprême Américaine Rétablit Temporairement L’envoi Postal De La Pilule Abortive
5. Reprise Annoncée Des Discussions Entre Israël Et Le Liban À Washington

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. France: Elon Musk Visé Par Une Enquête Pour Complicité De Diffusion D'images Pédopornographiques
2. 69e Jour De La Guerre Au Moyen-Orient: Des Explosions Rapportées Par L'Iran Dans Le Détroit D'Ormuz
3. Donald Trump En Voie De «Make America Weak Again»?
4. Ormuz: États-Unis Et Pays Du Golfe Font Pression À L'ONU Pour Condamner L'Iran

• Toronto Star
1. Health Officials Track Dozens Who Left Hantavirus-Stricken Ship After First Fatality
2. US Military Says It Intercepted Iranian Attacks On 3 Navy Ships In Strait Of Hormuz
3. US Isn’t Looking At Imminent Military Action In Cuba Despite Trump Threats, AP Sources Say
4. These Numbers Show The Global Impact Of Iran’s Grip On The Strait Of Hormuz
5. Democratic Senators Press US Military On Israel’s Evacuation Zones, Warning Of Legal Risks

• CBC
1. Why Disarming Hezbollah Is About Much More Than Guns And Rockets
2. In Meeting With Pope Leo, Rubio Tries To Minimize Trump's Attacks
3. Canadian Sues U.S. Homeland Security, Which Allegedly Sought His Google Data After Critical Social Media Posts
4. U.S. Rights Group Sues New York Times, Claiming Discrimination Against A White Man
5. The Kremlin Has Been Throttling The Internet And Blaming Security Threats. Many Russians Aren't Buying It

From England

•  BBC
1. Worldwide Race To Trace Passengers From Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship
2. Iran Accuses US Of 'Reckless Military Adventure'
3. Declassified Footage Shows 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena'
4. Attenborough's Big Birthday Quiz
5. Starmer Under Pressure, As Labour Suffers Heavy Elections Losses

• Reuters
1. Tehran Could Withstand Blockade For Four Months, CIA Report Shows, As Fighting Flares
2. After Beirut Strike, Netanyahu Says 'No Immunity' For Militants
3. Trump Plans To Fire US FDA Chief Makary, Sources Say
4. Virginia Court Tosses Democratic Map, Dealing Major Blow To Party’s Midterm Hopes
5. Tennessee Republicans Pass New Map Erasing Majority-Black US House District

From France

• France24
1. Eurovision Hopes 70th Anniversary Celebration Outshines Israel Controversy
2. US Fire On Iran Tankers Sparks Reprisals As Deal Hangs In Balance
3. Trump Announces Three-Day Ceasefire Between Ukraine And Russia
4. Russia Loses Ground – But Not The War – In Ukraine
5. Keeping The Lebanese Army Weak: A Hardened US Military Doctrine At Israel's Service

• Les Echos
1. Après Des Semaines De Tensions, Marco Rubio En Mission De Réconciliation Auprès De Giorgia Meloni À Rome
2. Guerre Au Moyen-Orient : Deux Pétroliers Iraniens Frappés Par Un Avion Américain
3. À Sétif, La France Tente Un Nouveau Geste De Réconciliation Avec L'Algérie
4. L'Algérie Et Le Maroc En Alerte Sur La Situation Au Mali 
5. « Nous N'avons Aucune Préférence » : À Ka Maison-Blanche, Lula Cherche K'équilibre Entre Washington Et Pékin

• Le Monde
1. UK Sends Warship To Middle East
2. Magyar Formally Elected Hungarian Prime Minister
3. US Economy Persists Through Trade Uncertainty
4. Musk Lashes Out At French Judges Investigating X
5. Putin Says Russia's Goal In Ukraine Is 'Just'

From Germany

• DW
1. Putin Says He Thinks Ukraine War Is 'Coming To An End'
2. Tariffs Or Not? How EU Is Dealing With US 'Dealmaking'
3. UAE Charts Its Own Course Across The Middle East And Africa
4. An Agreement With Lasting Consequences
5. Israel Pushes Illegal West Bank Settlement To Record Numbers

• DER SPIEGEL
1. How Russia Dupes Kenyans Into Fighting In Ukraine
2. Brasiliens Oberstes Gericht Stoppt Haftverkürzung Für Bolsonaro
3. Waldbrand Tobt In Sperrzone Von Tschernobyl – Drohnen Als Ursache
4. Merz Sieht Stärke Der Nato Nicht Allein Von Truppenzahl Abhängig

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. Russian Authorities Launch Inquiry After Victory Day Poster Featuring Orangutan Sparks Controversy
2. ‘There’s Simply No Other Way’
3. Russia’s Ruling Party Circulates Campaign Guide To Dodging ‘Tough Questions’ From Voters
4. Political Prosecutions In Russia Rose By A Third In Early 2026, Official Data Shows

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. 'Objetivo Ankara' O Cómo Dar Forma A La Nueva OTAN
2. Guerra De Ucrania. Nacidos Del Amor: Mujeres Ucranianas Se Convierten En Madres Tras Perder A Sus Maridos En La Guerra Contra Rusia
3. Irán Responde A La Propuesta De Paz de EEUU Priorizando El Fin De La Guerra Y La Seguridad Marítima
4. Guerra en Ucrania. Rusia Acusa A Ucrania De Violar La Tregua De Trump Al Atacar Crimea Y Otras Cinco Regiones
5. Delcy Rodríguez Aterriza En La Haya Para Defender La Causa Venezolana Por El Esequibo Pese A Las Sanciones De La UE

• El País
1. Starmer Se Aferra A La Promesa De Un Mayor Acercamiento A La UE Para Frenar La Rebelión Laborista Que Pide Su Dimisión
2. Trump Considera “Totalmente Inaceptable” La Respuesta De Irán A Su Propuesta De Paz
3. Claves De La Negociación Entre Estados Unidos E Irán: Una Tregua En Punto Muerto
4. La Propuesta Rusa De Schröder Como Mediador Para Ucrania Recibe Un Doble Portazo De Alemania Y De La UE
5. Orden 1564: El Putinismo Emprende El Gran  Borrado De Los Crímenes Soviéticos Y La Veneración A Stalin Y La Cheka

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. Trumps Umfragewerte Sind Im Keller, Den Republikanern Droht Im Herbst Eine Wahlschlappe: Verlieren Sie Sogar Den Senat?
2. Mamdani Gegen Den Milliardär: Vertreibt New Yorks Zweitwohnungssteuer Die Superreichen Nach Florida?
3. Streit Um Die 10-Millionen-Schweiz: Gemeinden, Städte Und Kantone Warnen Vor Einem Bruch Mit Der EU
4. Im Irak Stehen Tausende Proiranische Kämpfer Unter Waffen – Doch Für Teheran Sterben Wollen Sie Lieber Nicht

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. Netanyahu Prepares Strike On Iran? Trump Heads To Beijing And Discards Tehran's Peace Plan
2. RED SQUARE PARADE By Ukraine’s Permission And A TOTAL SHIFT In Kremlin Rhetoric
3. THE "SILENCE" TRAP: 27 DRONES Instead Of Peace — The REAL Price Of Kremlin Promises
4. PRE-DEFAULT State: PUTIN RECOGNIZES ECONOMIC COLLAPSE For The FIRST TIME!
5. EMPIRE COLLAPSING! David Satter On The Failed Parade And Russia’s VISIBLE CAPITULATION

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The 2nd Amendment And The Middle East

American conservatives are fond of, and even zealous for, proclaiming peopleˋs right to bear arms. But much of their enthusiasm loses its luster when applying that right to those outside of our borders.

Take Israel and the Occupied Territories for example. Many conservative Americans will mindlessly repeat the claim that Israel has a right to defend itself. But how many of those same conservative Americans will also say that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves. And guess which group is most threatened by the other.

If we look at Israelˋs neighbors, very few are allowed to acquire enough arms to have a deterence against aggression from a neighbor. Palestinians have been forbidden from such acquisitions. But so to has Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. One has to wonder when Saudi Arabia and Egypt will have reached their quota for weapons. And yet, Israelˋs regional policies strongly suggest that its immediate neighbors should insist on acquiring as many weapons as possible in case of future military actions practiced by Israel.

Itˋs not true that there are no Palestinians who are allowed to be armed. And certainly, Lebanon has an army. But despite the constant attacks by Israel on Lebanon prior to  the recent war against Iran, Lebanon is not allowed to acquire any force that could deter Israel from its military actions. And so this is where we need to admit to the privilege Americans have to bear arms rather than claiming that it is a right. That is because regardless of whether one is talking about freedom, liberty, or rights, when equality is absent, what we are really. talking about is privilege.

Why don't Israel's neighbors have the same right to bear arms like some Americans believe that they themselves are entitled to? That has to do with America's Security Strategy. In that work, the U.S. government's goal is to prohibit any non American-friendly Middle Eastern nation from gaining a strategic advantage over the area. That boils down to only granting Israel the "right" to acquire as many arms as its heart's desire.

And so the short of it is that America limits the acquisition of weapons to those nations that it deems to be an actual or possible threat to its interests. Therefore, we need to ask if our government can limit the weapons that a foreign nation can have depending whether our government feels threatened by them, why can't our government limit the weapons that its citizens can have when others feel threatened,  or even worse, by those weapons?

Views From The Outside For May 5, 2026

 Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. Water As A weapon: Israel’s Destruction And Deprivation Of Water And Sanitation In Gaza
2. Israel Uses Water As A Weapon Of Collective Punishment Against Palestinians In Gaza
3. Southern Lebanon After 46 Days Under Continuous Attacks By Israeli Forces
4. Building A Support System For Victims And Survivors Of Violence In Jiwaka
5. Iran: Despite Ceasefire, Access To Essential Medical Care Remains Fragile

• UN News
1. UN Rights Chief Warns Of Escalating Crackdown In Iran Amid Conflict
2. Iran Crisis Shows Fossil Fuels-Based Energy System ‘Is Inherently Volatile And Unstable’
3. Over Half Of South Sudan’s Population Faces Acute Hunger Crisis
4. From Hormuz To Lebanon, Crisis Reverberates Through Trade Routes, Upending Humanitarian Networks
5. World News In Brief: Syria Human Rights Update, Cuba Post-Hurricane Support Still Vital, Impunity And Violence In Myanmar

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Le Guide Suprême Iranien Affirme Que Les États-Unis Ont Subi Une «Défaite Honteuse»
2. De Moins En Moins D’entreprises Au Canada
3. Le Canada Accueillera Le Siège De La Future Banque De La Défense
4. Le Canada Voit Les Premiers Signes De Son Émancipation Des États-Unis

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. 62e Jour De La Guerre Au Moyen-Orient: Les États-Unis Ont Subi Une «Défaite Honteuse», Affirme Le Guide Suprême Iranien
2. «Ça A Intérêt À Être Rapide»: Donald Trump Demande À Nouveau Le Renvoi De Jimmy Kimmel Par ABC
3. La «Flottille Pour Gaza» Interceptée Par Israël Loin De Ses Côtes, Au Moins 175 Militants Arrêtés
4. Merz Plaide Pour «Un Partenariat Transatlantique Fiable», Après Sa Dispute Avec Trump
5. L'Ukraine A Demandé Des «Détails» Sur La Proposition Russe D'une Trêve Le 9 Mai

• Toronto Star
1. Louisiana Congressional Primaries Suspended As A Result Of Supreme Court Ruling, State Officials Say
2. The First Direct US-Venezuela Commercial Flight In 7 Years Is Heading To Caracas
3. Key Inflation Gauge Jumps To Highest Level In 3 Years As Iran War Spikes Gas Prices
4. U.S. Economy Grew 2% From January-March, Recovering From Federal Shutdown; Iran War Clouds Outlook
5. UK Calls Antisemitism An Emergency As Police Probe Stabbing Attack On 2 Jewish Men

• CBC
1. U.K. Suspect Accused Of Stabbing 2 Jewish Men Was Previously Flagged By Counterterrorism Program
2. Powell Says He'll Remain On U.S. Federal Reserve Board, Denying Trump A Chance To Name His Own Appointee
3. Montreal Father Faces Deportation As Immigration Advocates Decry More Family Separations
4. Hegseth Accused Of 'Lying To The American Public' About War In Iran During Tense Congressional Hearing
5. New Court Filing Raises Questions About Who Shot Secret Service Officer At White House Press Gala

From England

•  BBC
1. Israel Releases All But Two Activists In Greece After Intercepting Gaza Aid Flotilla
2. Brazil's Congress Approves Plan To Drastically Cut Bolsonaro's Jail Term
3. Hegseth Says Clock Paused On Deadline To Seek Approval For Iran War
4. Supporters And critics React As Trump Visits Retirement 'Utopia'
5. Deadly Israeli Strikes On Southern Lebanon Despite Ceasefire

• Reuters
1. One Of Iran’s Most Powerful Families Founded Its Largest Crypto Exchange. It’s Used By The IRGC To Move Millions
2.  Atlantic Alliance Creaks As US And Europe Fail To See Eye-To-Eye
3. Trump Signs Bill To Fund DHS After Lengthy Shutdown Over ICE Operations
4. While Asia And Europe Scramble For Natural Gas, The US Glut Has Nowhere To Go
5. Mali Attacks Spotlight The Growing Reach Of Militants Across West Africa

From France

• France24
1. 'Tsunami Effect': Hormuz Blockade Impacts Global Supply Chains, Developing Countries Curtail Imports
2. ‘Public Health Time Bomb’: How France Allowed Cadmium To Poison Its Crops And Soil
3. Iran’s Supreme Leader Tells US Its Only Place In Persian Gulf Is At ‘Bottom Of Its Waters’
4. Workers Across The World March For Peace And Better Pay In May Day Rallies

• Les Echos
1. L'économie Russe Recule, Pour La Première Fois Depuis Trois Ans
2. Trump Prend Le Risque De Lancer Une Guerre Commerciale Avec L'Europe
3. L'Iran A Présenté Une Nouvelle Offre, Trump Se Dit « Pas Satisfait »
4. « C'est La Loi Du Plus Fort » : Le Nouveau Cadeau Diplomatique De La Chine Laisse De Marbre Les Africains De Canton
5. « L'Europe A Besoin D'Entreprises Capables De Rivaliser À L'échelle Mondiale » : Bruxelles Adopte Des Règles Plus Propices À La Création De Champions Européens

• Le Monde
1. Trump Faces A Painful Political Reality, From Iran Stalemate To Legal Setbacks
2. 'The Wars In Ukraine And Iran Have Made The Revival Of Nuclear Power An Undeniable Necessity'
3. Iran Says US Military Operation 'Impossible' As Trump Mulls Peace Proposal
4. Israel Court Extends Detention Of Two Gaza Flotilla Activists
5. Russia Stands By Mali's Military Junta At All Costs

From Germany

• DW
1. Iran war: Trump Reviewing New Tehran Proposal With Doubt
2. Germany News: Majority Thinks Coalition Doomed — Survey
3. Why Press Freedom Matters To Everyone, Not Just Journalists
4. How The US Is Merging Artificial Intelligence And Warfare
5. US Supreme Court Weakens Voting Rights Act Protections

• DER SPIEGEL
1. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: "I Am Dissatisfied With The Prevailing Atmosphere In Germany"
2. Ex-German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer: "I Have My Doubts about NATO's Survival"
3. ISIS And The Bureaucracy Of Evil
4. As Russian Losses Mount, Signing Bonuses For Recruits Are Skyrocketing
5. The Lights Are Going Out In Cuba

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. Another New Poll Shows Russians’ Support For Putin At Its Lowest Since February 2022
2. Yekaterinburg Opposition Party Leader’s Home Raided In Pre-Election Crackdown
3. The Rise Of ‘Drone Studies’
4. Major Web Security Provider Flags Russian ‘Super App’ MAX As Spyware
5. Minsk Says Russians Can No Longer Avoid Draft By Fleeing Via Belarus

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. El Secretario General De La OTAN: Rutte Asegura Que Los Países Europeos Van A Cumplir Sus Acuerdos De Uso De Bases Con EEUU Mientras España Sigue Sin Ceder Las Suyas
2. Irán Insiste En Que Los Buques Del Estrecho De Ormuz Deben Coordinarse Con Ellos "Por Su Seguridad"
3. Zelenski Amenaza A Putin Con Un Ataque De Drones Durante El Desfile Del 9 De Mayo En Moscú: "No Son Tan Fuertes Como Antes"
4. El Accidente Aéreo En China De 2022, Que Dejó 132 Muertos, Pudo Ser Intencionado: El Piloto Apagó Los Motores En Vuelo Y Tiró De La Palanca De Empuje Para Caer
5. Irán Asegura Haber Atacado Un Destructor De EEUU Con Dos Misiles Cuando Trataba De Cruzar El Estrecho De Ormuz y Washington Lo Niega

• El País
1. Estados Unidos Movilizará A Destructores, Aviones Y 15.000 Soldados Para Guiar A Barcos Atrapados En Ormuz
2. Ormuz, La Isla Que Da Nombre Al Estrecho, Ante El Bloqueo: “Todo Ha Colapsado”
3. Periodistas Bajo El Fuego Israelí En Líbano, Cuando Cada Cobertura Puede Ser La Última
4. Francia Busca Candidato Para Batir A La Ultraderecha En Las Presidenciales
5. Alemania Se Embarca En Un Rearme Con Dudas Por Los Fantasmas Del Pasado

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. Die Alpen Sind Die Strasse Von Hormuz Europas – Ihr Schutz Ist Eine Gemeinschaftsaufgabe
2. Mengele Und Kein Ende: Die Akten Über Den NS-Kriegsverbrecher Können Nun Doch Eingesehen Werden
3. Das Müssen Sie Heute Lernen, Um Morgen Nicht Von Der KI Ersetzt Zu Werden
4. Gerrymandering In Den USA: Ein Supreme-Court-Urteil heizt Den Streit Noch Zusätzlich An

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. COMING SOON! DRONES OVER RED SQUARE! Zelenskyy Announces SOMETHING HUGE
2. A Total DISASTER For The Kremlin! Ukraine Is Striking Harder Than Ever — Russia’s South Is Burning!
3. DEFEAT! Ukraine Responds To Russian Terror: “Pantsir” Down, “Storm” & “Rubicon” Positions Lost!
4. RUSSIA IS ABANDONING ITS ALLIES: The Kremlin Cannot Help Itself, Nor Others

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What Does The Iran War Tell l Us About Which Religion Is The Religion Of Peace

 Many of my fellow Christian friends often tell me that Christianity is the religion of peace while Islam is not. Of course, such claims are made with a selective use of both history and the present. And so I thought that we could compare the religions of the countries involved in the Iran War to see which religion is the religion of peace. 

We have 3 horse race here to determine the winner. We have Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Christianity will be represented by the U.S. Judaism will be represented by Israel. Islam will be represented by Iran, Pakistan, and the Gulf Coast Countries. Answers to the following questions will determine the winner(s). We should note that the answers are obvious.

What is the religion of the country that is currently engaged in ethnic cleansing of indigenous people from the land that it is trying to annex? 

What is the religion of the country that practices/sponsors a significant amount of terrorism? 

What is the religion of the country that has provided the most help in getting the current ceasefire talks started? 

What is the religion of the country or countries that have not retaliated after being attacked multiple times? 

What is the religion of the country that threatened the Pope?

What is the religion of the country/countries that has/have caused thousands of deaths and millions of displaced people in the recent war?

What is the religion of the nation that has broken multiple ceasefires?

What is the religion of the nation that has threatened a whole civilization?

What is the religion of the country/countries that has/have exercised the harshest suppression of its citizens?

In this 3 horse race, we have neither winners nor religions that even show. What we have is a religion that places. That religion is Islam. And so while many Americans brag about the Judeo-Christian values of America's founding, the current Iran War implies that such boasting is empty and, instead, should be a lament. And I am writing this as a religiously conservative Christian. I should add that though in this case, the nation that represents Christianity is hurting the reputation of Christianity, there are too many times where I have done the same with some of the decisions I have made.

Still,  how the U.S. and Israel are representing their respective religions is going a long way to discredit those religions on a national level. In terms of Christianity, Christendom did much to discredit Christianity in the eyes of many which contributed much to the birth of Critical Theory and Post Modernism. Who knows what reactions that the current representatives of Judaism and Christianity, represented by Israel and the U.S. respectively in this article, will produce in the future or perhaps the near future in different parts of the world including the in Israel and the U.S.?

What we should note about America's past actions is that they were done covertly as to give the impression that the American government cared about exhibiting the appearance of being concerned for international law. And so what was done in the shadows is now not only being done in the open, it is done with much arrogance.

Views From The Outside For April 28, 2026

Views From The Outside

The purpose of this page is to list news stories and reports from mostly Western sources outside of the U.S. You can use Google Translate to translate articles that are printed in another language. 

So far, news sources include:

International

• Médecins Sans Frontieres
1. A Safe Space For LGBTQI+ Patients In San Pedro Sula
2. When Chronic Illness Turns Critical In Ukraine
3. Gaza, Inside The War
4. Lebanon: Humanitarian Scale-Up Urgently Needed After Almost Two Months Of Devastation
5. MSF Resumes Core Activities At Nasser Hospital

• UN News
1. Time To Apply The Brakes To Runaway AI, Says Pioneer
2. Insecurity In The Darfurs, 100 Million Live With Landmine Threats, Singapore Execution Moratorium
3. Regional War Threatens Syria’s Fragile Transition
4. Libya: UN Mission Chief Laments Lack Of Progress Towards National Renewal
5. Long Hours, Stress And Harassment Are Causing Hundreds Of Thousands Of Early Deaths, Says UN Labour Agency

From Canada

• Le Devoir
1. Le Livre Canadien Veut Reconquérir Son Indépendance
2. Refuser Des Soins Pour Des Motifs Religieux, Un Droit Légal, Mais Un Échec Moral
3. Une Forêt Indonésienne Rasée Pour Un Fabricant D’emballages «Neutres En Carbone»
4. Les Dirigeants Libanais Dénoncent Un « Crime De Guerre » Après La Mort D’une Journaliste
5. Les Américains Ne Dicteront Pas Les Négociations Commerciales, Assure Carney

• Le Journal de Montréal
1. Donald Trump Veut Faire Des États-Unis Une Tyrannie
2. Russie : Pluie Noire Sur Une Ville Après Une Frappe De Kyïv Contre Une Raffinerie
3. Référendum Sur Le Redécoupage Électoral En Virginie: Un Magistrat Invalide Le Résultat
4. Trump Et L'insulte Du «Faible QI»: Au Tour D'une Juge De La Coûr Suprême D'y Goûter

• Toronto Star
1. Trump Orders US Military To ‘Shoot And Kill’ Iranian Small Boats Choking Strait Of Hormuz
2. Trump Reclassifies State-Licensed Medical Marijuana As A Less-Dangerous Drug In A Historic Shift
3. US Stocks Edge Back From Their Records As Oil Prices Swing Higher
4. Ex-Philippine President Duterte To Face Trial On Crimes Against Humanity Charges
5. Navy Secretary John Phelan Is Leaving In The Latest Departure Of A Top Defense Leader

• CBC
1. Inside The 'Quadruple Tap' Strike On Lebanon Paramedics
2. Trump Announces Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire, But Major Disputes Remain
3. How Japan Is Rebuilding Its War Machine
4. Who's Really In Charge In Iran?
5. White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting Suspect A Part-Time Teacher, Game Developer

From England

•  BBC
1. US Envoys Steve Witkoff And Jared Kushner To Fly To Pakistan For Iran Talks, White House Says
2. Who Is Making Decisions In Iran?
3. US Justice Department Drops Probe Into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell
4. Nato Says 'No Provision' To Expel Members After Report US Could Seek To Suspend Spain
5. Kremlin's Tightening Grip On Internet Fuels Russian Discontent

• Reuters
1. Iran To Make Offer Aimed At Satisfying US Demands, Trump Says
2. Hezbollah Says Ceasefire 'Meaningless' As Fighting Continues In South
3. Pentagon Chief Hegseth Says US Blockade On Iran 'Going Global'
4. US Adding Firing Squads, Electrocution And Gassing To Federal Execution Methods
5. After Waiting Years For Justice, Many Purdue Opioid Victims Are Defeated — By Paperwork

From France

• France24
1. Trump, Iran Both Share False Information About Eight Women Facing Execution
2. French Foreign Minister Barrot Voices Concern About 'Terrorist Threat' In The Sahel
3. Shadow Of Failed 1983 Agreement Haunts New Israeli-Lebanon Talks
4. Mapping The Environmental Toll Of The Middle East War
5. Washington Uses Iraq's Own Oil Money To Bend Baghdad To Its Will

• Les Echos
1. En Allemagne, La Classe Politique Sous Le Feu D'une Vaste Campagne De Cyberattaques
2. A Nicosie, Les Vingt-Sept Entrent Dans La Difficile Négociation Du Prochain Budget Européen
3. La « Repolonisation » De L'économie, Le Nouveau Défi De Varsovie
4. La France Pousse Pour Que La Grèce Cède Ses Mirage À L'Ukraine En Échange De Rafale
5. Trump Le « Miraculé » Pourrait Bénéficier Politiquement D'un Troisième Attentat Avorté

• Le Monde
1. Trump Cancels Envoys' Trip To Pakistan For Iran Talks
2. The gospel According To Pete Hegseth, The US 'Secretary Of War'
3. NGOs Call For A Global Response To US Sanctions Against ICC
4. Macron Says EU Joint Defense Clause Is 'Stronger' Than NATO One
5. Washington's resentment Toward 'Paper Tiger' NATO Is Growing

From Germany

• DW
1. Germany News: Ships To Head To Med For Possible Hormuz Role
2. Iran War Impact: Expect 'More Europe And Less US In NATO'
3. Japan: Raging Wildfires Cause Mass Evacuations
4. How North Korea Exploits Christianity

• DER SPIEGEL
1. ISIS And The Bureaucracy Of Evil
2. As Russian Losses Mount, Signing Bonuses For Recruits Are Skyrocketing
3. Germany Goes Big In The Military Space Race
4. The People Of Lebanon Are Paying The Price For War

From Russian Source 

• Novaya Gazeta Europe
1. Russian Government Poll Shows Lowest Support For Putin Since Start Of War In Ukraine
2. ‘Why Do You Always Have To Save Someone?
3. No Safe Harbour
4. Russian Court Declares Prominent LGBTQ Media Outlet ‘Extremist Organisation’
5. ‘Mannequins In The Watchtowers’

From Spain

• El Mundo
1. Diplomacia & Geopolítica. 'Furia Económica': El Nuevo Capítulo De La Guerra De Irán
2. La Evacuación Tras El Intento De Atentado Contra Trump.
3. Directo. Guerra En Irán, Última Hora Hoy, En Directo | El Ministro Iraní De Exteriores Regresa A Pakistán Y Los Mediadores De Este País Intentan Salvar El Diálogo
4. Internacional. Una Ola Terrorista Entra De Lleno En La Campaña Electoral Colombiana
5. Oriente Próximo. El Negociador Iraní Vuelve A Islamabad En Medio De Las Expectativas Por Una Nueva Ronda De Negociaciones

• El País
1. Condena Internacional Al Ataque Perpetrado En La Cena De Trump Con Corresponsales: “La Violencia No Es El Camino”
2. Israel Impone En Líbano El Modelo De Gaza Y Acelera La Limpieza Étnica En Plena Tregua
3. La Unión Europea Endurece El Tono Contra Israel, Pero Sin Tomar Medidas
4. Los Días Contados De Keir Starmer

From Switzerland

• Neue Zürcher Zeitung
1. Soziale Netzwerke Müssen Jugendliche Besser Schützen. Acht Forderungen, Was Plattformen Wie Instagram, Snapchat Und Tiktok Jetzt Tun Sollten
2. «Krasser Eingriff In Die Selbstbestimmung»: Der Bund Will Das Zulässige Alter Für Die Frühpensionierung Von 58 Auf 63 Jahre Erhöhen
3. Hohe Spritpreise Bis Mindestens Ende Jahr: Der Chef Von Kühne + Nagel Sieht Anhaltende Probleme – Und Wird Kreativ
4. «Viel Liebe Im Raum»: Donald Trump Gibt Sich Nach Dem Glimpflich Verlaufenen Anschlag Versöhnlich. Will Er Sich Als Besorgter Landesvater Inszenieren?

From Ukraine

• UATV English
1. AI REVOLUTION AND MORE FLAMINGO: Ukraine Implements INNOVATIONS
2. RAMSTEIN RECORD: $150 BILLION FOR AFU! SSU Sinks Warships And Destroys Jets In Crimea
3. DECORATED RAPISTS: Russian Soldiers Implicated In HORRIFIC CRIMES Under Occupation
4. EXCLUSIVE FROM CHORNOBYL NPP: 40 Years After The FATAL EXPLOSION! A Report From INSIDE THE STATION
5. RUSSIAN STRIKE On ODESA & The SHADOW Of A REACTOR: Zelenskyy’s CRITICAL STATEMENT!

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Is Iran Doing Trump's Dirty Work?

 Back during the initial tariff war days, Trump presented one of his visions for America. Using tariffs, Trump wanted to build an America that was nearly self-sufficient in terms of manufactured goods while seeing the world clamor for its products. That would guarantee the positive trade balances that Trump falsely believes our nation needs. 

Fast forward to now. Because of the Iran War, the U.S. has sold more LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) and oil than what was sold before the war. How? Factor in the Iranian attacks on facilities the Gulf Coast Countries along with the closure of the Straight of Hormuz and we see why some nations are starting to look to the U.S. to make up for the loss of supply in those commodities. These increases in sales are benefiting Trump's friends who own those related businesses. Here, we should note something about Iran's attacks on its neighbors. Iran used those attacks to do unto others what was being done to it in order to get the world to care about what was happening to them. Morally it was wrong, but such an approach is understandable.

The above leads to the following question, is Trump receiving more incentive to keep the conflict with Iran going or to find an exit strategy? In terms of valuable fuels, both Russia, which is led by Trumpˋs geopolitical partner, and the U.S. have both profited more and grown more important in terms of providing the world with those resources.

Here we should remember what was repeated in last weekˋs article and stated in an earlier article. It was said here that Trumpˋs criteria for success are domination and acquisition. And in the Iran War, Trump has boasted about Americaˋs military domination over Iran. In addition, Trump believes that he has currently put Iran in an economic stranglehold with his naval blockade in order to force Iran to accept his terms for peace. 

And so is Trump looking for an offramp to the war? I donˋt think that is the case. It seems to me that, as long as the Stock Market behaves, Trump is comfortable with or without an agreement with Iran at this time. At the same time, Trump has expressed little to no concern for the human costs of the war--that is especially true when he so flippantly threatens to wipe the Iranian civilization off the map. Has he shown any concern for  how the Iran war has caused great hardship to those in some Asian nations? If he has, I havenˋt seen it. And what about his concern for how this war caused inflation on the American public? Again, I havenˋt seen it. Trumpˋs rhetoric suggests, if not implies, that he doesnˋt care about what non oligarch Americans are suffering from this war. Instead, what Trump has continually bought up is Americaˋs military might, which is under his control, and how America is profiting from the war. And so it seems that those factors seem to have eased any discomfort Trump might experienced which would have caused him to look for an early exit from the war.

When we look at Trump's actions through the lens of his criteria for success, again which are domination and acquisition, Trump seems to be comfortable with saying "I'll stay." And the most disturbing part of this story is that Trump's criteria for success will remain the same in all of his future foreign and domestic policies. Here we should note what Trump recently said about social safety nets. He said that our nation cannot afford to pay for safety net programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and child assistance programs while paying for the kind of military that he wants. And so if Congress approves of his new defense/warmongering budget, Trump will become more powerful than any President ever has. And, in the true way of authoritarians, expect more wars in the future.