One of the very first things you are taught in law school is to not speak or talk like a cop, in court or on paper. It’s nothing against the police at all, they have to use a certain code, whereas citizens don’t, and shouldn’t.

So what the hell does this even mean?

Upon information and belief, Iran or its proxies are planning a sneak attack on U.S. troops and/or assets in Iraq. If this happens, Iran will pay a very heavy price, indeed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 1, 2020

“Information and belief?”

What he is saying is this: “We have classified intelligence that Iran is about to do an unannounced attack on the United States. If they do …” We don’t know the response because no one knows the response part yet, including Donald Trump.

Why is this on Twitter!!

Why not call the Iranian ambassador or representative to the United Nations? Tell them: “I have intelligence warning me that your country is about to attack us. Pass along a message. Don’t, because no one in this nation is in a good mood.” Why go on Twitter?

It makes me wonder if they have any intelligence about anything, or whether Trump is simply trying to change the subject and increase his ratings at the presser. It tells me just how little I trust this president that I even have to wonder, and yet I do. If the Iranian government put out a statement that read: “We have no idea what he’s talking about. We have our own problems. Please stop.” I might believe their message over ours.

I don’t know.

That’s the whole point. On Twitter, no one knows. You cannot run the world by a communication system that doesn’t even allow full paragraphs. Diplomacy needs all the words it can get its hands on.

I do know this. Donald Trump would love nothing more than to bomb the ever-living shit out of something Islamic right now. If I know that, sitting in some godforsaken – relatively nice place – in the middle of Mississippi, I can assure you that they know it in Tehran. I have a very hard time believing this.

Upon information and belief in what I have seen of this administration so far, I am extremely wary of announcements by tweet. If Iran were to attack, I am very sure that he will respond far more quickly and aggressively than he did to the other enemy that “snuck up on him” in early January.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom