The New York Times reports: “Trump Reimposes a Naval Blockade of Iran.”
MONIKA WIESAK, [email protected], @MonikaWiesak
Wiesak is author of America’s Last President: What the World Lost When It Lost John F. Kennedy and Echoes of a Lost America: Unraveling the Murder of JFK. She writes on Substack.
She said today: “During the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK ordered a ‘quarantine’ of only offensive weapons to Cuba and sought Organization of American States agreement; all other ships were allowed to continue through. When a member of the media was goading JFK into aggressive action, he responded: ‘A blockade is an act of ag[ression], war.’
“JFK’s military were pushing him to escalate, now it seems like Trump’s military is pushing him to de-escalate.
“JFK was told he had ten days before the missiles became operational and the Soviets continued to work on them even after the U.S. had revealed they were aware of the missile build-up. There is no immediate threat of Iran pointing nukes at the U.S.
“JFK was very cautious about communication, making sure not to do or say anything that would humiliate Khrushchev or place him in a corner. Trump rants online regularly about humiliating Iran.
“JFK stated that if he ever had to order the use of a single nuclear weapon he will have failed at the job of the presidency. Trump does not seem to have this concern.
“After the crisis, JFK took no credit for resolving it and told his staff not to gloat, instead he thanked Soviet leader Khrushchev for his ‘important contribution to peace.’ Trump brags constantly about all of his supposed contributions to peace.”