Coach Clay

Two surprises from this Iran war: First, how much more successful the American and Israeli militaries have been than anticipated. Second, how many Americans on this platform appear emotionally committed to an Islamic Republic of Iran victory.

Here is everything Dawn Staley had to say today about Geno Auriemma, his statement, and her perspective: "No distractions at this time... I grew up in the projects of North Philly. 215, 267 area code. Nothing can derail us, or me, from staying with the task at hand."

The Europeans are not dealing with “a man.” They are dealing with the United States of America. The United States needed the most innocuous kind of cooperation from them. They denied the United States that cooperation. The implied argument is that their obligations within our alliance depend on whether they like the guy we chose as our president. “Sure, we’re allies…if we approve of who you elected.” Nope. We are not going to forget, and we’re not going to forgive. I’m indifferent to their excuses or their rationalizations. The United States of America needed their help and not very much help. They turned us down. That changes everything. And they aren’t going to like how it changes everything.

Statement from Head Coach Geno Auriemma

I appreciate a lot of the comments I’ve gotten over the last 24 underscoring that the President has been attacking NATO for years. And my answer to that is, yep, he shouldn’t do that. NATO has a venerable history. Here are my questions for his critics: * Did Trump cause Europe’s fail in the Balkans? * Did Trump cause Europe to prioritize Russian oil? * Did Trump cause Europe to build Nordstream? * Did Trump make Europe (and Canada) stop investing in defense? Yeah. NATO allies stopped behaving like true partners a while ago. And that’s not on Trump.

In Ari’s view, allies are required to blindly follow each other into war, regardless of how unjustified, counterproductive and economically damaging that war turns out to be. Stupendously stupid take but not at all surprising given the source.

When this is over, the western part of NATO will never be the same. Spain, England, France and Italy have sold us out, as they too often have a history of doing. Eastern European nations are the heart of NATO. They spend money on defense, know how to fight and love the US. France particularly deserves fault and blame. From supporting China and Russia at the UN to denying Americans overflight rights, they’re doing what they’ve always done - showing weakness, while cutting deals with terrorists. (The reason the US has a Marine Corps and Navy is unlike France, we refused to pay a ransom to the Barbary Pirates. France is always happy to cut a deal.) Wars have unintended consequences as nations show their true colors. NATO will never be the same, and Western European weakness and acquiescence is the cause.

But we've not done that. On the contrary, we've so far focused on military targets. The Israelis have even hit Basij bases to prevent these thugs from killing more Iranian dissidents. I think prominent columnists such as you (and patriotic think tankers such as me) should be urging President Trump and his advisors to maintain that approach: to degrade as much as possible the regime's military capabilities, and whatever is left of its nuclear facilities. That would be an adequate outcome, more than any of Trump's predecessors has accomplished. But, of course, a better result -- not least for the U.S. -- would be for the clerical dictatorship to collapse and be replaced by decent leaders, friends of Americans, who would spend Iran's oil revenues in the future on improving conditions for the people of Iran rather than on Hamas, Hezbollah, the Shia militias of Iran, and the Houthi rebels of Yemen. (And no more drones for Putin.) I don't think that outcome is beyond reach if we just keep the main thing the main thing. Our allies could help. They certainly shouldn't hinder. I bet a dollar that Mark Rutte is telling them something along these lines.

When this is over, the western part of NATO will never be the same. Spain, England, France and Italy have sold us out, as they too often have a history of doing. Eastern European nations are the heart of NATO. They spend money on defense, know how to fight and love the US. France particularly deserves fault and blame. From supporting China and Russia at the UN to denying Americans overflight rights, they’re doing what they’ve always done - showing weakness, while cutting deals with terrorists. (The reason the US has a Marine Corps and Navy is unlike France, we refused to pay a ransom to the Barbary Pirates. France is always happy to cut a deal.) Wars have unintended consequences as nations show their true colors. NATO will never be the same, and Western European weakness and acquiescence is the cause.