Trump is going to war against Iran! This is long overdue, but the way Trump is going about it is all wrong! We remember Jimmy Carter, the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the surprising bright spots in Jimmy Carter’s presidency. I share my thoughts on the drive along Hwy 395 in the Eastern Sierras to visit friends in Tahoe/Reno while wondering what the point is of these state inspection checkpoints. Finally, I’m rewatching Peaky Blinders preparing for the new movie. It’s amazing how much I missed or forgot.
It’s Wednesday, March 4, 2026. This is what John Riley thinks.
Thoughts on Iran WarTrump’s War against Iran has me thinking. 10 years ago, I would have condemned this war effort categorically, but I’ve changed.
I realize that you need to take on evil and defeat it.
Iran is evil. The religious leadership slaughtered tens of thousands of Iranian protesters. Women are treated like second class citizens. Iran funds organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah which commit terrorist acts against Israel. Iran held American hostages for 14 months. Iran should have been dealt with an exceedingly long time ago, by both Israel and USA.
But the way Trump is going about it is all wrong. There is no moral case made to the American people. The US objective is not clearly defined. What exactly are we trying to achieve? Plus, Congress hasn’t approved war per the Constitution. It’s another of these warmongering adventures pushed by an all-powerful POTUS.
The end does not justify the means.
Yet still, I am happy to see the Ayatollah eliminated. I am happy to see Iranian leadership taken out. I would be thrilled if the Iranian regime collapsed. I don’t even know yet what might replace it, but at least there is an opportunity for real change. The people in Iran seem ready to oust the clerics and install a more secular state.
I’ve got to be careful I don’t fall for my own wishful thinking. What I want isn’t necessarily what I’ll get.
I have this utopian future vision of the Middle East:
- without religious rule
- without sharia law
- without centuries old conflicts
- without terrorism
- with protection of individual rights
- with a productive economy
- with peaceful trade
- with professional diplomacy
- with friendly tourism
- with democracy
It’s nice to think of such things. But let’s be realistic. It’s not going to happen. It certainly didn’t happen in Iraq or Afghanistan. Why should I expect otherwise?
So many mixed feelings about this war.
BTW, just a few observations.
It seemed like it was just yesterday when MAGA was American First. They didn’t want regime change wars, forever wars. Many of the key voices like JD Vance or Tulsi Gabbard have kept quiet or are quickly changing their tune.
It goes to show you that very few people have true guiding principles. Most just want to be a winner. Far too many will flip on their positions quickly. Most are not grounded in any sort of philosophical framework.
Another thought. As a taxpayer what exactly is your Fair Share of war spending? What if you strongly oppose this war? Should you or I be on the hook for the tab? It’s a fair question to those that demand taxpayers pay increasingly higher and higher amounts.
Rethinking Jimmy CarterThis Iran War brings up the history of America’s relationship with Iran and naturally that leads us to 1979. This was when the Iranian Revolution ejected the Shah of Iran and installed a brutal Muslim theocracy. Revolutionaries invaded the US Embassy and held sixty-six hostages for up 444 days.
This was the Jimmy Carter era, and his reputation took a horrible beating. I remember I was 14 years old. America was in the doldrums. The economy sucked. We had inflation. Then the hostage crisis. Jimmy Carter never stood a chance against Reagan in the 1980 election. People just wanted change. People wanted to feel good again.
But upon reflection, I have really come around to support Jimmy Carter. He was the Great Deregulator. Carter deregulated oil prices, airlines, trucking and telecommunications and BEER!, wanted to withdraw from South Korea, sought disarming of nuclear weapons, peace accord with Israel and Egypt… and did extraordinarily little damage compared to other POTUSs.
“America has the greatest economic system in the world. Let’s reduce government interference and give it a chance to work.” -President Jimmy Carter
Looking back now, President Carter should have been more aggressive trying to get the hostages back. I remember a failed secret mission to save the hostages. Carter should have done so much more not just to win back Americans held against their will, but to confront this evil Iranian religious zealotry that robbed Iranians of their rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Eastern Sierras, Good Friends, and CheckpointsIt’s that time of year again where I visit my old college friends on a trip to North Lake Tahoe and Reno. It’s an annual excursion of 8-20 guys each year. We were all UC San Diego fraternity mates back in the 1980s. Many of us are still close. But for some guys, we only see each other on this specific trip. It has turned into a memorial for our friend Brad who passed away a few years ago. Lots of good vibes and brotherly love.
In case you are wondering, the group skis every day, but I just join them for dinner, drinks, and craps for 2 nights.
I really enjoy this trip, but for many different reasons. I really like the drive up the 395. The Eastern Sierra Nevada Range is spectacular, especially in the winter. Fresh virgin snow in meadows on the side of the road. Old throwback Americana towns. The climate goes from metropolitan to high desert to alpine and eventually back to a metropolitan area. So much to see but also so much quality time to myself.
I really value that time. I allow myself to decompress, listen to podcasts and turn off the noise of demands of others. I give myself time to think and wonder and dream.
I do have one observation that I want to discuss. As I am returning and crossing into the State of California near Topaz Lake there is a fruit inspection checkpoint. Why is this not staffed? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t like the checkpoints. I’m happy to drive straight on through. But why isn’t it staffed? Is it seasonal?
Speaking of which, there’s a fruit checkpoint when crossing the CA border on the I-15 near Las Vegas and it is rarely open. Plus, what happened to the immigration checkpoint in Camp Pendleton or Fallbrook/15? Those are rarely staffed at all.
Count me as thankful. Those checkpoints are a waste of time and money. They delay my travels. Frankly, I wonder if they are even consistent with the 4th Amendment that protects people from unreasonable search and seizure.
The trip was great. Looking forward to next year!
Rewatching Peaky BlindersSince the new Peaky Blinders movie is coming out soon, I decided to enjoy myself by rewatching the TV series. I’m just into Season 2 and this show is fantastic.
It’s amazing how much better I understand a series when I watch it again. I am much more aware of plot lines, details and subtleties. I didn’t remember the “Irish Job” killing Eammon Duggan. I didn’t fully understand the depth of PTSD that these men experienced in WW1. Their trauma, coping mechanisms and rage are so intricately linked to their gangster lifestyle. I didn’t fully appreciate how Tommy Shelby’s mind worked. I didn’t see the depth of the dichotomy of Good vs Evil morality and ruthless Winning vs Losing, and how that conflict came up repeatedly.
About 5 years ago while traveling with family, we took a Peaky Blinders tour in Liverpool England. Many of the scenes were filmed there. I remember our tour guide being a real personality. He even dressed like Tommy Shelby. He brought along images from the series that corresponded to our location in Liverpool. It was nice to reconnect those places on the show to the real-life views in Liverpool. It was also fulfilling to remember those good vibes and shared experiences with my wife and son on the tour. I wish my daughter could have joined us.
Looking forward to watching the rest of the series.
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