Does Virginia’s embarrassing recent voter turnout validate former Virginia Governor and U. S. Ambassador Jim Gilmore’s column suggesting to President Donald J. Trump a new way to help find greater international support regarding Iran?
It just might.
In a recent Washington Times column, Gilmore suggests forming a coalition of world nations with common needs supporting a desired U.S. outcome outside of NATO. This conference convened by President Trump would be composed of nations who remain outraged at Iran’s history of murder and mayhem and economic deterrence caused by Iran keeping a choke hold on the Straits of Hormuz.
No doubt voter apathy fueled by the barrage of constant media attacks on Trump and funding the military industrial complex adds fuel to the political firestorm. What voters fail to acknowledge is how close administration officials are to Iran eliminating their nuclear program despite bravado of the recent demands of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in recent negotiations. Such extreme demands remain a desperate attempt by Iran to keep playing the long game as clerics bank on November’s election outcomes.
Iran’s Long-Term Strategy: Focus on the November Elections
A genuine option indeed to consider by Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the remaining IRGC alleged leadership refuses U.S. demands, this in spite of ongoing defilade fire from the U.S. and Israel as a last-ditch effort to more intervention that will set back Iran for possibly half a century.
NATO and U.S. Iranian history goes back over a century with a once partnership demolished after the 1953 CIA coup of Iran followed by the 1979 hostage crisis and revolution ending diplomatic relations. Unlike the 1980s, President Trump has initiated military actions then-President Ronald Reagan may have only dreamed of if necessary to get Iran to release the 52 American hostages taken at the United States Embassy in Tehran.
Prior to attempting to develop their nuclear capabilities Iran remained more of an aggravating regional pest in the 1980s. Nevertheless, a lack of resolve and the national and international appearance of weakness by Reagan’s predecessor President Jimmy Carter regarding Iran was paramount to insuring his one term only as commander in chief and the release of the hostages minutes after Reagan took office.
Today, left-wing critics continue to question if force on force actually works with media operatives such as CNN’s Zachary Cohen publishing a recent story inferring General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chief’s has suggested “off ramp” actions in Iran.
This should be viewed as spin on a slow news day. Cain along with Secretary Pete Hegseth, all service chiefs, including the White House all remain aware of the devastation level of American military might that would be brought to bear should Iran continue their path as their nation continues economic collapse.
Short-Term Realities? Economic Pressure
Still the reality is no one, President or private citizen, desires to see another black marble memorial in Washington, D.C. with America’s war dead as the result of military escalation in the Middle East.
Virginia’s 67th Governor George Allen while supporting Gilmore’s desire for more diplomacy says, “I’d keep the blockade and starve them off.”
Allen speaking at recent America 250 celebratory rallies, reminds how it was the aid of the French Navy stopping the British Navy at Yorktown that forced the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. World history needs replication as both Allen and Gilmore recognize America historically remains more effective with allies than without in view of IRGC maniacal theocrats who simply cannot have a nuclear weapon they would indeed use against the west and our allies.
So what should Iran’s citizens do? Like America against the British, Iran must rally internally by any means possible as their crumbling infrastructure hopefully forces IRGC troops to turn on each other as internal finances continue to deteriorate. Want to destroy military morale and mission? Stop paying your enlisted or officers.
Failure to Gerrymander Means Virginia Will Weigh In
Such ongoing issues have clearly impacted Virginia voters and the nation during her primaries as Iran and local issues affected turnout. Forcing more political indignation remain the actions of Virginia Governor Spanberger who in six months has managed to alienate the positive business climate developed by her predecessor Governor Glenn Youngkin. The dollar talks.
On the stump Spanberger’s promises of fiscal advance with no need for gerrymandering, saw taxes raised, and increased regulations once she was elected driving away businesses such as Amazon and Boeing along with layoffs and closures in Virginia. Had it not been for the Supreme Court of Virginia, the political ruse of 10-1 Democratic districts — and the option that these seats would support President Trump’s policy of carrot-and-big-stick vis a vis the Islamic Republic — would have become political reality November.
The troubling energy issue under Spanberger forcing an energy tax using environmental policy as the liberal playbook directs, put the bite on taxpayers for hundreds of millions of our money.
The piece de resistance is Spanberger’s attempt to force collective bargaining on localities undermining right-to-work laws. While chomping at the bit to sign such legislation, fortunately fellow Democrats in Richmond acknowledge the electoral consequences in 2027 of all-but-guaranteed property tax increases, with some localities facing with an estimated $200 million in costs to taxpayers.
Wisely, or perhaps cynically, Virginia Democrats delayed the enactment date of such crippling local tax impacts.
Veterans, Independents Critical in Virginia Battleground Elections
Such troubling factoids should energize independents, conservatives, the growing industrious Hispanic community, and military voters who have the most to lose.
Where will these constituencies have their loudest voices? Primarily in Virginia’s First Congressional District, where Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), now the Vice Chair of our Armed Services Committee, is in the prime spot to deliver jobs, veteran’s benefits, and needed military hardware and support working in consort with U.S. Veterans Administration Secretary Doug Collins, including programs such as the recently announced “Freedom Haulers” program.
Wittman is long reputed to have a history of delivering for Virginia’s military and surrounding communities, remains the leading candidate to become committee chairman who will continue to advance the military with a consummate knowledge few have.
That only occurs should he win in November whether it be by one or one million votes. The mission remain victory. As it is for the Navy veteran pilot Jen Kiggans in VA-02.
Another race being spun to watch is in VA-07 as former U.S. Army Lt. Col. Doug Ollivant attempts to raise the funds and support to defeat incumbent congressman former Army Colonel Eugene Vindman. After the spirited primary in the VA-07 pundits are still waiting on demonstrative support from State Sen. Tara Durant (R-Stafford) or Prince William Supervisor Yesli Vega (R-Coles District) for Ollivant — with the clock ticking towards November.
Vindman standing on his public record would be wise to keep Spanberger at a distance. Yet as liberal candidates remain tied to the hip to Spanberger and her dismal record of not standing for law enforcement, right to work laws, more parental involvement in education, legal immigration or genuine support of our veteran community, the question now becomes whether Democratic challengers will hug the Spanberger cactus or attempt to push away from a radioactive governor.
Virginia Veterans Offer One-of-a-Kind Referendum on Iran
As the international situation continues to affect the electorate, Gilmore suggests independent thinking is a needed tool for Middle Eastern advance. Allen remains accurate again on the need for more — not fewer — allies. Concurrently Gilmore’s suggestion of forming a coalition of nations with common needs that support the desired U.S. outcome against Iran indeed may be the answer that aids Republicans at the ballot box in November.
Ultimate realities must be acknowledged examining coercive diplomacy due to NATO’s perception of political overreach at times and tension with non-member nations. The positive for military communities with such action remains the forced responsible expansion of our drone capacity moving at breakneck speed thanks to the leadership of Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao who has urged involved American industry to innovate faster. The effectiveness of such action remains visible in the drone-only operations conducting assaults already being used utilizing only Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) and First-Person View (FPV) drones forcing the rethinking of tactical warfare. Such actions have long been supported legislatively by Wittman, policies saving American lives and encouraged by patriotic think tank organizations such as America First Policy Institute.
Promoting responsible actions and dialogues without a boot-on-the-ground commitment remains the benefits of Gilmore’s recommendation to the President, which is an excellent contrast in the Vindman-Ollivant contest in VA-07 as the Republican remains the only candidate to have genuine combat experience.
DANIEL P. CORTEZ is a presidential and gubernatorial appointee, political writer and broadcaster who lives in Stafford County.
