The joint endeavor by the G7 to meet with Iranian leadership was genius.

The invitation and meetings between French President Macron and Iranian leadership can't be understated. There are the obvious reassurances between Iran and France as well as other members of the Iran Agreement. Bringing the Iranian leadership to France for this G7 was a matter of convenience to those countries in the agreement. It also made a huge statement to the commitment of the members to maintain the agreement from all parties.

I am certain the depth of the meeting evaded Trump, but, the Middle East is becoming a problem.

Israel is targeting Iran as the instigator to Israel's problems. Israel is carrying out aggressions in the region without even talking to the sovereign countries.

For decades Israel and Palestine have had horrible relations. The idea of a "Two-State Solution" has never been further from any reality. Trump and Kushner are fueling the fires with Isreal. It is easy to say it is about the politics of Netanyahu, but, it is far more than that.

Like any faith, there are different levels of devotion and within those devotions, there are the extremists. It is easy to be a religious extremist. For some reason, for quite some time there are extremists within the Jewish faith that believe far more land belongs to them regardless of what any other authority states. They believe, no different than other extremists, they have God in their devotions and all measures must take place to satisfy their interpretation of their faith.

It is very concerning that Israel is taking these extremist views seriously. I do not believe Israel is acting within the parameters of normal international relations, even if Israel believes it is right and correct in their willingness to take aggressive stances.

The fact Iran was at the G7 summit must have given Mr. Bolton pause. Or not. I don't know how aloof he actually is when it comes to his ideology. But, it should have given Mr. Bolton pause. Iran in attending the G7 is opening up much needed dialogue regarding what appears to be increasing instability in the Middle East with Israel taking a far more aggressive stance.

In addition, Iran in making this effort with President Macron puts the country in a different class than that of Hezbollah. One might remember Trump named the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, etc. Iran is acting like a sovereign authority and not a terrorist organization. Oddly, Hezbollah is now autonomous because of the manifestation of Daesh and the ability to maintain sovereign borders of the countries they call home. But, the important aspect of Iran's attendance of the G7 is it's very sovereign state and honoring the intact Iran Agreement. The remaining members really want the Iran Agreement to work and quite possibly a new agreement including all the G7 members.

I think President Macron did exactly the right and best thing in asking Iran to be present within the G7 meeting. Iran must reclaim all the parameters of the Iran Agreement and show good faith in acting to maintain it's affiliations with the remaining members.

August 27, 2019

Members of Lebanon's Shi'ite movement Hezbollah parade with a mock missile launcher in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatiyeh, on October 27

Hezbollah (click here) is preparing a "calculated strike" against its enemy Israel after drones crashed in Beirut but it seeks to avoid a new war, two sources allied to the heavily armed Shi'ite Muslim movement told Reuters on Tuesday....