I have been eagerly awaiting your perspective on the current occupant of the oval office’s recent travels. Therefore, I was delighted to find this Substack article in my inbox considering your extensive experience in the Middle East. Your article provides a compelling commentary on the President's first international trip during his second term in office. It outlines how previous administrations, starting with Obama, failed to hold oil-producing Middle Eastern nations accountable for their support of terrorist organizations, largely due to the United States' reliance on their oil production.
While past administrations certainly have their share of missteps in this regard, the piece finds the current tour under President Trump to be particularly concerning. Your analysis that this trip has further entrenched American vulnerability and dependence on these nations, compromising national security and moral standing resonates with me, and I would argue any thinking person, by providing valuable insights into ongoing discussions about America's strategic positioning in the Middle East.
I, too, hope that all is going well with the "wee little one" and everyone in the family. Thank you for sharing your invaluable analysis.
Once I realized that Trump was a serial liar, I disregarded him as a serious candidate. I’ve learned the hard way that a liar can’t be trusted to do what he says he will. Trump was a deeply flawed candidate in 2024 and Kamala is a very capable person, but sadly the Dems had zero capability to communicate a coherent message relating to immigration and a host of other issues important to the middle class. And now we are living with the result.
We are living with the result because many White Americans refused to believe that they could vote for a Black woman. What did you do, to refute that notion, nothing I suspect, except to blame the Dems for their messaging. We are stuck with a clown; a grifter and someone that we all knew what's all those things. We instead voted for him because America could not see adding a POTUS who was a woman and a Black woman especially
What I like about Lucas is that he doesn’t fall back on simplistic explanations. He points out that kowtowing to SA has occurred across administrations and parties. I’m not sure there is much evidence that Kamala Harris would have tacked differently. I believe the real problem is both parties’ dependence on large donors who benefit from these close relations.
Just saying that someone like Lucas, whether in agreement or as a protest, reaches much farther with a democratic party than a republican cult. Also, even as Biden was leaving, our own energy sector was booming both green and fossil fuel, which is not what the Saudis wanted to see.
I can’t agree with you Ron. I don’t think being a black woman had much to do with Kamala’s defeat. She made several mistakes that are common to Democrats – basically, not having answers for questions they do not want to discuss. These include - no answer for 1)what she would do with the border, 2)what she would do different than the Biden Administration, and 3) why she wouldn’t go on conservative podcasts and news programs who were open to her. I believe she was afraid of talking to voters who weren’t Democrats. Of course, some will never vote for a women of color for national elections, but I believe these folks are in the minority (pun intended). I know right-of-center folks and every one of them hate that the Dems refuse to close the border and that is the first thing I hear before other issues, such as prices and inflati0n, the things Dems blame their defeat on. I know most of the people coming across the southern border are deserving of help, but everything I read and witness tells me that most Americans believe there are just too many migrants in certain areas of the country, and that includes Americans of Hispanic origin. The symptoms of that issue are not racial, per se, but instead filling up hospital ER waiting rooms due to lack of health insurance, and K through 8th grade education issues, perhaps because teachers must work at bringing up students with language challenges, again, in certain areas of the country. Southern California is a prime example of these issues and now the state admits it can’t balance their budget partly because their generous welfare policies have become an issue since about 30% of welfare recipients now live in California. It’s clear to many that the Dems are not willing to confront these issues and do not even want to talk about them. IMO, that’s why Kamala lost.
Trump and the Republicans are, obviously, out for themselves. We need to focus on stopping them. I agree with all you have said and I learned a lot. But I wish you would have ended with a suggestion to join a June 14 protest or some other action to stop this.
It will take you and me and every reader to stop this. Read and learn, but take action. If we don't personally take action, Trump and the Republicans won't stop.
Thank you. Thank you for your service and again for your new service to this fine country and speaking to stand up for the America you and I believe in. United, We, the People can move even the mountain of this administration into the ether. Where it belongs. It is always good to read about Goodness and how collective it can be if it just would. Kudos to you.
A question I’ve had for some years, and I’m pretty sure my memory is accurate.
When Benedict Donald fled from Syria, abandoning our Kurdish allies essentially overnight, in response to Erdogan’s demand that we clear the field for Turkish ethnic cleansing, he pimped a number of our troops to Saudi Arabia , saying that the Saudis would reimburse us for them.
If this is so, do we know if any of the money made it to the Treasury?
PS. Congratulations again for your new arrival. Trusting that your new baby and all are well.
Trump and the GOP don't care about breaking promises or whatever as that is their stock in trade. So they will continue to love and fund whoever trump says to love and fund no matter what. We can point out till we are blue in the face the economic fallacies of trump's policies but the GOP will still support them as long as they allow the rich to get richer. The GOP did not not approve the current budget because it hurt the working class but because it did not hurt them enough. Please keep talking about these issues everywhere anyone will hear you. I doubt any elected Republican will change their commitment to support trump no matter what but maybe it will prick the conscience of one or two and maybe it will convince voters who are not maga cultists to vote these persons out of power.
Again you brought out our entanglement with the Saudis so clearly. Now for a real leader is to 1) call them out, 2) let them stew on their own angry hot air responses, 3) let them realize they need a peaceful relationship with us, 4) ratcheting back our agreements with them slowly, 5) force new agreements that make life cheaper for Americans, 6) make them show that allies don’t endanger our own troops, 7) push like hell on green energy at home.
Brilliant article Lucas. Should be required reading for every American. Yet another argument in favor of us getting out of gas powered vehicles and using green energy in every way possible.
Mr. Kunce, I have become active in VoteVets and have had Zoom calls recently with both of the Vindman twins. I mentioned you and how they ought to reach out to you (or you to them), being -- as you are -- a candidate with a difference and a different approach (one with which I can relate).
Really appreciate your writing and your thoughts. They’re always so clear and with such fire in them. Thank you for doing what you do.
Nice Lucas! Put it out there. How many lives and how much money will we save by ending dependence on oil?
It’s time that the US stopped being part of the Saudi Posse.
Dear Lucas,
I have been eagerly awaiting your perspective on the current occupant of the oval office’s recent travels. Therefore, I was delighted to find this Substack article in my inbox considering your extensive experience in the Middle East. Your article provides a compelling commentary on the President's first international trip during his second term in office. It outlines how previous administrations, starting with Obama, failed to hold oil-producing Middle Eastern nations accountable for their support of terrorist organizations, largely due to the United States' reliance on their oil production.
While past administrations certainly have their share of missteps in this regard, the piece finds the current tour under President Trump to be particularly concerning. Your analysis that this trip has further entrenched American vulnerability and dependence on these nations, compromising national security and moral standing resonates with me, and I would argue any thinking person, by providing valuable insights into ongoing discussions about America's strategic positioning in the Middle East.
I, too, hope that all is going well with the "wee little one" and everyone in the family. Thank you for sharing your invaluable analysis.
Once I realized that Trump was a serial liar, I disregarded him as a serious candidate. I’ve learned the hard way that a liar can’t be trusted to do what he says he will. Trump was a deeply flawed candidate in 2024 and Kamala is a very capable person, but sadly the Dems had zero capability to communicate a coherent message relating to immigration and a host of other issues important to the middle class. And now we are living with the result.
We are living with the result because many White Americans refused to believe that they could vote for a Black woman. What did you do, to refute that notion, nothing I suspect, except to blame the Dems for their messaging. We are stuck with a clown; a grifter and someone that we all knew what's all those things. We instead voted for him because America could not see adding a POTUS who was a woman and a Black woman especially
Being a clown is the least of his faults. Try being more accurate and use the word "traitor".
I agree and have a stronger word for what he is and who he is and clown, was so easy, for all to understand.
What I like about Lucas is that he doesn’t fall back on simplistic explanations. He points out that kowtowing to SA has occurred across administrations and parties. I’m not sure there is much evidence that Kamala Harris would have tacked differently. I believe the real problem is both parties’ dependence on large donors who benefit from these close relations.
Just saying that someone like Lucas, whether in agreement or as a protest, reaches much farther with a democratic party than a republican cult. Also, even as Biden was leaving, our own energy sector was booming both green and fossil fuel, which is not what the Saudis wanted to see.
I can’t agree with you Ron. I don’t think being a black woman had much to do with Kamala’s defeat. She made several mistakes that are common to Democrats – basically, not having answers for questions they do not want to discuss. These include - no answer for 1)what she would do with the border, 2)what she would do different than the Biden Administration, and 3) why she wouldn’t go on conservative podcasts and news programs who were open to her. I believe she was afraid of talking to voters who weren’t Democrats. Of course, some will never vote for a women of color for national elections, but I believe these folks are in the minority (pun intended). I know right-of-center folks and every one of them hate that the Dems refuse to close the border and that is the first thing I hear before other issues, such as prices and inflati0n, the things Dems blame their defeat on. I know most of the people coming across the southern border are deserving of help, but everything I read and witness tells me that most Americans believe there are just too many migrants in certain areas of the country, and that includes Americans of Hispanic origin. The symptoms of that issue are not racial, per se, but instead filling up hospital ER waiting rooms due to lack of health insurance, and K through 8th grade education issues, perhaps because teachers must work at bringing up students with language challenges, again, in certain areas of the country. Southern California is a prime example of these issues and now the state admits it can’t balance their budget partly because their generous welfare policies have become an issue since about 30% of welfare recipients now live in California. It’s clear to many that the Dems are not willing to confront these issues and do not even want to talk about them. IMO, that’s why Kamala lost.
Are we GREAT AGAIN Yet? WeDidntWantThis.com
Trump and the Republicans are, obviously, out for themselves. We need to focus on stopping them. I agree with all you have said and I learned a lot. But I wish you would have ended with a suggestion to join a June 14 protest or some other action to stop this.
It will take you and me and every reader to stop this. Read and learn, but take action. If we don't personally take action, Trump and the Republicans won't stop.
Thank you. Thank you for your service and again for your new service to this fine country and speaking to stand up for the America you and I believe in. United, We, the People can move even the mountain of this administration into the ether. Where it belongs. It is always good to read about Goodness and how collective it can be if it just would. Kudos to you.
A question I’ve had for some years, and I’m pretty sure my memory is accurate.
When Benedict Donald fled from Syria, abandoning our Kurdish allies essentially overnight, in response to Erdogan’s demand that we clear the field for Turkish ethnic cleansing, he pimped a number of our troops to Saudi Arabia , saying that the Saudis would reimburse us for them.
If this is so, do we know if any of the money made it to the Treasury?
PS. Congratulations again for your new arrival. Trusting that your new baby and all are well.
Trump and the GOP don't care about breaking promises or whatever as that is their stock in trade. So they will continue to love and fund whoever trump says to love and fund no matter what. We can point out till we are blue in the face the economic fallacies of trump's policies but the GOP will still support them as long as they allow the rich to get richer. The GOP did not not approve the current budget because it hurt the working class but because it did not hurt them enough. Please keep talking about these issues everywhere anyone will hear you. I doubt any elected Republican will change their commitment to support trump no matter what but maybe it will prick the conscience of one or two and maybe it will convince voters who are not maga cultists to vote these persons out of power.
Again you brought out our entanglement with the Saudis so clearly. Now for a real leader is to 1) call them out, 2) let them stew on their own angry hot air responses, 3) let them realize they need a peaceful relationship with us, 4) ratcheting back our agreements with them slowly, 5) force new agreements that make life cheaper for Americans, 6) make them show that allies don’t endanger our own troops, 7) push like hell on green energy at home.
Brilliant article Lucas. Should be required reading for every American. Yet another argument in favor of us getting out of gas powered vehicles and using green energy in every way possible.
Mr. Kunce, I have become active in VoteVets and have had Zoom calls recently with both of the Vindman twins. I mentioned you and how they ought to reach out to you (or you to them), being -- as you are -- a candidate with a difference and a different approach (one with which I can relate).
Damn fine! Honesty rocks!
Thanks for your candor.
https://substack.com/redirect/0d986854-0a7d-4a97-9818-68f1eea4b1b6?j=eyJ1IjoiOHVyNjkifQ.2UZnt-0sdYs4rIw2bIQbjg_fpcopp52dK3pzcjKq2r4