Unsatisfied with a global pandemic and an economic collapse, Trump wants to add a major war into the mix. He’s handling the first two so well, I’m sure this will work out too...

If you want to understand the context of Trump's latest warmongering tweet, here's @SinaToossi with what you need to know: https://twitter.com/SinaToossi/status/1245402648565727233?s=20

Some additional context here too. When Trump walked into office, he inherited a globally supported, multilateral deal that even his own advisors said was working, the JCPOA or Iran nuclear deal. He eventually chose to walk away from it and engage in "maximum pressure."

Trump's provocations were known to be reckless at the time, but his backers argued it would force the Iranians back to the negotiating table for a "better deal." When that obvious lie never came to be, they said it would force "change" in the Iranian regime. That was a lie too.

What happened was an entirely predictable AND PREDICTED cycle of escalation. Both sides have dramatically miscalculated at times by the only constant is increasing tension and steps towards war.

Last summer, things came to a head for the first time, with Not-an-Ambassador John Bolton doing his damnedest to start a full blown war. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-national-security-advisor-ambassador-john-bolton-2/?utm_source=twitter

#SpoilerAlert it turned out the US intel was wrong. Intel had pointed towards Iranian military movements that Bolton declared were prep for an imminent attack. Except it was the opposite as Iranians prepared for what they thought would be a US attack. Whoops.

What followed was a series of escalations with drones being shot down, ships being mined, oil refineries being bombed, and ultimately Trump's insanely reckless decision to assassinate Qassem Soleimani earlier this year.

At every turn Trump has chosen to be reckless. While his temporary political calculation based on his own self interest have shifted, & he has backed down from the brink of all out war, eventually his provocations, threats, and "maximum pressure" bring us right back to the brink.

It's impossible to say with certainty right now what is happening on the ground that's leading to this latest talk of war, but one thing is clear, we did not have to be here. The President chose to put us on this path and he continues to own the consequences of his actions.

What's needed now is for all parties to follow the UN Secretary General's call for a #GlobalCeasefire. Given that #Iran and the United States are two of the hardest hit countries by #COVID19 one can only hope that those with the power to wage war will choose peace instead.