Good point, totally agree. This did occur to me after I posted my comment and the editing time ran out. I think he has more than a “touch” of humor, however. He’s got a great sense of humor and can be very funny.

I doubt that Bismarck, especially, had much in the way of a sense humor. But he was a Prussian German, so …

The Flying Monkeys are about to find out some more.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/04/17/trump-response-to-iran-plan-to-execute-four-more-protesters-n2674626
“President Trump Was Asked About Iran’s Plan to Execute More Protesters, and His Response Was Perfect”

REPORTER: Iran is going to execute four more protesters, including the first woman protester. What do you tell Iran?

TRUMP: Tell that to the Pope.

Put together.

This detailed study of the background to the Iranian War supports IrishOtter’s comment.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/04/16/the_hormuz_blockade_is_not_about_iran__its_about_china_1177062.html

I also think President Trump is smart, but he’s got a team that’s brilliant.
Most of his Cabinet picks are doing great things in their own departments, but who is putting together all the behind-the-scenes details and paperwork and planning to pull off something this ambitious?

A complementary post by V. D. Hanson.
https://townhall.com/columnists/victordavishanson/2026/04/16/iran-a-longer-view-n2674575#comment-6864874724

After the Fall of the Berlin Wall, it still took a couple years for the USSR to dissolve, but dissolve it did, even after Gorbachev tried to reform it.

I almost can’t believe it. In a few days over six weeks a couple tiers of Iran’s leadership were killed, its navy and air force annihilated, its military infrastructure likewise and Iran has given up its nuclear ambitions, Whatever threats Iran could make have been neutralized.

Even with the combined military might of the US and Israel, war is a tricky and uncertain business. Nonetheless, Trump has made good on his rosy promises. A dozen or so Americans have, sadly, been killed, but no boots on the ground, no Forever War.

And the threat of Iranian nukes is over for decades, if not longer.

Now Trump can get back to restoring the economy, fighting for the midterms and fighting off the Democrat and Republican fifth columns.

In response to Pope Leo, I pray “O Lord, we give thanks for our victories in this Just War.”

how else can one explain the reaction to an evil regime, that would readily liquidate many of the lead groups that compose the Democratic base,

and yet much of the Possum Senate, even the Court itself, seems blithely un interested in what is going on, Justice Thomas and Alito, are the rare exception, his short precis on progressivism, reminds of the stakes,

as to the ‘nuclear dust’ are we speaking of fully enriched uranium, when did we hit the zero barrier,

there is the question of who is really in charge, Pezekhian seems to have relayed certain concerns about the fragility of the regime,

vahidi and kholmagr (sic) seem to have stopped boasting, has the proverbial tongue, has been had,

In terms of statecraft there is an argument to be made that he is at least the equal of Tallyrand, Richelieu, Metternich, and Bismarck. There’s a touch of Machiavelli in him too.

God forgive me, I have a sneaking admiration for Machiavelli.