9 March—It’s refreshing—positively exhilarating, in fact—to report that Iran is middle-fingering its nose at Donald Trump. Vladimir Putrid’s middle finger is clearly also in Iran’s nose, mind you, but, in the circumstance, why not?

You’ll recall that last month the war-mongering self-declared President of Peace fomented and is currently escalating his decidedly uncalled-for, demonstrably counterproductive (except for the military-industrial complex, of course), and totally illegal (on all counts) undeclared war against Iran.

Israel is Trump’s ally in the fray, of course, although with defensive justification totally lacking in Trump’s self-serving pacific belligerence. Trump BFF Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu clearly is doing everything he possibly can to keep from being tried and quite possibly convicted for corruption and prolonging two wars is part of his strategy. At least he has his parliament’s cooperation, even though half of it would like to see him locked up. Same goes for Trump’s congress, which would likely declare war for him even though half it—including Republicans—would like to see him locked up. And Trump got himself reelected president for the same reason, after the Supreme Court paved his way.

Back to Iran, then, a couple of days ago Trump demanded unconditional surrender of that nasty nation on his patently unacceptable terms. No kidding. Bully that he is, he blustered that he wasn’t interested in negotiation and asserted that his non-war with Iran would end only if that country ditched whatever functioning military it had and he chose its next leader. If the bully of peace didn’t get his way, of course, among the consequences he promised would be the killing of all potential Iranian leaders and destruction of its military. Funny he didn’t mention the sizable paramilitary.

The President of Peace put it succinctly: “At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say ‘We surrender’.” That’s likely how he deals with women, too. On the other hand, if Iran gave him his way, “Iran will have a great future. MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).”

So, taking Trump’s belligerent blather for what it’s worth, yesterday Iran’s so-called Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the big cheese Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rubbed out by Israeli forces on the first day of the non-war, to replace his late father.

It’s doubtful the Assembly of Experts bothered to ask Trump’s permission when they chose Mojtaba to be the new supreme leader, since Trump had made it clear that the 56-year-old kid was unacceptable. And if Trump says it . . . But it’s not unlikely the guys conferred with Putrid’s people. In all events, if his father was bad for the United States and Israel, Mojtaba Khamenei is worse. In every way. But Trump asked for it.

So how long before Ayatollah (or just Hojjat ol-Eslam, since his theological credentials are in question) Mojtaba Khamenei is rubbed out? And how long before Trump comes up with a coercive plan to get greasy American hands on Iranian oil as well as Venezuelan oil?