When Politico broke the news Wednesday that Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, “proposed sitting down with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to extend a fresh olive branch on the president’s behalf,” and that “Trump signed off on the idea,” we were reminded once again that this is a president who isn’t afraid to think outside the box.
For Americans wanting to avoid war this is crucial, because President Trump’s top foreign policy advisers, particularly Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton, have been aching for a U.S. confrontation with Iran long before they joined the administration. It’s also safe to say most in Trump’s official foreign policy orbit reflexively lean toward a more aggressive approach, per the Washington norm.
