Talks are useful when they still the guns; yet Realpolitik demands a mailed fist behind the velvet glove. Use the blockade as a lever on Teheran, but leave a golden bridge for retreat, else your foes make common cause against you. “Politics is the art of the possible.”

“Let us nevah negotiate out of fear—but let us nevah fear to negotiate.” With foes at the table and dangers off-shoah, we keep our allies close and our sea lanes secure, pursuin’ peace through strength and steady resolve.

Well, talking beats shooting, but with Hezbollah in the mix and Tehran lurking, we should trust—but verify. America must keep the sea lanes open and stand by our allies, because peace comes through strength. “Trust, but verify.”