By now you know Papa is no fan of pooh bahs. The only light part of the term may be to have a contest to list all of history’s official titles. Scores of names exist. I like to imagine royal underlings scratching heads to come up with new titles to embellish the egos of rising leaders/conquerors. Sweating bullets is a decent visual for the poor soul who must create an ever more magnificent title for the person who can lop off one’s head if displeased. King, Queen, Prince, Duke, Earl, Emperor, Kaiser, Tsar, Shogun, Chief, Duce, Sultan, Vizier, Shah, Supreme Leader, Ayatollah and of course the ultimate top of the hill: Big Cheese.

Events in Iran/Middle East bring to mind the damage done by Pooh Bahs for centuries. The twentieth century gave history a run for the worse 100 years to be sure. National Socialism and Communism reduced the earth’s population by millions. Those isms in various forms are still trying to climb the ladder to gain Pooh Bah status. Current events however focus on another destroyer of life: Theocracy. Pooh Bah Shah was replaced by Pooh Bah Supreme Leader. Guess who was worse?

A bit of history. Iran had its Pooh Bahs to be sure. Yet, a year before your great-grandfather was born in 1908 there was a flickering of democracy. Events were by nature rather off and on what with oil, the British, the Russians, world wars and entanglements/coups. And, the power struggles between the US and Soviets impacted the post second world war years. The Shah and his cronies were corrupt and brutal at times. However, to the extent that a Pooh Bah is able, he at least was trying to install more liberal concepts; like women voting, age 18 for marriages to stop teen brides, expanded education access and a modern economic system. When popular uprisings grew in the 1970’s he left the country. The remaining secular government of sorts did not last long. Many felt that either communists or ex-military factions would vie to become the new Pooh Bahs. Instead a Theocracy gained control. True believers. Young high school age/college age protesters who helped usher out the Shah were soon disillusioned and became subject to execution. Womenalso did not fair well. Booh Bahs intent on death and destruction have ruled Iran for the last 47 years.

Along the way the two rulers in charge for 47 years have caused havoc around the world. Hundreds of Ameican servicemen died in a bombing in 1983. Thousands more have died or been wounded through the years. President after President have named Iran as a sponsor of terror. Condemnation does not easily equate to deterence. Kill Americans without consequences seems to be a recipe that the religious nuts saw as green lights for more of the same. Keep killing and never mind what the appeasers say. Seven Presidents (Two of whom received my vote) served their terms without confronting the evil. Actually eight when Trump’s first term is counted.

Yet, remarkably, the handwringing is starting over this week’s military action to dismantle a main threat to world peace. Shocking that it took 47 years. If ever there was a clear and present danger. So, the big bad Pooh Bah is gone. His leagcy is a million armed thugs to keep Iran’s citizens in check. A mere 32,000 or so were killed in January alone for the crime of protests. Maybe what is left of the million will become run of the mill Pooh Bahs; content with corruption and violence at a local level. Maybe they will swear off getting a nuke, hold back its proxies, stop stirring the pot and take a quiet role of feigned democracy at the UN. I’d dream for more but would gladly settle for an Iran that doesn’t want to kill so many Americans without hesitation.