The Conference Room was filled yesterday morning to see our President- a man arguably acting as the Chief Executive of a lot more territorory- told the Iranians he was prepared to annihilate them to make Iran a world-class state in the great tradition of Persian nations.

He looks a little tired these days, and we understand why, considering the number of balls he currently has in the air. Here are some numbers to go along with them. The Iranian Republican Guard also has a smaller but equally problematic number of spheres flying about. There are less than 200,000 personnel in the force, perhaps as few as 150,000.

The population of Iran is around 93 million, and the IRGC executed at least 20,000 angry civilians earlier this year who were inclined to support a rational solution to an international navigational crisis.

You can do the math, which is what Mr. Trump recommended.

The President largely dominated the short briefing in New York City to reporters before his one-on-one meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he wished his controversial ballroom project where the East Wing once stood could be completed before his next meeting with China’s president tomorrow. The plan apparently had been intended to be complete, but it won’t be for the State Dinner tomorrow.

So, yesterday was a Zelensky and Putin show after annihilation was waved around in Mid-Town.

Today?

“The Charter of the United Nations begins with three simple words: “We the peoples.” Not we the powerful. Not we the victorious. We the peoples – all of us – bound by a single conviction: that we are safer, stronger and more human when we stand together.”
– António Guterres, 26 June 2026

You can see where the quotation originated on this continent 250 years ago. The heat of the week is today, Mid-Week in Mid-Town in this context:
General Debate

22-28 September 2026

General Assembly Hall

At the General Debate — the annual meeting of Heads of State and Government at the beginning of the General Assembly session — world leaders make statements outlining their positions and priorities in the context of complex and interconnected global challenges. His Excellency Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh will preside over the UN General Assembly’s 81st session, under the theme of “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

The President will pay some attention to that today, with the China stuff tomorrow. Peace issues are at the top in both major wars, plus a new look at what the UN has brought to Mid-Town this week.

More on that as it comes!

Copyright 2026 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com