AFTER weeks of talking tough against Iran and giving it an ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz to passage or face relentless attacks, United States President Donald Trump has softened his stance. He now says he is postponing attacking Iranian power plants for five more days because of “very good talks” with Tehran. He did not give details, except that he was talking to somebody besides the new supreme leader, and it was them, not the US, who called to initiate.
Markets across the globe felt the shift in energy and recovered after a prolonged beating.
Iranian media however denied that any talks were happening at all between the two countries. At that point, nobody had an inkling that any form of negotiations was happening at all.
While secret negotiations may not be new, it could be difficult to get to the truth in the Age of Trump. This is a person given to hyperbole and sweeping declarations. Self-aggrandizement is the norm, and sensitivity and compassion especially for civilians caught in the crossfire appear to be alien concepts.
In fact, in a previous interview, Trump said he would end the war when he felt it in his bones, making no mention at all of other considerations like casualties, capabilities, and economic consequences. Certainly negotiations did not come up as a factor.
Here at home, the Palace said there was no oil crisis, just a price disruption, amid accusations that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is playing down the situation.
Fuel prices have sharply risen in the past few weeks, affecting the transport sector. As of press time Tuesday, the price of diesel has hit P140/liter, according to the Department of Energy.
A nationwide transport strike is scheduled Thursday and Friday this week as drivers and operators demand an increase in fares.
Despite the Executive’s denial that a “crisis” has set in, however, it has created a crisis committee that would address the impact of the Middle East conflict. Details of the committee will be made available as soon as they are finalized, promised Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.
Both cases illustrate the supremacy of words especially in these perilous times.
One leader makes declarations that likely do not have a basis in fact. That he holds a reputation for exaggeration does not make his words more acceptable, or any less offensive. The other leader is much too careful with his words. While the Palace may just be trying to prevent panic among the people, it could also come across as callous, out of touch with reality, and insensitive to the plight of ordinary citizens already feeling the adverse effects of a war not of their own making.
With the instant availability of information these days, what will be fair for the people is for their leaders to just tell it like it is – what the situation is, what its causes are, what the options are, what the repercussions of each course of action could be. No exaggeration but no downplaying either. There is simply too much at stake for the people who are simply trying to live decently from one day to the next. It would be a grave disservice to the people to paint reality in mere spins.
