The perils of prevarication

Re “U.S. blames Iran for tanker blasts,” June 14

One of the obvious dangers of an administration that lies and misrepresents as a matter of course is that we have no reason to believe the leaders even in a real crisis.

So when Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo quickly blames Iran for explosions on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, I do not believe him.

Are we to believe Iran instigated attacks on a Japanese vessel while the prime minister of Japan was visiting Iran to defuse tensions? The owner of the Japanese tanker has subsequently disputed U.S. accounts of the attacks. What a surprise.

This administration seems hellbent on starting a war with Iran. The president has previously shown a disdain for further wars, but he also is incompetent and malleable.

I do hope that good people at the Pentagon are principled enough to push back before we go down a path we will regret. Marc Chasman Sherman Oaks