Forget about Nobel Peace Prize for Trump

President Donald Trump wisely announced recently that there will be no U.S. boots on the ground in Ukraine, but he has put boots on the ground in American cities headed by Black mayors. Ukraine is a war zone; American cities are not. OK? Does anyone else see a problem here? Message for Trump: Stop using the military so much in your own country — "encouraging confrontation" - if you want to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Just sayin'... For the record, the Department of Justice's numbers - often ignored mainly because Trump does not like them — show that the crime rate in America is down overall. In some areas data shows crime is down dramatically, including in Washington, DC. Admittedly we can work to bring these numbers down further. Nevertheless, crime was clearly improving prior to and without Trump's recent use of the military. All of this drama does not look good for our country, nor for Trump, even though his extreme MAGA supporters are for it. No mayor or governor asked for federal assistance. On the contrary, everyone has asked to have troops removed from their city or state. But Trump rules. No president in America's history has used as many members of the military during their term in office against Americans as Trump has. And Trump has set this shameful record in a little over seven months. The Nobel Peace Prize committee would have to also note that Trump did so under the guise of an "emergency." There was nothing he could point to that had caused a panic — no, nothing in the city of Angels, Los Angeles, and nothing in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. There was nothing that the local authorities could not address with more funding and direction - more funding that would equal a fraction of what is being spent to symbolically send a message. All while the Trump administration keeps the infamous Epstein files off the radar — no, I don't think so. The DOJ is defying a congressional subpoena by missing the deadline for the submission of materials and seems to want to use all "deliberate speed" in complying. But I digress... Both Washington, D.C. and L.A. have three things in common: 1. They each have a Black woman mayor (Trump's percent of the Black woman vote would need to be measured in the tiniest increments as he may not have received more than 1% of this vote). 2. Trump would have received his worst vote totals in the entire U.S. in Washington, DC. And Trump would have cleared 50% of the vote nationally had California vote totals, especially L.A.'s, had not been counted. 3. The population of both cities are largely Black and brown - need I say more as to Trump's true motives and timing? Let us not forget, Trump used the military for a dual purpose: to celebrate his birthday and the anniversary of the U.S. Army. In doing so, he spent millions of dollars for a handful of people to witness. Trump seems to love seeing military hardware on the streets of America. Though I support taking out Iran's nuclear capability, usually folks who bomb other countries, and initiate military operations against foes, are not leading candidates for a Nobel. Expansionist leaders who express a desire to take over another country, say Greenland or Canada, are also unlikely candidates for the prize, including someone who calls for Gaza to be leveled. Now let us get back to that Nobel. Jeopardy is one of my favorite television shows. I believe that a question on the show would stump even the host, as well as the all-time champion, Ken Jennings. Here it is: Name the warring countries that Trump has brought peace to? "What is... who the hell cares?" Yes, that is the correct answer. But the Middle East situation with Israel and what it is doing in Gaza, along with forging a peace between Ukraine and Russia, are much more challenging. Both conflicts have major complications - hostages in Gaza while with Ukraine-Russia, the president of Ukraine claims he does not have the power to negotiate any swapping or conceding of territory. Transferring land has to be determined via the Ukrainian people via a referendum. Thus, possibly in both instances, the people in power may not have the ability to deliver a compromise agreement (in the case of Israel, the Hamas leader is unknown). With all that being said, I give Trump high marks for his efforts in both theaters to date. Plus, Trump and ironically Russian leader Vladimir Putin are both correct to state that the invasion of Ukraine would not have happened if Trump were president back then. Former President Joe Biden screwed up. Yes, the comments by Putin are highly disingenuous and used to flatter Trump, but they are true. Had Biden reacted by getting Europe to amass forces at Ukraine's border with Russia, along with U.S. air support, Russia would have never been able to invade Ukraine in the first place. But no. Biden did nothing but watch it all develop. His inaction gave Putin the feeling that he had a wide open "layup" (to borrow a basketball term). So, let us pray that world leaders under Trump's leadership will all come to their senses and compromise - giving a little to save more lives. Peace is better than war. Trump got that right. Now if he could just leave our National Guard and military alone for a while and not persist in being the "sheriff" in cities like L.A. and Washington, DC. The Nobel committee would not be impressed that Trump has used the U.S. military on American citizens who have not been violent or disruptive. Let us remember that with the exception of the 1960s race riots and campus takeover/disturbance at Kent State University, no president has used our military against Americans until Trump. Gary Franks served three terms as U.S. representative for Connecticut's 5th District.