You have to hand it to him, Donald Trump is a master at keeping matters in a state of flux. The short but sweet “agreement” amounted to an understanding to negotiate between the United States and Iran. Nothing was fully decided except perhaps the opening of the Straits of Hormuz. As with everything regarding Trump, it has to have an asterisk attached.

Trump continues to fake and fire. Despite the understanding that this was an agreement that failed to address the original goals, which were regime change in Tehran, a definitive statement on nuclear arms and ballistic missiles being dismantled. However, Trump should be given credit for preferring peace over war. Certainly, a foolish consistency is nothing to admire, and if Trump changed his mind on pressing the conflict, he should be praised.

But at the same time, Trump seems sophomoric in declaring “victory.” Attaining a lasting peace should be reward enough. In this, he has a problem in that the Republican party, with its super hawks such as Lindsey Graham, Tom Cotton, Roger Wicker, and most Southern Senators you can think of, pushing for war, Trump faces a daunting task. The rest of the crowd, such as Susan Collins, who is silent even when she is speaking, murmur their disapproval. The controversy is the continuing military militancy in the GOP. They are staunchly pro-Israel, and they mouth the lyrics made famous by John McCain, “bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.” They are constantly advocating for war any place, anywhere.

However, they have met their match in Vice President J.D. Vance, who, despite early criticism for his opposition to the war, has coolly stuck to his position. Lyndon Johnson humiliated Hubert Humphrey, his Vice President, because he correctly warned against becoming involved in Vietnam. No doubt Johnson probably wished he had listened to HHH when he withdrew from seeking re-election in 1968. Trump was served well by J.D. Vance.

And, fortunately, Vance eclipsed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, an interventionist deluxe, who put his boss in a jam by being ideological rather than practical. Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, did few favors for his boss with his ultra-macho act displayed early in the war. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, deserves a pat on the back for showing admirable patience during Hegseth’s less-than-professional presentations.

Also deserving special mention are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who remained consistent throughout the quasi-war. Like Henry Kissinger in the early 1970’s, these two emissaries kept their eyes on the goal. They also saved Trump from himself. The Abraham Accords, which they nurtured and protected, gave Arab states a place at the table. They negotiate with the Pakistani’s, thus preventing any repeat of attacks on negotiators from Iran. They served Trump very well.

But Trump could endanger all this work by engaging in braggadocio and antics. If he tries to please his GOP critics, he will squander the chance to bring peace to the Middle East. Suppose he overreaches in Israel’s attempts to scuttle the agreement; he will give Benjamin Netanyahu a veto over American foreign policy. This is still a very tenuous agreement. Trump would be well advised to stay the course and attempt to forge amity in a troubled region.