Published in Los Angeles Times, July 25, 2018

To the editor: Trump’s all-caps rant against the Iranian government on Twitter late Sunday night may turn out to be more than just macho banter.

   The president has surrounded himself with foreign policy advisors who would love to attack Iran. And as we get closer to the midterm elections, Trump is aware a war with Iran would surely boost his approval ratings.

   We should be alarmed but not surprised if we get an especially violent October surprise this year.

Arlen Grossman, Monterey