“March Madness” has taken on a new meaning this year. First, Republicans invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress in order to help sabotage negotiations with Iran. Next, 47 Republican senators actually sent a woefully ignorant letter to Iran, threatening to cancel any completed agreement as soon as possible. Sen. Susan Collins had better sense than to join the lemmings … this time.

To top off all the bilge coming from Congress, we have “Where have all the leaders gone?” the March 12 column by Augusta’s own Don Roberts. Roberts thinks that Benjamin Netanyahu is “one of the world’s last remaining true leaders.” On what planet?

Netanyahu resembles nothing more than a schoolyard loudmouth who talks tough as long as he has a much larger, and dumber, brother to back him up. His speech to Congress had just one aim: to build support for an American, not Israeli, attack on Iran.

Make no mistake about it: a war with Iran is not in America’s best interest.

Unfortunately, some Americans are beating the drums for another disastrous, and needless, war in the Middle East.

Some members of Congress reflexively choose Israel’s interests over America’s. The hard truth, however, is that Israel is not our vital ally. On the contrary, our undying allegiance to Israel has painted a giant target on our back.

Members of Congress were incensed when Russia annexed the Crimea, yet I doubt that any of them has condemned Israel for illegally annexing East Jerusalem.

The war mongers among us like to hype the fear of Iran getting a nuclear bomb. What rubbish. Even if Iran had nukes, it wouldn’t do anything with them. Israel has secretly built more than enough nuclear weapons to obliterate all of its Muslim neighbors.

There is no sign that the Republican leadership in Congress is willing to be adult and work to avoid a war with Iran. Let’s face it: they do not want to “negotiate” anything. According to Webster’s Dictionary, negotiate means “to arrange for or bring about, through conference, discussion, and compromise.” Instead, Republicans want to dictate “to speak or act domineeringly … to impose.” They seem oblivious to the fact that England, France, Germany, Russia and China are also involved in the negotiations.

Roberts clearly doesn’t care for Barack Obama’s leadership. For all his faults, President Obama has so far kept us out of a war with Iran, despite the nattering chorus of yahoos (and Netanyahu) who can’t wait for the carnage to begin.

Roberts should read his own column, especially when he quotes Lee Iaccoca on leadership: “Tough talk isn’t courage. Courage is a commitment to negotiate, to find answers.”

Look at all the tough talk coming out of Congress, and then look at the White House. On Iran, it is clear where the leadership is coming from.

John R. Merrill, of Augusta, has owned a bookstore in Hallowell for many years.