Why are these men laughing?

President Trump speaks to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 13 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The picture says it all. Two war criminals laughing it off. Kinda reminiscent of Esquire's 1960 pix of Nixon forever captioned Why is this man laughing? but far more sinister in this writer's opinion. 

"Why is This Man Laughing?", 1960

Portfolio/Series title: published in Esquire

In their first annual Dubious Achievement Awards in 1962, Esquire published what would become something of a preinternet meme: a photo of Richard Milhous Nixon grinning maniacally, with the caption “Why is This Man Laughing?” Nixon had just been nominated by the Republican Party as their candidate for President in the 1960 election, which he would ultimately lose to John F. Kennedy.

From these dubious beginnings to the aftermath of Nixon’s resignation, Esquire routinely mocked the politician in its pages. 

As for Bibi and The Donald ...

President Trump sent an official letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog calling on him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and claimed the corruption charges against him are "political lawfare."

Why it matters: Trump has repeatedly intervened in Israel's judicial system and domestic politics over Netanyahu's ongoing trial. His letter, released on Wednesday morning by the Israeli President's office, is the first official step he has taken on this matter.

Driving the news: Trump wrote to Herzog that after ending the war in Gaza, he now wants to work with key Middle East leaders on expanding the Abraham Accords.

He stressed that Netanyahu's "attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted" by his trial.

"While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this 'case' against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution... It is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him," Trump wrote.

Entangled alliances are a truly dangerous thing are they not?