He kept children safe — and smiling. To them, Peter Clark was 'The Smiling Crossing Guard'

The successful rescue of a second downed United States airman from Iranian territory brought to a close a fraught moment in the US-initiated war. There was much at stake. First and foremost, the well-being of the pilot. Beyond that, the reputation of the US military, and the political standing of the US president facing a war gamble that has spun out of control. The Iran war is over a month old, shows no signs of abating, and has spread throughout the Middle East; Iran’s resistance is profiting from aid from Russia and China, as well as the support of other elements of the “axis of...