Commenting on my own hard-written piece. One thing hadn't considered. What if Trump makes a deal with Iran and also turns on Israel, in effect siding with Iran? Christian dispensationalist eschatology aside, it's certainly possible Iran can offer more than Israel and lure Trump over. I'm not sure how that betrayal will play with Trump's close relatives and friends. That's the main reason I had not considered it. But it is a possibility, because Trump truly doesn't care about who he turns on.
I see Trump turning on Israel as a VERY real possibility, Steve, what with the likes of Tucker Carlson in his ear, along with his own VP, who, and not many people know this, became VP due to Carlson's hard lobbying. Carlson and JD Vance are no friends of Israel, I can assure you.
Great piece. Truly anything is possible. I’ve entertained many possibilities. The one that haunts me now is a twist on Doomberg’s Project Turtle: create a bifurcated energy market by imposing tiered, preferential access to US oil and gas, and light the M.E. on fire on your way out the door. Destroy Kharg Island, cut China’s oil supply, kick the legs out from under regional stability, and let Europe and Asia burn.
Also not helpful is all the Russophiles, Trump included. Russia is Iran’s ally and helping them target our soldiers and (very expensive) equipment. At what point does Trump/et al finally accept that Russia is at war with us too and back Ukraine fully? (I know the answer is never...)
That's the problem with failing to make a case for going to war, and failing to get authorization prior to starting one: having to now make a case to get further funding and personnel. And of course alienating our allies prior, failing to get them on-board, and then moaning about it publicly when they refuse to now assist.
There's already talk of Trump being bored with the whole thing, so if I was a betting man I'd wager on Trump handing Iran control of the strait without much else changing; it costing us a bunch of money and depleted stockpiles/equipment; and then being unable to counter China's invasion of Taiwan because we no longer have the stocks necessary to do so.
You raise many good points, Steve. Your disrespect bordering on hatred of Trump comes through loud and clear. I don't feel the same, and hope you are mistaken.
Wisdom and understanding seem to be lacking, at least from today's "truth":
"The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately "Open for Business," we will conclude our lovely "stay" in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet "touched." This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime's 47 year "Reign of Terror." Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Translation: We met all our objectives & the regime is completely reasonable, but also they may not agree to anything, but we still would have met all our objectives & then we will commit war crimes but this wouldn't be because of the strait but revenge on a regime who isn't in power now beause we have a new regime.
Nobody should, but then nobody should entrust him with the power he has been because of that fact.
There's no way for him to back out like he'd normally do without leaving Iran in control of the strait and a very clear loss for the US, or without going full-blown world-wide economic disaster.
OMG Steve! You have certainly put your brains, heart and soul into this article. It could be called, “ All Things Considered,” but that was NPR’s name for their show I listened to long ago and have never looked back. You are right about all these logistical factors and the quagmire we’re involved in. It is doubtful Trump would ever get the country behind him on winning the war for several reasons but the biggest obstacle is that half the country and the globalists hate him.
It is all so scary. I am not a Dispensationalist, but I am a pragmatist who nevertheless knows that God must intervene miraculously to give us victory.
Guaranteed Trump didn't think anywhere near that deeply about it. He just thought it'd be like Venezuela, a one-and-done action - instead it's likely a globally destabilizing war that he has little/no ability to deal with.
Commenting on my own hard-written piece. One thing hadn't considered. What if Trump makes a deal with Iran and also turns on Israel, in effect siding with Iran? Christian dispensationalist eschatology aside, it's certainly possible Iran can offer more than Israel and lure Trump over. I'm not sure how that betrayal will play with Trump's close relatives and friends. That's the main reason I had not considered it. But it is a possibility, because Trump truly doesn't care about who he turns on.
I see Trump turning on Israel as a VERY real possibility, Steve, what with the likes of Tucker Carlson in his ear, along with his own VP, who, and not many people know this, became VP due to Carlson's hard lobbying. Carlson and JD Vance are no friends of Israel, I can assure you.
Explains why Iran is wanting to negotiate with Vance and not Rubio.[1]
[1] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/why-iran-wants-to-negotiate-with-jd-vance-not-trump-officials-including-marco-rubio-steve-witkoff-jared-kushner-101774412434635.html
Great piece. Truly anything is possible. I’ve entertained many possibilities. The one that haunts me now is a twist on Doomberg’s Project Turtle: create a bifurcated energy market by imposing tiered, preferential access to US oil and gas, and light the M.E. on fire on your way out the door. Destroy Kharg Island, cut China’s oil supply, kick the legs out from under regional stability, and let Europe and Asia burn.
Whiskey Pete and Cadet Bonespurs have likely committed the greatest Own Goal of the 21st century at Bibi's behest.
All of this was completely avoidable if we weren't so busy trying to keep two criminals out of prison.
P.S. All that annexing Canada and Greenland talk has done wonders for getting our "allies" to jump in and assist.
Also not helpful is all the Russophiles, Trump included. Russia is Iran’s ally and helping them target our soldiers and (very expensive) equipment. At what point does Trump/et al finally accept that Russia is at war with us too and back Ukraine fully? (I know the answer is never...)
That's the problem with failing to make a case for going to war, and failing to get authorization prior to starting one: having to now make a case to get further funding and personnel. And of course alienating our allies prior, failing to get them on-board, and then moaning about it publicly when they refuse to now assist.
There's already talk of Trump being bored with the whole thing, so if I was a betting man I'd wager on Trump handing Iran control of the strait without much else changing; it costing us a bunch of money and depleted stockpiles/equipment; and then being unable to counter China's invasion of Taiwan because we no longer have the stocks necessary to do so.
You raise many good points, Steve. Your disrespect bordering on hatred of Trump comes through loud and clear. I don't feel the same, and hope you are mistaken.
I don’t hate Trump. I am calling balls and strikes. I hope he has a plan and I pray for him to have wisdom and understanding.
Wisdom and understanding seem to be lacking, at least from today's "truth":
"The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately "Open for Business," we will conclude our lovely "stay" in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet "touched." This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime's 47 year "Reign of Terror." Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Translation: We met all our objectives & the regime is completely reasonable, but also they may not agree to anything, but we still would have met all our objectives & then we will commit war crimes but this wouldn't be because of the strait but revenge on a regime who isn't in power now beause we have a new regime.
I don't believe anything he says.
Nobody should, but then nobody should entrust him with the power he has been because of that fact.
There's no way for him to back out like he'd normally do without leaving Iran in control of the strait and a very clear loss for the US, or without going full-blown world-wide economic disaster.
What is the actual wise course available?
Pray harder Steve, it clearly hasn't worked yet.
OMG Steve! You have certainly put your brains, heart and soul into this article. It could be called, “ All Things Considered,” but that was NPR’s name for their show I listened to long ago and have never looked back. You are right about all these logistical factors and the quagmire we’re involved in. It is doubtful Trump would ever get the country behind him on winning the war for several reasons but the biggest obstacle is that half the country and the globalists hate him.
It is all so scary. I am not a Dispensationalist, but I am a pragmatist who nevertheless knows that God must intervene miraculously to give us victory.
What's more "globalist" than getting sucked into a stupid war on behalf of another country?
It is not on behalf of another country. It’s a global realignment on behalf of the world.
A global alignment that weakens America's petrodollar dominance in favor of Iran and China?
Explain to me how that is *remotely* "America First"...
Pretty sure it's "Cede the 21st Century to China First"...
I suggest you read Don Surber’s and Badland’s Media posts. posts.
Never heard of either of those parties.
Can you post links to what your have in mind?
Guaranteed Trump didn't think anywhere near that deeply about it. He just thought it'd be like Venezuela, a one-and-done action - instead it's likely a globally destabilizing war that he has little/no ability to deal with.
A few years ago, Israel attacked iran. They intended to finish the job. We stopped them. Big mistake.