Are the Dogs of War Haram?
It’s been a little over a week, so enough time to get a better idea of how we got here and where it’s going.
- The mullahs have been fucking around for 47 years. They are finding out, with interest. As someone who came of age during the Hostage Crisis, all I can say is it’s about time.
- So is it just revenge? Hardly.
- So why, and why now? There are many layers to this onion. The outermost one is that it has long been US policy that Iran not obtain nuclear weapons. And for good reasons, not the least of which is that there is a non-trivial probability that as Twelver fanatics they want them to unleash an armageddon that will bring back the 12th Imam. But even if you discount that, it is indisputable that Iran is a revisionist state that wants to completely revolutionize the Middle East, and destroy Israel as a part of that. Nuclear weapons would be both a shield and a sword that would advance that agenda.
- The June 12 Day War (ironic number, there) seriously set back Iran’s nuclear program. Trump then entered into negotiations with them, the objective of which (for the US) was a credible, verifiable Iranian commitment not to develop nuclear weapons. Not only did Iran reject this, it is clear that they were doubling down on their program, and also on their ballistic missile program.
- Iran has long said “America can’t do a damn thing against us.” After June 2025, Khamenei said: “Our response to the US nonsense is clear: they cannot do a damn thing in this matter.” Apparently they repeated that mantra during the negotiations.
- That the mullahs would believe this after 47 years of American fecklessness is understandable. Our bipartisan failure to deal with the problem has emboldened them, and led to this. (Those mocking “TACO” Trump probably further emboldened them).
- Trump obviously concluded that negotiations were never going to achieve US objectives, and that delay would make it more difficult for the US to achieve said objectives. Hence, let slip the dogs of war! Bombs away!
- The opening salvo was apparently somewhat opportunistic, with Israeli and US intelligence providing information that Ayatollah Khamenei and many top regime officials would be meeting for breakfast. What was on the menu? A decapitation strike.
- This is a necessary but not sufficient condition for regime change.
- But although it is clear that the US would welcome regime change–to anything less fanatical than the mullahs–it is similarly clear that the US does not have regime change as a primary objective. Instead, the objective is regime (whatever it is) emasculation.
- That is, to deprive whoever ends up in charge of Iran the capacity to project force beyond its borders. This means, certainly, denying them the capacity to make nuclear weapons. But it also means eliminating their existing ballistic missiles and destroying their capacity to make more. This includes, obviously, their existing missile fabrication facilities, but also the economic foundation necessary to fund it. Hence strikes on oil refineries.
- Thus, we are seeing the most intense aerial campaign since WWII, and given the precision and capacity of American and Israeli weaponry, arguably more intense than even that. Curtis Lemay would be beaming.
- The air campaign is obviously proceeding in stages. First the standard SEAD component (or, more accurately DEAD–destruction of enemy air defenses), combined with stealth and missile strikes at very high value targets and fleeting ones (like Khamenei and the leadership of the IRGC). Now that air supremacy has been achieved, less stealthy but extremely devastating platforms–notably B-52 BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat Fuckers) and B-1 BONES–can roam at will and systematically dismantle anything we choose using JDAMs.
- The media commentary on the campaign has been predictably idiotic.
- The campaign demonstrates, yet again, that Chinese/Russian/Chinese-Russian copycat air defense systems are ineffectual. Their main use is to provide targets that must be disposed of before the real work commences.
- Speaking of China, this is another, deeper layer. Following hard on the heels of Venezuela, Trump is systematically destroying the main plinth of Chinese strategy in the Middle East. Although most commentary focuses on Iran as an oil supplier to China, that’s a secondary role. Iran-China (and Iran-Russia) is a conspiracy of revisionist powers aimed at overturning a US-dominated world order. Iran’s location at a vital energy producing region makes it an exceptionally valuable player in that game. Emasculating it is a serious blow to China’s strategic agenda.
- And eliminating Iran as a threat in the Middle East allows the US to concentrate its military and naval focus on China.
- So, like all things Trump (tariffs, Greenland, Venezuela) this is all about China too.
- The main military issue right now is the Straits of Hormuz. More by threat than action, and with the connivance (witting? unwitting?) or Lloyds of London, ship traffic through the straits has been throttled.
- The destruction of Iran’s navy is part of the US plan to deal with that, but it’s not the most important part. The main threat is from anti-ship missiles and drones. There has been little visibility into what the US (and presumably this is a US Navy/carrier air job) has been doing to Iranian SSASMs.
- Trump has mooted escorting ship traffic, but that has not started. This suggests that the missile threat is still present. Drones will be more difficult to suppress, but they are not as dangerous as missiles, especially to large tankers and freighters.
- This is particularly important because Trump’s main political pressure point that could undo his campaign is energy prices.
- Iran has attempted a Samson strategy, launching ballistic missiles at any nation supporting the US campaign, mainly through basing US military assets and personnel. This has not been particularly militarily successful, and politically it has if anything strengthened the resolve of Gulf nations to see the job through.
- The performance of the US’s erstwhile allies, especially in Nato, has been disgraceful. Leading the Parade of Shame is the UK, which deprived the US of the use of bases in Diego Garcia and the UK. And then changed its mind when the Iranians launched its missiles–as if that was a totally unexpected development. The UK then proved itself utterly impotent militarily, unable to dispatch even a single not-very-capable ship to defend places like Cyprus (which hosts UK bases).
- Spain similarly publicly denied the US the use of Rota (although US planes still land and take off there, so it is hard to know whether this is posing, or a split between the defense minister and the PM, or what).
- As an aside, this forcefully demonstrates a point I made with regards to Greenland: access by agreement is far less reliable than access by ownership. One can readily see the Danes pulling some Starmer- or Sanchez-esque stunt.
- One has to marvel at the depths to which the UK is fallen. John Quincy Adams once warned against the US becoming a “cockboat in the wake of the British man-of-war.” Now Britain is more like a kayak in the wake of the US, and is paddling pitifully on an opposite course. Starmer is of course the face of this, but it is the Labour Party more generally that bears the responsibility. Supposedly, the execrable Ed Miliband and other hard core leftist cabinet ministers pushed the 21st century’s “Boneless Wonder” (to reprise Churchill’s description of Ramsay MacDonald) to his passive-aggressive approach. How much the dependence of Labour on Muslim votes had to do with this is an interesting subject for speculation.
- The media (and social media) have been disgraceful, as should be expected. The NYT is all but openly rooting for an Iranian victory.
- The sinking by a US Los Angeles class SSN of an Iranian ship probably captures the media and social media idiocy better than anything. It was in international waters! Er, most sinkings of belligerent vessels are. It was sunk without warning! Uhm, that’s what submarines do. The crew was not rescued by the sub! Yeah. So? FFS, (a) warships have never been subject to “prize rules” that require warning and crew evacuation before sinking, and (b) prize rules for merchant shipping went by the boards in about 1915-6. The US in particular ruthlessly employed submarines in WWII and sunk both warships and merchantmen without warning and without pity. The Iranian ship should have known it was at risk, and interned itself–as another Iranian ship did, apparently learning the lesson from the sinking.
- So where to next? We are at that stage of the war where the original shock (and awe) have worn off to a considerable degree, and the military campaign grinds on. It is likely that the main objectives of destroying Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, aviation, and naval capabilities, and the ability to replace them, will be achieved in relatively short order. The main sticking point, as noted above, is restoring navigation in the Straits of Hormuz.
- As for what happens politically in Iran–who knows? But the important thing is–who should really care? In the US, anyways. A regime, no matter how malign in intent, poses no threat to American interests if its military capacity has been destroyed.
- This relates directly to the bleating–especially from certain elements of the MAGA right–about another forever war. These people should actually be gratified at Trump’s apparent indifference to political outcomes in Iran. Unlike the administrations that waged war in Iraq or Afghanistan, Trump quite clearly does not believe that eliminating a threat from a particular country requires remaking it in our image. Blowing the shit out of it suffices. (Venezuela provides another example of how Trump is willing to accept a regime that is less than savory, as long as it does our bidding).
- This also relates to the media drumbeat that strategic bombing has never resulted in regime change. Again–so what, if the regime is incapable of putting its malign intentions into action? And I would also note that bombing can bring about the end of wars, Vietnam being the best example. The Linebacker campaign (the Christmas Bombing) is what brought North Vietnam to the table. And it was Congress’s elimination of a threat of a resumption of such bombing that gave North Vietnam the confidence to resume the war two years later. NB: the campaign we are seeing in Iran now is Linebacker on steroids. It is the Dick Butkus (or Lawrence Taylor) of air campaigns.
So you haven’t watched it? Fair enough – it’s definitely not the balm you’re usually looking for.
Also, so much for his knowledge & experience. A10s and Apaches over Iran?? Err, I think not. Also, as for degrading Iran’s air force & navy, well that wasn’t much of a stretch. They weren’t really their thing anyway, as we’re all finding out to our cost.
I did like the bit when he almost compared to Trump to Napoleon & Hitler, but then did a swerve when he suddenly remembered what happened to them. (Sorry for the spoiler Pats – but I’ve probably just saved you c12 minutes of your life).
Also your fevered attempts to cook up some insult or other to try and rile me are all rather endearing, but you really shouldn’t go to all that trouble. Maybe try a different tack – an anecdote or some humour, maybe?
Comment by David Mercer — March 24, 2026 @ 2:34 pm
Jeez @Pat – that’s some tortuous twisting of logic.
The person “running” things, as most people would understand it, is the boss, the one who makes the decisions, the one with the power, the big cheese, the top dog, etc.
The IRG didn’t run the country as you claimed – since the revolution the country has always been run by the head cleric – the IRG were just one of the tools Khamenei used to to project power domestically and abroad. He also projected power by his control of religious structures/clerics, the economy and of what little politics existed in the country. Go ahead and twist or squeeze whatever “implications” you want in my statement but it doesn’t change the simple fact that Khamenei was the head of multiple power structures – of which the IRG was just one.
Now the IRG has assumed control of the entire country – even the clerics are subordinate, which has been demonstrated by the way the IRG forced the clerics to rubber stamp the IRG’s choice of baby Khamenei who is powerless – unlike his father. So we’ve gone from a theocracy to a military dictatorship, I’m just not seeing the cancer being cured here.
Comment by derriz — March 24, 2026 @ 4:56 pm
@Pat same mind in the same body. I am and have long been what is best described as a ‘national libertarian’: maximum freedom at home, and strong borders and strong military to keep the riff-raff out, with their feuds and bloodthirsty gods and strange ways foreign to mine.
This is, I suspect you can tell, an extremely minority opinion. I’ve only met one other of the same mind.
Regarding foreign policy, I think your own Gorgeous George summed it up best, and it pains me to have to remind you and Prof of the wisdom of his understanding:
‘Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
‘It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. …
‘Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government. But that jealousy to be useful must be impartial; else it becomes the instrument of the very influence to be avoided, instead of a defense against it. Excessive partiality for one foreign nation and excessive dislike of another cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots who may resist the intrigues of the favorite are liable to become suspected and odious, while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
‘The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
‘Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people under an efficient government, the period is not far off when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
‘Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?
‘It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it, therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.’
Want more? Here is John ‘Wall of Text’ Adams:
‘And now, friends and countrymen, if the wise and learned philosophers of the elder world; the first observers of nutation and aberration, the discoverers of maddening ether and invisible planets, the inventors of Congreve rockets and Shrapnel shells, should find their hearts disposed to enquire what has America done for the benefit of mankind? Let our answer be this: America, with the same voice which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundations of government. America, in the assembly of nations, since her admission among them, has invariably, though often fruitlessly, held forth to them the hand of honest friendship, of equal freedom, of generous reciprocity. She has uniformly spoken among them, though often to heedless and often to disdainful ears, the language of equal liberty, of equal justice, and of equal rights. She has, in the lapse of nearly half a century, without a single exception, respected the independence of other nations while asserting and maintaining her own. She has abstained from interference in the concerns of others, even when the conflict has been for principles to which she clings, as to the last vital drop that visits the heart. She has seen that probably for centuries to come, all the contests of that Aceldama the European world, will be contests of inveterate power, and emerging right. Wherever the standard of freedom and Independence, has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will recommend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign Independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force. The frontlet upon her brow would no longer beam with the ineffable splendor of Freedom and Independence; but in its stead would soon be substituted an Imperial Diadem, flashing in false and tarnished lustre the murky radiance of dominion and power. She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit.’
Give up thinking that you know better than these GIANTS. Take their counsel. God knows you have enough work to do at home, in overturning the disaster that is the Age of Entitlement and re-establishing the Constitution and the equal protection of the laws.
If you can’t do that, then at least give up the pursuit of illegal wars and illegal actions in war, such as the perfidy with which the current campaign against Iran began.
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — March 25, 2026 @ 1:45 am
This is all getting very gloomy. A happy thought has occurred to me: Trump II may well be capable of recognising what a failure his adventure has been and so call a stop to it.
That would mean he’s (much) less bad than JFK and LBJ, the Vietnam malefactors. Better than W, Obama, Trump I, and Biden – who started, or dragged out, Iraq and Afghanistan. Better than Slick Willie who starved Iraqi children, bombed Serbia, and attacked Somalia. Who knows? It’s possible.
Shame about all the people harmed or killed, of course. Well, except the former Pope of Iran and his goons – I weep no tears for them.
Comment by dearieme — March 25, 2026 @ 4:42 am
Deari: Nah, Trump II is even more witless than Trump I, if that’s even possible.
I mentioned our distinctly weird new reality – who’d have thought that JD Vance would have been the voice of reason in all of this? I doubt anyone had that on their bingo cards for this year. I’ve not been able to find out what the root of his opposition was/is – there’s no obvious rabidly anti-European justification for not attacking Iran.
Also I’m just reading that the Iranians have issued their own 5 point plan after roundly rejecting America’s 15 point plan (TLDR?). They’re smashing the whole “Fantasy Iran’s Red Line” game, almost venturing into Pythonesque territory (“We’re giving you 2 days to dismantle the entire apparatus of the imperialist American state”). And on we go.
Comment by David Mercer — March 25, 2026 @ 10:04 am
Anyone care to explain why the US is still allowing Iranian oil shipments to exit the Gulf, whilst simultaneously considering an invasion of Kharg island to stop their oil exports? I’m no military planner, but I reckon one is a helluva lot easier and less costly in blood & treasure than the other.
Also, is it true there are now no US Navy vessels in the Gulf, like nada? FFS they operated 4 carrier groups there during the Gulf war!
On which note I see the Ford group is now positioning off Israel. Guessing the Red Sea is getting a little too congested and err hot for its liking.
Comment by David Mercer — March 27, 2026 @ 5:06 am
@David: one of the USN carriers has withdrawn to Crete for repairs. The problems allegedly include the heads not working and the laundry bursting into flames.
I suppose it’s a matter of bad design and omitted maintenance. Or, some cynics suggest, pissed-off crew sabotaging their own vessel.
It would be rather amusing if the Iranians decided that a moored carrier was an enticing stationary target. Though maybe attacking a nuclear-powered carrier would be an escalation too far – or at least too soon.
It’s time to appreciate words attributed to Good Queen Bess: I dislike war. The outcome is uncertain and the expense is great.
What a waste: the Trumpster was America’s last hope, carelessly thrown away. As the Good Book says “Put not thy trust in princes”.
Comment by dearieme — March 27, 2026 @ 5:03 pm
@Prof: with hindsight, do you reckon that “air supremacy has been achieved, less stealthy but extremely devastating platforms – notably B-52 BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat Fuckers) and B-1 BONES – can roam at will and systematically dismantle anything we choose using JDAMs” was a successful prediction?
Or, indeed “It is likely that the main objectives of destroying Iran’s nuclear, ballistic missile, aviation, and naval capabilities, and the ability to replace them, will be achieved in relatively short order”?
Comment by dearieme — March 29, 2026 @ 12:03 pm
Oh dear. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xef1QM66fzM
That’s so extraordinary that I suspect it of being faked. Am I too cynical?
Comment by dearieme — March 30, 2026 @ 6:29 am
@deari it looks like the Ford has split to Split in Croatia for unspecified repairs. I wonder if the crew will be given a shore run – an opportunity for some cheeky journalists to ply them with extra rum and find out exactly what transpired on board.
Lots of chatter about Kharg Island still, which I, and many others think is just a very obvious feint (not so much Operation Fortitude as Operation Ineptitude). Would the US really attempt to sail an ARG up through the Straits*, or airdrop troops onto the island, particularly as they’ve been signalling this possibility for over a week allowing the Iranians ample opportunity to prepare for their arrival (IEDs, anti-personnel mines etc galore). No, I reckon any troops will go ashore at various points along the actual Straits, just as Rubio said they wouldn’t. Still a tough gig however you look at it.
* Talking of enterprising news crews, maybe some outfit should set up a live feed from the Omani side of the Straits and stream it on pay-per-view, in the event the US Navy do try to make a run? I mean, it’ll be no worse than people inside Trump’s administration blatantly profiteering from this conflict.
Comment by David Mercer — March 30, 2026 @ 8:51 am
What had been a clusterfrack is unravelling into outright disaster – military catastrophe, complete strategic reversal, political disaster domestically, and worst of all, global economic cataclysm.
Complete disaster!
And every day this goes on, Trump’s position deteriorates while Iran’s strengthens.
Absolutely the most toxically idiotic military adventure ever conceived.
For the love of god get out – start negotiating and end it all.
Unbelievable! Truly beyond belief!
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — March 30, 2026 @ 4:08 pm
‘El sueño de la razon produce monstruos.’
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — March 30, 2026 @ 5:28 pm
Yeah, I have a feeling the mullahs want to make a deal. Seems like it’s Trump’s stubborn refusal to cede Mar-a-Lago that is the real problem here.
Comment by Ivan — March 31, 2026 @ 1:53 am
“split to Split” It was originally said to be sailing for Crete: maybe somebody calculated that that would leave it within range of too many Iranian missiles – you know, those missiles that were all destroyed weeks ago.
It’s still possible that Iran will crack – presumably almost nobody outside has much idea of what’s happening inside. Maybe Israel will crack, or Washington.
Did nobody in the US ever think that “Don’t march on Moscow” was wise beyond just its literal interpretation?
There was a revealing remark made by President Vegetable a few years ago, something to the effect of “Hell, we’re the USA we can do what we like.” Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Comment by dearieme — March 31, 2026 @ 9:35 am
Today’s nuggets:
– A fun scenario for you all to ponder. What would happen if Trump does as he promised today and concluded the conflict without reopening the Straits of Hormuz, China then offering magnanimously to step in to sort it all out…in exchange for requiring that all oil & other goods transiting the Straits be denominated in Yuan? Ooof.
– It’s not surprising American conservatives are so gung-ho about this war and supportive of Trump if they’ve been consuming Fox’s output on the conflict. It’s actually really amusing to watch, with exception of the endless show-reels of various strikes. Gotta love the likes of General (kill ‘em all?) Keane and Jim Hanson, the latter who said only today it would be no problem for the US military to storm ashore and fight 500 hundred miles into Iran to the assumed location of the enriched uranium, grab it, and then fight their way out. Honestly, if Kilgores like this are advising Trump, then good luck to ya.
– I’m reading the Gulf states and Saudi are urging Trump to finish the job, whatever that means, albeit without any real offer of assistance (beyond contributions at Mar el Lago junkets). Of course there’s f*ck all chance them getting involved militarily – there’s no way all those princelings are going to put themselves in the firing line, and I reckon any joint action with Israel would go down like the proverbial fart in a spacesuit on the Arab street, given their recent form
@ Ex: What’s the matter – you got no gas? Ever thought about an EV?
@ Ivan: Nah, Mar el Lago is too garish and tacky even for your average Persian.
@ deari: I’m reading the damage was far more extensive than the DoD reported (shocker eh?). Its reckoned it may be out of action for some time.
Comment by David Mercer — March 31, 2026 @ 12:16 pm
In all this unpredictable mess, at least we can predict the slogan for Trump’s next business venture:
“Trump Pottery: we break it, you own it”
Comment by Ivan — March 31, 2026 @ 3:46 pm
@DM So far so good, and with Trump desperately trying to TACO out of the mess he has created there’s hope that I might be able to avoid being man-raped by Lord Humungus while his leather-queen bikie gang drain the fuel tank of my Big Beautiful Beemer.
As for just walking down the road and dropping cash on a brand new EV, I did the whole ‘financial independence retire early’ thing to devote myself to studying the question of why everything had become so utterly fracking retarded in recent decades, and seeing if I can do anything to reverse this deterioration. I fund my research and writing by part-time teaching and living off my scarce savings. So I drive a vintage Beemer and have no spare money for a luxury like an EV. However if you or anyone else here would like to fund my research project and improve my quality of life let me know and I’ll share the public key for my bitcoin wallet.
Comment by Ex-Global Super-Regulator on Lunch Break — March 31, 2026 @ 4:03 pm
Today’s update on Operation Dumbf*ck (“Sir, we named it in your honor, as is our want!”):
– In today’s daily outburst Trump is now saying it’s Europe’s fault he isn’t winning the war he’s already won several times over. Not the Gulf states, who are literally right there, getting pounded daily and have been urging him on to ever greater efforts whilst meekly sat on their hands, not Japan or South Korea or Australia or any of the US’s erstwhile allies out east who actually use Gulf crude in quantity, it’s not even the fault of Russia or China who’ve actively been supporting Iran with a measure of success, nope, it’s all down to those bl**dy cowardly Europeans who weren’t informed about the operation, weren’t invited to participate, told that their armed forces were crap anyway, had never ever answered Uncle Sam’s call in the past etc etc. (Do I finally detect the hand of the JD Vance creature giving Trump an off-ramp of sorts, at least in the minds of his forever credulous MAGA dimwits?)
– I think it’s now a racing certainty that the operation will indeed be concluded without any deal, the upshot being that the US will have effectively ceded control of the entire Persian Gulf to Iran, China & Russia. Great work Mr President, defo worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize nomination! The 5th fleet will probably vengefully stooge around for a few weeks more like a jilted lover, hoping against hope that this isn’t the case, before eventually heading off back to America in abject humiliation.
– In yet another sign of the oncoming apocalypse, I agree with ‘Eva’ Leavitt WRT the US having the bigliest and most expensive military in the entirety of human history. Unfortunately, in this day and age, when you’re deeply unwilling to expend any blood alongside treasure, this counts for very little (and even when you are – go ask Putin). Craig referenced Le May – even he realised that bombing the sh*t out of your adversary can only get you so far, hence why the US eventually turned to demonstrating its new nukes rather than attempt to finish the job with boots on the ground. And you just know Trump has asked that question….
Comment by David Mercer — April 1, 2026 @ 6:11 am