Mr Trump Can't Shut This War Down........

There's also an in depth analysis on CNN's website with Daniel Shapiro, an Atlantic Council fellow who was US ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration and was deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East policy during the Biden administration. The subject is the differences between what the US wants from this war and what Israel wants. My main take from it is the US doesn't want to be left with the consequences of a bad outcome eg civil war in Iran, economic instability, instability in the ME whereas to Israel obliteration of an enemy is what they want and they will ignore the consequences. Free to access for anyone who is interested in reaing it for themselves.

Trump thought he could bomb Iran into submission in a few days. He didn't understand the nature of the beast. He didn't take the time to think about how Iran would react.
Iran can keep the Strait of Hormuz closed long enough to cause severe economic damage unless Trump gets help from allies who are very reluctant understandably.
Apart from starting this war with no plan he has been consistently insulting to allies so no wonder they are turning away from him.

This is the headline in today's Washington Post. It's exactly the opposite of what Trump said he'd achieve.

"U.S. intelligence says Iran’s regime is consolidating power
Despite withering airstrikes, officials predict a weakened but more hard-line government in Tehran, backed by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps security forces."

It is simple. DT is a narcissistic bully and he misread Starmer's quiet, thoughtfulness as weakness. Bullies can't take it when the "worm" turns.

With Trump it's all about deflection if things aren't going well, finding someone to blame but he'll take credit even when things go wrong. I reckon he'll say he won the war against Iran but it's not his fault the Iranians didn't have the guts to rise up and effect a regime change. He'll blame others for not keeping the Strait open and he'll say it wasn't the job for Americans it was for those countries that benefit most by it being open. He'll move on to making a greater mess of Cuba than it already is is thanks to his sanctions!

Trump can’t have it all ways.

Over his various presidencies, he has said amongst a lot of other things -

The USA will no longer support NATO

Europe can no longer rely on USA for help in their defence

The USA will not necessarily help if art. 5 is invoked by a member country

The USA is only interested in its area of influence

Ukraine has been treated with contempt

So Mr Trump - now you expect us to come running at your demand.

He seems to be rather obsessed with the UK not supporting him doesn't he . Apparently we were once considered to be the 'Rolls Royce' of allies but not anymore.

Well I suppose the same could be said of America couldn't it.

Reading in the NYT that Trump did not understand about the blockade that would 100% be put into place and made no plans for it.

With this level of inadequacy one does have to wonder.

Trump is good when it comes to throwing his weight around (well other people’s weight) but when it comes to finding a modicum of analysis and thought - unless it involves lucre for the Trump dynasty he’s not interested.

Trump is now sneering at Starmer as he will speak to his team before making any decisions about the strait of Hormuz implying that Starmer can't make decisions.

I would expect any leader to consult with others in the cabinet and the military before making such serious decisions.
If Trump had consulted and listened to others he wouldn't be in this sticky situation now.

Go on ronib , give your assessment of Trump and this illegal, dangerous war

Surprisingly it’s actually because a lot of people disagree with your view ronib, not because it’s a closed shop. We aren’t all obliged to join, and anybody can say what they want to.

There’s no point in trying to make an assessment about Trump on GN… it’s a closed shop. Don’t waste your time. Just keep to the current orthodoxy ….

Syracute

MayBee70

Mind you I seem to remember some people on this forum saying how great it would be if we had a strong leader like Trump….

Very true and often !
Where are they now ?

Yes who "tells it as it is"

Syracute we’ve gone into King Canute mode….

MayBee70

Mind you I seem to remember some people on this forum saying how great it would be if we had a strong leader like Trump….

Very true and often !
Where are they now ?

Mind you I seem to remember some people on this forum saying how great it would be if we had a strong leader like Trump….

The man is deranged! And he said why didn’t Starmer just act alone to give him what he wanted. Has he got any idea how a democracy works? When will he be telling Starmer to go too I wonder?

The latest

Cuba been told to get rid of its President.

This war is getting more and more like the Vietnam war. A lot of underground activity which Trump wouldn’t be able to deal with. Split families, patriotism mixed up with dislike of the current régime but maybe they are better than a foreign power kind of thinking. Horrible and I think it will not be over anytime soon

I think we all know he is bonkers ronib. At least we aren’t Americans, living with the direct effects of his madnesses, they must have their heads in their hands on a permanent basis.

Playing into Putin’s hands….. bonkers

It would be one of those never ending things, if help was given for the Strait.

foxie48

We will however still pay the world price for oil and the danger is that with an oil shortage prices will continue to escalate. This is very bad for world trade but it will be a huge boost for Russia!

Yes, that’s my understanding. We can choose where we buy our oil from, but the price is effectively pegged.

foxie48

We will however still pay the world price for oil and the danger is that with an oil shortage prices will continue to escalate. This is very bad for world trade but it will be a huge boost for Russia!

I remember people saying we would run out of oil in 50 years time.
This was on the 70s!

I looked it up recently, yes the world is due to run out of oil in 50 years time.
Yeah right!

Oil shortage - production rises and falls.
I cant believe real shortages even exist any more.

Robert Reich is another interesting one to follow. He held office as Secretary of Labour (sorry, Labor ) under Clinton. Earlier he worked for the Carter and Ford administrations.