This is a thought provoking opinion piece. A couple of excerpts from the front end of the article set the tone.
Without clearly defined political objectives, it is impossible to construct U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is in charge of military operations in West Asia and appears to be moving from one ineffective tactic to the next without any unifying operational design. The repeated bombing of military‑related targets across a country the size of Western Europe with more than 90 million people is not a strategy; it is a tactic untethered to any discernible operational or strategic end state.
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History shows that wars fought without well‑defined political objectives, matched with a viable military strategy, tend to devolve into wars of attrition—conflicts that favor the side with greater resilience and willingness to endure. We see that historical truism unfolding before our eyes. We fail to appreciate that Iran is waging a fundamentally different kind of war, one rooted in national survival, and that resolve has shaped the character and trajectory of the conflict.
https://eisenhowermedianetwork.substack.com/p/has-trump-opened-pandoras-box
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
A top adviser to Iran's "supreme leader" now says that talks are deadlocked and will remain so unless and until the US agrees to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.
How can Trump do that after mocking and berating Obama unmercifully for releasing $1.7 billion in Iranian assets 10 years ago?
Trump says Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. Fine. Great talking point. Who would disagree with that. But how can he end the war and declare victory without getting all of the enriched uranium stockpile, and how logistically can that be accomplished?
His birthday party next weekend is a nice distraction, but he's going to have to again face this debacle sooner or later.
"He's buffeted by Democrats seizing on oil prices and warnings from hawkish members of his base that an early exit from the conflict would amount to capitulation.
"Trump is privately hearing from other Republican lawmakers as well as Pentagon officials and Gulf allies that a return to the bombing campaign is a bad idea.
"Those advising against returning to military action note the U.S. has burned through munitions at too fast a rate. It could take three years to replenish some key weapons systems."
Right now Trump looks weak, and in way over his head.
With Trump in a Holding Pattern on Iran War, Allies and Critics Worry He Risks Getting Boxed In
The Iranians have no reason to stop shooting now and Trump looks like a complete pussy in response.
Destroy their power stations and blow up their oil fields. Destroy their ports that Iranian warships are docked at on the Persian Gulf. If you do eventually have to hand over all that money to end the conflict, make sure they have to spend it on infrastructure.
Pathetic, impotent "leadership" on the part of Trump. The Iranians have been emboldened because they know a ground invasion isn't happening, and they know Trump is being advised (link below) that a return to a bombing campaign is a bad idea because we've burned through munitions at too fast a rate. (It could take three years to replenish some key weapons systems). Meanwhile, Israel is doing whatever it wants, striking both Lebanon and Iran, despite Trump insisting "I call the shots, [not them]."
A US official denied Israel's claim that the US intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles that were fired at Israel last night. If we weren't involved, that's a notable shift from previous rounds of conflict with Iran when the US expended significant quantities of its own missile interceptors to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
Trump can't figure out either how to win the war or an honorable way to get out, so there will probably be more Trump temper tantrums this week, and lots of talk about the reflecting pool, DC's fountains, the upcoming White House cage fights, and his bullshit election fraud claims.
With Trump in a Holding Pattern on Iran War, Allies and Critics Worry He Risks Getting Boxed In
With missiles flying, pretty much any semblance of a "cease fire" are out the window. Gas prices had been slowly coming down in the past two weeks, but they are probably about to spike again.
So gas up now.
Trump has declared the war with Iran done, over or terminated at least a dozen times since he started it in February.
He has said "we're close to a deal" too many times to count.
The reality is that the self-proclaimed great deal-maker is boxed in. With respect to Iran, he's Jimmy Carter 2.0. Actually, much worse because Carter didn't lie through his teeth like this clown.
With missiles flying, pretty much any semblance of a "cease fire" are out the window. Gas prices had been slowly coming down in the past two weeks, but they are probably about to spike again.
So gas up now.
The oil that was in the "pipeline" and held in reserve is nearly exhausted. The 20% reduction in supply is going to hit hard soon.
The Iranians have no reason to stop shooting now and Trump looks like a complete pussy in response.
Destroy their power stations and blow up their oil fields. Destroy their ports that Iranian warships are docked at on the Persian Gulf. If you do eventually have to hand over all that money to end the conflict, make sure they have to spend it on infrastructure.
I tend to agree. Saw a clip of some retired general saying we're watching them dig up missiles and other hidden munitions. Not sure what we're doing at this point. Total goat rope and Iran is doing what they always do, buying time and rearming.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
Another blow for Iran.