Peace talks mask a darker reality: Iran wants survival without surrender, America wants denuclearization without endless war, and the world keeps pretending both are compatible.
All perpetrated by a malignant narcissist sociopath who is backed by the powerful and rich who know how to maniplulate him. At this point the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the self-serving Republican majority whose thirst for money and power dominate everything they do.
This should terrify everyone. Face facts. Iran is not backing down. They are truly a force to be reckoned with. Trump may be pounding his chest like King Kong thinking that he has made progress. He has not. The Straits of Hormuz are still closed and Iran still has nuclear capability. The two sides are still miles apart. This keeps me up at night.
Iran has already won the war...from day #1. The SOH was already open, until demented war monger trump and video war brohs decided to fuck with the Iranian leadership. This will never end. Our Navy has to leave the area, no more blockade. Fuck loser trump's "feelings." He doesn't care at all about the american people, and he has said the quiet part out loud.
This is a problem entirely of Trump’s making. The JCPOA, crafted by the Obama administration, effectively precluded Iran from manufacturing a nuclear weapon. Trump tore up that agreement. Doubt that the blubbering Trump can negotiate anything better.
This is an utterly unnecessary war. Iran signed the JCPOA and given negotiations something similar likely could have emerged. Netanyahu wanted something entirely different, and with the help of a cognitively impaired old coot who wouldn’t recognize diplomacy if it slapped him across his wrinkly old mug,he achieved what he wanted. Widespread destruction in Iran, and the death of thousands of Iranian citizens. The Strait of Hormuz was not closed when this action began. The US had already implemented “midnight Hammer” against Iranian nuclear capabilities. It did not cost us 50-100 dollars to fill a gas tank. Airline survival was not on the line. This conflict is expensive, pointless, damaging to the interest of the United States, and will likely explode into something bigger because our Old Fella in Chief was seduced by the Venezuela caper, thought that he could stride into Iran like a big swingin’ dick and make the Iranians cower, and has no earthly idea how to put the brakes on this nightmare.
What an excellent summation of our continual problems with Iran. Our societies are so fundamentally different that mutual agreement on conditions is, as you said, 'not impossible, but improbable'. Iran can never have nuclear capabilities. I usually don't use absolute modifiers (always, never), but this is an exception. Never is appropriate here. If Iran's view is that it MUST have nuclear capabilities, then that red line becomes a permanent divider. Theoretically, this conflict could go on forever. Each tweak from either side gives the appearance of progress when, in fact, the situation doesn't get better; it slowly becomes worse. In the meantime, the world nervously waits.
Yep. The US has nuclear, as do a few other countries, and it's perfectly ok for us and them to (silently) threaten because of it. But no one else is allowed to join the threat club. Got it.
Frankly, I don't think anyone should have nukes. But that ship has sailed. I think that AI is the next huge and dangerous technology. I am so frightened about what it will ultimately be able to do. There will be many wonderful improvements (I hope), but there will be the 'dark side', and then we are all screwed even more.
Yes, Barb, I agree. Under Netanyahu, Isreal has become threatening. Not the Jewish people- for the most part, anyway. Many, it seems, are waiting for an election, which Netanyahu doesn’t want, as he's facing criminal charges. But he seems a person, along with his own admin who is willing to do almost anything, though I don't think he'd go as far as throwing nuclear weapons about. But he has caused widespread devastation for so many people and antisemitism, tragically, is on the rise. It's all scary.
Unfortunately this will be a long drawn out war. As far as a nuclear Iran threat, the real threat is not Iran bombing other nations, a nuclear Iran is a regional threat, nuclear weapons can be used as blackmail and to elevate a mid-eastern bully with substantial oil wealth and control of one of the most important waterways globally into an armed Middle Eastern superpower. 90% of middle eastern countries such as Jordon, Egypt and Lebanon included oppose a nuclear Iran, not because they believe Iran will bomb Israel, a move that would severely impact all countries in the regions, but because of the shift in power dynamics and regional instability it would create. Perhaps Iran aspires to hegemony status if not globally than at minimum in the oil wealthy middle east. Such a senario weakens America and the worlds grip on oil the reserves its been accustomed to partially controlling. Iran has always held control of the Strait of Hormuz, that alone deems Iran a geostratic power. This war will be drawn out, painful and may mark the final phase in the fall of the American empire.
I know that I've read this a day late. However, I remember that Obama and John Kerry put together deal with the Iranians that would have eliminated there nuclear weapons and insured that the international energy committee would inspect and test every 6 months. The deal was the JPAOC. In Trumps' first term after Barack Obama, he tore up the agreement. (So jealous of Obama). So...now here we are!!!
true, true, Michael. Hopefully we end up the way things were before POTUS thrust his mighty chest out declaring that he would do something nobody has been able to do. Such a blowhardon! If we get back to what Obama negotiated, I think there will be a sigh of relief.
"...while Iran quietly inches closer toward irreversible nuclear threshold capability under the protection of diplomacy itself", and we have complete nincompoops like Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance trying to act like real statesmen and failing miserably.
All perpetrated by a malignant narcissist sociopath who is backed by the powerful and rich who know how to maniplulate him. At this point the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the self-serving Republican majority whose thirst for money and power dominate everything they do.
Well said!
This should terrify everyone. Face facts. Iran is not backing down. They are truly a force to be reckoned with. Trump may be pounding his chest like King Kong thinking that he has made progress. He has not. The Straits of Hormuz are still closed and Iran still has nuclear capability. The two sides are still miles apart. This keeps me up at night.
Iran has already won the war...from day #1. The SOH was already open, until demented war monger trump and video war brohs decided to fuck with the Iranian leadership. This will never end. Our Navy has to leave the area, no more blockade. Fuck loser trump's "feelings." He doesn't care at all about the american people, and he has said the quiet part out loud.
This is a problem entirely of Trump’s making. The JCPOA, crafted by the Obama administration, effectively precluded Iran from manufacturing a nuclear weapon. Trump tore up that agreement. Doubt that the blubbering Trump can negotiate anything better.
This is an utterly unnecessary war. Iran signed the JCPOA and given negotiations something similar likely could have emerged. Netanyahu wanted something entirely different, and with the help of a cognitively impaired old coot who wouldn’t recognize diplomacy if it slapped him across his wrinkly old mug,he achieved what he wanted. Widespread destruction in Iran, and the death of thousands of Iranian citizens. The Strait of Hormuz was not closed when this action began. The US had already implemented “midnight Hammer” against Iranian nuclear capabilities. It did not cost us 50-100 dollars to fill a gas tank. Airline survival was not on the line. This conflict is expensive, pointless, damaging to the interest of the United States, and will likely explode into something bigger because our Old Fella in Chief was seduced by the Venezuela caper, thought that he could stride into Iran like a big swingin’ dick and make the Iranians cower, and has no earthly idea how to put the brakes on this nightmare.
Nothing will change until trump can articulate a clear objective and competent negotiators replace the clowns he’s chosen to represent our interests.
It’s what we call a “Mexican standoff”.
With Kegsbreath chomping at the bit!! And you n me paying the price. Throwing Billions around like we have a money tree on the White House lawn 🙄💰
What an excellent summation of our continual problems with Iran. Our societies are so fundamentally different that mutual agreement on conditions is, as you said, 'not impossible, but improbable'. Iran can never have nuclear capabilities. I usually don't use absolute modifiers (always, never), but this is an exception. Never is appropriate here. If Iran's view is that it MUST have nuclear capabilities, then that red line becomes a permanent divider. Theoretically, this conflict could go on forever. Each tweak from either side gives the appearance of progress when, in fact, the situation doesn't get better; it slowly becomes worse. In the meantime, the world nervously waits.
Yep. The US has nuclear, as do a few other countries, and it's perfectly ok for us and them to (silently) threaten because of it. But no one else is allowed to join the threat club. Got it.
Frankly, I don't think anyone should have nukes. But that ship has sailed. I think that AI is the next huge and dangerous technology. I am so frightened about what it will ultimately be able to do. There will be many wonderful improvements (I hope), but there will be the 'dark side', and then we are all screwed even more.
Michael wrote, "Donald Trump’s core demand has never changed." Here are the core demands:
1. Make me King for life to indulge my fragile ego.
2. Force the people to bow to my every whim, to fulfill my urge to destroy.
3. Make me the wealthiest man in the world, as others are invisible and meaningless to me.
4. Kill all the non-whites, the ill and the poor; they disgust me.
That pretty much covers it.
Lovely summation!
I’m so sick of waking up to uncertainty, it’s exhausting. As always, Michael, thank you for an insightful read.
Yes, but it's ok for other countries to have nuclear weapons. No threat there, eh?
Yes, Barb, I agree. Under Netanyahu, Isreal has become threatening. Not the Jewish people- for the most part, anyway. Many, it seems, are waiting for an election, which Netanyahu doesn’t want, as he's facing criminal charges. But he seems a person, along with his own admin who is willing to do almost anything, though I don't think he'd go as far as throwing nuclear weapons about. But he has caused widespread devastation for so many people and antisemitism, tragically, is on the rise. It's all scary.
Unfortunately this will be a long drawn out war. As far as a nuclear Iran threat, the real threat is not Iran bombing other nations, a nuclear Iran is a regional threat, nuclear weapons can be used as blackmail and to elevate a mid-eastern bully with substantial oil wealth and control of one of the most important waterways globally into an armed Middle Eastern superpower. 90% of middle eastern countries such as Jordon, Egypt and Lebanon included oppose a nuclear Iran, not because they believe Iran will bomb Israel, a move that would severely impact all countries in the regions, but because of the shift in power dynamics and regional instability it would create. Perhaps Iran aspires to hegemony status if not globally than at minimum in the oil wealthy middle east. Such a senario weakens America and the worlds grip on oil the reserves its been accustomed to partially controlling. Iran has always held control of the Strait of Hormuz, that alone deems Iran a geostratic power. This war will be drawn out, painful and may mark the final phase in the fall of the American empire.
Clearly you have learned to gaslight us from the pro orange asshat. How sad.
I know that I've read this a day late. However, I remember that Obama and John Kerry put together deal with the Iranians that would have eliminated there nuclear weapons and insured that the international energy committee would inspect and test every 6 months. The deal was the JPAOC. In Trumps' first term after Barack Obama, he tore up the agreement. (So jealous of Obama). So...now here we are!!!
Michael, what are you advocating here? I ask because it "feels" like an argument for destroying Iran. Is this what you want?
true, true, Michael. Hopefully we end up the way things were before POTUS thrust his mighty chest out declaring that he would do something nobody has been able to do. Such a blowhardon! If we get back to what Obama negotiated, I think there will be a sigh of relief.
"...while Iran quietly inches closer toward irreversible nuclear threshold capability under the protection of diplomacy itself", and we have complete nincompoops like Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and JD Vance trying to act like real statesmen and failing miserably.