Pentagon preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, Washington Post reports

[bobalot]

It's strange Trump threatening the genocide of 92 million people seems to have shaken parts of his base.

This is what shook them?

What is pathetic is Mark Rutte's (NATO Secretary) public ass kissing of Trump. What a dweeb.

[Ralin]

Good news everyone! President Trump has figured out a way to stop Iran from extorting shipping by blockading the strait and not allowing ships that pay the toll to pass! Now other countries will be protected from negotiating with terrorists!

[bilateralrope]

Also the US is claiming that Iran doesn't know where their mines are.

[Ralin]

The disclosure helps explain why Tehran has been slow to comply with US President Donald Trump’s demands to restore shipping through the strait

What the fuck? Who the hell other than Trump doesn't understand that the explanation is they won't give up their main leverage until they get concessions?

[bilateralrope]

Until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm going with the idea that Trump's main reason for refusing to end the war is because Netanyahu wants it to continue to delay his own corruption trial.

Using whatever excuse he, or his administration, comes up with.

[bobalot]

The US is going to open the Straight of Hormuz by blockading it.

Just genius.

[Bedlam]

Also the US is claiming that Iran doesn't know where their mines are.

Well to be honest this has been a problem with Mines for more or less as long as there have been mines and is why big areas for former warzones are still death trips decades later.

[Ralin]

Until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm going with the idea that Trump's main reason for refusing to end the war is because Netanyahu wants it to continue to delay his own corruption trial.

Using whatever excuse he, or his administration, comes up with.

Counterpoint: Betraying an ally the moment it's convenient is Trump's signature move and to all appearances a reflex. Him not doing so is unusual. Wonder with Netanyahu really does have something on him?

[bobalot]

There are a lot of Israeli government connections to Epstein.

I cannot fathom Trump sticking his head out like this for anybody.

[Ralin]

There are a lot of Israeli government connections to Epstein.

I cannot fathom Trump sticking his head out like this for anybody.

There are other considerations, like not being capable of accepting defeat. Americans in general are conditioned to take it as a given that our military is invincible and can only lose if they aren't allowed to turn off their power limiters and activate god mode. And this is Trump we're talking about.

This is a massive failure that Trump can't just walk away from. There's no way to end it without making concessions and getting the Iranians to agree, and that by itself may be more than Trump is capable of accepting.

[bobalot]

This is fucking weird.

Netanyahu Reveals Trump Reports to Him Every Day on Iran

No daily update to the American people, congress, or allies.

Might as well abolish congress and refer all decisions to Tel Aviv.

[bilateralrope]

Counterpoint: Betraying an ally the moment it's convenient is Trump's signature move and to all appearances a reflex. Him not doing so is unusual. Wonder with Netanyahu really does have something on him?

That would require Trump to understand when it's convenient to betray Netanyahu. When Trump's admin are yes men feeding him questionable daily briefings.

Also there is the question of what will benefit Trump.

[bobalot]

At the moment, the "blockade" of Iranian ports by the US Navy is openly being ignored by ships.

They are not even attempting to hide this. It can tracked on shipping websites.

[bilateralrope]

That could get interesting if Hegseth notices.

[Juubi Karakuchi]

The blockade may just be for show.

If CaspianReport over on Youtube is to be believed, the US is still moving troops and warships into the area. If they really are planning to attack, then it makes sense to get as many cargo ships and tankers out as possible, even if it means paying the tolls. If Trump gets what he wants (either way), then a little toll income for Iran won't matter.

[bobalot]

I read another 10,000 troops are heading to the middle east.

[bilateralrope]

If Trump gets what he wants (either way),

What does Trump want ?

[Juubi Karakuchi]

If Trump gets what he wants (either way),

What does Trump want ?

Good question.

At the bare minimum, he seems to want Iran to give in and accept his demands. He might also want regime change, or to smash, bash, and trash Iran until it can't do anything any more, or falls apart.

This is hard for Trump, because his usual tactics won't work. Posturing and threatening won't work on the Iranian regime, because they don't care how many of their own people die so long as the Islamic Revolution is advanced. The proof of this lies in their own judicial system, under which no one is accountable for the outcome of a trial, even if the innocent or undeserving get hanged from cranes, because Allah decides the outcome. By that way of thinking, it's better for Iran to be destroyed and its people slaughtered in defence of the Islamic Revolution, than to avoid war by compromising on it.

At the same time, flouncing out won't work either. If he tries to TACO, as he clearly wants to, then he looks like a loser. But simply bombing Iran clearly hasn't worked, at least not as much as he needs. From the looks of things, nothing short of a full-on invasion will solve his immediate problems; at the price of creating a whole pile of new ones. Apart from anything else, his promise of no more wars will be clearly and undeniably broken.

That's the choice he faces now.

[EnterpriseSovereign]

It's strange Trump threatening the genocide of 92 million people seems to have shaken parts of his base.

This is what shook them?

What is pathetic is Mark Rutte's (NATO Secretary) public ass kissing of Trump. What a dweeb.

This is the question to be levelled at the MAGA crowd: "How many people does it take, before it becomes wrong? Hmm? A thousand? Fifty thousand? A million? How many people does it take, MAGA?"

[bobalot]

It's strange Trump threatening the genocide of 92 million people seems to have shaken parts of his base.

This is what shook them?

What is pathetic is Mark Rutte's (NATO Secretary) public ass kissing of Trump. What a dweeb.

This is the question to be levelled at the MAGA crowd: "How many people does it take, before it becomes wrong? Hmm? A thousand? Fifty thousand? A million? How many people does it take, MAGA?"

I think threatening to be on par with Hitler may have been a step too far.

However, I think the bigger mind changer was the damage to the economy.

As soon as it started hitting these assholes wallets, they suddenly realised that Trump and the American government acting like edgy 15 year old fuckwits has real world consequences for them.

While it was impacting minorities, trans people, women's rights, and foreigners they didn't give a shit.