Iran doing the only thing they can which is to fxck the global economy !
The so called great master plan of Trump seemed to ignore the obvious . Iran can take huge amounts of economic pain whereas the west can’t after Covid and Ukraine.
I'm not sure we have yet tested the level of economic pain Iran can take. If they want to fuck about with the world economy, they should be made to find out.
But not with boots on the ground (bar a properly devised plan to take and hold Kharg Island).
We've learnt absolutely nothing from Ukraine.
1) People are incredibly resilient. Ukraine is a corrupt, poor, undeveloped country that is currently putting up an unbelievable fight against the Russians despite weeks of power cuts in mid-winter. If they can do it, so can the Iranians. 2) Drones are basically unstoppable and it's trivially easy for quite a basic economy to generate an endless supply of them (or to import them other countries) 3) Our economy was shafted by our exposure to fossil fuels in 2022, and again in 2026, and yet we're still pissing about. Imagine if the £40 billion on energy support had instead gone on batteries, wind, EV chargers etc etc - we'd be much better placed than we are now to ride this out. And it's a permanent investment.
Ukraine has faced an onslaught of drones built in factories it could not reach and was denied the use of weapons that could have taken them out. (America apparently needed all the Tomahawks it could get to level Iranian girls' schools.) Ukraine has therefore created its own domestic weapons and is now hitting the manufacturing plants of the missiles and the components deep inside Russia. In the interim, thouands of Ukrainians have died from missile nd drone strikes.
What the US (and Israel) have available are orders of magnitude more lethal. Neither Ukraine nor Russia has control of the Ukrainian/border Russia skies. The US can destroy anything anywhere in Iran. The number of Iranian missiles and drones will drastically reduce. They already have been.
Learning nothing from Ukraine? A Ukrainian delegtion recently went to Washington to offer their assistance in fighting drones. They were turned away. Arrogant American pricks.
Saudi and the UAE on the other hand have made masive investments in the Ukrainian missile and drone manufacturers.
Republicans against Trump @RpsAgainstTrump · 1h Trump: “They gave me a list of names. Sir, pick the name you like, sir! The name of what? The name of the attack on Iran, sir. They gave me like, 20 names. I'm like, falling asleep, I didn't like any of them.
Sure its farcical but its a long sight better than Trump actually picking the bombing targets as LBJ did in Vietnam.
No it is not.
The POTUS is Commander in Chief. Having the ultimate final say in approving targets is his job. If the military offer different targets and the President makes the final call on which to approve is his job.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of any war, the President like LBJ discussing strategy and making the ultimate call on strategic decision making is his job.
For them to say 'we have intelligence on the location of Khameini, should we strike?' and he says yes or no is his job.
Obsessing over the name of the operation, being like 'boring, boring, I'm falling asleep, oh that one is badass, I like that name' and thinking that is momentous enough to share? Not his job.
Its a bit ironic that the main effect of the war that you support so enthusiastically is to make motor transport more expensive.
If you only support things that are economically in your self interest that is greed not principles.
I accept the higher cost of fuel is a downside but it is still worth doing. We should be cutting the tax on that fuel though since the price is mainly tax anyway.
It is a moronic war being directed by the demented and the alcoholic.
Khameini is dead, that is already something achieved.
I agree about Trump being a poor leader though and if he ends the war prematurely without success then he has failed.
A Khameini is dead replaced by a younger enraged Khomeini whose father, wife and child have been killed by the Great Satan.
And the Great Satan cannot restore shipping through the Gulf. Iran can - but will demand the removal of US bases in the Gulf.
And the enriched uranium is still in Iran.
Looks like a piss-poor outcome from where I'm standing.
I agree as it stands it is a piss poor outcome so far, which is why the war should not be over yet.
I have been clear since day one that in my view ground troops will be required. To liberate Tehran and secure the uranium, and I would also take Kharg Island.
You don't need to seize the entire country. Take the capital and strategic locations like Kharg and the regime should collapse.
If Trump declares victory here, with such a piss poor outcome, then he is a terrible leader who has failed.
If he sends in ground troops, topples the regime and seizes the uranium then he will merely be a terrible leader who did one good thing at least in the time he blighted the Oval Office.
Look at a bloody map and tell me how you'd go about that. You make George Bush look smart when it comes to war planning.
George Bush was awful when it came to war planning. He liberated Kuwait, then sent his troops home allowing Saddam to survive.
George W Bush was far better. He eliminated Saddam and got regime change. Mission accomplished.
Robert Duvall is dead. Long live Bartholomew Roberts.
"I love the smell of Napam in the morning. It smells of victory".
Comments
What the US (and Israel) have available are orders of magnitude more lethal. Neither Ukraine nor Russia has control of the Ukrainian/border Russia skies. The US can destroy anything anywhere in Iran. The number of Iranian missiles and drones will drastically reduce. They already have been.
Learning nothing from Ukraine? A Ukrainian delegtion recently went to Washington to offer their assistance in fighting drones. They were turned away. Arrogant American pricks.
Saudi and the UAE on the other hand have made masive investments in the Ukrainian missile and drone manufacturers.
They really need to get away from the culture wars and onto economics. This kind of stuff turns a lot of people away.
Ed M is right. The only thing he’s wrong about is not using North Sea oil as well. However this would have a tiny impact compared to the alternatives.
Even if they lose, if Sir Keir leaves a legacy of UK energy he’ll have done well.
"I love the smell of Napam in the morning. It smells of victory".