Whatever off ramp Trump chooses, ultimately he has a partner that is Israel in this war, also run by a crooked war criminal with equally nefarious intentions while focusing on political survival, so it’s going to get complicated and has the potential for a real messy quagmire. The Epstein Files will likely have an outsized influence on his decisions.
A crucial question that remains is: what is motivating Trump’s actions regarding Iran?
Last week, I posted these 5 possible reasons for Trump to initially pursue this war:
Why Trump might be motivated to attack Iran.
1) Hope to create a “rally around the president” effect when the nation is engaged in a military conflict;
2) To serve the interests of his fellow war criminal Netanyahu;
3) To generate additional profits for the military industrial complex (perhaps including investments by his own family members?);
4) To divert attention from the Epstein files;
and (God help us)…
5) To create a “national security” pretext for altering/cancelling the 2026 election.
In hindsight, #1 clearly didn't work; #2 definitely applies; #3 looks like it is at least a side benefit for him and family (purportedly his sons have major investments in drone companies); #4 still in play; #5 too soon to tell.
One evident 'benefit' I left off the list was how this war and its effect on oil prices is a huge benefit to his buddy Putin.
Finally, I should probably add what a huge economic benefit this is to his robust campaign funders in the oil industry. I've only seen very rare mention of the fact that our own domestic oil supplies are sufficient to meet our entire consumption. Hence our oil companies' costs of production are unchanged, but they are able to sell their product at the inflated world price... resulting in huge 'windfall profits'. At the current roughly 60 cents/gallon increase in gasoline prices, I estimate that is a little over $200 million a day in immediate windfall profits. Not bad.
So for now, at least a couple ‘special friends’ of Trump are benefitting from this continued chaos.
Frankly, it’s hard to see how Trump sees enough benefit for himself in that to continue to pursue actions with such terrible downside risks. On the other hand, Trump steadfastly NEVER admits a mistake.
Unfortunately, until the Republicans in Congress get some guts, we are all along for the ride.
Someone, I'm sorry I don't know who, suggested that another reason is that Obama engineered the treaty with Iran, and Der Fuhrer despises Obama so much that he wants to burn down everything President Obama accomplished. It's a childish motive but giving how juvenile Trump is it makes perfect sense to me. Maybe not one of the top three, but certainly in there somewhere.
Great idea from a different time and a better America Victor.
Most Americans would support it, but with Republicans in control of congress, Trump in the White House, and the overwhelming influence of corporate money in everything, this logical response to current events would never even get out of the gates.
Well, Robert Reich also gave 4 reasons why T could have started the war. Certainly several of your ideas pertain -distraction from EPstein Files to EPic Fury is one for sure. I would point out on your second suggestion that unlike Netanyahu who really is a war criminal, T was not -- until he bombed Iran.
He had boats blown up in the water and then struck Venezuela, taking their leader, forcing change, and vetting their oil. There even is the matter of war at home.
I thik 4 might be taking on added urgency because of late Melinia has been woven into the story. A news report has her being friends with Epstein, and his girlfriend, long before she met Trump, and that Epstein introduced Trump to Melania.
The war is inevitably going to create great financial hardship for ordinary people all around the world as inflation, energy and food prices all rise as part of the fallout, but there will be some people who will undoubtedly profit from it and some are profiting right now.
Very true, big factor. This is a no-win situation for Trump. He loses followers/voters on his failure to fulfill his promise of no more wars, along with all the other promises on which heʻs gone in the opposite direction. Heʻs been manipulated and used by Putin and Netanyahu to the detriment of the U.S.
Trump (and Netanyahu) wonʻt accomplish regime change in Iran, the oil facilities and two desalination plants are heavily damaged, more American military and Iranian citizen lives will be lost, ships "escorted" by our military will be in extreme danger and still at great risk of being destroyed as will our ships, I imagine the war between Israel and Iran will continue and very likely escalate, and who knows what other repercussions will occur. Exiting this morass wonʻt be clean or easy no matter what.
And I have only a basic understanding of the situation. Am I wrong?
Oh, I hope so too! My worry is with his form of Dementia, added to his malignant narcissism, he might be willing to destroy the world with his demise politically! His ego and need for revenge and retribution might demand that he show he is all powerful. This is what the World has to contend with when America elects a psychopathic ,demented felon!
I keep asking myself, how and why did my fellow Americans fall again for this fraudulent felon again????!
My guess would be that the Americans who fell for Trump had much the same general attitudes, opinions, and qualities he has, which to me is highly depressing and infuriating at the same time
I believe it was at Vaudeville shows that a poor performer was pulled off the stage with a hook. Trump and his minions must be removed asap lest more Iranians, more Lebanese, more Palestinians, more Israelis and more Americans die.
Yes, indeed. Recently I attended a performance of Come From Away at the Phoenix Little Theatre. While it's the story of the townspeople who helped people grounded in Canada by September 11th, the theme is how we learn to trust one another. How will the Iranians learn to trust us again?
Other repercussions include cyber attacks and dirty bombs on DC, Mar-a-Lago and American oil infrastructure.
FBI director Patel fired Iran specialists in counter terrorism. Thirty percent of agents have been transferred to ICE. The DHS head of counterterrorism is a twenty-three year old with zero experience. DNI Gabbard is loyal to Putin who is giving Iran targeting intelligence. The Republicans senators are responsible because they voted to confirm these idiots.
He doesn't care about followers or voters. Everything he does is for the money it puts in his pocket. The billionaires need to realize that he'll be after their wallets when the 99% run out of money and property.
Trump’s trying to exit, Netanyahu’s trying to expand, Gulf states want Iran neutered but not chaos disrupting their infrastructure (which is currently burning).
Iran’s executing slow-burn attrition: make the conflict so costly through cost asymmetry ($20K drones vs $3M Patriots, 800+ burned in three days) that the U.S. can’t sustain it. Oil $100/barrel, Qatar LNG offline, $1B/day burn rate; Iran’s intended outcomes, not unintended consequences.
Competing extraction schemes with no coherent strategy. Kushner got his $3.5B. Defense contractors got record stock prices. Netanyahu got co-combatant status. Now Trump’s stuck with the bill and the bodies while Iran executes exactly the plan they telegraphed.
Not cornered by consequences. Walked into a trap while the people who pushed him in collected their checks.
Trump can and will still use this war domestically to fulfill his personal aims.
They didn't even bother with a draft when Saddam invaded Kuwait. When a reporter asked a Saudi general, way back when, why the Saudis weren't ramping up their army he said "because we have our white slaves fight for us." It probably sounded better in Arabic. The US absolutely refuses to learn from history, ever.
Johan, America is stuck with the bill, not Trump; he only plays with other people's money and lives - in this case ours. In a few months, he'll create commemorative coins to market from the White House on government time.
Johan - "Iran’s intended outcomes, not unintended consequences." Iran has been inflicting retribution on the world for centuries. Trump is a complete rookie in this game.
This comes a few days after he rubbished a Marco Rubio statement that a pre-emptive strike by Israel forced the US to attack, claiming instead that he forced Israel into the war.
Trump’s a malignant narcissist and convicted sexual abuser operating textbook authoritarian confusion—Stalin and Mussolini playbook. He’s a disease that cancer wouldn’t even get its hands dirty with. Flood the zone with contradictory narratives so no single story can be challenged, no accountability can stick.
The constant lying isn’t incompetence, it’s operational doctrine. When the stated reason for war changes daily (unconditional surrender → regime change → nuclear sites → actually we won → need to keep fighting), you can’t pin down which claim failed. Creates chaos that prevents coherent opposition while demonstrating unconstrained power: “I can say anything, change it tomorrow, and you can’t stop me.”
The inconsistency IS the point. Authority that doesn’t need to justify itself, just perform dominance.
Mike - What I don’t understand (but because it’s T I actually do understand) is how T can claim that they “planned ahead” for the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz then why weren’t they able to prevent it from being closed? Also, how can T claim that he has “already won” the war but still needs to “finish it”? If you have already won something then there’s nothing left to finish, right?
Iran has managed to destroy some of our defense systems and some bases (while T is responsible for killing 13 of our own soldiers and countless civilians - while blowing through our missiles including during the February attack) but he rewards Putin with canceling sanctions on Russian oil. The same Putin who possibly helped Iran target those systems and bases is definitely the same Putin who put bounties on our soldiers during Iraq and Afghanistan. The destruction might have been avoided if T accepted Zelenskyy’s offer to help with his battle tested drone system. If T would have accepted the help we might not have lost the troops on their base or our radar systems. We will never know.
Slightly off topic: Domestically because of this war we are about to bail out the farmers again. I have nothing against farmers but shouldn’t the administration have thought about all of the consequences/scenarios before becoming Netanyahu’s butt buddy?
Totally off topic: Is anyone else perplexed about the FBI using UFC fighters to train agents how to fight in the academy? Our taxpayer dollars are paying for this.
Way off topic: Do you think that FIFA is going to ask for their peace prize back once they find out that they are not going to be able to play a full FIFA World Cup? I know that I would. Especially since the USA administration hasn’t paid its bills let alone the teams that won’t be able to participate. I ‘m doubting it considering what I have read about the head guy and his special relationship with T. If I were him I’d begin to be careful considering what happened to the last guy who had a special relationship with T.
The war crimes are just piling up. Yesterday, Hegseth foolishly claimed that the US military would 'show no quarter to its enemies' a clear signal that the US military may be operating under no rules of engagement despite his claim that civilians are not targeted.
"he called on other nations to help????" The way this son-of-a-bitch treats people? He actually thinks he has friends in the global community???? Whoa.....
= He doesn't know what to do anymore. But this type of man clearly can't afford to show weakness. So he passes off his weakness as strength. That's worse than back in the schoolyard with all those bullies! They were the biggest wimps. But they were just loud and violent. And sneaky. Until someone finally punched them in the face.
The one option guaranteed to be accurate: He'll lie about what he's done, why he's done it, blame Biden and/or Obama for every negative development, claim victory and ownership of any positive development, deny any personal upside for himself or his cronies, and ignore future consequences.
The war will be over when Trump feels it in his "bone-spurs".
The Iranians should make it an absolute pre-condition for any re-opening of Hormuz that they write the terms of Trump's unconditional surrender and that he be required to deliver those Iranian surrender terms in a globally televised address.
IOW, the Iranians hold most of the cards and Trump is trying to draw to an inside straight.
Karma is a bitch!
You and your readers are cordially invited to read my latest Substack ("Backward, Christian Soldiers!") on this.
A variation on this is my recommendation that the Trump administration find out from the Iranians what their price would be to open the straits. Trump should pay that price. It would probably be that the war be stopped and sanctions lifted. That price is not high as in the end it might eventually lead to the defeat of the regime by strengthening the middle class in Iran
I'm in full armchair Napoleon mode today. But were I the Iranian regime, I would demand the following fiour non-negotiable conditions be met before I ceased hostilities in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz:
1) Immediate cessation of all armed hostilities and withdrawal of all U.S. and Israeli armed forces (air, naval and ground) in the theater
2) Pledge not to attack Iranian territory or its people (a la the resolution to the Bay of Pigs)
3) Payment of reparations and lifting of sanctions
4) No interference in Iranian enrichment of its stockpile of Uranium 238.
I might also include in my "ask" of items to negotiate a demand that Israel disarm all its WMDs (nuclear, chemcial and biologicaL, subject to international inspection by the U.N.
I would also make it non-negotiable that Trump read out the terms of his unconditional surrender in a globally-televised address, broadcast time optimized for the Iranian viewing public.
While I appreciate the spirit behind your comment -- thanks for it, by the way -- I would simply remind you that all suitabler Iranian vessels have already been sunk. Instead, put Trump in a gimp suit with a ball gag (a la Pulp Fiction) and have him speak from the ruins of the school at Minab. (Have to take the ball gag out while he's speaking, so before and after.)
Didn't Bush do the same thing with his stupid Weapons of Mass Destruction war, that led to the great upheaval in the Middle East. But hey, anything for a photo op celebrating a mythical victory.
This is a pointless and futile war but rooting for the the Iranian regime is not a good look. They are brutal fanatics who have killed thousands of their own citizens and imprisoned many more. No one would (or should) mourn the end of this dreadful regime even while objecting strongly to the means being employed by the US, or the dubious motivations of the Trump administration.
He will do anything to keep attention away from his criminality in the Epstein case. He will bring the country down, he will sacrifice the lives of our armed forces, he does not care about anything but himself. We cannot forget that he called them “losers and suckers.” Their lives mean nothing to him. He is sharing sensitive information
with Putin, who is passing it to the Iranians, who are then bombing bases which are used by American forces.
This is espionage and treason, yet the Republican Congress does nothing to stop him.
He starts an unwanted, unnecessary war that effs everything up, then he has the gall to ask other countries for help? I hope they laugh in his face. FFS.
But they are: Macron sent a ship into the area. Iran is not an area that is easy for ground warfare, and yet the US is sending more than a thousand troupes -- whose boots will be on the ground? Whose bodies will be on the ground.
The Iranians have attacked British bases in Cyprus and Iraq so the British government has to consider how best to defend its own troops. French warplanes have intercepted Iranian drones in Turkish airspace. Modern warfare has an unfortunate effect of drawing in other countries by virtue of their alliances and interests abroad.
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
Good luck with that. Apparently Brazil's success was due to the actions of their Supreme Court. Is your Supreme Court going to help you get rid of The Donald? Tripping over their robes in their new Florsheim shoes...
"How did Brazil’s courts check Bolsonaro when other democracies have let would-be autocrats go unpunished? We argue that the conviction of the former president was the culmination of a series of measures taken by the country’s two high courts — the Federal Supreme Court (or STF, Brazil’s supreme court) and the Superior Electoral Court (or TSE, the high court that oversees national elections) — both during and after Bolsonaro’s presidency, that paved the way for his recent sentencing to more than 27 years in prison. Acting largely in self-defense amid high uncertainty while Bolsonaro was still president, the high courts worked both to limit executive aggrandizement and to prevent his attempts to manipulate the electoral rules, all while empowering his rivals and avoiding direct confrontation with congressional elites. After Bolsonaro left office, the high courts swiftly declared him ineligible to run until 2030 and oversaw several criminal investigations that eventually led to his indictment, trial, conviction, and arrest." https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how-to-bring-authoritarians-to-justice/
Ref: Bay of Pigs. When you think about it there is a parallel - the Spooks and Cubans who planned and participated in the invasion expected the Cuban masses to rise up and greet them for a counter revolution. Wishful thionking. Fast foreward - Iran, the wizard and his cronies in the White house and also among the Zionists had similar wishful thinking encouraging the people to protest and promising them support to rise up. Again, help never came and the folks did not rise up.
The spooks seem to want to believe the exiles and the politicians elected by them engage in wishful thinking. Remember "Curve Ball" in Iraq. Did the folks really rise up against Sadam?
Because we do offer refugees from revolutions they cause our foreign policy to be one of revenge and not constructive engagement.
That man is a fool. It's WAY past time for the Cabinet to collectively grow a set and invoke the 25th Amendment...although that would leave us with JD Vance. G-d help us.
What an idiot to say that other people need to help open up the Straights of Hormuz. HE started this unnecessary war. HE has alienated all of our allies. HE has put our military (and the entire US) in harms way.
Were it not for those 150+ dead Iranian school girls whom Trump and Kegsbreath killed with the push of a button, I'd be laughing my ass off.
Word is that Trump (via Lil Marco) is secretly suing for peace. But the Iranians have essentially told him to go fuck himself, as well they should. (See my latest Substack piece "Backward, Christian Soldiers!" for more on this.)
Dr. Reich, so lemme get this straight….they politicized justice, tried to feed ordinary people a prepackaged indictment, and then got shocked when actual human beings with consciences said, “No thanks.” Fascism always seems to have this same weakness. It keeps mistaking fear for consent and propaganda for legitimacy and lemme just say nothin’ messes up an authoritarian script like ordinary people refusing to play dumb. These bamas really thought they could hand citizens a political hit job and call it justice. Embarrassing. www.xplisset.com
Well. If Trump deploys option #2; protect ships in the Straight, then we'll surely see option #3 as well. We'll be engaged in and around Iran for the foreseeable future.
I chose option two because the current administration approach is might makes right and it appears that sacrificing American troops is not something that Trump worries about- they are expendable.
I can't think of any other options, you nailed it. However, enabling Russia in order to gain supplies of oil is another great big travesty. What's with trump and Putin? And where does Melania fit in? One more question: Where does Melania fit in with the Epstein travesty? I have questions.
Robin... There is excellent video of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in speech to Congress on 3/5/26 re/ the alleged ties between Trump, Epstein, and Russia. I will put the link here.
Whatever off ramp Trump chooses, ultimately he has a partner that is Israel in this war, also run by a crooked war criminal with equally nefarious intentions while focusing on political survival, so it’s going to get complicated and has the potential for a real messy quagmire. The Epstein Files will likely have an outsized influence on his decisions.
A crucial question that remains is: what is motivating Trump’s actions regarding Iran?
Last week, I posted these 5 possible reasons for Trump to initially pursue this war:
Why Trump might be motivated to attack Iran.
1) Hope to create a “rally around the president” effect when the nation is engaged in a military conflict;
2) To serve the interests of his fellow war criminal Netanyahu;
3) To generate additional profits for the military industrial complex (perhaps including investments by his own family members?);
4) To divert attention from the Epstein files;
and (God help us)…
5) To create a “national security” pretext for altering/cancelling the 2026 election.
In hindsight, #1 clearly didn't work; #2 definitely applies; #3 looks like it is at least a side benefit for him and family (purportedly his sons have major investments in drone companies); #4 still in play; #5 too soon to tell.
One evident 'benefit' I left off the list was how this war and its effect on oil prices is a huge benefit to his buddy Putin.
Finally, I should probably add what a huge economic benefit this is to his robust campaign funders in the oil industry. I've only seen very rare mention of the fact that our own domestic oil supplies are sufficient to meet our entire consumption. Hence our oil companies' costs of production are unchanged, but they are able to sell their product at the inflated world price... resulting in huge 'windfall profits'. At the current roughly 60 cents/gallon increase in gasoline prices, I estimate that is a little over $200 million a day in immediate windfall profits. Not bad.
So for now, at least a couple ‘special friends’ of Trump are benefitting from this continued chaos.
Frankly, it’s hard to see how Trump sees enough benefit for himself in that to continue to pursue actions with such terrible downside risks. On the other hand, Trump steadfastly NEVER admits a mistake.
Unfortunately, until the Republicans in Congress get some guts, we are all along for the ride.
Someone, I'm sorry I don't know who, suggested that another reason is that Obama engineered the treaty with Iran, and Der Fuhrer despises Obama so much that he wants to burn down everything President Obama accomplished. It's a childish motive but giving how juvenile Trump is it makes perfect sense to me. Maybe not one of the top three, but certainly in there somewhere.
Altogether both possible and probable, given his gigantic ego.
Yep.
Good point. The oil industry will profit from this war. We must enact a windfall profits surtax right now!
Great idea from a different time and a better America Victor.
Most Americans would support it, but with Republicans in control of congress, Trump in the White House, and the overwhelming influence of corporate money in everything, this logical response to current events would never even get out of the gates.
Make Energy Companies pay the entire cost of the "excursion" and compensate the families of every soldier who dies fighting Trumps battle.
Well, Robert Reich also gave 4 reasons why T could have started the war. Certainly several of your ideas pertain -distraction from EPstein Files to EPic Fury is one for sure. I would point out on your second suggestion that unlike Netanyahu who really is a war criminal, T was not -- until he bombed Iran.
Hegseth might be a war criminal, and Trump is his boss.
'Might'?!!
Well, he did declare war on Venezuela after he bombed the sh!t out of civilians.
War on own country's citizenry? Crimes against humanity too many to list? Blatant, and too many to list, acts of treason?
Maybe a public hanging from the yardarms of a Battleship of both Trump and Kegsbreath would be an appropriate punishment for treason.
T is a civil war criminal !
He had boats blown up in the water and then struck Venezuela, taking their leader, forcing change, and vetting their oil. There even is the matter of war at home.
6) Reward petroleum industry contributors by opening up offshore drilling in California and elsewhere.
Another reason:
War on Iran helps Trump's boss Putin
Putin is turning on him by showing Iran our information and certain locations which had been shared with him willingly, as I understand it.
1 and 4 seem likely suspects.
I thik 4 might be taking on added urgency because of late Melinia has been woven into the story. A news report has her being friends with Epstein, and his girlfriend, long before she met Trump, and that Epstein introduced Trump to Melania.
The war is inevitably going to create great financial hardship for ordinary people all around the world as inflation, energy and food prices all rise as part of the fallout, but there will be some people who will undoubtedly profit from it and some are profiting right now.
https://theconversation.com/who-profits-from-war-with-iran-understanding-that-will-be-key-to-resolving-the-conflict-277889?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20Weekender%20-%203704737891&utm_content=The%20Weekender%20-%203704737891+CID_9f57d9cc6e78e4897094b6df50b76a74&utm_source=campaign_monitor_uk&utm_term=Who%20profits%20from%20war%20with%20Iran%20Understanding%20that%20will%20be%20key%20to%20resolving%20the%20conflict
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/07/politics/iran-war-prediction-markets-polymarket-kalshi
I worry most about #5. This seems like the best way possible for him to win: stop worrying about what we think forevermore.
I think your analysis is right on point! Not comforting, but accurate.
Imo if you asked Trump "Why," you might get one of your answers one day and a different one the next.
Thank you for your explanation.
I'm going for 2 & 3.
Very true, big factor. This is a no-win situation for Trump. He loses followers/voters on his failure to fulfill his promise of no more wars, along with all the other promises on which heʻs gone in the opposite direction. Heʻs been manipulated and used by Putin and Netanyahu to the detriment of the U.S.
Trump (and Netanyahu) wonʻt accomplish regime change in Iran, the oil facilities and two desalination plants are heavily damaged, more American military and Iranian citizen lives will be lost, ships "escorted" by our military will be in extreme danger and still at great risk of being destroyed as will our ships, I imagine the war between Israel and Iran will continue and very likely escalate, and who knows what other repercussions will occur. Exiting this morass wonʻt be clean or easy no matter what.
And I have only a basic understanding of the situation. Am I wrong?
- Karen Cooper
It seems like we’re witnessing his slow creeping demise on the Trump Show. Hopefully these are his final performances.
Oh, I hope so too! My worry is with his form of Dementia, added to his malignant narcissism, he might be willing to destroy the world with his demise politically! His ego and need for revenge and retribution might demand that he show he is all powerful. This is what the World has to contend with when America elects a psychopathic ,demented felon!
I keep asking myself, how and why did my fellow Americans fall again for this fraudulent felon again????!
My guess would be that the Americans who fell for Trump had much the same general attitudes, opinions, and qualities he has, which to me is highly depressing and infuriating at the same time
- Karen Cooper
I believe it was at Vaudeville shows that a poor performer was pulled off the stage with a hook. Trump and his minions must be removed asap lest more Iranians, more Lebanese, more Palestinians, more Israelis and more Americans die.
Absolutely was thinking the same and additionally how about the trap doors that used to open? They need to be serviced.
Yes, indeed. Recently I attended a performance of Come From Away at the Phoenix Little Theatre. While it's the story of the townspeople who helped people grounded in Canada by September 11th, the theme is how we learn to trust one another. How will the Iranians learn to trust us again?
How will any country trust us again? Many of them will be seeking their own retribution.
Unfortunately his last act will be to destroy the US. It's his super power.
Demise of Trump? Can I get some of what you're smoking?
🙏
Other repercussions include cyber attacks and dirty bombs on DC, Mar-a-Lago and American oil infrastructure.
FBI director Patel fired Iran specialists in counter terrorism. Thirty percent of agents have been transferred to ICE. The DHS head of counterterrorism is a twenty-three year old with zero experience. DNI Gabbard is loyal to Putin who is giving Iran targeting intelligence. The Republicans senators are responsible because they voted to confirm these idiots.
He doesn't care about followers or voters. Everything he does is for the money it puts in his pocket. The billionaires need to realize that he'll be after their wallets when the 99% run out of money and property.
Trump’s trying to exit, Netanyahu’s trying to expand, Gulf states want Iran neutered but not chaos disrupting their infrastructure (which is currently burning).
Iran’s executing slow-burn attrition: make the conflict so costly through cost asymmetry ($20K drones vs $3M Patriots, 800+ burned in three days) that the U.S. can’t sustain it. Oil $100/barrel, Qatar LNG offline, $1B/day burn rate; Iran’s intended outcomes, not unintended consequences.
Competing extraction schemes with no coherent strategy. Kushner got his $3.5B. Defense contractors got record stock prices. Netanyahu got co-combatant status. Now Trump’s stuck with the bill and the bodies while Iran executes exactly the plan they telegraphed.
Not cornered by consequences. Walked into a trap while the people who pushed him in collected their checks.
Trump can and will still use this war domestically to fulfill his personal aims.
—Johan
The Gulf states always show their colors. With all the decades and trillion petrodollars they haven’t lifted a finger to help the Palestinian people.
Perfect point, shows they are all money over everything.
Some people are cashing in already.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/07/politics/iran-war-prediction-markets-polymarket-kalshi
They didn't even bother with a draft when Saddam invaded Kuwait. When a reporter asked a Saudi general, way back when, why the Saudis weren't ramping up their army he said "because we have our white slaves fight for us." It probably sounded better in Arabic. The US absolutely refuses to learn from history, ever.
Johan, America is stuck with the bill, not Trump; he only plays with other people's money and lives - in this case ours. In a few months, he'll create commemorative coins to market from the White House on government time.
It sure has distracted us from the Epstein Files.
Not All of us! I’m ready for the arrests to start and finish off the Careers of the Pedophile Epstein Class!
Yep, exactly
Distracted? Not at all. Still a lot of coverage all the time.
Nothing like like bringing the US economy to its knees in an economic death spiral to avert attention away from a sex scandal.
AND - Where are the rest of the Trumpstein Files with the names of the slimes that abused girls?
Johan - "Iran’s intended outcomes, not unintended consequences." Iran has been inflicting retribution on the world for centuries. Trump is a complete rookie in this game.
Yes, completely agree
Trump is now blaming Kushner and others for forcing his hand.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/trump-throws-allies-under-the-bus-as-he-blames-hegseth-jared-witkoff-and-rubio-ovbrr-decision-to-bomb-iran/ar-AA1YvAYv
This comes a few days after he rubbished a Marco Rubio statement that a pre-emptive strike by Israel forced the US to attack, claiming instead that he forced Israel into the war.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5764866-trump-forced-israel-iran/
He changes his mind every day.
Trump’s a malignant narcissist and convicted sexual abuser operating textbook authoritarian confusion—Stalin and Mussolini playbook. He’s a disease that cancer wouldn’t even get its hands dirty with. Flood the zone with contradictory narratives so no single story can be challenged, no accountability can stick.
The constant lying isn’t incompetence, it’s operational doctrine. When the stated reason for war changes daily (unconditional surrender → regime change → nuclear sites → actually we won → need to keep fighting), you can’t pin down which claim failed. Creates chaos that prevents coherent opposition while demonstrating unconstrained power: “I can say anything, change it tomorrow, and you can’t stop me.”
The inconsistency IS the point. Authority that doesn’t need to justify itself, just perform dominance.
Mike - What I don’t understand (but because it’s T I actually do understand) is how T can claim that they “planned ahead” for the possibility of Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz then why weren’t they able to prevent it from being closed? Also, how can T claim that he has “already won” the war but still needs to “finish it”? If you have already won something then there’s nothing left to finish, right?
Iran has managed to destroy some of our defense systems and some bases (while T is responsible for killing 13 of our own soldiers and countless civilians - while blowing through our missiles including during the February attack) but he rewards Putin with canceling sanctions on Russian oil. The same Putin who possibly helped Iran target those systems and bases is definitely the same Putin who put bounties on our soldiers during Iraq and Afghanistan. The destruction might have been avoided if T accepted Zelenskyy’s offer to help with his battle tested drone system. If T would have accepted the help we might not have lost the troops on their base or our radar systems. We will never know.
Slightly off topic: Domestically because of this war we are about to bail out the farmers again. I have nothing against farmers but shouldn’t the administration have thought about all of the consequences/scenarios before becoming Netanyahu’s butt buddy?
Totally off topic: Is anyone else perplexed about the FBI using UFC fighters to train agents how to fight in the academy? Our taxpayer dollars are paying for this.
Way off topic: Do you think that FIFA is going to ask for their peace prize back once they find out that they are not going to be able to play a full FIFA World Cup? I know that I would. Especially since the USA administration hasn’t paid its bills let alone the teams that won’t be able to participate. I ‘m doubting it considering what I have read about the head guy and his special relationship with T. If I were him I’d begin to be careful considering what happened to the last guy who had a special relationship with T.
Simple answer for at least first 1st question: he lies like he breaths.
The US has killed schoolgirls in Iran and Israel healthcare workers in Lebanon.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/14/lebanon-israeli-rockets-kill-healthcare-workers
The war crimes are just piling up. Yesterday, Hegseth foolishly claimed that the US military would 'show no quarter to its enemies' a clear signal that the US military may be operating under no rules of engagement despite his claim that civilians are not targeted.
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-defense-department-iran-hegseth-civilian-casualties?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature
"he called on other nations to help????" The way this son-of-a-bitch treats people? He actually thinks he has friends in the global community???? Whoa.....
He’s an idiot! But we already know that.
"Coalition of the willing"-
Not so willing these days.
What bridge has not been burned?
= He doesn't know what to do anymore. But this type of man clearly can't afford to show weakness. So he passes off his weakness as strength. That's worse than back in the schoolyard with all those bullies! They were the biggest wimps. But they were just loud and violent. And sneaky. Until someone finally punched them in the face.
The one option guaranteed to be accurate: He'll lie about what he's done, why he's done it, blame Biden and/or Obama for every negative development, claim victory and ownership of any positive development, deny any personal upside for himself or his cronies, and ignore future consequences.
The war will be over when Trump feels it in his "bone-spurs".
The Iranians should make it an absolute pre-condition for any re-opening of Hormuz that they write the terms of Trump's unconditional surrender and that he be required to deliver those Iranian surrender terms in a globally televised address.
IOW, the Iranians hold most of the cards and Trump is trying to draw to an inside straight.
Karma is a bitch!
You and your readers are cordially invited to read my latest Substack ("Backward, Christian Soldiers!") on this.
A variation on this is my recommendation that the Trump administration find out from the Iranians what their price would be to open the straits. Trump should pay that price. It would probably be that the war be stopped and sanctions lifted. That price is not high as in the end it might eventually lead to the defeat of the regime by strengthening the middle class in Iran
I'm in full armchair Napoleon mode today. But were I the Iranian regime, I would demand the following fiour non-negotiable conditions be met before I ceased hostilities in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz:
1) Immediate cessation of all armed hostilities and withdrawal of all U.S. and Israeli armed forces (air, naval and ground) in the theater
2) Pledge not to attack Iranian territory or its people (a la the resolution to the Bay of Pigs)
3) Payment of reparations and lifting of sanctions
4) No interference in Iranian enrichment of its stockpile of Uranium 238.
I might also include in my "ask" of items to negotiate a demand that Israel disarm all its WMDs (nuclear, chemcial and biologicaL, subject to international inspection by the U.N.
I would also make it non-negotiable that Trump read out the terms of his unconditional surrender in a globally-televised address, broadcast time optimized for the Iranian viewing public.
How about televising Trump's address as he speaks from the deck of a ship in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz?
(Taking a leaf out of US history where we insisted Japan signing Terms of surrender on deck of the Big MO.)
While I appreciate the spirit behind your comment -- thanks for it, by the way -- I would simply remind you that all suitabler Iranian vessels have already been sunk. Instead, put Trump in a gimp suit with a ball gag (a la Pulp Fiction) and have him speak from the ruins of the school at Minab. (Have to take the ball gag out while he's speaking, so before and after.)
Charles, your suggestion is much better. The parents' of the murdered children might ring around him as he speaks.
I recall that he continually walked behind Mrs. Clinton during an electoral debate and my disgust that the moderator did not stop him.
Didn't Bush do the same thing with his stupid Weapons of Mass Destruction war, that led to the great upheaval in the Middle East. But hey, anything for a photo op celebrating a mythical victory.
Yes and no. Bush celebrated a victory in front of a banner. Whereas the Japanese signed the documents of surrender aboard the Battleship Missouri.
Trump would never have the guts to stand on the deck of a battleship in the Straits of Hormuz and sign anything.
This is a pointless and futile war but rooting for the the Iranian regime is not a good look. They are brutal fanatics who have killed thousands of their own citizens and imprisoned many more. No one would (or should) mourn the end of this dreadful regime even while objecting strongly to the means being employed by the US, or the dubious motivations of the Trump administration.
Thank you.
Those escort ships will be torpedoed. Then what?
Then we finally get around to squaring our United Nations dues; what a joke...!
Oh, crikey. My understanding is that the Navy said No.
Well, my.
He decapitated a lot of the armed forces. But.
He will do anything to keep attention away from his criminality in the Epstein case. He will bring the country down, he will sacrifice the lives of our armed forces, he does not care about anything but himself. We cannot forget that he called them “losers and suckers.” Their lives mean nothing to him. He is sharing sensitive information
with Putin, who is passing it to the Iranians, who are then bombing bases which are used by American forces.
This is espionage and treason, yet the Republican Congress does nothing to stop him.
Is the Republican Congress also guilty of treason for not removing Trump, Rubio and Hegseth from office?
I don’t think the Republican Congress is guilty of treason. Dereliction of duty more likely.
Of course, it’s also not uncommon for his words to just boil off.
Mary Ann, His words are mostly hot air!
His words are to be taken seriously, not because they are ignorant, nonsensical and dangerous, but it is his actions that must be taken seriously
Yes, Joan. Even though what he says changes from day to day, you are correct to say we must pay attention to his actions. Thank you.
He starts an unwanted, unnecessary war that effs everything up, then he has the gall to ask other countries for help? I hope they laugh in his face. FFS.
Oh they will.
I'm not so sure...the global economy is at stake, unfortunately.
How he dares to ask for foreign help from “his” allies, whereas a year ago he blowed up the relations with Europe. Let’s him clean up his mess.
But they are: Macron sent a ship into the area. Iran is not an area that is easy for ground warfare, and yet the US is sending more than a thousand troupes -- whose boots will be on the ground? Whose bodies will be on the ground.
The Iranians have attacked British bases in Cyprus and Iraq so the British government has to consider how best to defend its own troops. French warplanes have intercepted Iranian drones in Turkish airspace. Modern warfare has an unfortunate effect of drawing in other countries by virtue of their alliances and interests abroad.
Way too many bodies!!
How many nations' bodies will lie on the ground?
Will the spilled blood intermingle?
What of the hearts of parents of the murdered school children?
Project 2026 If Brazil can do it, so can we!
Win the Senate and House, Impeach and Prosecute.
ORGANIZE ORGANIZE ORGANIZE!!!!!
ORGANIZE OVER THE COMMON GOOD DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. JUST READ THE PLATFORM BULLET POINTS. ORGANIZE!!!!
ALLEGIANCE TO OUR PLATFORM AND THE CANDIDATE THAT PROMOTES OUR PLATFORM!
GOOGLE YOUR STATES DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM TO READ IT!
MAKE AMERICA GRATEFUL AGAIN!
The Democratic Platform IS the Preamble to Our Constitution
The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Democratic Party should be the party of Interdependent voters..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth (Official Audio) Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth 1967
He needs to be impeached long before January 2027.
You can sum his message up in one .clip...
https://youtu.be/lXKesQCjq-w?si=GiIsliSCaulHdF0V
Brilliant!
MARCH OUT ON MARCH 28.
It's got to be millions of us.
"If Brazil can do it, so can we!"
Good luck with that. Apparently Brazil's success was due to the actions of their Supreme Court. Is your Supreme Court going to help you get rid of The Donald? Tripping over their robes in their new Florsheim shoes...
"How did Brazil’s courts check Bolsonaro when other democracies have let would-be autocrats go unpunished? We argue that the conviction of the former president was the culmination of a series of measures taken by the country’s two high courts — the Federal Supreme Court (or STF, Brazil’s supreme court) and the Superior Electoral Court (or TSE, the high court that oversees national elections) — both during and after Bolsonaro’s presidency, that paved the way for his recent sentencing to more than 27 years in prison. Acting largely in self-defense amid high uncertainty while Bolsonaro was still president, the high courts worked both to limit executive aggrandizement and to prevent his attempts to manipulate the electoral rules, all while empowering his rivals and avoiding direct confrontation with congressional elites. After Bolsonaro left office, the high courts swiftly declared him ineligible to run until 2030 and oversaw several criminal investigations that eventually led to his indictment, trial, conviction, and arrest." https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how-to-bring-authoritarians-to-justice/
He can't back out. The TACO thing is too humiliating. Plus, Kegsbreath is too invested here: his "masculinity" depends on "winning" this video game.
Anyone’s guess really. I expect the unexpected in this situation. Every day, every weekend like the bay of pigs over and over.
Bay of Pigs? ... do you even know what you are talking about?
I do.
At age 88, I have forgotten much but can still access Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Pigs_Invasion
Ref: Bay of Pigs. When you think about it there is a parallel - the Spooks and Cubans who planned and participated in the invasion expected the Cuban masses to rise up and greet them for a counter revolution. Wishful thionking. Fast foreward - Iran, the wizard and his cronies in the White house and also among the Zionists had similar wishful thinking encouraging the people to protest and promising them support to rise up. Again, help never came and the folks did not rise up.
The spooks seem to want to believe the exiles and the politicians elected by them engage in wishful thinking. Remember "Curve Ball" in Iraq. Did the folks really rise up against Sadam?
Because we do offer refugees from revolutions they cause our foreign policy to be one of revenge and not constructive engagement.
https://youtu.be/EsoY3FpW7Ik?si=Khnx7qjhiWltbNet
That man is a fool. It's WAY past time for the Cabinet to collectively grow a set and invoke the 25th Amendment...although that would leave us with JD Vance. G-d help us.
What an idiot to say that other people need to help open up the Straights of Hormuz. HE started this unnecessary war. HE has alienated all of our allies. HE has put our military (and the entire US) in harms way.
Every American school -- let me repeat that, EVERY AMERICAN SCHOOL -- is now a legitimate military target for Iranian military retaliation
It doesn't help that HE never accepts blame for anything and instead blamed the Iranians themselves.
Were it not for those 150+ dead Iranian school girls whom Trump and Kegsbreath killed with the push of a button, I'd be laughing my ass off.
Word is that Trump (via Lil Marco) is secretly suing for peace. But the Iranians have essentially told him to go fuck himself, as well they should. (See my latest Substack piece "Backward, Christian Soldiers!" for more on this.)
Scary
What did Trump say? "Bad things happen in war."
What's good for the goose . . .
Settle down, Charles.
Blocked
Dr. Reich, so lemme get this straight….they politicized justice, tried to feed ordinary people a prepackaged indictment, and then got shocked when actual human beings with consciences said, “No thanks.” Fascism always seems to have this same weakness. It keeps mistaking fear for consent and propaganda for legitimacy and lemme just say nothin’ messes up an authoritarian script like ordinary people refusing to play dumb. These bamas really thought they could hand citizens a political hit job and call it justice. Embarrassing. www.xplisset.com
"They keep mistaking fear for consent and propaganda for legitimacy..."
Brilliant.
Well. If Trump deploys option #2; protect ships in the Straight, then we'll surely see option #3 as well. We'll be engaged in and around Iran for the foreseeable future.
Can you say "meatgrinder"? See Vietnam for more on that.
Calling it a "Meathrinder" might be unfair to meatgrinders.
tRump will do what tRump always does: whatever is best for tRump.
The man will bob & weave from one day to the next until he can no more, either by shaking off these mortal coils or moving Moscow.
I chose option two because the current administration approach is might makes right and it appears that sacrificing American troops is not something that Trump worries about- they are expendable.
I can't think of any other options, you nailed it. However, enabling Russia in order to gain supplies of oil is another great big travesty. What's with trump and Putin? And where does Melania fit in? One more question: Where does Melania fit in with the Epstein travesty? I have questions.
Robin... There is excellent video of Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse in speech to Congress on 3/5/26 re/ the alleged ties between Trump, Epstein, and Russia. I will put the link here.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=InWPxsba878