Among Trump's MANY mistakes in this little war of his is his refusing to learn from Putin's mistakes in Ukraine. Including the effectiveness of low-tech drones over high tech and conventional weapons.
I guess dictators are loathe to be told the truth.
By the way - Great to see Steve Chapman here. I wish he'd publish his own Substack!
"The U.S.-Israeli attacks will only strengthen Iran’s incentive to acquire the ultimate deterrent. Likewise with the Trump administration’s agreement to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear energy program and possibly facilitate a uranium enrichment facility. The deal creates a real risk of helping Riyadh, a longtime enemy of Iran, to build a nuclear arsenal."
Also, high ranking members of the Riyadh regime/royal family were shown to have supported Bin Laden prior to 9/11 without consequences, and now we want to give them nukes.
“On Aug. 8, as The New York Times reported, the regime demanded that the U.S. “lift its naval blockade and sanctions on Iran, withdraw the U.S. military from around Iran, pay war reparations and release frozen Iranian assets, as well as end attacks on Iran’s allies in the region and threats against the country.”
These are not unreasonable “demands” by Iran because all of these items were promised to Iran by the US in the MOU that Trump signed in June. The MOU was NOT ambiguous. It very specifically said that Iran would control the Strait of Hormuz jointly with Oman, and in consultation with the other Gulf states, and that it would only have to keep the Strait open without fees for 60 days while nuclear talks were held. Other paragraphs of the MOU quite clearly said that the US would lift its naval blockade, lift all sanctions, and unfreeze $24 billion of Iranian assets ($12 billion upon signing the MOU, and the other $12 billion after the end of the nuclear talks). The MOU specified that the US would create a $300 billion recovery fund to rebuild/repair the damage caused by our bombing, ie, reparations. The MOU also said we would make Israel stop bombing other countries in the region.
Please stop repeating the narrative that the MOU was ambiguous, and did not promise these things to Iran. It was clear, it was specific, and it made all these promises. The only thing nuclear Iran was obliged to do after 60 days of talks was to “at a minimum, dilute its uranium reserves”. Paragraph 5 even allowed Iran to charge fees on the Strait after 60 days. Vance negotiated it, and Trump signed it. Iran is owed these things.
Your breakdown of Trump's vanity‑driven push in Iran hits the nail on how the administration ignored the low‑tech drone lessons that proved decisive in Ukraine, turning a potential quick win into diplomatic embarrassment. The nuance missed in such debates mirrors the depth you’d find in a comprehensive https://fayettecountycourt.org analysis, where every detail matters. Moreover, the push to arm Saudi Arabia with civilian nuclear capabilities only fuels Tehran’s drive toward a true deterrent, echoing the same miscalculations you highlighted. It’s a stark reminder that unchecked ambition can destabilize entire regions.
Your point about Trump's vanity‑driven push for a quick win, while ignoring Putin's low‑tech drone lesson, hits the core of strategic myopia. In the same way that policymakers need transparent data, reliable https://sedgwickcountypropertyappraiser.org provide a baseline for sound decision‑making. I also appreciate you highlighting Steve Chapman’s presence; his analytical style would indeed thrive on a dedicated Substack platform. Finally, the nuclear‑energy pact with Saudi Arabia underscores how unchecked ambitions can amplify regional instability, a risk you aptly flagged.
"Iran has been a fierce and dangerous enemy for decades..."
Of the _US_? Nah. They're at best a regional power. And it should be noted that the Iranians were interested in a rapprochement with the US after 9/11; W rebuffed them.
Among Trump's MANY mistakes in this little war of his is his refusing to learn from Putin's mistakes in Ukraine. Including the effectiveness of low-tech drones over high tech and conventional weapons.
I guess dictators are loathe to be told the truth.
By the way - Great to see Steve Chapman here. I wish he'd publish his own Substack!
"The U.S.-Israeli attacks will only strengthen Iran’s incentive to acquire the ultimate deterrent. Likewise with the Trump administration’s agreement to provide Saudi Arabia with a civilian nuclear energy program and possibly facilitate a uranium enrichment facility. The deal creates a real risk of helping Riyadh, a longtime enemy of Iran, to build a nuclear arsenal."
Also, high ranking members of the Riyadh regime/royal family were shown to have supported Bin Laden prior to 9/11 without consequences, and now we want to give them nukes.
“On Aug. 8, as The New York Times reported, the regime demanded that the U.S. “lift its naval blockade and sanctions on Iran, withdraw the U.S. military from around Iran, pay war reparations and release frozen Iranian assets, as well as end attacks on Iran’s allies in the region and threats against the country.”
These are not unreasonable “demands” by Iran because all of these items were promised to Iran by the US in the MOU that Trump signed in June. The MOU was NOT ambiguous. It very specifically said that Iran would control the Strait of Hormuz jointly with Oman, and in consultation with the other Gulf states, and that it would only have to keep the Strait open without fees for 60 days while nuclear talks were held. Other paragraphs of the MOU quite clearly said that the US would lift its naval blockade, lift all sanctions, and unfreeze $24 billion of Iranian assets ($12 billion upon signing the MOU, and the other $12 billion after the end of the nuclear talks). The MOU specified that the US would create a $300 billion recovery fund to rebuild/repair the damage caused by our bombing, ie, reparations. The MOU also said we would make Israel stop bombing other countries in the region.
Please stop repeating the narrative that the MOU was ambiguous, and did not promise these things to Iran. It was clear, it was specific, and it made all these promises. The only thing nuclear Iran was obliged to do after 60 days of talks was to “at a minimum, dilute its uranium reserves”. Paragraph 5 even allowed Iran to charge fees on the Strait after 60 days. Vance negotiated it, and Trump signed it. Iran is owed these things.
Your breakdown of Trump's vanity‑driven push in Iran hits the nail on how the administration ignored the low‑tech drone lessons that proved decisive in Ukraine, turning a potential quick win into diplomatic embarrassment. The nuance missed in such debates mirrors the depth you’d find in a comprehensive https://fayettecountycourt.org analysis, where every detail matters. Moreover, the push to arm Saudi Arabia with civilian nuclear capabilities only fuels Tehran’s drive toward a true deterrent, echoing the same miscalculations you highlighted. It’s a stark reminder that unchecked ambition can destabilize entire regions.
Your point about Trump's vanity‑driven push for a quick win, while ignoring Putin's low‑tech drone lesson, hits the core of strategic myopia. In the same way that policymakers need transparent data, reliable https://sedgwickcountypropertyappraiser.org provide a baseline for sound decision‑making. I also appreciate you highlighting Steve Chapman’s presence; his analytical style would indeed thrive on a dedicated Substack platform. Finally, the nuclear‑energy pact with Saudi Arabia underscores how unchecked ambitions can amplify regional instability, a risk you aptly flagged.
"Iran has been a fierce and dangerous enemy for decades..."
Of the _US_? Nah. They're at best a regional power. And it should be noted that the Iranians were interested in a rapprochement with the US after 9/11; W rebuffed them.
The Iran debacle will serve as a monument to the monumental failure of a monumental failure.