that will end only when Iran decides to end it.
I assume Trump will proceed to pummel Iran, possibly targeting civilian infrastructure (isn’t that a war crime?). Meanwhile, the worldwide economy will be devastated for as long as Iran merely hangs on and manages to mount a credible threat to the Straight of Hormuz. As noted previously in this forum, if the insurers are spooked, all shipping will cease.
Some interesting possibilities are developing:
- Will ships bound for China be allowed through? If so, China thrives and the US and our allies will suffer.
- Deploying the US Navy into the kill zone at the Straight of Hormuz would be recklessly dangerous. Will Team Trump put our navy men into the cross-hairs in some crazy “shoot-the-moon” scenario to try to win this war with more bombs and bullets?
- Will the US try to step in and offer insurance for those ships? This would provide even more incentive for Iran to target those ships, as US taxpayers would be stuck with the tab. And would crew members even take the risks?
Meanwhile, President Trump told reporters that the United States and Iran were engaging in “very strong talks” toward resolving the war - while Iran is reporting that no talks are underway. Perhaps Trump is lying, or perhaps some conversations are going forward via third-party mediaries...but for now, I believe Iran more than the White House.
What kind of world are we living in when the propaganda arm of a 12th century theocracy is more credible than our own White House?