No. of Recommendations: 10
Trump extends ceasefire in Iran, citing ‘seriously fractured’ Iranian government
And on a Tuesday, no less.
So despite claiming that if Iran didn't come to the table they'd be living in Hell with the bombs falling all around them, Iran instead gets handed an open-ended ceasefire. Trump's post gives Iran control over how long the ceasefire runs - which, why? Why give Iran the ability to determine when the ceasefire ends, with no obligation on their part? Other than perhaps to spare Trump the difficulty of having to confront the expiration of another deadline that he is manifestly unwilling to act on?
I suppose the other possibility is that we're simply unwilling to restart the bombing, and that we're just going to rely on the blockade going forward in order to try to bring Iran to the table. That would be...surprising. That seems like a slow squeeze strategy, which doesn't seem like a good fit for a President that seems to prefer quick decisive maneuvers rather than a long plodding approach, and almost certainly doesn't want high gas prices over July 4th. But maybe that's where we're going?
No. of Recommendations: 3
I suppose the other possibility is that we're simply unwilling to restart the bombing, and that we're just going to rely on the blockade going forward in order to try to bring Iran to the table. That would be...surprising. That seems like a slow squeeze strategy, which doesn't seem like a good fit for a President that seems to prefer quick decisive maneuvers rather than a long plodding approach, and almost certainly doesn't want high gas prices over July 4th. But maybe that's where we're going?
Rant #1, from over 20 years ago, updated and amended, for Iran: the objective of the operation is to obstruct other people's oil production, to maximize profits for USian big oil. A full on war results in Billions spent, and lots of dead people, including a few USians. Looks bad in the papers and upsets civilians at their breakfast. And, eventually, a full on war will result in someone unable to carry on farther.
An embargo, however, does not spend Billions on ammo. Does not result in lots of dead people. So an embargo is more sustainable. It only obstructs other people's oil production. The Pirate King says it out loud "ships coming to Texas and Louisiana to load oil". That is the objective of the operation.
As the weeks go by, oil that was at sea when the war started will be delivered and consumed. Oil in national reserves will be consumed. With those cushions gone, the price can really escalate. Spot prices now are some 20% more than the futures price. Trump's paymasters in big oil will be terribly pleased. What Proles pay for gas would only be an issue if there is a free and fair election this fall. Trump already said gas could be as expensive as it is now, or more, in November. He doesn't care. His paymasters in big oil, are the ones he is working for.
And the blockade goes on, until his nibs decides Iran has it's poo in a group, wrt it's proposal. Translation: the blockade goes on, until big oil says it has made enough extra profit.
-and Iran pulls funding from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, to take care of it's own people. "Bibi" will be pleased.
-and the Gulf oil states will need to start liquidating their sovereign wealth funds, to maintain programs to keep their Proles mollified. So, his nibs and his cronies can pick up those positions on the cheap.
Steve
