Trump says U.S. will seize Kharg Island and other 'oil infrastructure points'

[u/Puginator]

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/11/trump-says-us-will-seize-kharg-island-and-other-oil-infrastructure-points.html

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[u/walterwhite1050]

As Trump will tell you anytime you’re in a war let the enemy know exactly what you’re planning on doing. This is why he’s the stable genius.

[u/SwissChzMcGeez → u/walterwhite1050]

It's almost like he wants Americans to be attacked before the midterms...

[u/Takaa → u/SwissChzMcGeez]

Fortunately, and I cannot believe I am saying this, Iran seems to be far more intelligent than Trump and not playing into his games. They see his bluster as an attempt to provoke. He doesn't make good on 98% of the things he says he is going to do, so no one in the world should take him at face value.

I say this because I feel like Iran knows that the real way to deal with this problem is going to be to cripple Trump, and the best way to do that will be midterms in just 5 months, and there is a good chance that will happen. The longer they can hold the Straight of Hormuz captive, the more Americans will actually wake up to what Trump policies actually do (cost them money.) An attack on any US soil (even if we deserve it,) would bring down an actual invasion on them, and further trigger sheep-brained Americans to agree with the asshole right at the wrong time.

[u/Ferelar → u/Takaa]

They're also smart enough to figure out that not attacking makes Trump look more deranged, and Congress swapping hands to the Democratic Party would reign in Trump's ability to be an unhinged lunatic breaking stuff, so it would be a very foolish error to attack and push the country towards empowering Donnie rather than reigning him in.

[u/EyeoftheTato → u/Ferelar]

What kindof fucked up timeline do we live in where between the US and Iran, Iran is the more rational one?

[u/OakTreader → u/EyeoftheTato]

This is what I've been saying about the big three nuclear powers. How did China become the most reliable, stable nuclear power, BY A VERY WIDE MARGIN!?!

[u/EyeoftheTato → u/OakTreader]

At this point I would much rather make a deal with China than with the US.

Unfortunately even after Trump is gone the US will be feeling the effects, since not only will many countries be wary of making deals that can be cancelled/ignored on a whim by the next US dictator, but they will also have had several years to diversify and minimize their dependence on the US. The entire world is bustling to find new trading partners and routes while the US makes only trade demands, threats and tariffs.

[u/WeirdIndividualGuy → u/Ferelar]

Also, Iran gains nothing from attacking the US during a moment where its people could vote in a Congress that could potentially keep Trump in check.

It's in Iran's best interest to get Trump out of office and/or weaken him politically. An attack on the US does not help towards that goal.

That being said, if an attack were to happen, it would more likely be a false flag than anything else

[u/mahlerlieber → u/WeirdIndividualGuy]

That being said, if an attack were to happen, it would more likely be a false flag than anything else

No one on the face of the planet (except our special collection of imbeciles) trusts anything this administration says.

They said the Apache was shot down...there's a possibility it was not shot down. There are a lot of reasons why that helicopter crashed. It took two hours to find the pilots, which kinda indicates Iran didn't care or wasn't involved.

If something major happened here in the US, it would literally be 50/50 whether it was an enemy or Trump.

[u/Credil98 → u/mahlerlieber]

If something major happened here in the US, it would literally be 50/50 whether it was an enemy or Trump.

Ehhh 80/20 honestly. I don't think Iran has any intent to attack us as they wouldn't benefit off of it. Whereas taco...

[u/MattAlbie60 → u/WeirdIndividualGuy]

during a moment where its people could vote in a Congress that could potentially keep Trump in check.

Yeah, about that...

[u/sea-elle0463 → u/Takaa]

I think the real problem here is Iran has been demonized and villainized in western media for decades, and the Arab world in general for centuries. The reality is Iranians are smart capable people who just want to live their lives. And Iran has been screwed over by the US since the 50s and then blamed for it and labeled as the bad guy. WE are the bad guy. And this war has shown the world who we really are and who Iran really is.

[u/surfnsound → u/sea-elle0463]

Trump's entire narrative relies on his unquestioning support base to be able to believe that both things are true at once:

1. Iran is a third world shit hole that couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel and badly needs intervention from the Western world.

2. They're educated and advanced enough to be able to build nuclear weapons.

[u/jkman61494 → u/SwissChzMcGeez]

We have to keep removing the term “it’s almost like”.

He’s there to make people suffer and knows we live in a post intelligence world that it can all be framed that it’s the fault of others.

“Those brave souls would be alive if Barack HUSSEIN Obama wasn’t weak on Iran. And SLEEPY JOE allowed them to get nukes!!!

40-60% of America then believes the narrative. Meanwhile he gets rich on all this and his Commander in that tiny country near Egypt and Lebanon get stronger

[u/Any_Show_5160 → u/SwissChzMcGeez]

It's in Iran's best interest to not do anything besides close the strait and lob missiles at US bases before the midterms.
I wonder if he's making phone calls asking for somebody to find some terrorism from Iran.

[u/Parahelix → u/walterwhite1050]

Don't forget his other military wisdom, "Never fight uphill, me boys!"

[u/TubeScr3ameR → u/Parahelix]

-Robert E Lee

-Michael Scott

[u/AlcibiadesTheCat → u/Parahelix]

…to be fair, that is pretty decent wisdom. Broken clocks and all that. 

[u/Parahelix → u/AlcibiadesTheCat]

Even in the best interpretation, it's kind of silly, because that's where the enemy usually is, so you can't just decide to cede all the hills. 😄

[u/jordanmc7 → u/Parahelix]

It’s over Donald! I have the high ground!

[u/Powermac8500 → u/jordanmc7]

You underestimate his stupidity!

[u/mahlerlieber → u/AlcibiadesTheCat]

To be more fair, Lee didn't say this. Trump made it up, not for the wisdom of it, but to sound like a Civil War general.

[u/und88 → u/AlcibiadesTheCat]

He was quoting the loser Lee like he was a pirate instead of a traitorous shitty general.

[u/Traditional_Sign4941 → u/walterwhite1050]

"I know more about ISIS than the generals do, believe me" - Trump, November 2015.

Source

Can you believe we've been having to deal with this piece of shit for almost 11 years now? Almost 50% of my adult life...

[u/LifeGainsss → u/Traditional_Sign4941]

In 2015 I was 19 years old. I'm 30 now. It has been my entire adult life

[u/MugRuithstan → u/LifeGainsss]

Im 34, I still remember the hope after Obamacare and gay marriage passed, its so different now.

[u/Etherin_ → u/Traditional_Sign4941]

Can you believe we've been having to deal with this piece of shit for almost 11 years now?

Been a lot longer than 11 years for many people. Here's some bullshit he was on in 1989: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6131533-trumpdeathpenaltyad05011989/ just to up your number to 36+ years.

[u/Commercial_Bake5547 → u/walterwhite1050]

What you mean the Allied forces didn’t send the Germans a Save The Date letter before D-Day? How rude to show up unannounced

[u/restore_democracy → u/walterwhite1050]

4D chess - even he doesn’t know what he’s doing!

[u/Upset-Government-856]

Glad he's giving them a heads up. Very generous military strategy.

[u/mutedscreaming → u/Upset-Government-856]

Don Tsu Art of War chapter 1: Tell everyone your plan

[u/mcbeef89 → u/mutedscreaming]

'Always interrupt your enemy to tell them when you're making a mistake'

[u/HandSack135 → u/mcbeef89]

There strategy of not having a strategy has failed.

The strategy of announcing the strategy has begun.

[u/Typhus_black → u/HandSack135]

The key to victory is the element of surprise and no one is more surprised about the war in Iran than Donald Trump.

[u/RepealMCAandDTA → u/Typhus_black]

Don uses the element of surprise like Maxwell Smart throwing a phone

[u/7figureipo → u/Typhus_black]

You mean the war that Biden and Obama started and didn't tell anyone about, that he now has to clean up? That war?

ETA: I realize this needs a /s in it, because I believe there are MAGA cultists who would say the above unironically.

[u/AnAncientBog → u/7figureipo]

It's really hard to strike a tone that is absurd enough to not pass as a sincere argument from a MAGA nutter.

[u/DrownmeinIslay → u/7figureipo]

The /s is SO important. So so so important.

[u/lyngen → u/7figureipo]

Yeah, the /s has become more important than it used to be.

[u/AmazingDadJokes → u/HandSack135]

Concepts of a strategy

[u/TWIT_TWAT → u/mcbeef89]

“Just say whatever stupid shit pops up in your head without even thinking about it.” -Don

[u/Elburro129 → u/mutedscreaming]

Ohhhh another one to add to my collection!! Thank you!!

Book of Don Tzu “The Fart of the Deal”

"Tariff, belittle and threaten to invade your allies. Nothing bad can happen, it can only good happen." - Don Tzu.

"If you don't know what you're doing, neither will your enemy."

-Don Tzu

"Surprise your enemies by backstabbing your allies"

-Don Tzu

"Surprise your allies by befriending your enemies."

-Don Tzu

"To command attention in a crowded room, shit yourself."

-Don Tzu

"promise a plan in 2-3 weeks, in 2-3 weeks deliver nothing"

-Don Tzu

"If you find yourself in a deep hole, keep digging but make sure you do it with the most expensive shovel available."

~ Don Tzu

"Don't try to understand war, economy, or diplomacy, for this is an impossible task. It's all computer." - Don Tzu

“You cant lose if you dont have a goal”

-Don Tzu

[u/mithridateseupator → u/Elburro129]

"If your enemy blockades a waterway, blockade the same waterway"

[u/Elburro129 → u/mithridateseupator]

Lol adding this one

[u/Reduntu → u/Elburro129]

"In order to confuse your enemy, you must first confuse yourself."

[u/f1ve-Star → u/Elburro129]

Surround yourself with incompetent ass kissers, so there is always someone else to blame. - Don Tzu

[u/LeftToaster → u/Elburro129]

"Everyone has a plan. Don't be everyone."

[u/Dockers4flag2035orB4 → u/mutedscreaming]

Don Tsu Art of War,
Chapter 2 don’t tell your own side the plan.

[u/10thousndreflections → u/Dockers4flag2035orB4]

Chapter 3:

When your generals are defending you, go on all the news channels and tell them you meant to do the bad thing. 

[u/No-Calligrapher-718 → u/10thousndreflections]

Chapter 4: While still live on the news, shit yourself.

[u/luncheroo → u/No-Calligrapher-718]

Chapter 5: Don't tell anyone there is no real plan, but then accidentally do it in a phone call to fox news while you're on the john.

[u/Gloomy_Mulberry7834 → u/luncheroo]

Chapter 6: Tweets, don't forget to tweet about it.

[u/Hot-Temperature-314 → u/Gloomy_Mulberry7834]

Chapter 7: how to (make others) fight the biggest, most incredible war there has ever or will ever be with bone spurs on your feet

[u/jschmidtjr87 → u/mutedscreaming]

Chapter 2: You Don't Have A Plan.

[u/metallipunk → u/jschmidtjr87]

Chapter 2: You have Concepts of a Plan

[u/zeocrash → u/jschmidtjr87]

Your enemies can't discover your plan if you don't have one

[u/WaffleBlues → u/mutedscreaming]

'Never allow your enemy or allies to take you seriously' - The art of the idiot

[u/Hidden_Pothos → u/mutedscreaming]

Just like when he informed Iran that he was going to bomb there nuclear facility last year. Let's give them plenty of time to evacuate there nuclear materials.

[u/justbrowsinginpeace → u/mutedscreaming]

"First lose the battle, then fight it"

[u/onestarv2 → u/mutedscreaming]

He subscribes to Zapp Bramnigan''s big book of war

[u/GotMoFans → u/mutedscreaming]

You’re over here joking when our president is an action movie villain monologuing.

[u/Indubitalist → u/Upset-Government-856]

And under what scenario does this strategy not end with either the total destruction of the Iranian regime or perpetual warfare with it? This would require a massive escalation to be more than a temporary invasion. Regardless all of that infrastructure is going to get Swiss-cheesed. This is utter lunacy. 

[u/brumac44 → u/Indubitalist]

There's that, and another generation of people out for revenge for bombing their families. Of course, terrorism couldn't reach the US homeland.

[u/CloudsAreOP → u/brumac44]

Trump and all the war hawks are on their knees praying for a terrorist attack to happen on U.S soil. A terrorist attack would justify the war for them and probably increase the popularity of the war a bit(Though i doubt it will ever go over 50% favorable since we started it and prices are already going up).

Edit: fixed typo.

[u/Khaeos → u/CloudsAreOP]

It will be like this: 

"I didn't support the invasion. I didn't support the escalations. But, here we are. Now, the Iranian regime has declared full-scale total war and we need to do everything possible to protect American interests and minimize American loss of life.

"I don't like that we're here, but now we have to deal with the situation realistically as it sits."

That's how the BS Factory works! We need a new School House Rock about lobbyists and think tanks.

[u/sighbourbon → u/CloudsAreOP]

probably increase the popularity of the war a bot.

haha that is a very interesting typo

[u/cobrachickenwing → u/CloudsAreOP]

The IRGC is not that stupid. Their job now is to irritate the Gulf Countries to the point where the gulf countries want to remove US presence for the foreseeable future. They have no need to attack the US at all. If Kharg island is attacked none of the Gulf countries that housed US bases are safe, because then it will be unrestricted warfare.

[u/CloudsAreOP → u/cobrachickenwing]

Oh i know. I think the US might do a false flag. I also think Iran is too smart to do a terror attack on the US.

[u/SwissChzMcGeez → u/Indubitalist]

Trump wants an attack on the U.S. before midterms.

[u/BellamyDunn → u/Indubitalist]

And how comfortable do we really think the surrounding countries will be, if America somehow managed a takeover, with that much more American presence and influence and ego in their bubble?

[u/JKKIDD231 → u/Upset-Government-856]

There 2 things either he saying it too early as warning or US Marines and Army are ready in huge numbers to deploy. Because a 1,000 troops ain’t enough, you will need entire divisions to take over Kharg island.

[u/legomaximumfigure → u/JKKIDD231]

Holding it will be an even bigger problem.

[u/superindianslug → u/legomaximumfigure]

It's an island covering in flammable infrastructure and the Iranians have shown that they'll burn down the entire region before being displaced. Would anyone, beside Pete Hegseth, be surprised in the Iranians only give token resistance, and two min after Trump declares victory the whole place explodes?

[u/f7f7z → u/superindianslug]

What's the chances that it's rigged with explosives, especially with a heads up from yam tits?

[u/MaritimeStar → u/f7f7z]

They don't even need to rig it, it's close enough to the shore to shell with artillery, rockets and drones all day. But yeah, that place is probable wired up like a temple from an Indiana Jones movie.

[u/badasimo → u/JKKIDD231]

If you remember there was all this talk about moving Marines around and then they realized how long it would take to get everything together, they have been stalling

[u/Synli → u/Upset-Government-856]

He cares more about brownie points with his cult than the lives of the military members being deployed.

[u/facw00 → u/Upset-Government-856]

Trump has flinched again and again on putting boots on the ground. Maybe this humiliation has changed his mind, but it seems far more likely that this is just more bluster, in an attempt to intimidate the Iranians into making a favorable deal with him. Unfortunately, he's already taught the Iranians that he won't follow through on his threats, so it's unlikely to extract any concessions from them.

[u/GirlOnFireSexy → u/Upset-Government-856]

Nothing says 'strategic genius' like a press release before the invasion

[u/Flexbottom]

What a fucking moron

[u/BearSquid7 → u/Flexbottom]

Every day with this guy and his band of dipshits.

[u/k_ironheart → u/BearSquid7]

You're all acting like he's announcing a plan to physically take impossible to defend ticking time bombs.

Oh.

[u/ChocoboAndroid → u/Flexbottom]

We have incompetent people at every level of this Administration. Trump can't resolve this issue diplomatically, Hegseth isn't competent enough to solve it military, and Vance and Rubio can't build a coalition of allies because we've alienated them. We have no competent person capable of handling this situation and that is fucking scary. 

[u/FancyEmployee8672 → u/ChocoboAndroid]

and trump and his family and friends are going to get rich while we all pay the price

[u/Fingerprint_Vyke → u/FancyEmployee8672]

Thats a bingo

[u/rrrrrivers → u/ChocoboAndroid]

Yes well perhaps the voters will be the competency the nation needs by holding Trump and those elected officials who support him accountable.

....sigh..../S

[u/BadahBingBadahBoom → u/Flexbottom]

From the guy who fucking starred as a cameo in the second Home Alone film no less.

What does he think Iran have been doing this whole time in Kharg Island?

This is going to be an absolute bloodbath in both senses of the word.

[u/mdp300 → u/BadahBingBadahBoom]

And he only had a cameo because he was part owner of the building and kept walking onto the set.

[u/jaferrer1 → u/mdp300]

Seems like he was the real danger to Kevin.

[u/meteoritegallery → u/BadahBingBadahBoom]

The island is 15 miles from the Iranian mainland - that puts it within cheap drone and conventional artillery range. No foreign power can hold Kharg without Iran's consent...without either completely eradicating Iran's military, or an enduring conflict.

This would be like a foreign power trying to take and hold Catalina Island off California (22 miles from the mainland).

It does not make any sense.

[u/Joshd30 → u/Flexbottom]

I know, he's supposed to announce talks have resumed before the markets close Friday and THEN announce this over the weekend. Someone on the market manipulation team screwed up bad

[u/ZonghZonghZongh → u/Flexbottom]

That was the diagnosis of the 22 specialists who examined him at his last checkup. Incurable and untreatable, unfortunately.

[u/J-the-Kidder]

Every single person with a fractional amount of military understanding looks at this situation and sees a meat grinder. An unattainable, exhaustive, inescapable meat grinder. They cannot protect ships and other equipment going through the straight, but now you want troops to be stationary, on an island, within range of every single munition they have? That, by definition, will be a slaughter.

[u/xlvi_et_ii → u/J-the-Kidder]

Trump has made his feelings about meat grinders clear on multiple occasions - "they knew what they signed up for".

He simply doesn't care about the lives of US military members (or anyone else frankly). It's the " Some of you may die, but that is a sacrifice I'm willing to make" meme in real life.

[u/sayonaradespair → u/xlvi_et_ii]

Ok but we know he doesn't care.

But what exactly is achieved with a ground invasion?

[u/Polar_Reflection → u/sayonaradespair]

He's just taking cues from the Russians who are known for their meat wave attacks 

[u/Twelve2375 → u/sayonaradespair]

Escalation?

“We took this island, and they killed so many of our brave troops. They’re not safe there as long as Iran can still reach them, so we have to expand the ground invasion into mainland Iran far enough to make the island safe.”

Which will become a march to Tehran.

Sacrifice troops to try to rally support for the main invasion they actually want?

[u/drproc90 → u/sayonaradespair]

A war he can use as a pretense to cancel elections

[u/ThatLooksRight → u/J-the-Kidder]

I’m betting the Marine Corps wishes it had a bigger budget than ICE right now. 

[u/lisaseileise → u/ThatLooksRight]

Maybe they can send the military staff who voted for this, first?
And Barron Trump of course.

[u/So_HauserAspen → u/lisaseileise]

Kid Rock could lead a platoon!

[u/alus992 → u/lisaseileise]

Imagine sending out ppl who voted for OrangeMan there - his support would decline in a second, because almost all his supporters love to yap but they don't walk their talk.

[u/Paper_Clip100 → u/ThatLooksRight]

Maybe we should just send ICE?

[u/Hopeful_Risk_8344 → u/J-the-Kidder]

Also, they have to sail through the straight, that they can't protect ships in, to land and resupply those troops.

[u/DDS-PBS → u/J-the-Kidder]

That's exactly why this is an empty threat. If Trump had the power to do something about all this, he would. But because he doesn't, he just says shit.

The problem is that the Iranians are clearly pretty smart. They understand that the US Military has limits to its power. They have exposed those limits and they do not have to capitulate to empty threats.

[u/TrumpsDoubleChin → u/DDS-PBS]

This reply needs to be higher. This is the best take in the comments.

[u/Smearwashere → u/J-the-Kidder]

Imagine being stuck on an island within drone range in modern drone warfare, brutal.

[u/Ditnoka → u/Smearwashere]

Videos the IRGC upload alone are going to cause some mass chaos. They're making waves using AI Lego videos. Just wait until there's compilations of drones killing Americans.

[u/--John_Yaya-- → u/J-the-Kidder]

"I love the meat grinder!" -- Trump next month

[u/PeterG92 → u/J-the-Kidder]

And you can guarantee the Republicans will block any investigation unlike Benghazi which must be due another one any day now

[u/ErikETF → u/J-the-Kidder]

As a therapist who spent years treating folks for severe PTSD during the GWOT era over things like hearing someone was hit over a radio, seeing marines killed by FPV fiber optic drones in high resolution where their friends and loved ones can identify them will destroy us as a society.   

[u/ConsciousSkyy → u/J-the-Kidder]

He doesn’t care! Hegseth and Trump literally don’t give a fuck if people die.

[u/jcpopm]

He's so dumb that he thinks if he controls the endpoint he controls the oil. No, dumbshit, the oil comes from upstream and will just stop.

Edit: A lot of people clearly didn't read what he posted - he isn't talking about stopping the oil, he directly says he wants to take over the market and insinuates profiting from it "like Venezuela." Read what the moron said before commenting.

[u/Rolyat_Emad → u/jcpopm]

The 14 year old theory of government. This administration runs everything as if they are 14 years old and that is the extent of their knowledge and worldview.

[u/AcidRohnin → u/Rolyat_Emad]

I’d say even younger than that. Trump dead up acts like a 7 year old most of the time imo.

[u/JessieJ577 → u/Rolyat_Emad]

I feel like they think this is the plot of a Call of Duty game. 

[u/imjustnatek]

I don't think that's going to go very well.

[u/TheCrimsonSteel → u/imjustnatek]

Especially because the world is almost out of spare oil.

Between tankers that were already full, nations various oil reserves, and everything already in inventory throughout the various supply chains, the world had about a 4 month buffer to keep things "managable"

We are running out of that 4 month buffer, and even if the Strait opens tomorrow, it'll take the better part of a year of normal production to get back to pre-Hormuz levels

Basically Price Hikes 2, Electric Boogaloo is just around the corner

[u/TranquilSeaOtter → u/TheCrimsonSteel]

Basically Price Hikes 2, Electric Boogaloo is just around the corner

Why would Biden do this?

-your average MAGA voter, probably

[u/no-more-nazis → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

They truly believe that Trump's tough guy approach would work if Biden hadn't made us all look like pussies and the country was behind him. "Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer!"

They want to threaten the Persian people with genocide, but credibly, so if they refuse we actually kill them all, and that's supposed to give better results with the next such threat against an ethnic group they've never heard of.

[u/MisterSensi → u/TranquilSeaOtter]

I live in rural MAGA part of California and just about every day I hear people talking about how high gas prices are and how its Newsom's fault.

[u/-SHAI_HULUD → u/TheCrimsonSteel]

Reminds me of that memo put out recently by some regional director/manager at an auto parts retailer basically saying:

“no matter what happens after this memo, a shortage & price hikes ARE coming, supply chain disruptions are already rippling through”.

[u/mdp300 → u/-SHAI_HULUD]

I'm a dentist. Our suppliers have said there's a shortage coming of non-latex gloves because, surprise! They're a petroleum product.

[u/ailish → u/mdp300]

I can't even imagine what else this problem is going to effect.

[u/triage_this → u/ailish]

It'll be just like COVID in 2020 when JCAHO and OSHA decided it was totally fine to reuse respirators indefinitely with the help of a magic brown paper bag. Now we will get to do that with gloves!

[u/ailish → u/triage_this]

Oof, if I had a latex allergy I'd just be stocking up on my own medical grade non-latex gloves to bring with me to doctors appointments.

[u/dramaking37 → u/TheCrimsonSteel]

It's the price we all have to pay because some maga got passed up for a promotion for a woman 30 years ago

[u/Quazimojojojo → u/TheCrimsonSteel]

It might hit literally July 4th weekend, which would be poetic 

[u/weluckyfew → u/TheCrimsonSteel]

Add to that what happens if Trump actually does try to do something like this and Iran responds by blowing up more Middle East oil facilities, or maybe they target that Saudi pipeline. Even if they could miraculously protect all the big oil facilities, good luck protecting 750 mi of oil pipeline.

[u/jreed66]

I can remember Republicans telling me that Obama was weak on foreign policy, so they couldn't vote for him.

I can remember Republicans telling me they'd never vote for Clinton because she's a war hawk.

I can remember Republicans telling me they'd never vote for Harris because she'd make us look weak, and we'd be at war with Iran.

So tell me, did your opinions change? Do your brains just not function on anything about auto pilot?

[u/Trust-Me-Im-A-Potato → u/jreed66]

To be fair, they said if I voted for Harris then we'd be at war with Iran and that's exactly what's happened

[u/kojak488 → u/Trust-Me-Im-A-Potato]

This is the macabre humour that keeps me coming back.

[u/Deguilded → u/jreed66]

It is difficult for a person to understand something when their livelihood depends on their not understanding it.

(paraphrased quote)

[u/FUCK_ME_DEAD → u/jreed66]

Stop looking for consistance logic, morals or good faith debate with these people.

[u/So_HauserAspen → u/jreed66]

We were told tan suits are bad during the Obama administration.

That, and you shouldn't sneak cigarettes if you're telling your wife you're quitting.

Absolute disgraceful timeperiod of history

[u/Jubal81 → u/jreed66]

The only way it makes sense for me is to remember those people have completely different values. They judge their worth and find safety through loyalty to authority. The specific issue or pragmatic outcome doesn't matter. All they ask themselves is, "Am I being sufficiently loyal?"

When there is some policy failure, these people believe the reason for the failure is others being insufficiently loyal. This sets up a situation where the more demonstratively hypocritical they are, the more they are proving their loyalty. Critical thinking or not being in agreement with their in-group is deeply unsettling for them and makes them feel unsafe.

[u/peanutbuttercult]

What these dummies don’t seem to understand is that Iran’s capability as a regular fighting force is irrelevant to this conflict. As long as they’ve got missiles they can drag out of a cave or warehouse to threaten the strait with, they can continue bleeding the U.S.

They can’t win an infantry battle or a dogfight against U.S. forces. Lucky for them, that doesn’t really matter.

This isn’t Iraq, it’s the most expensive possible evolution of Vietnam.

[u/mstpguy → u/peanutbuttercult]

“‘You know you never defeated us on the battlefield,’ said the American colonel.

The North Vietnamese colonel pondered this remark a moment. ‘That may be so,’ he replied, ‘but it is also irrelevant.’”

[u/johnyordinary → u/mstpguy]

They got defeated at home by the voters, otherwise they would still be dying there with no win in sight.Same will happen in Iran eventualy.

[u/TheManWhoShotTheMan → u/peanutbuttercult]

Lets be real here, Iran isnt Iraq and the USA hasn't faced such a huge country since the 1950s Korean war. 

Every clean US land-war victory — Iraq twice, Panama, Grenada — was against a smaller, flatter, weaker opponent. Iran would be the first attempted invasion of a large mountainous nation in US history, with a military built around the explicit assumption it would never have to do that.

It isn't the cake walk people are claiming. Iran is 3 times bigger than Iraq. USA has never waged such a war since at least 75 years ago. 

Without a coalition USA will be essentially alone, something they have also never done with such a huge country.

Nothing is certain.

[u/Big-Rule5269 → u/TheManWhoShotTheMan]

Also, keep an eye on Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. Missiles were launched from Yemen into Israel the other day. So this area is coming into play.  If this gets closed as it is mainly controlled by an Iranian Houthi movement, we are all in much deeper shit that we imagined. 

[u/SuperWeapons2770 → u/TheManWhoShotTheMan]

You are forgetting they invaded Afghanistan and lost to a culture of nomads that don't care

[u/TheManWhoShotTheMan → u/SuperWeapons2770]

When we think about it, the USA has never fought a war against such a large country with such difficult terrain, ALONE.This isn't Grenada, or Panama.

Also the US has rarely fought without someone else doing significant portions of the dying. The proxy model is arguably the defining feature of US military strategy since Korea. This war will be a test that the USA has bailed on in the past.

Afghanistan, is an example of USA losing and they were supported by a coalition, and NATO had declared article 5.

 Here they are mostly alone.

[u/ScornForSega → u/peanutbuttercult]

Iran still has 2 eastern rail lines and a seaport on the Caspian.

All they need is a credit account with the bank of China and they can keep fighting indefinitely. At least enough to scare shipping companies into not crossing the strait.

[u/escapefromelba → u/peanutbuttercult]

Also they could further mine the shit out of the strait - make whole thing impassable and pointless to hold Kharg.  If they can’t export their oil, no one can.

[u/ToriEvergreen]

This is going to ruin the tour

[u/GhostwriterGHOST → u/ToriEvergreen]

the world tour?

[u/captain_intenso → u/GhostwriterGHOST]

A succulent Iranian tour?

[u/321gally → u/ToriEvergreen]

What tour?

[u/ThirdWorldRedState → u/321gally]

Revenge tour

[u/DruidDog]

it’s fun watching him learn in real-time that the bully strategy doesn’t work against a regime that has been dealing with bullies for over 40 years

[u/yaforgot-my-password → u/DruidDog]

He hasn't learned shit

[u/Leather_Force_9419 → u/DruidDog]

What part of this seems like trump has learnt a God damn thing? 

[u/ClarkeBrower]

They’re going to fire some missiles, the price of oil will go up, his friends make more money and then come Sunday afternoon Trump will say they’re close to a deal so that his friends can sell

[u/So_HauserAspen → u/ClarkeBrower]

He have Kharg Island renamed on google and apple maps

[u/DoubtSubstantial5440]

Holy shit why advertise you are going to conduct a ground assault?

[u/antivillain13 → u/DoubtSubstantial5440]

Because he’s not going to actually do it. It’s either market manipulation or a way to try and force Iran to make a deal.

[u/DoubtSubstantial5440 → u/antivillain13]

I would like to believe that but the drunk in the DOD really wants a ground assault and Trumps dementia addled mind is easy to take advantage of

[u/Cheese__Weiner → u/antivillain13]

Here's the thing though, Kharg island has very little value to Iran now since the straight is blockaded. Sure they have their oil infrastructure on there but it's not very useful at the moment if they can't get the oil out. I don't see how this forces Iran to the table. Even if the US were to take the island it doesn't change Iran's oil export situation out of the area.

Also that island is tiny. Any troops that land on there are going to be easy targets for Iran. I don't see this ending well ...

[u/hitch44 → u/DoubtSubstantial5440]

Because in less than a day, Dementia Orange will announce that the Iranians are crapping their pants, and have agreed to a deal.

Which will take 2 weeks.

He’s already threatened complete genocide of their people. This diseased fool should be removed from power immediately.

[u/Vashgrave]

Looks like America and Isreal have become the new axis to beat....

[u/TairaTLG → u/Vashgrave]

Don't worry, we'll soon have a tripartite agreement with the Federation of Russia any moment

Next up we can replay Fallout 1s intro. "Our boys in Canada are keeping the peace!(Some poor schlub is summarily executed in the background)"

[u/So_HauserAspen → u/Vashgrave]

There is legislation to integrate the US military with Israel's

Weirdest axis-of-evil possible

[u/DickRichman]

Awesome! Boots on the ground! Full scale invasion! Peace President! 20 grams of chocolate!

[u/ElderSmackJack → u/DickRichman]

FIFA’s best Peace Prize recipient.

[u/Living-By-The-River]

The economy was good while it lasted. RIP

[u/maringue → u/Living-By-The-River]

It usually takes about a year and a half for Republicans to fuck the economy up.

I wonder how many of the midterm ads they run will blame Biden?

[u/otiswrath → u/maringue]

It is wild to me that anyone can ever look at what the GOP does every time they get power and say, "Yeah...this works for me." 

Every goddamn time.

[u/maringue → u/otiswrath]

Yeah, but they validate their racism and bigotry while crashing the economy.

[u/ailish → u/maringue]

This is exactly it. The average maga voter is completely uneducated about how the economy works. As long as some Republican has a one liner about how it's Biden's fault, and they get to keep laughing while they watch ICE persecute immigrants they're happy.

[u/cornerbash → u/otiswrath]

They usually only pay attention when it's affecting them in the moment.

The pattern is usually GOP inherits a working/booming economy from the Dems, fucks it up, cracks starting to show just as the Dems take over, Dems work their term to turn the economy back around, power shifts back to GOP as economy gets back ont track, rinse/repeat.

[u/Ditnoka → u/Living-By-The-River]

The economy my entire life has been a wealth transfer from the poors to the elite. 08 housing crash, Tesla being valued at 10 gazillion dollars, AI stocks going through the roof with ZERO revenue.

But hey, you have a 401k, so you get the elite crumbs.

[u/frontfrontdowndown → u/Ditnoka]

Savings and Loan Scandal of the late 80s and early 90s did a lot of early work in this area.

[u/TemporaryAsparagus89 → u/Living-By-The-River]

It's never been good in my lifetime

[u/fnordius → u/Living-By-The-River]

yeah, this and the wildly overpriced SpaceX IPO are going to leave a huge smoking crater where the US economy was, and the perps will profit wildly from their Ponzi schemes.

[u/PolicyWonka]

As a reminder, Kharg Island is more than 400 miles beyond the Strait of Hormuz. It’s deep within the Persian Gulf in Iranian territorial waters.

Sailing ships more than 400 miles along the Iranian coast would be a mistake. Airdropping soldiers without naval support would be a mistake. There’s really no good way to seize the territory without a full-scale invasion.

Basically, I’d expect Americans to die tonight for Trump’s folly.

[u/jertheman43]

Even if we took the island it wouldn't matter. The tankers can't ship oil now or after we attempt to take it. There's no actual strategy, just endless threats that aren't going to achieve those goals. The real actual strategy is keep the middle east oil tied up in conflicts so the American petroleum industry can rape the world in price increases.

[u/ChocoboAndroid → u/SilveryDeath]

Believe it or not, we've never been closer to a deal. Just a couple of days away...

[u/newtoallofthis2 → u/ChocoboAndroid]

Some say two weeks.

[u/MasemJ → u/SilveryDeath]

The problem is that he is more articulate in the TS posts than he is in live public speaking, that its far easier to understand the intent from those posts than trying to report from presses. Its still sanewashibg on how they treat this, no question, but in terms of actually trying to report from a neutral viewpoint with understandable coverage, its sad that the TS posts are the best way to go.

[u/restore_democracy]

Didn’t he just say that we were two weeks from a peace deal?

[u/ritteke518 → u/restore_democracy]

Same two weeks as his healthcare plan

[u/MeatMullet]

What a joke. Trump is telegraphing his "plan" in hopes that Iran gets sacred and strikes a deal. He is desperate and clueless.

Edit: scared

[u/HeyDumbDumb]

Kind of things you'd expect from FIFA Peace Prize Winner Trump

[u/Readgooder]

American troops on corporate orders.

[u/a_velis]

Trump has dementia. He doesn't understand what is happening. That doesn't excuse the damage he is causing. More that I am not sure why we are following any orders from him.

[u/ortcutt]

So, the peace plan seems to be going swimmingly. Two weeks is all we need, especially now that the US is seizing Iranian territory.

[u/Snoo_53179]

This idiot couldn't win a game of tictactoe in single player mode, let alone an island

[u/ConsciousSkyy]

He is literally falling right into their trap. Iranian leadership dared him to try this. There is no way they can hold this island without US casualties. US forces will be sitting ducks.

The crazy part is Trump likely knows this and doesn’t give a shit. What a horrible leader and an even worse human being.

[u/mikezer0]

Enjoy your suspended elections America. Be sure to go over to conservative where they are all calling for him to nuke Iran. But ya know Kamala or Joe or whatever. Fucking country filled with cowardice traitors. Get the fuck out of bed and vote next time. Even it is for the lesser evil. It’s less fucking evil. 

[u/wtfbenlol]

congress needs to get off their WORTHLESS ASSES and IMPEACH HIM, This is NOT okay and will only worsen ours and the world's economy, This is an illegal war

[u/Spyko]

President of peace btw.

Do you think anyone actually believed that ? Feels like it's more likely it was just a random thing parroted by his bigoted voters to ''explain'' their choice without having to openly admit that they just wanted to hurt minorities

[u/boise208]

He already TACO'ed

[u/mishma2005]

Iran: “good to know!”

[u/The_Playbook88]

Sacrificing the troops for the President's war of desperation.

[u/hamilkwarg]

I’m no military genius, but won’t that create a stationary target for Iranian drone attacks? Aren’t little half measures like this what gets you eventually stuck in a quagmire? Gotta defend Kharg so need to take over a buffer zone. Need a buffer zone for the buffer zone….

Every American soldier killed on Kharg island and whatever comes next will be blood on the hands of MAGA.

[u/GreedPrisons]

Trump is a national security risk to the health and safety of Americans. Congress needs to take action to have him removed.

[u/Ok_Height3499]

Ground war- Ok, another ground war from the nutball who campaigned against them to lull the MAGA faithful.