Erick was saying we bombed 30 days, then stopped and Trump made the "deal" based on oil prices. Fine. Who stopped the bombing? Who ran around saying that he had a "deal" 34-35 times? Who didn't plan for the closure of Hormuz?
This is 100% Donald Trump's fault. He and Vance look very stupid.
I agree that all of this is bad news. But to add to the conversation, the stranglehold in the Strait for so long contributed mightily to a worldwide lack of petrol, lack of fertilizers to hrow food, lack of diesel for fishing fleets etc. Trump himself said that he, in the end, did not want to be another Herbert Hoover sending the world into a deep depression.
It's not over til the fat lady sings.
Things probably haven't even gotten interesting yet.
Vance is demonstrably a liar and has validated my distrust in him. He was a terrible choice for VP. As a reminder, Tucker Carlson was the one who persuaded Don Jr. to lean on his father to go with Vance.
I will not vote for JD Vance. Erick says he's a nice person. No. He's not.
It's past time to call it how it is. Trump's second administration is a lame duck at this point. And Vance? He's ended his political career. It would be best if he just faded into the background.
Leave the heavy lifting to Rubio, Bessent, and Vought. Trump himself is pathological at this point. Time for him to golf more.
Been lurking for awhile but been meaning to subscribe. The post today with noticeable subscription drop data was the catalyst for me. Really appreciated the Saturday post by the way!
Long time center-right Christian believer firmly (and happily) living and working in a deep deep blue metro area.
Victor Davis Hanson frames the issue differently: compare Iran today with Iran before the war. It is weaker militarily, economically, and strategically. Iran is far less dangerous today than it was just a few months ago. Trump's critics argue that we've given Iran the means to recover. That's an open question. The real test is whether we have the will to deter Iran if it tries to rebuild.
Asymmetrical warfare is cheaper to fund today than ever. The $300 billion JD Vance wants to give them will set the Middle East on fire for the next 50 years. We will have a 2-3 year break before the horrors begin.
Money alone doesn't set the Middle East on fire. The real question is whether the United States and its allies are willing to deter Iran if it tries to rebuild its military, nuclear program, or proxy networks. If deterrence holds, your prediction doesn't follow.
Reality will hit whether we like it or not. The question is, what will that reality be? What were your predictions for the future of the Middle East two or three years ago? I doubt you were predicting that Hamas would be destroyed and Iran would be militarily emasculated. The future has a way of humbling our certainties.
This is quite the about face. I can't help but believe someone has a trigger pointed at our heads. We are abandoning Israel after already abandoning Ukraine. The Gulf State allies have been put on a shelf and our European relationships have melted into insults. No doubt JD Vance will be the fall guy in all this. He wasn't even born when trouble for us started in Iran. The nuclear excuse has been farcical since day 1. The strategy and resulting second and third order effects of whatever that actual strategy was to change the status quo--never considered. Iran is emboldened and richer. The world is a much more dangerous place now. Maybe future presidents need the same oath our medical practitioners pledge to: "first do no harm"
Vice President Vance has been making the rounds discussing his new book “Communion”, you should have him on your show to discuss the book and the peace deal.
Like many of my fellow Americans, I am confused and offended by the recent capitulations of the Trump Administration to Iran. The only justification that I have heard is that the Republican Party risks re-elections if President Trump permanently disables the Iranian Regime (I do not mean to imply the nation of Iran in this statement of disability; rather, I mean to imply the regime that is fixated on the destruction of Israel and the United States.) If we have come to the point that we will only re-elect cowards, then we are in worse shape than I originally thought.
I need a deal any deal and quick rather than finish a job that I started and actually make a big difference in the world sorry MR. President and MR. Vice President but that is the wrong approach
Curious . . . the republicans were so worried about the decline of American military power abroad and our presence on the world stage under the Obama administration. Turns out we may end up with the same thing under Trump II.
Sad day for all of us who believe in Freedom, Israel, Christians and the US.
Erick was saying we bombed 30 days, then stopped and Trump made the "deal" based on oil prices. Fine. Who stopped the bombing? Who ran around saying that he had a "deal" 34-35 times? Who didn't plan for the closure of Hormuz?
This is 100% Donald Trump's fault. He and Vance look very stupid.
I read this in the Free Press: https://www.thefp.com/p/i-know-what-iran-does-to-women-who?r=46zzt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
A woman, sentenced to 74 lashes for singing. These are the people with whom Trump and Vance are negotiating.
I agree that all of this is bad news. But to add to the conversation, the stranglehold in the Strait for so long contributed mightily to a worldwide lack of petrol, lack of fertilizers to hrow food, lack of diesel for fishing fleets etc. Trump himself said that he, in the end, did not want to be another Herbert Hoover sending the world into a deep depression.
It's not over til the fat lady sings.
Things probably haven't even gotten interesting yet.
Vance is demonstrably a liar and has validated my distrust in him. He was a terrible choice for VP. As a reminder, Tucker Carlson was the one who persuaded Don Jr. to lean on his father to go with Vance.
I will not vote for JD Vance. Erick says he's a nice person. No. He's not.
It's past time to call it how it is. Trump's second administration is a lame duck at this point. And Vance? He's ended his political career. It would be best if he just faded into the background.
Leave the heavy lifting to Rubio, Bessent, and Vought. Trump himself is pathological at this point. Time for him to golf more.
Been lurking for awhile but been meaning to subscribe. The post today with noticeable subscription drop data was the catalyst for me. Really appreciated the Saturday post by the way!
Long time center-right Christian believer firmly (and happily) living and working in a deep deep blue metro area.
If Vance is the candidate I will just vote down ballot.
Victor Davis Hanson frames the issue differently: compare Iran today with Iran before the war. It is weaker militarily, economically, and strategically. Iran is far less dangerous today than it was just a few months ago. Trump's critics argue that we've given Iran the means to recover. That's an open question. The real test is whether we have the will to deter Iran if it tries to rebuild.
Asymmetrical warfare is cheaper to fund today than ever. The $300 billion JD Vance wants to give them will set the Middle East on fire for the next 50 years. We will have a 2-3 year break before the horrors begin.
Money alone doesn't set the Middle East on fire. The real question is whether the United States and its allies are willing to deter Iran if it tries to rebuild its military, nuclear program, or proxy networks. If deterrence holds, your prediction doesn't follow.
The demonstrated answer is no. So, the horror will continue. This is another half measure or stupid mistake on Trump’s part.
Remove the Trump blinders and you'll see that nothing's been demonstrated yet.
You have the Trump shades on. Reality is going to hit, literally, in 2-3 years.
Reality will hit whether we like it or not. The question is, what will that reality be? What were your predictions for the future of the Middle East two or three years ago? I doubt you were predicting that Hamas would be destroyed and Iran would be militarily emasculated. The future has a way of humbling our certainties.
This is quite the about face. I can't help but believe someone has a trigger pointed at our heads. We are abandoning Israel after already abandoning Ukraine. The Gulf State allies have been put on a shelf and our European relationships have melted into insults. No doubt JD Vance will be the fall guy in all this. He wasn't even born when trouble for us started in Iran. The nuclear excuse has been farcical since day 1. The strategy and resulting second and third order effects of whatever that actual strategy was to change the status quo--never considered. Iran is emboldened and richer. The world is a much more dangerous place now. Maybe future presidents need the same oath our medical practitioners pledge to: "first do no harm"
Erick,
Thank you for your commentary on the peace deal.
Vice President Vance has been making the rounds discussing his new book “Communion”, you should have him on your show to discuss the book and the peace deal.
They’ve become who the criticized. Iran deal = unforgivable. I am feeling similar to how I felt about Biden and Afghanistan
Like many of my fellow Americans, I am confused and offended by the recent capitulations of the Trump Administration to Iran. The only justification that I have heard is that the Republican Party risks re-elections if President Trump permanently disables the Iranian Regime (I do not mean to imply the nation of Iran in this statement of disability; rather, I mean to imply the regime that is fixated on the destruction of Israel and the United States.) If we have come to the point that we will only re-elect cowards, then we are in worse shape than I originally thought.
I need a deal any deal and quick rather than finish a job that I started and actually make a big difference in the world sorry MR. President and MR. Vice President but that is the wrong approach
Curious . . . the republicans were so worried about the decline of American military power abroad and our presence on the world stage under the Obama administration. Turns out we may end up with the same thing under Trump II.
For an entirely different take on this, see Victor Davis Hanson’s article in The Daily Signal.
Definitely worth a read.