Charlie StrossMar 13

The Atlantic: Why Trump Didn’t Plan for the Strait of Hormuz

In wartime, the enemy always gets a vote.

(These people are deeply unserious. I mean, they *must* be old enough to remember the 1980-88 tanker war and the vital role the Straits of Hormuz played back then, right?)

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/03/hormuz-strait-iran-oil/686365/

Why Trump Didn’t Plan for the Strait of Hormuz

In wartime, the enemy always gets a vote.

The Atlantic
Show threadjorny

@cstross

The level of self delusion and machismo stupidity is darkly fascinating.

https://kyivindependent.com/trump-ukraine-drone-defenses/

"No, we don't need (Ukraine's) help in drone defense," Trump said in the interview. "We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually."

'We don't need Ukraine's help' — Trump rebuffs Zelensky's drone defense offer

The claim appears to conflict with President Volodymyr Zelensky's earlier statement that Kyiv agreed to Washington's request for assistance in protecting U.S. military bases in Jordan.

The Kyiv Independent
Mar 13 at 7:15pmWeb
Show threadKing of TorsMar 13
@jorny @cstross Trying to teach that to our military drone technicians what Ukraine has done with drones would be like trying to teach an F1 mechanic to build a low-rider bicycle. What Trump and the entire Military Industrial Complex is lacking is the imagination to know that a low-rider bicycle is a better tool for some jobs than an F1 car.
Show threadDianeMar 13

@kingtor @jorny @cstross

Trump looks at the Ukrainian defense industry.

"But where is the grift?"

I can force American companies to bribe me, but I can't bully Ukrainian companies.

Here's to hoping the more practical middle eastern states buy a lot more of their defenses from Ukraine than the dumb americans.

Show threadFazal MajidMar 13
@jorny @cstross the Gulf states know better and are beating a path to Ukraine's door. The Ukrainians opening a drone factory in the UK is an interesting development, perhaps they will fund their war effort by exports of their battle-tested and infinitely more cost-effective weaponry than that produced by the bloated Western Military-Industrial Complexes. Similarly, the US is buying South Korean air defense missiles, just as effective as the Patriot at 1/3 the price.