Mastodawn

3 weeks in, #Iran #war escalates beyond Trump's control [not that it was ever in his control after the first attack]

#Trump ends the 3rd week of the Iran war confronting a crisis that seems to be slipping out of his hands∶ Global #energy prices are surging, the #US stands isolated from [former] #allies & more #troops are preparing to deploy despite his promise the war would be only a "short excursion."

#TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/three-weeks-iran-war-escalates-beyond-trumps-control-2026-03-21/?utm_source=braze&utm_medium=notifications&utm_campaign=2025_engagement

A defensive #Trump called other #NATO countries "cowards" for refusing to help secure the #StraitOfHormuz & insisted the campaign was ‌unfolding according to plan. But his declaration on Friday that the battle "was Militarily WON" clashed with the #reality of a defiant #Iran that is choking off Gulf #oil & #gas supplies while launching missile strikes across the region.

#TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

#Trump, who took office promising to keep the #US out of "stupid" military interventions, now controls neither the outcome nor the messaging of a #war he initiated. The lack of a clear exit strategy carries risks both for his “legacy” & his party's political prospects as #Republicans scramble to defend narrow majorities in #Congress in the November #midterms.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

…#Trump was caught off-guard by the resistance of fellow #NATO members & other foreign partners to deploying their navies to help secure the #StraitOfHormuz, according to a White House official….

With Trump not wanting to appear isolated, some aides have advised him to quickly find an "off-ramp" & set limits on the military operation's scope, said one person close to the discussions. But it was unclear whether that argument was enough to sway Trump.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #law #Congress #WarPowers

In the view of some analysts, #allies' unwillingness reflects not only their reluctance over entanglement in a war they were not consulted on, but a backlash against his belittling of traditional #US #alliances since his return to office 14 months ago [ya think?].

Differences with #Israel also have surfaced, with #Trump insisting that he knew nothing in advance about the attack on #Iran's #SouthPars #gas field, while Israeli ofcls said the strike had indeed been coordinated with the #US.

…The war has also shown #Trump's once-iron grip over his #MAGA movement is weakening, with prominent influencers speaking out against the #war. While his base has mostly stood with him so far, analysts say that Trump's control could weaken in the coming weeks if gas prices keep rising and #US #troops are deployed.

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

Since the #war's start on Feb 28, there has been a growing realization within the #Trump admin that the conflict & its consequences should have been better mapped out in advance [duh!], according to 2 sources familiar with White House thinking, although the first White House official countered that the campaign was extensively planned & well-equipped for any potential action [maybe, just badly].

#Iran #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

Analysts say Trump's biggest misjudgment was over how #Iran would respond to a #war that it considers existential.

Tehran has retaliated with its remaining missiles & a fleet of armed drones to ⁠offset its foes' military superiority, striking neighboring Gulf states & mostly shutting down the #StraitOfHormuz, the conduit for one-fifth of the world's #oil.

#Trump #TrumpsWar #IllegalWar #law #Congress #WarPowers #geopolitics #MiddleEast #energy #economy

…As the #war has dragged on, there have ⁠been increasing signs of #Trump's frustration with his inability to control the narrative. In recent days, he has torn into the #news #media, advancing unfounded allegations of “treason” for #journalism he sees as undermining the war effort.

"He's finding it difficult to drive the news cycle, …because he still can’t explain why he’s taken this country to war & what comes next,” said Brett Bruen, fmr Obama foreign policy adviser….

#Iran #TrumpsWar #law

ermo | Rune Morling 4d ago

@Nonilex He made his bed, including:

- Using woefully out-of-their-depth negotiators Kushner & Witkoff to head negotiations with Iran
- Acting with little regard to the advice of people whose job it is to estimate and consider consequences of various actions
- Neglecting to manufacture consent within NATO, including with allies whose territorial integrity he has repeatedly & illegally threatened
- Failing to justify his actions within the framing of International Law

Now he gets to lie in it.

CrazyDogLadySezPEACE 4d ago

@Nonilex Faux News seems to be in a full-court-press to blame the lines and all air travel difficulties on the TSA workers not being paid — which they lay at the feet of *Dems* intransigence instead of their own — instead of on airlines being thrown into utter chaos by the double-hit of having to cancel a shit ton of international flights while the cost of fuel nearly doubled at the same time. 🙄

Tbh, I hope the jet fuel prices go sky high so people stop f*g flying when they don’t have to. Take a train, a bus, or drive. It takes longer but will spare our grandchildren’s lungs ffs.

@Heartofcoyote @Nonilex too bad the Kochs tried to stop every light rail and train development in the U.S. https://www.masstransitmag.com/home/news/12417422/how-the-koch-brothers-are-killing-public-transit-projects-around-the-country

US: How the Koch Brothers Are Killing Public Transit Projects Around the Country

In cities and counties across the country — including Little Rock, Ark.; Phoenix, Ariz.; southeast Michigan; central Utah; and in Tennessee — the Koch brothers are fueling a fight...

Mass Transit

CrazyDogLadySezPEACE 4d ago

@timo21 @Nonilex Yup 🤦🏻‍♀️😞🫩

@Heartofcoyote @Nonilex yeah, when people from other countries ask why the U.S. doesn't have passenger rail systems, it's because we had to fight tooth and nail with what is now called the 'Epstein Class' to get anything built. They have been screwing the U.S. over for many decades.

Joe ❌👑4d ago

@timo21 @Heartofcoyote @Nonilex Most US cities had very good local passenger rail, and there was regional passenger rail as well connecting adjacent cities, but they were mostly ripped out to benefit the auto companies.

@Nonilex Remaining missiles? I was under the impression that they had quite a bit of an arsenal left, but has sent out “cheap” drones (~$50k) for us to shoot down with our Patriot Missiles (~$4million), waiting for our arsenal to dry up before firing off their own missiles? I could very well be wrong here and welcome any feedback to better explain the situation.

What I do know with doubt is that the grand winners here are the Saudis and North American oil companies, as the global supply is currently limited, allowing these two to increase both their normal supply and prices, as they are the only “shops” open to deliver for now.

FurballsNHairballs 4d ago

@Nonilex
Those short dick trucks sure eat a lotta diesel/gas....and all that diesel exhaust fluid adds up .
5.00/ gal diesel
4.00/gas
11 mpg
Yeah they gonna stop sucking Donald off here soon.

@Nonilex NATO might also be saving their military in case the madman attacks them.

PG1958WILLNOTCOMPLY 🇺🇸🇷🇴🇺🇦🇵🇸4d ago

@Nonilex difficult to know which liar to believe....