Mastodawn

@dalfen #trump is threatening to strike the "biggest plant first". that is, there is no path of "incremental" damage but rather either a knock-out blow [regime collapses], or "the worst is already passed" [regime sustained the blow and ready to hit back]. so far, #iran showed that it does not bluff. its message is consistent. maybe they cannot hit as hard and not as showy as trump & co, but they do inflict real pain. ironically, best outcome for now would be #TACO doctrine.

@hszakher Oh that's true! He cornered himself another way by threatening to hit the biggest plant first. And from what I've seen so far in this, Iran hasn't bluffed. Barring trump deciding to blow up the power plants against better judgment, I don't see what other play trump has except to taco it out... make it look like he extended the time and then made a deal or something.

@dalfen trump, so far, did not show the ability to come and say something like "I consulted our allies and decided to postpone the hit". he can blame others for his mistakes, but cannot see himself "following" others' recommendations. that's why I am really curious how he will pull a TACO this time

@hszakher 💯 He thinks he is the best thing since sliced bread, so to speak, and the smartest person alive. He is prideful and won't admit he was wrong or that other people convinced him to change, lest he appear weak. He will always bluster, lie, gaslight–whatever–to make it look like he somehow came out on top.

If nothing changes, he could announce he showed mercy and allowed more time to release their hold on the Strait as he demanded. Or along those lines, he could strike smaller facilities.

@hszakher Also, his making such an extreme threat (at all) shows desperation on his part.

@dalfen exactly. #Trump keeps making the same mistake over and over. by killing #Iran supreme leader on day#1 of #war (thinking regime will collapse) he lost a major negotiating card. everybody else in the command chain is less significant after the supreme leader. now, he's threatening the same with power plants, or gas fields ...etc. make a big bang on the most important asset. but if this bang doesnt break the regime, you have no more chips to play (no wonder he bankrupted two casinos)

@hszakher So true. It is amazing how he convinced so many that he is some kind of ultra-smart 4D-chess-playing deal maker— what utter nonsense.

He is emotional and impetuous. He doesn't just show his cards (or lack of them) by how he acts, but he screams them out.

I believe he and his admin were on a 'high' from the way that their actions in Venezuela went for them, and they arrogantly figured military actions in Iran would be as quickly successful. They failed to consider the whole picture.

@hszakher Well there we go. Trump is giving #Iran a 5-day postponement. He says that negotiations are going amazingly well, which is interesting because just two days ago or so he said he wasn't going to negotiate with Iran yet.

So THAT's how he TACO'd this one!

@hszakher I thought he might try to buy more time, but I suggested he might act like he is providing mercy. Ha! Silly me lol... of course he wants to project himself as the great negotiator...you know, art of the deal and all 🙄

Also, it is interesting how he all-caps screamed that post. Super stable guy. Doesn't appear troubled whatsoever (ha).

@hszakher Art of the Bluff

And honestly, I doubt negotiations have been going on much at all, never mind going amazingly well.

That said, *maybe* some will happen now. At this point, I think Trump is looking for a way out (of course one that will make him look like he came out on top).

@dalfen I am just waiting for official denial from #iran about negotiations. #trump said it himself, there is no one to negotiate with (killed everyone). how do you go from "obliterating" a country, to "negotiations amazingly well"? it's amazingly amazing that he can handle this kind of mental gymnastics without dislocating a mental shoulder