"There are many ways a country can decline.

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

"I have been saying since the beginning that America is playing checkers while Iran plays chess, but it’s worse than that. American leadership is utterly incoherent: We won, but we need help. We hate our allies; but will our adversaries please come bail us out?"

Jonathan V. Last

#Trump #Hegseth #Iran #war #stupidity
/26

http://thebulwark.com/p/the-war-developments-that-should

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

"Meanwhile Iranian leadership survived a transition of power in the midst of war, achieved its strategic objective in closing the strait, and is now looking to leverage China’s rising economic ambitions against the United States."

#Trump #Hegseth #Iran #war #stupidity
/27

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

"Iran’s actions are what’s known as a 'horizontal' escalation, meaning a widening of the war to involve more parties and more pain for all.

Now comes the Hobson’s choice: Trump can double down on the war by escalating U.S. attacks and committing us to even greater military involvement. Or he can cut our losses sooner and admit political defeat.

~ Jay Kuo

#Trump #Hegseth #Iran #war #stupidity
/28

https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/trump-faces-a-hobsons-choice-in-iran

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

"So, guess what Trump has “chosen” to do?

Trump has elected to escalate the war in Iran over the coming weeks. …

The only true choice Trump has is to withdraw U.S. forces from the region, whether he does it sooner or much later. …

Trump’s problem, and therefore ours too, is his own pride and ego."

#Trump #Hegseth #Iran #war #stupidity
/29

[palin@mastodon.social]

@wdlindsy And I think Netanyahu is dead.

[rainbowfrog@mastodon.top]

@wdlindsy

Trump and Hegseth do not even seem to understand that their *action* in last june, without follow up, did, in fact, allow Iran government to understand that *this* would happen, and organize its defense to be able to still fight, even after killing all the leaders

in fact, june 2025 was *stupid*, because "Forewarned is forearmed" 🤔

[myricagale@mastodon.scot]

@wdlindsy Thank goodness for so many No responses. I'm guessing China may not respond because they see it as a question unworthy of an answer.

[myricagale@mastodon.scot]

@wdlindsy Excellent thread!

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

@MyricaGale Thank you — such material to work with! Sturm, drang, stupidity: what more can one want?

[wdlindsy@toad.social]

@Dolphinchaz In particular….

[lighthouse_dann@mastodon.social]

@wdlindsy The States will be recorded in history as the nation who started a global war because Israel told them to.

The United States no longer exists and will never return.

They should change their name to:
"The United State of New Israel".

[gubi@sociale.network]

@wdlindsy Greenland? 🤣🤣🤣