Trump’s War Against American Credibility
“As the strikes on Iran grew deadlier and more destructive, many Iranians opposed to or ambivalent toward their government began to see the suffering inflicted on them as unacceptable. Some Iranians who once voiced hopes that bombardment could dislodge their rulers say they are now worried that they have ended up with the worst of both worlds — abandoned in a country in ruins, governed by an entrenched, emboldened leadership who they fear could act more aggressively against dissent.” NYT (Gift Article): Iran’s Battered Leaders Emerge From War Confident — and With New Cards.
+ “The war against Iran was not begun in consultation with allies. And it came after a series of events that have confounded them. Mr. Trump’s tariff wars were an unpleasant shock, but his threat to take Greenland by force if necessary from Denmark, a European and NATO ally, is seen as an inflection point about American predation, unreliability and contempt for traditional friends. ‘The Iran war and its economic impact are piling on and reinforce this sense that the U.S. right now has become unpredictable and undependable.'” NYT (Gift Article): A Cease-Fire for Now in Iran, but a Blow to American Credibility.
+ Blocking the Strait of Hormuz essentially held the world’s energy economy hostage. China is watching. And they know “a blockade of Taiwan would hurt the global economy more than Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.” Oil isn’t the only thing the global economy depends on. We also need chips. “China will have paid close attention to Trump’s pain threshold. Although Beijing has numerous options for conquering Taiwan, the most appealing for the Chinese military would begin with a partial blockade of the island, much like the one Iran imposed on the strait. The resulting shock to the global economy would be far worse.” Simon Shuster: What China Just Learned From the Iran War.
+ Almost certainly under pressure from the US, Israel is opening talks with Lebanon, but Bibi keeps striking Lebanon, the Strait remains mostly closed, and Trump says he’s optimistic about negotiations: Iran’s leaders “talk much differently when you’re at a meeting than they do to the press. They’re much more reasonable. They’re agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to. Remember, they’ve been conquered. They have no military.” (Let’s hope both sides are much more reasonable and honest in private…) Here’s the latest from BBC, The Guardian, and NBC.
