I think there has to be a balancing act in negotiations. In the 1980’s Reagan took out half of Iran’s navy. We didn’t hear from them for 10 years. Trump took out their entire navy with the exception of the small boat which provides some tactical advantage but no strategic value. We have demonstrated our technological superiority over Chinese and Russian defensive systems and we can strike them with impunity.
We could have reopened the straits but at what cost of American lives. We could have demanded unconditional surrender but how long and how much manpower would be to manage the country and how many American lives would have been lost in an insurgency. Another 20 years Afghanistan fiasco?
We are allowing them to use their own money with restrictions and other gulf countries will have to provide the rest. Do you think they will release money to a country that was hostile to their interest if they think it will be used against them. They have skin in the game. That’s new.
We had a 100 day war not a 20 year cluster. Gas never got much over $4 which it did many time during the Obama administration, when $4 was $4.
Is it a great deal. No. But do we still have leverage. Yes. Heck the b52’s bombed them from the US. Heck how long after the Berlin Wall did the Soviet Union fall. You never how things will play out. Their economy is a shit show and they are running out of water. They may need Israel to manage their water systems like they did when the Shah was running the show
Brilliant analysis. Thank you Christian.
I think there has to be a balancing act in negotiations. In the 1980’s Reagan took out half of Iran’s navy. We didn’t hear from them for 10 years. Trump took out their entire navy with the exception of the small boat which provides some tactical advantage but no strategic value. We have demonstrated our technological superiority over Chinese and Russian defensive systems and we can strike them with impunity.
We could have reopened the straits but at what cost of American lives. We could have demanded unconditional surrender but how long and how much manpower would be to manage the country and how many American lives would have been lost in an insurgency. Another 20 years Afghanistan fiasco?
We are allowing them to use their own money with restrictions and other gulf countries will have to provide the rest. Do you think they will release money to a country that was hostile to their interest if they think it will be used against them. They have skin in the game. That’s new.
We had a 100 day war not a 20 year cluster. Gas never got much over $4 which it did many time during the Obama administration, when $4 was $4.
Is it a great deal. No. But do we still have leverage. Yes. Heck the b52’s bombed them from the US. Heck how long after the Berlin Wall did the Soviet Union fall. You never how things will play out. Their economy is a shit show and they are running out of water. They may need Israel to manage their water systems like they did when the Shah was running the show
Once the mid terms are done I'd advise the Iranians to be very compliant.