The Idiocy of the deluded Emperor Donald

• The Iranians are very different and strange
• They’re begging me for a deal
• But they better get serious soon.
• Vance and Rubio have joined Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators

The Art of the Deal. Not.

The NY Times sums up how he is confusing both Trump Americans and the Iranians: Trump’s war with Iran is testing the limits of his unorthodox diplomatic style as he grasps for a deal to end the conflict shaking the Middle East and the global economy. . . The jumble of emissaries – a friend, a family member, a dove and a hawk – reflects Trumps improvisational approach to foreign dealings and his disdain for career diplomats and their often cumbersome protocols. The picture is further muddied by Trump’s stream of consciousness in social media and before the TV cameras, in which he declares, revises and sometimes reverses his threats and demands.

It’s reported that – contrary to US claims – only a third of Iran’s missiles have been destroyed.

Reality

More escalation

• The US strikes Iranian steel plants
• Israel sends a 3rd missile at an Iranian nuclear plant
• Yemen joins war the war, via the Houthis.

Boots on the ground

Secretary of state Rubio the US believes it will be able to achieve its goals without boots on the ground, but marines will be ‘in position’ next week. The lack of heavy armoured units, logistical depth and other elements needed for a protracted military conflict will limit the ability to escalate the conflict, potentially extending a stalemate that could be devastating to the international economy.

Quotes

• The question for friends of ]Trump] America is simple. What can we do to extricate the superpower from this unwanted entanglement?
• Has the US military already been Kudlowized by the Worst and the Dumbest? [i.e. ?Shaped by showy, incompetent, ideologically driven leadership rather than by careful strategy and professional expertise?]. Paul Krugman here.

Finally . . .

It’s all unravelling. And Trump fingers Hegseth as the person responsible.

Perhaps the only certainty right now is that more Trump Americans will die. Along with many others, of course.

Oh, and that Trump’s era will be well remembered – but not remembered well – by historians. Especially those analysing the rise and fall of the ‘American’ empire. And his role in accelerating the latter.