The Iran War (was Nuclear Program) thread

[Doctor Phibes]

What with Hegseth quoting fake biblical verses from Pulp Fiction, and Trump declaring the Strait is closed and open at the same time and always will be, it almost feels as if these guys don't know what they're talking about.

[taiwan_girl]

It is that déjà vu feeling all over again. LOL

I am starting to get this forum thread confused with the "sad cognitive decline of a president" forum thread.

[Mik]

It's really not that. This is just what he does. It is as constant as the north star, but that very consistency is its weakness. He always states the nuclear option, and everyone knows that's not what he wants to do or will do. The guy needs to learn some new tricks.

[Renauda]

@Mik

The guy needs to learn some new tricks.

The first would be that foreign policy and trade are extensions of diplomacy, of which is nothing transactional or performative.

[Mik]

Now you're talking depth. I'm not sure that's deliverable.

[Renauda]

I don’t it expect it could be.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Mik said:

The guy needs to learn some new tricks.

Why would he do that when he's the greatest negotiator in history?

[Tom-K]

@Mik said:

This is just what he does. It is as constant as the north star, but that very consistency is its weakness. He always states the nuclear option, and everyone knows that's not what he wants to do or will do. The guy needs to learn some new tricks.

Sounds exactly like some other "world leader."

[taiwan_girl]

@Mik said:

It's really not that. This is just what he does. It is as constant as the north star, but that very consistency is its weakness.

Ok, but a lot of people seem to gloss over how much that diminishes him, the office of President, the United States, etc. and give him a pass. "Oh, that is just Trump being Trump."

I remember when he said (during his first campaign I think) that he could "shoot someone in Times Square NY and none of his followers would care."

When I first heard that, I was like, "No way. No way people would accept that." But now, after all that he says and does, I can see that he was telling the truth.

[Mik]

Oh, the diminishment is clearly true and that which I most dislike about him. But his political instincts are first rate. he's turned American politics on its head for 12 years now.