"accept an outcome that falls short of what he demanded or reject it and return to military escalation"
That Tehran is more straightforward about what is going on creates a corridor of denial in which Trump's choices live. His unreasonable expectations from the get-go spelled America's loss--and yes, we have already lost. He keeps parroting "unconditional surrender" as the only outcome he'll accept while then bombing Iran to no avail. So, he can't provoke a win, and he can't accept a loss. As Mr. O'Neill says, we'll just keep cycling through this crap--probably until after Trump's term ends.
I am becoming increasingly suspicious that Trump's yoyoing negotiations pronouncements are a scam for profits related to pre-announcement purchase or sale of oil stocks, oil futures and stock indexe funds.
Trump: “We’ll be hitting them very hard and, you know, at some point they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”
Sadly, that one sentence from Trump defines the extent of any strategy on the part of the Trump administration for this war: hope that Iran eventually gets tired enough to give up. I guess that's about as much as we can hope for when it comes to expecting actual planning from this bunch of idiots.
I fear America won't end this war till we force Trump from office -- and his minions, too. But before that happens, Trump may decide to.use tactical nuclear weapons -- and earn worldwide condemnation -- in his desperation.
My guess? It took Mr. Obama and his team 20 months to negotiate an agreement with Iran. It could take Trump even longer, since he has deatroyed so much of their country and killed so many of their leaders..
But isn't it strange that majorities in both countries hate their leaders, want them out, want a democratic government, and want this war to end? Both countries!
It's a quagmire, and Trump is the new George W. Bush.
tRump has no motivation to end the war. Why? Because his family and cronies can profit from every time prices move based on his saying there's an agreement or more bombing is coming. They've got the inside dope from trump to move before the markets do. Suckers can pay $100,000 for a staler version of the inside dope with his personal grift scheme.
His political support has to collapse, as it did for Nixon. Hard to imagine, but a president like Trump was impossible to imagine and he happened anyway.
Thanks for the analysis. I perceive a change from early days when Trump was written about as if he was a rational actor. No more.
Brian, we would all like to optimistic about the shitshow that is the Iran War. However, as long as these incompetent goons (I'm looking at you POS POTUS and Botox Pete and other sycophants) are in charge, there will be more TACOs, lies, grandstanding and deaths because they do not have the basic tools necessary to diplomatically end this latest fiasco caused by the lunatic toddler in the White House.
For all of the billions spent on this debacle and deaths caused by it, what we have to show for it is a stronger Iran, a weaker American and a Strait of Hormuz that was once open for business but is now controlled by Iran.
Congress please help this fat pathetic old man. He’s lying on the pavement in the grip of a seizure, eyes rolled up in his head tongue extended. You call 911 and try to comfort him saying “Stay calm—help’s on the way” He mumbles “Decimated them—they’ll surrender now.”
Congress you have to save the President, and the world’s economies, from this man who is in the grip of delusion. He believes that he’s winning, and can’t accept failure. He maintains more bombing will work after 5 months of bombing failed to achieve his goal. In fact, Iran is strategically more powerful now than before the invasion since it controls the strait of Hormuz. And Iran demonstrated it probably has more tolerance for pain than Trump does.
Trump does not know how to end the Iran debacle. He is paralyzed by the bad decision to enter and no attractive alternatives to end the debacle. CONGRESS SAVE THE PRESIDENT BEFORE HE CHOKES ON HIS TONGUE AGAIN. Invoke the war powers act. Cut off funding and demand US forces withdrawal.
"Tehran denies it is negotiating with Washington, and nothing it has said suggests it is ready to surrender something of consequence..."
It says a lot when there are people who are more likely to believe what Tehran is saying about the war than what the administration says.
"accept an outcome that falls short of what he demanded or reject it and return to military escalation"
That Tehran is more straightforward about what is going on creates a corridor of denial in which Trump's choices live. His unreasonable expectations from the get-go spelled America's loss--and yes, we have already lost. He keeps parroting "unconditional surrender" as the only outcome he'll accept while then bombing Iran to no avail. So, he can't provoke a win, and he can't accept a loss. As Mr. O'Neill says, we'll just keep cycling through this crap--probably until after Trump's term ends.
Trump is a fickle felon. He has no clue how to end this war with Iran. The talking heads in the Pentagon are as bad as he is.
I am becoming increasingly suspicious that Trump's yoyoing negotiations pronouncements are a scam for profits related to pre-announcement purchase or sale of oil stocks, oil futures and stock indexe funds.
Trump: “We’ll be hitting them very hard and, you know, at some point they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore.’”
Sadly, that one sentence from Trump defines the extent of any strategy on the part of the Trump administration for this war: hope that Iran eventually gets tired enough to give up. I guess that's about as much as we can hope for when it comes to expecting actual planning from this bunch of idiots.
How can we hit them very hard when we're running out of munitions?
Or when we're still supposed to be bound by a ceasefire agreement? Boy, that went right out the window.
You're funny, Brian. "These aren't the droids you're looking for." You'd think these guys had never seen Star Wars.
I fear America won't end this war till we force Trump from office -- and his minions, too. But before that happens, Trump may decide to.use tactical nuclear weapons -- and earn worldwide condemnation -- in his desperation.
My guess? It took Mr. Obama and his team 20 months to negotiate an agreement with Iran. It could take Trump even longer, since he has deatroyed so much of their country and killed so many of their leaders..
But isn't it strange that majorities in both countries hate their leaders, want them out, want a democratic government, and want this war to end? Both countries!
It's a quagmire, and Trump is the new George W. Bush.
tRump has no motivation to end the war. Why? Because his family and cronies can profit from every time prices move based on his saying there's an agreement or more bombing is coming. They've got the inside dope from trump to move before the markets do. Suckers can pay $100,000 for a staler version of the inside dope with his personal grift scheme.
His political support has to collapse, as it did for Nixon. Hard to imagine, but a president like Trump was impossible to imagine and he happened anyway.
Thanks for the analysis. I perceive a change from early days when Trump was written about as if he was a rational actor. No more.
Thanks Lisa. You should read my op ed from OCT 2025.
https://www.ajc.com/opinion/2025/10/trumps-foreign-policy-is-proving-to-be-unpredictable-muddled-and-dangerous/
I ran into a paywall but this seems related—seven months earlier:
https://www.contrariannews.org/p/trumps-broken-clock-doctrine?utm_source=publication-search
Brian, we would all like to optimistic about the shitshow that is the Iran War. However, as long as these incompetent goons (I'm looking at you POS POTUS and Botox Pete and other sycophants) are in charge, there will be more TACOs, lies, grandstanding and deaths because they do not have the basic tools necessary to diplomatically end this latest fiasco caused by the lunatic toddler in the White House.
For all of the billions spent on this debacle and deaths caused by it, what we have to show for it is a stronger Iran, a weaker American and a Strait of Hormuz that was once open for business but is now controlled by Iran.
Congress please help this fat pathetic old man. He’s lying on the pavement in the grip of a seizure, eyes rolled up in his head tongue extended. You call 911 and try to comfort him saying “Stay calm—help’s on the way” He mumbles “Decimated them—they’ll surrender now.”
Congress you have to save the President, and the world’s economies, from this man who is in the grip of delusion. He believes that he’s winning, and can’t accept failure. He maintains more bombing will work after 5 months of bombing failed to achieve his goal. In fact, Iran is strategically more powerful now than before the invasion since it controls the strait of Hormuz. And Iran demonstrated it probably has more tolerance for pain than Trump does.
Trump does not know how to end the Iran debacle. He is paralyzed by the bad decision to enter and no attractive alternatives to end the debacle. CONGRESS SAVE THE PRESIDENT BEFORE HE CHOKES ON HIS TONGUE AGAIN. Invoke the war powers act. Cut off funding and demand US forces withdrawal.