Trump just declared war and peace simultaneously.
The "hybrid" and "greyzone" US approach to Iran continues. This will continue to escalate, and the US will make more moves. #HandsOffIran
The "hybrid" and "greyzone" US approach to Iran continues. This will continue to escalate, and the US will make more moves. #HandsOffIran
There were only three big moments in Trump's rambly nonsense:
(a) the *demand* that Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China *must* abandon the JCPOA (which is already dead) is a more aggressive iteration of what the US is trying here anyway. It may backfire spectacularly;
(a) the *demand* that Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China *must* abandon the JCPOA (which is already dead) is a more aggressive iteration of what the US is trying here anyway. It may backfire spectacularly;
(b) the hypersonic missile mention was an attempt to show that the US can deter Russia - it can't because the US missiles aren't operational;
(c) "we do not need middle east oil" confirms US objectives in the region are about getting other exporters off the market now.
(c) "we do not need middle east oil" confirms US objectives in the region are about getting other exporters off the market now.
On further reflection, a couple of other points.
The lack of any concrete US action being suggested and the demand for NATO to take a bigger role in the ME *could* indicate that US imperialism knows that *it* cannot maintain its presence in the region any longer.
The lack of any concrete US action being suggested and the demand for NATO to take a bigger role in the ME *could* indicate that US imperialism knows that *it* cannot maintain its presence in the region any longer.
The attempt to drag NATO into the matter will see the tensions in the alliance erupt, which is possibly more of the point than the idea that, for example, Germany and France take over the US occupation of Iraq. Given European position on JCPOA, I can't see that being realistic.
So, the other option opened up here is that the US is making a gambit and feigning a retreat, as Tsun Tsu suggests one ought to do before advancing fearlessly.
The key question over the next few days, pending further US intervention, is thus how Europe, China and Russia respond
The key question over the next few days, pending further US intervention, is thus how Europe, China and Russia respond
(Aisde: the thing about "hybrid" and "greyzone" warfare is that they're either really genuinely very clever, or its an idea so utterly stupid that the most incompetent person in the world is actually *always* going to be the best option.)
(Aside aside: It's really funny how Trump doing a little rhetorical hokey cokey and contradicting himself constantly really draws out how little people pay attention to what is said in the first place...)
(Final aside aside aside: And look, I know we're now literally living through a period where war is peace and all that, but Orwell was still wrong and what's happening in reality is wayyyyy wilder than anything his anti-communist delirium could conjure.)
What "hybrid" and "greyzone" warfare (that is, postmodern warfare) actually are.
