MFOHome About Commentary Discussions Funds The Best Resources Support Us!

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register

Categories

In this Discussion

Here's a statement of the obvious: The opinions expressed here are those of the participants, not those of the Mutual Fund Observer. We cannot vouch for the accuracy or appropriateness of any of it, though we do encourage civility and good humor.

    Support MFO

  • Donate through PayPal

Reality sets in on Trumps new war

MarkMark
in Off-Topic

"The bad news comes in two parts.

First, any hopes that this war might be extremely brief are fading. The Trump administration may have imagined that decapitating the Iranian government would bring swift regime change, but the Islamic State isn’t a government of mere thugs — yes, they’re evil thugs, but they’re also serious religious fanatics facing what for them is an existential threat, and their grip on power isn’t that easy to break. Furthermore, it’s painfully obvious that Trump and co. had no plan beyond bombing Iran, killing its current leaders, and hoping that something good would happen.

Second, war in the middle of the world’s most important oil-producing region — which is also a key source of liquefied natural gas — inevitably has major consequences for energy prices. Once upon a time US and Israeli air superiority might have contained Iran’s ability to harm its neighbors. But in an age in which even third-rate powers have the ability to launch missiles and drones, Iran has a huge stockpile of drones and also has ballistic missiles that are destructive, hard to intercept, and have a 1200 mile range.

The U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia has been hit by two drone strikes. Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha and the U.S. consulate in Dubai have also been hit.

U.S. officials have urged all Americans in the region to leave, but they did so after almost all flights had been canceled. Only now are they saying that they’re going to arrange flights on military aircraft and charter flights — an airlift that will have to be immense given that there are surely tens of thousands of Americans currently stranded. Did I mention that Trump and co. clearly went to war without a plan?"

Paul Krugman

Comments

  • DrVenture
    @Mark

    "it’s painfully obvious that Trump and co. had no plan beyond bombing Iran, killing its current leaders, and hoping that something good would happen."

    That pretty much nails it!

    I'd assume that we cannot walk away, as trump would prefer at this point, because Iran will then be free to continue launching missiles/drone/terror with no push back.
  • MarkMark
    He's a clueless loser who can't stand to lose with an idiot sidekick pushing buttons on a board just to see what each one might do.

    They will only walk away if Benji says they can.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    Juvenile delinquents playing with war toys.
  • CrashCrash
    edited 3:12AM
    Grown up Orange spoiled child. What's mine is mine, and what's YOURS is mine, too. I want it MY way. That was his selected dance music at the 1st term Inaugural Balls. Sinatra: I did it MY WAY. Such a classy Orange doink.
Sign In or Register to comment.