Friday, April 10, 2026

On The Table

The first trial I ever worked on, in the early ‘80’s, involved the Fairchild A-10. It was new then.

It’s basically a flying anti-tank gun. It has a huge gun in the nose, angled down. The pilot sits right behind it, encased in a shell beneath the cockpit to protect against ground fire. It is meant to fly low, below radar, for NATO’s use in Europe repelling a Russian invasion. (I still remember the video Fairchild made. Contractors sell their weapons like aspirin.) 

I only mention this because, 40+ years later, we’re still flying them, though not necessarily as a tank killer. Drones aren’t quite as certainly lethal (in the video the A-10 shredded a tank like it was cardboard); but they are cheap, and almost anyone can fly them. And go home even if the drone goes down. Ukraine is also taking over that business; which, you know, gives them “cards.”
We sent our military experts to the Middle East, including specialists in interceptor drones and electronic warfare. We demonstrated to some countries how to work with interceptors. Did we destroy Iranian “shaheds?” Yes, we did. Did we do it in just one country? No, in several. And in my view, this is a success.

This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work. In those countries that opened up their air defense systems to us, our experts were able to very quickly advise how to make those systems stronger. In some cases, we directly shared our experience in actual defense. In any case, all of this has had a very positive outcome, and it commands respect for Ukraine.

We also shot down drones with jet engines. This is a very good signal, I think. We showed that this works. Now it is only a matter of time before we begin mass production of interceptors that will destroy drones with jet engines.

From a conversation with journalists (2/5).

One of the problems with our military is our anti-missile systems are (by necessity) expensive. Tomahawks ain’t cheap, either. But Iran still has up to 50% of their weapons. And we need to either negotiate, or raise another $200 billion. Neither option seems to be on the table.
He already laid that gun on the table in Act I. We’re already in the final scene of Act V, and not only did the gun not go off, he took it out of the room.

We’re already anticipating the next play, regarding associated characters and new problems. But this one’s over.
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Have They Even Determined The Shape Of The Table?

Could have seen this coming. That door swings both ways. After all, you agreed to this stopping, but it didn’t.
Absurd and inhuman violence is spreading ferociously through the sacred places of the Christian East, profaned by the blasphemy of war and the brutality of business, with no regard for people’s lives, which are considered at most collateral damage of self-interest. But no gain can be worth the life of the weakest, children, or families. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood.
"... blasphemy of war, the brutality of business…. No cause can justify the shedding of innocent blood.”
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Or They’ll All Be Speaking Farsi?

But forget that failure, let’s talk about 🧊. Speaking of failure: I guess that means we won’t resume bombing Iran anytime soon? It is significant that Trump hasn’t threatened Iran over the failure to open the Strait. Yeah, he’s through fighting. Eggs! DRINK! "The business of the American presidency is business.”—DJT "So cut me in for a taste, or feel the wrath of my tweets!” Yeah, he’s kind of folded already.
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Thursday, April 09, 2026

His Master’s Voice

Israel is indiscriminately bombing Lebanon because “Hezbollah.” Is that supposed to be English? And maybe Democrats are “negative” towards Israel because Gen. Caine was right:
The president then turned to General Caine. “General, what do you think?”

General Caine replied: “Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and that’s why they’re hard-selling.”
And what they sold was: regime change would be easy (like it was for W in Iraq?). But they knew they were selling to the biggest useful idiot they’d ever pitch to.
Kerry: I was part of the any number of conversations with Netanyahu.

Psaki: Pitching the US strike Iran?

Kerry: Yes, he wanted us to strike. He came to president Obama. He made a presentation to ask to strike. President Obama refused. President Biden refused. President Bush refused. The only president who has agreed to this, obviously, is President Trump
Shame on us, but it’s no reason to back Israel’s play. I’ve seen enough of what Israel does in the name of “right to exist.” They can carry that load themselves from now on; especially since they are so disinterested in the effect of their actions on the rest of the world. Sure, dude, whatever. More "Persian strongman" talk:
After appearing to express his support for the tolls yesterday, claiming that it could a “joint venture” in the future between Iran and the United States, President Trump has now stated that Iran “better not be” charging fees on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and if they are “they better stop now!”
"Or I’ll give ‘em such a pinch!” 🤏  Cruz is almost as big an idiot as Trump. The last word: His Master’s voice. First; last; always (whether it’s Bibi or Putin or Xi Jinping). 

Trump doesn’t make deals; he makes chaos, and runs away.
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“The Pictures Are Fake, Too!”

In case you’re wondering, everything is fine.
In a long ranting post earlier on TruthSocial, President Donald J. Trump launched a brutal attack against some of previous strongest supporters, including Conservative commentators Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, who have recently begun to criticize Trump for the Iran War, Epstein Files, and other moves that they consider against his agenda of “MAGA” and “America First.” President Trump, in the post, call the above named commentators, “Low IQs…stupid people..NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS,” who he says have, “Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody's talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA - Or I wouldn't have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE. MAGA agrees with me, and just gave CNN a 100% Approval Rating of "TRUMP," not Hand Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson.”
After appearing to express his support for the tolls yesterday, claiming that it could a “joint venture” in the future between Iran and the United States, President Trump has now stated that Iran “better not be” charging fees on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and if they are “they better stop now!”
I know it’s repetitive, but, you know, context.  Sun’s going down. Also context. At some point, it’s just pathetic. Yeah, I think that’s context, too. 
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Wait! I Have It Here Somewhere…

Oil industry representatives met with senior administration staff in the State Department on Wednesday morning to raise concerns, said one person who said they attended the meeting.

Among their points: Conceding to Iran’s request would add $2.5 million to each shipment in tolls and higher insurance rates, a cost that would be passed on to consumers. Giving Iran control of Hormuz could set precedent for countries like Singapore and Turkey to charge tolls on important trade routes on the Strait of Malacca and Bosporus. And paying the toll could put companies in legal jeopardy for violating sanctions on Iranian officials.
Now where did they get that idea?
Iran is demanding that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz make toll payments in the form of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT or the Trump family’s USD1. Vessels have been told to email Iranian authorities prior to passage through the area with details regarding their cargo, which authorities will then respond with a quote for passage through the toll to be paid in digital currency, reportedly set at $1 per barrel of oil, according to the Financial Times.
No, not there.
Under the two-week ceasefire plan agreed to tonight by both Iran and the United States, both Iran and Oman are permitted to charge fees on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press, with officials stating that the money received by Iran will be used to rebuild the country following the recent strike campaign by Israel and the United States.
Getting warmer!
Iran is declaring victory after Trump agreed to ceasefire, saying the U.S. adopted its terms—and it's hard to see it any other way.

Iran’s leadership is openly celebrating what it calls a “crushing defeat” for the United States after Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire and acknowledged using Iran’s own 10-point framework as the basis for negotiations.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council says the U.S. has effectively accepted its core demands—including continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of uranium enrichment, lifting sanctions, and even discussions of compensation and U.S. troop withdrawal. Essentially, Trump has, for now, given Iran everything they asked for.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the same framework, stating safe passage through the Strait will now be coordinated under Iranian control during the ceasefire period.

So looking at statements from the U.S. and Iran, it seems clear Trump didn’t bring Iran to the table on U.S. terms—he appears to have moved negotiations onto Iran’s terms.

After days of escalating rhetoric, including Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Trump has now reversed course and is embracing the very proposal Iran put forward that a U.S. official called "maximalist" just yesterday.

For now, the world should breathe a sigh of relief Trump has backed down, though it feels that this was less of a "TACO"—and more of a surrender.
Almost there!
During an interview this morning ABC News, President Donald J. Trump appeared to endorse a condition by Iran in last night’s ceasefire that allows them to charge tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the fees may by a “joint venture” between Iran and the United States. “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people. It’s a beautiful thing.”
There it is!

“It’s a beautiful thing.” Except Trump has no idea why anybody thinks Iran is in control of the Strait as one of the terms of the ceasefire.

(Is Trump demented? Desperately lying? About to call ABC News “FAKE NEWS!” and declare the video to be an AI construct? Or does he truly not know what the fuck he’s doing?

Signs point to “YES”.)
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The Strait of Hormuz Is International Waters…

It’s yet unclear whether or not NATO member states plan on making any commitments to a Strait of Hormuz security framework, but a number of nations, including France, have directly spoken to Iranian decision-makers on the nature of a post-conflict framework, seemingly bypassing any potential U.S. initiative.
And the Trump “deal” is not finding ready buyers.
According to Reuters, citing three European diplomats, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told his counterparts in NATO member states that U.S. President Donald J. Trump is looking for commitments to a Strait of Hormuz framework within days. One diplomat said “We note the frustration in Washington, but they did not consult allies either before or after starting this war.”
The internationally recognized Pottery Barn rule; “You break it, you’ve bought it.” Shorter Israel: “Fuck the Strait. There’s killin’ to be done!” Also Israel: “Misery loves company!”

Meanwhile, this is one of Trump’s chief advisors (according to Trump):
🤷‍♂️ 🤔
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Just When They’d Hoped You Were Saying “Jeffrey Who?”

Okay, sure. Images and knowledge of crimes are, admittedly, two different things. Uh... Good time to recall the story of fucking Trump on Epstein's plane. Should we review that?
Melania Trump: The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop. My attorneys and I have fought these unfounded and baseless lies with success and will continue to maintain my sound reputation without hesitation.
The Trump defense that “somebody’s making money! (and it’s not me!)”. 
Melania Trump: Now is the time for congress to act. Epstein was not alone. Several prominent executives resigned from their powerful positions after this matter became widely politicized. Of course this does not amount to guilt, but we still must work openly and transparently to uncover the truth. I call on congress to provide the women who have been victimized by Epstein with a public hearing specifically centered around the survivors. Give these victims the opportunity to testify under oath in front of congress with the power of sworn testimony. Each and every woman should have her day to tell her story in public if she wishes.
Actually, it’s up to Blanche and the DOJ to investigate. Although public hearings in Congress wouldn’t hurt. Maybe you can ask Blanche to follow the law. I’m sure he wants to thank you for bringing this up again. 5th dimensional chess. ♟️ (We are all just pawns on the chessboard of Trump’s strategery.)
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Welcome To The Information Age

Uh...
In the last 24 hours, since the start of the two-week long ceasefire between Iran and the United States, not a single oil or natural gas tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz, with a total of four bulk cargo vessels transiting the strait on Wednesday, the lowest number of daily crossings so far in April, according to data provided to The New York Times by the global ship-tracking firm Kpler.

This is despite several claims by the White House that there had been an “increase in traffic” today through the Hormuz Strait, while Iranian state-run media channels once again threaten to “fully close” the strait due to continued and intensified strikes by Israel against the Hezbollah terrorist group and civil infrastructure in Lebanon, which Wednesday alone killed over a dozen residents in Southern and Central Lebanon.
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Wait A Minute

Bloomberg: The US wants specific commitments from European allies on their pledge to help secure the Strait of Hormuz after the fighting in Iran stops, requesting that the countries present concrete plans to ensure navigation through the waterway within days, according to a senior NATO official.
Who the fuck is in charge of this chicken outfit?
During an interview this morning ABC News, President Donald J. Trump appeared to endorse a condition by Iran in last night’s ceasefire that allows them to charge tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the fees may by a “joint venture” between Iran and the United States. “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people. It’s a beautiful thing.”
"...securing it from lots of other people”? 😶
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Arthur Of The Deal

So there’s a double super-secret “10 point plan” that nobody’s seen? Yup. Must be.
Oil industry representatives met with senior administration staff in the State Department on Wednesday morning to raise concerns, said one person who said they attended the meeting.

Among their points: Conceding to Iran’s request would add $2.5 million to each shipment in tolls and higher insurance rates, a cost that would be passed on to consumers. Giving Iran control of Hormuz could set precedent for countries like Singapore and Turkey to charge tolls on important trade routes on the Strait of Malacca and Bosporus. And paying the toll could put companies in legal jeopardy for violating sanctions on Iranian officials.
Art of the deal, bay-bee.
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The Child Was Up Late Last Night

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced via a post on TruthSocial that, “All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin' Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.”
And the grift is real:
Iran is demanding that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz make toll payments in the form of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT or the Trump family’s USD1. Vessels have been told to email Iranian authorities prior to passage through the area with details regarding their cargo, which authorities will then respond with a quote for passage through the toll to be paid in digital currency, reportedly set at $1 per barrel of oil, according to the Financial Times.
The Strait of Hormuz is considered international waters, not territorial waters of any country. So America is as rogue as Iran, now; and has made the situation worse than it was before.
In the last 24 hours, since the start of the two-week long ceasefire between Iran and the United States, not a single oil or natural gas tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz, with a total of four bulk cargo vessels transiting the strait on Wednesday, the lowest number of daily crossings so far in April, according to data provided to The New York Times by the global ship-tracking firm Kpler.

This is despite several claims by the White House that there had been an “increase in traffic” today through the Hormuz Strait, while Iranian state-run media channels once again threaten to “fully close” the strait due to continued and intensified strikes by Israel against the Hezbollah terrorist group and civil infrastructure in Lebanon, which Wednesday alone killed over a dozen residents in Southern and Central Lebanon.
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Wednesday, April 08, 2026

This Would Be…

... a “national security” matter requiring an investigation of CNN the NYT, except that would mean Trump calling attention to the article. So… Let’s talk about something else.

(This, by the way, is not how you do it:)
Anybody else expect Trump to never, ever, walk away from this agreement or the negotiations, now? ‘Cause that would mean his scary language and threats didn’t work.
Q: What was your understanding of what the president meant when he said 'this civilization is going to be eliminated'?

LEAVITT: I think it was a very very strong threat from the president that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire. It was not an empty threat.
If Iran “caved to [its] knees,” but then stood up again,: 1) Iran didn’t cave; or 2) Trump reduces at negotiating.

Neither of those things can be allowed to be true. But we’re already halfway there, because: wasn’t this supposed to be an “unconditional surrender”? Unconditional surrenders are not negotiated. The terms are either accepted, or rejected. 

Of course, it could all be fucked up beyond repair:
The ceasefire was a complete fiction. While the White House announced one, missiles were still flying across Israel, Iran, and Lebanon. Reality doesn’t match the headline.

The White House was forced to backtrack today because the proposed “10-point deal” from Iran was a disaster that would let them enrich uranium, fund proxies like Hezbollah, maintain leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, and get sanctions relief. Even top allies like Mark Levin and Larry Kudlow are calling it a disaster.

Let’s be honest about how we got here: there was never an imminent threat to the U.S. Now we’re stuck in it, negotiating from a weakened position.
FUBAR. SNAFU.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has published a statement announcing alternative routes for commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, in order to avoid sea mines deployed during the war with Israel and the United States. “All ships intending to transit the Strait of Hormuz are hereby notified that in order to comply with the principles of maritime safety and to be protected from possible collisions with sea mines...they should take alternative routes for traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” the statement said, providing instructions for an alternative entry and exit route for ships transiting the Hormuz Strait.
Because, who has the right picture?

All I can trust is, Trump is a man of his word. Whichever word comes next. And as long as he doesn’t have to stand by it.
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Greenland 🇬🇱, Canada 🇨🇦, Cuba 🇨🇺, And…Vatican City?

UPDATE: Letters from Leo can now independently confirm that the meeting took place — and that the Vatican was so alarmed by the Pentagon’s tactics that Pope Leo XIV shelved plans to visit the United States later this year.

Many in the Vatican saw the Pentagon’s reference to an Avignon papacy as a threat to use military force against the Holy See.
Or, you know, just kidnap the Pope. How many divisions does the Pope have?

The Marines could totally take the Swiss Guard.

Back to the story, that would be this meeting and threat:
In January, behind closed doors at the Pentagon, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby summoned Cardinal Christophe Pierre — Pope Leo XIV’s then-ambassador to the United States — and delivered a lecture.

“America,” Colby and his colleagues told the cardinal, “has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.”

As tempers rose, one U.S. official reached for a fourteenth-century weapon and invoked the Avignon Papacy, the period when the French Crown used military force to bend the bishop of Rome to its will.
God is on our side, not the Pope’s side. So if you wanna get right with God, you better get on our side. 

I was just kidding about the German language belt buckles. At least, I thought I was.
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“Spinning Wheel Got To Go ‘Round”

I am thankful that we have a ceasefire. It happened much faster than I expected and it was the right move. But let’s be clear that this war ends (if the ceasefire holds) as a total strategic disaster. The scorecard

Nukes: Iran still has the HEU

Proxies: no change or impact

Missile and drones : Iran demonstrated its arsenal is sustainable and survivable under massive US and Israeli pressure.

Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s leverage to use it as a bargaining chip has dramatically increased.

Regime: killed Khameini but his son is still in place and unless they collapse in the aftermath will probably be just as strong or stronger then when this started.

US allies: totally screwed in the Gulf and horribly strained relations in Europe.

Global economy: major damage.

Israel: will be even more globally isolated after this and no more secure.

Region: as unstable as ever requiring a greater US commitment.

US capacity to be prepared for major contingencies in the IndoPacific set back for years.

But at least we took out their navy and destroyed their useless Air Force 🤷‍♂️. An epic strategic disaster.
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Confederacy Of Dunces

In the Situation Room on Feb. 11, Mr. Netanyahu made a hard sell, suggesting that Iran was ripe for regime change and expressing the belief that a joint U.S.-Israeli mission could finally bring an end to the Islamic Republic.

At one point, the Israelis played for Mr. Trump a brief video that included a montage of potential new leaders who could take over the country if the hard-line government fell. Among those featured was Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, now a Washington-based dissident who had tried to position himself as a secular leader who could shepherd Iran toward a post-theocratic government.

Mr. Netanyahu and his team outlined conditions they portrayed as pointing to near-certain victory: Iran’s ballistic missile program could be destroyed in a few weeks. The regime would be so weakened that it could not choke off the Strait of Hormuz, and the likelihood that Iran would land blows against U.S. interests in neighboring countries was assessed as minimal.

Besides, Mossad’s intelligence indicated that street protests inside Iran would begin again and — with the impetus of the Israeli spy agency helping to foment riots and rebellion — an intense bombing campaign could foster the conditions for the Iranian opposition to overthrow the regime. The Israelis also raised the prospect of Iranian Kurdish fighters crossing the border from Iraq to open a ground front in the northwest, further stretching the regime’s forces and accelerating its collapse.

Mr. Netanyahu delivered his presentation in a confident monotone. It seemed to land well with the most important person in the room, the American president.

Sounds good to me, Mr. Trump told the prime minister. To Mr. Netanyahu, this signaled a likely green light for a joint U.S.-Israeli operation.
However:
The intelligence officials had deep expertise in U.S. military capabilities, and they knew the Iranian system and its players inside out. They had broken down Mr. Netanyahu’s presentation into four parts. First was decapitation — killing the ayatollah. Second was crippling Iran’s capacity to project power and threaten its neighbors. Third was a popular uprising inside Iran. And fourth was regime change, with a secular leader installed to govern the country.

The U.S. officials assessed that the first two objectives were achievable with American intelligence and military power. They assessed that the third and fourth parts of Mr. Netanyahu’s pitch, which included the possibility of the Kurds mounting a ground invasion of Iran, were detached from reality.

When Mr. Trump joined the meeting, Mr. Ratcliffe briefed him on the assessment. The C.I.A. director used one word to describe the Israeli prime minister’s regime change scenarios: “farcical.”

At that point, Mr. Rubio cut in. “In other words, it’s bullshit,” he said.

Mr. Ratcliffe added that given the unpredictability of events in any conflict, regime change could happen, but it should not be considered an achievable objective.
So:
The president then turned to General Caine. “General, what do you think?”

General Caine replied: “Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and that’s why they’re hard-selling.”

Mr. Trump quickly weighed the assessment. Regime change, he said, would be “their problem.” It was unclear whether he was referring to the Israelis or the Iranian people. But the bottom line was that his decision on whether to go to war against Iran would not hinge on whether Parts 3 and 4 of Mr. Netanyahu’s presentation were achievable.
Caine had once told Trump toppling Iran would be relatively easy. Then he had to put his money where his mouth is:  To be fair, the rest of them said: “Eh! Whatever you want to do.”
As the small team of advisers who were looped into the plans deliberated over the following days, General Caine shared with Mr. Trump and others the alarming military assessment that a major campaign against Iran would drastically deplete stockpiles of American weaponry, including missile interceptors, whose supply had been strained after years of support for Ukraine and Israel. General Caine saw no clear path to quickly replenishing these stockpiles.

He also flagged the enormous difficulty of securing the Strait of Hormuz and the risks of Iran blocking it. Mr. Trump had dismissed that possibility on the assumption that the regime would capitulate before it came to that. The president appeared to think it would be a very quick war — an impression that had been reinforced by the tepid response to the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June.

General Caine’s role in the lead-up to the war captured a classic tension between military counsel and presidential decision-making. So persistent was the chairman in not taking a stand — repeating that it was not his role to tell the president what to do, but rather to present options along with potential risks and possible second- and third-order consequences — that he could appear to some of those listening to be arguing all sides of an issue simultaneously.

He would constantly ask, “And then what?” But Mr. Trump would often seem to hear only what he wanted to hear.
Which, it turns out, is what he is told, too:
General Caine was sober, laying out the risks and what the campaign would mean for munitions depletion. He offered no opinion; his position was that if Mr. Trump ordered the operation, the military would execute. Both of the president’s top military leaders previewed how the campaign would unfold and the U.S. capacity to degrade Iran’s military capabilities.

When it was his turn to speak, Mr. Rubio offered more clarity, telling the president: If our goal is regime change or an uprising, we shouldn’t do it. But if the goal is to destroy Iran’s missile program, that’s a goal we can achieve.

Everyone deferred to the president’s instincts. They had seen him make bold decisions, take on unfathomable risks and somehow come out on top. No one would impede him now.
The only person with capacity (and knowledge) to tell Trump destroying Iran’s missiles wasn’t that simple, declined to. Or maybe Iran simply had more underground protection capability than we knew. Which was a failure of intelligence.

But hell, the whole thing’s been a failure of intelligence.
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Annals Of Governance

Later that same press conference: Shh!!! 🤫  You’ll wake the baby!
"A problem is Donald Trump hates being humiliated,” a senior Trump administration official told Zeteo, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “He is going to see coverage that he was beat by the Iranians. I am expecting that to change his thinking.”

The senior official said that they and other aides were working to “get a bunch of ‘positive’ media coverage” of Trump “to soothe his ego,” Zeteo reported. The official added that they also planned to engage MAGA influencers and other right-wing media figures to help shape favorable coverage of Trump’s decision to halt plans to destroy Iran’s entire civilization.
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Allahu Akhbar

And we transported 50,000 troops to the area for no good goddamned reason whatsoever, but, hey, we’re gonna share tariffs with Iran that will raise the price of oil worldwide so, it’s all good! Art of the deal, bay-bee!
Q: You said the president 'chose mercy.' But you yourself said weeks ago that 'we will give no quarter to Iranian troops.' Do you think your comments may have put American troops at risk?

HEGSETH: No. I try to be nice up here, but you did listen to what I said, right? Typical ABC. It was an indictment framed as a question. No, you've had your chance.
We are still led by children. "Legitimate targets.”  CENTCOM held. Yesterday Iranians were forming human chains around power plants, something Trump declared “illegal” because he knew what the optics of bombing those people would be. He then agreed to a peace deal that gives Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz. How much is Kegsbreth still drinking? Kegsbreth: *Coffee? Never touch the stuff!* Yeah, that one’s already DOA. So, you’re hoping no one notices? Or that this particular feature just goes away? You know Trump’s bragging about it, right?

Lame duck, bay-bee. Billions spent on missiles and bombs, and all we got was this lousy increase in oil prices.
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🤷‍♂️ 🦆🌮

During an interview this morning ABC News, President Donald J. Trump appeared to endorse a condition by Iran in last night’s ceasefire that allows them to charge tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that the fees may by a “joint venture” between Iran and the United States. “We’re thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It’s a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people. It’s a beautiful thing.”
So that's why we went to war?

Mark your calendars. Trump is officially a lame duck. 🦆 
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Yesterday Was A Big Day

Trump: “A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they’ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz … We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just ‘hangin’ around’ in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP”
During a brief call tonight with the AFP, President Trump stated that the United States has achieved, “Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it,” in the Iran War, following the announced two-week ceasefire with Iran. Trump added that he believes China persuaded Iran to make a deal as the deadline approached Tuesday, and that the country’s stockpile of highly-enriched uranium will be “perfectly taken care of,” under the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States.
Somebody needs to tell Michael Wolff:
"He literally doesn't know," Wolff said. "In business as usual, he would declare victory, but we’re over that line. That’s not believable anymore. Him declaring victory would immediately make it clear that we have lost and the Iranians had won.
And this is what “total and complete victory" looks like:
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that as part of a potential deal with Iran, “there will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove” all of Iran’s buried enriched material. Additionally, the president said that sanctions relief will also be the topic of negotiations. This, as Iran continues to launch strikes against Israel and their Gulf neighbors.
Who’s going to tell him he can’t do that anymore?
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Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Other Than That..,

After getting it closed in the first place.
Under the two-week ceasefire plan agreed to tonight by both Iran and the United States, both Iran and Oman are permitted to charge fees on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press, with officials stating that the money received by Iran will be used to rebuild the country following the recent strike campaign by Israel and the United States.
Reparations! To be clear, this clarifies the brief (er) account I got this afternoon.
To add insult to injury, Psaki continued, "today, the regime that was facing mass protests just a short few months ago mobilized hundreds of Iranians to take to the streets and form a human chain around the power plants and bridges that the U.S. had threatened to target. When the president was asked by NBC News about that, he said, without a hint of irony, that the demonstrations were, quote, 'totally illegal,' adding, 'they're not allowed to do that.' So if you're keeping track, the president insists it's fair game to wipe out an entire country in violation of international law, but if Iranians gather on their bridges and around their power plants, he says, that's illegal."
"CHEATERS! DIRTY LITTLE CHEATERS!!”
Every single Trump advisor is now - off the record - telling the @nytimes they were opposed Netanyahu's argument for the Iran war.

THAT'S how well the war is going.

Ratcliffe: "Farcical."

Rubio: “It’s bullshit”

Caine: "Standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell."

Wiles: against "being dragged into another war in the Middle East."

Cheung: "How would they explain away eight months of insisting that Iranian nuclear facilities had been totally obliterated?"
In the best case scenario, Trump struck a deal to reopen a Strait that was open before the pointless war he started, with the IRGC demonstrating its control over the Strait and potentially extracting fees plus sanctions relief. Thousands of innocents - including hundreds of children - dead in Lebanon and Iran for no reason. U.S. troops killed and wounded. U.S. embassies and bases in the Middle East badly damaged. U.S. standing in the world obliterated. U.S. munitions badly depleted. Hundreds of billions spent. Prices up everywhere. More global economic fallout to come. Putin strengthened and enriched. Just a catastrophic situation even in the best of circumstances. A profoundly shameful episode in American history no matter what happens next.
SO MUCH WINNING!

"How did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
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