At the very least, you can still argue that Trump was duped by his advisors into thinking that assassinating a “rogue general” can solve the Iran problem.

Thing is, if that's the case he can probably be duped again.

After Soleimani was killed and a war was nearly started with Iran in January 2020, there was still an “oh shit” moment from the Trump government and they quickly walked back and prevented a war from being escalated.

Is that because he's genuinely anti-war or cuz some Brass at the Pentagon thought it wasn't an opportune time to start shit with Iran and told him to cool it?

Really at the end of the day I don't think it matters, the PSL could win this Presidential race and it wouldn't change a thing foreign policy wise (and probably not much domestically either), those aren't decisions any elected leader has any meaningful sway over.

[–] Droplet@hexbear.net 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I am not saying Trump is anti-war, I am saying that Biden continues to escalate a war for 2.5 years knowing that hundreds of thousands if not millions will be thrown into a meat grinder.

You cannot even attribute that to “we made a mistake, we shouldn’t have started this war” (low bar, but a bar nonetheless), because if so they would have made every attempt to stop it from continuing. Instead, they personally flew to Ukraine and tore up the peace negotiations Ukraine was undergoing with Russia. They really want to fight this to the last Ukrainian. And that’s scary if you think about it.

[–] HakFoo@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 11 months ago

In doing so, they've signed the death warrant for their own credibility as an ally.

You aligned with the US/NATO explicitly because they were a big, strong military and economic partner, who could provide deterrence, and if that failed, prevent you from losing the war.

This alliance will deliver Ukraine less-than-zero benefit: they'll still lose the war, but being propped up and egged on means it will take longer, be bloodier and more destructive, and leave them with more debt.

Perhaps the "deterrence" factor was limited because they weren't Core NATO and there was no Article 5 trigger risk. It still suggests there's no value in cozying up to the institution if you can't qualify for full membership, and even then, would they really pull out all the stops for a new member of low value?

[–] ThomasMuentzner@hexbear.net 9 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Is that because he's genuinely anti-war or cuz some Brass at the Pentagon thought it wasn't an opportune time to start shit with Iran and told him to cool it?

16 or so ballisic missiles pounded the Al Assad Airforcebase and did "Only Braindamage + some later death" to some 100 soldiers.. while the USA had Nothing to respond ,even just verbally to respond with some stupid" Though talk" at this moment would have forced Iran to preempty flatten all the Other bases they have there (they nervously shoot down a hole airliner, so they where extremly on edge) ... So Imagine there was a collective experiance of "Oh Fuck oh Fuck+ we are Powerless" in the Command center or whatever.. Thats some experiance that produces wisedom ...

[–] HexReplyBot@hexbear.net 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I found a YouTube link in your comment. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy: